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FIFA chief takes note of positives in PHL football

FÉDÉRATION Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino recently visited the Philippines to show how FIFA can support football development and assess the Philippine Football Federation’s (PFF) efforts in further developing football in the country in line with the world governing body’s Forward Program.

Mr. Infantino met officials of the PFF, led by its president Mariano Araneta, during his two-day visit from Oct. 20 to 21, where he was briefed of the PFF’s efforts in promoting the sport in recent years, particularly in infrastructure, technical capacity building, competitions, grassroots, national league, and national teams.

The FIFA president took note of PFF’s efforts especially as the Philippines was one of only eight countries in Asia to qualify and compete in both the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 (men’s) and AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2018.

“I’m very positive about football in the Philippines, I mean, already if you see the most recent results in the last year or two with qualification in the Asian Cup for men and for women… It’s much more competitive, [showing] that some work is done and that some progress is made,” said Mr. Infantino.

“(There are) 110 million people and there’s talent on the field as well. I’m sure the Philippines will play a key role in the future, [not only] in the ASEAN Region but also in the world,” he added.

Mr. Infantino also underscored the Philippines’ role in further growing the sport through FIFA’s Forward Programme, which aims to develop football through three main principles: more investment, more impact, and more oversight.

“We need to make it truly global and we need to increase the level,” said the FIFA official, who shared as well that he is hoping that down the line the Philippines gets to compete in the World Cup.

While also here, Mr. Infantino met with Filipino boxing icon and Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao and women sports advocate Senator Pia Cayetano where they shared ideas on how sports can inspire and help the youth and the communities.

For the PFF, the visit of Mr. Infantino was very much welcome as it provided it the opportunity to get further input to enhance its efforts for the sport in the country.

“We thank Mr. Gianni Infantino for his memorable visit to the country. His visit has been an eye-opener for everyone. We know that more work has to be done to continuously develop the sport in the country, and with help from the private and public sectors, football will continue to foster,” said Mr. Araneta. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Catching up

The FIDE Grand Swiss tournament is currently ongoing. The annual Isle of Man Open has been elevated in status by FIDE. After a huge infusion of prize money it is now called the “Grand Swiss,” and FIDE’s contribution is that there is a bonus — whoever wins here gets a qualification spot in the 2020 Candidates’ Tournament.

Given that there is only one qualification spot and 133 International Grandmasters are contesting it, and that 110 of those grandmasters are rated over 2600 including 21 who are over 2700, a lot of bloodthirsty chess is being played.

Let us look at a few.

Ponomariov, Ruslan (2675) — Jobava, Baadur (2617) [B19]
FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss Douglas ENG (4.40), 13.10.2019

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0–0–0 Be7 13.Kb1 Qb6 14.Ne5 Rd8 15.Qe2 0–0 <D>

POSITION AFTER 15…0-0

Ponomariov got this same position against GM Andrey Esipenko in the just-concluded FIDE World Cup and continued 16.Bc1 here. Esipenko went on to win that game. After the loss Ponomariov tweeted that he was in bad form during the tournament — for example in the position given in the diagram his preparation was to play 16.Ng6 and he forgot all about it and played the inferior 16.Bc1.

Having spilled the beans on his home preparation I am sure Ponomariov did not expect to get a second chance to spring his novelty, but lo and behold along came Jobava …

16.Ng6! Ba3

[16…fxg6 17.Qxe6+ Kh8 18.Qxe7 Ponomariov has a very strong attack with no material investment]

17.Bc1

Now that his vulnerable bishop is no long on e7 he can already take the g6–knight, right?

17…Rfe8

It turns out that he can’t. After 17…fxg6 18.Qxe6+ Kh8 19.hxg6 the plan of Nf5 followed by taking on h6 with either his knight or rook is very dangerous for Black.

18.Rd3 Bxb2 19.Bxb2 fxg6 20.hxg6 Qb5 21.Nh5!

The attack is not yet over.

21…a5 22.Ka1 a4 23.Bc1!

While we are calculating moves like d4–d5 or g2–g4 it is easy to overlook retreats like Bc1! The idea is to support g2–g4–g5.

23…a3 24.g4 e5 25.g5! Nd5

Discovering an attack on the white queen with 25…exd4 is simply met by 26.Qf3 and now Black has to give up his knight on f6 by 26…Qd5 (26…Nxh5 27.Qf7+ Kh8 28.gxh6 followed by mate) 27.Nxf6+ Nxf6 28.gxf6 Qxf3 29.Rxf3 gxf6 30.Bxh6 White is clearly winning; 25…Nxh5 26.Qxh5 exd4 27.Qh3 followed by gxh6 wins.

