Edge Davao 6 Issue 184

THE City Council plans to propose a local version of freedom of

information on all transac-tions entered into by local and national government agencies within the city for the benefit of the public.

Councilor Mabel Sun-ga Acosta told reporters in yesterday’s Club 888 at The Marco Polo Davao that the proposed ordinance aims to institutionalize best practices through transpar-ency and accountability of every government agency in the city.

Acosta said if this be-comes an ordinance, all local government agencies

as well as national agen-cies which have offices in the city would be obliged to disclose information.

Acosta explained that the version of city is dif-ferent from that of the bill filed in Congress because we don’t have transactions with other countries, par-ticularly on loans from the International Monetary Fund.

Acosta added that Con-gress has a hard time pass-ing the FOI because of secu-rity and economic matters.

She said that there is already an existing law on giving information to the

P 15.00 • 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.net

EDGE Serving a seamless society

DAVAOVOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013

FLOCALIZE, 10

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO [email protected]

LOCALIZE FOI LAWAcosta mulls SP’s version of FOI bill

FOUL ODOR. Candidates of the last Barangay polls had to live with the foul odor coming out of the comfort room as they try to beat the deadline for filing of election expenditures at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) 11 office in R. Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

ELECTION PROTEST. Davao City first District election officer Atty. Aimee Ampoloquio checks the loading of boxes containing election returns from Barangay 76-A before delivery to the court for recount as requested by incumbent Brgy. Captain Robert Olanolan who filed an election protest against Rolando Trajera yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013

THE presiding judge of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities

Branch 2 has set on De-cember 3 the revision and recounting of ballots con-tained in117 ballot boxes after losing last termer barangay captain Roberto Olanolan questioned the

results in the clustered precincts in sitios Bucana and Kabacan.

Judge Marie Estrellita Tolentino-Roxas ordered her staff to disallow parties to enter the courtroom.

This is to secure all bal-lotboxes inside the court until the scheduled date for

their re-opening. Rolando Trajera was

declared the winner over OLanolan by 582 votes (10,351 votes to Olano-lan’s 9,769) votes. Olano-lan argued that there was voters-impersonation and ballot switching.

Also they alleged that

BETs closed the curtain while counting votes that supposedly should have been viewed by the public.

Atty. Aimee Ampolo-quio, election officer of the city’s first district, said that they will await the decision of the court.

TO attract both local and foreign invest-ments in the region,

Davao City, as one of the cit-ies vulnerable to the risks of climate change, should invest in climate change and disaster preparedness, an official said yesterday.

Of the 16 cities nation-

wide where the study on climate change was con-ducted, it was revealed that Davao City along with Cebu, carries a higher risk of being affected by climate change.

According to the Na-tional Competitiveness Council private sector

co-chairman Guillermo Luz, climate change posts a problem in the develop-ment of the city since it may affect business conti-nuity in the metropolis.

The study, entitled Business Risk Assessment and the Management of Climate Impacts of World

Wildlife Federation (WWF) in partnership with Bank of the Philippines, Inc., (BPI) is conducted to ana-lyze economic and climatic trend while predictiving its aggravating result to the businessmen and investors in selected cities.”

The Land Transporta-tion Office welcomes the new directive issued by the city government setting speed limits for all vehicles within the jurisdiction of the city.

Eleanor Calderon, chief for operations of the LTO

11 sees no conflict be-tween the local ordinance and the national law.

She explained that though the national traf-fic law sets the minimum traffic speed at forty kilo-meters per hour in highly urbanized areas, the local

government unit in the area can still promulgate a law lowering further the speed of vehicles to en-sure protection of lives and property.

Calderon said that Republic Act 4136 also

2

FLTO WELCOMES, 10

FDAVAO CITY, 10

FJUDGE SETS, 10

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

AN international or-ganization has in-vited leaders of var-

ious civil society groups to join a one-day confer-ence against human traf-ficking on December 10 at the Brokenshire Resort and Convention Center.

Amy Muranko-Gah-an, founding director of Global Impact Philippines Foundation, Inc., said during yesterday’s Club 888 press conference at The Marco Polo Davao that the conference, dubbed “The Freedom Project: Human Traffick-ing Conference” aims to discuss how to fight hu-man trafficking.

Gahan urges the lead-

ers of civil society groups, especially those with con-cerns in trafficking, to attend so that they will know more how to fight human trafficking.

She said that the con-ference will be a discus-sion on the amendments to the present trafficking law in the country.

She said that an in-ternational speaker and former agent of the Fed-eral Bureau of Investi-gation (FBI) in the USA who has experience in fighting trafficking, and two local speakers, one from the Department of Justice and one from a non-government orga-nization, will also be on

hand. Gahan explained that

27 million people around the world are living in slavery and based on a research in Europe there are thousands of Filipino children who have be-come webcam-hired sex workers.

She added that this global problem has no exceptions because even in first world countries this problem occurs.

Gahan said that for more informa-tion, contact them at 09295058968. She added that this confer-ence is endorsed by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.

THE Regional Trial Court Branch 15 has summoned the re-

gional head of the Highway Patrol Unit in Region 11 to explain within 15 days the impounding of an alleged “hot car” owned by a wom-an last February 14.

Judge Ridgway Tanjili ordered P/SSupt Gregorio R. Pimentel and one “John Doe” to answer the petition filed by plaintiff Cresilda S. Garcia,a resident of block 3, Mamay Village, Buhangin and owner of the Toyota Vios Sedan.

“If you fail to answer within this time fixed the plaintiff will take judgment by default and may be granted the relief applied for in the complaint,” law-yer Maria Eloisa Maglana, Clerk of Court V said in the court summons.

Garcia said that one SPO1 “Eddie Boy” Estangue, motor vehicle clearance inspector of the RHPG 11 impounded her vehicle for alleged discrepancies in the entries between the car’s file number and the plate number issued by different Land Transportation Office district offices. According to Estangue, the engine num-ber and chassis number of the car manifested signs of

tampering and scrutiny in the documents.

Garcia stated in her pe-tition that she was shocked to find out that her car would be impounded and subject for macro- etching examination to determine if it is listed as a “hot car”.

However, the examina-tion revealed that the car is not actually listed as hot car nor has been reported as carnapped or with sus-pect documents. There was no finding that the chassis number was tampered with and the defendant failed to show the listed hot cars.

The plaintiff was able to present sufficient and valid documents to show the validity of her owner-ship over the car and the legality of its acquisition.

Despite her demands and clearances, the RHPG remained adamant in re-fusing to turn over the car to the plaintiff.

Garcia also alleged that the officer confiscat-ed her car without any le-gal document to hold the car.

Garcia, through law-yer Aimee Torrefranca- Neri, asked the court to order the sheriff to take the vehicle. [EPC]

Human trafficking gab setBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

[email protected]

BE PREPAREDDavao City at riskto climate change

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

BRGY. 76-A

Judge sets Dec. 3 for ballot recount By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

[email protected]

LTO welcomes the new ordinance setting speed limit of all vehicles in Davao City

Judge summons head ofHPG11 to explain impounded car

HOT CAR?

HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE. Global Impact’s Amy Muranko Gahan announces the upcoming Human Traf-ficking Conference slated on December 10 at the Brokenshire Resort during Club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 3EDGEDAVAO

In line with the cel-ebration, MESA Filipino Moderne is offering their most valuable star in your holiday feast in two ways: Enjoy biting into a delec-table pandan crepe with leeks, wansuy and cu-cumber and if you want it bold, then dress your juicy Crispchon pieces in six amazingly delicious sauc-es and have a wonder-ful time with family and friends. Whatever way you want to have it, you will surely be wanting for an-other serving.

Indeed, dining has never been fun with fam-ily, friends and your sig-nificant other. Have your most gastronomically memorable Thanksgiv-ing experience, Filipi-

no style, with delicious dishes from these other awesome establishments. Visit Bulgogi Brothers for a fired up Korean meal with friends, Bistro Selera for a unique Pinoy fusion fare, Crazy Wraps for a fun dining time sans the dress code, Pizza Hut for an all-night pizza and pas-ta binge, Cellar de Boca for a relaxing and sophis-ticated dining treat, Hog’s Breath for an exquisite steak experience and of course Vikings for an end-less selection of interna-tional cuisine in a luxuri-ous buffet setting .

Savor life’s blessings with a festive and mean-ingful feast with family and friends only at SM La-nang Premier.

Although not entirely part of our colorful culture, Thanksgiving Day on Nov 28 is still a great time for Filipino families to

come together and celebrate life’s blessings in a bountiful dining feast. We may not have the massive turkey unlike most North American families, but we have our very own all-time favorite crispy, juicy and roasted to perfection lechon. With delectable sidings and luxurious sauces, this traditional festive Pinoy delicacy is truly the perfect food for the holiday season.

This traditional festive delicacy is truly the perfect food for the holiday season.

COME TOGETHERAND CELEBRATETHANKSGIVINGAT SM LANANGPREMIER

SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier re-cently launchedtheir

Automated Weather Sta-tions (AWS) as part of SM’s initiative to promote disaster-resilient and sustainable business op-erations and strengthen disaster risk reduction in the community.

Engr. Gerry Pedrico, Chief Meteorological Offi-cer of PAG-ASA Region XI, gracedthe launches held in both malls and also shared on the importance of keeping track of local

weather. The benefits of the Automated Weather Station and a demonstra-tion on how to access local weather data were also presented during the program.

Mall tenants, repre-sentatives from the Disas-ter Risk Reduction Man-agement Office, Depart-ment of Science Technolo-gy XI, Philippine National Police-Davao City Police Office, Bureau of Fire Pro-tection and Philippine Science High School (Di-saster Response Team),

together with media prac-titioners, attended the AWS launches.

The installation of the AWS is a result of SM’s partnership with Weath-er Philippines Founda-tion, a non-profit organi-zation founded by Aboitiz Groupand one of Europe’s leading weather service provider, Meteomedia of Switzerland, to support the government in its efforts to reduce weath-er-related disaster risks in the country. It aims to help SM’s partners – ten-

ants, mall goers, students, and residents in nearby communities– monitor and stay informed on weather conditions.

The Automated Weather Station can pro-vide the public current and five-day forecasted details on weather condi-tions such as wind speed and direction, rain count, humidity, dew point, solar details, and temperature.

Access to such weath-er information can help business establishment owners, LGU officials,

school administratorsand members of the general public make decisions on how to go about their op-erations whenever a sud-den change in weather condition occurs.

The public can view real-time AWS data by visiting www.weather.com.ph, entering SM City Davao or SM Lanang Premier in the search bar, and selecting the mall in the results list on the map.

The AWS provides localized weather infor-

mation in communities near SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier. The device has also been in-stalled in other SM malls across the countryin line withthe company’s Adaptation Measures for Climate Change.

For 2013, Weather Philippines Foundation targets to install 1,000 Automated Weather Sta-tions nationwide. It has currently around 400 AWS in various loca-tions across the Philip-pines.

SM malls provide free weather data to localities


In line with the cel-ebration, MESA Filipino Moderne is offering their most valuable star in your holiday feast in two ways: Enjoy biting into a delec-table pandan crepe with leeks, wansuy and cu-cumber and if you want it bold, then dress your juicy Crispchon pieces in six amazingly delicious sauc-es and have a wonder-ful time with family and friends. Whatever way you want to have it, you will surely be wanting for an-other serving.

