P 15.00 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.netVOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

RODYS WARNINGDuterte on Tanim Bala ring: I dont need to remind you

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

EDGE Serving a seamless societyDAVAO

LIKE the typical Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte warning, his take on the tanimbala syndi-cate was clear and straight--do not be reminded anymore.I do not want to give them an order, they should not do illegal there, Duterte said in an interview yesterday after the groundbreaking of Central Lab. Diabetes, Well-ness, Heart and Kidneys Inc., at ElpidioQuirino Avenue.Mayor Duterte addressed the warning to all employees of Francisco Bangoy Interna-tional Airport whom he be-lieved should not be remind-ed anymore not to be involved in the syndicate.Duterte said that if there will be an employee caught doing the act of planting bul-lets on passenger baggage, he will be asked to swallow it.Why do I need to remind the idiots that they are not supposed to do a crime, he said.He said these people should do their job right so that there will be no problem with him.Duterte, however, be-lieved that the bullet recov-ered from the baggage of 60-year-old engineer Au-gusto D. Dagan of JV Angeles Construction Corporation (JVACC) did not come from the city.

Meanwhile, Aviation Se-curity Group (AVSEGROUP) 11head Senior Superinten-dent John D. Esteban said in yesterdays AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing, security measures are being tightened at the airport to preempt any tanimbala activity.He said he also coordinat-ed the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 11 and Task Force Davao to increase their security measures outside the airport building.Esteban said his unit dou-bling its effort to remove the negative perception.He said his office is still validating reports that Da-ICON OPENING. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) Antonio dela Cruz (second from left), DCCCII vice president for trade Bonifacio Tan (leftmost), Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) pres-ident Architect Kristin Lu (third from left)of Kisan Lu Land, steering committee members Kenneth Yap (third from right) of Davao Joyful, Engr. Sol Lagmay (second from right) of Jenson Land and Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) Davao City chapter president Lito Dublan of Prime Land Properties lead the cutting of ribbon to mark the opening of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICON) exhibit at SM Lanang Premiers SMX Convention Center yesterday. Lean Daval Jr. F RODY, 10

RESPECT. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte pays respect

to Fr. Ranier Sranhe SVD after the blessing and laying of the

time capsule of Central Lab. Diabetes, Wellness, Heart and

Kidneys Inc., at Elpidio Quirino Avenue yesterday afternoon.

Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 20152 EDGEDAVAONEWS

THE Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP) 11 of Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed at the Francisco Bangoy Interna-tional Airport in Davao City yesterday gave assurance that there is no tanim bala (bul-PFC Marjon Aover locked his mother in a tight em-brace while PFC Nino Alabaso heaved a sigh of relief after the New Peoples Army (NPA) released them Tuesday afternoon in a hinterland com-munity in the province.Aover and Alabaso, both 23, of the 25th Infantry Bat-talion, were detained by the rebel group for over a month after they were captured at an NPA checkpoint in Casoon, Monkayo in Compostela Valley.The soldiers, who were called prisoners of war by the NPA, recalled they were on their way to the initial patrol base in Casoon from the 25IBs Camp Kalaw located in Pobla-

COMMISSION on Elec-tions (Comelec) Chair-man Juan Andres Bau-tista said mall voting was approved in principle by the commission en banc.Kumbaga in principle, the idea of mall voting was approved by the commission, voting 6-1, he said in a regular press briefing on Tuesday.He noted that they have yet to decide on the specifics particularly the precincts that will be transferred as well as the malls, where the voting will be conducted.Wala pang ibang specifics kung ilan yung mga presinto na ililipat, Bautista said.He also revealed that they already have a draft Memoran-dum of Agreement (MOA) with the malls as far as the voting in malls is concerned by it is still subject for review by the com-missioners and the poll bodys Law Department.The draft MOA will be re-viewed by the commissioners for comments as well as the law department, the poll body chief added.Bautista noted that they also expect the Technical Working Group (TWG), which was created to study the pro-posal to allow voting in shop-ping malls, to submit its report next week.

They will submit a report by next week, Tuesday for our next en banc meeting, he add-ed. The poll body will be con-sulting stakeholders to know their opinions regarding the plan.Meanwhile, Bautista said the contract for the printing of the official ballots with the National Printing Office (NPO) was approved on Tuesday.The contract with the NPO was approved on today (Tuesday) by the en banc, he said.According to Christian Robert Lim, the amount that

AVSEGROUP: No tanim-balasyndicate at Davao airportBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net let planting) syndicate in the citys airport. I can assure that there is no such practice in the air-port, AVSEGROUP 11 head Senior Superintendent John D. Esteban said in yesterdays AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing at The Ritz Hotel by Garden Oasis.Esteban said he has not received any reports that this modus exists in the Davao air-port, although his personnel have recorded two arrests of people carrying bullets in their baggage this year, including an engineer last week.He said the first inci-dent happened last May 12 in which a foreign national, whom he did not identify, was arrested for possession of one 9mm bullet and a caliber .45 bullet.Esteban said the foreigner admitted carrying the bullets, saying he he bought them as souvenir.Esteban said last weeks incident is still being inves-tigated since the arrested person, 60-year-old engineer

Augusto D. Dagan of JV Ange-les Construction Corporation (JVACC), denied owning the bullets.Esteban said the two per-sons have pending cases for vi-olating Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.They also posted bail of P120,000 each.Esteban said his office is still validating reports that Da-gans case was a diversionary tactic of a syndicated group at the Ninoy Aquino Internation-al Airport (NAIA) to show that people anywhere carry bullets with them.We are now coordinating with other police units be-cause our jurisdiction is limit-ed only to the Davao airport, he said.Esteban said other police units are now tracking where the bullets in the baggage of Dagan really came from.He said during the inves-tigation, Dagan told police no one held his bag except for him as he went inside the airport.

This was also seen on closed circuit television (CCTV) foot-age. I cannot say if the bullets came from Manila. All I can say is the passenger went in the airport alone and he was the only one who placed his bag in the screening X-ray machine, he said.Esteban said security measures are being tightened at the airport to preempt any tanim-bala activity.I have instructed the Aviation Security Group 11 in Davao airport to be more vigilant to thwart the possible illegal activities, he said.He said he also coordinat-ed the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 11 and Task Force Davao to increase their security measures outside the airport building.Esteban said his unit dou-bling its effort to remove the negative perception.I ordered my men to be more vigilant to arrest the per-son behind this tanim bala whether member of my unit or not, he said. Comelec OKs mall voting in principle

ICON EXHIBIT. Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) president Arch. Kristine Lu, Davao City Cham-ber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) president Antonio Dela Cruz, Engr. Sol Lagmay of Jenson Land, DCCCII vice president for trade Bonifacio Tan, and CarlitoDublan, president Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the

Philippines Davao City chapter, check out the booth of Anflocor during the opening of the exhibit of the 3rdDavao Investment Conference (ICon) at the SMX Convention Center Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

NPA releases 2captive soldiers

FNPA, 10

FCOMELEC, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 3NEWSEDGEDAVAO

REP. Jonathan Dela Cruz, (Partylist, ABAKADA) has sought an investi-gation on the implementation of the fair use policy (FUP) on Internet users in the country, which he described as so slow and so far behind.In House Resolution 2344, Dela Cruz urged the House Committee on Information and Communication Technol-ogy to investigate the impact of slow and expensive Internet connection to consumers and businesses.Dela Cruz said the coun-try is lagging behind its Asian neighbors and that it is the third to lowest in terms of connection speed, just behind Vietnam.According to Dela Cruz, the PLDT group has 72.5 mil-lion subscribers composed of 24.7 million Smart subscrib-ers, 31.9 million Talk and Text subscribers and Digitel/Sun subscribers with 15.6 million.Dela Cruz said Globe has 36.5 million subscribers com-posed of 34.5 million Globe

and TM prepaid subscribers and 1.98 million post paid sub-scribers.Despite the unprecedent-ed avalanche of ICT users we have yet to have a truly world class ICT service infrastructure as evidenced by pour abysmal internet speed, Dela Cruz said.Recent study shows that the countrys actual speed never reaches the advertised speed; speed performance de-clined for all Internet Service Providers year after year and Filipino Internet subscribers

pay more for less every year.The study said the coun-trys Internet is run by two major operators who control infrastructure and pricing. It also suggested that the govern-ment encourage more compe-tition in the market and invest in more infrastructures.Only 37 percent of Filipi-nos had Internet connectivity in 2013, according to a recent United Nations report. Among the 190 countries evaluated, the Philippines ranked 110th.(PNA)