26.Qf3 Re7 27.Rb3 Qc4 28.gxh6 gxh6

[28…Qxd4+ 29.c3 Qa4 30.hxg7 wins]

29.Bxa3 c5 30.Ng3 e4 31.Qh5 Qxd4+ 32.Bb2 Qd2 1–0

Jobava resigns before Ponomariov could finish him off with Nf5.

I am sure our readers would be very interested to see Wesley So’s simple but powerful victory over the new Danish wonder boy IM Jonas Bjerre.

So, Wesley (2767) — Bjerre, Jonas Buhl (2506) [E01]
FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss Douglas ENG (5.30), 14.10.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 d5 6.0–0 e5 7.Nf3

The most common move is 7.Nb3 but there is nothing wrong with the text.

7…Nc6 8.c4 d4 9.e3 Be7 10.exd4 exd4 11.Bf4 0–0 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bc5

Aside from the isolated pawn on d4, which could either be a strength or a weakness, White has good pressure on the long diagonal. It turns out that this is enough for the win.

14.Nd2 Re8 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Nb3 Qd6

Not 16…Bb6? 17.c5 Bc7 18.Qxd4.

17.Qd3 Bg4

Threatening Be2

18.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Bb4 20.Rc1

Attacking d4 and b7.

20…Qa6

Countering against the white a2–pawn.

21.Qe4 Be6 22.Nxd4 Rb8

[22…Bxc4 23.Nf3 wins a piece. Take note that 23…Rc8 does not work because of 24.b3]

23.c5 Bd2 24.Rd1 Bh6 25.Nxe6 fxe6

[25…Qxe6? 26.Qxb7! Re8 (26…Rxb7 27.Rd8+ and mate) 27.c6 the passed pawn wins]

26.a3 Rf8 27.Rd6 Qb5 28.Qxe6+ Kh8 29.Qe7 Rg8 30.Rd8 1–0

Black is powerless. 30…Qc4 is refuted by 31.Bd5.

Wesley So wheeled into contention in the 7th round by outplaying India’s Surya Shekhar Ganguly. Ganguly was Black, played the Sicilian and offered a thematic exchange sacrifice to get his pieces activated and his pawns moving. It was quite a sound sacrifice and the game was fought on equal terms until Ganguly got into time trouble and could not find some tricky defensive moves to save his game against an opponent with still more than 40 minutes on the clock.

So, Wesley (2767) — Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2658) [B51]
FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss Douglas ENG (7.13), 17.10.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.Nc3 Rc8 8.0–0 e5 9.Qd3 h6

White decides to transfer his f3–knight to e3 to control e5 and f5. This is still main line theory.

10.Nd2 Qc7 11.Rd1 Bg4 12.Re1 Nf6 13.Nf1 Be6 14.Ne3 Be7 15.a4

Theory ends here. The players are on their own.

15…0–0 16.Rd1 Rfd8 17.a5 Bf8 18.Bd2 g6 19.Be1 Qc5

Ganguly seems to be having difficulties orienting himself with the position. Thematic is to go 19…Nh5 20.g3 f5 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Nxf5 Qf7 23.Ne3 Nf6 with full compensation for the pawn.

20.Na4 Qc6 21.Nb6 Nxe4!

Ganguly gives up the exchange to free up his pieces and activate his pawn chain.

22.Nxc8 Rxc8 23.c4 f5

It is not time to simplify the game into an ending when his king is not yet activated. For example after 23…Bxc4 24.Qxc4 Qxc4 25.Nxc4 Rxc4 26.Rac1 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 White is clearly better because the opposing queenside pawns are vulnerable.

24.Bb4 Bxc4 25.Nxc4 Qxc4 26.Qxc4+ Rxc4 27.Ba3 Kf7?!

After this Black is pushed to the brink. Perhaps he should have tried to prevent White from penetrating the c-file with 27…Nc5 first followed by Ra4.