Indeed, dining has never been fun with fam-ily, friends and your sig-nificant other. Have your most gastronomically memorable Thanksgiv-ing experience, Filipi-

no style, with delicious dishes from these other awesome establishments. Visit Bulgogi Brothers for a fired up Korean meal with friends, Bistro Selera for a unique Pinoy fusion fare, Crazy Wraps for a fun dining time sans the dress code, Pizza Hut for an all-night pizza and pas-ta binge, Cellar de Boca for a relaxing and sophis-ticated dining treat, Hog’s Breath for an exquisite steak experience and of course Vikings for an end-less selection of interna-tional cuisine in a luxuri-ous buffet setting .

Savor life’s blessings with a festive and mean-ingful feast with family and friends only at SM La-nang Premier.

Although not entirely part of our colorful culture, Thanksgiving Day on Nov 28 is still a great time for Filipino families to

come together and celebrate life’s blessings in a bountiful dining feast. We may not have the massive turkey unlike most North American families, but we have our very own all-time favorite crispy, juicy and roasted to perfection lechon. With delectable sidings and luxurious sauces, this traditional festive Pinoy delicacy is truly the perfect food for the holiday season.

This traditional festive delicacy is truly the perfect food for the holiday season.

COME TOGETHERAND CELEBRATETHANKSGIVINGAT SM LANANGPREMIER

SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier re-cently launchedtheir

Automated Weather Sta-tions (AWS) as part of SM’s initiative to promote disaster-resilient and sustainable business op-erations and strengthen disaster risk reduction in the community.

Engr. Gerry Pedrico, Chief Meteorological Offi-cer of PAG-ASA Region XI, gracedthe launches held in both malls and also shared on the importance of keeping track of local

weather. The benefits of the Automated Weather Station and a demonstra-tion on how to access local weather data were also presented during the program.

Mall tenants, repre-sentatives from the Disas-ter Risk Reduction Man-agement Office, Depart-ment of Science Technolo-gy XI, Philippine National Police-Davao City Police Office, Bureau of Fire Pro-tection and Philippine Science High School (Di-saster Response Team),

together with media prac-titioners, attended the AWS launches.

The installation of the AWS is a result of SM’s partnership with Weath-er Philippines Founda-tion, a non-profit organi-zation founded by Aboitiz Groupand one of Europe’s leading weather service provider, Meteomedia of Switzerland, to support the government in its efforts to reduce weath-er-related disaster risks in the country. It aims to help SM’s partners – ten-

ants, mall goers, students, and residents in nearby communities– monitor and stay informed on weather conditions.

The Automated Weather Station can pro-vide the public current and five-day forecasted details on weather condi-tions such as wind speed and direction, rain count, humidity, dew point, solar details, and temperature.

Access to such weath-er information can help business establishment owners, LGU officials,

school administratorsand members of the general public make decisions on how to go about their op-erations whenever a sud-den change in weather condition occurs.

The public can view real-time AWS data by visiting www.weather.com.ph, entering SM City Davao or SM Lanang Premier in the search bar, and selecting the mall in the results list on the map.

The AWS provides localized weather infor-

mation in communities near SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier. The device has also been in-stalled in other SM malls across the countryin line withthe company’s Adaptation Measures for Climate Change.

For 2013, Weather Philippines Foundation targets to install 1,000 Automated Weather Sta-tions nationwide. It has currently around 400 AWS in various loca-tions across the Philip-pines.

SM malls provide free weather data to localities

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 20134COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE

STO. TOMAS, DAVAO DEL NORTE LAAK, COMPOSTELA VALLEY

EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA

WITH the unprec-edented destruc-tion brought

upon by typhoon Yolan-da to the properties and lives of the people living in Easter Visayas, the school community of Maryknoll High School of Sto. Tomas on Monday extended cash assistance and donated in-kind relief goods which were handed over to the Diocese of Tagum, a school official said.

Sr. Ma. Evelyn Oqueza, OP, Principal of Maryknoll High School of Sto. Tomas, said that the relief effort of the school was a response from the directive of the Diocese of Tagum, request-ing all diocesan-owned schools in Davao del Norte to contribute any forms of assistance for the victims of the typhoon in Easter Visayas.

“We immediately mo-

bilized and pulled out re-sources to extend whatev-er form of help we can ex-tend, especially food, clean water and clothing which we believed these are the urgent need of the people,” the Dominican nun said.

Last Monday, the school donated 2 balik-bayan boxes containing as-sorted packed-rice, canned goods, used clothes which was forwarded to the Di-ocese of Tagum. For cash assistance, an amount of P5, 172 for Yolanda vic-tims and P4, 400 for quake victims in Bohol were also turned-over as part of the school’s contribution in the on-going relief efforts.

The assistance was made possible through the contributions of the students, faculty and staff, parents and good-hearted individuals in the commu-nity.

Oqueza said that one of the schools managed by the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary in Dumalag, Iloilo was struck by typhoon Yolanda and appealed for help due to its severe damaged to the school buildings caused by the typhoons.

She said the typhoon ripped-off the school build-ings and convents which needs an urgent repair and rehabilitation, adding that the school already extend-ed cash assistance worth P 6, 611.00

“This is our way of showing of our deepest concern and sympathy to all the victims of calami-ties. We are always keen of helping others in the name of our Christian faith,” Oqueza said.

Meanwhile, in a text message yesterday, Sr.

Ma. Antonina Paguntalan, OP, Principal of St. Martin Academy, has expressed, in behalf of their school com-munity, their deepest grati-tude to all the students and parents who responded to their call for assistance.

“Our gratitude to all who, in one way or anoth-er, extended and positively responded to our call for assistance. May the good Lord reward your sincere generosity,” Paguntalan said.

Paguntalan lamented that only Tacloban in Leyte was given a heavy relief at-tention by the media and national government agen-cies after Yolanda flattened Eastern Visayas, adding that some parts of Iloilo like in Capiz, Dumalag, Pan-ay, Antique and other areas were heavily damaged too. [Aurel Larabaster/Lorna Sambalud]

THE provincial govern-ment now readies for a Partners’ Forum on

November 29, 2013 at the Capitol dubbed as Bayani-han Para sa Karunungan Program.

Inviting local leaders, business executives, and other guests, the event seeks to find partners of the Provincial Local Gov-ernment Unit in support-ing the Department of Ed-ucation (DepEd) provide quality education through in-school reading inter-ventions packaged with series of valuable pro-grams and sessions.

While the province has been constructing classroom-buildings pat-terned in the GK way (bayanihan), Governor Arturo T. Uy also finds Reading an aspect of equal importance in giv-ing quality education to the youngsters in their early years in school.

Senior Board Member Tyron L. Uy who chaired the Committee on Edu-cation and Information Technology of the Sang-

guniang Panlalawigan also shared the same vi-sion of creating an envi-ronment conducive to the development of reading aptitude for children.

The provincial gov-ernment has embarked on programs related to reading improvement and comprehension of school children. Compostela Val-ley Transforming Educa-tion Today or COMET is a reading initiative in part-nership with the Alcan-tara Foundation under their corporate social re-sponsibility and with the province’s existing pub-lic-private-partnership. Project ARTURO (Accel-erated Readers, Tomor-row’s Ultimate Response to Opportunities) on the other hand, is a reading development program in close partnership with the DepEd, focusing on a child’s reading skills and comprehension. It is also a support of the provin-cial government to the na-tional advocacy of making “Every Child A Reader.”

“Bayanihan Para Sa

Karunungan” is a reali-zation of making these aforementioned reading programs to be part of

the “Kalinga sa Kabata-an” Program of Governor Uy. And as public-pri-vate-partnership is visibly

practiced in the province, this endeavor is another venue for generous part-ner-donors to share the

glory of building a bright-er future for the Com-valenyo children. [grace almedilla, ids-comval]

FOR the third year in a row, the major caves of this high-land town will be

the scene of party and fun, not the regular raucous type that is, as the munic-ipality opens Thursday its annual cave festival.

“Who says caving is not fun?” commented Jan-ice Ollave, Laak tourism officer, whose seemingly fragile physique belies the fact that she can slither in and out of caves like any experienced cavers.

Ollave explained that based on accounts her landlocked municipali-ty hosts more than 100 caves of which only less than twenty have been ex-plored. Laak is 50 kilome-tres from Tagum City in Davao del Norte, the main access to her town.

The annual festival is focused on at least 12 caves – six in Sto. Niño, three in Andap, and three in Sisimon – where more than 300 graduating high school students in the municipality of Laak and other cave enthusiasts in Davao Region will con-

verge starting Thursday (November 21) for their three-day immersion on the cave environment and exposure on the impor-tance of protecting, pre-serving, and conserving this significant part of the terrestrial ecosystem.

“The immersion and exposure, as well as tree-planting in the cave vi-cinity, are the serious side of the festival, the fun is in the get-together nightly activities in the Municipal gymnasium that feature the usual search for ‘Mr. and Miss Caverandia, and of in the second night the Caver’s Show down, sing-ing, and dancing,” Compos-tela Valley caving coordi-nator Prescila Decena said.

The festival works on a simple formula targeted to have a long-term im-pact on the environment, Decena explained. “May-or Reynaldo Navarro de-signed the festival to com-plement his campaign to protect the environment starting with the munic-ipality’s young men and women,” she said. [JPA, PGO-TSS]

An old woman waits for her turn for consultation during a medical mission conducted by a team from the Department of Health - Region 10 in Barangay Palarao in the municipality of Leyte. MindaNews photo by Bobby Timonera

ComVal to gather partners for‘Bayanihan Para Sa Karunungan’

Maryknoll extends help to typhoon Yolanda victims

3rd Laak cave festivalexploration party, fun for youth


PROPERTY

THE stylish and functional homes in the Mediterra-

nean-inspired Camel-la Tagum is now made even more easier to ac-quire through the Pag-ibig housing loan facil-ity.

“We are pleased to announce that Camella Tagum is now open to Pag-ibig financing, and we’ve made it even eas-ier for homebuyers by conducting a Pag-ibig Consultation Day,” said Sheilamae Lara, Mar-keting Head of Camella Tagum.

R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from the Pag-ibig Home Development Mutual Fund were on hand at the Gaisano Grand Mall in Tagum last Novem-ber 16 to cater to ques-tions of homebuyers who want to purchase a home in Camella Tagum.

“As a treat to our Pag-ibig homebuyers, we have made our Les-sandra units more af-fordable with a down payment of only 12% and a monthly amorti-zation that can go as low as P 6,640,” said Lara.

She added that with this additional flexi-ble financing scheme, Camella homebuyers will have more op-tions and can choose the financing plan that appeal to them most. The low amortization is not the only the big

draw for homebuyers. The affordability of Ca-mella Tagum comes with a host of other pluses, such as its well-appoint-ed amenities like the clubhouse, swimming pool, parks, playground, and 24/7 security.

“We are also offering our “Home for the Holi-days” and the “Reserve Now Pay in 2014” pro-mos for the Christmas season,” said Lara. In the reserve now pay lat-er plan, down payments will be made starting 2014.

One of the best treats Camella gives to its homebuyers is waiv-ing up to five months of down payment, trans-lating to a savings of up to P 300,000. On top of that, it is also giving away home appliances such as washing machine and mi-crowave oven in its spe-cial Buyers Treat for this Christmas.

The Lessandra pack-age also comes with its own promo that allows buyers to choose their upgrade, either free ce-ramic floor tiles, modular cabinets, or an air-condi-tioning unit.

“We have so many good things for our cli-ents this season, so come see us now at our exhibits in Gaisano Mall of Tagum, Gaisano Grand Tagum, NCCC Tagum and Gaisano Grand Panabo,” said Lara.

