General Santos City News August 2011

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Police privilege

• Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/329529/police-privilege
• August 4, 2011, 5:50pm

by Joseph Jubelag

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — The police regional command has provided special privilege to all Muslim police officers to take a leave of absence during the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadan which started August 1.

Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele, regional police director for Central Mindanao, said that all Muslim personnel assigned with the Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) are given the special leave privilege to observe the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

“It is a simple gesture of respect and consideration for this important Muslim tradition, which is the true essence of religious freedom, guaranteed by the state as a sovereign right of every peace-loving Filipino,” Mantele said.

Salmon processing facility inaugurated in General Santos City

• Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/8069/salmon-processing-facility-inaugurated-in-general-santos-city
• 5:55 pm | Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

by Aquiles Z. Zonio

Inquirer Mindanao

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—The Philippine’s first and the Asia’s newest—if not most modern—salmon and seafood processing and smoking facility was inaugurated here on Tuesday. The P60-million facility is operated by Big Glory Bay Salmon and Seafood Company, Inc., a joint venture between Prime Foods NZ Ltd. (PFNZ) and Alliance Select Foods International, Inc. (ASFII). PFNZ is the second-largest smoked salmon processor in New Zealand while ASFII is the leading tuna canner in the Philippines. ASFII (formerly Alliance Tuna International, Inc.) operates two canning plants here supplying pre-packaged tuna products to more than 55 countries. Six out of seven tuna canneries in the Philippines are located in this southern seaport. The smoked salmon facility, which has a capacity of processing two tons of salmon daily, is located right inside the ASFII tuna canning plant in the coastal village of Tambler. This allows BGB access to existing management, engineering, maintenance facilities and staff. It is targeting Australia, Asia and Europe as markets for its products. No less than New Zealand Ambassador Andrew Matheson and General Santos Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio led the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Custodio said the entry of Big Glory Bay was timely as it will help provide impetus to the local economy, especially since the tuna industry has suffered setbacks recently in the form of low tuna catch and rising fuel costs. Custodio said the fishing industry was no longer the backbone of the local economy due to overfishing and climate change. Teresita Ladanga, executive vice president and chief operations officer of ASFII, said the city’s business-friendly environment was the main reason why this group of investors decided to come here. “This group of international businessmen from the US, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the Philippines would not be here were it not for the business-friendly environment afforded by the city,” Ladanga said.

‘Pacman’ leads groundbreaking for Sarangani hospital

• Source: http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2011/08/02/%E2%80%98pacman%E2%80%99-leads-groundbreaking-for-sarangani-hospital/
• Tuesday| August 2, 2011

by Bong S. Sarmiento

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/01 August)—World boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao on Monday led the groundbreaking ceremony for a multi-million medical facility under the public-private partnership (PPP) initiative of President Benigno S. Aquino III. The 200-bed tertiary medical facility in Alabel town will be the first for Sarangani, and was one of Pacquiao’s campaign promises to the constituents of the 18-year-old province. Late last year, the boxer-politician disclosed that Aquino committed P200 million for the construction of a provincial hospital. The Development Bank of the Philippines is funding the hospital project under the Credit for Better Health Care Program, according to a project brief. It shall be called the Sarangani Medical Center. Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez assisted Pacquiao and Department of Health officials during the groundbreaking rites at the capitol compound. The establishment and running of the hospital will be made possible through PPP arrangements, well in keeping with a policy cornerstone of President Aquino, a statement from the Sarangani information office said. The conception and eventual construction and operation of the new hospital is the result of unparalleled initiative and cooperation at all levels of government, it said. Envisioned as a key project, the state-of-the-art hospital is expected to remain highly accessible and, by relying on private sector management expertise, will provide appropriate care efficiently to all patients-in-need. In particular, better medical management can be provided for sick children, complicated obstetric cases, and other patients with dire illnesses thereby contributing to the DOH‘s and the country’s commitment to addressing key U.N. Millennium Development Goals, the statement said. The bringing together of the concerned government and private parties, in particular, is the culmination of a series of extensive consultations made possible by the program. It is hoped that the Sarangani Medical Center will be the first of many PPP engagements that will effectively address the urgent deficiencies of the country’s health sector. The United Architects of the Philippines, which is supporting the PPP program, drafted the architectural design of the medical center. (Bong Sarmiento/MindaNews)