Davao City News January 2014

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Davao City - Archived News
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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Mangrove forests are critical for the stability of coastal areas and the sustainability of fish and marine resources which provide food and livelihood to people in more than 800 coastal towns in the Philippines. USAID, through the Philippine Environmental Governance Project, assisted the local government (Davao City) in establishing, through a local ordinance, the mangrove area as a marine protected area.
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USAID, through the Philippine Environmental Governance Project, assisted the local government (Davao City) in establishing, through a local ordinance, the mangrove area as a marine protected area. A crucial part in effective coastal resources management is law enforcement with Bantay Dagat teams playing a crucial role by safeguarding local waters. In Davao City Philippines, Bantay Dagat members protect mangrove areas from illegal cutting, thus conserving areas for fisheries and marine biodiversity habitats.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

RTC Davao junks bid to spare trader from salt-adulterated fertilizers case

(PNA), LAP/ASA/JESSIE L. CASALDA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 31 (PNA) -– The Regional Trial Court (RTC) here has junked the bid of a female trader asking the court to dismiss the 16 criminal cases lodged against her for allegedly illegally storing, distributing and mislabeling adulterated fertilizers.

For lack of merit and being moot and academic, RTC Branch 10 Presiding Judge Retrina Fuentes denied the motion to dismiss filed by accused Dely Calledo, owner of Calledo Agri Trading and lessee of the warehouse at Davao Golden Century Compound in Ma-a, Davao City.

Calledo, in her motion, argued that the filing of the cases against her is a violation of her constitutionally guaranteed right to due process.

In her order dated January 22, 2014, Fuentes said “the Motion to Dismiss therefore which is but a mere reiteration of the grounds stated in the oral motionto dismiss”.

Fuentes ruled that Calledo had already been afforded opportunity to answer the charges when she filed her counter-affidavit before the Department of Justice which conducted a preliminary investigation on the cases.

Calledo, a resident of Callenta Street, Nova Tierra Village, Lanang, Davao City, was accused of mislabeling, adulteration and storing and distribution of fertilizers without authority from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) under Presidential Decree 1144.

She was also charged with violation of unfair competition under Republic Act 8293 or Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

The case stemmed from the letter complaint by Ms. Estrella Laquinta, regional director of FPA XI, seeking assistance from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to investigate the reported widespread adulteration of fertilizers distributed in Southern Mindanao.

At the same time, the CIDG also received a complaint from Gerald Jone Uygongco, vice president for administration and logistics of La Filipina Uygongco Corporation regarding the proliferation of adulterated and counterfeit Amigo Planters fertilizers.

By virtue of search warrants issued by a court in Manila, the CIDG conducted a series of raids at warehouses in Davao City, Kapalong and Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte; Pikit and Kabacan in North Cotabato and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

The reported modus operandi of the sellers was to mix pure fertilizer with salt to gain more profit and sold it to the farmers throughout Mindanao.

About 70 truckloads of adulterated fertilizers were confiscated during the raids.

Calledo’s warehouse in Ma-a was raided by the police on March 29, 2012, where several sacks of adulterated fertilizers were found and confiscated.

Also arrested during the raid were Dely’s husband, Edgar Calledo and their workers Limuel Der-der, Rene Tingal, Eugenio Suan, Antonio Anto, Janjan Sungay, Prudencio Sungay and Allan Boligao. They are also facing criminal charges before RTC Branch 10.

Dely who was not at the warehouse during the raid was charged separately.

In her affidavit, Dely Calledo denied the accusations, branding them as “baseless and blatant lies”.

She asserted that during the day of the raid, they were already processing the documents to be submitted to the FPA.

She added that there were also no evidence of adulterated fertilizers and the fertilizer stored in their warehouse in Ma-a was only for their own consumption and those were intended for their farm in Kapalong, Davao del Norte.

She also denied producing, manufacturing and selling adulterated fertilizers.

She stressed that she always attended seminars initiated by the FPA proving that “I had no intention to sell, deal and distribute illegal fertilizers”.

She also denied selling adulterated fertilizers.

However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) through assistant state prosecutor Mari Elvira Herrera found sufficient evidence to hold her for trial in court.

Davao City Chinatown eyes dev’t with sisterhood pact

By Tyrone A. Velez (davaotoday.com)

Davao City – The Davao City Chinatown Development Council (DCCDC) would be inking a sisterhood agreement with the Quezon City Chinatown Council on Friday, in time with the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

The agreement is expected to bring cooperation and development in terms of investments, cultural and academic development for Chinatown Davao City.

This was revealed by DCCDC officials Sunday as they unveiled a propotype Chinatown street post along Monteverde-Lizada Streets, which is distinct as the street name is translated into Chinese language and adorned with Chinese dragons holding Davao’s staple fruit, durian.

Around 11 officials of the DCCDC, including Davao City administrator Melchor Quitain representing the Davao City local government, will sign the pact in Quezon City.

Quitain said he hopes this endeavor will continue the cooperation between the local government and the Chinese community to develop Davao Chinatown.

“The city wants cooperation of all peopel in Chinatown. This is our city, let’s make this a sample of individuals working for the good of everyone. We encourage others like the old Chinese (families) to participate in all activites,” Quitain said.

Quitain said he personally donated money for the prototype Chinatown street sign to “start the ball rolling for others to follow”, as the DCCDC will be building 60 more street posts.

DCCDC vice-chair and former City Councilor Susabel Reta officials hope this would develop the potential of Davao’s Chinatown, which is considered one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world with an area of 44 hectares.

Reta noted that business has been flourishing in these areas with the establishment of more commercial banks.

DCCDC officer Amado So said they are studying a partnership with city government to develop Chinatown’s Alvarez Street as a site for the city’s night market for small vendors. So proposed to build housing units for vendors to welcome the marginalized sectors to Chinatown.

“We have to make Chinatown a place for all. We don’t need a Chinatown that looks like Makati,” he said.

Davao City’s Chinatown was formally created by the city government through an executive order by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in 2003 and by a city ordinance in December 2004 authored by Reta as head of the council’s committee on tourism.

The Chinatown area is composed of Magsaysay Avenue, Monteverde Avenue, Leon Garcia Street, Sta. Ana Avenue and areas bounded within these streets.

The DCCDC noted that 70% of Davao Chinatown is populated by Filipino-Chinese and Chinese migrants, who operate stores engaged in dry goods, rice and agriculture, automobile parts, house wares, restaurants and pharmaceuticals.

Chinatown also housed the local department store NCCC Lizada and new popular stores such as DCLA Plaza and 168 Chinatown that offer cheap wares.