Inquiries and walk-ins are welcome at their offices at Unit 12 Gaisa-

no Grand Arcade, Lapu Lapu Extension Apokon

Road Tagum City, tele-phone (084) 216-4309,

09175639617 or 0999-8864150.

Camella staff are on hand to answer any queries on Camella Tagum at their exhibits in various malls in Tagum City.

Homes in Camella Tagumnow available thru Pag-ibig

Homes in Camella Tagum are now within easier reach of homebuyers through Pagibig financing.

LAND-use planning, in the latest version of the National Land Use and

Management Act (NLUMA), calls for more multi-sectoral representation and input, including technical experts and experienced planners and operators.

With the country reel-ing from natural disasters, endless traffic bottlenecks, increased squatting and floods, the expertise of urban planners, developer, expe-rienced planning engineers and logistics experts in land use and physical planning is vital to environmental sus-tainability and national pro-ductivity.

National Land Use should also balance the use and considerations of land for residential, commercial, tourism, logistics, education, parks and other community needs and visions, and not

be defined necessarily by just a single use or sector consistently as the highest priority.

The Subdivision and Housing Developers Associ-ation (SHDA), the country’s largest association of pri-vate developers, proposes the above good land-use planning, which requires in-creasing private-sector and multi-industry/stakeholder involvement in the govern-ment and interagency com-mittees, meetings, evalua-tion processes and land use bodies outlined in some of the bill’s current versions.

There are two pend-ing versions of the Nation-al Land Use bill, namely, House Bill (HB) 108 and HB 3122, wherein both seek to manage and develop the country’s land and water resources. Both also look at maintaining and preserving

environmental stability, sus-tainable use of natural re-sources, disaster risk reduc-tion and climate risk-based planning, among a number of goals.

The bills will create a number of planning bodies to achieve these goals, in-cluding the National Land Use Planning Commission (NLUPC), deemed as the highest policy-making body for land use.

This body at the national level will be composed of sev-eral Cabinet members and agency heads, and eight sec-toral representatives from the urban poor, peasants, fisherfolk and indigenous peoples, as part of the basic sectors directly involved in land use but no representa-tion from business.

“The bill gives too few, and even no representation in certain instances, from

much-needed business and technical and other sectors who should be able to share their inputs,” said Paul Tan-chi, SHDA president.

“To ensure a more prac-tical, efficient and balanced land-use planning, all signif-icant stakeholders, includ-ing the developers, private professional planning and business sectors and others, must be represented.”

SHDA has recommend-ed involving technical and multi-industry representa-tives from tourism, retail, education, services, local business and even parks planners.

“The active participation of people’s organizations and other stakeholders who can contribute their exper-tise, experience and techni-cal, social and commercial know-how will help create sound land-use policies that

will be beneficial to all,” Tan-chi added.

SHDA said it fully sup-ports the passage of the bill, its environmental planning, its consideration of agri-culture and social concern through representatives, but has proposed a few enhance-ments.

“Aside from increasing private-sector involvement in land-use planning, we also recommended that on top of the visionary time frame of 30 years, we need a time frame of 10 years for imple-menting workplans for the National Physical Frame-work Plan, with five-year reviews for adjustments where warranted, and the in-clusion of the Anti-Red Tape Act in getting clearances for land development. Penalties should deter abuses and negligence but not be dispro-portionate or counter sound

practical policy,” SHDA Board Governor for Legislative Concerns George Siy said.

The two pending bills were the subject of a tech-nical working group meet-ing under the Special Com-mittee on Land Use.

“We will all need to make our inputs known to help craft a land-use plan-ning structure good for the most number in our coun-try, in a sustainable way, for decades to come. Giv-en the open exchange and open-minded approach of the sectors in the last technical working group, these bills’ outcome may yet become a landmark in the way the government, private sectors and nongov-ernmental organizations/people’s organizations may work together toward the good of all and the country,” Siy added.

More multisectoral represe ntation for land use act urged


US auto giant Ford ordered a recall of nearly 150,000 of

its popular Escape vehi-cle, citing a potential risk of engine fire.

The vehicles in ques-tion are the 2013 model equipped with the 1.6 liter engine, manufac-tured between October 2011 and June 2013.

Some 139,917 ve-hicles affected by the recall are at risk of local-ized overheating of the engine cylinder which could lead to an oil leak resulting in fire.

The automaker said it was aware of 12 inci-dents where this was be-lieved to have occurred in the United States and Canada.

Ford also wants to re-inspect some 9,469 vehi-cles which were already subjected to a recall last year, because of con-cerns of the possibility of a fuel leak leading to a fire.

Reports of gasoline odors in the affected vehicles had prompted concerns that repairs on the vehicles had not been properly carried out.

Last year some 85,000 Escapes were recalled in two phases between July and Novem- ber. [AFP]

6

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

Antonio dela Cruz talks about the upcoming 6th Mindanao Regional Convention of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, Inc. set on November 29-30 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel during yesterday’s Club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Ford recalls 150,000 vehicles over fire risk

As makeshift mar-kets pop up in the Leyte province

in a bid for normality after Typhoon Haiyan, Universal Storefront Services Corporation (USSC) – anchor Agent of The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) – has successfully re-opened two key loca-tions in Tacloban to of-fer international money transfer services. USSC is the first to enable the transfer of much need-ed cash from overseas for embattled residents in this worst hit area. Despite the operating

challenges, USSC stores along Rizal Avenue and MH del Pilar Street in Tacloban are coping by running on power gen-erators with cash be-ing flown in from Cebu to replenish the cash stocks badly needed by the beneficiaries in Tacloban. In addition, 14 other USSC stores throughout Leyte and Samar have also re-sumed operations as soon as cellular sig-nals became available. “Just like much of the province, we are mak-ing do with what lit-tle we have. A power

generator is not ideal but it is getting the job done and as of this mo-ment, the stores are able to pay out all money transfers,” said Gabri-el Parades, President & CEO, Universal Store-front Services Corp. He added, “Just days earlier, USSC officers from the Visayas Re-gion boarded the mili-tary C130 cargo plane to search for employees possibly hurt or missing from their washed out premises in the prov-ince. They also distrib-uted 5,000 packs of relief goods to the needy. We

do our best to always be there for our customers, employees, and the com-munity; and this gets af-firmed every time there is a national disaster.” “The opening of the two USSC locations will provide much needed cash injections to those that need it most; sent by loved ones and well-wish-ers from overseas,” said Patricia Riingen, Senior Vice Presi-dent, East & South Asia, Western Union. “Western Union and USSC have been pro-viding services to

our loyal customers in the Philippines for 18 years out of our 22 year tenure in the Philippines. It is times like these it be-comes ever more of a priority to contin-ue servicing them,” said Patricia Riingen. To enable more con-sumers around the world to support the re-lief efforts in response to Typhoon Haiyan’s aftermath, Western Union announced no-fees on inward trans-fers from 43 countries into the Philippines un-til November 30, 2013.

Western Union services resume in Tacloban


IN a tree-planting endeav-or, there can be no way of complaining against

any pre-midday trek over footprint-marked and mud-

caked road as the air is cool and refreshing, the ground is soft supporting every step and it comes with a view not seen in the city.

At the end of every road is a place to get down on one’s knee, feel the earth, se-lect a seedling and plant.

These seedlings should

not be just trees but native species carefully selected for being more suitable to restore the natural process-es and diversity of forests.

This should be the fundamental principle to be followed in the entire tree-planting efforts of both the government and the pri-vate sector since a patch of trees does not automatically make a forest, according to Haribon Foundation.

“We religiously follow this principle in contrast with common and disturb-ing trend in reforestation efforts in the Philippines that prefer the planting of exotic or alien trees in place of the original forest,” Maria Belinda de la Paz, the foun-dation’s officer-in-charge and head of its Advocacy Di-vision, said.

Popular trees such as mahogany, acacia mangium and gmelina are considered exotic and could have det-rimental effects to the local ecosystem as they tend to alter the soil around them, preventing other plants to thrive, De la Paz added.

Susceptible to diseases and can easily be ravaged by insects since they are not used to local environmental conditions, exotic trees in-crease the acidity of the soil, which prevents other plants to grow and multiply. [PNA]

SENATOR Loren Legarda yester-day said that Ty-

phoon Yolanda is the new benchmark for di-saster prevention and preparedness, which means that communities should be ready for ty-phoons with wind speed of above 300 kph, even if this means upgrading standards for buildings.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Climate Change and Environment and Natu-ral Resources, said that recent disasters in the country show the need to upgrade the standards for building infrastruc-ture to ensure that they withstand strong winds and quakes.

“We must build resil-

ient, stronger and bet-ter communities, which means we have to raise the standard for build-ing structures in the country. We must design structures that can re-sist winds of more than 300 kph and intensity 9 earthquakes,” she ex-plained.

“This would be chal-lenging and may cost more, but it is more chal-lenging and more costly to provide relief and re-build communities every single time a typhoon arrives or a strong earth-quake occurs because of lack of preparedness. Natural hazards are in-evitable but we can pre-vent them from turning into disasters if we are prepared,” she stressed.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage-ment Council, Typhoon Yolanda had a wind speed of about 235 kph; while the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol registered an intensity 7 ground shake in the province.

Legarda said that in building community re-silience, the structural integrity of buildings and other structures should not be compromised. For instance, coastal struc-tures, including roads and bridges, should be built and designed considering a two-meter sea-level rise due to climate change.

She stressed that all new schools and hospitals must be designed with di-

saster prevention and mit-igation in mind and built

with extra safety mea-sures.

The UN Office for Disas-ter Risk Reduction (UNIS-DR) recommends that all new hospitals and schools add 4% of total construc-tion cost to be spent on di-saster mitigation and extra safety measures.

Moreover, local gov-ernment units must also include in their devel-opment and investment plans the establishment of disaster-resilient shelters against typhoon, storm surge and tsunami.

“We must rebuild com-munities aware of the les-sons of Yolanda, Sendong, Pablo, the Bohol quake and all other major disasters that have brought us to our feet. We must not rebuild the risk. We must rebuild wiser and smarter,” Legarda concluded.

7EDGEDAVAO

ENVIRONMENT

Senator Loren Legarda, UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Cli-mate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, urged the business sector to pro-mote disaster resilience in their operations and in the communities where they operate during her speech at the Top Leaders Forum organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and SM Prime on November 22, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Yolanda, new benchmarkfor disaster prevention

THE Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) is ready to work with

Davao’s local government in readying the city for any catastrophic effects of cli-mate change.

“What we can offer is in the creation of research studies, appropriate use of technology, promotion of climate change awareness and disaster preparedness in addressing the chal-lenges of climate change,” said Lourdesita Sobreve-ga-Chan, chair of the Uni-versity Research Council (URC).

Chan said they wanted to help in adapting to the changing climate systems and are willing to share talent and skills for work readiness with the city gov-ernment.

This means ADDU could utilize researches based on natural and social sciences and through its ex-isting centers or institutes like Tropical Institute for Climate Studies, the Center for Renewable Energy and Alternative Technology and the Ateneo Migration Cen-ter.

Fr. Daniel McNamara, S.J., dean of ADDU’s school of Arts and Sciences said “ there is global warming, things are not the way be-fore, so we must be ready.”

He said the people should use their God-given gift brain in maximizing all resources to prepare the city and nearby provinces for the extraordinary ef-

fects of climate change.Dr. Gemma Narisma,

head of the Manila Obser-vatory, for her part said it is very crucial to look at cli-mate change on a wholistic point of view.

