Thursday, March 25, 2021

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Davao City to require RT-PCR test from residents in NCR+, Cebu

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:57 AM PDT

THE Davao City Government will strictly require travelers from the "National Capital Region plus (NCR+)" area and the entire island of Cebu, including those who landed in other airports of Mindanao and coming from the mentioned areas, to undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.

This is in accordance with the issued Executive Order (EO) 12-A or "An Order Providing For Updated Covid-19 Protocols In Davao City."

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio signed EO 12-A on March 24 and it will take effect at 12:01 a.m. of Friday, March 26.

Section 11 of EO 12-A, which adopted the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Resolution 101 Series of 2021, added the following provisions from the first issued EO 12 signed by the mayor on March 12.

This includes, "All land travelers from the 'National Capital Region plus (NCR+)' area and the entire island of Cebu, including those who landed in other airports of Mindanao from these areas, are required to undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing if they don't have Covid-19 negative test result taken within 24 to 72 hours of their trip to Davao City."

The City is currently implementing a "test before travel" policy imposed to all arriving travelers in the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known as the Davao International Airport.

The policy is in accordance to the Davao City Ordinance 0477-21 Series of 2021 entitled, "An Order Providing For Mandatory Testing Prior To Entry Into Davao City Via The Davao International Airport."

In addition, the guide for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including seamen shall be those that are issued by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa).

The EO also states that travelers who are permanently returning to the city are mandated to conduct self-quarantine for 14 days.

However, authorized persons outside residence (Apors) and other travelers staying in the city for work or business need not undergo quarantine but they should stay in hotels, dorms, and similar establishments and not in the houses of Davao City residents.

The new provisions are in addition to the general requirements for all travelers, regardless of the mode of transportation.

Upon arrival, passengers must pass the symptom screening where travelers exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms will be held for testing in a city government facility.

In accordance to the IATF resolution, aside from the mandatory RT-PCR test and presenting their valid Safe Davao QR (DQR), the airport monitoring team will not be asking for other travel documents.

Duterte-Carpio said in a recent radio interview that the city is reimposing the mandatory RT-PCR requirement for air travelers as a preventive measure against the ongoing surge of Covid-19 cases in NCR and Cebu, which are reportedly linked to the detection of the "infectious" new variants.

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the creation of a Covid-19 "bubble" in NCR and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal effective Monday, March 22, as part of efforts to control transmission of the infectious disease.

Only essential travel into and out of the areas mentioned will be allowed from March 22 to April 4. Air and sea travel to and from Metro Manila will still be allowed, but only for essential travelers.

Duterte-Carpio said reimposing the mandatory testing is a prevention against the possible "second wave" of Covid-19 case surge, likely to be attributed to air travel.

"We will try to prevent a second wave for Davao City. And gi-unhan na nato na sa implementation sa ordinance nga kinahanglan duna kay (And we do this by implementing an ordinance that requires passengers to secure) 24 to 72 hours negative RT-PCR result para ka maka check-in sa (for you to check-in at the) airport," the mayor said in an interview on Monday, March 22.

Liquor ban, curfew extended

Under EO 12-A, Duterte-Carpio extended the liquor ban and curfew until May 31.

Section 20 of the EO states that curfew time in all public places is 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. every day, except for those who work or do business during these hours.

The liquor ban in all public places shall still take effect 24 hours every day.

The lifting of curfew and liquor ban was supposedly set on March 31.

But the mayor had earlier said that removing the ban on alcoholic beverages and curfew would only encourage movement of people and social gatherings, which are vulnerable to the Covid-19 transmission.

Davao City is currently under general community quarantine until March 31. The IATF has yet to decide its quarantine status for next month.

But whatever the city's quarantine status, Duterte-Carpio said the city will continue to intensify its community monitoring amid the continuing downtrend of cases.

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Covid-19 cases ‘spreading more in Davao City outskirts’

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:55 AM PDT

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) noted that in the recent Covid-19 risk assessment, it was found out that most critical risk areas in Davao with significant Covid-19 cases are those from the outskirts of the downtown area.

City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, March 24, that based on the recent Covid-19 Risk Assessment Map from March 22 to 27, the city has two critical risk barangays: Mintal and Subasta in Calinan.

Classified as high-risk areas are 10-A, Communal, R. Castillo in Agdao, and Toril Proper.

The City had been reminding the public to avoid going to critical and high-risk barangays, except for work, business, and emergency purposes.

But he said there are still areas in the downtown areas that have clustering of cases.

"Actually, dili pud tanan sa outskirts or sa layo. Duna puy pipila nga mga barangay nga apektado within the Poblacion (Not all areas in the outskirts of the city have increasing cases and there are still areas in the Poblacion district that are still affected by Covid-19)," Lopez said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

He added, "Buot pasabot, naga-spread out gihapon atong mga kaso. Dili lang siya limited sa sulod sa siyudad (That means, cases continue to spread out. It is not only limited within the center of the city), we also have cases outside or sa mga outskirts nga barangay (in outskirt barangays)."

The health official said that most Covid-19 cases in the city are attributed to transmission within homes and the downtown area. Most cases, during the early days of the quarantine, were significantly high in the downtown area and those in close proximity.

However, lately, he said cases had now reached far-flung areas in the city since the quarantine classification had been eased, which has allowed the resumption of travel and operation of businesses and offices.

"Probably the most reason [for transmission in the outskirts] are coming from workers, mugawas sulod sa trabaho or naa negosyo or naa paliton sa downtown (those who go to work, or those who have business, or even those who have errands in the downtown area)," Lopez said, adding that they are unaware that they had already carried the virus with them.

Lopez said in a previous radio that transmission of cases is attributed to the community transmission. But he also said that, lately, the clustering of cases in offices and establishments has also contributed to the spread of the disease.

He said there is a need to intensify its monitoring in the communities for those with influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms and accurate respiratory infection (ARI).

He said those experiencing cough, sore throat, fever, and other flu-like symptoms must immediately go to their nearest district health offices.

"Unta maimplementar kini sa tanang distrito ug sa mga barangay katong ILI surveillance para eventually ato na macontrol and mapugngan ning Covid-19 situation sa Davao (We hope that we can implement the ILI surveillance to all districts and barangays so we could eventually control and prevent the current Covid-19 situation in Davao City)," the CHO head said.