AS Congress resumes session, youth groups reiterated calls for the immediate passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) for a peaceful and progressive future of the children of the Bangsamoro and the next gen-eration of Filipinos.We call on our lawmakers to exercise the highest level of statemanship and pass a BBL that addresses the call of the Bangsamoro for permanent peace. We owe it to our chil-dren and the future genera-tions, Coalition of Moro Youth Movement Chair Marjanie Ma-casalong said.Macasalong, who led the group which collected more than 500,000 signatures in support of the passage of the BBL, stressed the urgency of enacting the law under this administration.Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? Our lawmakers need to und reign in our land. Every delay threatens our security and hampers our develop-ment, Macasalong said.We are hopeful that our lawmakers in both houses (of Congress) will rise from the destructive division of partisan politics and focus on salient concerns. The youth hopes that the BBL will not be a platform to launch personal political interests, for doing so is a disservice to those who have suffered through the con-flict, he added.BBL is constitutionalAlih stressed that plena-

INTERNALLY displaced per-sons (IDPs) in a remote vil-lage here refused to return home for fear the clan war, which was amicably settled by local officials and government and Moro rebel peace panels, could erupt again.But police and local offi-cials assured the evacuees a ceasefire agreement has been reached between warring fam-ilies, led by Village Chaiperson Abdulla Abdulsalam Maragu-er of Baragay Burikain, Pig-cawayan and Kandil Sampia-no, alias Commander Kandil, leader of Moro Islamic Libera-tion Front (MILF) 105th base command.Both belonged to the MILF and have armed followers.According to Senior Insp. Arnel Melocotones, town po-lice chief of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, the infighting erupt-ed last month when one of Commander Kandils relatives was killed in a clash involving his men and the followers of Chairperson Maraguer.A relative of Maraguer was wounded in another shooting incident, also in the village, and the village official blamed the group of Commander Kandil.On Monday morning,

ARRIVAL MARCH. Indonesian military officer LaksdaTni Darwanto (left) goes on arrival march at the old tarmac of the Davao International Airport yesterday. Darwanto was escorted by 7thAir Reserve Command of the Philippines Air Forces commander Lieutenant Colonel Napoleon Tacut. Indonesian and the Philippine officials meet in the annual conference to enhance coordinated patrol and communication against transnational and organized crime along the two countries territories.Lean Daval Jr.

HALF MAST. The flag of Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao at Camp Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City is in half-mast in honor to the death of former Philippine Navy Flag Officer. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

House to probe slowInternet connection

Youths urge passage of BBL

MILF infighting sends200 NC families fleeing

FYOUTH, 10

FMILF, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 20154 EDGEDAVAOSUBURBIA

COTABATO CITY

Bike for peace challenge slated in MaguindanaoMINDANAO peace ad-vocates that included a bishop, a military general and a provincial gov-ernor, will lead Bike for Peace to sustain the gains of the Min-danao peace process, officials said Wednesday.Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, chief of the miitarys 6th Infantry Di-vision and Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu will led thousands of bikers in the November 8 Bike for Peace Challenge in Magui-nanao.

Mangudadatu said the bike challenge is one of the major events that promote peace as the province pre-pares for its 42nd foundation anniversary later this month.Huge prices await the winners in the bike challenge which, according to Mangu-dadatu, will be attended by thousands of bikers from the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sultan Kuda-rat and the cities of Cotabato, Tacurong and Kidapawan.He said Army brigade commanders, battalion com-manders and all attach units

under the 6th ID will lead about 100 bikers from their respective units.The most significant part of the event is the participa-tion of Moro Islamic Libera-tion Front (MILF) leaders and fighters who will challenge soldiers and bikers, not in the battle field, but in biking en-durance.Tim Abolodto, bike for peace challenge organizer, said anyone outside the prov-ince can participate.Mangudadatu said previ-ous bike for peace in the prov-ince has proven to be effective

in raising awareness about the importance of peace be-cause through the challenge, former enemies join together for a common cause.Bishop Bagaforo and Gen. Pangilinan had spearheaded previous bike for peace in Ma-guindanao with the participa-tion of MILF bikers including members of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team.All peace advocates are welcome to join, we all de-sire for peace and the bike for peace is inclusive, Ambolodto told reporters. (PNA)DAVAO DEL NORTE

ZAMBOANGA CITY

WHEN WOMEN LEAD THE WAY. A Badjau woman leads the way for around 10 motorized bancas in Isabela, Basilan morning of November 2, 2015. A beautiful display of her power and grace as she maneuvers the Bangsamoro

waters and commands the sea with her virtual remembrance of gratitude. Photo courtesy of FATIMA PIR ALLIAN / Nisa Ul-Haqq fi Bangsamoro

SSS holds regional dialogue with South Min labor groupsTHE Social Security Sys-tem (SSS) hosted a re-gional dialogue with labor leaders from South Mindanao to provide them an opportunity to air their SSS concerns and interact with senior SSS officials, including the three commissioners rep-resenting the workers sector in the Social Security Commis-sion (SSC), at the RBG Grill of Park Inn Hotel in Davao City on October 16. More than 80 leaders of labor organizations and infor-mal sector groups attended the dialogue, which aims to es-tablish stronger links between SSS and the labor sector, and to increase workers awareness of SSS achievements, pension reforms, employer obligations and programs such as the vol-untary Personal Equity Sav-ings Option (PESO) Fund.The issues raised by the attendees during the open fo-rum (bottom photo) focused on investments, manual ver-

ification of contributions and status of SSS funds.Top photo shows Atty. Voltaire Agas, SSS Senior Vice President for Legal Ser-vices Division and Chief Legal Counsel, as he discussed SSS legislative initiatives. Sitting at the SSS panel were (from left) SSS Vice President for Pub-lic Affairs and Special Events Division Marissu Bugante; Assistant Vice President for Operations Legal Department Atty. Renato Jacinto Cuisia;

SSC Commissioners and labor representatives Eva Arcos, Daniel Edralin and Atty. Ibarra Malonzo; Senior Vice Presi-dent for Visayas and Mindan-ao Operations Group Eddie Jara (partly hidden); Assis-tant Vice President for South Mindanao Division Emman-uel Palma; Voluntary Provi-dent Fund Department Offi-cer-in-Charge Atty. Marichelle Reyes; and SSS General Santos City Branch Head Jove Colasi-to.GOVERNOR Rodolfo del Rosario encouraged the public to take actions against drugs as it remains the biggest problem in the society.According to the report of the Philippine Drug Enforce-ment Agency in 2014, 89% of the total arrest in the country is drug related, del Rosario said during the provinces cel-ebration of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Month.Del Rosario noted that there are around 7 million drug dependents in the Philip-pines today.For this years celebra-tion, we are encouraged to take possession of our lives and ownership should be demon-strated to every member of the society making a collective effort at producing a peaceful and drug-free community, he said.

The theme of the celebra-tion is Lets develop our lives, our communities, our identity without drugs.Del Rosario said it is im-portant to celebrate the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Month to spread awareness against drugs.I also urge the schools, churches, private and public sector organizations, non-gov-ernment organization and civil society organizations to join ranks with the National Drug Abuse Prevention Council to help efforts in drug demand reduction, he said.The provincial celebration was also highlighted with pre-sentations from the residents of the Luntiang Paraiso Re-gional Rehabilitation Center, which caters persons with drug, alcohol and cyber addic-tion. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

RDR urges publicto act against drugs

THE Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday announced its decision to recruit Lumads into its rank as part of the governments equal oppor-tunity program.The PA is recruiting Lumads to be soldiers as part of the equal opportunity given to them by the government. In fact, at least five percent of our current soldiers recruit-ment in Eastern Mindanao are Lumads, Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said.This is unlike the force re-cruitment of the NPAs, he add-ed. The recruitment of the PA is based on the clamor of the local Lumad leaders. The PA support the premise of who else can serve and secure them better than the Lumads them-selves, Hao pointed out.Based on the current strength of the PA today of 85,000, there are 200 indige-nous people -- 78 officers and 122 enlisted personnel.It was also important to note here that there were also some Lumads who voluntarily joined the militia service to se-cure their respective commu-

nities.And on the statement that the Armed Forces of the Phil-ippines as human rights vio-lators and doing extra judicial killings, the PA have been very transparent on the issue. We have already answered open-ly all the accusations against us in all formal investigations conducted by recognized legal bodies of the government and even by some key stakeholders in good governance, he said.We have provided the Commission on Human Rights all legal documents needed to express our strict adherence on human rights, international humanitarian law, and the rule of law, Hao said.What is clear to the PA is the number of admission of the NPAs on killing civilians and soldiers inhumanely, he added.It is also clear to us that they are recruiting Lumad mi-nors. Most importantly, it is clear to us the purging that the NPAs did to their comrades in arms that are still happening even now. The killing of the Mayor of Loreto and his son is a clear manifestation of this point, Hao said. (PNA)