“What is important is decision making should be evidence-based. We need to study things with con-crete evidence on things that have been studied be-fore coming up with a deci-sion,” she said.

Fr. McNamara joined Narisma in saying that evidence-based informa-tion backed up with real science and technology is needed to come up certain decisions for disaster pre-paredness.

Aside from research studies and communi-ty education on climate change and disaster pre-paredness through the University Community Engagement and Advoca-cy Council, ADDU is also ready to produce survival kits invented by their own science engineering stu-dents. [PNA]

Chan said the survival kit contains solar lamps, miniature water purifier, charging gadgets, and a food processing equip-ment that could last for seven days.

She said the school will not make a business out of the survival kit but ADDU would want to work and improve on it for unpredictable disas-ters. [PNA]

Planting exotic trees not good for local ecosystem—Haribon

Ateneo to tie up with LGUin disaster preparedness


Due recognition for Davao’s media

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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AQUILES Z. ZONIOCorrespondent

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR / CHENEEN R. CAPON

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PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTEthe national association of newspapers

EDITORIAL

AT a very young age of six, EDGE Davao has, modesty aside, been noticed by the awards-giving organization.

This year has been a good run thus far. A rec-ognition from the prestigious Philippine Press Institute (PPI) as Best in Science Reporting warmed our hearts as we enter only the second year of our existence as a daily publication. In simple yet heartwarming ways, we are inspired to work harder in improving our craft despite the limitations of a new and struggling organi-zation.

Most recently, telecommunications giant Globe Telecom Inc. in its 2nd Globe Davao Me-dia Excellence Awards (DMEA) gave Edge Davao nominations in three categories for print publi-cations—Feature Story of the Year for Neilwin Joseph Bravo’s story “Living Light of Pegalon-

gan”, Columnist of the Year for Leandro Daval Sr. for “Not a Privilege but a Right”, and Photo-journalist of the Year for “Conversation” by Lean Daval Jr.

We may not have won it all the way but the nomination itself is a great honor coming from such a prestigious organization as Globe. We sincerely thank Globe and the men and women comprising this year’s board of judges. We can-not thank you enough for recognizing our hum-ble efforts.

To the winners of the Globe DMEA, we extend our sincere congratulations for another produc-tive and socially-responsible media practice. In-deed, Davao media—from print, television, radio and electronic-social—has proven once again the extensive influence and the importance of such vigilance of an informed and empowered industry.


Part 1 of 2

AQUILES Z. ZONIOCorrespondent

BY NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT

COMMENTARY

VANTAGE POINTS 9EDGEDAVAO

Understanding the trade

Malaysia offers helping hand to Filipinos

COMPLEX BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN – One have to learn a career and this will take them to

higher levels of their profession. While striving moments come into one’s job particularly in economic reporting, they come only on occasion. Journalism ex-perts say that the technique remains the same, an old one: forget the notion that business and economic stories are all about figures. Some eminent economists and financial experts had never failed to make known the importance of business and economic journalism.

Perhaps owing to a broader spectrum of sorts, they have reminded would-be business and economic writers that business reporting is complex, but not impossible to learn. Their most basic tips, of course, is to fully understand the trade – thorough study and research, fo-cus on business news updates and avoid economic jargon.

Another important reminder of ex-perts to business reporters is that to have an understanding of economics is likewise to recognize the largest part of life, contemplate the relationship be-tween the money people earn and the money they need. Like reporting on politics, crime, weather or the environ-ment, lifestyle and sports, business and economic writing is basically about peo-ple. It’s about people making a living, all kinds of living.

An understanding of economics is an understanding of life’s principal preoc-cupation – economics is about what we earn and what we get for it. However, the job is not going to be an easy one. These days there are many things that the busi-ness and economic journalists will have to battle against. For instance, there is social apathy, or the way people do things and look at things – administra-tive inefficiency, political power-seeking

and corrup-tion.

Some help-ful tips make specific rec-o m m e n d a -tions to aspir-ing business and economic writers, and I’m becom-ing to be one. Among them are: books and handy guides designed primarily to immediately improve one’s business writing skill. The hardest part, though, is how to turn all the verbiage and figures into stories that are interest-ing and intelligible to the average reader.

But if that sounds too tough for an aspiring business writer or reporter, then he or she may want to continue to concentrate on the police and crime beat, sports and lifestyle events, or even the political beat and spend their morn-ings in the coffee shops. Nevertheless, if you don’t get to become a business and economic journalist, you will be missing something – something to do with real life, real work and real people.

HIGH SPOTS OF GROWTH IN THE LOCAL BEAUTY INDUSTRY – Beauty and skin care clinics and hairstyling saloons are turning its attention to the rapidly expanding beauty market. Davao City is a case in point. Here, shops of beau-ty specialists and hair styling experts armed with a vast array of beauty and hair care products – branded shampoo, conditioners, gels, top-of-the-line and popular cosmetic supplements could be worth a visit for the beauty conscious people.

The proliferation of beauty and skin care and hair styling outlets in the city, which can be categorized in different

classes are good for the highly demand-ing beauty patrons. The highly profitable beauty industry has a strong presence not only in well-developed countries, but likewise throughout the Philippines particularly in Davao City. Different ide-al customers will find them anywhere - in numerous commercial centers, shop-ping malls, entertainment complex, or even in street corners.

Perhaps beauty conscious women or even some men nowadays put an average of five to seven products on their faces each morning or maybe even more before they get out of the front door. And we’ve not even men-tion the hair care supplements they applied on their sensitive hairs. That is precisely the reason why beauty and skin care and hair styling busi-ness managed to identify all the hot spots of growth in the local beauty industry.

As ever, with the successes of the beauty industry, entrepreneurs take an innovative approach. Medium to top beauty and skin care clinics and hair styling shops have to innovate things that would appeal to both ends of the age spectrum and to the very different customer levels. And most importantly, they have to be good at guessing what the customers really want.

Some business analysts likewise cite the other bigger beauty and hair care companies’ advertising and pro-motions budget and the fact is that its result is more efficient than that of other line of businesses. Less pres-tigious outlets, however, rely heavily on the mass market or low-budget consumer audience therefore we see no reason why the beauty industry shouldn’t keep on growing including even the smallest entrepreneurs.

AWAY FROM the glare of global and national publicity, Malaysia and other countries like Vietnam, Indo-

nesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Brunei, etc, flew in their own aircraft and sent in their navy boats, all loaded with rescue teams and re-lief goods for the survivors of Leyte, Samar and other provinces devastated by the su-per typhoon Yolanda.

Malaysia, in particular, brought in six big cargo planes loaded with doctors, nurses, food, water, blankets, relief cloth-ing, and their own mobile hospital to take care of the sick, wounded and survivors needing medical attention. Malaysia was one of the countries which responded first and immediately to the death and devasta-tion in Tacloban and Ormoc.

To my friend Consul General Abdulah Zawawi Tahir of the Malaysian Consulate here in Davao, the deadly reality of global climate change is REAL and he has seen it with his own eyes.

Tahir has seen it first with the Typhoon Pablo, the strongest typhoon ever to hit Davao, killing nearly 2,000--- and second, the strongest typhoon in the world ever to hit the Visayan region, killing nearly 6,000 people.

These are two devastating, mind-bog-

gling weather disturbances set into motion by the erratic changes in the global climate brought about by too much gas and carbon dioxide emis-sions in the at-mosphere.

“I already prepared my-self to face these challenges of climate change when I was still in South Korea. Our relief efforts after Typhoon Pablo has given me an exposure on how to handle and overcome the huge efforts to help the victims of these typhoons,” Tahir said in a text message to me.

Malaysia, among other countries, were in the midst of the hardest-hit areas of Compostela, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental, right after Pablo wiped out whole towns and villages with the strongest winds villagers ever saw in their entire lives, bringing in huge floods that washed away everything in sight.

“I hope our little efforts may save mil-

lions of our brothers and sisters here in the Philippines. We can make this country stand up again. Together we can do it! Let’s support our efforts to help Filipino victims and survivors of this calamity,” Tahir said.

The Malaysian consul general pleaded for help from everyone all over the world to help in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the typhoon-hit areas in the Vi-sayas. It’s easy to see how much Malaysia cares for people in the Philippines.

On several occasions here, I usually found myself seated on the same table with Consul Tahir discussing about var-ious industries and the global economy in general---he’s probably one of the most educated Malaysian friends I ever had.

If one could just step back a little and see how much Malaysia is helping the island of Mindanao in working out a lasting peace agreement between Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Phil-ippine government, hoping to see per-manent peace--- one would appreciate how much all these efforts will mean to the future of Filipinos in the Philippine south.

(Comments ? Email me > [email protected])

BY the end of the year, American taxpayers will no longer be part owners of General Motors. That is good news all around. Na-

tionalization of a private company rarely makes economic sense. Even for red-blooded socialists, the ownership of the means of production has long been an empty threat, a totemic cul de sac that for years led socialism down the wrong path. Regulation is a far better way to ensure an industry works for the public good.

The federal government is not best-suited to administer a private industry. The emergency that once threatened American motor manufac-turing has passed. State intervention has forced much-needed restructuring into a hidebound business riddled with grandfathered practices and anachronistic benefits. Intervention avoid-ed the deleterious knock-on effects of the col-lapse of a major domestic industry, helped the external balance of payments, and saved thou-sands of skilled jobs in good time.

The return of GM to wholly private hands will no doubt set off hand-wringing from those who would have preferred GM to go prop-erly bust during the financial panic of 2008, then restructure itself without state help. Those who opposed Steven Rattner’s motor rescue argue that government intervention to prevent a com-pany from going broke interferes in a timeless process of rebirth as natural as the change of the seasons.

Quoting the Austrian Joseph Schumpet-er’s notion of “creative destruction,” a term borrowed from Karl Marx, such dogmatic har-bingers of woe welcome bankruptcies and busi-ness collapses as a means towards purposeful regeneration. Expect them to concentrate on the costs to the federal government of keeping the American motor manufacturing industry alive; do not expect them to estimate the real cost — to the shareholders, to the motor workers, to the nation — of allowing it to die.

Other “Austerians” point to the Austrian thinker Friedrich Hayek’s warnings of govern-ments encouraging investment in the wrong in-dustries, leading to more unemployment in the long run than can be saved in the short run. But Hayekians tend to be backseat drivers, always quick to criticize and slow to offer any alterna-tive except a hopeless shrug.

The common theme among those who would prefer to invite an industrial doomsday rather than put it off is the assumption that there can be no gain without pain. The notion of punishment for the wicked is also prevalent among those advocating austerity: to atone for previous sins — such as the Greeks borrowing too much to maintain a lifestyle they could ill af-ford — lean years should be imposed in which everyone must trim their standard of living and pay reparations.

Some, such as the Dutch and Germans, have used austerity to punish southern Europeans, such as the Greeks and the Spanish, they felt had not worked hard enough to live as well as they do. Some, such as David Cameron’s government in Britain, set out on a needless program of aus-terity which suited those who believed Marga-ret Thatcher’s program of privatization of state assets and dismantling of the welfare state had not gone far enough. The result was two unnec-essary recessions in the UK on top of the 2008 recession and an undignified insistence by the well-heeled in government, for whom austeri-ty is a minor irritation, that everyone but them must make sacrifices.

Here we have highly-paid shills for big business advocating austerity for everyone except the super-rich. The economic royalists have never had it so good, paying for a mantra that has taken hold of the political discourse, that debt is bad and public debt the worst of all.