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Davao City Government creates body on migration

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:54 AM PDT

THE Davao City Government created the Davao City Migration and Development Committee that aims to strengthen the development of local and international migration.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio signed Executive Order (EO) 13, known as "An Order Creating The Davao City Migration And Development Committee, Defining Its Powers, Functions, And Duties" on March 19. It was released to the public on Tuesday, March 23.

The committee is mandated to conduct research and data collection regarding the migration profile of the local government, which includes the number of migrants, destination or country of migrant, employment status, and average annual remittances received by the family of the migrant.

The committee is also tasked to formulate and implement policies, services, and programs catering to migrants and their families particularly in the four program areas: social protection and welfare services, economic development services, advocacy, and educational services in line with the directions of the Davao Regional Development Plan.

The EO also orders the inclusion of migration and development in the local development plan, local development investment program/annual investment program.

Additional functions include ensuring migration and development is encompassed in the vision, statement, mission, and goals or other local policies of the city; mainstream the services of the city which caters to migrants and families; monitor and assess the effectivity and impact of the mentioned programs and services; and perform such other functions analogous to the foregoing or as may be directed by the mayor.

Duterte said in the EO that the Philippines remains one of the major sources of labor supply worldwide, with its citizens migrating to other countries for employment and are called overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"Migration can be regarded as a positive force for development as long as the right set of policies and guidelines are in place," the mayor said.

The mayor formed the Davao City Migration and Development Committee as local government units play a significant role in strengthening the development of local and international migration.

"RDC (Regional Development Council) 11, through Resolution 54, Series of 2018, enjoins the local government units in the Davao region to create local migration and development committees to address migration-related concerns," Duterte-Carpio said.

The City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) will serve as the secretariat of the newly formed committee, which is tasked to handle all administrative and/or secretarial-related activities and record and organize all board meetings.

Duterte also ordered the creation of a technical working group to assist the committee in the discharge of its functions and whose members will be determined by the committee.

A budget, according to the EO, shall be allocated from available and appropriate resources to fund the operations and activities of the committee.

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2 minors drown in fishpond

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:53 AM PDT

THE two minors who drowned and died at the fishpond in South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates, Barangay Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City are already in their respective houses for their respective wakes.

It is with great and sudden heartbreak that the family received the news of the death of their loved ones on March 24, 2021, Wednesday, around 2:50 p.m.

Based on the investigation of Baliok Police Station, three minors went through the fence to bathe in the fishpond.

One of them swam toward the deeper portion of the pond, which was around 15-foot deep. They noticed how he was flailing his hands asking for help.

One of them swam toward him to save him but unfortunately, he also drowned.

The remaining boy ran and asked for help. That was when the rescuers came to rescue the two other boys, but they were declared dead on arrival.

The owner said they have warned against bathing in the fishpond because of its depth. The boys also went through the fence in secret and the security guard on duty was not able to notice them entering the area.

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Editorial: Bike safety

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:52 AM PDT

WHEN public transportation was limited during the height of the strict movement restrictions last year, we saw more and more Davao City residents using bikes as an alternative form of transportation.

Many essential workers benefited from the community-led Lend-A-Bike Project. Through the project, Dabawenyos who have an extra bike and are not using it lent their bikes to health care workers, fast food chain workers, security guards, and other workers who were working in establishments operating during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The ECQ, which may leave a lot of negative memories for us, has also led to a boom in cycling in Davao City and other parts of the country. However, roads in the Philippines were not people to have cyclists plying them. Also, many drivers are not used to having cyclists alongside them when they drive. Hence, the roads in the city and around the country were not very safe for cyclists.

In response, the national government and local government units did whatever they could to make the roads friendlier to cyclists. Cyclists have also banded together to push for road sharing and educate fellow cyclists about road safety.

But a year into the bike boom, there are still a lot of things to work on to ensure the safety of cyclists. Clearly, some cyclists have been observed for not observing minimum safety standards and follow traffic rules. Some fail to wear a helmet, signal when turning, and others have been biking in the inner lane instead of the outer or bike lane. Some drivers have also been known to "bully" cyclists on the road, park along bike lanes, and recklessly drive past some cyclists.

Since last year, there have been several accidents involving cyclists and motorists in Davao City. On social media, we also see reports from other parts of the country of cyclists being involved in a vehicular accident. One of the most recent is a 17-year old girl who was run over and immediately killed by a truck while cycling along Caribaan Maharlika Road in Tacloban City.

With the cycling accidents, the Interagency Technical Working Group (TWG) on Active Transport called on local government units (LGUs) "to take the lead in constructing protected bicycle lane networks in accordance with design standards as set out in DPWH DO 88, as soon as possible."

The group said it will be working closely with the LGUs for the roll-out of protected bicycle lanes.

The TWG is composed of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Health (DOH).

The TWG also urges LGUs "to ensure that traffic rules and regulations are enforced correctly to secure the safety of all road users, especially those using light and active transport options."

Private logistics and transport service providers are also encouraged "to ensure the safety of other road users by fitting their trucks and other large vehicles with safety equipment, including side guards to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being swept under middle or rear wheels in the event of a collision."

"We remind all road users, most especially motorists, to be respectful and to share the road with others, particularly cyclists and pedestrians who are most vulnerable to road crash incidents. They have just as much right to use the road as motorists do. We must all do our part to create roads and communities that are safe and accessible to all," the Interagency TWG on Active Transport said in a statement on Thursday, March 25.

In a post-pandemic society, cycling will most likely be more common in the Philippines. If cyclists want to ensure their personal safety, they have to do their part by following basic safety rules and traffic rules. Likewise, other vehicles on the road must also be aware of the cyclists they are driving alongside with. It is through road sharing and respecting one another on the road that we are able to ensure the safety of everyone who uses it.

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Velez: Year 2.0, repeat?

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:51 AM PDT

A YEAR of the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be an eternity for most of us. Imagine being told for a year to "stay home, stay safe, wear masks, wash hands, keep distance."

It's Year 2.0, and as other countries have rolled out vaccines to their people, here tarpaulins are rolled out. Not the election-hype thing, but tarpaulins with the same message. But here in Davao, the tarpaulins had added a line: "Repeat."

But repeat is not the message the people we want now. Not when officials tasked to procure vaccines and ensure health measures and well-being repeat the same message that we have been doing since the start.