Army recruits Lumads as part of govt equal opportunity efforts

THE Philippine Atmo-spheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Ser-vices Administration (PAGA-SA) will soon install a third Doppler radar station in Min-danao.Maribel Hasanah En-riquez, PAGASA-Zamboanga station chief meteorological officer, told the Philippines News Agency on Wednesday that the station will be in-stalled in this city.Enriquez said the local Doppler radar station, which costs P100 million, will be operational either in January or February next year. Once installed, it will be the third Doppler radar in Mindanao.Enriquez said the build-ing, which is located inside Camp Basilio Navarro in Ba-rangay Upper Calarian, is now undergoing finishing touches.She said the Doppler radar, purchased in Helsin-ki, Finland, is arriving next month. It is used to measure the amount of rainfall, intensi-ty of the rain and others with-in the 50 kilometer radius.The other two Doppler radar stations are located in Tampakan, South Cotabato and Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. (PNA)

PAGASA to open 3rd Dopplerradar station in Mindanao

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 5EDGEDAVAOECONOMY

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EDGE Serving a seamless societyDAVAOAs creative as you can get.

OIL prices surged Tues-day as market expected US refiners to consume more crude after maintenance season.US refiners typically slow production during Septem-ber and October to perform maintenance during a low fuel demand period. Analysts pre-dicted that refineries are start-ing to boost operating rates.The US energy Informa-tion Administration (EIA) will release the US crude data of last week Wednesday. Traders expected US stockpiles to gain for about 2.25 million barrels. They also expected to see US crude output contracting in the EIA report, as US oil com-panies continued to cut the expense in face of the low oil prices.Data from oil service com-pany Baker Hughes released Friday showed that the num-ber of active US oil-drilling rigs lost 16 to 578 of last week.The West Texas Interme-diate for December delivery moved up USDS1.76 to settle at USD47.9 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Ex-change, while Brent crude for December delivery increased USD1.75 to close at USD50.54 a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (PNA/Xin-hua)

Oil prices up on hiked demand

FOLLOWING the ap-proval of regulations on operational risk from treasury activities, the Monetary Board endorsed the issuance of regulations governing the sales and marketing of financial prod-ucts in its meeting on Octo-ber 29, 2015.With the distribution of financial products gain-ing more significance as a business line for BSP-super-vised financial institutions (BSFIs) and the increas-ing complexity of financial products being offered in the market, the risks aris-ing from clients transacting in unsuitable products are heightened.The proper conduct of client suitability is therefore deemed a crucial part not only of consumer protection but also of the self-protec-tion of supervised entities against adverse claims.The policy embodies the minimum expectations for BSFIs sales and marketing practices. It requires super-vised institutions to have appropriate policies, proce-dures, and controls in place to ensure the suitability of products being offered to clients.The new regulations build on the existing sales and marketing guidelines for derivatives by extending the coverage of the rules to a wider spectrum of instru-ments that includes debt and equity securities, hy-brid securities, and similar products with substantial investment characteristics.The regulations enhance the existing guidelines by explicitly defining the mini-mum information to be ob-tained from a client during the initial stage of the suit-

ability assessment, requir-ing BSFIs to classify clients according to their risk toler-ance in addition to their so-phistication, and setting out the suite of products that may be offered to conserva-tive clients.It likewise articulates circumstances for the ac-ceptable use of waivers, such that clients are not made to automatically and comprehensively waive the outcome of the client clas-sification process and the resulting protections even before a product is recom-mended or offered.Supervised entities are also required to regularly review compensation and incentive programs for sales personnel and ensure that these are designed in a way that will prevent conflicts of interest.In line with the BSPs thrust to improve gover-nance among its supervised entities, the guidelines em-phasize the role of control functions in ensuring that the BSFI complies with its own policies and proce-dures and relevant laws, rules and regulations in re-spect of the sales and mar-keting activities.BSFIs will have three months from the effectivity of the circular to make ap-propriate changes in their sales and marketing poli-cies, processes and materi-als to be able to comply with the new regulations.The sales and marketing practices of Trust depart-ments and those related to BSFIs cross-selling activi-ties shall not be covered by these new regulations. The existing frameworks for these activities shall contin-ue to apply. (PNA)

BSP expands guidelinesfor financial institutions

GOING FURTHER UP. Cranes work on the 33-level skyscraper Aeon Towers of the FTC Group of Companies along JP Laurel Avenue, Davao City.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 20156 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

PANABO City in Davao del Norte will host the first training center for the construction of Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) cars in the Philippines, an official said.ACES Polytechnic College-Panabo City president and CEO Dr. Franscisco P. Dela Pea said the college will host the ACES Philippine Research Institute on Maglev Energy , Engineering and Experiment (PRIME3) Foundation, Inc., as well as the Maglev Technology Park and Test Line where the Maglev car prototype will be set up.We will be training an initial pool of 12 engineers and technicians from the Davao Region for construction of the first Maglev cars in the Philippines starting next week, Dela Pea said.He said participants will be trained on how to design and to construct the first Maglev car in the country as well as its components necessary to

create the first model in the country that will displayed in the ACES.The ACES signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with two Davao-based firms--Maglev Vision Corporation and Project Delta Corporation--for the technology transfer of the Maglev cars and establishment of the technology park in Panabo City.The three signatories have their ground-breaking last Tuesday for the construction of the technology park.The school will received about P20 million worth of equipment from the Maglev.Dela Pea said the ACES will also partner with the Korea-Philippine Training Center of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the capacity building of technicians and engineers

Panabo is center for Maglev cars

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 11 will allocate P2.2 million for the training of 50 fisherfolks on fiber glass-boat making this month. Each trainee will receive a fiber glass boat already equipped with motor boat worth P45,000, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 11 regional director Fatma Idris told reporters.The training will start with Davao City on the top of the schedule this month in a bid to increase the fishermens income and resiliency.

Idris said the50 fishermen from Davao Region will be trained to make their own fiber glass boats with motor boats which they can take with

them after the training.Idris said 20 fisherfolks from Davao City will be trained

to make their own fiber glass boat in the Toril Fish Complex this month.The BFAR also allocated 20 slots for the province of Davao Oriental and another 10 for fisherfolk beneficiaries in the Davao del Sur.Ten of the 20 slots for Davao Oriental will be for fisherfolks in Mati City, Idris said, adding each boat will cost around P45,000 each.She said the BFAR 11 will be providing the necessary materials for the training as well as the motor boat.

The training for fiber glass boat making is part of BFARs livelihood training.

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced today that a total of P93.87 billion has been released from 2013 to 2015 to fund projects for Typhoon Yolanda-hit communities.Details of these fund releases and projects are now available on the DBM website ( h t t p : / / w w w. d b m . g ov.ph/?page_id=14137). The data on the website shows the list of fund releases disaggregated per year and per implementing agency and another list of fund releases disaggregated per year and per implementing agency with details, such as Special Allotment Release Order (SARO), purpose, and fund source.The DBM communicates honestly and openly at all times regarding the fund releases we make pertaining to programs and projects of the government. Here are

the facts on how much public funds we have released for Yolanda projects so far and where we sourced them in the budget for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, said Budget Secretary Florencio Butch Abad.Of the total requirement of P150 billion for rebuilding the communities hit by Typhoon Yolanda, we have released a total of P93.87 billion as of October 23, 2015, the budget chief said.Abad said these fund releases were charged against various funding sources in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015.The scale of the damage is unprecedented. And given that it was unforeseen, the total amount needed for the reconstruction efforts is not something that can be accommodated within the Calamity Fund. So we needed to find various funding

sources within the budget, said Abad, adding that the government moved to implement various measures to source funds for Yolanda response.These measures include: extending the validity of the 2013 Budget to June 2014 via Joint Resolution No. 1; passing the Supplemental Budget in 2013 and allocating P14.6 billion in Calamity and Quick Response Funds to rebuild areas hit by Yolanda and other disasters; passing the Supplemental Budget in 2014 and allocating P10 billion for emergency shelters and permanent housing; introducing the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Program, with a total of P21 billion in 2014 and 2015, for rebuilding efforts; doubling the Calamity Fund, from P7.5 billion in 2013 to P13 billion in 2014 and to P14 billion in 2015; introducing the Build Back

Better policy not only to restore normalcy for Yolanda-affected communities but also make them more resilient to disasters; and leveraging the use of excess revenues to fund rehabilitation activities.Abad also said that a total of P46 billion is allocated for Yolanda projects in the proposed 2016 budget. This amount is composed of P18.9 in Special Purpose Funds and P27.3 billion lodged in agency budgets. The amount of P18.9 billion is for the Yolanda Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (YRRP), the master plan to build back better infrastructure, livelihood support, resettlement, and social services. This amount is part of the P38.9-billion National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (NDRRMF), a Special Purpose Fund in the 2016 budget.

