Davao City News June 2013

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Davao City - Archived News
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The Seal of Davao City
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Davao City Map Locator
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Map of Davao City
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Davao City Hall
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Davao City Montage

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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Davao City Aerial View
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Entrance to Davao City
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Nat'l Hwy Through Davao City
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Davao City Victoria Mall
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Old Davao City Airport
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Current Davao City Airport
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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.

Environment groups call for end to ‘age of coal’

By Germelina Lacorte, (Inquirer Mindanao, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

DAVAO CITY—Huddled under umbrellas, dripping wet and totally soaked by sudden rain on Friday, environmental activists unfurled a streamer calling for an end to the “age of coal,” as they blamed coal-fired power plants for the abnormal weather conditions fast becoming a new norm in Mindanao.

The protesters wore masks emblazoned with words such as “end coal now.”

“If we can ban smoking in Davao City, why do we allow coal?” one streamer read.

Juland Suazo, spokesperson of the environmental group Panalipdan, said they wanted to send the message not only in Davao but in the entire world as well that the age of coal has to end because, though it’s the fault of rich countries, it’s the poor people in poor countries who bear the brunt of the abnormal weather conditions and climate change.

Groups like the Network Opposed to Coal and the Dabawenyo Ayaw sa Coal, who fiercely opposed the Aboitiz Power Corp.-owned 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant Therma South Inc., joined the global action against coal by marching around Freedom Park here amid the sudden rain that flooded the nearby Bajada streets.

“Filipinos deserve to live in a coal-free environment,” Beau Baconguis, program manager for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said in a statement distributed during the rally.

Baconguis said the country is obviously suffering from the effects of climate change and it was “simply illogical and immoral to pump more carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere” with more coal-fired plants.

“This will only bring more destruction and jeopardize the health and security of the country,” she said.

Baconguis said the aggressive development of coal-fired power plants in the country is “almost criminal,” as it contradicts the spirit of the Renewable Energy Law and other laws in the country that seek to mitigate greenhouse emissions.

“We are experiencing abnormal weather and climate-related disasters because of the use of fossil-based energy like coal,” Suazo said, as he recounted the second anniversary of the worst flooding here that killed 30 people.

From Davao to Silicon Valley

By Antonio L. Colina IV

IT WAS not long since two teams of budding developers from Davao City finished as champions in the national ON3 Pitching Competition back in 2011.

They were Ric Dayot, who leads homegrown Rad Green Solutions, and Eric Su, developer of Piclyf. The two had also flown to Silicon Valley where they stayed for two months for exposure, immersion, and funding mission.

Now, opportunities are open for them and both of their ideas have proved worth the limelight given to them from the competition as they now materialize what used to be mere concepts to actual works.

Piclyf, a photoblogging site, is making waves online while Rad Green Solution, the first bio-medical waste facility in the city, was launched early this year.

But, the brilliance of the city's budding developers did not end with Dayot and Su, as another team has placed Davao City in the center stage anew in the recently concluded AngelHack Manila last June 8 to 9, 2013.

The team, comprised of Rolly Rulete, Marvin Consuegra, Raymund Delfin, Jay Albano, except for Mio Miguel Galang who came all the way from Pampanga, has brought the honor to Davao City when they won in the first-ever Manila-leg of AngelHack, dubbed as the biggest hackathon event in the world.

The team, with its flagship product Pagesnapp, is preparing for a bigger battle in Silicon Valley to represent the Philippines in the AngelHack Global Demo where the world's best developers, who are also AngelHack winners in 31 other cities across the globe, are set to battle it out to attract investors' attention on their outputs in September this year.

What binds the five members together is their common interest for information technology (IT).

Although, prior to the competition, Rulete shared, there used to be two separate teams who broke up just days before the competition.

The members left of each team who never wanted to give up showed the gung ho spirit to be in the hackathon joined forces together, and thus the Team Pagesnapp.

Albano, the last recruit of the Team Pagesnapp, said to have contributed much in completing their final output in 24 hours.

"Without him, it could have taken us more time to complete it," Rulete said.

Rulete and his team members had never really foreseen their fate in the national competition, all they wanted was to come up with working prototype of Pagesnapp to present before the seven judges in not more than 24 hours.

"Ang among goal makabuhat og working prototype within 24 hours. Daghan og hawod, og gwapo kaayo og idea. Wala me nagexpect madaog basta mademo lang namo ang prototype, actual working (Our goal was just to come up with a working prototype within 24 hours. Many were good and many had good ideas. We did not expect to win, all we wanted was to present our prototype that is working)," he said.

They are now basking in glory for having bested 51 start-up teams, one of them was a team of three members from Singapore.

His team took the seven judges by storm for their Pagesnapp, an application generator. Simply put, an application that creates another application. That had definitely earned the votes of judges to hail the team's work as the grand winner, dominating hundreds of other hopefulls to bag the same honor.

AngelHack was a coding and programming hackathon for developers and since participants were restricted to create codes prior the competition, what the team did was to make a simple but promising mobile app which could be done in 24 hours or less.

"Some of them had executed their works well, but we almost had perfected it," Rulete said.

Hackathon is different from ON3 Pitching Competition, as the latter doesn't require an end-product while the former does in a certain period of time.

"Pagesnapp is a service that will generate your own mobile app using your Facebook Page contents in a matter of seconds," he explained. Pagesnapp is intended for businesses, or for just about anybody who runs Facebook pages.

"Pagesnapp will be great help to local businesses who want to reach more users by creating their own mobile app at a very low cost," he said. Through the app generator, galleries, events, posts, and photos can be updated on the fly in an easier and more organized way, which takes less of an effort to do, especially with smartphones.

"Facebook has 751 million mobile active users as of May 2013, around 16 million of them are local. Pages run by other organizations like schools are not yet included. Rulete said. "For now, we support Android and Blackberry platforms. Android comprises 75 percent of the smartphone users while about 23 percent are iOS."

The idea of Pagesnapp originally emanated from Consuegra's, a graphic artist, whose desire to manage all his Facebook pages resulted in the conception of an application generator.

Consuegra then enlisted Rulete's adept technical know-how on mobile app development.

"Ang idea nagsugod sa problem. Naa siya Facebook pages, ang ginafollow niya na pages gubot kaayo (The idea started with a probem. Consuegra has Facebook pages that have become so disorganized to manage)," Rulete added.

With his so many Facebook pages, Consuegra thought of one app generator of sorts that can generate another application to ease him with some relief in terms of organizing the pages, so that he won't have to go through page after page.

"Isa pud gusto iupdate ang followers through mobile (Another is he wanted to update followers through mobile). That's how we got the idea to create app generator based on FB page," he said.

Rulete, Consuegra, Delfin, and Galang used to be workmates under Lifebit of Eric Su, but Rulete said he recently resigned to give way for the team's preparation in the global competition.