Other notable landmarks in Davao Chinatown are the four Traditional Chinese archs entering Chinatown. With the Arch of Friendship along Magsaysay Avenue, the Arch of Unity situated near Magsaysay Park, the Arch of Peace along Sta. Ana Avenue near Davao Central High School and the Arch of Prosperity along Sta. Ana corner Alvarez Street.

One Billion Rising in UP

By Earl O. Condeza (Davao Today)

DAVAO CITY – Some 100 activists from the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao campus staged a campus dance Wednesday that was a prelude to the forthcoming One Billion Rising comes February 14.

Dubbed as “campus rising,” members of militant student organizations, faculty and the Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community, simulated the One Billion Rising to give attention to women, students, and the injustice against disaster victims.

One Billion Rising was a global campaign against violence against women which was launched in over a hundred countries.

“As the youth arm of Gabriela in UP Mindanao, we rise for Justice. Justice for the victims of typhoon Yolanda, environment plunder, and for our right to education,” spokesperson Keziah Suzane Francisco said.

Kairos Anggadol, president of Mentefuwaley, LGBT group of UP Mindanao, said they took part because their group is also “vulnerable to abuses and discrimination.”

Anthropology Professor Malaya Andrea Ragrario who also took part, said that the fight on violence against women is not just their fight, but everybody’s fight.

She added that “a society where women are not free is not a free society.”

In the activity, participants chanted “Education, a human right!” before and after every speech.

Arian Ramos, president of Alyansa ng mga Aktibong Kabataan sa UP Mindanao (Anak UPMin) said that “there are a lot of issues to be considered in education” and thus there is “need to rise for it.”

Ramos pointed out that the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP) of UP is a “smokescreen for tuition fee increase.”

STFAP is UP’s scheme to categorize students to the amount of tuition he/she pays according to his/her family’s assets and liabilities, wherein “rich” students pays P1000/unit and the “poor” ones pays nothing and are given with stipend.

Ramos said that “Everybody deserves accessible or free education that’s why we fought this scheme to be scrapped not only in the campus but also in all other campuses of UP.”

“STFAP is an anti-student scheme since one needs to prove first that he or she is poor before availing this program. This violates our Constitution because every student is guaranteed with free and accessible education,” she added.

Ramos said that the “campus rise” will not just end in the campus but will be part of the bigger One Billion Rising in Davao City this coming February 2014.

Davao SMEs to showcase products, look for biz partners in Paris

(PNA), PDS/ASA/DIGNA D. BANZON/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 28 (PNA) --About 15 small- and medium- entrepreneurs (SMEs) in Davao will travel to Paris this October to explore the market and match with biz partners for possible trading of goods and crafts.

This was said by Raf Vlumenns, founder of Entrepreneurial Coach and consultant of Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCII).

In an interview, Vlumenns said there is a wide market for the products of Davao citing for instance coconut products including buko juice and salad, and chocolate products from cacao beans grown here and other agri products.

He said the SMEs will be bringing with them some products that they will showcase in an exhibit in Paris.

This market is not explored yet by the SMEs even as Vlumenns said the opportunity is there because Europe depends on import in almost all of its basic requirements.

The opportunity is big and the SMEs here must study the market saying "find out, explore and know what the consumers there are buying", he said.

There are requirements that must be followed in international market but the Davao SMEs even before are already conscious of the standards set in foreign markets and had been following the standards.

He said it is a good thing that government here are strictly imposing standards and requirements and with agencies like the Department of Science and Technology that partners with the business sector.

The DOST is tapped by the business community like the DCCCII on entrepreneurial policies, standards and other programs and projects that will help SMEs improve on quality and other standards.

The access to the European market he said is also supported with the Philippine's flag carrier opening a direct flight to Europe, he added.

‘Big Davao Fun Sale’ is biggest in PHL

(PNA), PDS/ASA/JUDY G. QUIROS/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) --The upcoming four-week “Big Davao Fun Sale”, the first and the biggest sale festival nationwide, is viewed as Davao City’s ticket to become the next shopping destination in the Philippines and the world.

To take place from March 14 to April 16, the event will brand Davao as the next shopping destination in the Philippines and the world, said Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 regional director Art Boncato said.He said the tourism sector is targeting to increase the 100,000 recorded tourist arrivals in the city last year by 15 percent.

Organized by the Philippine Retailers Association, consumers stand to avail as much as 80 percent discounts in all categories in the seven participating malls namely: Abreeza Mall, NCCC Mall of Davao, Gaisano Mall of Davao, Robinsons, Gaisano Mall of Toril, SM Lanang Premier, and SM City Davao.

It would be a mall-wide sale for four weeks that includes branded items, said Russel Alaba SM assistant vice president for Mindanao. He said SM is expected to extend mall hours during the first weekend of the 4-week long fun sale.

SM assistant vice president for operations, Debbie Go said the participation of Cebu Pacific Air and Silk Air in the activity through their fare promos thereby making trip to Davao cheaper would further boost retailers’ confidence of more shoppers during fun sale.

Cebu Pacific is the official airline and Silk Air as global partners, respectively in said project.

When asked if they have considered that other non-participating malls or smaller shopping centers like those situated in the city’s “China Town” would likewise offer sale in time for the malls’ fun sale, she said “they are free to go on sale.” They are also welcome to join the sale organized by Philippine Retailers Association provided they meet certain qualifications and criteria, she added.

Executives from Gaisano Mall present at the press conference also said they will highlight specific categories on sale each week.

Based on the official schedule of the sale, March 14-16 will be the general sale mall wide, March 14 to April 16 will be sale on dining, crafts, fruits and flowers, March 16 to 23 on Health and beauty products, March 31 to April 6, Home and Travel, and April 7-16 on Active lifestyle and fashion.

Tjader Regis, NCCC Mall associate vice president for marketing, for his part assured that NCCC will offer huge discounts for product lines specific to Davao City consumers.

To make the event more interesting and enticing, a food festival will also be held in time for the fun sale.

This will be spearheaded by the newly organized Restaurants Association of Davao, Inc. (RADI) wherein 100 establishments are expected to join.

Davao eyed as shopping hub

By Antonio L. Colina IV

ALL seven major malls in Davao City will join forces for the first-time to position the city as the country's premiere shopping destination, with the launch of the four-week Big Davao Fun Sale on Saturday at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Art Boncato Jr. said this is the first-time ever in the Philippines that a city is trying to set its mark not only as a tourism destination but also as a shopping hub, replicating the shopping frenzy environment in other countries like Dubai and Singapore.

He said the idea of coming up with the event came to be when the department called for a meeting with the mall executives in the middle of 2013 to discuss what would be the biggest draw to sustain its operations.