P94 B in funds released for Yolanda projectsBFAR 11 allocatesP2.2M for training

Phl needs more software prosTHE countrys software industry requires more talents to match the growth of the sector, Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) President Jonathan De Luzuriaga said.On the sidelines of Softcon.ph 2015, Luzuriaga said the country is producing 55,000 information technology (IT) and software development graduates annually.He noted that the country will need more software professionals with the fast changing landscape of technology services and in order to match robust growth of the local industry.Revenue of the industry last year amounted to more than USD 2.0 billion or expanding by 20 percent from 2013, making it the second fastest growing industry in the IT-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector.The software industry is also expected to have a total of 100,000 full-time jobs by year-end from 88,000 personnel in 2014.We strongly encourage everyone especially the millennial, the younger generation to look into building a career with the (software) industry, Luzuriaga said.We are assuming that theres going to be more (talents). Aside from the fact that software is becoming to be quite generic We can easily double that number if we have that supply, he added.For his part, Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO)

Deputy Executive Director Monchito Ibrahim said it is a challenge for the industry to supply more software professionals to meet the fast evolving and growing demand for software services based on emerging technologies.There is also a rising need for our software professionals to innovate and re-invent themselves to adapt to the industrys changing landscape, Ibrahim added.He said the government continues to partner with the industry to boost development efforts and improve awareness in industry trends and growth strategies.He said the government, through the ICT Scholarship and Training Program funded under a special

crc@edgedavao.netBy CHENEEN R. CAPON

KEYNOTE ADDRESS. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) trustee and Edge Davao editor Antonio M. Ajero delivers the keynote address in behalf of DCCCII chairman John Y. Gaisano during the opening of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICON) held at SM Lanang Premiers SMX Convention Center last night . Lean Daval Jr.

F BFAR 11, 10

F PANABO, 10

F PHL, 10

INVESTMENT NEARBY. Officials of the Project Delta Corporation, ACES PRIME 3 Foundation, Inc. and Maglev Vision Corporation cut the ceremonial ribbon leading to the ground-breaking and time capsule-laying ceremony for the Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) Technology Park and Test Line and the ACES Philippine Research Institute for Maglev Energy in Panabo City last

Tuesday. Leading the ceremonies are Domingo So Pealosa (in flat cap) and Dr. Francisco dela Pea. Mr. Pealosa turned over a cheque of P20 million worth of materials. Also in photo are Virgilio Sangutan, inventor and main architect Jose L. Duardo Jr., Edward B. Geguerra and other officers of the three entities. See above story. Emmanuel C. Roldan

P 15.00 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.netVOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

EDGEServing a seamless society

DAVAOSPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Population, 2014 (OCPDC): 1,597,356Regional Population, 2010 (NSO): 4, 468,563Population Growth Rate: 2.36Total Land Area: 2,444 sq. km.Literacy Rate: 98.7Average Temperature: 21 to 36 CMinimum Daily Wage: P 281 to P 312 *as of June 2014Regional Employment Rate, 2012: 93.3Water Rates: up to 20 cu. m. - P 25.20/cu.m. more than 41 cu.m. P 63.00 /cu.m.Power Rates: Residential 8.0532/kWh Commercial 2.1 8.4911/ kWh 3.1 7.7163/ kWh Industrial 6.6376 / kWh Flat Rate 7.6544 / kWh *as of May 2014Mobile Call Rates: US$ 0.014 up to 0.16 per minute (local) US$ 0.045 up to 0.30 per minute (international) Hotel Rates per night: US$ 12.50 (budget) up to 113.60 (5-star)

DAVAO City is undoubt-edly enjoying an un-precedented growth economically. Investments are pouring in every year and constructions are ongo-ing all over the metropolis.To say that Davao is booming is not even news. It has grown by leaps and bounds.Investments poured into the city for the last five years underscored the tremen-dous growth. From the re-corded P184 billion in 2010, the total business capitaliza-tion in Davao reached P211 billion in 2014, or a whop-ping increased of P27 billion in just five years time.Data from the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) showed that for 2011, business capital-ization was at P187 billion. This increased in 2012 at P196.408 billion, and hiked further the following year at P203.04 billion, breaching the P200-billion mark.The total capitalization hiked by 3.94 percent from P203 billion in 2013 to P211 billion in 2014.Investments kept on pouring in.One of the newest in-vestments came from an industrial company which is putting up a P400-million carton-manufacturing plant to cater to the packaging needs of farmers exporting their local fruits like banana to China.DCIPC chief Ivan C. Cor-tez said China-headquar-tered AVLB firm is now in the process of getting the documentary requirements for its manufacturing plant to be located in Calinan Dis-trict, some 40 kilometers northwest of the city.

The firm, Asia-Pacific Conglomerate Inc., is the second manufacturing com-pany to operate in the third district. Cortez said if the com-pany complies with all the

requirements, it will also be the second firm to be grant-ed of the five-year holiday on the citys business tax.

The first company to avail of the five-year tax hol-iday with an investment of around P100 million is the Ahya Food Manufacturing Corp.Cortez said they ap-proved Ahya Foods applica-tion for business incentives last year. The company is on its construction stage this year. Meanwhile, the number of registered businesses in the city has also been in-creasing each year. For 2014, the registered businesses reached 36,461, higher than the 33,052 recorded in 2013.

For the first quarter of 2015, new investments poured into the city from January to March already reached P209.9 billion, or an increase of 4.11 percent from the P201.6 billion re-corded for the same period last year.These new investments are mainly in property de-velopment, services and agri-business.Based on the DCIPC data under the Davao City Eco-nomic Situationer 2014 of the DCIPC, export earnings of the citys merchandise that was channeled through the Davao Port rose by al-most 1.36 percent in 2013 at US$1.617 billion.The DCIPC also report-ed that balance of trade was registered at US$462.61 in 2013, with banana remain-ing as the No. 1 dollar earn-er for both the city and the Davao Region. Other traded commodities include coco-nut oil, pineapple, banana chips and desiccated coco-nut.Top import commodities include mineral fuels/min-eral oils, machinery and me-chanical appliances, fertiliz-ers, miscellaneous chemical products and cereals.

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

DAVAO AND THEECONOMIC BOOM

210,000,000,000.00

215,000,000,000.00

170,000,000,000.002009 2011 20132010 2012 2014

190,000,000,000.00

180,000,000,000.00

200,000,000,000.00

175,000,000,000.00

195,000,000,000.00

185,000,000,000.00

205,000,000,000.00

QUICK STATS AND INFORMATION

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015S2 EDGEDAVAO

Damosa Land, Inc. (DLI) vice president Ricardo F. Lagdameo poses in front of the scale model of the proposed 63-hectare ANFLO Industrial Estate (AIE) at ANFLOCOR exhibit booth during the first

day of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICON) held at SM Lanang Premiers SMX Convention Center. Lean Daval Jr.

