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Davao Oriental News

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Province of Davao Oriental - Archived News

Beyond Mati

Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental province, was once a quiet seaside community now laden with beach resorts lining coconut-filled shores, offering amenities and island banca tours to islets and secret coves. It has now become a most visited destination three hours away from Davao City.

The young city successfully celebrated its Sambuokan Festival last October 20-31, 2011. This week-long celebration is both a thanksgiving and observance of the commemoration of its founding anniversary every 29th of October.

Sambuokan (“buok” meaning one) showcases Mati’s “oneness” despite diversity of fascinating culture and ethnic traditions, lifestyle and way of life. Add to it the blessings of abundance in natural resources carefully preserved and enhanced by ecotourism.

Highlights of the celebration include night shows and events at the Baywalk, parties, a pageant, photo competition, fun run, frisbee event, dance showdown, bikini open, trade fair, exhibits, a market showcase of local products, banca race and the most watched skimboarding competition set in the stunning clear blue waters and white shores of Dahican.

Sambuokan’s Indak – Indak sa Kadalanan (street-dancing competition) became a highly charged atmosphere of energy and colors as the crowd cheered the participants. Emerging as the winners were the Matiao National High School (last year’s champ) and Matiao Central.

Beyond the merrymaking, this festival aims to unite the people working together for a common good, turning this once unknown town into a fast-developing settlement and the next potential tourist destination.

When you visit Davao, try Mati on a sudden road-trip whim. Endowed with one of the longest and most beautiful white coastlines in Mindanao, travel to Mati involves zigzagging through well-paved roads that snake up and down a cliff overlooking the sea. The now familiar Barney-shaped Sleeping Dinosaur is a landmark that indicates you have arrived in the once quiet municipality and provincial capital.

Learn how to skimboard, a sport popularized on wild Pacific waves that fringe white sand shorelines. Dahican is a long strip of mesmerizing powdery white sands and startlingly clear aquamarine waters that gradually change into deep azure in the horizon. Skimboarders practically camp by the beach for an adrenalin encounter with the waves.

Meet the local heroes, athletic teens popularly known as the Amihan Boys. They bring skimboarding to a new level by winning various regional competitions and bringing home top prizes, thanks to their mentor George ‘Jun’ Plaza, who raises and disciplines them like sons while they work for a living. Plaza is also a staunch supporter of the turtles and dugongs who ply his beachfront headquarters.

A dolphin tour showcases hundreds of frisky species of the beautiful mammal (Fraser’s dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, long-snouted spinner dolphin, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, to name a few) freely cavorting alongside fishermen’s boats. Dive tours and island hopping packages are available for arrangement in the city tourism office.

The simple yet unique distinction of this new city and friendly locals are remarkable features that will keep you coming back for more.

Business leaders urged to make stand for Mindanao

MATI CITY, Davao Oriental- Business leaders in yesterday's Asenso at Negosyo Sa Turismo forum held in Mati City were urged to make a voice after the Basilan encounter that killed nine soldiers.

Quezon Province Representative Lorenzo R. Tanada III, who was the guest speaker in the forum, asked business leaders to make a stand on how they would want the government to move and forward peace efforts for Mindanao.

"There had been clamor for an all-out war against the MILF but we know that it wouldn't be that easy. Businessmen would definitely be one of the most affected sector if we push for an all-out war,” he said.

Tanada has been roaming around the country specifically Mindanao to get the pulse of the people, on what they need and how they would want the government to do after the Basilan incident.

"The President finds it high time to ask the different stakeholders in Mindanao to make a stand. Instead of becoming too emotional, we should be sober and calm to come up with a right analysis,", he added.

The representative said the president decided on a two-pronged approach to get that all-out justice. First is by way of a calculated and targeted enforcement of the law against those who have violated and those responsible for the death of the soldiers. Second, Pres. Aquino would still want to continue talking for peace with the MILF.

"This way the government could also test the sincerity of the MILF in discrediting their rogue elements and in respecting the agreement with the Philippine Government,” he said.