Those calls for self-regulation, restrictions in doing business, warnings of fines have numbed most of us. We become exasperated as influential people are themselves breaching these protocols, or are distracted with 2022 or focused on containing critics with trumped-up charges rather than containing the pandemic.

People want resolutions. Like when are vaccines going to be rolled out in volumes for the frontliners and working class? When will officials finally figure out sound plans beyond forming bubbles and stay-at-home warnings to help people and businesses back on their feet? When can schools re-open as online school has been stressful?

What people want now is inspiration, solutions, a way forward. It's a sign that people are tired of the Monday episode where everything, every rant is in a loop.

We have seen more inspiring actions in the past year from somewhere else. From local governments who have enabled their constituents to survive the pandemic. From small acts of citizens and some celebrities providing food and support to communities and frontliners.

Somehow, this seems to lead us to 2022. Crisis make or unmake leaders, and this pandemic has made and unmade our minds on some things. Like seeing how one year has been wasted, in terms of work, lives, and economy. And make us that we need leadership that gives people hope, alternatives, and action.

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Abalayan: Champion journey

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:50 AM PDT

THE TV ad jingle that starts with "Great things come from small beginnings" has indeed come a long way from inspiring thousands, if not millions, of youngsters for several decades now, to embark on their respective champion journeys, whether in sports or in life.

Every time a Milo ad is aired, I get goosebumps all over my body. The content or the message always thugs at the heart. Seeing the struggle of budding athletes, the wannabes, and the newbies en route to achieving their champion dreams, after painstakingly working hard for it, is such a great morale booster for anybody facing difficulties.

Just recently, the energy drink brand launched its "Mula Noon, Hanggang Ngayon -- Tuloy ang Pagiging Champion," campaign that encourages athletes to continue training at home even in the midst of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

The message of the new ad somehow suggests that all champions like Alyssa Valdez (volleyball), Chris Tiu (basketball, and Carlos Yulo (gymnastics) also started their champion journeys at home -- something that could also bode well for our children who have all been under home quarantine for over a year now.

The lure of the game Mobile Legends to most children has become more alarming. The kids have become sedentary, being hooked on their devices without any ounce of physical activity has become a great concern for parents.

Cultivating champion habits in children should really start at home with parents, like me, being intentional about it. We don't know when this pandemic will end as experts have been expecting it to last for a couple of years or more. That would mean longer quarantine time for our kids.

What the ad tells us though is that our children don't really have to go out of our homes to start their champion journeys. They could make do of our garages, backyards, our living rooms or rooftops and stockrooms to do some exercises and basic drills of their chosen sport.

This is a tall order though. It may seem too late for us, parents, to be role models of our children in living a healthy and active lifestyle. But we have to start somewhere.

The school year will soon end and we can maximize the Milo Homecourt instructional videos for our children to watch and follow. Interactive online classes are also available for reasonable fees.

I am thinking of enrolling my boys in the online sports clinics of their choice during their school break, just so they have something to look forward to. But it would mean allocating a budget for it. Yet, it's worth investing in our children, wouldn't you agree?

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Brain tumor fails to stop doc from passing boards

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:49 AM PDT

FATE sometimes has a way of humoring us, challenging us before letting us experience a certain life victory. Sometimes, it's up to our determination, faith, and resilience to power through these challenges.

Before being finally called a registered physician, Dr. Ismael Parcon Jr. of Banga, South Cotabato had to win through difficult life challenges that any other person might have a hard time winning.

Despite his father and older siblings being medical doctors, it wasn't his initial plan to be like them. And so, when he finished a semester studying Biology (supposedly his pre-med course) at the Mindanao State University (MSU) Gensan, he decided to take a pause in studying for three years before pursuing Information Technology at the Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU). As an IT-graduate, quite unrelated with other pre-med courses, Parcon decided to still pursue medicine study at the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) in Davao City.

Despite the fact that medical school was initially his parents' idea and not his, Parcon shared that he eventually learned to love studying medicine. His father is a surgeon in a public hospital and with him, he saw how his father has a kind heart for the poor.

"Maski nga duktor si Papa, pobre siya nga duktor kay wala abi na siya gapanukot. Kung tagaan siya sang pasyente less than P500, wala niya na ginabaton kay hambal niya meaning daw sina walang-wala gid ang pasyente," shared Parcon who added it was his parents' love to them that made him decide to pursue medicine.

(Even if my father is a doctor, we are not rich. That's because he sometimes doesn't ask for payment from his patients. If they pay him less than P500, he gives it back saying it means that this patient has nothing else)

The fifth child out of six children, Parcon said by the time he entered med school, he already had three older siblings who are medical doctors already. He shared how his parents sacrificed and sold some of their farm lots just to get by and send them to medical school.

But the plot twist in his life as a medical student came in the first week of June 2020 when he was an intern at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital. Around this time, he started experiencing twitching on the right side of his body, focal seizure, and tonic clonic or repetitive contractions in his body. This month he was supposed to start review for the national physician board exam.

He decided to see a neurologist in General Santos City who requested an MRI. The MRI result showed a 6x3 centimeters brain tumor specifically on his left frontal lobe where the part of the brain responsible for his memory, motor skills, and cognitive functions is located.

Parcon said the first time he heard it from his doctor, he was in denial and couldn't immediately absorb his situation but remembered how he was told it was a "very bad tumor".

In July 2020, his sister, a medical doctor in Manila, decided to take him in and have his surgery in Quezon City. "By this time, a month after the first symptoms, naga-progress na siya. Gina-time-an ko ang twitching. If before it happens every 30 minutes, eventually naging 15 minutes every day. Walang stimulus that triggers the twitching. Kumbaga intermittent lang siya," said Parcon.

Different doctors and specialists worked on his case and finally on October 3, 2020, just a day before his birthday, he was scheduled for an operation. He was inside the operating room for an open-brain surgery for 24 hours. When the tumor was taken out of his brain and tested, the results came a month after with Oligodendroglioma Grade 2 diagnosis. He said Grade 2 was still a good news because more advanced Oligodendroglioma can progress faster and be malignant.

By the time he was recovering from surgery, he was experiencing memory loss. He would forget the names of random things around him but would feel like he knows what they're called. He would often say it's already at the tip of his tongue but somehow he wouldn't remember. He would be asked to memorize three simple words and when asked about it, he would forget.