We are living at a time when borrowing has never been so cheap — the European Cen-tral Bank is even talking about levying “nega-tive interest rates” – and the cost of keeping people out of jobs has never been so high. Yet the dominant thrust of an economic argu-ment that has gained universal respectability, even among Democrats, is not that everyone should be put back to work without delay, but that high unemployment should become per-manent to ensure that public debts are paid off fast.

The twisted politics of enforced economic

pain

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 201310 EDGEDAVAONEWS

Davao City...

Judge sets...

FFROM 2

FFROM 2

THE National Eco-nomic Development Authority in Region

11 is readying a communi-cation and advocacy plan (CAP) for the public dis-semination of the updated Davao Regional Develop-ment Plan for 2014-2016.

NEDA11 has partnered with the Communication for Development Network (C4DNet) in crafting a plan through the recently held two-day Communication and Advocacy Planning Workshop on the Updated RDP which was approved by the Regional Develop-ment Council 11 last week.

NEDA 11 region-al director Ma. Lourdes Lim said the enhanced CAP outlines advocacy activi-ties and appropriate com-munication strategies, as well as core messages for advocating the RDP which is in line with the Philip-pine Development Plan.

The CAP involves three phases of implementation to start off with building

public awareness of the mid-term achievements of the RDP which will be done during the first half of 2014.

The second phase to be undertaken on the sec-ond half of 2014 will re-quire activities aiming at increasing knowledge and shaping up attitudes and behavior among stake-holders for effective execu-tion of the updated RDP’s policies and programs.

The advocacy plan’s 3rd phase intends to com-municate updated RDP’s results and outcomes to sustain motivation for con-tinuity. Activities for this phase will be carried out in 2015.

The CAP activities to include roadshows/cara-vans and media mileage will be pursued next year after the launching of the Updated RDP on Decem-ber 13.

Lim raised the need to engage the C4DNet in car-rying out the CAP activities

to bring public awareness and appreciation of the enhanced RDP for the next three years, and to involve stakeholders in the imple-mentation of the plan.

The C4DNet is RDC 11’s communication and advocacy arm which is composed of information officers of NEDA 11, na-tional line government agencies and provincial/city local government units.

“We have to create synergy so that our key messages will not be con-flicting,” Lim told the C4D-Net officers and members during the CAP workshop.

She said “advocacy activities shall be under-taken to the extent possi-ble in order to reach our stakeholders at the local level.”

“Communication has to take place before peo-ple can get fully involved. People need to be aware, gain knowledge of, ap-preciate and believe, and

ultimately support or do what is written in the plan. In other words, we want people to own—or invest in—the plan to at-tain inclusive growth,” she further stated.

During the CAP work-shop, Philippine Informa-tion Agency 11 regional director Efren F. Elban-buena provided vital in-puts on “Planning a Com-munication Campaign,” as he shared experiences and best practices in deliver-ing government messages to the public.

Professor Ma. Teresa Escano of the University of the Philippines Mindanao College of Humanities dis-cussed the processes and dynamics of communica-tion planning, particularly on the ROPE (Research, Objectives, Programming, and Evaluation) process, which ultimately leads to the crafting of a Commu-nication Plan. [PIA 11/Ca-rina L. Cayon with reports from NEDA 11]

Localize...FFROM 1

public, but it lacks imple-mentation.

Acosta added that they already discussed this mat-ter during the executive and legislative agenda, adding that although there are no commitments from other councilors, there were no objections either.

“Hopefully, by next year we shall have a series of committee hearings on this.” she said.

Acosta invited media practitioners and other

stakeholders to attend the committee hearing next year as to what provisions need to be included in the proposal.

“Tell us what agencies na mahirap hingian ng in-formations and tell us the kind of public documents that you need especially when it comes to public welfare so that when we draft the ordinance ‘swak’ talaga siya sa pangangail-angan,” Acosta told report-ers.

LTO welcomes...FFROM 2

known as the Land Trans-portation and Traffic Code allows a maximum speed at 80 kilometers on open roads without blind cor-ners, the local government sets it down to 60 kilome-ters per hour.

“The city government has the liberty to lower it down from 80 to 60 on open roads and from 40 to 30 within the city thor-oughfares. This is indeed a good news for everyone

that the city mayor has lowered the speed of land transportation,” she said.

Calderon stressed that though it is not mentioned on the local ordinance, the national law states that speed must be lowered at 20 kilometers per hour when approaching school zones.

She said that in order to effectively enforce the law, traffic enforcers need speed guns to track the

pace of vehicles.Calderon also stressed

the need to check on the speedometers of vehicles.

“Unfortunately, there are many public utility vehicles which no longer have speedometers. They need to install new speed-ometers so that we can effectively determine if in-deed there is a violation, as we when enforce the law using the speed guns,” she said.

Calderon said speed guns must be provided in routes which have speed limits to ascertain the com-pliance of motorists.

She also reminded mo-torists to use their head-lights at night to avoid ac-cidents.

Calderon said head-lights must be switched on thirty minutes before sun-set and thirty minutes after sunrise. [PIA 11/Joey Sem G. Dalumpines]

It aims to identify op-portunities and sustain-ability strategies for cities to retain economic viabili-ty and competitiveness in a climate-defined future. “

“We should think of a city with no downtime,” Luz said during the NCC Roadshow at the Pinnacle Hotel, adding that most in-dustries in the city rely on electricity and other ser-vices that can be affected by typhoons, earthquakes and storm surge. This will surely lessen the competi-tiveness of the city.

He said that the gov-ernment of Davao City should study closely the risk assessment report of World Wide Fund for Na-ture-Philippines (WWF), geo hazard map, weather report of PAG-ASA because typhoons, and earthquakes strike anytime of the year.

For instance, the entry points of typhoons used to be in easten Luzon (Le-gaspi, Albay, or Camaranes Sur), but now its is already “unpredictable.” He said that Davao and Mindanao used to be typhoon-free, but after typhoon Pab-lo caused devastation in Davao Oriental, Compos-tela Valley and portions of Davao del Norte, nothing is impossible anymore.

He urged the city to make a risk disaster plan to avoid what happened to Tacloban in the future

“The lesson here is we need to be prepared and we need to plan. This is the reason why we need tools and plans and to see where we are most vulner-able,“ Luz said. “Climate change is a reality and it can affect livelihood,”Luz ended.

Last 2005, Olanolan sued former city admin-istrator Wendel Avisado, City legal Officer Melchor Quitain, and City Accoun-tant Rizalina Justol for refusing to recognize him as the village chief of Ba-

rangay 76-A and refusing to release government funds to him. This after the Supreme Court ruled that Celso Tizon and not Olanolan was the legit-imate barangay captain of 76-A.

NEDA, C4DNet set advocacyplan for DRDP 2014-2016

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION. Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta discloses during yesterday’s Club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo Davao the City Council’s plan to propose a local version of freedom of information on all transactions entered into by local and national government agencies within the Davao City for the benefit of the public. At right is Cecilia Cardoza, principal of Josefa Llanes Escoda Elementary School, who discussed the ground elevation joint community project, a joint project of the community, government and private sectors to produce landfill to elevate the school’s grounds. Lean Daval Jr.


BIGGER PICTURE

Houses to live, a community to belong – a dream come true

PERSONS WITH DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES:

“YOU are now part and parcel of our lives. You did not

only give us dwellings to live, you also paved the way for us to dream how to live our lives. And what we have to-day is a dream come true”.

Thus said Debrah Estre-ba, President of the Samahan ng may iba’t ibang Kakayah-an sa Dabaw or SAKADAB, in her response message during the turnover ceremo-ny last Saturday, November 23, 2013 of the new Produc-tivity Center constructed at the Davao City government’s relocation site at Barangay Los Amigos, Tugbok District. SAKADAB is an organization of differently abled persons who endeavor to live nor-mal lives despite their be-ing physically-challenged. The Productivity Center is a facility built specifically to provide venue for livelihood activities for its members and their families who are now residing at the Gawad Kalinga-SAKADAB Village in dormitories and duplexes constructed by volunteers from various entities includ-ing those from government and the business sector. Si-multaneous with the turn-over SAKADAB also opened its bakery and sari-sari store.

By “you”, Debra says “I mean the Gawad Kalinga, Davao Light & Power Co., Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., the City Government of Davao, the Our Lady of Victory Train-ing Center, people like Mr. Art Milan, Mr. Oscar Hilado, Sister Cecelia Wood, Mr. Vic Rosario, then Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Carpio, Mayor

Rody Duterte, Nilo Claudio and Architects Rene and Syl-via Rieta”. “Your unwavering support and hand-holding has inspired us to keep mov-ing despite physical challeng-es that hinder our mobility”.

“Whatever we do and wherever our activities bring us, we know we now have residences that we can go home to; that we have a community we can claim we belong”, Debrah who is wheelchair bound, added with tears rolling down her cheeks.

She and the other mem-bers of her group were once wards at Our Lady of Vic-tory Training Center (OLV) in Sasa. While inside they underwent therapy or phys-ical rehabilitation. The hard-er process though was the building of their confidence as human beings knowing society’s bias on people of their kind.

But it was their stay at OLV that also made them whole. They were taught various livelihood skills and people relationship building all of which were aimed at preparing them when they move out of the center and go back to the mainstream community.

Early on, according to Debrah, OLV took one more step higher in its preparation for the release of the differ-ently-abled from its fold. OLV president Art M. Milan tied up with the Gawad Kalinga Davao for the mobilization of resources as well as to find a place where a new communi-ty for her group will be built.

After a series of nego-

tiations with the local gov-ernment of Davao City then under Mayor Sara Duter-te-Carpio through the City Social Services and Develop-ment Office (CSSDO), and the Office of the City Housing, a portion of the city’s reloca-tion site in Los Amigos was allocated for the construction of duplex houses and dor-mitories for the families of Samahan ng mga may iba’t-ibang Kakayahan sa Dabaw.

As the land was made available and the Gawad Ka-linga Development Founda-tion entered into an agree-ment with the city, a massive material and financial re-

source generation for the construction of houses was started. GK networked with various business, academic, and other non-government organizations to tap volun-teers that will do the con-struction job.

On November 24, 2012 the GK-SAKADAB house build was launched. Thou-sands came to offer their hands and expertise. The sponsors as well as funds and material donors for the house constructions were there. OLV’s chairman Mr. Oscar Hilado who is also chairman of the Board of the Phinma Group of Companies

was also around to provide inspiration to the volunteer builders. Sister Wood, OLV’s executive director, was there as well. So do were the execu-tives of sponsoring business organizations.

On April of 2012 all three duplex houses and three dormitories were completed with lively colors. One duplex unit was built by employee volunteers of the city gov-ernment. Another unit was primarily constructed by previous GK housing benefi-ciaries. Another duplex unit’s construction was spearhead-ed by the association of Pili-pinas Shell fuel dealers. The duplexes house the families of married SAKADAB mem-bers.

The construction of the dormitories that now house the single differently-abled individuals was led by cor-porate volunteers. One dor-mitory was built by cement maker Holcim Philippines employees. Another was constructed by volunteers from Aboitiz-owned Davao Light. The third one was put up by volunteers from Union Galvasteel.

Behind the build initi-ators were the hundreds of other volunteers sent by schools, barangays and other private groups.

The units were official-ly turned over to Debrah’s SAKADAB on April 20, 2013. These were however, not oc-cupied until late September when installation of power and water facilities were completed.

