P 15.00 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.netVOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

EDGE Serving a seamless societyDAVAO

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

SHE IS FUNNYRody scoffs at Guanzon dare of taking psycho test

DU30 IN BAGUIO. Taking a breather at the iconic Lions head in Kennon Road, Baguio City, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte with his family and supporters are on a nationwide caravan to help campaign for presidential bet Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

EDGEDAVAOSportsPRESIDENTIAL bet Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has an answer to Commis-sion on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guan-zon who asked all presidential aspirants should submit medi-cal and psychiatric records.Why only us, who is she? It is it because you are Comelec Commissioner? Screw you, he said.This after Guanzon said last week that all candidates for presidents should volun-tarily submit their medical and psychiatric records because their state of health is now part of public interest.On Thursday night at The Marco Polo Davao, Duterte questioned why Guanzon only required the presidential bets to take the test.She must also submit herself to physical and mental aptitude examination, Duterte said.Guanzon said, earlier in a report by GMA News Online, that the people should know because their candidates health, lifestyle and language are public interest.She said the candidates should not invoke their right to privacy because they are vying for the highest position in the country.Guanzon even thought of challenging the candidates, except Sen. Miriam Defen-

sor-Santiago, to run for a mar-athon to show how healthy they are.Duterte, however, said if Guanzon insists on the re-quirement of psychiatric ex-amination, the negative atti-tude of his opponents will be revealed.May maraming mahala-ta diyan kasi kapag psycho-logical malaman kung sino ang kawatan , kung sino yung ano (A lot of abnormalities will be revealed because if it is psychological, it will be known who are thief and many more), he said.Kataw-anan siya [Guan-zon] (She is funny), he added.Duterte said it will be bet-

ter for Guanzon to stay silent and do her job well.Dutertes daughter former Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio defended her father on the alleged issue that he is psycho-logically incapacitated due to his failed marriage to former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman.Reports said Duterte will be painted as psychologically incapacitated, impulsive, self-ish, and someone who makes decisions without remorse.Hes impulsive? Hes self-ish? Does his track record in governance, as a public ser-vant, show that he is impulsive or selfish? They do not, she said.F SHE, 10

SCARE ATTHE SCALES P16

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 20162 EDGEDAVAONEWS

AN unarmed Army ser-geant was shot and killed by three still un-identified gunmen in Toril Dis-trict, Davao City on Wednesday morning.Capt. Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said the incident took place at 10 a.m. at Baran-gay Baracatan.He identified the victim as Sgt. Allan Madrid of the 72nd Infantry Battalion.Batchar said Madrid died instantly after being shot in the right side of the head.The victim was aboard his motorcycle and heading for his home in Barangay Inawayan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur when he was fired upon.Pursuit operations are on-going even as the motive for the attack is still being deter-mined. (PNA)

Unarmed sergeant shot dead Duterte not worried bypossible drop in surveyBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.netPRESIDENTIAL Aspirant Davao City Mayor Ro-drigo R. Duterte said he does not care if his ratings plummet in the wake of the firestorm brought about by the rape slur.This possibility surfaced despite Mayor Dutertes top-ping the surveys in two con-secutive weeks.When asked his reaction on the latest survey where he got a comfortable lead over his opponents, Duterte said he might slide down in the next survey.I dont believe in surveys, it is just like weather, maybe next I will rank number five, he said.The mayor said what is important for him is that, the people know my advocacy and my capacity as a leader.I am not really dreaming of it and I am not going to die just because I do not become president, he said.Earlier, Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) political sci-ence professor Ramon Beleno III said that Dutertes recent is-sue on the rape slur can cause

a decrease in his survey ratings although he said he cannot predict to what extent.Beleno said despite the apology of Duterte the nega-tive effect on his ratings will re-main since the rape joke issue is very sensitive.He said the statement of his opponents who appeared to be taking advantage of the issue to hit him can also affect his ratings.Duterte said he will fol-low his destiny and he does not care what some womens groups say about him because

of the alleged rape joke.I was narrating, I was not joking. I will repeat it for the last time, it was a repetition of an orginal deed I made, he said.Kayong mga (You) Gabri-ela, you are the jokers, he said.He said if these groups come to the city, they will see how he cares for the women.Duterte said he founded a P31-million rehabilitation center in the city that caters to young girls, ages 5 years old and above, who are victims of

ALMARIOS FOR DUTERTE. Davao City Third District Rep. Isidro Ungab (third from right) and First District Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles (third from left), Davao Oriental Second District Rep. Thelma Almario (second from right), son Vice Governor Joel Mayo Almario (rightmost), PDP-Laban secretary Pantaleon Alvarez and daughter lawyer Paula Alvarez

flash the clenched fist sign to show their support to the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte in a gathering of political leaders from Davao Oriental at The Marco Polo Davao Thursday night. Lean Daval Jr.

THE employer of the family of the Filipino worker who died in an accident inside the 300-mega-watt coal-fired power plant of Aboitiz-owned Therma South, Inc. (TSI) in barangay Binugao, Davao City last Wednesday will receive financial assis-tance.This was confirmed in a statement of the Aboitiz Pow-er Corp. furnished to Edge Davao yesterday.The family of the victim has already arrived in Davao and employers of the victim have committed to support the family during this time, the Aboitiz said.However, the manage-ment of the plant has not dis-closed the amount of assis-tance that will be given to the family.The management has also not released any update on the ongoing investigation into the accident conducted by the TSI and the employer of the victim.Aboitiz withheld the name of the ill-fated worker.

The victim, a Filipino, is an employee for six years of sub-contractor Boyi Wantong, which reports to FHI-True North. FHI-True North reports to Therma South, an earlier statement said.This is the second fatal ac-cident occuring in the P35-bil-lion plant.Therma South and its contractors are presently con-ducting an investigation to de-termine the cause of the acci-dent and to ensure that safety guidelines are reinforced, the

statement read..The first fatal incident hap-pened two years ago in the af-ternoon of January 6, 2014 in-volving a 39-year-old Chinese engineer of Nantong Dragon who died after he was acciden-tally struck by a three-ton pul-ley winch while supervising at the construction site.At the time, the manage-ment of TSI had to temporarily stop operations for a week to review safety measures and sub-contracting of the con-struction of the plant.

AS the nation celebrates Earth Day, civil society groups have expressed concern about the lack of a solid stand from presidential candidates on environment is-sues, despite the vulnerability of the Philippines natural re-sources to climate change and other threats. Weeks before the May 9 elections, Oceana has teamed up with other non-govern-ment organizations, church groups, and the academe in a civil society coalition called Green Thumb to press for substantive discussion on en-vironment issues during pres-idential debates.The Commission on Elec-tions and media organizations have conducted two presiden-tial debates so far, and the final leg will be held on April 24 at the University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City.During the presidential debate in Cebu last month, around 3,000 members of civil society groups held a rally to call for genuine discussion of

environment issues in the de-bates.Therewas no definitive-commitmentfromourpresi-dentialcandidatestowork in protectingourenvironment, includingouroceans and the-livelihood of thosemostdepen-dentonourdegraded and van-ishingresources, saidlawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice PresidentforOceanaPhilip-pines.Ourfisherfolk are thepoorest sector in thePhil-ippines, but so farthere are no clear and time-boundplat-formsonsustainablefisher-iesmanagement in thecandi-dates electoral agenda, she-noted. The Biodiversity Manage-ment Bureau (BMB) report-ed that the Philippines is home to more than 52,177 endemic species, making it one of the 18 megadiverse countries in the world. World-famous ma-rine scientist Kent Carpenter has described the Philippines as the center of the center of

Green Thumb pressesdiscussion of environment

crc@edgedavao.netBy CHENEEN R. CAPON

Family of accident victim to get aid-AboitizF DUTERTE, 10

F GREEN, 10

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 3EDGEDAVAO NEWS

CARDINAL ON PEACE. Orlando Cardinal Quevedo of Cotabato explains the logo yesterday of the Titayan Symposium on Bridging for Peace: Inclusive Political Transitions in the Bangsamoro. He said the logo is inspired by the Tuklanipao Bridge in Mamasapano which is a symbol of conflict but the civil

society groups want it to connect people who are aspiring for peace. With him is Mindanao State University -General Santos (MSU-GenSan) Professor Rufa Cagoco Guiam who was also the resource speaker of the two-day symposium. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