By December 2020, Parcon would still need radiotherapy, a procedure that consumes most of his energy. So even if the physician board exam is only four months away, he couldn't find the time and energy to study.

"I found myself questioning God. Why did it happen to me? Why me? But I got to know Dr. Leo Trinidad while I was in ICU. He was the one who helped me get to know God more," said Parcon who said that around his recovery stage he would read the Bible more often than his reviewer. He added his mind became more peaceful and had a changed and a deeper relationship with God because of what happened to him.

In January 2021, he officially started reviewing with less than two months left before the board exam. By this time, his memory still hasn't fully recovered but he pushed through. Around February 2021, he felt his memory improving although it hasn't entirely returned to its normal state.

He took the exam on March 16, 2021, only five months after his open brain surgery, with faith and determination with him. Three days after the exam, the results were released with Parcon's name on the list. He won against the challenge of fate.

Congratulations, Dr. Ismael Parcon Jr!

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What to expect on Tala, the film concert

Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:47 AM PDT

POPSTERS are in for a treat as Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo will ignite the stage anew with her first-ever virtual concert "Tala," the film concert set on Saturday, March 27, at 8 p.m.

What's special for this concert is the involvement of Sarah G herself for the totality of the show.

Aside from taking her performances to new heights, Sarah was fully involved in the pre-production stage in all aspects. As her husband Matteo Guidicelli shared on his Instagram post, "She worked extremely hard for this show because her goal was to really produce something extra special for her audience and I personally witnessed how she creatively collaborated with her team."

Director Paul Basinillo also shared that the Popstar Royalty went an extra mile when it comes to her involvement in this concert.

"But recently the past -- what 3, 4 years -- naging artist na si Sarah. Mainly because marami na siyang na-achieve eh, na-achieve na niya lahat eh. So siguro ito naman yung pino-focus niya, trying to make it work for her, and trying to incorporate her creative juices," he added.

The two-hour film concert, named after the hit song "Tala," showcases 18 songs including Sarah Geronimo's own rendition of Rico Blanco's "Your Universe," and her new version of songs, "Ikot-ikot," "Kilometro," "Dulo," and "Isa Pang Araw."

According to musical director Louie Ocampo Sarah wants her upcoming digital concert perfect.

"She wants everything beautiful because she's a perfectionist. She's maturing very well. Her taste in music is growing also. Parang she's opening a different side of her and she's embracing it very well," he said.

Creative director Teacher Georcelle also shared that all of the people behind the film concert have been challenged in a positive way.

"In this particular project, all of us have been challenged and all of us brought our creativity to the next level," she shared.

The set design by Enzo Pizzaro and stage light by Shakira Villa-Symes are also some of the things people should watch out for.

Sarah, in a statement shared, her inspiration in doing the concert is giving everyone strength amidst challenges.

"Focus on the positive things. Kumapit tayo sa magagandang bagay na naexperience natin," she said.

Produced by Viva Entertainment, "Tala: The Film Concert" is a one-night only, exclusive event which will premiere worldwide this Saturday at 8PM (Manila time) on Ktx.ph, iWantTFC, and SKY Pay-Per-View.

Tickets are available at P1,500 (regular) and P3,000 (VVIP). To purchase, log in to www.ktx.ph or call the Viva office at 8697-7236 for inquiries.

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ERC denies Nordeco’s application for additional 15MW power supply

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 11:45 PM PDT

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has denied the provisional authority applied by the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco) for FDC Misamis Power Corporation (FDCMPC) to provide additional 15 megawatts (MW) to the electric cooperative.

Daneco, now the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc.(Nordeco), and FDCMPC filed on September 30, 2020 a joint application, dated February 11, 2020, for a provisional authority for an electric power purchase agreement (EPPA). When Nordeco applied for the provisional authority, it was still Daneco.

In their joint application, the applicants stated that Daneco will have a power supply deficit of 24 MW in 2021.

The electric cooperative sources power from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (Psalm), EEI Power Corporation (EEIP), AboitizPower's Therma South, Inc. (TSI), San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation (SMCPC), FDC Misamis Corporation, and Mindoro Grid Corporation (MGC).

In the power supply-demand scenario it submitted to ERC, Daneco states that its power supply will decrease to 88 MW in 2021 from 108 MW in 2020.

Among the reasons for the decrease in the power supply of Nordeco is Psalm not continuing to supply to the electric cooperative after 2020. Based on the investigation of the ERC, it was found that while Daneco's request for the renewal of its supply contract of 15 MW from Psalm was approved by Psalm's board on October 2020, Psalm "has yet to file its application before the commission."

It should also be noted that TSI has stopped supplying power to Daneco in 2018 after the electric cooperative incurred a debt of P256 million. Based on the data from ERC, Daneco sources around 15 MW from TSI.

With the deficit, Daneco said that it will need an additional power supply from FDCMPC to meet its growing demand.

However, when the regulatory commission validated the peak demand statistics of Daneco through the uniform reportorial requirement (URR), it discovered that Daneco's existing bilateral contracts are enough to supply the needs of its consumers.

The URR is a document required by the ERC and contains important statistics of distribution utilities. Among those data is the technical data like peak demand.

The regulatory commission also pointed out that Daneco failed to submit the required URR. They only started to submit the reports in July 2020.

"Upon perusal of the submitted URR, some of the figures were not readable and the Commission took note that there are lacking data particularly the technical data of Daneco which will show its total monthly peak demand," ERC said.

ERC said based on the submitted documents related to Daneco's supply-demand scenario, the applicants were "unable to clearly establish" the need for the additional power supply of 15 MW.

The ERC also said in its decision that the additional 15 MW from FDCMPC will impact the power rate of Daneco.

In its application, Daneco said that sourcing power from FDCMPC could reduce its monthly generation rate by P0.0492 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

However, when ERC recalculated the monthly generation rate of Daneco with the inclusion of FDCMPC's supply and Psalm not supplying a cheaper power source, the monthly generation rate of Daneco is expected to increase by P0.0047/kWh.

Based on these grounds, ERC, in an order signed on December 16, 2020 and released on March 9, 2021, has denied the application of Daneco and FDCMPC for the provisional authority for an additional power supply.