Not New In App Development

Rulete is not new in the field of software development. In fact, he's the brain behind the usable tool of Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) Project Noah.

His team MyPawn.ph, along with Christian Cuan, Constantino Siocon, and current Pagesnapp team member Jay Albano, was hailed as winners in the Technopreneur Bootcamp, spearheaded by IdeaSpace Foundation of MVP Group of Companies, held at University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) last July in 2012.

With another group, Rulete is hoping to make it this time in the global AngelHack in Silicon Valley. The Pagesnapp team had flown to Manila last Thursday to prepare for this bigger battle where they will receive series of trainings on technopreneurship, how to pitch their ideas before the angel investors, and technical training on various mobile platforms.

Two of the team members, Rulete and Albano, will be staying in Manila until September to further work on their overall skills to become what it takes as champions in the global competition.

Launching of Live Data

The team is planning to launch a live version of Pagesnapp by August this year before flying to Silicon Valley in hope to draw investors.

"Before me mangadto og Silicon Valley, dapat maporma na ang product (Before we go to Silicon Valley, our product must be complete). What we did in the national level was only a local host and was not uploaded to a live server," he said.

What the team is looking at is to launch the Pagesnapp with end-users so that they will gain more edge by the time they pitch in Silicon Valley. "Ang among target development kay July to August (Our target development is from July to August)," he said, adding that more developments on the product are in the works before they launch the live data.

Later after their Silicon Valley journey, the team is planning to roll out the Pagesnapp to other platforms to support not only Facebook but also Google+, Wordpress, and other blogging sites.

Albano added whether to offer it for free for public use is what they are yet to learn in the trainings in Manila.

One of the trainings will be administered by trainers from United Kingdom who will talk about the Lean launchpad, a training on the business model canvas, according to Rulete.

Raise Fund

However, the team is still soliciting the help of the well-meaning individuals to help them raise funds for the three other members so that they can compete the five of them together in Silicon Valley. They seek to raise at least P300, 000 more for three others.

Pagesnapp members are just few among the talents of the city who share the same desire to banner the flag of the Philippines behind several others in Silicon Valley in United States and it's no surprise if more teams from Davao will once again appear in the headlines of national and local papers.

ADB-CIDA assistance sees inclusive growth in developing tourism sector

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

DAVAO CITY, June 28 (PNA) -- The technical assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB)-Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on improving competitiveness in tourism looks at inclusive growth in support to the Philippine government's goal of achieving sustainable and all inclusive economic growth by improving competitiveness of employees in the tourism sector.

Kelly Bird, principal economist, Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade Division Southeast Asia Department of ADB in an interview said it is the first time that the Canadian government will undertake a project in the field of tourism.

The project was launched on Thursday at Seda Hotel in Davao City, dubbed the "ADB-CIDA Technical Assistance on Improving Competitiveness in Tourism".

The event was attended among others by Shigeko Hattori, Director for Financial Sector, Public Management and Trade, Asian Development Bank; Luke Myers, Head Counsellor, Canadian International Development Agency; Department of Tourism Undersecretary Maria Victoria V. Jasmin; and Davao Oriental Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon.

Bird said CIDA has considered the rich potentials of the Philippines, noting the government's target of increasing tourists arrivals to 10 million by 2016.

He also said that Davao is among the four pilot areas of the project because it is a fast growing region with lots of potential and has been named as a tourism development area.

The other pilot areas are Palawan, Bohol and Iloilo.

As to the issues presented during the launching of the program, Bird said they also conducted an in-depth assessment among the industry stakeholders even as he said that the problems and concerns raised earlier were gathered from visitors and from the sectors themselves.

Issues related to lack of good quality services and international standards facilities were among those raised and also the mismatch of human resource to the job, lack of investments and training the employees.

He said there is a need to benchmark for quality services with international norms.

He said with the pilot project, they target to train 5,000 workers in the tourism sector.

Bird said in doing this, they need to partner with a top caliber hospitality school and the academe.

The grant of 7.1 million dollars from the Canadian government will fund the project for three years, he noted.

"By September this year we can produce the guidelines and by December, things will be finalized and hopefully by January 2014, agreements will be forged with the areas involved," he said.

Bird said there will be extensive monitoring to ensure that projects are implemented as this will also be basis to determine the sustainability of the project.

"Then perhaps we could recommend it as a national program," he added.

DVO-Dabtoa sets 7th MinTTE in August

(PNA), HBC/ASA/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 27 (PNA) -- The Dabaw Tourism Operators Association (Dabtoa) is now preparing for its seventh Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MinTTE) set in August 2013 here.

“This will be bigger since we are preparing for the ASEAN 2015,” said Dabtoa president Charito Aranda during their formal turn-over of outgoing City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s painting last Thursday at the Public Safety Office.

The theme of the week-long expo is “Mindanao Towards Asean 2015: The Borderless Asia”.

“We want to know what we can offer in 2015 since that will now be an open trade in Asia,” Aranda said.Dabtoa has successfully conducted its previous MinTTE last year held at the SM City Davao Annex which featured various tourism and business companies in the region.

It also featured an exhibition of the paintings made by former Philippine Airlines vice-president Atty. Domingo Duerme and business entrepreneur Beth Dureza.

Dabtoa has also previously supported the 3rd Columbia-Samal Summer Kayakfest held last May at the Sunset Beach Park at the Island Garden City of Samal.

Meanwhile, Dabtoa has now been recognized as a consultant of University of Mindanao for its course being offered now in its main campus in Matina.

“UM now has a Hospitality Entrepreneur course which is related to tourism,” Aranda said.

DOST bares program to install water level sensors in all rivers nationwide

By Joey Sem G. Dalumpines (RGA/JSD/PIA-XI)

DAVAO CITY, June 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology has deployed a total of 124 water level measurement sensors (WLMS) and automatic rain gauges on all river basins nationwide, according to Anthony Sales, Director of the DOST-XI.

He told reporters during the public consultation on the implementing rules and regulations of the Republic Act No. 10532 which institutionalizes the Philippine National Research System Act of 2013, at the Men Seng Hotel, that the sensors will serve as early warning devices that warn local officials to conduct pre-emptive evacuation in case of flash flood following a heavy downpour.

Sales said that in Davao Region, 20 WLMS were already installed in all its provinces with active river basins.

He said 28 units more of water level measurement sensors and automatic rain gauges will be set up in other river basins in the region.

Sales said all instruments will be installed on the last day of July, 2013.

“We are focusing the installation of instruments on 18 critical river basins in the country. Unfortunately, the Davao River that traverses the city proper is one of the critical river basins, and the Libuganon River in Tagum City so we are setting up more sensors along these rivers,” he said.