28.Rac1 Ra4 29.f3 Nc5 30.Bxc5 dxc5 31.Rd7+ Kf6 32.Rxb7 Rxa5 33.Rb6+ Kg5 34.h4+! Kh5

[34…Kxh4 35.Rxg6 Kh5 36.Rg8 Be7 37.g3 (intending Kg2 followed by Rh1) 37…Ra2 38.Kh2 Rxb2+ 39.Kh3 (now the idea is g3–g4+ followed by mate 39…Rb3 40.Rh1 White mates, the most attractive way is via 40…Bh4 41.Kg2 Rb2+ 42.Kf1 Rb1+ 43.Ke2! Rxh1 44.g4+ fxg4 45.fxg4#]

35.Rc4 Rb5 36.Rxa6 Be7 37.g4+ fxg4 38.Re6 Bxh4?

Ganguly had no more time left or otherwise he might have found 38…Bd8! and only now 39.Rxg4 (39.fxg4+? Kxh4 40.Rxe5 Bg5 the pawn on g4 protects rather than restricts the Black King) 39…Bxh4 40.Rxe5+ g5 when he still has chances to hang on.

39.Rxe5+ g5 40.fxg4+

The big difference — the Black king has to retreat and his bishop is stuck on the side of the board.

40…Kg6 41.Rexc5 Rxb2 42.Rc6+ Kg7 43.Rd6 Rb1+ 44.Kg2 Rb2+ 45.Kf3 Rf2+ 46.Ke3 Rf6 47.Rc7+ Kg6 48.Rxf6+ Kxf6 49.Ke4

White still has to be very accurate but endings like this are peanuts for Wesley.

49…Bf2 50.Rc6+ Kg7 51.Kf5

Threatening Rc7+ followed by Kxh6 winning pawn.

51…h5 52.gxh5 Kh7 53.h6 Be3 54.Kg4 Bf4 55.Re6 Bd2 56.Kh5 1–0

I will give you the final results on Tuesday.

 

Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.

bobby@cpamd.net

Stable Raptors

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry wasn’t merely being polite when he argued against discounting the Raptors’ chances in the 2019-20 season. Even as he acknowledged the impact of the departure of Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard, he noted that disaster doesn’t necessarily follow. To buttress his contention, he turned to another sport; in Major League Baseball, he pointed out, the Nationals earned a trip to the World Series despite the loss of erstwhile cornerstone Bryce Harper. “I wouldn’t count these guys out just yet,” he said.

Gentry is on the mark, of course, in full understanding that the Raptors benefit from a stable organization with an experienced hand at the helm. Having gone through practically the same situation as an executive of the Nuggets at the start of the decade, president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri used the same blueprint to pivot to a starless future. Again eschewing a reboot, he doubled up on existing assets; he inked veteran All-Star Kyle Lowry to a one-year deal and foundational piece Pascal Siakam to a rookie-scale extension. At the same time, he banked on the motivations of Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol to perform throughout a contract year.

To be sure, doing right on paper doesn’t always translate to tangible results. Yesterday, though, the Raptors showed enough to lend substance to Gentry’s pronouncement. They certainly played ungracious hosts to upend his Pelicans. True, they took advantage of top overall pick Zion Williamson’s sidelining due to injury. And, true, they needed to scramble in the crunch and hang tough in overtime to prevail. Then again, there can be no discounting the message they sent on the very night they received their championship rings: The Larry O’Brien Trophy is on their mantel, and those who aim to wrest it from them will meet their best.

Admittedly, one game does not a season make. Nonetheless, the Raptors made clear to all and sundry that they will be prepared every time out. They were far from sharp yesterday; they shot a poor 40.8% from the field all told, with Lowry and Gasol going four of 15 and two of nine, respectively. With the outcome on the line, however, they delivered; Siakam and VanVleet had 34 points apiece, with Ibaka and the comebacking OG Anunoby providing ample support and combining for 24. Time will tell if they can sustain their effort. For now, though, they should be happy to have proven Gentry right.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Peso up on Brexit delay

THE PESO rallied against the dollar on Wednesday with risk-on sentiment in the market rising, as another delay in Britain’s exit from the European Union looms.

The local unit ended at P50.97 against the greenback on Wednesday, stronger by 21 centavos from the P51.18-to-a-dollar close on Tuesday.

The peso opened the session at P51.23 a dollar. Its weakest point for the day was traced at P51.285, while its best shot against the greenback was at its close of P50.97.

Dollars traded on Wednesday slipped to $1.162 billion from $1.396 billion on Tuesday.

The peso’s close, which is its strongest in four months, is supported by risk-on sentiment seen across Asian markets amid a possibility of another Brexit delay, according to a trader.