FOUR Davao-based agro-industrial firms are eyeing to join the first wave of locators in the 68-hectare Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE) in Panabo City by the second quarter of next year.All of these companies are into agro-industrial man-ufacturing and food process-ing, Damosa Land, Inc. (DLI) vice president Ricardo F. Lag-dameo told reporters at the sidelines of the opening of the three-day 3rd Davao In-vestment Conference at SMX Lanang Convention Center yesterday.Lagdameo said the loca-tors are expected to sign in before the end of the year and will be occupying either of the first two blocks with a com-bined area of 22 hectares.We have already started the land development of the first phase last September and we are expecting to complete it by the middle of next year, Lagdameo added. The Anflo Industrial Estate Corporation (AIEC) invested an initial of P700 to P800 million for the first phase, he said.He said locators in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-accredit-

ed industrial zone can avail themselves of incentives like income tax holidays, among others.Lagdameo said the AIE is set to become a catalyst for economic growth of the en-tire Davao Region, attracting activities resulting in higher employment and accelerated economic growth.He said the AIE will have a total of eight blocks that will be developed in three to five years. The development of the projects second phase is expected to start also by next year.We will be offering a total of 60 lots that will have an av-erage area of an a half hectare each, he said, however, loca-tors can occupy more than one lot each.Lagdameo said locators, especially exporters, in the in-dustrial area have the advan-tage of having a close proximity to the port themmulti-billion peso Davao International Con-tainer Terminal Inc. (DICT).The AIE is just 300 me-ters away from the DICT, just a walking distance from the area to the port. With the advantage of proximity, processors and exporters will be able to save from transportation and logis-

Anflo industrial estateattracts first 4 locators

Lagdameo bares projects details

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

tics costs, he added.He said that there are not so many industrial estates in the country that are nearer to ports like AIE.The estate will have a com-plete array of facilities and vital services like power and water supply, communication facili-ties, 24-hour security, modern

drainage systems, warehouses, and a wide road networks suit-able for the operation of manu-facturers and exporters.The PEZA-accredited es-tate will also contain a central administration building which will house the estates service team, PEZA facilities and vari-ous meeting rooms.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 S3EDGEDAVAO

Anflocors PEZA zone to makePanabo investment destinationTHE Anflo Industri-al Estate (AIE) of the Anflo Group of Companies that will soon rise in Panabo City is one important project to transform the area into an investment des-tination in the Davao Re-gion.The AIE, which will

be developed by Anflo-cors subsidiary compa-ny Anflo Industrial Estate Corporation (AIEC), is a world-class and self-sus-taining ecozone that will accommodate agro-in-dustrial and light manu-facturing companies. The project sits on a 63-hectare property in Barangay San Vicente in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, some 25 kilome-ters from Davao City. It has a perfect location as it just near the leading and most modern container terminal in Mindanao, the Davao International Container Terminal, Inc. (DICT). The estate has re-cently been proclaimed a Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Special Economic Zone by the Office of the Pres-ident. With this authori-zation, future investors can put their confidence and trust in this project, which will be developed into an area suitable for manufacturing and warehousing agro-indus-trial components. This is one of the many initiatives that the Anflocor Group is un-dertaking in Panabo City

which we believe will help develop the city fur-ther and create an alter-native yet complemen-tary investment destina-tion in the region, said Ricardo Cary Floirendo Lagdameo, Vice Presi-dent for Damosa Land, Inc. (DLI) who is also heading its affiliate com-pany, AIEC.With the integration of production areas into economic zones in the Regional Development Councils Long Term Plan (2003-2030), the estate will provide a conducive environment for loca-tors, allowing them to compete in the export market. This will also ulti-mately help in expediting the economic growth not just of Panabo City, but also of the entire Mind-anao region. The project can potentially create thou-sands of jobs, increase trade in the city, and thus boost the local economy, Lagdameo said. With the establish-ment of DICT [in 2013], there is truly a strong case for locating man-ufacturing operations in our industrial park, which is only 300 me-ters away from DICT. You wont find that in many other places, Lagdameo added.Adding to the charac-teristics that make AIE a world-class facility are the safety measures that will be installed such as a suitable perimeter fence, CCTV, and 24/7 security.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015S4 EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 A1EDGEDAVAOWHY INVEST IN DAVAOWHY? Because its pays to invest in Davao City.Land, for one, is not that expensive. For as low as P2,500 per square meter, acquiring a parcel of land in the citys commercial area is one of most affordable among the countrys highly urbanized areas.However, in the citys

Central Business District (CBD), the amount may run as high as P27, 000 per square meter. Yet, it is still cheaper as compared to P48, 000 per square meter in Manila or to the highly priced P440, 000 per square meter in Makati.Land affordability is among the factors that made Davao City remain one of the

By GREGORIO G. DELIGERO

NOW DAVAO!

Getting To DavaoDavao has numerous direct flights daily to major cit-ies such as Singapore, Manila, and Cebu. The Daily Singa-pore-Davao route via Silkair is preferred by foreign investors.

Where to Invest?Davao City has set of business activities where incentives packages are available. The updated list of priority invest-ment areas are listed hereunder:1. Agribusiness and Food Processing2 Tourism and Recreational Activities3. Light Manufacturing and Assembly4. Property Development5. Establishment of Health and Wellness, Educational and Sports Facilities6. Environmental protection or Green Projects7. Information and Communications Technology8. Generation of New Sources of Energy9. Transportation and Infrastructure10. Public-Private Partnership Projects

Specific activities for each investment area are enumerat-ed in the Davao City Investment Incentive Code which can be viewed or downloaded at www.davaocity.gov.ph/dcipc/downloadsNote: Those intending to invest in other legal business activities not listed in the priority areas are also welcome and can still avail of the non-fiscal incentives (free services to investors)

Free Professional Services to InvestorsThe Davao City Investment Promotion Center offers free pro-fessional services to investors such as:

Data-banking to support business information require-ments; Facilitate processing of local permits and licenses; Referral of ideal project locations for certain projects based on the Citys approved zoning ordinance; Investment counseling

Investing in Davao City is truly a rewarding experience given the mix of incentives and the interplay of natural and economic advantages. There is a primal focus on providing ease in starting a business in the city. Please take note of the contact details indicated in this material so you can avail of business entry facilitation services and other related ser-vices.

Incentives to Qualified InvestorsLocal Fiscal Incentives package (through the Davao City In-vestment Promotion Center)1. Exemption from payment of Business Sales tax for a period of 3years2. Exemption from payment of Basic Real property tax for a period of 2 yearsNote: Period of exemption will be extended up to 5 years if investment project is within the preferred districts of Calinan, Baguio, Marilog, and Paquibato

most competitive cities in the coun-try for the last three years.Competitiveness index is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities spearheaded by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) with the assistance of the United States Agency for In-ternational Development (USAid).Davao is the only city in Mind-anao which made in to the top five in the highly-urbanized category dominated by Manila followed by the cities of Makati, Quezon and Cebu. According to NCC, the overall competitiveness score is based on the total values of data from sever-al sub-indicators grouped through what it calls the main three pillars: economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure.Economic dynamism is asso-ciated with activities that create stable expansion business and in-dustries and higher employment from a combination of the entre-preneurial spirit and the financial institutions that will channel dyna-mism.

Government efficiency, on the other hand, refers to the quality and reliability of government ser-vices and support for effective and sustainable productive expansion

while infrastructure refers to the physical building blocks that con-nect, expand and sustain a locality and its surroundings to enable the provision of goods and services.While Davao appears to have fared not at its best for only landing at number five, it remains a leading city when it comes to the cost of do-ing business.The cost of land is among the sub-indicators under the cost of do-ing business which include the cost of electricity, cost of water, price of diesel and the regional minimum wage rate.In terms of power consumption, Davao City has the cheapest cost of electricity at P7.45 per KwH for commercial use and P5.89 per KwH for industrial use. In Makati City, the cost is P19.31 per KwH in both commercial and industrial while in Manila, the cost is P13.26 for commercial use and P18.69 for industrial use. With abundant supply of wa-ter, Davao is also among the lowest water rates from residential up to commercial and industrial uses. It has also the lowest daily minimum wage rates among the top five high-ly-urbanized cities. On top of these factors, Davao City also offers incentives packages

to investors engage into the citys priority investment areas such as agribusiness and food processing, tourism and recreational facilities, light manufacturing and assembly, property development, establish-ment of health and wellness, educa-tional and sports facilities, environ-mental protection and green proj-ects, information and communica-tions technology, generation of new sources of energy, transportation and infrastructure and Public-Pri-vate Partnership (PPP) projects.Through the Davao City Invest-ment Promotion Center, the city government offers local fiscal in-centive package such as the exemp-tion from payment of business sales tax for a period of three years and exemption from payment of basic real property tax for a period of two years.The period of exemptions are extended up to five years in invest-ment project is within the preferred districts of Calinan, Baguio, Marilog and Paquibato.Investors are also entitled to tax credit on raw materials, supplies and semi-manufactured products and additional deduction from taxable income for labor intensive projects and necessary and major infrastructure works.

ICON OPENING. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. officials and guests suring the opening of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICON) exhibit at SM Lanang Premiers SMX Convention Center yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015A2 EDGEDAVAO

WITH the com-bination of low cost of liv-ing and booming econ-omy leading to job cre-ation, there is no doubt that Davao region is placed in the spotlight of the real estate indus-try.Organization of So-cialized Housing Devel-opers of the Philippines (OSHDP) president Car-lito C. Dublan believes that Davao has a huge opportunity in the real estate sector, especially now that other indus-tries are also booming and the demand is ris-ing.The big players in the countrys real es-tate sector such as the Ayalas and the Villars may already have set their foot in Davao, but local land developers here still continue to make their own mark in creating sustainable homes for Dabawenyos.Local land devel-opers for residential projects continued to strive in Davao Region despite the presence of Manila-based real es-tate developers who are mostly into vertical land development, accord-ing to Dublan.These big real estate developers are most-ly focus on developing condominiums while local are more focus on developing subdivisions and other horizontal land development, he said.