"For the past two or three years, we've seen a surge in the number of malls and retail centers in Davao," he said.

The Big Davao Fun Sale, which will run from March 14 to April 16, will be the biggest shopping event in the country, with the retail industry expected to take the lead.

Boncato added that the event will also attract more tourists in time for the Araw ng Dabaw in March, expecting a 15 percent increase in the number of arrivals. Last year, he said around 100,000 tourists were recorded for the period March to April.

The objectives of the shopping event include increase the number of consumers in all retail centers; increase the number of travelers enticed by shopping and dining; and, organize the retail industry in the city.

For his part, Jader Regis, assistant vice president for marketing of NCCC Mall, said it's not only the shopping that will lure tourists in, but the entire Davao experience.

Regis who is also president of Retail Association of Davao said participating malls will offer up to 80 percent discounts on items. The association was created last month.

Also, Mabuhay Taxi, one of the major taxi firms in the city, has also agreed to carry the promotional campaign of the shopping event on its 150 Black Taxi units.

In 2012, Black Taxis carried the DOT 11's tourism campaigns, showcasing the major and the new tourism destinations in Davao Region.

Various products will be put on sale; restaurants are also expected to join in the event.

He said there will be various themes for a specific period. From March 14 to 16 will be general sale; March 16 to 23 will be Health & Beauty; March 24 to 30 will be electronics and gadgets; March 31 to April 6 will be Home & Travel; April 7 to 16 will be Active Lifestyle/Fashion; and March 14 to April 16 will be Dining, Fruits & Flowers.

Regis added they are also hoping the participation from bus companies, offering tourists a free ride from the hotels to the malls and vice versa.

Earlier, Cebu Pacific announced that its the official airline partner of tourism and retail industries through offering seat sales.

Organic farming benefits lumads

(SunStar Davao)

A SHOWCASE of successful organic farming benefiting hundreds of mountain tribes living on ancestral lands can now be found on the cool, graceful slopes of Mt Apo, the country's highest mountain peak.

The rich volcanic soil of the mountain slopes in Sibulan, Toril, Davao City had been eyed by several large banana companies growing the fruit for export considering the higher altitude of this location -- just perfect for growing highland bananas which command better prices in the global market.

"As anyone in the banana business knows, highland bananas have a better texture and taste than those planted on the lowlands,' said lawyer Koronado Apuzan, Farmcoop executive director.

Farmcoop stands for Foundation for Agrarian Reform Cooperatives in Mindanao, Inc. based in Davao City.

For Farmcoop, with its 21 farmers' cooperatives in Mindanao, it looked like it wouldn't stand any chance of competing with these big banana growers and exporters and their global brands when they were all asked in 2003 to present their proposals formally to the Sibulan barangay council.

"We were also invited as an alternative to the major banana companies to present a proposal. We didn't know what the Sibulan people had in mind, but we presented a proposal for an organic banana plantation," Apuzen said.

Some 2,367 hectares rich agricultural land, out of the total of 8,433 hectares ancestral domain and titled land areas belonging to the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribes in Sibulan, were later set aside as available land area for farming, including 70 hectares for organic farms.

"We just jumped right in with that organic farm proposal -- we still didn't have a very clear idea how it’s going to work,” recalls Apuzen who believed in organic farming so much, that his presentation convinced the tribal council that it was the right plan for their farm land.

Farmcoop at that time wasn't prepared for a full-scale organic farm operation, having little or no capital to do it commercially and no idea how and where to find foreign buyers --- but the council like his proposal and want Farmcoop to manage the project for them.

"We can no longer back out. We have no choice but to accept the challenge," said Apuzen, who thought they'll deal with their little worries later when they were actually running the organic banana farms for them.

Tapping foreign friends who helped Farmcoop in the past, Apuzen was able to get technical assistance from CordAid and Broederlijk Delen in Netherlands and a number of ready buyers of organic bananas in Japan. All these gave Farmcoop’s organic farm project in Sibulan the needed boost to move forward despite a number of missteps, wrong moves and mistakes during the initial phase of project.

Apuzen said the road to success, as expected, was “full of trials and errors” as no one has yet established a sustained, profitable and large scale organic banana plantation in the Davao region before.

Highland and organic fresh Cavendish bananas later found their way in fruit markets of Japan meeting a growing demand for organically grown fruits from Japanese consumers.

Eventually, organic farming was proven not only feasible but also very profitable by Farmcoop working with the mountain farmers of Sibulan Organic Banana Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative or Sobagromco and Pamara Producers Cooperative of Organic Banana Growers or Papcobagrow, both operating in the mountain village of Sibulan.

Apuzen said the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe, like all indigenous people, is concerned about the health of the land as their life, culture and beliefs are all intricately woven in it and its resources.

Encouraged by the success of the highland organic banana project, a tripartite agreement was concluded by the Tribal Council of Sibulan, Farmcoop and the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) a year ago.

Farmcoop was tapped to help set up the agri-industrial-ecological development in the ancestral domain. The development plan includes devoting hundreds of hectares for organic Arabica coffee, cacao, Cavendish banana, abaca, livestock and other staple crops covering 2,367 hectare in Sibulan.

"The Tagabawas of Sibulan want to learn how to make use of the ancestral domain through large scale agricultural activities that will not only benefit the tribe, but also the land, so that it remains fertile for the next generation," Apuzen said.

Governors laud Davao City’s financial aid

(PNA), PDS/ASA JUDY G. QUIROS/LDP

DAVAO CITY — The governors of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley provinces are thankful to the Davao City government for the P4 million financial aid for thousands of families affected by the recent low pressure area (LPA) and tropical depression "Agaton".

Governors Corazon Malanyaon and Arturo Uy of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, respectively, also thanked Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who personally handed the financial aid to them on Wednesday. Duterte traveled to said two provinces purposely to hand over the financial help.

The two provinces got P2 million each as financial aid.

Four municipalities of Compostela Valley which were hit hard by the LPA and tropical depression received P500,000 each while Davao Oriental received P2 million.

Both governors also thanked the Davao City council for approving the proposal of Duterte to extend financial help to their provinces.

Malanyaon said Duterte and the city council are so kind of being concerned to the suffering of the people in her province brought about by the calamity, to which she is so thankful. She said the hardship of her constituents is really overwhelming since they are just recovering from the impact of typhoon "Pablo" on December 4, 2012, and repeated now anew with the LPA and "Agaton".

She said the help of Duterte and the city council truly touched the hearts of her constituents.

She said the money would be of great help in buying rice and corn seeds to replace the damaged rice and corn farms and to buy the immediate needs of the people.