Sales thanked the local government units for providing support like funds for the fencing of the area where the sensors are located.

Earlier, Eric Colmenares, science research specialist of the Department of Science and Technology XI said the instruments along the Davao River comprise four automated rain gauges and three automated weather stations will be used to warn residents of imminent danger as offshoot of heavy downpour like flash floods.

He said automated weather stations will be installed in Baganga, Davao Oriental, Davao City and Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur.

Colmenares said automated rain gauges will also be set up in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, Panabo, Davao del Norte, Maragusan, Compostela Valley and Mati City, Davao Oriental.

“These sites were selected by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in order to measure the amount of rainfall and the wind generated once a strong weather system like a typhoon occurs,” he said.

WOFEX 2013 leads to developing Davao small, medium entrepreneurs

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

DAVAO CITY, June 25 (PNA) -- The recent holding of the World Food Expo (WOFEX) 2013 allowed small and medium entrepreneurs in the Davao Region to learn new techniques to upgrade their businesses.

Jose Pascual, event organizer of WOFEX, who is also president of PEPGroup, Inc., said the event is an avenue where the exhibitors could level up to small and medium entrepreneurs.

"We want to help and develop them further as small and medium entrepreneurs," he said.

He said their approach is helping both those already in the business and those who haven't started doing business and upgrade their level.

WOFEX was held at SMX in Lanang, Davao City on June 20 to 22 were over a hundred exhibitors participated, 90 percent of which was foreign and 10 percent was from Davao.

The expo showcased food ingredients, food processing machinery and other items related to food production.

Pascual said it has always been the objective of WOFEX to provide insights to entrepreneurs who are into food processing in order to further improve their income.

Pascual said they want the players in food production here to add value to their produce by processing it instead of selling them as raw products.

He said there is good potential in the food business and these entrepreneurs have better chance of success.

WOFEX is also held in other cities of the country even as Pascual said that they held it here in Davao City to give exhibitors the chance to participate in expositions like this and have their products be considered by companies in a business matching with local producers.

Industry experts to talk on 1st Phil iCon

(DTI-11/JenMendoza)

DAVAO CITY, June 24 -- Industry leaders and experts will be sharing their expertise with the more than 600 industry clusters stakeholders of the country during the 1st Philippine Investment Conference (Phil iCon) slated on June 25-26 at SMX Convention Center here.

The conference gives focus on the industry clusters identified in the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (NICCEP), a three-year technical cooperation funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The NICCEP strives to enhance the capacity of selected industry clusters throughout the country to plan, implement, facilitate service delivery, evaluate projects, and improve industry competitiveness and business environment.

The priority industry clusters are: milkfish, dairy, coffee, bamboo, tourism, information and communications technology (ICT), health and wellness, and wearables and homestyles for Luzon; gifts, decors, and housewares (GDH), tourism, ICT, and health and wellness for Visayas; and, banana, mango, coconut, seaweeds, wood, mining, tourism, ICT, rubber, poultry, tuna, and palm oil for Mindanao.

DTI-Davao Regional Director and Conference Regional Cooperators’ Committee chair Marizon S. Loreto said that having the experts during the two-day conference will definitely beef up the capability of the industry cluster stakeholders.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel A. Roxas III will speak about the “Role of Local Government for Dynamic Industry Clusters and Inclusive Growth”; DTI’s Trade and Investments Promotions Group Undersecretary Ponciano C. Manalo Jr. on the “Philippine Initiatives to Improve Investments and Export Promotion in the Countryside”; DTI’s Regional Operations and Development Group Undersecretary Merly M. Cruz on “Industry Clustering: Philippine Model”; NICCEP Team Leader and Industry Cluster expert from JICA Tetsuo Inooka on “Industry Clustering: Japan Model”; Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Takashi Ishigami on “Philippine Investment Experience”.

Other notable speakers include- The Alsons Group of Companies president and chief executive officer Tomas I. Alcantara on “Philippine-Japan Partnership Experience”; Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) general manager Veredigno P. Atienza on “Philippine Retirement Investment Area”; Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (iBAP) senior executive director Gillian Joyce G. Virata on “ICT: SMEs in a Digital Economy”; Air 21 Express chair Alberto Lina on “Understanding the Business of Logistics”; and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) project development officer Edgardo C. de Guzman on “Land Bank Financing Program for SMEs”.

Apart from this line up of speakers, the other guests are DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, Senator-elect Cynthia A. Villar, and JICA chief representative Takahiro Sasaki.

The Phil iCon is spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry-Regional Operations and Development Group (DTI-RODG) in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

For more inquiries about the Phil iCon, interested participants may contact Romeo N. Vasquez at (082) 224-0511 local 304 or the nearest DTI office.

In-form Santos-Ocampo eyes Palos Verdes repeat

(From the wires ,spin.ph)

CARL Santos-Ocampo returns to the scene of his breakthrough pro victory, hopeful of duplicating his feat against a field toughened by the presence of a number of the tour’s big guns in the ICTSI Rancho Palos Verdes Classic unfolding Wednesday at Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Recreational Estates in Davao City.

With some of the fancied bets out for the Asian Tour campaign, Santos-Ocampo nailed his maiden win on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour the hard way, nipping James Ryan Lam and Randy Garalde on the second playoff hole in last year’s edition of the annual tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

But he is expected to face a stiffer challenge in his title-retention bid as two of this year’s tour’s leg winners have signed up to join the hunt in the P1 million event sponsored by ICTSI, including John Hay stage playoff winner Jay Bayron and Calatagan runaway champion Tony Lascuna.

Still, Santos-Ocampo is in some of kind of a momentum, coming off a third-place finish in the ICTSI Orchard Championship won by Angelo Que last month and helping the North squad get past South in The Duel three weeks ago at Alabang.

The Fil-Am bet’s third-place effort at Orchard was actually his best so far as he struggled a bit in the early going of the season, finishing joint 12th at ICTSI Sherwood, sharing 19th place at Solaire, winding up tied for 17th at John Hay and ending up joint 24th at Calatagan.

Meanwhile, Santos-Ocampo, Bayron and Lascuna head the other leading pros in Tuesday’s traditional pro-am tournament along with officials and guests of the sponsoring ICTSI and the event’s chief backers Nike Golf, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, Mizuno, Titleist, Srixon, Foot Joy, Callaway, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers, Cleveland Golf and Sharp.

Joining the title chase in the fifth leg of the ICTSI-PGT are Jhonnel Ababa, Ferdie Aunzo, Jerson Balasabas, Rufino Bayron, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Cassius Casas, Chris delos Santos, Marvin Dumandan, and Anthony Fernando.

DPWH-11 awarded Best Regional Office

(PNA), LAP/ASA/PR/LDP

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao region was awarded a plaque of recognition as “Regional Office of the Year” for 2012.