Owning a lot and a house is still the most conducive place to raise a family in the region, Dublan said, adding that condominiums are viable for businessmen and those families who wanted to have a tem-porary home right in the center of Davao City.The regions real estate sector, he said, will continue to grow following the growth in other sectors like tour-ism, manufacturing, ICT-BPO and agriculture. All of these sectors will need land develop-ment for its respective operation, Dublan said.According to a report of the National Econom-ic and Development Au-thority (NEDA) 11, the sub-sector of real estate also posted growth in the past few years be-cause of the entry of de-velopers here.Dublan also said there is still a huge housing backlog in the region that should be addressed.Theres a huge demand for housing project in the region, Dublan said, adding that the Philippines has 4 million housing backlog for more than 40 years.In Davao City, there are 40,000 housing backlogs.This is despite the effort of various govern-ment agencies to make housing project afford-able to the mass public.Dublan said even the

private sector are com-plying the requirement of the government to allot at least 20 percent of their development to socialized housing.He said that even banks are now offering housing loans at a sin-gle digit interest rate as well as the Pag-ibig which is also trying to keep pace with the pri-vate financial firms. We also have com-munity mortgage pro-gram which the public can avail if they can-not afford our social-ized housing projects, Dublan said.These program can bring monthly amorti-zation to P2,000 which is lower than the so-cialized housing proj-ect which cause around P450,000 per unit, ac-cording to him.

Dublan projected the real estate here will con-tinue to strive because of the housing backlog as well as the good gov-ernance here.Meanwhile, the real estate industry of the Davao City and Davao Region will be the main highlight of the 3rd Davao investment Conference slated on November 4 to 6 at the SMX Convention Center here. Other industries that will be highlight-ed during the event are tourism and ICT.During the event there will be exhibition of 90 local and Ma-nila-based land devel-

opers, a house madness, and plenary sessions that will be discussed by industry experts.Among the topics in the two-day conference are: Recent Trends and Developments in Real Estate Investment In-dustry by David Leech-iu; 3rs: Remmittance, Real Estate, and Retire-ment by Surewell Equi-ties, Inc., chairman and chief executive officer Bansan Choa ; medi-um Term Global and Philippine Economic Outlook and Impact on the Davao Region by Wallace Business Fo-rum ceo Peter Wallace; Earthquake Hazard Mapping with Insights on the Regional Risks of Philvocs director Dr. Re-nato Solidum.There will be also presentation on the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) with the a focus on available public-private partnership projects for the region which will be discussed There will be also discussion on top-ics like Tourism Oppor-tunities and Challenges in Asean integration: Davao Region Case by Department of Tourism undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon Jr; The Phil-ippine Health Tourism by DOT director Cynthia C. Lazo; and Philippine Retirement Program to be discussed by the Philippine Retirement Authority information officer Ketslynn C. Tan.

Dublan: Davao has hugeopportunity in real estateBy CHENEEN R. CAPON

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 7EDGEDAVAO

SCIENCE

Brown riceor white rice?

by HENRYLITO D. TACIOEVERY November, the Philippines celebrates National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM). Rice, after all, is the staple food of Filipinos.If we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino, the late food columnist Doreen Fernandez once said.From 1980s to 1990s, a Filipino consumed an average of 92 kilograms. The consumption went up to 111 kilograms from 2008 to 2009. From 2009 to 2010, it even increased to 119 kilograms.This year, NRAM highlights the production and consumption of brown rice. The theme is also highly promoting the consumption of brown rice since it is a good way to be healthy, to help our farmers have advantage come ASEAN integration, and of course, contribute to rice self-sufficiency because of its 10% higher milling recovery, said Hazel V. Antonio, of the Department of Agriculture, in a press statement.A lost health food -- that is how some people think of brown rice.Before the advent of the rice mills, Filipinos ate rice with only the hull removed, leaving the nutrient-rich brown coating of the resulting grain intact. The unpolished brown rice or pinawa contains more vitamins and minerals than its polished white counterpart, said a news report.Actually, brown rice and white rice have similar amounts of calories and carbohydrates. The main differences between the two forms of rice lie in processing and nutritional contents.Ang white rice na kinakain natin, walang sustansya iyan. Kapag pinoproseso ang white rice, lahat ng sustansya, natatanggal na, explained

film and television actor Mikael Daez, a brown rice ambassador. Brown rice is unpolished rice, so ibig sabihin nun, buong-buo pa ang grain. Naririnig naman siguro natin, whole grains are better than normal, processed grains.During the polishing process, several vitamins and dietary minerals are lost. A part of these missing nutrients, such as vitamin B1, vitamin B3, and iron are sometimes added back into the white rice making it enriched, as food suppliers in the United States are required to do by the Food and Drug Administration.But one mineral not added back into white rice is magnesium; one cup (195 grams) of cooked long grain brown rice contains 84 milligrams of magnesium while one cup of white rice contains 19 milligrams.Shereen Jegtvig in an article which appeared in about.com shares this information: Since brown rice still has the bran intact, it has more fiber than white rice. One cup of brown rice has 3.5 grams of fiber while the same amount of white rice has less than one gram of fiber.Nutritionists said that all of us need from 25 to 38 grams of fiber in our diet each day. Fiber is beneficial for digestive system health and following a high-fiber diet may help a person lose weight.White rice is still the usual rice found in restaurants, so you will probably have to get most of your brown rice at home, Jegtvig said. Brown rice takes longer than white rice to cook, so increase the amount of water slightly. Brown rice doesnt have the fluffy texture of white rice, but its nutty flavor and chewy texture makes brown rice a tasty way to get fiber into your diet.

confirmed that germination improves the cooking, eating, and nutritional qualities of brown rice.We found out that GBR from pigmented rice has better phytochemical, antioxidant, and functional properties than GBR from white rice varieties. It also has higher protein (8.5-9.5%), fiber (0.7-1.0%), fat (3.0-3.1%), and ash (1.5-2.1%), Romero said.Aside from being nutritious, brown rice has several health benefits. For instance, eating a serving of brown rice at least 6 times each week is an especially good idea for postmenopausal women with high cholesterol, high blood pressure or other signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD).A 3-year prospective study of over 200 postmenopausal women with CVD, published in the American Heart Journal, shows that those eating at least 6 servings of whole grains each week experienced both: slowed progression of atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque that narrows the vessels through which blood flows) and less progression in stenosis (the narrowing of the diameter of arterial passageways).A Harvard University study found out that brown rice can lower the risk of developing

diabetes. Researchers drew on data from over 200,000 subjects and found that those who ate five or more servings of white rice a week had a 17 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those who rarely ate white rice. Whats more, they found that those who ate brown rice regularly were overall less likely to develop diabetes.

When we refine rice, we strip away the majority of many of the nutrients, says Dr. Walter Willet, a co-author on the study, including magnesium, chromium and other minerals and vitamins. Youre left with a form of starch that is rapidly broken down, leads to greater spikes in blood sugar, and increases the demand for insulin. Over time this exhausts the pancreas and leads to diabetes.Eating foods high in insoluble fiber, such as brown rice, can help women avoid gallstones, shows a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Studying the overall fiber intake and types of fiber consumed over a 16 year period by over 69,000 women in the study, researchers found that those consuming the most fiber overall (both soluble and insoluble) had a 13% lower risk of developing gallstones

compared to women consuming the fewest fiber-rich foods. Those eating the most foods rich in insoluble fiber gained even more protection against gallstones: a 17% lower risk compared to women eating the least. And the protection was dose-related; a 5-gram increase in insoluble fiber intake dropped risk dropped 10%.Brown rice helps protect women from breast cancer. A cohort study conducted in United Kingdom hosted 35,972 women who were pre-menopausal. These women ate a diet rich in fiber and fruit. The fiber came from brown rice and other whole grains. The pre-menopausal women that consumed the most fiber reduced their risk of breast cancer by about 52 percent compared to women who consumed a diet with the least fiber. Women who had high-fiber diets supplied mostly by whole grains had the most protection against breast cancer.

Fruit source fiber also offered women protection from breast cancer, wrote R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen in an article. This gave women about a 29 percent reduced risk. So, brown rice and other whole grain sources still win out.