“The peso recovered against the greenback because of the market taking note of possible delay in Brexit which commenced overnight. By afternoon session, risk-on sentiment was still evident as seen in Asian peers,” he said in a phone call.

Meanwhile, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said that the peso’s strength was fueled by data on government expenditure.

“The peso closed stronger after the surprisingly strong data on government expenditures in September, reflecting the government’s catch up on spending…to make up for the slower GDP (gross domestic product) growth in early 2019,” he said in a text message.

The British parliament on Tuesday voted in favor of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan, but junked his move to fast-track legislation to take Britain out of the EU by Oct. 31.

Meanwhile, data from the Bureau of Treasury released on Tuesday showed that national government expenditures jumped by 39.01% to P415.1 billion in September from the P298.6 billion a year earlier, its best performance since the 42.7% increase recorded in April last year.

For today, the trader sees the peso to play around a range of P50.80-51.10, while Mr. Ricafort forecasts that it will move around the P50.80-51.10 band. — LWTN

Bourse gives up gains but stays above 7,900

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) retreated on Wednesday due to a lack of domestic leads to counter the impact of declines on Wall Street and elsewhere in Asia due to another Brexit setback, but stayed above 7,900.

PSEi gave up 21.48 points or 0.27% to finish at the day’s peak of 7,933.76, while the all-shares index dropped 5.91 points or 0.12% to end 4,778.20.

“The PSEi resumed its drop today probably due to Wall Street’s lackluster performance last night and the absence of fresh catalysts here in the PH market. The mood among market participants remain subdued as we wait for more bluechip stocks to release their 3Q earnings result,” Timson Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Jervin S. de Celis said in a mobile phone message.

Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan noted via text that “Philippines shares closed lower as investors pored through a slew of key earnings, the Sino-US trade talks continue, and as UK lawmakers debated Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill.”

Reuters reported that Wall Street ended lower on Tuesday after British lawmakers rejected the government’s proposed timetable for passing legislation to ratify its deal to exit the European Union: the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.15%, the S&P 500 by 0.36% and the Nasdaq Composite by 0.72%.

Other major Asian bourses were mixed, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indices gaining 0.34% and 0.59%, respectively, and India’s S&P BSE Sensex index adding 0.45%, while the MSCI Asia APEX 50 gave up 0.6%. The Shanghai SE Composite dropped 0.43%; Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell by 0.82%; South Korea’s KOSPI went down 0.39%; and Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 0.55%.

Only two of the six sectoral indices at home gained: mining & oil by 58.30 points or 0.64% to 9,074.90 and property by 15.28 points or 0.36% to 4,180.88.

The rest dropped: financials by 13.97 points or 0.74% to 1,859.54, services by 6.22 points or 0.4% to 1,531.01, industrials by 34.23 points or 0.32% to 10,634.70 and holding firms by 21.47 points or 0.27% to 7,750.76.

Stocks that declined beat those that advanced 91 to 82, while 61 others ended flat. Wednesday’s list of most active stocks showed six that gained, led by Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (1.73% to P23.50 apiece) and Globe Telecom, Inc. (1.27% to P1,920 each). The 12 that lost included Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (-1.8% to P4.90), Universal Robina Corp. (-1.13% to P157.20) and BDO Unibank, Inc. (-1.08% to P146.80). Two closed flat: SM Investments Corp. at P1,014 apiece and AllHome Corp. at P11.56 each.

Volume totaled 1.17 billion shares worth P4.67 billion, compared to Tuesday’s 368.70 million worth P6.04 billion.

Investors abroad stayed predominantly optimistic for the second day, increasing net buying sevenfold to P1.14 billion from Tuesday’s P156.50 million. — V. M. P. Galang

Duterte to divulge health examination results

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will divulge the results of his medical consultation after back pain forced him to cut short his trip to Japan this week, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

“His consultation with a doctor is aimed at determining the medical condition of his body,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement. It will also reveal whether his spinal injury from a past motorcycle accident had been aggravated by his recent fall, he added.

“The president shall inform our countrymen on the result of his medical consultation,” Mr. Panelo said.

Meanwhile, Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go said Mr. Duterte’s back pain was due to “muscle spasm,” citing his doctors.

The president went straight to the wake of the late Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. before heading to his checkup, Mr. Go, the president’s former aide, said at a briefing.