This was announced Thursday on the occasion of the 115th Anniversary of the DPWH.

No less that President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III bestowed the award on DPWH-11 Regional Director Mariano R. Alquiza.

The award reads: "In recognition of the exemplary performance of its officials and employees in accomplishing projects in accordance with targets and approved plans and specifications. Given this 20th day of June, 2013 at the DPWH Head Office, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila. (SGD) Rogelio L. Singson, Secretary.”

The award boosted the moral and pride of all the employees of the regional office and its eight district engineering offices.

The DPWH-11 bested 15 other regional offices nationwide.

“I would like to extend my most profound thanks to all those who in one way or the other helped and buoyed our morale and spirit to go with relentless vigor in pursuing our assigned tasks,” Alquiza said.

He also thanked all the staff and employees and urged them to work even harder, “if we are to maintain our status as best regional office”.

The DPWH-11 is presently implementing 336 infrastructure projects worth P7,186,584 billion in the region.

“We will continue to serve the people of region eleven according to the guidance of our Secretary of Right Project, with the Right Quality, at the Right Cost, delivered Right on Time made by the Right People. This is in accordance with the President’s mandate for Daang Matuwid,” Alquiza said.

World looking at Davao City for anti-smoking strategy

By Rudolf Ian G. Alama (PIA/RG Alama)

DAVAO CITY, June 21 -- The world is now looking at Davao City.

This is according to Department of Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag M.D. who said that Davao City is attracting international attention because the city has the biggest potential to show the world of putting an endgame strategy against smoking.

Endgame is a situation where smoking or tobacco is totally eradicated.

Davao City is a hall-of-famer of the Red Orchid Award. The award recognizes cities, municipalities, government offices and health facilities that are strictly enforcing tobacco control measures.

It first implemented its comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance in 2002 and gained fame for its vigorous implementation 11 years after it amended and implemented its 2002 ordinance providing stricter laws and expanding its coverage.

Tayag said that Davao City's successes lies with the political will of the local government. "If you really want it, you can do it," the DOH assistant secretary said during the Red Orchid Awards regional leg held June 20 at SMX Davao.

He said the challenge now for Davao City as raised by the World Health Organization is to implement the endgame strategy against tobacco.

Councilor Bernard Al-Ag 3rd District City Councilor and one of the principal sponsor of the amended anti-smoking ordinance (City Ordinance 0367-12) said that as a legislator he is willing to support any city legislation which will put in place an endgame strategy against smoking and tobacco.

He said the expanded anti-smoking ordinance is the right step in having an endgame strategy.

Among the salient features of the expanded ordinance include the banning of new forms of smoking like e-cigarettes and sishas, expanding the definition of public spaces to include streets and the provision of citation tickets which cuts the process of putting fines against violators. Smoking citations lets deputized enforcers issue citations to violators where they can pay the fine directly.

The past ordinance had the violators hauled to the courts where they are sentenced and fined. The citations will also provide the revenues to the City.

According to Dr. Domilyn Villareiz Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force chair, since the expanded anti-smoking ordinance took effect last May 31, 2013 the city netted 726 violators. If those caught will pay the fine of P500, the city would earn P300,000 from the citation tickets just for the first two weeks alone.

Villareiz said that the number of violators shall not be a source of pride since this means there are still many people who are smoking in public places.

She also said that being a Red Orchid Hall-of-Famer will not be a reason to be complacent. Villareiz assured that under the new city leadership of incoming City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte the efforts against smoking will still continue without let-up.


1st Phil iCon to gather 600 stakeholders

(Department of Trade and Industry Press Release)

DAVAO CITY – The first-ever Philippine Investment Conference (Phil iCon) is expected to gather at least 600 industry cluster stakeholders from all over the country.

Dubbed as “Investing in Priority Industry Clusters for SMEs: A Conference”, the two-day event is slated on June 25 to 26 at SMX Convention Center at SM Lanang Premier here.

The Phil iCon is spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry-Regional Operations and Development Group (DTI-RODG) in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The event which banners the theme “Industry Clustering Towards Inclusive Growth” is aimed at creating awareness on the cluster-based industrial development strategy through the National Industry Cluster Capacity Project (NICCEP), a technical cooperation project of DTI and JICA.

Furthermore, the event is likewise aimed at promoting various promising industries in the Philippines as investment opportunities for existing and would-be investors, particularly for Japanese businessmen.

The focus industry clusters are: milkfish, dairy, coffee, bamboo, tourism, information and communications technology (ICT), health and wellness, and wearables and homestyles for Luzon; gifts, decors, and housewares (GDH), tourism, ICT, and health and wellness for Visayas; and, banana, mango, coconut, seaweeds, wood, mining, tourism, ICT, rubber, poultry, tuna, and palm oil for Mindanao.

“The overarching goal is to spur development and growth in the countryside with infusion of fresh investments and creation of employment opportunities,” said DTI-Davao Regional Director Marizon S. Loreto, who also chairs the Conference Regional Cooperators’ Committee.

Loreto added that being a convergence of industry leaders, DTI is very optimistic about generating the most necessary inputs and strategies on how to corner more investments for the country’s three islands.

“We all know that more investments means more job opportunities that’s why we really are working double time to make the conference truly successful,” she said.

For more inquiries about the Phil iCon, interested participants may contact Romeo N. Vasquez at (082) 224-0511 local 304 or the nearest DTI office.

Local hackers winner for developing business web app

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

DAVAO CITY, June 19 (PNA) -- A group of developers from Davao and Pampanga will soon be going to Silicon Valley, the world’s tech mecca, after winning the Manila leg of the AngelHack Spring Global Challenge.

They built a web application that allows businesses to instantly create an Android mobile app using content from their Facebook pages.

The group emerged as winner from more than 250 other Philippine hackers in a 24-hour coding competition organized by Smart Communications, Inc. and business incubator IdeaSpace Foundation, in partnership with US-based, AngelHack.

The winner-Team PageSnapp is composed of Rolly Rulete, Marvin Consuegra, Mio Miguel Galang, Raymund Delfin, and Jay Albano.

The team won more than P2 million in prizes, including a 5,000-dollar travel grant to Silicon Valley where AngelHack will introduce them to incubators and investors to help turn their big idea into a startup.

They will also get a ,000 investment from Asia Pacific Ventures, an incorporation grant from IdeaSpace, at least 20,000 dollars worth of services from sponsors, two Smart LTE iPad mini units, and a 12-week mentorship from IdeaSpace and the Smart Developer Network (Smart DevNet).

“It’s a huge problem for small businesses to go mobile, and no one’s solved it. They [Team PageSnapp] created something that would help these businesses make apps easily, and they did this in a super simple way. It’s a very unique application. It’s one of those things that other people have tried to do but have not figured out how to do simply,” said AngelHack founder and CEO Greg Gopman, who was one of the event’s judges.