Uy for his part joined Malanyaon in thanking Duterte and the city council for their kind help.

He said the readiness and willingness of the Davao City government in helping victims of calamities have been proven similar to the help it gave to millions of families affected by calamities in Bohol and Leyte.

Davao anti-smoking task force starts advocacy among pre-school kids

(PNA), PDS/ASA/DIGNA D. BANZON/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA) --The Anti-Smoking Task Force (ASTF) of Davao City has stepped into the pre-school children in their advocacy campaign of letting them understand the ill effects of smoking.

Task Force anti-smoking co-chairperson Dr. Dormilyn Villareiz, in an interview, said more young kids nowadays are into smoking and "I think it is important to teach them at a very young age".

She even said that kids who go out for "gimmick" (nightlife) also smoke and these are kids as young as 11 years old.

Day-care teachers are taught how to handle this and they are trained aside from following a module, she said.

She also said that printed materials like posters and others are provided so that kids are exposed and warned early.

Meanwhile, Villareiz reported that the ASTF had apprehended a total of 3,690 violators from January to November 2013. A total of 2,364 were issued with violation citation tickets after the implementation of New Comprehensive Anti-Smoing Ordinance (Ordinance 0367-12 Series of 2012), June 2013 while 1,326 were apprehended prior to the implementation of the ordinance.

Villareiz also said that a total of P955,500 in fines were collected from 1,911 violators. The law provides that persons issued with citation ticktets has the option to either contest the violation in court or voluntarily pay the penalty of P500 imposed upon him or her to avoid being criminally prosecuted within three days from apprehension.

Villareiz warned violators that cases may be filed against them if they do not return their citation tickets to the task force.

She said many violators do not return the tickets to the police station and even if they have paid the P500, cases will still be filed against them and they will undergo counseling. Tickets must be returned within three to five days, she said.

On the other hand, Villareiz said they had conducted lectures in four schools, 15 in national government offices and 68 in communities.

She said a total of 4,233 students were oriented and 43 individuals became newly registered advocates. About 100 smoker's body posters were distributed and placed 200 "I Support" stickers in vehicles.

Davao Region's tourism grew 10% while still recovering from typhoon Pablo last year

(PNA), LAM/ASA/JGQUIROS/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 22 (PNA) -- Tourism industry in Davao Region performed well in 2013 even it is still recovering from the effects of typhoon Pablo, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA 11) regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said.

Lim said tourist arrivals grew 10 percent and tourist spending hiked up to about 67.5 percent valued at P6.7 billion just in the first half of 2013.

She said the growth of the industry was apparently driven by other tourist destinations in Davao Region not affected by typhoon Pablo. Hardest hit by said typhoon are the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Lim is optimistic of growth in tourism to continue in the region with the projected opportunities seen in the industry.

She said this year, Davao Region gets P1.4 billion share in the P11.8 billion tourism Davao infrastructure program (TRIP) budget.

Meanwhile, Lim also said that the Department of Tourism (DOT 11) sticks and works for 10-million tourist arrival target by 2016.

Davao Region’s participation in the World Travel Mart is also seen as a big opportunity for the progress of the tourism industry, adding that Mindanao’s tourism destinations remain a come-on to tourists, she said.

Lim said South Korean travel agencies marketability assessment on Davao Region resulted on plans to establish direct flight from Incheon, South Korea to Davao City.

DSWD 11 turns over P1-M packages, toys to Davao City

(PNA), FFC/ASA/CCD/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 21 (PNA) -– Department of Social Welfare and Development 11 director Priscilla Razon turned over to Davao City Administrator lawyer Melchor V. Quitain and City Social Services and Development Office Department head Ma. Luisa T. Bermudo P1-million worth of ECCD (Early Childhood Care and Development) packages and toys during the city’s flag raising ceremonies Monday.

Proposed under the BUB or Bottom-Up Budgeting (now known as Grassroots Participatory Budgeting), the ECCD materials will benefit over 2,000 day care children in the city’s 40 barangays.

Funded with a total of P11.1 million, other projects under the DSWD-BUB for Davao City include playground apparatus for five day care centers, capability building/life skills training for 100 out-of-school youth, skills training and livelihood assistance for family heads, and construction of day care centers through Kalahi-CIDSS.

Davao City eyes mass railways

By Carmelito Q. Francisco

DAVAO CITY -- The city government is looking at a monorail and possibly a subway system to help decongest traffic in the city’s main thoroughfares in the next decade.

A local public-private partnership board, headed by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, will meet and evaluate the proposal in the coming weeks.

Ivan C. Cortez, Davao City Investment and Promotion Center head, said the idea came out last month, during a meeting between officials of the city and national agencies. Also pushing such a plan is Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

Antonio T. dela Cruz, president of the Davao chamber, said there are several groups that have expressed interest in investing in the two projects. “This will be discussed by the board,” he said.

Mr. Cortez said the proposal is being floated despite advisories made by transport consultants commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that the city is not yet ready for sophisticated and expensive mass transport systems.

But, local leaders, especially those in economic planning, said the approach, as recommended by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in the late 1990s, would create new growth zones.

Current zones that may benefit from mass railway access include Sta. Cruz, a fast-growing town in Davao del Sur, where big corporations like San Miguel Corp. are located. This city and Sta. Cruz also share the land where the 300-megawatt, coal-fired power project of Therma South, Inc. is being built.

Another growth area is Panabo City, Davao del Norte, whose economy hinges on banana export. The city hosts the biggest port facility in the Davao Region which is operated by the Floirendo-owned San Vicente Terminal and Brokerage, Inc.

Mr. Cortez said that while the subway system will be applicable if built outside the city’s main business district, where flash floods are common during heavy downpours, the monorail transit system could be within the main business district, and these two railways could be interconnected.

In the proposal, Mr. Cortez said that the monorail transit system should be “slightly above street level to avoid flooding disruption.”

The city has been looking for a solution to its transport problem as the ADB-funded study earlier said it could not rely on the present system, which largely consists of passenger jeepneys, if it wants to solve traffic congestion and propel economic growth.

In 2008, a pre-feasibility study on the monorail transit system noted it would require about $844.5 million in investments and should be operational in seven years. The system would need 26 stations between end points.

The city’s 2014 budget is equivalent to roughly $115 million, with revenues historically doubling in less than 10 years.

Early intervention vital in managing autism (Feature)

By Carmela Cadigal Duron [(PNA), CTB/ASA/CCD/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, Jan 19 (PNA) -- Celebrating the Autism Consciousness Week from January 19-25, parents of children with autism as well as support groups led by Autism Society Philippines–Davao Chapter (ASP), continue to emphasize early intervention as very crucial in order to properly handle Persons with Autism (PWA).