Tanada who is also the party spokesperson was invited by the City of Mati in its celebration of Sambuokan 2011 and the 108th Foundation Anniversary of the said city.

Sambuokan Festival @ 11: uniting Mati through the years

CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental- Now on its 11th year, the Sambuokan Festival emerges as one of Mati City’s top crowd drawer that has started to carve a name in the local, as well as in the national tourism scene in the country.

Sambuokan has depicted the transformation of Mati from a small and quiet municipality in the festival’s early days to the very promising component city that it is today.

“True to its essence, Sambuokan Festival is indeed a manifestation of unity and brotherhood for all Matinians. We have been through a lot, particularly in our struggle for citihood, and in the tough times, we managed to conquer it all because of our unity, for our love of Mati,” Mayor Michelle Rabat explains.

Conceptualized to be a simple celebration for the Founding Anniversary of the municipality of Mati, it eventually became a street dancing extravaganza participated by the different schools in the city, and from the neighboring municipalities.

The body movement of the performers, their every move, and the facial expressions reveal a language of pride for the richness of Mati’s culture and its abundance in natural resources.

For this year, Sambuokan’s festivity runs for ten days, starting on Oct. 20, 2011.

The Sambuokan Festival starts with the Seminar on Best Practices for Business Establishments, Tree Planting Activity, Anito Run for Pawikan sa Dahican 2011, Concert at the Bay, Lanog: School Band Showdown, Amemdo Inter-Office Sportsfest Opening, Lakanbini ng Sambuokan 2011 Presentation and Fashion Walk, Lakanbini ng Sambuokan 2011 Finals Nite, Engkuwentro sa Baywalk 2-Amateur Boxing Invitation, Mati’s Got Talent, Bodybuilding 2011, Bugno ng Gintong Kamao-Mindawide Amateur Boxing, Tourism Business Encounter-May Asenso sa Turismo Cooperative Day, 2nd Annual Skumboarding Challenge, Dance Craze Contest, Sambuokan Thanksgiving Mass, Foundation Day Programme, Pasa PlatoUltiMati, Dahican Beach Party, and highlighting the festivity is the Indak-Indak sa Sambuokan Street Dancing Competition on Oct. 28, 2011.

Since Mati’s citihood was sealed with the final decision of the Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of the citihood of the League of 16, Sambuokan Festival is now on its own a stand alone festival, after it shared festivity with the foundation day of Mati, then a municipality, for many colorful and productive years.

“Though Sambuokan is now on its own, but the real essence stands still, and that is our unity. We have proven that though our unity we can do and achieve a lot. And this is something that we can be rest remembered of. Also, the festival serves as a tribute to the forefathers of Mati, like the former Mayor Paking Rabat and former Assemblywoman Edith Rabat who contributed to its progress with their vision and love of Mati,” she added.

Celebrating Sambuokan Festival is a showcase of gratitude, as it goes down to the history of Mati as a legacy beyond putting into oblilvion.

“Let us celebrate Sambuokan as a fitting tribute to Mati, and as a constant reminder to all Matinians that in unity, there is strength, and we should not let our strength be toppled with challenges, with just a few who look at life differently. The Sambuokan spirit is always positive, full of hope, and never give up on what seems to be impossible,” Mayor Rabat concluded.

Job opportunity

The Region 11 office here of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-11) is accepting applicants for 86 vacant positions in the implementation of Set 5 of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the Davao Region.

DSWD-11 Director Ester A. Versoza said the 4Ps will expand in more cities and municipalities in the region. At present, Versoza said the program is operating in all four provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley, covering 32 municipalities and four cities – Davao, Digos, Tagum, and Mati.

Farmer Cooperators show yields of Pagkain At Kita Program in Corn Harvest Festival

CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental- Around 100 farmer cooperators of the Pagkain at Kita program in Barangay Bobon, City of Mati proudly presented to Gov. Corazon Malanyaon their yield during the corn harvest festival here.