MINDANAOS lone Car-dinal, Orlando Queve-do urged participants to a peace symposium here to be positive, be pro-active and be aware of the gains of the peace process between the government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the midst of this po-litical transition from a gov-ernment that negotiated the fundamental bases for a just and lasting peace to a new gov-ernment whose peace interests are still to be known.In his keynote address Thursday before at least 120 participants of Titayan: Bridg-ing for Peace (Inclusive Politi-cal Transitions in the Bangsam-oro), convened by the Friends of Peace and the Ateneo de Davao University, Quevedo spoke of learning from the past, looking at the present in terms of attitudes, and looking at the future with hope.He said Titayan which means bridge in Maguindan-ao, was convened because of the deep concern about the future by all sectors of Mind-anao society brought about by the apparent demise of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as well as questions about the possibility of any definitive and lasting peace based on justice and reconciliation.Will this peace sympo-sium provide doable answers that will allay fears, insecurities rooted in the failure of Con-gress to pass a BBL? It is our hope that it will, he said. Mindanaos lone Cardi-

nal pointed to the logo of the symposium, the iconic wooden bridge in Tukanalipao in Ma-masapano, Maguindanao as the summation of the past, the present, and the future.The iconic Titayan of Ma-masapano is symbolic of grave disaster in the past, insecurity and uncertainty in the present. But for the future it is a bridge of hope. May we contribute to the fulfillment of that hope, Quevedo said.Implementation phaseThe peace process be-tween government and the MILF is on its implementation phase. A major part of the im-plementation process, howev-er, was derailed when Congress failed to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before it ad-journed on February 3. The BBL would have paved the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro, the new auton-omous political entity that would replace the Autono-mous Region in Muslim Mind-anao (ARMM). With the non-passage of the BBL, elections in the ARMM for 2016 to 2019 will be held during the synchronized elec-tions on May 9. Passage of the Bangsam-oro law is needed within the next two years under the new administration to allow for the transition from the ARMM to the Bangsamoro and to en-sure that the decommission-ing of the MILFs weapons and troops, which is tied up with the passage of the law, will con-

Be positive, aware of gains of peace process - Quevedo

tinue, as part of the normaliza-tion process. Another aspect of the Bangsamoro peace process that needs to be attended to are the recommendations of the Transitional Justice and Recon-ciliation Commission (TJRC) on dealing with the past. Looking at the past and present In looking at the past, the Cardinal listed nine points

which, based on his personal perspective, led to the failure of negotiated peace. These are the perceived lack of gen-eral consultation with Min-danawons; divisions of opinion among Mindanawons; lack of a united Bangsamoro stand failure to see the BBL as the Bangsamoro stand; lack of peace constituency; misunder-standing and misinformation about the output of the negoti-

ation that led to the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), Com-prehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the BBL; the Mamasapano trage-dy of January 25, 2015 and its aftermath, the politicization of the BBL in view of election; media misinformation and dis-information, and radical chang-es in the MILF-Government version of the BBL.

He spoke of the explosion of bias and prejudices because of the Mamasapano tragedy and how these biases were articulated during the investi-gations by the Senate and the House of Representatives. He said the line of ques-tioning focused on the lack of trust, the legislators asking if they can trust the Moro people after Mamasapano, if they can F BE POSITIVE, 10

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 20164 EDGEDAVAOSUBURBIA AUTHORITIES of Koro-nadal City, South Cota-bato have placed the city under heightened alert due to the planned protest actions in the area by farmers and mem-bers of militant groups coming from parts of Region 12.South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Friday she has directed local police units to properly secure vari-ous strategic areas in the city and ensure that the protest actions would be peaceful and orderly.Around 700 protesters led by the militant Bagong Alyan-sang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) converged in front of a local hotel here on Thursday night for the protest actions.The group, which is ini-tially seeking a dialogue with the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Region 12, transferred on Friday morning at the na-tional highway in front of the regional center site in Baran-gay Carpenter Hill.DA-12s main office build-ing, which was only completed late last year, is situated at the site but their personnel have yet to fully transfer to the fa-cility.We will not stop these protests but we will make sure that there will be no repeat of the Kidapawan City incident, she said.The governor was refer-ring to the earlier bloody dis-persal of protesters in Kidap-awan City that resulted to the death of three people and more than a hundred others injured.The protesters, who were

led by members of Bayan and its allied groups, sought for the immediate release of rice stocks for farmers and other sectors who were affected by the onslaught of the continu-ing dry spell spawned by the El Nio phenomenon.Ignacio Adrias, KMP re-gional spokesperson, told re-porters that the protest actions mainly focus on calls for the government to fast tract the distribution of rice to farmers affected by the El Nio.We will not stop until our demands are met, he said.Adrias, who claimed that they will mobilize at least 2,000 protesters, said they are initially planning to stay in the area for five days.Fuentes clarified that the protesters are mostly from other areas in Region 12 and not from the province.Also known as Soccsksar-gen, the region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Co-tabato.She said organizers had convinced some farmers from parts of the province to join the mobilization but decided to re-turn home early Friday follow-ing a dialogue with them.About 95 percent of these protesters are from outside the province, she said.The governor appealed to local farmers and other res-idents who are reeling from the impact of the El Nio to remain calm and assured that the relief assistance of the local government will reach them soon. (PNA)

AUTONOMOUS Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Ha-taman called on last Thursday all peace-loving people in the region to help promote peace-ful elections.In a statement issued Thursday, Hataman said vi-olence and corruption had no place in the five province region composed of the prov-inces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Ta-wi-Tawi.He said ARMM has made great strides - despite the challenges of prejudice and judgment - as the region had fought long and hard for re-forms and good governance.Together, we have sought reforms and strengthened institutions that were once thought of as impossible, Hataman, who is seeking his second term as regional gov-ernor, said.We are the home of the Bangsamoro, the Lumad, and the settlers, and it is this diver-sity from which we draw our greatest strength, he added.Hataman said Bangsam-oro leaders had worked hard to improve the lives we share with each other, lives that we devote to our families, and lives that drive development in our communities.The coming elections, Ha-taman said, was yet another opportunity to shape the fu-ture of Bangsamoro region by

voting fairly and peacefully.He said the election was a democratic exercise, where every one stood to claim their rights, and this exercise must be fair and peaceful, free from intimidation and fear.It is therefore imperative for all party leaders and candi-dates to set the standard, and to impress upon their sup-porters that violence and cor-ruption have no place in the elections. They must commit to an electoral process that does not condone, let alone encourage, violence, Hata-man said.He reminded all the peo-ple of the region, more than 2 million inhabitants of Moro, Christian and Indigenous

Peoples, that the result of this years elections would deter-mine how leaders confront the challenges the region face today and shape the future for ARMM children.We have worked tireless-ly to establish a government that is accountable to the peo-ple, and the elections is but another opportunity for us to build on our gains, Hataman said.It is our responsibility as a community of equals who put a premium on humanity to help keep the peace, wheth-er our side wins or loses the count. In an election where violence reigns, nobody wins, Hataman said, adding the only option is peace. (PNA)

ABOUT 2,000 farmers from different parts of Mindanao have gath-ered in front of the Region 12 regional center in Koronadal City, South Cotabato demand-ing rice from the Department of Agriculture (DA-12).Farmers, bringing with them children and huge bags, claimed they will hold the protest for three days or until Monday.Domingo Azures, leader of Anak Pawis farmers group and believed to the protest action organizers assured the rally will be peaceful and will not be like the one that hap-pened in Kidapawan City.At 8 a.m., the farmers put up tents in front of the SOC-CSKSARGEN Regional Center in Barangay Carpenter Hills where government line agen-cies regional offices are locat-ed. SOCCSKSARGEN is com-posed of the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotaba-to, Sultan Kudarat and Sarang-gani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacu-rong and Gen. Santos.Azures said they will con-tinue the peaceful protest until

the government gives them rice after Agriculture Sec. Pro-ceso Alcala announced over national media that rice are ready for distribution in Min-danao and that there was no lack of rice.Senior Supt. Barney Condes, Koronadal City PNP chief, said enough personnel are already in place to ensure the flow of traffic from Koro-nadal to Gen. Santos City will not be blocked.At least two farmers were killed in a farmers protest in Kidapawan City which turned bloody on April 1. The farm-ers, some coming from as far as Bukidnon and South Cota-bato converged in the city de-manding rice assistance.The group demanded a dialogue with DA-12 Regional Director Amalia Jayag Datukan but the regional agriculture of-ficial is in Manila.No dialogue takes place between farmers and the local government of South Cotabato and Koronadal City.South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Fuentes said the local govern-ment respects the rights of citizens to a peaceful assembly

ARMM elections must befair, peaceful, says Mujiv

Alert up in Koronadal City as groups hold protest actions

Mindanao farmers picketDA-12 office, demand rice

OFFICIALS of the Auton-omous Region in Mus-lim Mindanao (ARMM) will award on Friday liveli-hood projects worth Php 12.6 million under the regions banner program Health, Ed-ucation, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy (HELPS) to various coopera-tives in the region.The livelihood assistance includes nine bakery projects in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi; two or-ganic or vermi-composting fertilizer production in Lanao del Sur; and three mat-weav-ing projects in Tawi-Tawi.These were extended to the beneficiaries through ARMMs Science and Tech-nology department (DOST-ARMM)Three bakery projects were already turned over to cooperative-beneficiaries in Basilan province on April 12, Mon-Em Abangad, DOST-ARMM information officer, said.Funds were provided to cooperatives as capital and members were given skills training.We trained them on bread, cake, and pastry mak-ing, and basic hand washing. We also gave inputs on food safety hazards and the Halal certification process, Aban-gad said.These are Switch Yakal Consumers Cooperative in Lantawan; Badja Kahapan Agri-Farmers Producers Co-operative in Tipo-Tipo; and Pintasan Consumers Cooper-ative in Mohammad Ajul.We are happy we are giv-en this project, now we can make both ends meet every-day, said Nihma Asanji, 27, a member of the Badja Kaha-pan Agri-Farmers Producers Cooperative.