Mr. Duterte underwent magnetic resonance imaging or MRI and the doctors “did not see anything that should cause any worries,” Mr. Go said in Filipino.

Mr. Duterte came home from Japan last Tuesday night so he could see his neurologist yesterday.

The 1987 Constitution states that “in case of serious illness of the president, the public shall be informed of the state of his health.”

Mr. Duterte, 74, was the oldest person to be elected president of the country, and his health has been the subject of speculations.

The presidential palace earlier assured the public that there was nothing to worry about Mr. Duterte’s health.

The president missed the Japanese emperor’s banquet at the Imperial Palace and had requested Mayor Sara Duterte to represent him and attend on his behalf.

Mr. Duterte was able to attend the enthronement rites on Tuesday while carrying a cane to help him walk.

The president earlier told the Filipino community in Russia during his visit that he suffers from an autoimmune disease that could potentially have serious complications.

Malacañang earlier this month said the illness was not serious and there was nothing to worry about.

The president had complained of not being able to sleep during his flight from Russia.

Before his visit to Japan, there were no reports of Mr. Duterte receiving medical help after the accident since he appeared to be okay after the fall, according to a palace briefing last week.

There were different accounts of what happened during his accident. Mr. Panelo said Mr. Duterte had a minor fall from the motorcycle, while the Presidential Security Group said that there was a small mishap that happened while he took out the motorcycle out of the garage.

Right after Mr. Duterte flew back to Manila on Tuesday evening from Japan, the president was seen carrying a cane at the wake of Mr. Pimentel.

A Social Weather Stations poll in December found that 66% of Filipinos were worried about Mr. Duterte’s health. — Gillian M. Cortez

Diosdado Peralta named chief justice

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has named Supreme Court Justice Diosdado M. Peralta as the new chief justice, the high court said in a statement yesterday.

Mr. Peralta, whom former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed to the high tribunal in 2009, will replace Lucas P. Bersamin who retired on Oct. 18.

Mr. Peralta, a former government prosecutor who’s been in the Judiciary for more than two decades, got all seven votes of the Judicial and Bar Council, the body that recommends candidates to the president, the court said.

He is the most senior among the justices who applied for the top Judiciary post in terms of tenure, and will sit as chief justice until he retires at the age of 70 on March 27, 2022.

Born in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Mr. Peralta started his career in government service in 1987 when he was appointed third assistant city fiscal of Laoag City.

He was assigned to the Manila Prosecutor’s Office in 1988 and later became the assistant chief of the Investigation Division of the Office of the City Prosecutor in 1994.

He joined the Judiciary in September 1994 when he was appointed presiding judge of Branch 95 of the Quezon City regional trial court. He was promoted to the Sandiganbayan, the country’s anti-graft court, in 2002 and became its presiding justice in 2008.

Mr. Peralta inherited the 1,128 judicial and administrative cases when he became a justice in 2009, the high court said. He has managed to reduce these cases to 300 to date “due to sheer diligence and passion for work,” according to the statement.

“He is consistent as one of the top performers in adjudicating cases,” it added.

Mr. Peralta is an alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, where he graduated in 1979. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Economics from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in October 1974.

Before his appointment to the high tribunal, he was a professor, lecturer, resource person and Bar reviewer in criminal law, criminal procedure, remedial law and trial techniques at several universities including UST, the Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines Law Center, according to the statement. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Rice farmers urged to join cooperatives as they receive individual loan from DA-LANDBANK program

RICE FARMERS in Isabela province, particularly those who are cultivating land that is one hectare or less, have been urged to join a cooperative or an association to gain access to government assistance and become more competitive. Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Andrew B. Villacorta, in a speech during the distribution of loans under the Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance (E-SURE Aid) Program in Cabagan, Isabela on Oct. 19, said individual smallholders would find strength in numbers. “Kailangang sumali tayo sa isang kooperatiba, sapagkat kung kayo ay isang kooperatiba, mabibigyan kayo ng mga makinarya kagaya ng (We need to join a cooperative because if you are a cooperative, you can avail of machineries like) tractor at harvester para kayo magiging (so you will be) competitive,” he said. An initial 4,798 rice farmers received cash cards of P15,000 each under the E-SURE Aid Program, intended as an immediate relief to those affected by low palay prices as a result of the Rice Tariffication Law. The terms of the loan program, a partnership between the DA-Agricultural and Credit Policy Council and the Land Bank of the Philippines, includes zero interest, no collateral, payable in eight years, and with minimal requirements through a simplified application process. Isabela Gov. Rodito T. Albano III, in a statement, said 8,500 farmers in the province are expected to benefit from the nationwide program, which has so far also covered the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.