Utilization of early and consistent intervention programs as well as correct knowledge of family members on Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD make a lot of difference in raising PWAs, pointed out Alma Yu, a mother to Pocholo, 21, a PWA.

Alma and husband Randy have patiently and lovingly raised Pocholo aka Popo who can now interact with people and has learned to cook rice and wash dishes, among others.

Guesting in a DSWD radio program Friday over DXRP Radyo ng Bayan, Yu said, “I have brought with me Popo today as part of his continuing education and exposure. He even helped me locate the radio station. It’s a miracle! Thank God for Popo. Before, Popo could not talk, he could only shout loud. I had to borrow books and read hand outs on ASD so we could provide what he needed. I also exchanged notes with other parents just to be able to know more about the condition and deal with it head on.”

To other parents, Yu urged, “What is important is the family’s acceptance and doing what is necessary like providing early interventions and improving perception of family members and others in the immediate community. With God’s help we can do something about this. Let us not lose hope. You are not alone. We are here to help you.”

Yu as a mother and as member of ASP Davao said they will utilize all possible information dissemination outlets to let the people understand ASD and really get to them the right information in order for them to be more receptive and tolerant of PWAs.

She shared that it was through DSWD that the self-help group of parents of PWAs in Davao City was organized in 1996.

Febe Matthews, a mother of a 12-year old child with autism pointed out that her affiliation with ASP helped her deal with her child. She said she was able to interact and learn from other parents the best interventions for her child as each PWA is classified and unique and requires different modes of management

Matthews hopes though that government will subsidize the Php 2,000 assessment fee for ASD that is being charged by developmental paediatricians “so other families that can hardly afford could avail such procedure.”

Result of ASD Assessment is needed in prescribing and providing appropriate intervention for a particular PWA case.

ASD is a development disability that severely hinders the way information is gathered and processed by the brain which causes problems in communication, learning and social behavior.

Typically, it appears during the child’s first three years and is four times more common in males than in females.

Found throughout the world in families of all racial, ethnic and social backgrounds, persons with ASD live normal life spans while behaviors associated with it may change and disappear over time.

Clusters of symptoms include lack of language skills, extremely short attention span, absence of response when attention is called, little or absence of eye contact, repetitive body movements such as hand clapping and rocking, fixation on a single object such as spinning fan, and usually strong resistance to changes in routines.

The theme for the week-long observance is "Katuparan ng Karapatan ng Pilipinong may Autismo, Isulong Mo, Ngayon Na."

Lined up activities include Angel’s Walk at SM Lanang Premier –January 19, Stress Management Workshop at SM City Davao Annex –January 23, and Sensory Friendly Movie at SM City Davao Cinema 4 –January 25,

ASP Davao President Eric De La Costa invites parents, teachers, professionals and friends to show their love, support and solidarity by joining the events.

“Please do help us develop our PWAs to be self-reliant, productive and socially accepted by the community,” De La Costa appealed.

Building of more public classrooms in Davao City pushed

(MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/18 January)—A city councilor here has proposed the construction of more two-story classroom buildings in anticipation of an increase in student population this coming 2014-2015 school year.

Councilor Maria Belen Acosta, chair of the city council’s committee on education, said in an interview the city is already short of public school classrooms for 2013-2014 with the enrollees in elementary and high school levels reaching almost 300,000.

Acosta said the additional classrooms could also address flooding problems, especially since schools have become de facto evacuation sites in cases of floods that occur after heavy rainfall.

Her proposal comes a week before the Department of Education (DepEd) is set to conduct on January 25 the early registration for public schools nationwide to assess the incoming student population in advance.

DepEd Memorandum No. 2 series of 2014, signed by Secretary Armin Luistro, said the early enrollment would include out-of-school youth, street children aged 5 to 18, and indigenous peoples.

The specific target of the early registration are all five-year olds to ensure their enrollment in kindergarten and all six-year olds to ensure that they are enrolled in Grade 1 come June, according to a DepEd statement.

“We want to prevent logistical problems when the new school year starts in June. If our school heads know how many students they will have ahead of time, they can better prepare classrooms, seats and learning materials,” Luistro said in the statement.

Data from DepEd Region XI showed there are 1,632 public elementary schools and 301 public high schools for the school year 2013-2014 in the area.

Davao del Sur has the most number of enrolled students for both elementary and high school, at 344,777 and 112,268 students, respectively.

Davao Oriental has the lowest total enrollees in the region at 127,465 elementary and high school students.

For Davao del Sur, Davao City has 285 public elementary schools with 197,571 students and 70 public high schools with 73,403 enrollees.

Magallanes Elementary School has the highest enrollment for 2013-2014, according to the DepEd data, at 6,012 students, with Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elementary School having 4,290 students.

Also among the elementary schools with the highest enrollees in the city are Don Juan dela Cruz Central Elementary School at 4,012 students and Buhangin Central Elementary School at 3,965.

For public high schools, Sta. Ana National High School has the highest number of enrollees at 6,879 students; Daniel R. Aguinaldo High School, 6,403; F. Bangoy National High School, 4,500; and Dona Carmen Denia National High School, 4,090.

Davao on alert for measles

By Cherry Palicte

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) 11 alerted all provincial health offices in the region after it noted 17 cases of measles as of December 2013.

Mary Divene C. Hilario, officer-in-charge of the DOH-Human Advocacy Promotion told Manila Bulletin that active cases investigation were initiated and that they are preparing for technical assistance for an enhanced surveillance and response planning in the province.

“We have alerted all the provincial office in order for them to disseminate information regarding measles and stop the spread of the disease,” Hilario said.

Davao city topped the list with 13 measles cases, followed by Compostela Valley with three, and Davao del Norte with one.

Hilario clarified that there was no reported death among the cases.

“Immunization is the intervention of choice for control of measles outbreaks in schools, communities and child care centers,” Hilario added.

Measles is spread through respiration (contact with fluids from an infected person’s nose and mouth, either directly or through aerosol transmission), and is highly contagious as 90% of people without immunity sharing living space with an infected person will catch it.

Measles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus.

Govt allocates P800-M for farm-to-market road project in Davao region

(PNA), PDS/ASA/CHARLIE MONFORTE/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 16 (PNA)--The national government is allocating P800-million for the implementation of the farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Davao region this year.

Department of Agriculture (DA)-11 assistant regional director Dr. Rafael Mercado said that the budget would be downloaded to the Department of Public Works and Highways 11 which would implement the project based on the new project implementation policy.