Speaking before the guests and the farmer cooperators last week, Gov. Malanyaon reiterated that her Pagkain at Kita program is designed to ascertain food security and income for every family in the province.

“The program is aimed at ensuring food stability, and augmentation in the family’s income. With the Pagkain at Kita program, I want every family to have at least a monthly income of 6 to 7 thousand pesos. That is why I am happy upon knowing that our farmer cooperators here were able to raise a net income 21 thousand pesos for three months. That is 7 thousand pesos monthly for each of the farmer beneficiaries,” she said.

The governor also seeks to find out reason why some farmers are not able to meet the expected output for the government to address it effectively.

“I do not want percentages, I want clear, picturesque details of them, of their situation. That is why Iinvested on the Nat’l Census Statistics Board (NCSB) to get all the information that I need, through the Geographic Positioning System (GPS).

The NCSB then, assured the Governor that she will have what she needs in two months time.

Punong Barangay Rutchie Ravelo of the municipality of San Isidro, and Coordinator of the Pagkain at Kita Program, disclosed that for Brgy. Bobon, there is a 110 hectare for corn production, the biggest hectarage for corn this year in the City of Mati.

“We hope to increase the area in the second cycle, since we are still on our first cycle,’ he explained.

Farmer cooperators expressed gratitude to the provincial government for the focus given to agriculture sector, which spells a leap in their economic status, and in their way of life.

2 nabbed Sayyafs transported to Zambo

TWO Abu Sayyaf members who were arrested by authorities in Mati City were transported to Zamboanga City on Sunday to face criminal charges for kidnapping and bombing incidents in Basilan and Zamboanga City.

Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, confirmed that Abu Abdul Aziz Kunting alias “Robert Tan” and Abu Akmed Kunting alias “Jason Tan” arrived in Zamboanga City on Sunday.

He said the two were also presented to a Zamboanga City court on Monday. The Kunting brothers are in the custody of the Military Intelligence Group.

The two are facing charges for their alleged participation in the Dos Palmas kidnapping of 20 resort guests and workers in 2001 that resulted in the deaths of at least five of the original hostages, including the two American citizens Guillermo Sobero and Martin Burnham.

At least 22 Filipino soldiers were killed in attempts to apprehend the captors and free the hostages in the next 12 months following the initial hostage-taking. An unknown number of captors were also killed by government forces.

Asked if the two ASG members have a bounty for their capture, Cabangbang said there was none.

Joint elements from the Philippine Army's 701st Brigade and the 28th Infantry Battalion, 104th Military Intelligence Company, the Military Intelligence Group 11 and 9, the Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office, the Special Action Forces of the Philippine National Police, and the Mati City Police conducted the raid at a residence in Barangay Matiao around 2 p.m. of September 23 that led to the arrest of the ASG members.

Globe's vow

Globe Telecom further strengthens its commitment to be the leader in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education (ICT4E) by providing select public high school teachers in the Davao Region with advanced skills that would enhance the learning experience of their students.

Considering the importance of a strong technology backbone in education, Globe brings to Davao its Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) program – an intensive 54-hour, six-day teacher training program that focuses on the proper use of ICT application for school-centered classroom activities.

GFT is being conducted by Globe Bridging Communities (Globe BridgeCom) in partnership with the Coalition for Better Education (CBE), and the Department of Education (DepEd).

With the success that GFT achieved in Central Visayas where it was piloted in 2009, Globe deemed it relevant to replicate the program in other parts of the country.

Globe has already launched GFT in North and Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.

“Globe understands that in this modern society, technology is already an essential aspect of education but it is not enough to simply provide schools with the equipment. With GFT, we are transforming computers and the Internet from just being desktop sources of information into instruments of interactive teaching and online collaboration,” said Yoly C. Crisanto, head for Globe Corporate Communications.

GFT is geared towards helping teachers apply ICT in Project-based Learning Approaches (PBL) where the core subject areas such as Math, Science, English, and HeKaSi (Heyograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika), and inter-disciplinary themes are embedded across curriculum.