TechCrunch writer Josh Constine, another judge, sees the project to help a lot of small businesses get online and get mobile, and bring their services to a bigger audience.

For Rulete, “this is a dream come true. We came here thinking that win or lose, we would enjoy the experience. We thought the app was worth finishing, even without the big prize.”

Rulete is also part of a team that previously bagged the Best Use of Smart APIs (app programming interface) award at an HTML5 hackathon organized last year by Smart Dev Net.

That team’s winning project eventually became the mobile app for Project NOAH, a disaster prevention and mitigation program developed by the government in partnership with Smart and other companies.

Rulete also developed the Android version of the eLeksyon2103 app, the information and learning mobile app of the Commission on Elections.

“We thank Smart for encouraging developers to be active, and for organizing activities that help us broaden our network,” Rulete said.

Davao tourism cluster gears up for ‘Kadayawan’

(PNA), PDS/ASA/AURELIO A. PENA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 18 (PNA) -- Industry movers in the tourism industry cluster are now gearing up for the upcoming "Kadayawan" Festival in this city scheduled in August, according to Mary “Baby” Montemayor, chair of the Davao Region Tourism Council.

In her recent report to consultants of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Montemayor said several of the projects and activities lined up this year by the tourism industry cluster had already been accomplished.

“We’ll continue to join other activities in the region that attract domestic and foreign visitors to Davao,” Montemayor told the JICA consultants during the recent monitoring meeting at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office.

One of the biggest events that was participated actively by the tourism industry here was the recently-concluded MICE Conference which drew hundreds of delegates from various Asian countries as well as North America and Europe.

Held at the new SMX Convention Center in Lanang this city, the event gathered top executives of tourism organizations, global hotels, travel agencies worldwide, event organizers, global airlines, and tourism councils from different countries.

Montemayor said the Davao region’s tourism booth during the event was “the most visited booth” which received hundreds of inquiries about travel destinations, tour spots and the unique tribal handicrafts and accessories found in the region.

Bracing for an avalanche of domestic and foreign visitors coming to Davao for the annual Kadayawan Festival, the tourism industry cluster will set up again the tribal crafts booth that had been attracting tourists, visitors as well as tribal craft buyers to this city.

“Many buyers are fascinated by the hand-made crafts made by our various ethnic tribes in Davao,” Montemayor said.

The tourism industry cluster is also coordinating with the coconut industry cluster whose members are also making various handicrafts, hand bags, and fashion accessories made of coconut shell and coco fiber.

DOST beefs up weather and flood monitoring system in Davao

By Joey Sem G. Dalumpines (RGA/JSD/PIA-XI)

DAVAO CITY, June 17 (PIA) -- An officer of the Department of Science and Technology XI expressed readiness in putting in place its early warning devices in Davao region to forecast occurrence of floods and bad weather early in July, 2013.

Eric Colmenares, science research specialist of the Department of Science and Technology XI said the equipment comprises four automated rain gauges and three automated weather stations will be used to warn residents of imminent danger as offshoot of heavy downpour like flash floods.

He said automated weather stations will be installed in Baganga, Davao Oriental, Davao City and Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur.

Colmenares said automated rain gauges will also be set up in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, Panabo, Davao del Norte, Maragusan, Compostela Valley and Mati City, Davao Oriental.

“These sites were selected by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in order to measure the amount of rainfall and the wind generated once a strong weather system like a typhoon occurs,” he said.

Colmenares also disclosed that the Doppler antennas in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and Tampakan, South Cotabato, respectivey, are functional to forecast typhoons in Mindanao area.

He said that the DOST-PAGASA is also set to put up six water level monitoring system in Davao City.

Colmenares said their agency is waiting for the local government counterpart in terms of the area of installation and security.

“Now that it is already rainy season, it is important that we have installed the sensors that will serve as early warning device. Incidentally, the steel parts of the equipment might be stolen so we need to put up a security,” he said.

Colmenares said the water level monitoring system will be installed in Barangay Lacson, Tamugan, Suwawan along the Davao River and other areas with active river system.

He said the move is coordinated with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

PRO-11 is now Camp Quintin M. Merecido

(PNA), PDS/ASA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 16 (PNA) -- The Police Regional Office-Davao Region will be officially renamed as Camp Quintin M. Merecido in a simple activity during the regular flag-raising ceremony Monday morning here.

Sr. Insp. Gretchen Cinco, acting spokesperson of PRO 11, said the renaming from its former name of Camp Catitipan was based on Republic Act 10529, otherwise known as “An Act Naming the Police Regional Office 11 at Sitio Catitipan, Barangay Communal, Buhangin District, Davao City as Camp Quintin M. Merecido.”

Cinco said that both the Senate and Congress passed the law as all national and police regional offices should be named after the late police commissioned and non-commissioned officers who left behind heroic deeds while still serving the country.

According to her, Merecido, a former police sergeant, had been chosen because he reportedly displayed heroic acts when he was still assigned with PRO 11.

AdDU grad is Top 1 in Architect Licensure Exam

(davaotoday.com)

Kenneth Yap of the Ateneo de Davao University garnered 86 percent rating, the highest among the 901 successful examinees.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A graduate from one of this city’s premier schools tops the June 2013 Architect Licensure Exam (ALE).

Kenneth Yap of the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) garnered 86 percent rating among the 901 successful examinees, according to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). There were 1,767 total examinees.

It’s already two in a row for the AdDU. Last May, one of its graduates, Richard Baguio Saavedra, topped the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination. He garnered 96 percent rating, the highest among the 1,553 passers across the country.

Those who are in the top 10 highest places for this year’s (ALE) are Dale Jon Cortez (85.90%) of the University of the Philippines-Diliman; Justin Santos (85.00%) of the Holy Angel University; Patrick Andrew Tanhuanco (85.00%) of the University of Santos Tomas; Lindon Fontejon (84.90%) of the University of Northern Philippines-Vigan; Roger Sarmiento III (84.90%) of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Main-Sta. Mesa; Clarissa May Segura (84.90%) of the AdDU; Pedro Santos Jr. (84.70%) of the UP-Diliman; Misarael Renz Granil (84.20%) of the Tarlac State University (Tarlac College of Tech.); Jahzeel Magdadaro (84.20%) of the UP-Mindanao; Rebecca Cantalejo (84.00%) of the UP-Diliman; Catherine Marie Reyes (84.00%) of the UP-DIliman; Robert Criz Bundang (83.90%) of the Technological Institute of the Philippines-Manila; Valeria Anne Patricia Consunji (83.90%) of the UP-Diliman; Janfour Cuales (83.80%) of the University of San Carlos; and Mark Joseph Bagongon (83.60) of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology-Cagayan de Oro.