Abangad said the projects would help improve the living conditions of the residents in their respective communities.He added these would also create jobs and provide additional income to mem-bers of the cooperative-bene-ficiaries.Abangad added that the six remaining bakery proj-ects would be implemented in the barangays of Poblacion in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; and Puukan Laminusa in Siasi, San Raymundo and Walled City in Jolo, Bilaan Poblacion in Tali-pao, and Baligtang in Panda-mi, all in the province of Sulu.On Wednesday, April 20, the agency turned over a vermi-composting project in barangay Daguan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur to Malinday Daguan Farmers Producers Cooperative.The same project will be turned over to Radapan Po-

blacion Fertilizer Livelihood Farmers Producers Coopera-tive in Radapan Poblacion, Pa-giapo, Lanao del Sur on April 23. Meanwhile, mat weaving projects will be implemented in the barangays of Balimbing in Panglima Sugala, and Un-as-Unas and Tong Tampakan in South Ubian, all in the prov-ince of Tawi-Tawi.A priority program of the regional government under the Hataman administration, HELPS aims at providing ba-sic intervention to poor and depressed areas in the region.The regional government has identified 200 barangays as priority project recipients under the HELPS program in 2015-2016.The ARMM government has earmarked Php 10-mil-lion worth of various projects for each of the targeted baran-gays. (PNA)

ARMM awards P12.6-M livelihood projects to coopsFLOCKED. Leading presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is flocked by Davao Oriental political leaders and members of local and national media when he arrived at a gathering held at The Marco Polo Davao last Thursday night. Lean Daval Jr.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 5EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 20166 EDGEDAVAOECONOMY

TOURISM stakeholders in South Cotabato are seeking around PHP422 million in investments for the development of seven tourism projects in the province.Cesar Sulit Jr., South Co-tabato senior tourism oper-ations officer, said Friday the proposed projects are among the provinces top priorities in terms of development under its enhanced tourism plan.He said they are currently exploring possible partner-ships with major investors for the development of the proj-ects, which are situated in five localities in the province.These are the PHP60 mil-lion San Felipe artists village in Tantangan town; PHP75 mil-lion Seven Falls Development Project in Lake Sebu; PHP91 million Paraiso golf course and theme park in Koronadal City; PHP120 million Lake Lahit Dream Aqua and Restaurant in Lake Sebu; PHP24 million Emily Green Park Resort De-velopment Project in Surallah; and PHP52 million Mt. Matu-tum Fruit Park Development Project in Tupi.Sulit said these projects were among the 12 invest-ment packages presented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Depart-ment of Tourism in Region 12 during the four-day regional travel and trade expo last week

in Makati City.He said DTI-12 held an investment mission and busi-ness matching activity at the Berjaya Hotel in Makati that was joined by potential inves-tors and representatives from government agencies, trade groups and foreign embassies.The responses were very encouraging and there were inquiries for our lined up proj-ects, he said.During the activity, Sulit said the Tourism Infrastruc-ture and Economic Zone Au-thority (TIEZA) expressed interest on the Seven Falls De-velopment Project.He said they specifically discussed with TIEZA repre-

sentative Michael Louis Floror-ita the possibility of establish-ing a flagship tourism econom-ic zone in Lake Sebu.(TIEZA) promised to visit the province sometime in June to validate the data presented during investment mission, Sulit said.DOT and DTI in Region 12 pushed for the holding of the regional travel and trade expo in Makati City to further pro-mote the regions top products and world-class tourist desti-nations.Dubbed Treasures of SOX: a Travel and Trade Expo, the event was held at the Glorietta Malls activity center in Ayala Center, Makati. (PNA)

SEAOIL Philippines Inc. reported a net income of Php 1.05 billion for 2015.The oil firm also said in a statement Thursday it posted a revenue of Php 31.5 billion.It noted the company reached a 59-percent volume growth due to its logistical ad-vantage, streamlining business processes and using programs to improve sales performance.Its sales volume was also propelled by low oil prices and increased vehicle sales.Seaoil chief financing offi-cer and retail business presi-dent Mark Yu said the compa-ny was targeting a 25-percent growth by increasing its num-ber of stations and improving the sales of its existing stations. The oil firm also rolled out a new franchise package, which costed less than Php 1 million. It eyes to sign up 60 station operators for 2016.Seaoil said it would also open its first mega station along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway by the fourth quarter of 2016.Yu added that the firm would serve motorists coming from the Northern Provinc-es, while improving its brand presence.According to the Energy Departments oil supply and demand report for 2015, Seao-il is the leading independent oil firm in the country -- with a market share of 5.1 percent. (PNA)

LABOR and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Di-mapilis-Baldoz recently signed Administrative Order No. 120, Series of 2016, or the Guidelines on the Imple-mentation of Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay, to effectively pro-vide and expand the employ-ment and economic opportu-nities of distressed overseas Filipino women workers.The DOLE Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay (BPBH) is a combination of training and production intervention pro-gram to provide distressed women OFWs (Overseas Fil-ipino Workers) with liveli-hood skills to improve their socio-economic well-being by expanding their employment and economic opportunities.Under the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay, livelihood skills training and starter kits are provided to distressed women OFWs to enable them to start self or wage employ-ment undertaking, said Bal-doz.The beneficiaries who may avail of the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay program are dis-tressed women OFW return-ees and those who were shel-tered in Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Resource Centers (MWOFRCs).Under A.O. No. 120-16, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) personnel shall prepare all distressed wom-en OFWs, whether returnee to sheltered in MWOFRC, for productive reintegration to the country.The POLO personnel shall complete on-site processing of all requirements for enti-tlement to BPBH program; train the BPBH beneficiaries on their preferred livelihood skills and on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and busi-ness planning; and ensure the submission of business plan as a requirement for graduation and issuance by POLO of the Certificate of Training on Live-lihood Skill and Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship and Busi-ness Planning.For on-site livelihood training, the heads of POLO shall ensure the availability of livelihood skills training cours-

es at MWOFRC based on the need and viability of the un-dertaking.The POLO head shall en-sure that all the skills training are TESDA guided in terms of training facilitation, as-sessment, and certification; handled only by trainers with National TVET Trainer Certif-icate; and in instances where POLOs are able to partner with external entities or institutions in the host country. The POLO heads shall ensure that train-ing programs will lead to the acquisition of the National Cer-tificate or Certificate of Compe-tency.The administrative order also stated that training ex-penses shall be cost-shared by the Labor Attach and Welfare Fund as indicated in the POLO Work and Financial Plan, while the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) shall fund the starter kits to be dis-tributed to the beneficiaries.The DOLE Regional Offices shall, through the NRCO, shall identify and select priority clients and submit a copy of the passport with picture and page stamp and accomplished NRCO form and Business Plan.Skills training for iden-tified livelihood shall be con-ducted through TESDA and other accredited training insti-tutions, said Baldoz.The NRCO, as program manager, shall conduct regular field visit to assess program implementation and provide technical advisory assistance to program implementers.The DOLE Assessment Team composed of the NRCO, Internal Audit Service (IAS), Financial Management Service (FMS), and Planning Service (PS) may conduct actual site visit/consultation with proj-ect beneficiaries to assess the overall impact of the livelihood activities and to make appro-priate recommendations for improvements.The NRCO has reported that in 2015, the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay Project provided livelihood starter kits and financial assistance amounting to Php 14.5 million to 1,456 OFW beneficiaries.