“Before, local government units in the region proposed and then we made verification, evaluation and recommendation either to bid FMR project or give it to an LGU which implemented the project by administration,” he said.

He said that the decision to download DA’s FMR projects was reached by DA’s national officials, noting of the DPWH’s technical capability and manpower.

The agriculture department will now just be in charge of the monitoring, Mercado said.

DA 11 has a total of P2.045 billion budget for the projects, programs and services for 2014, of which P800 million is allocated for FMR projects for Davao region. Last year it has only P1.8-billion total budget.

Mercado said as part of DA’s climate change adaptation, the specifications standard of FMR to be implemented across the country would now be: 5 meters in width and 8 inches in thickness, with 1.5-meter extension in both sides of the shoulder.

DA’s FMR standard before is: 4 meters in width and 6 inches in thickness, with 1.5-meter extension in both sides of the shoulder.

“Rainy days have been incessant nowadays. It’s not mere mitigation, but adaptation to climate change already,” Mercado said.

Davao region remains as Mindanao's economic growth driver: NEDA

(PNA), LAP/ASA/JUDY G. QUIROS/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 15 (PNA) -- Davao region remains as Mindanao’s top economy in 2013 in terms of Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP).

Maria Lourdes Lim, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) 11 and acting chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 11, said the sustained economic growth for Mindanao last year was based on Davao region’s 7.4-percent GRDP growth rate in 2012, placing Davao region in the fourth spot as highest among Mindanao regions.

Though it landed 4th, Davao region is the largest contributor among Mindanao regions in overall Philippine Gross Domestic Product (GDP), sharing 3.8 percent.

Lim said the growth in Davao region’s GRDP is driven by sustained performance of industries and services sector.

Services sector is identified as the top contributor to Davao Region’s economy at 53 percent. The growth is due to the influx of private investments specifically in the information and communications technology sector and high-value trade services.

This year, opportunities are more seen in the ICT sector with the upcoming opening of the Matina IT Park and opening of four BPO companies with combined 3,500 seats, and an electronic firm eyeing Davao for its expansion, Lim said.

She also cited investments to have registered high with constructions of private building rising by 76 percent valued at P18 billion. She also reported that a total of P29 billion in BOI-registered investments that include energy and manufacturing projects fueled the region's growth in the first half of 2013.

Meanwhile, despite the impact of the typhoon Pablo in December 2012, the tourism industry in Davao region fared well in 2013 with tourist arrivals increasing by 10 percent. Tourist spending hiked to 67.5 percent valued at P6.7 billion in the first half of 2013.

It is the agriculture and manufacturing sectors however that suffered the brunt of the effects of typhoon Pablo with a reduction in production of major high-value crops such as rice, banana, and coconut.

The NEDA 11 report showed that production of rice dipped to 356,403 metric tons (MT) in the 1st to 3rd quarter of 2013 from 386,660 MT in same period of 2012. Coconut production dropped to 1,756,454 MT in 1st to 3rd quarter of 2013 from 2,089,122 same rating period in 2012.

Banana production also dropped to 2,190,682 MT in 2013 from 2,943,897 MT in 1st to 3rd quarter of 2012.

2nd Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Training Set

(SunStar Davao)

DIFFERENT groups are set to hold the two-day 2nd Breastfeeding Peer Counseling training from January 31 to February 1, 2014 at the Sequoia Inn, Monteverde Street, Davao City.

These are MommySense Breastfeeding and Beyond, The PEAS in the POD Playgroup, Arugaan, a non-government organization and support system for women with infants and young children. Arugaan is under the big umbrella of two international organizations Waba and Ibfan which promote, protect and support breastfeeding.

The training is aimed at educating people about breastfeeding and everything about it. As of the moment, there is a shortage of people who are knowledgeable about it. Organizers are also looking at equipping participants with the right information and skill to assist breastfeeding mothers within their own spheres and communities.

One of the country's "Millennium Development Goals" is to improve infant and child mortality by having the right knowledge about breastfeeding. And also, the World Health Organization has its 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding list in which one items says, "Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic."

Building constructions up in Davao City

(PNA), PDS/ASA/DIGNA D. BANZON/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 13 (PNA) --The Office of the Building Official here noticed an increase in building permit applications where the bulk of applications increased towards the second half of 2013.

Acting assistant head of the city's building office Engr. Gloria Lumapas said some 3,904 permits were issued by their office from July to December alone.

Of this figure, she said, residential constructions was highest with 2,471 while commercial at 449 and signages of about 675 and the remaining 311 was for institutional construction, fencing, agricultural, sidewalk construction, firewall and retaining wall.

Lumapas attributed the increase with the more systematic processing of permits given the new order of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to process the permit within 72 hours.

"We feel that with this move the public is more confident in transacting with our office," she said.

She cited for instance that in the case of advertisers through billboards, the clients volunteered to renew their permits even before due date unlike before where they had to repeatedly follow up with them to renew the permits of their billboard ads.

Lumapas said with the improved system their collection also improved surpassing their target of P65 million to P71 million as of November 2013.

She even said they have recorded a collection of P600,000 for one day in December last year.

The Office of the Building Official collects fees through signages, signs, building permit, occupancy permit, electrical permit, plumbing permit, mechanical fees, line and grade testing fees, electronic, accessories, certification, filing and annual inspection fees.

Davao City residents advised to evacuate as rain continues, rivers rise

(DVM, GMA News)

Residents in areas of Davao City were advised before dawn Sunday to leave their homes due to flooding caused by the continuous rain.

Davao City's City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the Talomo River was quickly rising at 12:33 a.m., Sunday. Residents in the area were thus advised to preemptively evacuate.

The city government also noted that the Davao River overflowed at the El Rio Muslim area. Rescue volunteers and dump trucks were dispatched to help in the evacuation.

The Tamugan River was also rising and could cause possible flooding during the high tide.

Meanwhile, there was a possibility of flooding at the Jade Valley, and residents were similarly advised "to be ready for possible evacuation."

PAGASA had explained that the heavy rain over Mindanao was due to a low-pressure area off General Santos City.

Additionally, the weather service advised that there would be "light to moderate with occasional heavy rain" over Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, Leyte, and Biliran.

P5.4-M ready for city's 2014 Batang Pinoy stint

By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan

WHILE Davao City cancelled its participation to the 2013 Batang Pinoy National Championships slated January 28 to February 1 in Bacolod City due to funding constraints, the city has already earmarked a total of P5.4 million for the 2014 Batang Pinoy regional and national competitions.

Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge William "Butch" Ramirez, who guested on Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at NCCC Mall B3 Center, said, "We will no longer have funding problems for this year's Batang Pinoy as we have allocated P1.4 million for the Mindanao qualifying and P4 million for the national finals."

Ramirez said they will have to forego with the Bacolod finals as the supposed budget for it was only sourced out from the City Mayor's Office last year.

The national championships for athletes 15 years old and below was set November 19 to 23 but the Philippine Sports Commission reset to its new schedule citing the horrific aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda that ravaged cities and provinces in the Visayas and other parts of the country.

"Closed book na eh. Tapos na ang taong 2013. The current budget of P25 million of our office will have to be used for this year's programs. Be rest assured though that this year, we will participate in the Batang Pinoy until national finals," the former PSC chief said.

He, however, added some parents of athletes who were qualified to the Bacolod finals regretted the city's decision to miss action in the national championships since they have already bought their plane tickets.

Ramirez said, "We didn't tell them to buy the tickets. We will assist them if their children will still compete in Bacolod at their own expense. We have a point person to process their endorsement and requirements for the national finals."

Meanwhile, Alfred Moulic, father of be-medaled chesser Ella Grace, said it's a pity if his daughter couldn't compete in the nationals.

"It will be her last year in the Batang Pinoy as she will no longer be eligible to compete in the 2014 edition of the Games," Moulic said in a Facebook chat conversation with Sun.Star Davao.

Ella Grace, who swept three gold medals in the Mindanao Qualifying held in Tagum City, is the defending champion in the girls rapid chess event having won the gold in the 2012 national finals in Iloilo City where she also copped a blitz silver.

Alfred hopes that Holy Cross of Davao College, where his daughter studies, will fund her Bacolod trip and that he could seek assistance from well-meaning sports enthusiasts.


81 ‘pawikan’ hatchlings released in Davao cleanergy park

(PNA), PDS/ASA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan 10 (PNA) -- A total of 81 healthy "pawikan" hatchlings were released on the shores of Aboitiz Cleanergy Park in Punta Dumalag, Matina here over the weekend.

In a belated released report by the company it was said that caretaker Rodolfo M. Manib, Sr. noticed three hatchlings around 5:00 p.m. of January 2 and immediately informed Fermin Edillon, the new Community Relations Department manager of Davao Light and Power Company.

With the guidance from local biologist Dr. Ruth Gamboa of University of the Philippines-Mindanao and former caretaker Bobby Onin, 23 hatchlings of the 120 eggs were then released four hours after they emerged and became active.

With needed human assistance, the other 58 hatchlings were dug free from their nest and were released last January 4 at 4:00 p.m.

Some graduate and undergraduate Biology students of the University of Southeastern Philippines conducting research on the coastline and the Legal Team Members of Davao Light luckily witnessed the rare event.

Sometime in October 2013, these "pawikan" eggs, believed to be of the Olive Ridley species, were laid in Lawis, Toril.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel Efren Tagurda and Jose Lechoniso brought the eggs to Punta Dumalag and requested Onin to help them transfer the eggs to a protected area to ensure a higher survival rate.

With Onin’s efforts, the eggs were given clearance from the Davao Light and buried in the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park for incubation.

Davao makes another bid to set world record on mass wedding

By Yas Ocampo

DAVAO CITY, Davao del Norte --- In another attempt to set a new world record, Davao City has started preparations to gather at least 1,000 couples for a mass wedding in a single location, organizers said.

The event, which will be sponsored by the city government and the Pag-ibig Fund, will be in a garden wedding atmosphere with couples coming from various areas in the region, Julie Ann Deocariza of Pagibig Fund said.

“The event will be held at the city’s People’s Park on February 14, which is Valentine’s Day,” Deocariza said.

The city set a new world record on the number of people blowing paper and plastic horn or “torotots” last New Year’s eve with more than 6,000 people taking part to welcome the new year. Davao is the first city in the Philippines to ban firecrackers.

The mass wedding dubbed “Ido, Ido. Araw ng Pagibig” will be coordinated with other towns and cities across the country. Yemen attempted to break the world record with 4,000 couples, but they were in separate locations.

Diocariza said raffles and gifts will be distributed during the wedding and the sponsors will also host the couples’ first meal as husband and wife.

Mindanao mountaineering groups gather for 2-day meet

(PNA), FFC/ASA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 8 (PNA) – The Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao (MFSM) composed of several mountaineering groups in the island is set to hold a two-day gathering in time for the 10th year anniversary of the foundation on January 11 and 12.

“We are celebrating a decade of promoting responsible mountaineering at the Mulan Marine Beach Resort in Dumoy, Toril district here,” MFSM past president Danilo “Jun” Bacus said.

Bacus said the two-day event will have the Basic Mountaineering Course 1 and 2, Orienteering Seminar and Competition, Basic Photography, Renewal of Clubs, Election of MFSM Officers and awarding of outstanding officers, members, sponsors and clubs.

Registration fee is P350 inclusive of a souvenir jersey, resort entrance fee, food, beer, raffle and free transportation (from highway to resort only).

“We will have free rides from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Bacus said.

Live bands from Davao City will perform during the socials.

The event is presented by Berghaus, MFPI, Revolve, Mindanao Mountaineering Society and Department of Tourism XI.

It is also sponsored by Hadams, CARE Group, AMECC, AMOSS, Lapuk, Marco Polo, SCOOP Davao, Anito Outdoor, The Boatman, Mulatto, Habagat, House of Lord Anthony, Southern Peak, Tinikaran, Mountain Gear, Amihan, Black Tribe, Boulders 87, Base Kamp, Dayo, Amihan, Mountain Gear, Logsac, Trail Outdoor, Rough Trail, Climber Outdoor, Onyol, Higherground, Aglos, El Tarik Sarcastic, Maze, Camp Apo, RJ Treehouse, Suntrek, Myatz Melody, David and Raquel Boutique, Julius Paner, Lloyd Limon, January Araral-Benitez, Janus Lauchang, Roland Jumawan and Ken Bandayon.

Mayor Duterte lauds President Aquino's approval of P80-M Cobalt treatment machine purchase

(PNA), FFC/ASA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 7 (PNA) -– Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has lauded President Benigno Simeon Aquino for approving the proposal of Davao City Third District Rep. Isidro Ungab to purchase an P80-million worth Cobalt treatment equipment.

Duterte said the equipment is the long dream of Davaoeños to be installed at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), formerly the Davao Medical Center.

The Cobalt machine, a Teletherapy equipment which is used for the treatment of various types of cancer, is a priority of the city government of Davao.

