Davao City News May 2014

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Davao City - Archived News
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The Seal of Davao City
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Map of Davao City
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Davao City Hall
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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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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.

Philippine tribes get EU-funded projects

(IP MNCHN)

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 31, 2014) - Some P48 million has been awarded by the EU-funded Indigenous Peoples Maternal Neonatal and Child Health and Nutrition project or IP MNCHN for various projects in the southern Philippines.

In a ceremonial signing of grant contracts on May 30, IP MNCHN Project Mindanao awarded a total of €399,990.48 or roughly around P24 million in grants for IP midwifery scholarship and strengthening of indigenous peoples organizations in the five sites of the project.

A grant of €99,990.48 or about P5.9 million was also awarded to Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) for full midwifery scholarship of 10 IP students and another €300,000.00 or an estimate of P18 million to Pamulaan Center for Indigenous Peoples Education for IPO strengthening.

The ceremonial signing of the grants was held at Pamulaan Center in University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City. The occasion was the IP Leadership Development Academy batch 1 completion ceremony led by USeP President Dr. Perfecto Alibin, Pamulaan Center President Benjamin Abadiano, and NCIP Chairperson Atty. Leonor Quintayo; and Willen Verpoest, Head of Contracts and Finance Section represented the European Union Delegation to the Philippines.

“The project’s holistic approach to health care services for the Indigenous Peoples’ women and children is directed towards addressing multi-levels of health needs and concerns of the Indigenous Cultural Communities in general. These grants will address human resource and socio-economic aspects of health service delivery in ICCs specially in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas,” IP MNCHN project director Dr. Lilibeth Malabanan said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

She said Pamulaan Center will manage the grant by creating learning mechanisms that will improve the Indigenous People’s capacity in planning, implementing, managing and sustaining health related activities and other basic services that contribute to the total development of the IPs in ancestral domain areas in Mindanao with Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title. The grant will also create community projects to improve access and quality of health services and will also support livelihood programs.

The midwifery scholarship for IP students will be managed by DMSF purposely to produce between 10 to 15 licensed IP midwives in two-year time and for DMSF to set-up a sustainable scholarship program for Diploma in Midwifery.

These grants are among the commitment of the project for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 which aim to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health in Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples and other disadvantaged communities in Mindanao.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, being the implementing agency, will guide and supervise the grants’ implementation. “The task is compelling but NCIP will ensure efficient coordination with Pamulaan and DMSF all throughout the completion of the projects,” Quintayo said.

The United Nations Population Fund will also be involved in the integration of Reproductive Health aspects of the grants. IP MNCHN Project-Mindanao is jointly managed by UNFPA. Its Project Steering Committee is co-chaired by the Department of Health and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Davao job fair set for June 5-11

By Sherwin B. Manual

DAVAO CITY—To further boost employment in the region, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here is preparing for the 2014 Kalayaan Job Fair.

Offering it as a major contribution to the 116th Philippine Independence Day celebration, the DOLE in the Davao region partners with the NCCC Mall of Davao in holding the job fair, which is expected to draw about 3,000 jobseekers.

“A total of 100 agencies will be participating in the Kalayaan Job Fair, 70 of which are local agencies and 30 agencies are for overseas employment,” Assistant Regional Director Venerando C. Cebrano said.

To date, some 6,881job vacancies have been solicited from these agencies. Of these, there are 3,381 job vacancies for local employment and 3,500 vacancies for overseas employment.

“We expect to surpass our 2013 Kalayaan Job Fair registrants which reached 2,200,” DOLE Employment Cluster Head Lariele P. Arce said.

“From June 5 to 11, the gates of NCC Mall’s Kadawayan Hall will open for the mini-job fair to cater to those who want to pre-register and hasten the application process come June 12,” Cebrano said.

During the mini-job fair, applicants will also have the chance to register on the Phil-Job.Net, the employment portal of the government. Phil-Job.Net is another employment facilitation initiative of the DOLE to make easy the matching of job seekers and employers.