By switching to brown rice, Filipinos would become healthier and less sickly. A National Nutrition Survey done in 2008 showed that 26 out of every 100 pre-schoolers were malnourished. Twenty-five percent of children ages 6 to 10 years old were underweight.While Filipinos have been conditioned to eating rice, the required nourishment that the body needs to arrest malnutrition is inadequate because of the loss or reduction of important nutrients in the milling process, observed a policy advocacy, which appeared in The PCARRD Monitor.Brown rice is, indeed, healthier than white rice. The health-promoting properties of brown rice can even more enhanced by a simple germination process. It is very simple: The raw brown rice is soaked in water for 12 hours, drained, and then wrapped in cheesecloth for 24 hours. The resulting germinated brown rice (GBR) is cooked and can then be used as alternative to white rice or as an ingredient in food products.

The finding was based from the study, Development and Evaluation of Functional Beverage with Germinated Brown Rice as Base Ingredient, conducted by Rodel Bulatao, Jody Chaves, and Dr. Marissa Romero from the Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).We know that brown rice is nutritionally superior than white or milled rice. Yet, drawbacks on its cooking time and texture discourage the public to consume it. And so we thought of germinating it to help address these concerns, Bulatao said.Previous studies

Brown rice (from Wikipedia)

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 20158 EDGEDAVAOVANTAGE

EDITORIALBenefitting the citizensDAVAO City has undeniably been enjoying unprecedented eco-nomic growth in the last five years, with investments not only pouring in but increasing each year. One cannot deny the fact that Davao has dramatically changed through the years and for the better. Construction projects are going on non-stop, clearly an indication of how fast the city has developed into one bustling metropolis and now breathing down the neck of Manila and Cebu in terms of progress. Malls and hotels have sprouted in almost every corner, and the real estate industry is booming and is changing the citys skyline.The figures alone speak of volumes. Investments poured into the city for the last five years have increased. From the recorded P184 billion in 2010, the total business capitalization in the city reached P211 billion in 2014, or a whopping increase of P27 billion in just five years time.Data from the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) show that for 2011, business capitalization was recorded at P187 bil-lion. This increased in 2012 to P196.408 billion, and then increased fur-ther the following year at P203.04 billion, breaching the P200-billion

mark. The total capitalization also increased by 3.94 percent from P203 billion in 2013 to P211 billion in 2014.With the staging of the 3rd Davao Investment Conference (ICon) at the SMX Convention Center, the citys goal to promote itself further as an investment destination definitely received a major boost. As the big business event enters into its second day today, investors and indus-try players not only in Mindanao but also from the rest of the country and even those from the international community will have a glimpse of what Davao has to offer in the sectors of real estate, tourism, ICT, and manufacturing.We laud the organizers of the 3rd Davao ICon the Davao City Cham-ber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) and the City Government of Davao through the Davao City Investment Promotions Center and City Planning and Development Office for staging such an important event that will surely attract more investors and eventually make the economy grow even more. A city experiencing economic growth always benefits its citizens, and at the end of the day, that is the most important thing.

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

OLIVIA D. VELASCOGeneral Manager

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 VANTAGE POINTS 9EDGEDAVAOJOEY de Leon and Tito Sotto were recent-ly called out for wearing Arab costumes for the Halloween episode of Eat Bulaga, and this has generated an outburst of re-actions from both Muslims and concerned non-Muslims throughout the nation.Even Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) demanded an apology from the two, saying he takes offense at and is ap-palled by the stunt pulled on national TV by noontime show.This phenomenon called cultural ap-propriation, when someone who is from a majority group adopts certain parts of a mi-nority culture that is not his/hers, is a prac-tice that is not uncommon. In fact it is quite widely done especially by celebrities even without a specific occasion. For instance, Selena Gomez adopted certain aspects of Hindu culture in her music album, which also generated several negative feedback be-cause minorities from that culture dubbed it as offensive.This is different from cultural assimila-tion where people from minority cultures adopt certain aspects from majority cultures in order to be integrat-ed in that s o c i e t y , much like what most L u m a d s are expe-riencing in our coun-try in order to get ac-cess to basic welfare to the point that they feel compelled to leave their ancestral do-main to move to urban areas where health-care and education are much more acces-sible to them. Oftentimes they have had to shed their identity for a place in this society.If you take a close look at these two sep-arate phenomena, the only similarity is that they both involve an unfair power dynamic. That essentially means that the other group is marginalized while the other is in a posi-tion of power.Thats why contrary to what most peo-ple think, cultural appropriation to the ex-tent that its offensive is harmful. What de

Leon and Sotto did was offensive precisely because Muslims in this country are a mi-nority and often face discrimination solely because of their faith and the attached ste-reotypes to their religion. There are so many implications that can be derived from them wearing that attire as a Halloween costume because it denotes them using it as a tool for fear.They cant use good faith and no mali-cious intent as a defense for what they did because it is general knowledge that Mus-lims are stereotyped as violent and terror-ists because of media representation that affects the vast majority of them who do not agree with those violent ideals. For that rea-son, many people outside of Mindanao are afraid of going to this region.It is culturally offensive for them to use that attire because it validates those ste-reotypes that are vastly misguided and it dilutes the history of oppression that they have been facing in generations in a pre-dominantly Christian and Manila-centered society.Moreover, de Leon and Sotto are both public figures and can easily spread mass

lies about Muslims to their audience be-cause of the way they represent that culture through the attire.Its also general knowledge that the Arab attire is something sacred to Muslim culture, which is why them wearing that for a costume is founded on the idea that they are entitled to take some part of their iden-tity from the minority without putting it in a context or without testing to see if they are being culturally sensitive to what these peo-ple are going through.The Philippines is a democratic country that values free expression, but as with all other rights, they have limits and these limits are based on a context, on the circumstances that surround the people affected. Absolute free expression is only ideal in a society that fairly treats as equal all its members, and unfortunately in ours, our Muslim brothers and sisters are at a disadvantage. This is why we cannot allow for certain types of expres-sion to further oppress and ostracize them.We are for acceptance and tolerance and were only seeing the beginning of challeng-ing stereotypes. Not all that can be justified by free speech is up for grabs.

Why an Arab costume for Halloween is just wrong

Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you cant go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does. Marga-ret Atwood in The Penelopiad *** WHEN Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Proclamation No. 12 last September 27, 2001, it immediately gave the Dabawenyos reason to celebrate November as Water Conscious-ness Month, with Davao City Water District (DCWD) as the lead agency.On this month, the people of Davao City will not only be reminded of the importance of water but also of their role in helping con-serve this most valuable resource.The DCWD is touted to be the number 1 water utility in the Asia-Pacific Region. Its mission is: We commit to supply potable and affordable water 24 hours a day, deliver reliable service, operate efficiency, and take proactive stance in environmental concerns.Already, DCWD has released its month-long activities. These include celebrating its 42nd anniversary, a bloodletting activity, a free medical and dental clinic, extemporane-ous speaking and on-the-spot poster making contests, and some seminars.Why do we need to be aware of the im-

portance of water? Because without water, life will cease to exist. To quote the words of famed Leon-ardo da Vinci: Water is the driving force in nature.A person can survive only three to five days without water, in some cases people have survived for an average of one week, says thewaterpage.com. Once the body is deprived of fluids the cells and organs in the body begin to deteriorate. The presence of water in the body could mean the difference between life and death.Water is the most precious asset on Earth, points out Dr. Sandra Postel, direc-tor of the Massachusetts-based Global Wa-ter Policy Project. It is the basis of life. She believes water problems will be right there with climate change as a threat to the human future.Although the two are related, water has no substitutes, Postel says. We can transi-tion away from coal and oil to solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. But there is no transitioning away from water to some-thing else.A person needs at least 24 liters of wa-ter daily or one liter per hour. Even when he breathes, he still needs water. Our lungs

must be moist to take in oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide, wrote Leroy Perry in a Readers Digest article. It is possible to lose half a liter of liquid each day just by exhaling.Davao City, one of biggest cities in the country, is blessed with abundant fresh drinking water, both ground and surface. Ac-cording to its website, Mount Apo serves as the recharge point and the areas at the foot of the mountain contain these large reservoirs, the biggest of which is the Calinan, Toril and Talomo Triangle.As everyone now knows, the citys tap water is considered to be the best water in the world. Its water is tested internationally to be the best quality of clean and safe water in the world. Actually, it is said to be abso-lutely perfect.But for how long this water will be avail-able, no one knows.Today, we withdraw water far faster than it can be recharged unsustainably mining what was once a renewable resource, says Janet Abramovitz, a researcher/writer of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute.A recent report from the United Nations and the Stockholm Environment Institute said that by the year 2025, two-thirds of the worlds population would be affected by wa-ter shortages.World demand for water doubles ev-ery 21 years, but the volume available is the same as it was in the Roman times, observes Sir Crispin Tickell, former British ambassa-dor to the United Nations and one of the or-ganizers of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Something has got to give.