UNDER THE HEAT OF THE SUN. A porter pushes a cart full of sacks of flour and onions under the searing heat of the sun along Sta. Ana Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Baldoz signs AO on Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay guidelines

SouthCot eyes P422M in tourism investments

THE Philippine peso weakened to a US dollar Thursday fol-lowing the surge in oil pric-es and above-consensus US home sales among others.It shed PHP0.21 and fin-ished the trade at 46.44 from the previous sessions 46.22, which a trader also attribut-ed to investors wait-and-see stance ahead of the Europe-an Central Banks (ECB) pol-icy meeting later in the day.Risk sentiment became positive after some Fed (US Federal Reserve) officials turned more hawkish in re-cent days, the trader said.US existing home sale grew by 5.1 percent in March 2016, exceeding mar-ket consensus of 3.5 percent, which the trader said added to risk sentiment of inves-tors.This report, for one, re-sulted to the weaker opening of the local currency at 46.35 from Wednesdays 45.10.It traded between 46.32 and 46.44 bringing the days average to 46.38.Volume of trade reached USD710.5 million, higher than the previous sessions USD593 million.On Friday, the currency pair is seen to trade between 46.30 and 46.50. (PNA)

Peso down vs USD on upbeat US housing data, oil price hikes

Seaoil posts P1.05-B net income for 2015

TWO airlines have ex-pressed hope that the labor issue involving employees of the Civil Avia-tion of the Philippines (CAAP) last week will have a quick resolution.Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific on Friday said it was keen on the labor issue being resolved diplomatically for the benefit of all parties at the soonest possible time.Cebu Pacific meanwhile thanked the CAAP personnel for their professionalism and dedication by ensuring that there is no disruption in air transport operations despite the silent protest.The airline company fur-ther expressed hope that ser-vices for air passengers will remain a priority, and will not be compromised.Cebu Pacific fully shares the optimism of fellow air-lines in anticipation of an im-

mediate and amicable resolu-tion of the issue, the airline company said.Earlier, flag carrier Philip-pine Airlines (PAL) like Cebu Pacific, also expressed hope that the issue be quickly re-solved but at the same time warned that these issues may put the countrys aviation sec-tor in a bad light.PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista in a statement noted the importance of pro-

tecting the countrys return to Category 1 status in 2014 after losing it a year earlier due to Significant Safety Con-cerns.Both airlines meanwhile committed support in being important partners in the ad-vancement of the countrys aviation industry.Last week, members of the CAAP labor union pro-tested over the Commission

Airlines hopeful on CAAP labor issues resolution

F AIRLINES, 10

F BALDOZ, 10

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 7EDGEDAVAO THE ECONOMYTHE countrys largest business group Philip-pine Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (PCCI) as well as colleges and univer-sities nationwide aim for the country to be a global educa-tion hub.PCCI held consultation with heads of higher education institutions (HEIs) in order to create an Education Ser-vices Sector Export Roadmap which targets to attract foreign students to enroll in college- and graduate-degree courses in the country.The roadmap summa-rized the exports development strategy that identified the goals, challenges, and action required for government, ed-ucators, and business to en-hance the competitiveness of the Philippines as a global provider of higher education, PCCI stated.PCCI and HEIs also see po-tential of USD1 billion annual revenues for promoting the

Philippines as a global educa-tion hub.PCCI President George T. Barcelon said that foreign students consider studying in a country with English in-structions, qualifications rec-ognized in their desired work countries, quality faculties and facilities, and low costs of living which are present in the Phil-ippines.An initial reform that would promote the Philippines as a higher education hub was lifting the regulatory and legal impediments that discourage many foreign students from enrolling here, Barcelon add-ed. To draft the roadmap, a technical working group will be formed by PCCI Human Re-sources Development Founda-tion, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Edu-cation, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Edu-cation and Skills Development Authority. (PNA)LISTED leading food man-ufacturer Century Pacif-ic Food Inc. (CNPF) has secured Php500-million loan to finance acquisition.The company told the lo-cal bourse it has entered into an agreement to secure a five-year fixed rate term loan.Proceeds shall be used by the company to partially refinance short-term loans that were obtained for the acquisition of Century Pacif-ic Agricultural Ventures, Inc. (CPAVI), it said.CNPF fully acquired CPA-VI, an integrated coconut producer of organic coconut products, for Php4.5 billion.After the acquisition, parent firm Century Pacific Group, Inc. (CPGI) increased its stake of CNPF to 73.7 per-cent from previous 72.2 per-cent. CPAVI was previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of CPGI.Century Pacific Food is behind popular canned food brands Century Tuna, Argen-tina Corned Beef, 555 Sar-dines, Angel, and Birch Tree which have established mar-ket leading positions locally.It also provides private label tuna products for export overseas. (PNA)

HALAL TASTE TEST. Mall goers avail of the free taste test of Halal honey at the booth of Indonesias Madu Apiari Mutiara during the opening of the Philippine Halal Tourism Expo 2016 at the activity center of Abreeza Mall yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

COMMUTERS of Citylink buses who travel in var-ious Megaworld inte-grated urbanThis beep card will be fully integrated to the unified automated fare collection system on Mass Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines 1 and 2.The Citylink Coach Ser-vices Inc. (Citylink), under Megaworlds Estate Manage-ment, recently signed a part-nership with AF Payments, Inc. (AFPI) to join the cashless system in public transporta-tion for speed, safety and con-venience.The primary objective of this cashless payment is to provide Filipino commuters a seamless and convenient traveling experience around Metro Manila. With one beep card, you can now embark on all Citylink buses and light rail transit routes. This is the countrys first and only uni-fied automated fare collection system and we are encourag-ing other operators to join and do the same, said Arnie Batac, head of Estate Management, Megaworld.The Department of Trans-portation and Communica-tion (DOTC) earlier said the beep cards also aim to solve the long queues of passengers, especially during rush hours.Beep card users will no longer have to line up or pull out their cash in public to pay for the fare. Just tap and you can go to your desired desti-nation, he said.Before the end of May, an initial of 18 Citylink bus-es will be made operational for all beep card users. Each station will have a booth or personnel who will sell stored value cards with Php50 load and they are reloadable in vending machines and beep

card partner establishments nationwide, and soon in all concierge of Megaworlds Lifestyle Malls.Even the cashless pay-ment made operational this May, we are still offering cash payment option until pas-sengers can fully adapt to the system. We are providing fliers, orientation and other marketing materials to inform the public. This is how we will improve the commuting ex-perience in Megaworld town-ships, Batac said.Megaworlds Estate Man-agement had earmarked around Php100 million in 2008 for the establishment of CityLink, a public trans-portation system, to help commuters and recognize the increasing demand for effi-cient means of transportation from various integrated urban townships.Citylink has 19 units that

operates 24/7. It caters to around 200,000 BPO work-ers, residents and visitors of Megaworld townships. Within second quarter of the year, we will add another 19 buses to further minimize the waiting time of commuters, he said.The Citylink buses ply around Eastwood City in Quezon City; Uptown Bonifa-cio and McKinley Hill in Fort Bonifacio; and Newport City with a fare price ranging from PhP12 to Php39.Megaworld is the coun-trys leading BPO office de-veloper and landlord with over 150 multinational and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies operating in various townships across the country such as Eastwood City, McKinley Hill, Uptown Bonifacio, as well as The Mac-tan Newtown in Cebu and Iloilo Business Park in Iloilo. (PNA)

Megaworlds CityLink buses to go cashless next month

PCCI, academe to promote PHL as global education hub

Century Pacific Food acquiresP500-M loan to fund acquisition

SY-LED Banco de Oro Uni-bank from Inc. (BDO) is targeting a four percent rise in net income this 2016 to PhP26 billion, to be buoyed by the strength of the domestic economy as well as core busi-nesses namely deposits and loans.In a briefing Friday, BDO President Nestor V. Tan cited their good numbers last year, referring to the banks PhP25 billion net income, stressing that they hope to sustain it this year.We expect the positive (outcome) to continue al-though we are a little bit cau-tious, he said.Among the positive fac-tors that the bank considers are the sound macro funda-mentals of the economy given the still strong inflows from Overseas Filipinos, the rising income of the business pro-cess outsourcing (BPO) sector, the resiliency of the consumer sector, and rising growth of provincial areas; and the good demographics.However, risks remain due to weakness in global growth, the uncertainties on the result of the May national polls, and the excess market liquidity.Tan said earnings from corporate lending has gone down as big business forego their borrowings ahead of the election period but he expects this to regain strength in the last quarter of the year as what has been seen in the past elec-tion years.Thus, the focus on their re-tail business, especially in the

provincial growth areas.In the first quarter this year, the bank posted a PhP5.5 billion net income backed by core lending, deposit-taking and fee-based business.Net interest income rose by 17 percent to PhP15.5 bil-lion, lifted by the 15 percent increase in customer loans and deposits. Fee-based in-come increased by 11 percent during the same period.Also, Tan said growth of remittances is seen to remain strong despite the slowdown last year and the impact of the on-going investigations on the laundering of the USD81 mil-lion stolen from the Bangla-des Bank last February, which ended in the Philippines.He said difficulty among Philippine-based banks and

remittance firms to tap foreign counterparties started some five years ago when Europe put in more stringent rules against money laundering.In terms of security on their system, the BDO chief said this is embedded in all their processes.Security has to apply in every process that we under-take...Its not an add-on.Its in everything that we do. Its a cultural thing, he said.With regards to identity theft vis-a-vis the hacking of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) website, Tan said they are now in the process of changing the process of identi-ty validation.He declined to elaborate but said that the change will be gradual. (PNA)