Daneco was also ordered by ERC to submit its updated actual supply-demand scenario from 2015 to 2020 and forecasted supply-demand scenario from 2021 to 2015.

The electric cooperative was also ordered to submit a "clarification on the submitted rate impact simulation to prove its claims on the effect of supply of FDCMPC to the current generation mix."

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DOH-Davao: Covid-19 cases in DavNor, DavOro surge

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT

WHILE Davao City continues to experience a downtrend of Covid-19 cases, the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro are experiencing a surge of cases, an official from the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao said.

"Nakita nako nga kani silang duha, nagsakahay. Sa adlaw-adlaw nato pagsubay, naay pagsaka aning duha ka probinsya (We noticed that there is a surge of cases in the two provinces. This is based on our daily monitoring)," Dr. Annabelle Yumang, DOH-Davao regional director, said in a virtual presser on March 24, 2021.

She added that the two provinces were constantly recording daily cases, even recording the highest new cases over Davao City, the epicenter of the Covid-19 transmission in the region.

But she said there are days that daily recorded new cases in these areas are low.

As of March 23, DOH-Davao recorded a total of 3,308 total cases in Davao del Norte, wherein 263 are active cases, while Davao de Oro has a total of 1,291 cases with 139 active cases.

Yumang said they are helping the provincial government in improving their Covid-19 situation.

The health official also said that Davao City's Covid-19 cases have improved in recent weeks.

As of March 23, the city has a total of 13,553 with 298 active cases.

Despite some areas experiencing a surge of cases, she said the Covid-19 situation case in the region is still manageable.

Based on the region's entire critical care capacity, there are still 51.6 percent available intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 58 percent available isolation beds, 76.1 percent available ward beds, and 79.4 percent available ventilators.

"Kung atong tan-awon sa atong health system, naa gyuy kausaban, compared sa milabayng bulan (If we would look into our health system, there is an improvement, compared to the previous months)," Yumang said.

Meanwhile, Yumang urged the public to continuously observe the minimum health protocols, amid the current vaccine rollout.

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City health: Vaccines depleting as more frontliners vaccinated

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:36 AM PDT

FOLLOWING the inclusion of more healthcare and frontline workers in Davao City's vaccination program, the City Health Office reported that the allocated vaccines in the city have been accounted for and are nearing depletion.

The National Government allocated 33,600 doses of Sinovac and 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca to Davao Region. Of the vaccines received, 20,000 doses of Sinovac and 2,000 AstraZeneca were given to Davao City.

As of Tuesday, March 23, a total of 12,723 out of the city's 21,442 healthcare workers have been inoculated since the vaccine rollout started on March 5.

Lopez said 8,719 healthcare workers have not yet been inoculated with the vaccine.

He said that Wednesday, March 24, was the last day of the vaccine rollout and that all allotted Sinovac vaccines were already consumed, while AstraZeneca is nearing its depletion.

"All accounted [for] atong bakuna... mga supply (All our vaccine supply were accounted for) because all were provided to healthcare workers and wala'y wastage because na account nato tanang doses gikan sa (there was no wastage because we were able to account all doses allotted by the) national government," Lopez said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday, March 24.

Initially, more than 10,000 healthcare workers from the public and private hospitals catering to Covid-19 patients were prioritized in the vaccine rollout.

He said the target population increased after the city decided to include other healthcare frontliners such as those working in infirmaries, stand-alone clinics, dialysis centers, and other healthcare groups.

He also said seven percent of the targeted healthcare workers were deferred from getting the vaccine after failing in the pre-vaccination screening due to their medical condition. Only less than one percent of the listed frontliners backed out on the spot.

Meanwhile, Davao City may not have a share of the additional 400,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine donated by China that arrived Wednesday morning, March 24.

CHO Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said the National Government will allot the entire 400,000 doses to the entire National Capital Region (NCR) due to the surge of Covid-19 cases, reportedly linked to the new variants namely the South African and UK variants, and the latest variant called "P-3" that originated in the country.

"Murag dili ta maapil as recipients because kabalo na ta sitwasyon sa Manila. (It looks like the city won't be among the recipients because we all know the current situation in Manila.) The national government decided to allot the 400,000 doses to NCR," Lopez said.

But he said the National Task Force Against Covid-19 Chief Carlito G. Galvez Jr. guaranteed that the city will be getting its share of the one million Sinovac doses that is expected to arrive on Monday, March 29.

"Nagpasalig atong vaccine czar na (Our vaccine czar assured that) out of one million [doses], definitely matagaan ang (there will be an allocation for) Davao City," the health official said.

Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Director Annabelle Yumang said in a virtual presser that the region is expecting an additional 43,000 doses of Sinovac of first dose for the remaining health workers.

Vaccine statistics of the DOH, National Task Force Against Covid-19, and Philippine Information Agency showed that Davao Region has already received a total of 53,600 doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines.

As of 11 a.m. of March 24, a total of 28,350 or 77-percent were administered with the first dose out of the 36,800 target population.

Yumang said there is a need to inoculate all medical workers before they could proceed with the senior citizens, which comes second in the list of prioritized groups.

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Davao City intensifies community monitoring

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT

AFTER Davao City recorded a downtrend in Covid-19 cases and even recording zero cases on March 22, the City Government will continue to intensify its monitoring in the communities to determine if there is still transmission.

City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, March 24, that the city's active Covid-19 cases continue to decline.

Based on the March 23 case bulletin of the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao, Davao City continues to experience a downtrend of cases as its active cases are down to 298. Out of 13,553 total cases, 12,593 already recovered, and 662 died.

He said the city has also recorded zero cases in one day based on a report taken from March 22.

"Davao City for the second time this year, we have zero cases for a day, actually nagsugod nagbaba atong mga kaso sa last week sa February (Davao City for the second time this year, we have zero cases for a day, actually the cases have started dropping in the last week of February)," Lopez said.

He said they are targeting to lower the cases to a single digit.

The health official attributed the downtrend in Covid-19 cases to the stricter implementation of local ordinances and policies, quarantine measures, regulated socio-economic activities, and regulated movement of people, especially those entering the city through the Francisco Bangoy International Airport.

"In Davao, we have maintained the general community quarantine and that is the most important because we have seen the downtrend of our cases, we were able to sustain the risk assessment level through the GCQ," he said.