The exam was given by the Board of Architecture (BoA) led by its chairman, Architect Rolando Cordero. It was held last June 7 and 9 in Manila. The PRC released the results on Friday, or four working days after the last day of examination.

However, the PRC noted that no school qualified for this year’s top performing schools, based on its Commission Resolution No. 2010-547 series of 2010. This means that none of the participating schools have 50 or more examinees and didn’t get at least 80 percent passing percentage.

Davao holds promise for young interior designers

By CHAM CUARTERO (BM, GMA News)

Creativity in design has long flourished in the Philippine south, so it is quite surprising to learn that Mindanao's first exhibit on interior design was held only last month.

Design Trends in 4 x 8, held at the Abreeza Ayala Mall Atrium in Davao City from May 28 to 30, was organized by the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers as part of the World Interiors Day celebration.

The event aimed to build and strengthen linkages between design professionals, furniture designers and manufacturers, construction materials suppliers, decorators and design enthusiasts, students, and the general populace.

It also served to commemorate Republic Act 10350, or the Philippine Interior Design Act of 2012, which mandates compliance with the country’s existing building code standards and at the same time offers a mutually beneficial protection program for interior designers and their clients.

One of the exhibitors at the event was John Matthew B. Librando, an up-and-coming young designer from the region who spoke to GMA News Online about being an interior designer in Mindanao.

What is your opinion on the viability of working in Mindanao as an interior designer?

Projects and new developments have flourished everywhere in Davao in the past few years and it has brought opportunities and chances for the designers, especially the young ones like us, to become active in practicing the profession. I think Davao has become a place where designers would settle and not think of working anywhere else.

Is there enough of a market in the region for young interior designers?

People have become more aware of our presence in the region in the past few years and it's fantastic that people here identify the work we render and have become more aware of the importance of interior design in improving the functionality, comfort, and aesthetics of the space they occupy or use.

As a result, it makes Davao, for us young designers, a good place to practice our profession and [we] find no need to go to any other cities in the country or even abroad.

Does the region favor a certain style/look that is distinct from other regions in the country?

Majority of the people here have become more aware of the trends of our time, heading to the minimalist, clean, and modern look. The good thing about being in Mindanao is that the island is rich in culture and tradition. We have materials made by the locals, patterns and colorful prints that are originally, genuinely ours. Our indigenous artistry and culture, when infused with modern influences, will give you a style which is uniquely Mindanaoan, a style unlike any other.

Tell me more about your experience in the recently concluded Design Trends in 4 x 8.

The making of the 4 x 8 exhibit was amazing and memorable. Coming up with a design for the exhibit was a fun yet challenging experience because we were required to come up with a concept in such a short span of time. There were problems encountered in terms of our funds; it wasn't easy to raise a specific amount of money and support to make the event happen.

All of us were also busy taking care of our respective work and business-related responsibilities and it was not simple to find time in such a hectic schedule to organize an event like this. We were able to pull together 4 x 8 in such a way that it made us understand the entire process we have to go through in making an idea like this materialize.

The 4 x 8 exhibit made us, designers, closer together, as there's only a handful of us here in Mindanao. We learned that regardless of the limitations we have as a professional community, if we have the drive and motivation to raise the understanding of the local community about the importance of interior design in our lives, events like this would not be uncommon.

It’s also surprising that a lot of people in Davao have embraced our presence. Considering it's the first ever interior design exhibit in Mindanao, I can confidently say the event had been truly successful.

DCPO to strictly impose new gun control law

By Joey Sem G. Dalumpines (RGA/JSD/PIA-XI)

DAVAO CITY, June 11 (PIA) -- The election gun ban implementation yielded a total of 260 violators in the city, according to Senior Superintendent Ronald de la Rosa, director of the Davao City Police Office.

He said all respondents have been formally sued in court for violating the special law implemented during the election period. The election gun ban ends on June 12, 2013.

De la Rosa warned that despite the lifting of the gun ban, the police will continue to be strict in the implementation of gun control measures to keep the residents safe from the use of firearms.

“It does not mean that the people can freely bring their firearms around without the pertinent documents. We can still arrest and file charges them like illegal possession of firearms, especially if the gun is not registered, or even if registered by its owner has no authority to carry the weapon outside the residence,” he said.

De la Rosa reminded residents that they can only carry a licensed firearm, with its owner possessing a permit to carry firearms outside the residence.

He stressed that the police will no longer honor mission orders issued to civilians by officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to carry weapons.

“Permit to possess and permit to carry licensed firearm are the only requirements for a person to bring a gun outside his dwelling,” De la rosa said.

He said lack of one of the requirements is still illegal.

De la Rosa said once arrested, violators can still be sued with illegal possession of firearms.

“Mission orders and memorandum receipts cannot guarantee immunity from suit,” he pointed out.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III recently signed a comprehensive gun control law that sets stricter guidelines in securing a license while limiting the number of firearms to be possessed.

Republic Act 10591 raises penalties for illegal possession of firearms to an imprisonment of six years from imprisonment of four years.


DOH XI renews prevention awareness campaign vs dengue

(PNA), PDS/ASA/JOEY SEM G. DALUMPINES AND JUDY G. QUIORS/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 10 (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) in the Davao Region has renewed the prevention awareness campaign of the dengue fever through the four o’clock habit.

Engineer Antonietta Ebol, program manager of the Dengue Program of DOH XI, said the current program called on all residents to stop, look and listen to prevent being afflicted with the dengue illness.

She said people must be wary that at 4:00 p.m. whether in the office or at home they should stop, look and destroy the breeding ground of mosquitoes.

Ebol said residents must also heed the voice of their barangay officials on the right information on prevention and control of dengue carrying-mosquitoes in their locality.

She said the 4 o'clock habit though launched in 1996 remains an effective prevention of dengue fever.“We need to relaunch this activity in order to involve all sectors since it has been a very effective control measure against dengue fever,” Ebol said.

She underscored that 8:00 o’clock and 4 o’clock are the times where dengue-carrying mosquitoes are active in feeding themselves.

Ebol said the four o’clock habit will be relaunched in other parts of the region in June 19, June 20, June 26, and June 27 at the Matina Central Elementary School, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Monkayo, Compostela Valley, Digos City, Davao del Sur and Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Cleofe Tabada, chief of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, noted an increase in the incidents of dengue in the region to 4,916 as of June 4, 2013 from 3,016 on the same period 2012.

She said most of these cases were diagnosed as dengue fever by doctors when patients were admitted or referred to the medical facilities in the region.

"Though there was no confirmation that all of these incidents were dengue fever, but they were managed as dengue cases,” Tabada said.

She said the dengue fever campaign will be more intensified up to July, when the rainfall is highest in terms of frequency of occurrence.