It demonstrates how ICT can provide teachers and students with more accurate and quicker access to information, tools for easier and faster learning, and a chance to collaborate with the rest of the world.

It was proven that by using ICT, there is increased teacher motivation and improved student memory retention and comprehension of various subjects.

Irrigation project ensures sustainability of fish biodiversit

CATEEL, Davao Oriental- Aside from boosting the province’s rice production, the irrigation project to be constructed here will also ensure sustainability of fish biodiversity.

The P256 million irrigation project of the Department of Agriculture’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) and the provincial government of Davao Oriental integrates social environmental safeguards (SES) to ensure that people and environment are not negatively affected by the project implementation.

In compliance with the World Bank operation policy, SES is a measure that mitigates and protects the environment from the cumulative adverse impact that might be brought by failure to recognize that inherent value of natural resources.

“Fishing aside from farming is also one of the important sources of food and livelihood in the province. While irrigation project will greatly boost rice production, we must also ensure that other sources of livelihood will not be jeopardized,” said program director Lealyn Ramos.

“While we want to spur rural development, MRDP also puts premium on environmental protection. Environmental safeguards are being observed and integrated in the design, site selection and implementation,” she added.

Citing the soon to be established irrigation project in Cateel, Ramos said the program ensures that aside from quality engineering standards it also conforms to the recommended environmental safeguards.

The dams and other structures that will be constructed may tend to block and pose hazard to fishes’ natural migration, a fish-friendly infrastructure was incorporated to the final design of the irrigation project.

“A fish ladder design was recommended to prevent damage to fish biodiversity and fish stocks along Cateel River ,” SES specialist Arnel Areglado said.

Fish ladder, also known as a fish way, fish pass or fish steps is a structure designed to allow migrating fish pass around barriers such as dams or locks by swimming and leaping up series of relatively low steps. Protection and recovery of fish stocks in the area is ensured since fishes have the opportunity to migrate and spawn in downstream and upstream ecosystems.

“The Cateel irrigation project which incorporates a 42-meter fish ladder structure is the first of its kind in Mindanao . It also showcases how the perceived negative impact of development projects can be addressed by putting in place the recommended environmental safeguards,” Areglado said.

The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) revealed that Cateel River which is the major water source of the irrigation project is a home to ecologically important fish species.

“These fish species are found to be either andromous (migrating from the sea to the river) or catadromous (migrating from the river to the sea) and the tributary of Cateel River is crucial in their life cycle,” Areglado said adding:

“The IEE identified the presence of “Pigek” the country’s most expensive but nearly endangered fish along Cateel River .”

Pigek which is also known as Pigok in Northern Mindanao and Ludong in Luzon swims to salt water to spawn from October to December and returns to upstream ponds after. It undergoes upstream migration during December, January, and February, and this coincides with other species of fry also undergo upstream migration.

“Since Pigek was found to be endemic in the Cateel River , there is a need to protect and conserve this valuable fish species along with the establishment of dams and other engineering structures.

Construction of a fish ladder as part of the irrigation project is the best way to address this need,” Areglado said.

Communities get 57 more projects

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) completed a total of 57 sub-projects in Governor Generoso, New Corella, Talaingod, and Laak in Davao Region.

The projects range from potable water system, flood control facilities, drainage lined canal, hanging cable footbridge, school building, barangay health station, tribal housing, day care centers and birthing facilities.

"This is where we need more help from major stakeholders. By our convergence, we will be able to help these municipalities in their community-driven projects," said Priscilla Razon, assistant regional director of DSWD.

Under Kalahi-Cidss, communities in different municipalities identify key development changes that they need and they are the ones who design and develop the projects through a participatory and collective approval process, wherein criteria are developed by the members of the communities.

Potable water systems are the major problems in the towns of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental and New Corella in Compostela Valley, wherein 12 were already constructed in these areas.

"Ito ‘yung mga basic needs at situations that could help them in living a decent quality of life, dito kami pumapasok to help them with their decision-making, looking for resources and opportunities in accessing these basic services," Razon said.

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