BDO eyes P26-B net income in 2016

DEBT rater Standard & Poors (S&P) affirmed its investment grade rating on the Philippines on back of the countrys strong macroeconomic fundamen-tals, which is seen to further lift domestic growth and in-come.It currently gives the coun-try a BBB rating, the level af-ter the minimum investment grade, with stable outlook.S&P elevated the country to investment grade in May 2013 and elevated it to anoth-er notch a year after.In a report, the credit rater said the outlook on the rating reflects our expectation that the key economic, fiscal, exter-nal, and monetary credit mea-sures for the Philippines will continue to improve.The ratings on the Philip-pines reflect our assessment of its strong external position, which features rising foreign exchange reserves, and low and declining external debt, it said.The countrys average growth in recent year has ris-en to around six percent from about three percent in the past.This has resulted to rise in

real per capita income, which S&P projects to post a faster rate of 4.4 percent this 2016 from year-agos 4.1 percent.The report cited that gov-ernment reforms in the last six years are already institutional-ized, thus, its impact will be felt even with the entry of a new government .Our affirmation of the ratings is premised on the new administration after the May 2016 elections having a strong mandate to continue to pursue orthodox fiscal, economic, and development policies, it said.In terms of the countrys fiscal health, S&P expects this to remain sound citing that Philippines external metrics are strong.It projects the countrys current account surplus to be maintained reflecting robust services exports, large remit-tance inflows, and lower oil prices.It also said that young pop-ulation the country currently enjoys along with educated and flexible labor market is a plus as this imply further strength in services exports over the next five years.

S&P affirms PHLs BBB rating

F S&P, 10

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 20168 EDGEDAVAOVANTAGE

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EDITORIALPsychological incapacity is subjectiveTHE issue of psychological incapacity of one adjudged as such by the court in an annulment case is another issue the rivals and bashers of presidential front-runner Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are bringing up now.Mayor Duterte was annulled to his wife Elizabeth Zimmerman on the ground of psychological incapacity which is one of the grounds one can use in order to obtain an annulment.Lets put it this way. The Family Code of the Philippines provides for a menu of possible grounds to use as basis to obtain an annulment of marriage and in this ju-risdiction, the most common ground is psychological incapacity as provided for by Article 36 of the Code.What is psychological incapacity?According to Article 36 of the Family Code of the Philippines, A marriage contract-ed by any party who, at the time of the celebration, was psychologically incapacitated to comply with his obligations of marriage, shall likewise be void even if such incapac-ity becomes manifest only after its solemnization.The Psychological Incapacity under Article 36 contemplates an incapacity or in-ability to take cognizance of and to assume basic marital obligations, and is not merely the difficulty, refusal or neglect in the performance of marital obligations or ill will. It consists of:(a) A true inability to commit oneself to the essentials of marriage;(b) The inability must refer to the essential obligations of marriage, that is, the

conjugal act, the community of life and love, the rendering of mutual help, and the procreation and education of offspring; and(c) The inability must be tantamount to a psychological abnormality.It means that if one of the parties is psychologically incapacitated to comply with his obligation as a spouse, then the marriage is void from the very beginning. That is why the legal remedy is to petition the court for nullity of the marriage.Parties seeking to obtain annulment of marriage must have one to play the devils role without being guilty of collusion.Most often, the male spouse is the one who takes the hit so that the court will be convinced and grant the annulment.Psychological incapacity, a judge of one Family Courts in Davao City, said is subjec-tive. One can be psychologically incapacitated towards his partner only but not with others or in past or future relationships.A party using psychological incapacity against a partner as ground for nullity of marriage could also be found by the court to be one as the hearing of the case pro-gresses before the bar.The bottomline here is that parties saying one who is declared psychologically in-capacitated as being one for the rest of his life is wrong.Where one is declared psychologically incapacitated in a marriage subject for dec-laration of nullity, is limited only to such marital union and not to be used as his patent character.

AHEAD of the pack, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has become The Dilemma. His massive support from across the social classes ABCDE casts him as the strong leader who can rid the country of criminality, corruption, smuggling and drug menace. His rivals and critics from the elite society, human and women rights advo-cates, and the Catholic Church condemn him as a ruthless leader and his coarse language as a disgrace to the presidency.The Question: Elect Duterte president to have the strong leader the country needs; or, not to elect him lest he rules with iron-fist or be a disgrace to the presidency.The GivenFirst: Criminality, corruption, smuggling and drug menace have long plagued the country. Every election, presidential can-didates promised to eradicate the plagues. But every president failed. When it came to these plagues, our past and present presi-dents proved weak, indecisive hence, the need for a strong president.Second: Under the aegis of democracy, our government is a government of laws and rights entrenched in our Constitution. Criminals, the corrupt, smugglers and drug

lords and traffickers have rights including the right to due process and their humanity. Rule by iron-fist is condemned.Third: The President represents the Philippines among the families of nations. Heads of states must conform to diplomatic protocols, among them the finesse of con-duct and language. To violate the protocols is to disgrace the presidency and the Phil-ippines.Sizing Up DuterteHow does Duterte measure up to these given?On the first: His supporters hail him as a strong leader who can stamp out criminali-ty, corruption and drug menace like what he has done for Davao City for more than twen-ty years as mayor. But his rivals and critics are questioning the Davao City model; and, even if real, they doubt if he can replicate nationwide the model.On the second: Duterte has admitted having killed criminals and warning drug

pushers to stop their trade or be killed if they would not and stayed. He said he had instructed the police to shoot criminals if they resisted arrest. It is known there exist-ed in Davao City death squads that executed notorious persons including teen-aged gang members.On the third: Duterte talks tough spiced with expletives and curses. Even if at times he would apologize he persists in his coarse and foul language. That is what he is, he says. People must vote for him as what he is; otherwise, they vote for any of his rivals. Will he change according to protocols and diplo-matic standards should he win?The ProblemIf the poll survey trend continues, Dute-rte will win. To his vast followers, he will solve the problems of criminality, corrup-tion, smuggling and drug menace the four plagues. Good, if he can. But hope may not turn into reality. Even if it does, Duterte can still be The Problem bulldozing the rule of law, due process and human rights; and posing as an international embarrassment for the Philippines.As The Problem, he can be avoided if he loses. He can lose. His rivals and critics are

ganging on him due to his latest joke on rape. Can they pull him back or down? Maybe YES; maybe NO. His vast supporters may consider the problem of Dutertes foul mouth not as serious as the need for a strong leadership they hope him to provide. If he loses, the four plagues will remain The Problem. Dutertes rivals are only offering rehashed versions of the same solutions that have failed.Dutertes loss will smother the belief of his vast followers that under his leadership the four plagues will be eradicated. Duterte, good riddance! The four plagues would feel relieved. What comfort is there in getting rid of one problem while tolerating another?It would be most comforting if Duterte pledges that if he wins he will adhere to the rule of law, due process and human rights and to refine his language to conform to the diplomatic and presidential protocols. Will he pledge to?What are the signs?(Next: Dutertes rape joke)(MindaViews is the opinion section of Min-

daNews. Patricio P. Diaz was former editor of the Mindanao Cross in Cotabato City and later the Mindanao Kris. The Titus Brandsma Me-dia Center honored Mr. Diaz with a Lifetime Achievement Award)

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 VANTAGE POINTS 9EDGEDAVAO

THIS coming May, we will be electing a new president. There are five aspirants: Grace Poe, Rodrigo Duterte, Jejomar Binay, Mar Roxas, and Miriam Defensor-Santia-go. Who among these will win, nobody knows yet. In addition, we will be voting a new vice president, twelve set of senators, a congress-man, a governor, vice-governor, 8 provincial board members, mayor, vice-mayor, and 8 mu-nicipal councilors. All in all, we will be writing 35 names!A person running for political office is seeking power, American newscaster David Brinkley once said. Power as we know it cor-rupts.But on second thought politics is funny. Thats according to F. G. Kernan. When a man leaves your party and goes over to the other side, hes a traitor, he explained. When he leaves the other party and comes over to your side, hes a convert.At one time, I saw this sign in car window: If Con is the opposite of Pro, what is the oppo-site of Progress? Well, your answer is as good as mine!Its high time for campaign now. Television, radio and newspapers are fully loaded with ad-vertisements of those who are running. Social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter, are burning with posts, shares, and ads.Lets not be too serious about campaign, though. So, allow me to share a story sent to me by a friend via electronic mail. So, it came to pass that a powerful senator dies after a prolonged illness. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by Saint Peter at the en-

trance. Wel-come to Heav-en, says Saint Peter. Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We sel-dom see a high official around these parts, you see, so were not sure what to do with you.No prob-lem, just let me in, says the senator.Well, Id like to but I have orders from higher up, Saint Peter explains. What well do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity. Really, Ive made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven, the senator says.Im sorry but we have our rules, replies St. Peter.And with that, Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. Nearby are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is in evening attire and very happy to see him. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.Also present is the Devil, who really is a

very friendly guy and who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that the time flies, and before he realizes it, the senator has to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator ris-es. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven where Saint Peter is wait-ing for him. Now its time to visit Heaven, he says.The next 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and Saint Peter returns.Well then, youve spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity, Saint Peter tells the lawmaker. The senator re-flects for a minute, then answers, Well, I would never have said it, I mean Heaven has been de-lightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell.So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. The Devil comes over to him and lays his arm on his neck. I dont understand, stammers the sena-tor. Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a beautiful club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now there is only a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.The Devil looks at him, smiles and says,

Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us!As politicians campaign these days, be sure to listen and try to weigh things. Are they telling the truth or just spreading lies. When widely followed public figures feel free to say anything, without any fact-checking, it be-comes impossible for a democracy to think in-telligently about big issues, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist Thomas L. Friedman pointed out.Elections belong to the people, American president Abraham Lincoln once reminded. Its their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters. He also said: The ballot is stronger than the bul-let.American veteran newspaper editor and syndicated columnist Carl Riblet, Jr. reminds us of what a politician is: In these days of the closest scrutiny of the politician, it is fitting that we list what he needs to succeed. Such a crea-ture of the animal kingdom, besides having the ability to butt like a goat and turn like a worm, must have the eyes of a vulture, the memory of an elephant, rocks in the seat of his pants to break the feet of those who kick him, and the reactions of a skunk.So this May, choose wisely who you would vote for. Just a reminder from Suzy Kassem, the woman behind Rise Up and Salute The Sun: To vastly improve your country and truly make it great again, start by choosing a better leader. Do not let the media or the establishment make you pick from the people they choose, but in-stead choose from those they do not pick.

Henrylito D. Taciohenrytacio@gmail.com

THINK ON THESE!

Election: the heat is on!

Duterte: The DilemmaBY PATRICIO P. DIAZCOMMENT

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 201610 EDGEDAVAONEWSSHE... FROM 1

Green... FROM 2

Duterte... FROM 2

Mindanao... FROM 4

Airlines... FROM 6

Be positive... FROM 3

Baldoz... FROM 6

S&P... FROM 7

trust them with more power, with more money and natu-rally the answer would be no, therefore dilute the BBL.He also noted the politici-zation of the BBL in Congress in view of the elections with some opposing the BBL as a political statement in order to gain sympathies of the Chris-tian majority.It was not surprising that three of the most vocal oppo-nents of the BBL are vice pres-idential candidates. Thats not surprising to me, he said. In looking at the present, Quevedo talked about various attitudes that followed the non-passage of the BBL: ex-ultation that the BBL was not passed; dismay and demoral-ization, as well as indifference from those who believe the BBL does not concern those who are far away, and con-fusion as to future action for peace.Looking at the futureIn looking at the future, Quevedo told the audience: we cannot look at the past with dismay and see the fu-ture with confusion. We need as peacemakers to follow the future with hope. He said at this stage, the country is still preparing to elect a new administration whose peace interest has yet to be known but urged every-one to be positive.Let us be positive. Let us be proactive. Let us not look at the future in the abstact but look at the future in the con-crete and see the possibilities of peace in the new govern-ment as the transition takes place, he said.He listed nine gains of the peace process, the first of which is the beginning of bet-ter knowledge of Bangsam-oro history, knowledge and

recognition of a distinct Moro cultural identity as well as of Lumad cultural identity.Quevedo explained there is the beginning of better knowledge of Bangsamoro history even though majority Christians still hesitate to look at Moro history beyond the time of migration to the time of Moro sovereignty in Mind-anao.The other gains of the peace process, he said, are the acceptability, even if ambigu-ous to many, of the concept of self-determination; the recog-nition of the need for greater autonomy, the acceptability of the concept of ancestral domain, the establishment of a fundamental basis for a just and lasting peace through the FAB, CAB and BBL, the internationality of the peace process and the support of the international community; knowing the causes of de-cades, even hundreds of years, of intermittent rebellion and armed conflict as well as the dimensions of transitional justice as reported by the Transitional Justice and Rec-onciliation Commission; and the development of peace net-works and their collaboration in support of a just and lasting peace. He said the Titayan sym-posium, which is followed by workshops on April 22 and 23, intends to enhance learn-ing from good practices in a period of complex political transitions, enhance broad-based process for a wider and more sustained participation in the peace process, agree on a framework that integrates various post-election scenari-os, and strengthe and restore trust among the parties and critical stakeholders. (Caro-lyn O. Arguillas / MindaN-ews)

Sara said her father might have failed in his marriage but definitely not as an elected public servant.She said the court may have used it as grounds for the annulment of the marriage, but it did not say that he is unfit to become a leader.The court said my par-ents are unfit to be together in a marriage, but it did not say that my father is unfit to be-come our leader.

marine biodiversity in the world.The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has noted that heavy exploitation of fisheries translates into low-er catch and income for coastal communities.We are all reliant on a thriving ocean for food, work, oxygen, as carbon sink, and ultimately our life. The ocean is our shared life support and the responsibility to protect it falls on everyone, especial-ly those mandated to protect it. But the subject matter was not even touched upon as an important electoral issue, just like the global threat of climate change, Ramos said. Environment problems such as illegal fishing, expan-sion of coal fired-power plants, deforestation, and mining are

some of the urgent environ-ment concerns that need to be addressed in the Philippines.Ramos noted that the country has one of the best en-vironment laws in the world, but many are not implemented properly due to lack of political will from government leaders. These include the solid waste management, fisheries man-agement and protected area legislation that were enacted more than a decade ago.We need government leaders who will champion the environment and put their heart in protecting it. This is necessary so we can move forward and leave behind a bountiful country for our al-ready extremely marginalized sectors and the future genera-tion, Ramos said. CHENEEN R. CAPON

incest.You do not know the facil-ity, he said.He said the city has a Womens Code which is the first pro-women law crafted in the whole country.Duterte said all pageants in the city have no swimsuit competition because it is pro-hibited under the ordinance.He said the city also has the Integrated Gender Devel-opment Office (IGDO) that

provides assistance to women who are victims of violence.Duterte said the office has five lawyers to take care of cas-es of abused women in the city.The mayor hit back at the womens group who filed a complaint against him with the Commission on Human Rights, saying that they are just doing it for the money.These are cash crusad-ers, pera, pera lang yan (it is all about money), he said.

but stressed that not all rally participants are from South Cotabato.About 90 percent of the protesters are not from South Cotabato, they come from Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and as far as Davao region, Fuentes added.Fuentes said the provin-cial government, through the Red Cross, will be distributing rice to marginal farmers se-verely affected by the dry spell.Farm workers and mar-ginal farmers are priorities in Red Cross rice dispersal in the barangay, not at the provincial capitol or in Koronadal City,

she said. Koronadal is South Cotabatos capital.Fuentes also appealed to farmers in the regional center to make the rally peaceful and orderly.Please dont block the na-tional highway, Fuentes said. She suspected that the com-munist New Peoples Army are manipulating the farmers.Two police patrol cars with police personnel are po-sitioned in front and back of the NFA regional office com-pound here. Road blocks with barbed wires were placed at the warehouse main entrance. (PNA)

on Audit (COA) decision to disallow salary increases and bonuses.There were black banners with the words Mayday, May-day unfurled at control tow-ers in some of the countrys airports including the Ninoy

Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 at around 8:00 a.m. which was later fol-lowed by mass protests.Despite protests, there were no flight disturbances at any of the countrys airports. (PNA)

PHOTO WORKSHOPS. Street Walkers Philippines (SWPH) curator Jose Miguel Lisbona announces the groups upcoming street photography workshops at SM Lanang Premiers Cyberzone on April 29 and May 14 during FAST Fridays media forum at the atrium of SM Lanang Premier. Lean Daval Jr.