Maguindanao massacre suspect hospitalized

ONE OF the prime suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, Zaldy U. Ampatuan, was brought to a hospital last Monday due to heart ailment, a jail official said. “I can confirm that Zaldy Ampatuan was rushed to the hospital due to Cardio Vascular Disease Infarct Secondary to Cardiac Dysrhythmia,” Bureau of Jail Management and Penology spokesperson Xavier Solda said in a mobile phone message on Wednesday. “He is in a stable condition now,” he added. The location of the hospital in Metro Manila was not disclosed due to “safety reasons.” Mr. Ampatuan was governor of the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao when 58 people were massacred in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009. Among the victims were 32 media practitioners, and family members and supporters of a political rival of the Ampatuan clan. Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra in August said the trial for the Maguindanao massacre case was completed July 17 and submitted for resolution on Aug. 15. A decision is expected to be rendered before the 10th anniversary of the incident. Andal Ampatuan, Sr., father of Mr. Ampatuan and the alleged mastermind of the massacre, died of cancer on July 15, 2015. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Davao Oriental gears up for Pujada Bay validation as 1 of the world’s most beautiful

THE DAVAO Oriental provincial government is preparing for the visit and evaluation by the Club of Most Beautiful Bays in the World for the formal inclusion of Pujada Bay in the list. “We will be waiting for the ground validation,” said Ednar Carlos G. Dayanghirang, chief of staff of Davao Oriental Gov. Nelson L. Dayanghirang, adding that there is no specific date set yet. Mr. Dayanghirang attended the club’s general assembly in Japan last Oct. 18, where the 27-member group accepted the Pujada Bay application. The validation process will determine the bay’s listing and induction during the club’s World Congress next year, to be held in Morocco. The provincial government, together with the Mati City government, supported the bay’s listing as part of the campaign to boost the local tourism industry. Davao Oriental is also home to the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

NRC taps Iloilo City to be resilience model

ILOILO CITY has been chosen by the National Resilience Council (NRC) as the first local government unit for assistance towards becoming a model for safety and sustainability. “The NRC approached Iloilo City because we are aware that the leadership is open to both the collaboration with the private sector and the science and technology community. Iloilo has very good foundation for how evidence-based risk governance can actually be part of the sustainability of the city,” NRC President Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last week. Among the target output under the MoU are an integrated risk assessment, a resilience roadmap, and an integrated multi-stakeholder plan. The MoU was signed by Ms. Loyzaga, Iloilo Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Gay D. Defiesta for the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV). As part of the partnership, Iloilo City also received disaster risk reduction devices from the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction in Taiwan. Aside from UPV, NRC will also be assisted by the University of San Agustin, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, West Visayas State University, and the Iloilo Science and Technology University. Mr. Treñas said the collaboration, together with the private sector, is important for economic growth. “We need to be resilient… to make sure that our people will be safe and not only our people, but investors,” he said. He announced that Megaworld Corp. has committed an P8 million contribution for the program on improving resilience capacity. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Conflict over roads to Davao del Norte banana farms settled

THE CONFLICT surrounding roads in the Floirendo-run banana farms in Sto. Tomas and Braulio Dujali, Davao del Norte has been settled with an agreement signed by the parties. Under the deal, the existing biosecurity facilities at entry points will not be demolished, but the requirement of a gate pass for public access will be removed. The agreement also provides for the creation of a joint monitoring committee composed of two representatives each from the parties involved: the provincial government of Davao del Norte, the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. Inc. (TADECO), and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which owns the land. TADECO and BuCor have a joint venture agreement for the banana plantations. “Proper security protocols shall be observed by the three parties the details of which shall be discussed by the Joint Monitoring Committee,” the agreement read. The agreement also settles the court cases filed by both sides. Earlier, a Regional Trial Court in Panabo City issued a temporary restraining order stopping the provincial government from demolishing the biosecurity facilities set up by the company to prevent the spread of Fusarium Wilt, or Panama disease. The signatories to the agreement were Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin I. Jubahib, TADECO Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Zeaus Apollo C. Vadil, and BuCor Director General Gerald Q. Bantag. The agreement was reached through the mediation of Mindanao Development Authority Chair Emmanuel F. Piñol. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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