But Lopez said this is no reason to be complacent as there is a possibility that cases might rise eventually.

To prevent this from happening, he said the City will intensify its monitoring within communities for those with influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms and accurate respiratory infection (ARI).

He said this was recommended by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as a way to verify if the figures really depict the current Covid-19 situation on the ground.

"Ato ni gipatuman kay gusto nato ma-assure nga or ma-convince ta nga gamay nalang gyud ang kaso. If not, walaon gyud na siya (We are implementing this because we wanted to be assured and convinced that there is already a reduction of cases in the city. If not, eradicate it entirely)," Lopez said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

He said those experiencing cough, sore throat, fever, and other flu-like symptoms must immediately go to their nearest district health offices.

"We are actively conducting consultations for ILI and ARI-related symptoms so that ato ni silang ma-assess clinically, ug matagaan og pagtagad labi na sa pag-provide og libreng RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test (we can clinically assess them, and we could accommodate them by providing a free RT-PCR test). So that eventually, ato na ma-establish nga ato gyung napugngan or na-control ang kaso sa Covid-19 sa Davao (we can establish that we were able to curb or control the Covid-19 cases in Davao City)," Lopez said.

He said the tests are still for free and that the city will transport those who will undergo swab tests to their nearest swabbing areas.

The health official also said they are going to organize a mobile swab team for potential areas, agencies, or places to visit and conduct surveillance swabbing.

He said they already started their task during a fire incident in R. Castillo, Agdao District. Out of the 300 swabbed families, three individuals tested positive.

Lopez said households and offices with case clustering who will request to have themselves tested with the mobile swab team can reach out to their office or to the city's operation center.

"Magpakonsulta ta sa pinakaduol nga health center so that dili nato ma-compromise not only ourselves, but ato pung maprotektahan or mapugngan ang possible nga Covid-infection sa atong kapamilyahan, ug sa atong silingan ug komunidad (They should consult with the nearest health center so that they will not only prevent compromising themselves, but also to protect and prevent the possible Covid-19 infection within our families, neighbors, and their community)," he said.

The official also cautioned the public to continuously abide by the minimum health protocols amid the improving Covid-19 situation as the new Covid-19 variant is reportedly causing transmission in some key cities in the country, especially in Metro Manila and Cebu.

"Kung makasulod sa atong siyudad, isa, duha, or tulo ka variants, kung dili nato ma-trace up, ma-isolate, ug ma-contact trace ang contacts ana, bungkak gyud ang kaso (If these variants, whether one, two, or three different variants, will be detected here in the city, and if we cannot trace and isolate those who had a close contact with the new variants, expect a spike of cases)," Lopez said.

He said the city reinstated its border control, including the reimposition of the mandatory RT-PCR test starting March 23, as a measure to prevent the possible entry of the new variant-carriers.

As of Wednesday, Marchs 2,4 he said the city is free from the new variants.

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Uyboco: Authentic spirituality

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:35 AM PDT

DIFFERENT people have different understandings of spirituality. Some see it as having a relationship with a spiritual being whom one may consider their creator, savior, redeemer, and so on. Some think of it in terms of communing with the universe, creation, or all of matter, of having some sort of synchronicity with invisible, supernatural, or unknown forces.

I like to think of it, simply, as having peace with myself.

So-called spiritual teachers and gurus have recommended many paths to better spirituality -- joining a religious body or church, prayer, meditation, fasting, yoga, studying scriptures. Some religious groups even attempt to "measure" one's spirituality by checking attendance at services, percentage of tithes to one's income, time spent studying doctrines, etc.

I have been there, done that, cried my heart out in repentance, danced my feet off in worship, studied the scriptures, prayed again and again in the quiet corner of my room, as well as joined with others in communal prayer.

None of those really gave me peace, at least, not the kind of peace that I have now.

But it was/is a personal journey. I do not claim to hold the 5 Steps to Enlightenment or 21 Days to a More Spiritual You that you can also achieve if you enroll in my course and pay the P1899 registration fee. Although if you want to send me money, I won't stop you. Email me and I'll give you my GCash number.

What I can do is just share my experience. If that is useful for you, then fine. If not, fine as well.

You see, I believe that people have perverted spirituality, theology, and so on. I believe that long ago there were people who sincerely sought the truth, had discussions with those like-minded, and recorded their reflections. Then other people came and instead of looking at these records as conjectures, pointers, guideposts or jump-off points, they made them into scriptures and systems -- to be followed to the letter or else. Instead of priests whose role is to guide each person into inner peace, they became enforcers of external practices that supposedly exhibit one's piety.

In fact, one can even take courses in theology, get grades for it, and even an M.A. or a Ph.D. in it. That just goes to show that theology is no longer a search for truth but rather a system of preservation of beliefs.

So what did I do? Well, the very first step I took, which I believe was the key to it all, was letting go of all my beliefs -- yes everything that I held sacred or untouchable, I eventually let go, not because I despised them but I understood the zen parable of the empty cup: I cannot receive truth in its purity if there is still something left that I am not willing to let go.

Email me at andy@freethinking.me. View previous articles at www.freethinking.me.

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Lizada: Psalm 23, One

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:34 AM PDT

"THE Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want."

There was an eighty-year-old Harvard study that wanted to find out what makes people happy. The result was it was close relationships more than fame, family, power that made people happy. Close relationships.

Furthermore, they found out that close relationships led to better mental health and slower physical decline. More than anything, it was close relationships that determined the quality of life. More than genes, more than wealth, more than the trappings of the world. Let that sink in for a moment. Let us pause and look at our surroundings and ask ourselves, do these things really make me happy? Clothes? The television? The car? The house? If you wish you can open your gate and go farther. The bank account? My career? Am I truly happy with all these? The irony of it all is that the more we want something, the more we want it even more. And it shall never bring us satisfaction. We become possessed with our possessions. And like happiness, it is fleeting and temporary. If all these things will guarantee happiness why are there so many rich people who are miserable? Clearly, the answer is not in the wants and needs because they may bring temporary happiness but not joy. And it is joy that we must aspire for.

In Buddhism, there is a principle called detachment. It happens when a person overcomes his or her attachment to the things of this world thereby attaining a higher perspective of life. The person becomes essentially free because he does not want nor need anything. Not wealth, not approval, not security. By having or wanting and even needing nothing, he or she is free.