As water becomes more scarce, conflict over water rights are inevitable. Wars will be fought over water, Ismael Serageldin, an official of the World Bank, once pointed out.But wars should not happen. In the He-brew Bible, no less a figure than Moses, whose very name meant Drawn out of Wa-ter, once erred fatefully in his effort to obtain water. As related in chapter 20 of the Book of Numbers, the people of Israel strove with Moses after he had led them into the wa-terless wilderness: Why have ye brought us into this wilderness to die here? Seeing their plight, the Lord then instructed Moses: Speak ye to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water. But instead of speaking to the rock, Moses lifted his staff and smote the rock.Water did come forth, momentarily, but at a terrible price. For so transgressing, Mo-ses, along with his entire generation, was condemned to die in the desert rather than enter the Promised Land. The passage con-cludes with the words: These are the Wa-ters of Strife, where Israel strove with the Lord.To end this piece, allow me to quote the words of Rebecca Solnit, author of Storming the Gates of Paradise: Landscapes for Politics: If gold has been prized because it is the most inert element, changeless and incorruptible, water is prized for the opposite reason -- its fluidity, mobility, changeability that make it a necessity and a metaphor for life itself. To value gold over water is to value economy over ecology, that which can be locked up over that which connects all things.

Water is more than gold

Henrylito D. Taciohenrytacio@gmail.com

THINK ON THESE!

Vanessa Kate Madrazo

MY MILLENNIAL MIND

VOL. 8 ISSUE 156 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 201510RODY... FROM 1

Youth... FROM 3

BFAR 11... FROM 6

Phl... FROM 6

Uber... FROM 11

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gans case was a diversionary tactic of a syndicated group at the Ninoy Aquino Interna-tional Airport (NAIA) to show that people anywhere carry bullets with them.Duterte, earlier, asked President BenignoAquino to relieve all officials of the Manila International Airport Administration because of the series incidents of alleged tanimbala or bullet-planting at the NAIA.The mayor said he wants to replace all airport police in NAIA and allow the Army to take over security.

He also said there are Spe-cial Action Forces (SAF) oper-atives who have no work as of the moment because they are still waiting for their orders. They can temporarily take over the situation, he said.Duterte said believed there is a conspiracy among the police officers inside the NAIA, the porters, airline em-ployees, and taxi drivers.The mayor said he was prompted to make his call after he learned the arrest of Dagan in Davao airport last week for allegedly carrying two 9mm bullets.

cion Monkayo at the time of their arrest.Based on the order of re-lease signed by a certain Ruby Delmondo, representative of NPA-Southern Mindanao Re-gion, which was read by Toni Tabar, spokesperson for Com-val-North Davao and South Agusan Subregional Com-mand, the two soldiers were freed after the judicial process undertaken with respect to the policy stated in the 1949 Gene-va Convention.Geneva Convention is a series of treaties on the treat-ment of civilians, prisoners of war (POWs) and soldiers who are otherwise rendered hors de combat, or incapable of fighting.Subay sa judicial process, napamatud-an nga sila igo ra nagtuman sa kamandoan (Based on the judicial pro-cess, it was found out that the two were just carrying out or-ders), Tabar read.The two claimed they were unscathed and that they were treated well by the NPA combatants even if they were coming from the opposing forces.Katong bag-o pa me nada-kpan, nahadlok gyud kaayo mi. Pero human ang pila ka weeks nawala na among kahadlok. Daghan mi natun-an bahin sa ila nga naa sila ginasunod na policy. Ang ilang ginapaglaban dili lang para sa ila pero para sa tanan nga naglisod (When we had just been captured, we really feared for our lives. After

weeks, our fear was gone. We learned a lot about them that they follow a certain policy. Theyre fighting not just for themselves but all those who are suffering), Aover said.Alabaso added that they learned about the cause that the rebel group is fighting for.We learned more disci-pline and respect for others. They dont only fight for their own welfare but also for oth-ers, he said.Aovers mother Lucia said she learned about the release of her son on Monday evening.Aover is a resident of Ta-likud Island of Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) and Al-abaso hails from Bacolod in Lanao del Norte.Alabasos family, along with Davao City Mayor Rodri-go R. Duterte, was waiting for his arrival at Camp Panacan on Tuesday afternoon. The two former captives were brought to Camp Panacan on board a helicopter.Duterte, who he is a sup-porter of the NPAs ideology, facilitated the release of the soldiers from the hands of the rebel group.Matawag gyud nato rev-olution sa tao pinaagi sa NPA. Karon mihangyo ko kay mo-hangyo man gyud ng militar nga mahimong matabangan ang bihag. (This is peoples revolution through the NPA. Now, I facilitated the soldiers release because the military would ask me to), he said.

ry deliberations on the BBL should move beyond consti-tutionality issues as there is no question that the BBL is within the framework of the Philippine Constitution.As 14 out of the 18 surviv-ing members of the 1986 Con-stitutional Commission said, the core principle of the 1987 Philippine Constitution in mandating a special status for the autonomous regions is hu-man development. They also said that the central theme of our Constitution is social jus-tice. This is what we are aspir-ing for with the enactment of the BBL, Alih said.In an interview, Youth Against Corruption and Pover-ty (Yacap) partylist Rep. Carol Jane Lopez maintained that the BLBAR is constitutional-ly flawed and should not be passed by Congress.The BLBAR or Basic Law

of the Bangsamoro Autono-mous Region refers to the sub-stitute bills being proposed by the House of Representatives and Senate.At this point, what is im-portant is for our lawmakers to stop criticizing the BBL. Work together, offer solu-tions, he said. After all, the BBL is now in the hands of Congress and it is their duty to ensure that it conforms to the Constitution.Student Council Alliance of the Philippines -- Nation-al Capital Region Chair Mav Banzon stressed that what is important is how we can best meet the cry of the Bangsam-oro for greater political and economic inclusivity.Laws must serve people above all interests. They are not ends in themselves, the youth representative said. (PNA)

Commander Kandils men ambushed Chairperson Mar-aguer in Sitio Dos, Barangay Burikain, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato. The village chair es-caped unhurt but his driver-es-cort, John Paul Maraguer, was slightly wounded.In the afternoon, Maraguer led an assault on the location of Commander Kandil, trig-gering a five-hour sporadic fire fight that lasted until Tuesday morning.It was a family feud, the MILF as an organization was not involved, Melocotones said. But the conflict forced some 200 Moro families or about 5,000 persons, to flee to nearby villages.Melocotones said a cease-fire has been reached at 3 p.m. Tuesday between warring

clans.Despite the peaceful settle-ment of clan war, the displaced families refused to return home, according to Meloco-tones.One of the displaced per-sons told reporters she be-lieved the conflict could erupt again anytime since there was no blood money involved and both warring families did not swear before the Quran, Mus-lims holy book.Unless both sides pay blood money an swear before the Quran, I am afraid to return home, Salambai Akil, a farmer from Barangay Burakain, said.Meanwhile, Mayor Roque-ro has directed the local social welfare office to attend to the needs of displaced families. (PNA)

Meanwhile, most of BFARs budget in Davao Region will proceed to more livelihood trainings next year aside from regulatory functions, project mangroves and other projects, and provision of fiber glass boats, among others.This was after there will be an expected decrease in the budget allocation for bureau next year.

We expect a five percent decrease in our budget allocation, Idris said, adding

that the regional office of BFAR here only proposed P165 million, lower than the P174 budget for this year.Idris attributed the decrease in allocation to the decrease in resources of the office as well as in the capital outlay.This means that are not allowed to construct buildings like fish landings and other infrastructures necessary for the sector, she said. CHENEEN R. CAPON

appropriation on the Bases Conversion and Development Authority proceeds, provides training in industry-specified areas of specialization in ICT including information technology outsourcing and

software development, game development and animation.The scholarship and training program also targets to increase the size and employability of the countrys ICT talent pool. (PNA)

we will be paying to NPO will be deducted from their con-tract with Smartmatic-Total Information Management, ser-vice-provider in the May 2016 national and local polls.Based on the contract we pay PhP5.00 for every ballot printed. Well be using the can-

non printers of NPO. There are three printers there and then we will be paying an additional PhP5.60 for the use of the ink and other consumables, he explained.The Comelec is looking to print over 50 million ballots. (PNA)

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es. The day was capped with a massive distribution of food packs coming from the Depart-ment of Social Welfare and De-velopment Field Office (DSWD-FO) XI to all the beneficiari