From 2011 to 2014, the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay pro-vided livelihood starter kits worth Php 42.36 million to 4,236 beneficiaries.The Balik Pinay Balik Hanapbuhay Project was in-stitutionalized under DOLE Administrative Order No. 77 Series of 2011 to assist return-ing OFWs through livelihood grants of Php 10,000. Priority is given to victims of illegal re-cruitment and trafficking, and other distressed and displaced household service workers.Under the Balik Pinay, Balik

Hanapbuhay Project, return-ing women OFWs may avail of skills training and grants in the form of business starter kits for home-based income gener-ating occupations, such as cos-metology, haircutting, foot spa, food processing, massage, re-flexology, baking, native snack preparation, handicraft, flower arrangement, dress making, beauty care, and pedicure and manicure. The business start-er kits come in the form of equipment, tools and jigs, raw materials, and small start-up capital. (PNA)

It also pointed out that participation in free trade agreements could provide fur-ther upside to the Philippines upside to the Philippines ex-port earnings.The central banks abili-ty to help support economic growth while ensuring a sound and stable banking system is a broadly neutral to our ratings it said, noting that the planned

interest rate corridor (IRC) , scheduled in the second quar-ter of the year, will improve the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission.In our opinion, a deeper and more diversified financial and capital market would fur-ther improve the effectiveness of policy transmission and facilitate improved credit met-rics, it added.(PNA)

SOME 7,000 policemen, personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and those of other gov-ernment agencies involved in security will secure the last and final Presidential Debate slated on April 24 at Phinma Univer-sity of Pangasinan starting at 6 p.m.This was bared by Supt. Christopher Abrahano, chief of police of Dagupan City, who said during the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) forum on Thursday that max-imum security will be main-tained at the debate site inside the university as well as outside and only those with pre-issued entry access will be allowed to enter.Saying that all is now set as far as security preparation is concerned in connection with the debate, Abrahano revealed that only 1,100 people will be allowed in the debate hall. These people who form part of the general audience could enter the university only at the back of the university through Nable Street whose gate is opening as early as 1 a.m.The gate on Nable Street will be closed at 3 p.m. and the expected arrival of the presi-dential candidates who will en-

ter through Arellano Street is at 4 p.m.The Commission on Elec-tions said those who have no pre-issued entry access need not insist on entering the uni-versity campus anymore as they can watch the debate at home through their television sets,Corollary to this, the KBP announced that only 20 media members will be allowed en-try into the debate hall whose names will be picked in a raffle to be joined by some 500 me-diamen who secured media ac-creditation.ABS-CBN, sponsor of the

debate, said a media center will be set up in two or three rooms of the university where medi-amen who cannot enter the de-bate hall can watch the proceed-ings through a big television set and work on their reports.Meanwhile, Abrahano an-nounced that in preparation for the Presidential Debate, the whole of Arellano-Bani Street fronting Phinma University of Pangasinan will be closed for vehicular traffic from A.B. Fer-nandez Avenue junction where Jollibee is located and up to the junction of Jose R. de Venecia Expressway Extension from noon to 10 p.m. that day. (PNA)

7,000 cops, soldiers to secure presidential debate in Dagupan

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 11EDGEDAVAOSCIENCE

Is it the answer to food crisis?Biotechnology:

IN mans quest for food security, has he found the solution in biotechnology?Advocates say it is. Oppo-nents, however, insist it is not.In 1994, the FlavSavr to-mato was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. It became the first genetically modified (GM) food crop to be produced and consumed in an industri-alized country.Since then, several coun-tries have contributed to more than a 20-fold increase in the global area of transgenic crops despite adamant claims that GM foods are dangerous and unhealthy.According to the annual report released by the In-ternational Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), from 1.7 million hectares planted to biotech crops in 1996, it went up to 179.7 million hectares in 2015.This 100-fold increase in just 20 years makes bio-technology the fastest adopt-ed crop technology in recent times, reflecting farmer sat-isfaction with biotech crops, said the report entitled 20th Anniversary of the Global Com-mercialization of Biotech Crops (1996-2015) and Biotech Crop Highlights in 2015.Farmers in 28 countries who adopted the technolo-gy have reaped more than US$150 billion in benefits from biotech crops since 1996. This has helped alleviate pov-erty for up to 16.5 million small farmers and their fami-lies annually totaling about 65 million people, who are some of the poorest people in the

world, it said.Biotechnology encom-passes an array of tools and applications that allow scien-tists to manipulate the genetic materials of plants, microbes, and animals. These methods provide ways to modify the characteristics that are passed from one generation to the next.Unknowingly, biotech-nology has existed since time immemorial. Spirulina, one of the oldest forms of life on earth, is believed to be what the ancient Israelites of the Old Testament called manna from heaven.The modern era of bio-technology, however, had its origin in 1953 when American biochemist James Watson and British biophysicist Francis Crick presented their dou-ble helix molecular model of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Both received a Nobel Prize for their collaborative work in 1962.DNA, the genetic mate-rial of all cellular organisms and most viruses, carries the information needed to direct so-called protein synthesis and replication. Protein syn-thesis, science says, is the pro-duction of the proteins needed by the cell or virus for its activ-ities and development. Repli-cation is the process by which DNA copies itself for each de-scendant cell or virus, passing on the information needed for protein synthesis.In its wider sense, biotech-nology also includes biological processes used in the food industry. Some of these have been used for centuries, like yeasts to help bread rise and

convert sugar into alcohol in brewing, and bacteria to di-gest sugars and add flavor in cheese making. But these tech-niques all use naturally-occur-ring organisms.The tools used in modern biotechnology include gene cloning, tissue culture, micro-bial culture, DNA-marker tech-nology, and genetic engineer-ing. The latter is the most con-troversial as it is the method used in developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).Currently, two primary methods are used for intro-ducing transgenes into plant genomes. The first involves a device called a gene gun, ISAAA notes in a briefing paper. The DNA to be in-troduced into the plant cells is coated onto tiny particles. These particles are then phys-ically shot onto plant cells. Some of the DNA comes off and is incorporated into the DNA of the recipient plant. The second method uses a bacterium to introduce the gene(s) of interest into the plant DNA.In industrialized coun-tries, there is clear evidence that the use of GM crops has resulted in significant benefits. These include: higher crop yields, reduced farm costs, increased farm profit, and improvement in the environ-ment.The so-called first gener-ation crops have been proven their ability to lower farm-lev-el production costs. Rosalie Ellasus, who plants Bt corn in her farm in San Jacinto, Pan-gasinan, can attest to this. The difference is amazing, lalo na sa pag-spray! she pointed out.Bt corn is an insect-dam-age-immune corn that con-

tains a naturally occurring substance, Bacillus thuringien-sis (Bt) protein, which is the active ingredient in safe and ef-fective sprays for more than 50 years. The production of this protein directly by corn plants has virtually revolutionized in-sect control, making the lives and work of farmers better.Ms. Ellasus discovered other benefits of Bt corn. Less land preparation was need-ed. Though the seeds were expensive, the lower cost of land preparation made up the difference. She needed less la-bor for fertilization, and didnt need chemical spraying for pests at all. For a significantly lower production cost, she en-joyed higher profit.Currently, research is fo-cused on second-generation GM crops that will feature increased nutritional and/or industrial traits. These crops will have more direct benefits to consumers. Examples in-clude: rice enriched with iron and vitamin A (known as gold-en rice), potatoes with higher starch content, edible vaccines in corn and potatoes, corn vari-eties able to grow in poor con-ditions, and healthier oils from soybean and canola.Pro-GMO advocates and scientists argue that biotech-nology is essential to food se-curity. This is particularly true in the Philippines, where the population is growing fast and land area for cultivation is get-ting smaller.Were the buckle of the ty-phoon belt, the jewel of the ring of fire. We have scarce land and will soon have scarce water, deplored Dr. Segfredo Serrano, the agriculture undersecretary for policy, planning, research and development. We have

to be very open to scientific ad-vances with proper precaution to solve the eternal problem of food security.ISAAA echoes the same idea. In countries where there is often no enough food to go around and where food prices directly affect the in-comes of majority of the popu-lation, the potential benefits of GM crops cannot be ignored, it said. It is true that nutrition-ally enhanced foods may not be a necessity in developed countries but they could play a key role in helping to allevi-ate malnutrition in developing countries.But Greenpeace, an an-ti-GMO organization, contin-ues to take a preventive stance. It cautioned that consumers can never be absolutely sure of the safety of GMOs since this is only determined by decades of data and study.One of the publics biggest concerns related to GM foods is that an allergen (a protein that causes an allergic reac-tion) could be accidentally in-troduced into a food product. Allergenicity screening is a very important part of safety testing before a crop can enter into the food market, ISAAA explained. A variety of tests and questions must be consid-ered to determine whether the food poses any increased risk of allergenicity.Antibiotic resistance is an-other concern. The likelihood of antibiotic resistance genes moving from GM crops to any other organisms is extremely remote, ISAAA assured. Even in the unlikely event that an antibiotic resistance gene is transferred to another organ-ism, the impact of this trans-fer would be negligible, as the

markers used in GM crops have limited clinical or veteri-nary use.Other potential risks in-clude: the likelihood of trans-genes escaping from cultivated crops into wild relatives; the potential for pests to evolve re-sistance to the toxins produced by GM crops; and the risk of these toxins affecting non-tar-get organisms.But the big question is: Are GM foods safe for human con-sumption? Foods produced using genetic modification is as safe as foods produced using conventional breeding techniques, assures the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Genetically modified foods are as safe as other foods available on the market.The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) declared that different GM foods go through the global food safety process called Co-dex Alimentarius Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology under which these foods are not found to be risky to human health.GM foods currently available on the international market have passed risk as-sessments and are not likely to present risks for human health, said the UN health agency in a statement.No effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general pop-ulation in the countries where they have been approved. Continuous use of risk assess-ments based on the Codex principles and, where appro-priate, including post market monitoring, should form the basis for evaluating the safety of GM foods, it added.