So lovely to think about and yet the reality is entirely different. We are all attached to something. And it is not only things that we find ourselves chained to. We are also prisoners of our own doubts, fears, past and future, anger, bitterness, arrogance, and weaknesses. We have addictions of all kinds. We are imprisoned in more ways than one.

But then, "The Lord is my shepherd." Let us not mince words. Nor overthink. The Lord is our shepherd. He protects us, He shields us, He defends us. And because of that "I shall not want" of anything. The keyword there is "nothing." I will want nothing. Wow.

And that transformation is not material or physical. Not wanting is unnatural if you are normal. Not wanting anything is normal if you are unnatural. If you are beyond our own nature. The transformation is spiritual.

Think about this awesome thing. When you do not want anything, you are free. And your Shepherd can give that.

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Olympian, SEAG medalist swimmers laud ‘Mula Noon, Hanggang Ngayon’ drive

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:33 AM PDT

OLYMPIAN swimmer Ral Rosario and 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games swimming silver medalist Maurice Sacho Ilustre lauded Milo's "Mula Noon, Hanggang Ngayon -- Tuloy ang Pagiging Champion" campaign that aims to show parents and encourage their children to start their athletic journeys at home despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a Zoom press launch held Wednesday, March 24, Rosario said the home quarantine due to the pandemic caused the disturbance of the athletes' routine.

"Dati, they wake up, workout, go to school, train, go home and study. Now, the whole thing is distracted. Some of them get demotivated since the routine has been distracted. It's important that we go back to what the athletes do before, how they came about achieving and surpassing their challenges," Rosario said, which was the concept of Milo's latest 46-second video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCdVLIFtbrM

Ilustre, who is set to compete in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2021 in Hanoi, Vietnam, recalled how he started swimming in the Milo Little Olympics and from there, began his champion journey. His father side, according to him, are all swimmers.

Ilustre said, "Being an athlete requires you to be consistent. We need to have that routine, the consistency in order to achieve our goals. Currently, merong distractions. Pero ang message ng 'Mula Noon, Hanggang Ngayon,' is trying to make ways mag-training at home para makapag-training pa rin."

He urged athletes to "set a mini goal as it will help you set up your bigger goal." Say, setting a goal of 10 push-ups a week or for some, 100 push-ups, which will eventually increase as time goes by. As a swimmer, according to him, push-ups help strengthen his core or upper body.

"Mini goals will help you achieve your big goals," Ilustre reiterated, encouraging athletes to always remember why they even started with their sport. Remembering his swimming idols, who are SEA Games medalists and Olympians, always motivates him to continue training as he also wants to follow in their footsteps.

Nestle Philippines-Milo Assistant Vice President Lester Castillo, for his part, said that `Mula Noon, Hanggang Ngayon -- Tuloy ang Pagiging Champion' is not a program but a message to encourage children and athletes to continue their champion journeys at home.

He cited Milo's digital-based programs.

"We came up with the Milo Home Court, with power tools and content that will help parents allow their children stay active at home. The Milo Sports Clinics Online features self-training modules with sports instructional videos of 15 different sports. There are four instructional videos for each sport na ang nagtuturo are coaches and some national athletes and former and current Olympians. The Milo sports interactive online classes are online sports clinics where students enroll just like in our on-ground sports clinics before," Castillo said.

The Milo Home Court has generated about 50 million views with 35 million engagement while the alternative online classes recorded a total of 40,000 enrollees.

Among the Olympians who took part in the instructional videos were marathoner Mary Joy Tabal and boxing coach Roel Velasco.

Aiba Women's World Boxing Championship 2019 gold medalist Nesthy Alcayde Petecio, who recently earned a slot in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, was also among the instructors.

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Samante: Summer cycling tips

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:31 AM PDT

HAVE you felt the heat of the sun lately? With heat indexes going as high as 38 degrees last week, you can feel the summer coming in. Rightfully so, in a week, it's already April.

As summer approaches, more people might be encouraged to try biking out. The newly marked bike lanes in the city are also very encouraging to take on biking to commute. While we are excited to ride our bikes, remember these few tips for everyone to enjoy their rides, especially during these summer days.

1. Keep hydrated: When it is hot, we usually sweat more. During rides, when the temperatures are high, hydration is our best way to survive. It does not mean that we guzzle our water bottles at every stop. Little and often is the key. Enough to hydrate but not too much to make us bloated. It is difficult to ride with bloated stomachs.

2. Dress for the weather: Dry-fit jerseys can help us stay cool during rides. Cotton often absorbs heat which makes it uncomfortable during rides. Gloves can also help if you have sweaty palms. Well-fitting shorts can help unwanted ride sores. Sunglasses are also of great help for the glare, dust, and bugs that can get in your vision line while riding.

3. Keep an eye on the road: Our roads are being layered with asphalt. It tends to melt during hot temperatures making them slippery or sticky.

4. Wear sunblock: While cycling tan is considered a "badge of honor," sunburns and skin cancer risk is nothing to be proud of. Apply sunblock on exposed parts of the body.

5. Ride in the morning or late afternoon: Early morning rides before the sun hits its highest temperature and late afternoon rides as the sun is about to set are ideal for exercise and leisure rides. When doing late afternoon rides, make sure you have your bike lights just in case you're still on the road when it gets dark.

Lastly, if you're not feeling too well for a ride, rest up. Don't force your body to any strenuous activity. Your decision will make the difference for a future ride or eternal rest.

These are just some tips I wish to share with fellow "kapadyak" in the city. There is no harm in getting ourselves ready and primed for rides. Ride safe, everyone!

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Is insurance an assurance?

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:30 AM PDT

THIS column started in October of last year with the primary intention of giving light through the experts' tips and suggestions on adulting struggles relating to finances, career, independence, and many others. For this month, we decided to not only have Twenty Something on print but also to bring it online via Facebook live streaming.

For the pilot episode, we decided that financial security and independence would be a great first topic given the threat in income and other economic threats brought about by the pandemic. This is not only true to people in their 20s but also to older people. Aside from this, many people still view insurance as a potential scam -- a bad news waiting to happen. Unfortunately these claims come without proof and without thorough understanding of how insurance actually works.