Exactly one year ago

last Saturday, Debrah made her emotional statement right in front of a happy, yet sober, crowd of people in-cluding the families of the SAKADAB housing benefi-ciaries. The occasion was the formal turnover of a P1.2 million Productivity Center. The building construction was funded by Davao Light through Aboitiz Foundation, with counterpart from OLV. It now houses a bakery and a store. Both enterprises are run and managed by SAKAD-AB members. The bakers were trained to bake bread and other pastries while they were still at OLV.

In their messages both Mr. Hilado and Mr. Milan said that the GK-SAKAD-AB housing village and the Productivity Center is a “dream come true” for the former OLV wards. This Debrah proudly echoed in her thanksgiving speech, adding that what she said is not just hers but those of her fellow housing benefi-ciaries who feel that hav-ing a house to live and a center to work for a living is their collective “dream come true” as well.

Meanwhile the GK De-velopment Foundation is well aware that its mission for the SAKADAB does not end with just turning over the houses and the pro-ductivity center. It still has to do a lot of hand-holding the organization of the dif-ferently-abled to ensure that they let their “dream come true” live over the years. The SAKADAB bakers show their exceptional baking skills surrounded by their new equipment.

The newly turned over Productivity Center building constructed for members of the Samahan ng may iba’t ibang Kakayahan sa Dabaw (SAKADAB) at the GK-Sakadab Village in Los Amigos with funds from Davao Light & Power Co and Aboitiz Foundation, and counterpart from Our Lady of Victory Training Center.


THE Philippines’ gi-ant band of overseas workers, already re-

garded as national heroes for toiling in foreign lands, are coming to the rescue again as they dig deep to send more cash back to their typhoon-hit home-land.

With relief workers overwhelmed by the mag-nitude of this month’s di-saster and unable to pro-vide adequate support to the millions of survivors living in flattened towns, Filipinos abroad are prov-ing a crucial, direct lifeline.

In the ruined city of Tacloban, farmer Teudolfo Barmisa queued up at a money transfer outlet on Tuesday and withdrew the equivalent of $600 sent by his daughter who works as a maid in Hong Kong.

“The money will go to buying food first, then other supplies to help us rebuild our home, like plywood and cement,” Barmisa told Agence France-Presse.

Barmisa was among hundreds of people with-drawing cash from finan-cial outlets in Tacloban, many of which had just re-opened more than a fort-night after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) killed at least 5,240 people and de-stroyed or damaged one million homes.

Barmisa’s daughter and the other 10 million Filipinos working abroad are commonly referred to at home as “mga bagong bayani” (new heroes) be-cause of their sacrifices in leaving their families to work abroad.

The number overseas is roughly 10% of the pop-ulation – with many of

them working as domestic helpers, laborers, sailors or in other low-paid profes-sions – and they often send much of their savings back home to relatives.

They are forced over-seas because, despite im-pressive economic growth rates in recent years, the Philippines remains in large part a desperately poor country, and their remittances has long been an important plank for the nation’s economy.

The overseas foreign workforce last year sent home $21.39 billion via bank transfers and other official channels, equiva-lent to nearly 10% of the Philippines’ gross domes-tic product. Even more money arrives unofficially. Spike in remittances during disasters

And when a major di-saster strikes in the Philip-pines, the amount of cash coming home spikes.

Remittances jumped an average of 13% to 14% over the 9 months that fol-lowed the country’s previ-ous 10 deadliest typhoons, Patrick Ella, a Manila-based economist at the Philip-pines’ Security Bank, told Agence France-Presse.

A 14% increase over three quarters would equate to about $2.3 bil-lion, based on last year’s remittances.

“But Typhoon Haiyan was definitely an outlier, so the gains will probably be more than usual because of the extent of the damage and the well-publicized problems in the distribu-tion of relief supplies,” he said.

Haiyan was one of the strongest typhoons

ever recorded and gener-ated freak storm surges that swallowed up entire towns.

The confirmed num-ber of fatalities has made Haiyan one of the deadliest storms ever in the Philip-pines, and it could turn out to be the most destructive on record if, as expected, the death toll continues to rise.

Exacerbating the ca-tastrophe is that the worst-hit areas, the eastern is-lands of Leyte and Samar, are among the poorest in the Philippines, with most of the four million people there enduring near sub-sistence farming or fishing lifestyles.

Barmisa, the farmer,

said his family had man-aged to buy a vehicle, a small home and little shop on the outskirts of Taclo-ban using the money sent home by his daughter over the 6 years she had worked in Hong Kong.

All of that was de-stroyed in the storm surg-es.

“Hopefully, when she returns home we will have a house again,” he said, as he left the mon-ey transfer outlet with his daughter’s money. Overseas work-ers return home Some overseas foreign workers have also left their jobs overseas to return home directly with money and emotional support.

Among them is Lourdes Distrajo, a 27-year-old sin-gle mother of two, who lost a son and 12 members of her extended family in the disaster.

She had only recently started working in Kuwait as a maid, and had hoped her $700-a-month salary would pay for her chil-dren’s schooling, renova-tions to her wooden home and sister’s medical bills. Instead she had to quick-ly return to help with the family tragedy.

“My employer was kind enough to allow me to leave, packing supplies and giving me extra cash and a return ticket,” she said.

Distrajo said all the

money she had brought home would be left with the family, barely enough to be able to buy some wood to help rebuild their home and stock up on some supplies.

Distrajo has yet to start dealing properly with the grief of losing her four-year-old son.

“I didn’t even see his body. He was buried in a mass grave along with many others.... I keep ask-ing myself, was it worth it to work abroad? Maybe I could have saved my son,” she said.

But she has no choice to soon return to Kuwait, so that she can once again start sending money back home. [AFP]

12 EDGEDAVAOEDGEDAVAO

NATION

BRIEFING. A Bureau of Immigration official gives a briefing to 31 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal I from Syria via Emirates Airways flight EK 332 on Tuesday (Nov. 26, 2013). [PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.]

MANILA

MANILA MANILA

LAWYERS of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will defend why

the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) should not nullify the warrant of distraint and levy issued by the BIR against the bank accounts of boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emman-uel “Manny” Pacquiao.

According to CTA 1st Division Clerk of Court Atty. Margarette Guzman, the BIR lawyers are set to present their counter-affidavit on Dec. 5, 2013.

Guzman said because of

the warrant of distraint and levy (WDL), Pacquiao cannot take hold of the money in his banks covered by the WDL.

Lawyer Claro Ortiz, coun-sel of the BIR, explained that the weight of the effect of the WDL is heavier compared to the freeze order being issued by the court because the WDL is aimed at confiscating the deposits in the bank ac-counts of Pacquiao in order to settle his tax liability to the government.

According to Guzman, the BIR will counter the doc-

umentary evidence submit-ted by the camp of Pacquiao during the court hearing on Dec. 5.

However, Guzman re-fused to disclose what are the pieces of evidence sub-mitted by Pacquiao’s camp last month since the justices of the CTA will still have to study the same.

The case at the CTA arose when Pacquiao’s lawyers filed a petition for review asking the court to cancel the assessment made by the BIR that he and his wife failed to

pay taxes amounting to P2.2 billion for taxable years 2008 and 2009.

Pacquiao maintained that he paid the right taxes for his fights against Ricky Hatton, Oscar de la Hoya, Da-vid Diaz and Miguel Cotto in the United States.

He argued that in fact, his promoter, Top Rank issued a document which was sub-mitted to the BIR to prove that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has withheld the proper taxes from Pac-quiao’s income. [PNA]

BIR to defend warrant of distraint, levy vs. Pacquiao’s bank accounts

OFWs: Typhoon lifeline once more

MALACANANG as-sured on Wednes-day it will work to

pass the 2014 national bud-get before year-end to en-sure swift implementation of the Aquino administration’s projects and programs.

“We will work with lead-ers of Congress to ensure the timely enactment of the GAA (General Appropria-tions Act) for 2014 before year-end 2013, as we have done so every year since 2010,” Presidential Commu-nications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said in a text message to Palace reporters.

“Timely passage of the national budget is an essen-tial foundation of good gov-ernance in the Aquino ad-ministration,” he added.

The Aquino administra-tion has observed the early enactment of the budget for three years in a row.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved the P2.26-trillion national budget for 2014 and allocated P100 billion for the calamity and rehabilitation fund.

With such approval, the General Appropriations Bill will now enter the Sen-ate-House bicameral con-ference committee delibera-tions.

It is the first national budget approved by the Sen-ate without the controversial Priority Development Assis-tance Fund (PDAF) which the Supreme Court recently declared as unconstitutional following the “pork barrel” scam. [PNA]

Early passage of 2014 budget assured

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 13

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EDGEDAVAO

COMMUNITY SENSE

SCHOLARS of Sun Life Financial Philippines Foundation, Inc. re-

cently enjoyed bonding with their Sun Life family in a reunion organized by the country’s top life insurer. The 36 scholars under Sun Life Foundation’s wing, who are enrolled in different uni-versities including the Uni-versity of the Philippines Diliman, University of San Carlos (Cebu), Central Min-danao University, and Min-danao State University – Ili-gan spent a full day with the company’s top executives last November 23. They were giv-en the opportunity to explore The Mind Museum, which is the Foundation’s partner organization; and partic-ipate in “SunPiology,” the company’s annual fun run. Also, in keeping with Sun Life’s advocacy of promoting financial literacy, a personal financial planning session

was conducted to equip the scholars with essential knowledge in their journey towards financial security.“We want our scholars to know that they are a part of the Sun Life family and we are here to support them all the way,” said Sun Life Foun-dation Inc. Executive Director JoubMiradora. “This day gave us the opportunity to get to know them more and provide moral support as they pursue their goals in life.

For their part, the scholars were happy to know the people behind their scholarships as well as their fellow scholars. “I really enjoyed bonding with the Sun Life family and the experience was more than I hoped for,” shared Kimberly Lucero, who graduated with a BS Biology degree from the University of San Carlos with the help of Sun Life,

and is now pursuing med-icine studies.

Her sentiment was echoed by CJ Santiago, a BS Statistics student in UP Diliman. “The executives were very warm and they really made us feel like we are a part of the family,” he said.

Moreover, he found inspiration in his fellow scholars. “Since almost all of them graduated with honors, I’m even more motivated to do well in school,” he explained. Meanwhile, Crista Jane Ni-tuda, who graduated with-honors in BS Biology at Mindanao State University, feels lucky that she’s still considered a part of the family even if she has al-ready finished school and is now an Ecosystem Man-agement Specialist at the Department of Environ-ment of Natural Resources.

IN just two weeks after Ty-phoon Yolanda wreaked havoc in Eastern Visayas,

the Philippine Health In-surance Corporation (Phil-Health) announced that its local health insurance offic-es in the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc are now up and running to serve the health insurance needs of members and non-members alike.

PhilHealth fulfilled its promise to open the two leading offices Monday, No-

vember 25, after suffering from heavy damage from strong winds and storm surges.

“We are back in opera-tion in these two major cities for the benefit of our mem-bers and partners, thanks to our resilient and dedicated team in Region VIII” Phil-Health President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla said.

PhilHealth earlier as-sured the public that at least seven of their local health

insurance offices and ser-vice desks in Southern Leyte, Samar and Biliran are still up and running despite the severe damage and very un-usual situation that their em-ployees are in.

“These offices can perform membership reg-istration and verification concerns (without online inquiry due to power out-age) and receiving of ben-efit claims and premium contributions, except for the service desks” Padilla said, adding that members and partners can contact their Yolanda Action Cen-ter at (02) 441-7425 to 26 for PhilHealth’s disaster recovery, rehabilitation and support efforts in the area.