By Henrylito D. Tacio

Bt talong (Photo courtesy of SEARCA) Food diversity Exotic fruits

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 201612

EDGE Serving a seamless societyDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS

EDGE Serving a seamless societyDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS

CLASSIFIEDS EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

A FAMILY OUTING NOWADAYS IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT A TRIP TO EDEN NATURE PARK & RESORT. Eden Nature Park & Resort is one of the most popular must-visit attractions families and groups must experience when they hie off to this leisure destination of Mindanao. Eden Nature Park has become more than a day destination for those looking for an es-cape from the city.

SKYVIEW CAF, EDENS NEW DINING OUTLET

The resort is also de-veloping more dining op-tions as more guests visit the resort. Apart from its attractions, Eden is fast becoming a popular foodie destination with its wide selection of dining outlets inside the resort- Vista Restaurant, Caf Vista, Fishing Village, and introducing its newest dining facility- Skyview

Caf which opened last March 24, 2016. Another dining outlet in the Fish-ing Village is the Fishers Grill which is opening its doors to its diners in May 2016. Soaring at 2500 above sea level, get a table at Skyview Caf, with its majestic location that of-fers a breathtaking view of the city and the gulf and

the cold temperature that makes for a cozy spot to hang out. Apart from the picturesque view, and the Sky Adventure rides with-in the vicinity, there is an-other reason for the surge in popularity of Eden. From a sightseeing spot, it also turned into a dining

destination. After hurtling through the sky on the Skyswing, or whizzing through the air on the Skyrider, or biking through the sky with the Skycycle, you will surely want something fill-ing to refresh you. After a full day enjoying the rides,

the Skyview Caf delivers the best dining experi-ence to its guests. Whether you need a cold refresh-ing drink or a sumptuous snack, there are options to choose from. Enjoy a sumptuous snack package with a choice of pasta or sandwich at Skyview Caf.

Readily for takeout, the fresh garden salad consists of lettuce, cucumber, to-matoes are also available at Skyview Caf. Skyview Caf is also a perfect venue for wed-ding receptions, and other corporate functions with a seating capacity of 250 persons. With its spacious see-through walls, sit back, relax and enjoy the scen-ery at Skyview Caf while savoring a fresh mountain weather experience. For inquiries, and res-ervations, please call (082) 299-1020, (082) 299-0313, 0918-9307590 or visit our Sales and Reservations Office at Matina Town Square, Mac Arthur High-way, Matina or you may also check our website at www.edennaturepark.com.ph.

INdulge! VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

A2 INdulge! EDGEDAVAOEVENT

Art MADE Public at SM Lanang PremierTHE TIMES WHEN ART WAS JUST KEPT IN GALLERY SPACES AND MU-SEUMS ARE LONG GONE. Today, art is made within reach in SM malls, where it can be seen, admired and appreciated by thou-sands of people.

Recently, SM Lanang Premier, in partnership with Metrobank Founda-tion, Inc. (MBFI), staged the 2016 Art MADE Public exhibit with the aim of bringing art closer to the public. Mallgoers had a glimpse of winning art pieces in the said travel-ling exhibition, which carried the theme Find-ing Phenoms in Art and marked the 32nd year of the Metrobank Art & De-sign Excellence (MADE) one of the countrys most prestigious art and design recognition programs. We want to engage the publicespecially the youthto experience Philippine art apprecia-tion and to instill in them a genuine appreciation for

it, says Milagros Gum-ban, Vice President for Metrobank Mindanao Area 1 about the five-day exhibit. Works of contempo-rary Filipino artists who were past MADE award-eesArthur Moreno, Salvador Ching, Anthony Palomo, Norman Dreo, Andrew Tan, Stanley Gallermo, Christopher Zamora, Ferdinand Mon-temayor, Benjamin Elay-da III, Rex Tatlonghari, Ronante Maratas, Raffy Napay, Herbert Pajarito, Don Bryan Michael Bu-nag, and Ronson Culu-brinawere showcased at the exhibit curated by award-winning sculptor and printmaker Noell El Farol. Department of Tour-

ism-XI Regional Direc-tor Robert Alabado III, graced the launch, along with Malaysian Consul-General Abdullah Zawawi

Tahir, Museo Dabawenyo Director Orly Escarilla, and Philippine Womens College of Davao Chair-person for Fine Arts/In-

terior Design Program Brenda Barba. SM La-nang Premier Acting Mall Manager Lynette Lopez, SM Supermalls AVP for Marketing (Mindanao) Russel Alaba, and Me-trobanks Gumban, were on hand to welcome the guests. We are grateful to the Metrobank Foundation and SM Lanang Premier, through this endeavor, for helping us in our dream in transforming Davao City as an arts haven, notes Regional Director Alaba-do in his speech. Free design lectures for students and a healing art workshop for 30 teenag-ers with autism were also held in partnership with the Autism Society of the Philippines. Prior to its run in SM Lanang Premier in Davao City, Art MADE Public

was placed on exhibit in SM Aura Premier, SM Seaside City Cebu and SM Center Angono. The event hails Filipino artistry and creativity through MADEs annual recognition programs for painters, sculptors, interior designers and architects. Davaoeo art-ists aged 18-35 years old are invited to join the said programs and get the chance to jumpstart their careers. For more information, check out MADEs Facebook page Me t rob a n k A r t a nd-DesignExcellence and Instagram account @madecompetition. Stay up to date on the latest art events at the re-gions premier shopping and lifestyle destination. Follow SM Lanang Pre-mier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 38 SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

INdulge! A3EDGEDAVAOENTERTAINMENT

Five presidential candidates face off one last time at the 2016 presidential debate

Kim Domingo goes Korean on Day Off this Saturday

ABS-CBN renews partnership with Regal and VivaMORE FILIPINOS WILL GET TO ENJOY QUALITY FILIPINO FILMS and re-experience iconic titles right at their homes as ABS-CBN continues to be the home of the biggest Filipino libraries in the country. Regal Entertainment and Viva Entertainment recently renewed their partnership and once again entrusted ABS-CBN with the rights to broadcast their movies on its various platforms which includes free-to-air TV channels, cable TV channels, ABS-CBNmobile, and The Filipino Channel (TFC). I am a loyalist and will forever be yours, said Regal matriarch Lily Monteverde when asked about Regals ties with ABS-CBN. Theyve been like a family to us, added Regal Vice President Roselle Monteverde. Regal Entertainment not only entrusted ABS-CBN with its current film archives, but even its future titles as well. For Viva Entertainment head Vic Del Rosario, on the other hand, Vivas ties with ABS-CBN has already spanned more than three decades and remains strong until now. It started way back in 1981 and from then on we have remained as partners. With ABS-CBN, you can watch all the best Filipino movies, he shared.

From being the home of the biggest movie titles from Regal and Viva, ABS-CBN is now also the home of the countrys biggest historic epic movie to date--- Heneral Luna--- after it forged a partnership with Artikulo Uno Productions. I feel that more people will be able to see Luna and the message it carries. Whats a better conduit than ABS-CBN, said Artikulo Uno president Vincent Nebrida. As its broadcast partner, ABS-CBN has the right to air the box-office film on its various platforms. We will make sure that we will promote it, we will take care of it, and Filipinos here and abroad can watch it on all channels and platforms of ABS-CBN, said ABS-CBN head of Integrated Acquisitions and International Sales and Distribution Evelyn Raymundo. Aside from the acquisition

of Regal and Viva libraries and Heneral Luna, ABS-CBN is also the home of hit titles from Seiko Films; RVQ Productions, which carries the movies of Philippines King of Comedy Dolphy; and FPJ Productions, which stars the King of Philippine Cinema Fernando Poe Jr. ABS-CBN continues to champion and uphold Filipino films through its various platforms by acquiring the best film libraries and remains to be the most trusted network by film production groups. ABS-CBN also spearheaded the Film Restoration Project, which aims to restore and preserve classic Filipino films for the future generation. To date, it has restored ove