To lessen misunderstanding and to help address Frequently Asked Questions on insurance, we invited Emjay Llerena, Unit Manager Llerena Integrated Financial Experts - Philam Life Davao and EJ Bastes, Elite Financial Planner, FWD Life Philippines.

I, personally, am happy with how the pilot episode turned out as the questions were answered as detailed as they both can. They both shed light to FAQs and even follow up questions from the online audience. We're hoping that after reading this article and/or viewing the live interview, people would have a changed perspective of insurance in general.

Why is opening an insurance account important?

Emjay: Life insurance protects your income for unexpected expenses. So no matter how small or big it is, whether it's from employment or business, your income is one of your great successes. Imagine being in a situation that threatens loss of income such as medical emergency or worse, the untimely passing of a family breadwinner. These realities may seem far-fetched for a twenty-ish young adult but it's the reality that surrounds us every day. Life insurance protects your income in such a way that it's access or replacement so your life doesn't have to stop because you came prepared.

EJ: When you're twenty something kumbaga human na ang responsibilities sa imong parents sa imuha kay nanarbaho na ka. Somehow you want them to start planning for their retirement. So opening an insurance, dili na nimo mahasol imung ginikanan if ever magkasakit ka. You provide them with that type of freedom. Your parents, who you love, can also get what they want. And you can also protect yourself. Also, kay barato man siya.

What are the benefits of getting an insurance at an early age?

Emjay: Getting life insurance while you're still young is one of the smartest decisions you'll ever make. Unang-una diyan is affordability. The younger you are, the cheaper insurance premiums are for you. A 21-year old can get insured for maybe P1,000. But it's a different story for a 30-plus year-old. Your age is also a determining factor in how much you pay for your insurance. Getting insured before any health condition such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. It lets you explore very affordable premiums for years to come. The best time to start is always yesterday.

The younger you invest or start to set aside, the earlier you have peace of mind. It's like saying you're protecting your mental health early on. You may not have dependents now but that could change in a few years. By availing of life insurance, your family is assured of financial support even beyond this lifetime.

How do you explain to your clients that insurance is not a scam and is a necessity?

EJ: Most of the people I talk to who have pessimistic view of things naa gyud na silay giagian before or naa silay nadungog sa ilang friends...I think it's important in any transaction kailangan masabtan and kailangan ipasabot. The first thing I will do is to ask the potential client who is pessimistic of insurance, I will ask them first of a past experience that might have triggered doubt towards insurance.

Naa pud governing body of the government we call the Insurance Commission that really handles insurance companies. Most insurance companies when they open they provide paid-up capital which assures that they have money to give back to their clients whatever happens.

Is insurance a complicated investment involving too many numbers and analysis?

Emjay: On the contrary, insurance is one of the simplest investments I personally found. When you acquire an insurance plan, your policy automatically signs you on to the services of expert fund managers who take care of your investments for you. They are trained, they are licensed, they are certified by the highest standards. It's almost like a steal because it's like having your own expert traders who make sure your investments enjoy the best possible growth over the years. All these services come with your plan. It's actually ideal for people who want to get into investing but don't have the time yet to go into day trading.

With getting an insurance with investment, your fund managers can actually send you updates, reports about performance of your investment and via your customer portal, you can actually access your real-time performance of your investment 24/7. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of your investment, your financial advisor or your fund managers can explain for you what this is all about.

What are the affordable insurance packages for beginners, especially those that are earning just enough? How much and how long does one need to pay for that?

EJ: It's very important for people to understand na naay duha ka klase sa insurance. First is the VUL, variable unit-linked. Pasabot anang VUL is insurance siya na naay investment. Habang naga-invest ka, naa pud kay insurance. Mura siya og 3-in-1 na kape ba. Kumpleto na siya. On the other hand, naay ginatawag na term insurance. Wala ni siyay investment. Murag life insurance lang siya or health insurance lang siya. So generally, mas barato ang term insurance.

You can get term insurance for as low as P1,000 per month, or even cheaper. In terms of pila ba imong kailangan bayran, mag-matter gyud na siya sa imong edad, the younger you are the cheaper it gets. If you're around 20, barato gyud kaayo na siya. Maybe in terms of term insurance, you can get as low as P1,000 more or less. And in terms of VUL, you can also get around P2,000 per month, more or less. That would be a 10-year plan. Depende man gud na sa imong plan. If ang plan nimo mas dugay bayran, mas barato.

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Angliongto, JCI Davaoeña Daba-daba 2021 president

Posted: 24 Mar 2021 07:29 AM PDT

ANGELI Therese "Angel" E. Angliongto, two-time JCI Awardee, is the president of the JCI Davaoeña Daba-daba for 2021 after serving as vice president for business affairs in 2019 and vice president for community affairs in 2020.

Angel joined the JCI local organization (LO) in 2018 and immediately gained recognition for her active involvement and was thus named "Most Outstanding New Member" during the Mindanao AreaCon Agung Awards in the same year. She was again awarded as the "Most Outstanding Member" during the same event the year after in 2019.

JCI Davaoeña Daba-Daba is a non-profit organization of young leaders. Its purpose is to contribute to the advancement of the global community by providing young people with leadership skills, social responsibility values to create positive change.

The only daughter of Sebastian "Anggie" Angliongto and Archt. Teresita Estrada Angliongto, she follows the footsteps of her father who served as the Philippine Jaycees National President in 1976 and copped the One World Award in 1976, the JCI Most Outstanding Member of the World Award, given out during the international organization's World Congress.

Her father being one of the founders of JCI Davaoeña Daba-daba did not make it any easier for her as expectations are set high. But she struggles on to make her own mark, and stepping out from her father's huge shadow through the various trainings offered by JCI.

One of the many projects she has initiated that indeed made a difference is the project "Trade to Donate." This was launched on Facebook at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown. She started by bartering her personal belongings in exchange for grocery items, toiletries, medicines, hygiene kits, cat foods, and dog foods given out to those in need. It has since taken wings and benefitted many families in need, as well as rescued dogs and cats.

She resonates with the CGI movie "Alita: Battle Angel" where the heroine Alita told Hugo, "I'd do whatever I had to for you. I'd give you whatever I have. I'd give you my heart." Just before Alita literally gave Hugo her heart.

If you want to be part of the JCI Davaoeña Daba-Daba, please email them at jcidavaoena2014@gmail.com. (PR)

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