According to Dr. Mae Concepcion Dolendo, SPMC-Children's Cancer and Blood Diseases Unit (CCBDU) head, the SPMC is the biggest tertiary public hospital outside Metro Manila and serves as the referral center for cancer cases in Mindanao.

The CCBDU receives about 100 new cases of pediatric cancer every year and admits more than 1,000 other cancer patients annually.

It is expected that cancer patients in the hospital will benefit from the new cobalt machine.

According to Ungab, who is also the head of the House Committee on Appropriations, the purchase of the machine will be in March and the delivery by April.

Big Phl banana firms join industry cluster team

(PNA), CTB/ASA/AAP/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 6 (PNA) -- Big growers and exporters in the Philippine banana industry have finally joined the cluster team of the banana industry.

In their first meeting with the banana cluster team on Monday, Stephen Antig, chairman of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association or PBGEA, took the task of heading the committee to look for an expert to study how to set up a mechanism for a proposed “banana industry board”.

Antig said this industry board is important to the banana industry to help all the stakeholders solve many problems that often cripple the entire industry, and affecting farmers, growers, exporters and service providers.

“We need to conduct this study to determine how this entity or industry board will operate. We need to get together as one to help each other solve problems in the industry,” Antig told consultants of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and industry stakeholders from government agencies, farmers, cooperatives and the academe.

The banana industry, according to Antig, had been hit by many problems like the Panama wilt, aerial spraying, low buying prices, pole vaulting, lack of financing, and destructive typhoons and floods. “It’s about time we have a formal body composed of banana industry stakeholders who will sit down and try to solve these problems together,” the PBGEA chair said.

A Davao-based management expert with extensive background in the banana industry backed up by foreign-funded graduate studies in agriculture business management and industry development, is now being reviewed and considered by Antig and his committee in the banana industry cluster.

Joining the PBGEA during a recent industry cluster meeting were top representatives of the Mindanao Banana Growers and Exporters Association, (MBGEA), Federation of ARB Banana-based Cooperatives (FEDCO), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

The banana industry cluster team is currently headed by Ireneo Dalayon, chief executive officer of FEDCO, a federation of some 16 banana cooperatives in the Davao region representing small fruit growers.

Davao City recognized as hub of innovations

(PNA)

DAVAO CITY – Davao City has been recognized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as several of the innovations in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) have been developed, according to the Davao City ICT Council.

Davao City Information Communication Technology (ICT) Council executive vice president Bert Barriga said there is a plan to construct an Innovation and Technology Center in Davao City within a one hectare area here.

While this is in the pipeline, Barriga said by the first quarter of 2014, the Matina Town Square IT Park will be launched.

He said this is a five-level building with about 1,800 sq. m. each floor or a total of 7,800 sq. m. floor area.

He said there are already two locators in the complex for an expansion of BPOs where one is operating in Cebu and the other in Manila.

Meanwhile, Barriga said the “Hack2Help iCalamity” that won at AngelHack at the Davao hackathon will compete in the Silicon Valley in the US this 2014.

He said the Davao-based developers had created an application that reconnects families and informs their loved ones about their current location and situation using their phones.

Barriga is optimistic of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) business this year with more inquiries that picked up towards the end of 2013.

He said another BPO company from Cebu needs some 5,000 sq. m. area within the first quarter of this year.

“I think the BPO industry is now looking at Davao as the next best destination for outsourcing business,” he added.

Davao, Tacurong opening business one-stop shops

(Manila Bulletin)

Davao City/Tacurong City — Business licensing one-stop-shops are being installed in these cities to fast track the processing of business permit applications and renewals until January 20.

In Davao City, the one-stop-shop set up at the NCCC Mall last Thursday has begun to accommodate the 35,000 businesses registered in the city in 2013.

Davao City Business Bureau Officer-in-Charge Lawrence Bantiding said that business permit applicants who will transact beyond January 20 will still be accepted but with the corresponding 20 percent surcharge.

“The one-stop shop is aimed to address the congestion at the Business Bureau Office and to guarantee the consumers convenience that’s why it is situated inside the mall,” Bantiding said.

Aside from the one-stop-shop, Bantiding said that business permit renewals and applications can also be done at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Building.

City Treasurer Rodrigo Riola bared that more business enterprises came in the city for 2013 which is evident in the constructions and operations of more malls.

“Foreign and local businesses are pouring in because of the leadership of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte particularly in ensuring the stable peace and order condition of the city wherein they are assured of the safety of their capital,” Riola said.

In Tacurong City, Mayor Lina Montilla’s Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) involves national line agencies and local government offices in rolling out their services at the city gymnasium from January 7 to 20 for the fast processing of business permits.

The local government offices include Office of the City Mayor (License Inspection Services Section and Economic Enterprise Management and Slaughterhouse), City Engineering Office, City Planning and Development Coordinating Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Office for City Health Services, City Treasury Office, and City Administrator’s Office while national government agencies include the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Social Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Trade and Industry, PAG-IBIG, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth)

Under the BOSS system, business permit renewal will only take three steps for an applicant with complete requirements: 1) secure, fill-up, and submit accomplished Business Permit Unified Application Form with complete requirements for computation of business tax and regulatory fees; 2) pay fees to the City Treasurer for issuance of business permit and the City Treasurer’s signature; and 3) proceed to the City Mayor’s Office for approval of business permit.

Processing of new permits takes four steps: 1) secure, fill-up, and submit accomplished Business Permit Unified Application Form with complete requirements for computation of business tax and regulatory fees; 2) pay fees to the City Treasurer for issuance of business permit and the City Treasurer’s signature; 3) proceed to the City Mayor’s Office for approval of business permit; and 4) proceed to BIR for registration.

An applicant with complete requirements can complete the process and get his business permit within 30 minutes.

Tacurong issued more than 1,000 business permits last year.

Davao’s first ‘Torotot’ festival hits world record

By Alex D. Lopez and Cherry Mae D. Palicte

The revelry of the local populace in this city with the entry of year 2014 was turned into a monumental milestone as 7,568 individuals blew their “torotot” or party blower, setting a new Guinness Book of World Record for the “most number of people blowing party horns simultaneously”.

The event took place at around 10:47 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, a few hours before the New Year’s Day at the Freedom Park here during the First Torotot Festival.

Davao City broke the record previously being kept by Japan for several years of having 6,900 persons simultaneously blowing party horns.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and other city officials led the simultaneous blowing of horns that also symbolized the city’s welcoming for the year 2014.

Davao City banned the use of firecrackers and fireworks during New Year celebrations since the year 2002.

In his message, Mayor Duterte thanked the residents who joined the festival and stressed the importance of celebrating New Year safely.

He also expressed gratitude to the various groups who supported the city government.

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