Tabada said there is no medical cure yet for dengue cases aside from strong immune system.

“As long as you rest and feed yourself well, and have a healthy lifestyle, you cannot be easily afflicted with dengue. Incidentally not all people have strong immune system,” she said.

Tabada said usually cases of dengue would increase by about 20 percent starting second half to third half of the year.

She said dengue cases increased to 4,916 as of June 4 this year compared to the 3,015 cases in same period last year.

On the other hand, Ebol said the increasing trend is during said periods because of the volume of rainfall at that time of the year. Mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus called Aedes Aegypti breed in dark areas and in clear but stagnant water.

Ebol identified the month of July in each year as the peak season for dengue.

She said the best preventive measure against dengue is only a very good immune system, a healthy lifestyle, and a clean environment.

Since dengue virus is very difficult to isolate, until now medical experts failed to come up with a vaccine perfected to fight the virus, Tabada said.

To minimize dengue cases, DOH has revitalized the 4:00 p.m habit which refers to the cleaning and destruction of Aedes breeding areas.

The said activity was practiced in previous years but was not sustained.

Based on DOH advisories, Aedes mosquitoes is around to bite whole day but more specifically two hours before the sun rises and two hours before sunset.

Aedes mosquitoes want to bit hot skins and are attracted to movable victims. They usually attack on the side or back portions of a person. They can fly 50 to 300 meters away from breeding areas. They stand to live from 20 to 30 days.

Soldiers join Davao Orientalympics

(PNA), PDS/ASA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 9 (PNA) -- Members of the 701st Infantry Brigade joined the month-long Davao Orientalympics, which is a part of the 46th celebration of "Araw ng Davao Oriental" which will culminate on July 1.

Captain Renegaldo Celada, civil-military operations officer of the 701st IB, said that their active participation is to show solidarity with the provincial government in marking the anniversary through sports events dubbed as “Paugnat sa Kusog 2013”.

A motorcade opened the activity on Friday morning at Poblacion, Mati City in Davao Oriental spearheaded by Governor Corazon Malanyaon.

Aside from the 701st IB, department offices and other local and national agencies are also joining the Davao Orientalympics.

In her message, Malanyaon emphasized “the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie that focus not just simply winning the game but how we win the game.”

“Let’s play with gratitude in our hearts, go with our hearts and play with all our cares in our hearts,” she said.

Celada said the conduct of sports events is the result of their endeavor and partnership in pursuing peace and development in the city and the entire province, where residents today experienced a physically and psychologically secured environment.

DOLE 11 urges more local employers to open vacancies during Kalayaan job fair

(PNA), HBC/ASA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 8 (PNA) -– Labor and Employment Regional Director Joffrey Suyao has called on local employers to offer their vacancies during the 2013 Kalayaan Job Fair slated simultaneously on June 12 at two major malls in the city.

Suyao hoped more local employment would be posted “for local job seekers who don’t want to work abroad to have more opportunities” to be employed.

As of Friday, DOLE-XI has solicited 14,425 job vacancies mostly from overseas with 12,622 positions from 31 participating employers/agencies.

Only 1,803 vacancies are being offered by 62 local employers/agencies.

“Sana mas marami pang local employers ang magbibigay ng trabaho for our local job seekers,“ (I hope more local employers will give jobs to our local job seekers) Suyao stated during a press conference on Thursday (June 6) at NCCC Mall Davao.

DOLE-XI has tapped NCCC Mall Davao and Abreeza Mall as sites for the 2013 Kalayaan Job Fair in celebration of the 115th Independence Day on June 12.

DOLE-XI Assistant Regional Director Venerando Cebrano said most of the local vacant positions to be offered are for call center agents with 724 vacancies, followed by sales and marketing assistants with 410 vacancies and operations supervisors with 355 openings.

The other positions needed by the local employers are accounting staff, web designers, online-based tutor, engineers/skilled workers, merchandisers, cashiers and home-based tutor, he said.

Cebrano said the top three required occupation from the participating overseas agencies are engineers/skilled workers with 450 vacancies, general construction workers and services crew respectively with 390 and 378 vacancies.

The rest of the needed positions abroad are factory workers, electricians, cleaners, electrical technicians, laborers, physical therapists and welders.

Davao implements IBM technology for public safety

By Tam Noda (philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines --The Davao City Government has implemented Friday its long-awaited Intelligent Operations Center solution meant to boost public safety and security.

Powered by IBM, the Intelligent Operations Center is expected to enhance Davao’s existing Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) by integrating and analyzing relevant information collected from multiple agencies that are dedicated to protecting the welfare of its citizens and the environment.

The technology is designed to help coordinate the city’s emergency services such as police, fire, anti-terrorism task force, and the K9 urban search and rescue services.

With the new system, the PSCCC now has a centralized operations dashboard where multiple agencies can integrate and process information in real time, significantly improving their response time to emergencies.

Over the past month of operation, the centralized and intelligent platform has enabled noticeable improvements in the management of the four main pillars of public safety, such as crime prevention, emergency response, threat prevention and response, and traffic management.

According to Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, Davao City is long overdue for such new level of intelligence in public security and safety.

“We believe that keeping our city safe is a critical factor in raising the standard of living and ensuring continued economic prosperity. With our new and improved PSSCC, infused with IBM’s IOC technology, we can now shift from responding to critical events to anticipating and preventing them, when and where possible,” Carpio said.

Davao City is the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area and is considered the business capital of the Southern Philippines in the Mindanao region.

With enhanced public safety operations using advanced and smarter technologies, the city government believes it is well positioned to become a premier socio-economic and tourism hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

31 teams from Mindanao now listed in Davao Urban Race

(PNA), FPV/ASA/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 6 (PNA) -- Thirty-one teams each composed of two players have registered to join the Davao Urban Race, billed as the Extreme City Tour set on June 9, Sunday at 1 p.m. in an out and back course at the People’s Park.

“We’re truly happy and excited of the huge turnout and we’re still expecting more teams to register during the briefing on Saturday at Mulatto,” said organizer Cherryl “Chai” Araneta.

Sixteen teams are already listed in the Open/Expert category. They are Basecamp-Davao teams 1, 2 and 3, Wildwater, Mulatto Uno, Mulatto Dos, Mulatto Tres, Cheetah, TRIMMOC Franco, TRIMMOC Aldrin, Team KAMBRAS-Butuan, Gruppong Panahik-Bukidnon , Nonato Dragons, John d' Club, Team TRI SOS and Team White Peak.

Seeing action in the Beginners category are the SON (Steward of Nature), TRAIL, Mc Dj, Team Onyol, Team Italy, Team Three-Fourth, Team Acheche, Team Keilah and Val, Partners in Sunburn-Tagum/Davao, Team New Zealand, DALIZARDSHIA, NAXLO, Escape Route of Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, TRIMMOC Divine Angel and Team Push.