The PhilHealth Chief also said that to institu-tionalize their response during fortuitous events of such magnitude, Phil-Health has issued a poli-cy that will serve as their template of response to ensure continuing health care benefits during such “acts of God”.

In its Circular 34, s-2013 dated November 15, 2013, PhilHealth will pay claims of members and non-members and ac-credited and non-accred-ited hospitals and profes-sionals during such events.

Sun Life holds reunion for scholarsPhilHealth Tacloban, Ormoc offices now open to serve

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 201314 EDGEDAVAO

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CLASSIFIEDS

IF you like watch-ing cooking shows on YouTube, then most certainly, you have heard of him. His name is Barry Lewis and he is MyVirgin-Kitchen. Read on as he unveils himself and gets personal.

Leebai: What 3 foods de-scribe the Virgin Kitchen?Barry: Passion Fruit, Pea-nut Butter Cup and Roast Dinner

L: Do you remember when exactly you became so pas-sionate about food and cooking? B: That’s a good question! It’s quite hard to pinpoint an exact time. I can re-member when I stopped playing football as I want-ed to commit more time to MyVirginKitchen, my friends thought I was mad, but I think then it really hit me. From a fear into a pas-sion & I just wanted to be cooking and trying stuff out!

L: What are your 5 pantry essentials? B: Olive oil, tinned toma-toes, tinned tuna, stock cubes, dried pasta will al-ways be in my kitchen. L: What dishes do you like to prepare on busy week-nights? On weekends? B: I’ve got a thing for mak-ing my own homemade fajita seasonings and just whipping them together, normally chicken, pad it out a little with baked beans but serve them in lettuce leaves rather than the tortillas for a healthier twist! Works great! Stir

frys, curry’s & stews are all good in colder Months but in Warmer weather a quick salad with some grilled meat or fish works a charm!

L: What do you like to cook specially for your wife and two darling princesses?

B: Luckily, they’re all pretty flexible when it comes to food – especially Chloe my youngest Daughter, she’s like a machine and will eat anything! We always sit round the table and eat together. They seem to love a good roast beef dinner with Yorkshire puddings and some honey roast veg.

L: Aside from your family and taste buds, what in-spires you to cook? B: I think food in general if that makes sense! The World of food is so diverse and literally every day I’m finding new stuff out. I’ve

never had a proper cook-ing lesson, so everything I learn is what I stumble upon which I kind of like! That for me is really in-spiring. You can never get bored of food.

L: Of the many recipes you have on your channel,

what can say is the hard-est? The easiest? B: I think the hardest dish I made (at the time) was a Soft Boiled Tempura Egg. Generally, I try to make all of my dishes easy as I don’t want to intimidate people or think I’m a master black belt chef! My favourite speedy dish is a One Pot Creamy Salmon Pasta, which is so great to make in a hurry, minimal ingre-dients, cheap, filling and most of all delicious!

L: Any advice for budding cooks and chefs.B: In terms of cooking,

that’s all about confidence. If you can be bothered to pick up a pan and have a go you are over half way there, the rest is to trust in yourself. In terms of mak-ing videos online, the best advice is to just be yourself and you never know what can happen. I think that’s one of the reasons that things have worked out how they have for me.

L: Have you ever been in Asia? Or any Asian food you have tried? B: I have never been to Asia, but I would absolute-ly love to. I have a friend who has been to Thailand and told me about Pad Thai, so I’m very keen to try that out he absolutely raved about it!

To those who have made my birthday a very special and memorable one, THANK YOU. You know who you are. To Bar-ry Lewis, for the privilege and honor, much love and best regards from the Phil-ippines. Happy birthday, Christian Atienza. Be a part of Davao’s Thursday habit! Email me [email protected] or visit www.chefroyale.com for more recipes. Follow @chefroyaleofficial and me @herroyalheiress on insta-gram! Lovelots!

Clockwise from left: Barry with his Banna Custard Tart. Chargrilled Cumin Chicken with Mango Salsa. Cauliflower Cheese with Phobe.

INdulge! VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013

EDGEDAVAOFOOD

The Royal Chef meets My Virgin Kitchen’s

Barry Lewis

I’ve never had a proper cooking lesson, so everything I learn is what I stumble upon which I kind of like!


A2 INdulge!

GMA Regional TV holds successful trade

events in MindanaoGMA Network, through its regional arm, GMA Re-gional TV, held back-to-back thanksgiving parties in Davao and Cagayan de Oro on No-vember 7 and 8, respectively, to recognize its valued and loyal partners in the trade who have helped them reach another milestone this year. Both occasions were mem-orable celebrations of good food, great entertainment, and lots of surprises. Aside from a sumptuous and de-lectable fiesta-themed buffet, guests were also treated to raffle draws of exciting prizes. And as its way of giving back to its valued partners, GMA Regional TV also staged mini concerts featur-ing some of the biggest and brightest Kapuso stars who provided entertainment to its key partner-advertisers. In Davao, merriment was courtesy of no less than the Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, together with Alden Richards, her leading man in the upcoming prime-time soap Carmela, Sunday All Stars mainstay Maricris Garcia, and Vampire Ang Daddy Ko cast member Glai-za de Castro. The program was hosted by comedians Pe-kto and Boobay. Meanwhile in CDO, Pekto once again hosted the event with enter-tainment provided by Alden and Maricris. Overwhelmed by the Min-

danaoans’ warm reception last September during the Tuna Festival celebration, Marian personally chose to visit the region again to give back to her supporters. “When I learned about this trip in Mindanao, sinabi ko talaga sa sarili ko na sasama ako. Pagkatapos dumugin ng mga tao ‘yung huli naming Fans’ Day ni Dingdong sa GenSan, I made a promise to myself that I will come back here para makapagpasalamat akong muli sa mga Kapusong Mindanaoans,” she said. Some of the men and women behind the success of GMA News and Public Af-fairs Southern and Northern Mindanao were also pres-ent to introduce the anchors, hosts, and producers of their local programs namely Tes-tigo, Una Ka Bai, Isyu Min-danao, and Testigo Northern Mindanao. The News and Public Af-fairs team promises an ex-citing 2014 for the Mindan-

aoans as they plan to “harness the power of social media to further reach out to local and international viewers, con-tinue to live up and further improve on the standards of excellence which has be-come the trademark of GMA News and Public Affairs, and continue to bring Serbisyong Totoo to people who most need their help.” Also in attendance during the trade events was Sr. Pro-gram Manager for RTV-ETV Jocelyn Bautista-Pacleb, who shared how Regional En-tertainment TV has grown by “leaps and bounds” since 2005. She shared how proud she is to become part of a team that launched Let’s Fi-esta—the first and only travel show in Philippine free TV that is focused on bringing viewers to the grandest festi-vals all over the Philippines. In his speech, GMA Re-gional TV’s Assistant Vice President for Integrated Marketing Services Oliver

Amoroso recalled how the Network has established itself as the key partner in promot-ing the best in the Filipino. He mentioned that through its local programs, GMA Re-gional TV consistently pro-vides the regional partners the much needed airtime for

THANKSGIVING IS THE BEST TIME TO SHOP. SM Advantage card holders can get ahead of the Holiday shopping rush at The SM Store’s Thanksgiving Sale on September 28. Get exclusive discounts and savings all day long from the SM Store Davao, General Santos and Lanang Premier. The office is also available for BDO Rewards Card, Prestige Card, Mom’s Card holders!

AirAsia Zest rolls out Piso Fare promo

EVENTUP AND ABOUT

AirAsia Zest’s anticipated Piso fare is back again, this time in conjunction with promo seats available throughout AirAsia and AirAsia X’s extensive route network throughout the re-gion and beyond. AirAsia Zest Piso seats are available for booking at www.airasia.com from today until 1st Dec 2013. Guests will be able to travel from 5 May 2014 up to 31 January 2015 with all-in promo seats starting from as low as Php 353.92 for one way including applicable taxes and fees. Many domestic destinations such as Manila to Cebu, Ta-cloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Tagbilaran and many others are featured in this Piso Fare promo including direct flights from Cebu to Davao, C a g a y a n de Oro and Puerto Princ-esa (Pala-wan). Joy Cane-ba, Executive Vice Presi-dent and Chief Oper-ating Officer of AirAsia Zest said, “Now is the perfect op-portunity for our guests to connect from many places con-veniently as we continuously add new routes and increase frequencies into our network. Exciting deals also await those who would like to travel overseas with promo fares from our Manila and Cebu hubs to various international destinations.” AirAsia Zest is also offering promo fares for international routes from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur and Manila to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Miri (Malaysia), Macau, Incheon and Shanghai from as low Php461 one way and including applicable taxes and fees. Promo seats via AirAsia hubs operating in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Baru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu are also available in line with Visit Malaysia Year 2014, as there will be many international travellers who will arrive into Ma-laysia. International destinations featured in this AirAsia regional campaign also include Singapore, Jakarta, Band-ung, Bangkok, Hatyai, Surat Thani, Phnom Penh and many others. AirAsia X is also offering low fares on long haul routes, which include newly launched destinations of Nagoya, Adelaide, Male, Colombo and Busan. Guests on AirAsia X flights may book online and enjoy prices from as low as Php2,197 on economy and Php9,087 on premium from Kuala Lumpur. “AirAsia Zest’s new direct flights from Cebu to Kuala Lum-pur starting December 1 will enable travellers from Visayas region to as far as those from Mindanao via our daily flights from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro and Davao to take advan-tage of this promo fare and benefit from AirAsia’s vast net-work across all Asean countries including China, India and Australia,” Caneba said.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013EDGEDAVAO

Armi Sobremisana, GMA Northern Mindanao Station Manager at the CDO Trade Launch.

Mariles Gamboa-Puentevella, GMA Southern Mindanao Station Manager at the Davao Trade Event.

Maricris Garcia brings some smiles to the CDO Trade Launch.

Glaiza de Castro

Alden Richards and Maricris Garcia.

Marian Rivera

Filipinos in other parts of the country and the world to see. Amoroso and Pacleb, together with GMA TV Southern Mindanao Station Manager Mariles Gamboa-Puentevella and GMA TV Northern Mindanao Station Manager Armi Sobremisana, joined the network’s local trade partners in celebrat-ing a fruitful year of business partnership.

INdulge! A3

Alex and Arron team up for the first time in ‘MMK’

Can Kathryn fight for Daniel against all odds?

A 1715 Spanish Escudo gold coin and a 1920s canonball safe in ‘Pawn

Stars’ and ‘Kings of Restoration’

ENTERTAINMENT

KAPAMILYA stars Alex Gonzaga and Arron Villaflor will star in ABS-CBN’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya” this Saturday. In the Raz dela Torre-directed episode, Alex and Arron will por-tray the roles of best friends, Gel and Marq. Somewhere along their friendship, Gel found love for her closest ‘boy friend.’ Is it worth risking your friendship to tell your best friend that you like him? Also part of the upcoming “MMK” episode are Ingrid de la Paz, Shy Carlos, Pamu Pamorada, Josef Elizalde, Yvez Flores, Ryan Boyce and

Annika Gonzales. The story was researched by Akeem Jordan del Rosario and written by Arah Jell Baday-os and Benson Logronio. “MMK” is led by business unit head Malou Santos, production manager Roda Dela Cerna, and executive

producer Lindsay Dizon. Don’t miss “MMK” Satur-day nights, after “Wansap-anataym” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to MMK.abs-cbn.com, follow @MMKOfficial on Twitter, and “like” Facebook.com/MMKOfficial.

THE “Pawn Stars” and “Kings of Restoration” are back ev-ery Friday night on GMA News TV. This Friday, a 1967 Ameri-can off-road motorcycle classic rolls into the Pawn Stars’ parking lot and catch-es Rick Harrison’s interest. Needing a major restora-tion, will it still make money for the pawn shop? Then, Rick is hesitant when a man brings in a rare mint condi-tion 1715 Spanish escudo gold coin; after all, there are a lot of counterfeit pieces going around. Will this prove to be a fool’s fake or one of the genuine pieces that may cost up to 18,000

dollars? And on “Kings of Resto-ration”, Dane, a boy whose coin collection was stolen when a thief broke into their house, looks to Rick Dale for help --- he wants a safe that can’t be easily opened or moved. Rick presents him with a colossal 1920s cannonball safe that’s all

concrete and steel that the manufacturer claimed no-body can break into. Once fully restored, will this can-nonball safe turn out to be as Rick’s customer expects? These episodes of “Pawn Stars” and “Kings of Resto-ration” air on Friday, No-vember 29, at 8PM on GMA News TV Channel 11.

PRIMETIME viewers were recently glued on their small screens to witness Kathryn Bernardo and Dan-iel Padilla in the fairytale-like Crillon Ball in ABS-CBN’s top-rating romantic series “Got To Believe.” At a debutant’s ball or-ganized by Madame Lucille (Tetchie Agbayani), Joaquin (Daniel) chose to give a flower to Chichay (Kath-ryn) and forgot the rest of the young ladies of high society who are much pre-ferred by his mom Juliana (Carmina Villarroel). Will Juliana continue with her plan of making Chichay wake up from her ‘fairytale dream?’ Continue to wit-ness the magical journey of love in 2013’s most roman-

tic TV series, “Got To Believe,” weeknights, after “Juan dela Cruz” on ABS-CBN Prime-time Bida. For more exclusive up-dates, photos, or videos,

log on to www.got2believe.abs-cbn.com and visit the show’s official social media accounts at www.facebook.com/G2B, and www.twitter.com/G2BGottobelieve.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013EDGEDAVAO

PG 13

PG 13

PG 13

PG 13 11:20 | 2:00 | 4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 LFS

R-16

THOR: THE DARK WORLD 2D

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

THE HUNGER GAMES:

CATCHING FIRE 2D

12:10 | 2:50 | 5:30 | 8:10 LFS

THE HUNGER GAMES:

CATCHING FIRE 2D

Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman

1:00 | 3:40 | 6:20 | 9:00 LFS

THE HUNGER GAMES:

CATCHING FIRE 2D

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson



IT is that time of the year again where times spent with good com-pany and family go up as well as your waist-line. What I am talk-ing about is the start of the holiday season for foodies which is typically kicked of on Thanksgiving and lasts all through to New Year’s Day (for members of the Chi-noy community like me though, the eat-ing goes on a little past Chinese New Year.) Food is, clearly, best en-joyed in big family style shar-ing platters. The energy of the people one is dining with, as well as the juicy side serv-ings of gossip and catching up make every group dining experience, especially with friends, a fun, filling and en-joyable experience. It is with this that in mind that the good people at Itali-anni’s came up with their Merry Bundles of Toscano set menu that is designed for small groups of three. Each set menu is composed of three of Italianni’s all-time favourites bundled together

and served at a more afford-able price than compared to ordering each item indi-vidually and I seas more than ready to give each a taste. The first set is the Farmer’s Bundle which is composed of Herb Roasted Spring Chicken, Baby Back Ribs and a choice between Spa-ghetti Alio Olio or Spaghetti

A4 INdulge! VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013EDGEDAVAOFOOD

One for the family

Pomodoro, while the second set, the Pollo Arrosta Bundle has the same pasta choices together with Insalata Ru-cola and Roasted Chicken on Provencal Sauce. For the more weight con-scious, the Pollo Arrosta Bundle is the way to go. The Insalata Rucola was a bright start for a meal with romaine lettuce, peppery arugula leaves as well as candied wal-nuts and feta cheese creating a rich contrast that teases the palette. Both the Herb Roasted Chicken as well as the Roast-ed Chicken on Provencal Sauce were tender and juicy. The chicken served with the Provencal Sauce was extra flavourful though thanks to the richness coming from the

Provencal sauce. Not want-ing to waste any of the sauce, I happily sponged every bit of it from my plate using Itali-anni’s complimentary bread. Meat lovers on-the-other-hand can rejoice at the Farm-er’s Bundle’s Baby Back Ribs which are fall-off -the-bone tender and is paired with a smokey barbecue sauce. Too bad the meal that evening was for sharing, because I could honestly finish off an entire rack of Italianni’s Baby Back Ribs on my own (with much protesting from my diet.) Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter @kennethkingong for more travel and foodie finds as well as happenings in, around and beyond Durian-burg.

Italianni’s Herb Roasted Chicken

Bistro Group’s Davao LSM Officer Ronald Mejos explains the set as well as the Bistro Group Gift Certificate rebate program as well as catering options.

Insalata Rucola

Italianni’s Baby Back Ribs and Roast Chicken in Provencal Sauce.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 15SPORTSEDGEDAVAO

DIFFERENT STROKES. Martin Sara (top) hits from an uneven lie by the bunker while Louie Brodeth pitches from a perfect lie during the 24th Durian Tee at the Apo Golf and Country Club. Boy Lim

DANNY Seigle has de-cided to join the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Tex-

ters, team manager Paolo Trillo confirmed on Tues-day.

“He’s already with us,” Trillo said. “He will be join-ing the team’s practice to-morrow.”

Seigle’s inclusion to the Tropang Texters came as a surprise, especially after the Meralco Bolts camp said earlier that they’re in talks with the veteran for-ward from Wagner Univer-sity and seriously consider-ing his inclusion with the squad.

But Talk ‘N Text was also an interested suitor and the defending Philip-

pine Cup champion ended up a deal with the former 1999 PBA Rookie of the Year.

Trillo, however, said Seigle won’t be playing for the team Thursday.

“He won’t make it on time because he’s still learning the system,” Tril-lo said. “He will be joining the team tomorrow and we will still inform the PBA about it.”

Seigle became a free agent after being released by Barako Bull before the start of the season. He is expected to beef up a Talk ‘N Text frontline that has missed Ranidel De Ocam-po this season because of injuries.

TOP Rank head Bob Arum has stepped into the row involv-

ing Manny Pacquiao and the Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue over a P2.2-billion tax case.

According to Henares, the BIR has been asking Pacquiao since 2010 for official documents from the United States’ Internal Revenue Service indicating taxes paid for his earnings from his previous bouts.

Arum said that Top Rank had been remitting Pacquiao’s tax payments to the IRS.

“For each of Manny’s fights that occurred in the United States, including those in 2008 and 2009, Top Rank withheld 30% of Manny’s purses and paid those monies directly to the Internal Revenue Ser-vice (IRS) via Electronic

Funds Transfer (EFT). Top Rank has deposit confir-mations for each payment. Top Rank has done the same for all U.S. endorse-ments it has facilitated

on Manny’s behalf,” said Arum.

“Top Rank submitted copies of the EFT deposit acknowledgements to the Bureau of Internal Reve-

nue (BIR) as proof of pay-ment. The BIR received the documents but directed Manny to obtain ‘certified’ documents directly from the IRS itself.

DANNY SEIGLE: New beginning at TNT

WASHINGTON – Kobe Bryant says his NBA

return from left Achil-les tendon surgery is likely weeks away but the Los Angeles Lak-ers guard is improving and regaining the ex-plosiveness that made him a superstar.

And the 35-year-old American, who signed a two-year deal worth $48.5 million with the Lakers on Monday, says that his new deal does leave the Lakers room to sign new tal-ent and become a ti-tle contender again as well as silence critics who doubt his worthi-ness for such a con-tract.

“It makes me want to run through a wall for them,” Bryant said Tuesday before the Lakers played at Wash-ington. “It adds more fuel to the fire. It makes me want to come out and prove they were right and everybody else was wrong.

“We have the abil-ity to do something special. We’ll have to see what happens.”

Bryant has not played since being injured last April but has practiced with the Lakers, who split their first 12 games of the new season, and says his return could come in December.

“Much closer. I feel

Manny to submit IRS docs

Kobe: Lakers still has enough cap to rebuild Dynamite Danny

joins TNT Texters

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Los Angeles Lakers are playing

the waiting for Kobe game - trying to stay respectable without one of the NBA's all-time greats.

Los Angeles' had its three-game winning streak broken, 116-111 by the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, while Bryant, who signed a two-year con-tract extension on Monday, watched on television from the locker room.

The Lakers' star pledged his loyalty to the only team he's ever played for in his first public comments about the extension, saying before the game that Los Angeles' willingness to pay him a re-ported $48.5 million for the next two seasons makes him want to ''run through a wall'' for the team.

He won't play in Brooklyn on Wednesday or at Detroit on Friday as he concludes his rehab from surgery on his

ruptured Achilles tendon.His teammates near-

ly pulled out another win against a team with two hot players, John Wall, who had 31 points and Nene, who scored a career-high 30 on 13-for-22 shooting from the field.

''We have to learn how to win with this team. It's just put together and we don't have one thing that we go to all the time, but we'll get it straight,'' Los Angeles coach Mike D'An-toni said. ''They're playing hard, and they're together and we should have won tonight.''

The Lakers are 7-8 but just 1-5 on the road.

Wall, who was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Mon-day, has scored more than 30 points in three straight games for the first time in his career. The point guard scored 11 points in the final 4:40 to help seal the win.

Lakers bow to Wizards

VOL. 6 ISSUE 184 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 201316EDGEDAVAOSports

07,

POLICE Regional Of-fice fashioned out a walk-through-

a-tightrope 70 – 69 win over Regional Pub-lic Safety Battalion as Davao City Police Office routed National Support Unit-SAF, 88 – 69, in the Mayor Rody Duterte and Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte – 11th AFP-PNP Basketball Tournament on Tuesday at the Davao City Recreation Center.

Jerry Tugade made key baskets down the stretch to lead the Catiti-pan-based squad cop its second win in as many outings.

Tugade scored 14 points, including six of the PRO’s last eight bas-kets in the final two min-utes of the game marked with the crucial triple that cut the RPSB’s lead to 1, 67 – 68, with 45 seconds left in the game.

Edwin Awitin scored team-high 17 points and John Cuizon had 12 for PRO that drew an essen-tial basket from Ireneo Dalogdog at the clutch.

Dalogdog hit a pull-up jumper before the

24seconds shot-clock expires that tied the count at 68-all with 29 seconds remaining in the game.

Jonathan Bongay had 17 points for RPSB which absorbed its first loss in two games.

Playing to a great degree, DCPO grabbed its second win in anoth-er dominating fashion.

Estong Uganap and Mark Inocentes played well anew for DCPO, pouring in 14 and 12 points respectively in limited minutes on top of enormous defensive plays.

But it was Dan Mendez who took the spotlight after scoring game-high 16 points in a great all around per-formance.

Emerson Rosales and Louie Tangaro scored 14 points each for NSU-SAF that re-mained win-less in two games.

In the other match, 10th ID Agila drubbed Coast Guard Southeast-ern Mindanao, 98 – 64. (RJB)

PRO, DCPO offto rousing start

SINK THAT PUTT. Hermie Martin does an impromptu jig to coax his putt in this action during the 24th Durian Tee at the Apo Golf and Country Club. Boy Lim


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Edge Davao 6 Issue 184