Race director Marjun Balaite said the disciplines are run, jog, walk, PUV riding, mind games and special skills.

“The race period will be around three to four hours and about 20 kilometers of vertical and horizontal distances. The cut-off time is four hours,” said Balaite, who is making the race to raise funds for the medication of his partner (Araneta).

The participants will be presented with physical, mental, psychological and agility tests along the adventure route. The team that finishes the fastest and completing all the necessary component of the race shall win.

The top three finishers in the Open Expert will earn P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000 plus medals and gift items, while medals and gift items will be given to the top three winners in the Beginners.

Entry fee is P1, 000 per team inclusive of a jersey, finisher’s medals and raffle. Registration center is at the Mulatto Outdoor Shop, Door 33 EC Business Center, C.M Recto St.

Davao mountaineers set Freedom Walk 2013

(PNA), FPV/ASA/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 5 (PNA) -- Mountaineers from different federations and clubs here will join the 2013 Freedom Walk set on June 12 at 3 p.m. from Magsaysay Park to People’s Park here.

Organizer Danilo “Jun” Bacus said at least 500 mountaineers will walk from Magsaysay Park going to the Rizal Park for a short prayer and to pay tribute to the Filipino heroes.

"After Rizal Park, we will then proceed to the People’s Park via San Pedro and Ilustre streets for the culmination,” Bacus said.

There will be raffles and parlor games. It will coincide with the same Freedom Walk in Manila which will also be joined by the different mountaineering clubs.

“Let’s give mountains a break. Let’s walk together for freedom on the streets. Unite and be counted, walk responsibly!,” said Bacus.

The activity is supported by the Mountaineering Federation of the Phils. (MFPI), Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao (MFSM), Mountaineering Community of the Philippines and the Sports Communicators Organization of the Phils. (SCOOP) Davao.

“There is no registration fee. However, participants must still fill up a registration form in order to be recognize and to qualify in the raffle,” Bacus said.

Registration forms are now available at Habagat MTS, The Boatman, Highergrounds, Mulatto, Southern Peak, Lord Anthony, Botiki, Anito and Tinikaran (Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur).

PHL-themed LEGO exhibit to mark Independence Day in Davao

(TJD, GMA News)

Filipinos in Davao City will mark Independence Day next week in a unique way: with a Philippine-themed LEGO exhibit.

The Davao City government said the Philippine-themed brick-based exhibit will be launched by SM Lanang Premier, the first and biggest in Mindanao.

"In partnership with LEGO, the world’s leading maker of toy bricks, and Toy Kingdom, SM Lanang Premier brought the LEGO Philippine map exhibit to promote love of country and national pride among Filipinos," the city government said on its Facebook page.

The city government also posted several photos of the exhibit, which included a LEGO recreation of the Philippine map that highlighted landmarks, icons and tourist attractions.

With the slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines with LEGO”, the exhibit also adopted the Department of Tourism’s slogan.

The exhibit will be housed at The Atrium of SM Lanang Premier until June 30.

DepEd hiring almost 3,000 more teachers

(PNA), HBC/ASA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 3 (PNA) -- The Dept. of Education (DepEd) is hiring nearly 3,000 more teachers, the highest number of teaching slots in the department's history.

Jenelito Atillo, DepEd 11 spokesperson, said that the department has approved 61,510 teaching positions for the school year 2013-2014, which is a huge increase compared to previous hiring of an average of about 10,000 teachers.

He said in Region XI alone DepEd is seeking to hire 2,923 more teachers, compared to the previous years when they were hiring only about 500 teachers.

Atillo said that this does not include those hired by the local school board and those hired by the respective DepEd offices in the region.

PHL receives citations at 26th Korea World Travel Fair

(PNA), DSP/ASA/LDP

DAVAO CITY, June 2 (PNA) – The Philippines received Best in Booth Operations and Best in Folkloric Performance (Kalumon Performing Ensemble) citations at the close Sunday of the month-long 26th Korea World Travel Fair in Seoul, South Korea.

This was happily announced Sunday night by Art Boncato, Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director, through a Facebook conversation.

Boncato was part of the 30-man Davao delegation which formed part of the entire Philippine delegation to the travel fair, dubbed to be the largest in Korea which exhibits by domestic and international travel organizations, including airline companies, hotel and travel agencies.

He said during the fair, Davao had a special segment in a Philippine Tourism Product Presentation among 200 buyers and Davao cuisine was the highlight in the Philippine Food Festival at the Hilton Seoul.

Boncato said Davao-themed Philippine Independence Day celebration at the Philippine Embassy was also featured.

He said the Davao team also made a presentation in a Skal Club meeting with Dabawenya/Filipina-Korean Congresswoman Jasmine Bacurnay Lee as guest of honor.

He said hotels and travel agencies like the Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Park Inn by Radisson, Seda Hotel, The Ritz Garden Hotel, Davao Korean Association, Surelite Travel & Tours, Bloomers Travel & Tours, Chef Sau del Rosario and team and Kalumon Performing Ensemble also composed the Davao delegation.

DepEd seeks more teachers

By Rudolf Ian G. Alama (PIA/RG Alama)

DAVAO CITY, June 1 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) this year will be seeking more teachers as it has opened the highest number of teaching slots in the Department's history.

Dodong Atillo DepEd XI spokesman said that the Department has approved 61,510 teaching positions for the schoolyear 2013-2014, which is a huge increase compared to previous hiring of an average to about 10,000 teachers.

He said that in Region XI alone DepEd is seeking to hire 2,923 more teachers which compared to previous years they were hiring only about 500 teachers.

Atillo said that this does not include those hired by the local school board and those hired by the respective DepEd offices in the region.

"This year we might reduce out the teacher gap, we are really excited this year," Atillo said.

He said that teachers can close out the current gap in teachers' needs citing the case of kindergarten teachers where the region currently has about 183 teachers, the ideal target is to have 1,538 kinder teachers, the DepEd has opened 514 more teachers for the schoolyear in the region.

Atillo said the gap in kinder teachers can be bridged by the LSBs and the continuous hiring of DepEd offices.

He said that DepEd teachers usually receive and entry-level pay of P19,000 a month plus step increments after three years of service. The DepEd spokesman said that with the higher pay and the massive job hiring he could see the possibility of an exodus of teachers from private schools to public schools.

Aside from teachers the present administration is also infusing funds to close down classroom gap. He said that there 19,600 classrooms being completed with 20,000 more to be set up. Before President Aquino's administration there was a backlog of 66,800 classrooms, under his time there were about 34,000 being built.

As for the region the DepEd has relased P1.16 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of schools affected by the onslaught of typhoon Pablo, it is estimated there 400 schools affected during the typhoon.

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