“The DOLE works to make it easy and fast for job seekers to find jobs that fit their qualifications, interests and career inclinations,” said Cebrano.

Arce said the DOLE is inspired to hold another major job fair as the Labor Day Job Fair was successful.

“Our Labor Day Job Fair performance was stellar as we made it among the Top 5 overall among all 16 regions in the country. This counts for the number of solicited job vacancies, number of registered applicants, number of participating employers and those hired on the spot [HOTS],” Arce said.

The May 1 Job Fair yielded a total of 1,512 HOTS and 5,358 job seekers who were referred for further interview.

“We have high hopes that those for further interview will actually land on the job. I expect to provide more employment opportunities during Kalayaan Job Fair,” Arce said.

Megaworld set to build P1.2-B Davao Finance Center next year

By Krista Angela M. Montealegre (InterAksyon.com)

MANILA – Megaworld Corp of Philippine billionaire Andrew Tan is building an iconic office tower in its township development in Davao.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the holding firm for the real estate businesses of Alliance Global Group Inc said it is allocating P1.2 billion to develop the Davao Finance Center with construction of the project set to start early next year.

The 15-storey office tower will be located at the corner of Dakudao Avenue and Megaworld Avenue, the main artery of Davao Park District, its first township project in Mindanao. The building is targeted to be completed by 2016.

“The iconic Davao Finance Center will be the first to rise in Davao Park District because we envision it to be a landmark for business, trade and commerce, especially for the information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) in Mindanao. The Davao Finance Center will mirror Davao City’s booming economy,” said Megaworld senior vice president Jericho P. Go.

At least four IT-BPO firms, mostly first-time locators in Mindanao, are keen on setting up shop at the Davao Finance Center. The building is seen generating around 8,000 jobs.

“Davao City is on the right track to become Mindanao’s IT-BPO hub. There is an abundance of highly-skilled human resource, and the existence of centers of excellence ensures that there is enough supply for highly-skilled human resource to meet the demand,” Go said.

A standalone McDonald’s store will also rise in front of the Davao Finance Center next year. AGI owns Golden Arches Development Corp, the master franchiser of McDonald's in the Philippines.

Mindanao's center of trade, commerce and education, Davao City is home to over two million residents and several topnotch universities including the Ateneo de Davao University, University of the Philippines – Mindanao Campus, and the University of Mindanao.

Over the next five to seven years, Megaworld is pouring in P15 billion for the development of the 11-hectare Davao Park District. The mixed-use project will rise in the site of the former Lanang Golf and Country Club.

Envisioned to be the central business district of Davao, the township will have office towers, commercial and retail strips, open parks and lagoon, and themed-residential condominiums by Suntrust Properties Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Megaworld.

Megaworld's earnings climbed by nearly half to P2.69 billion in the first quarter from P1.81 billion in 2013 on the strength of its property development and leasing businesses coupled with extraordinary gains.

PNP in Region-XI has new leadership

(PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

DAVAO CITY, May 28 (PIA) A new leadership took over command of the Police Regional Office-XI Wednesday in the person of Chief Superintendent Wendy Rosario.

Chief Inspector Jed Clamor, spokesperson of the PRO XI said Rosario takes over the command from outgoing director Chief Superintendent Wency Pascual who also retired from the service in a command and retirement ceremony officiated by Police Director General Alan Purisima.

He said Pascual served the region for ten years before retiring officially after 37 years of service in the military and police.

Clamor said Pascual is a recipient of two medals namely the Kapatapan sa Panglilingkod and Pambihirang Paglilingkod and the memento from the PNP’s Salamat Kapatid Program.

He said Pascual has been cited for the completion of the new Police Regional Hospital which he contributed a lot for its realization.

On the other hand, Purisima vouched for the capability of the new police regional director for his experience as the deputy regional director of PRO 3 prior to the assumption of his new post.

He also gave vehicles and firearms to the President Roxas Municipal Police Station in North Cotabato whose 16 personnel defended against the attack of the rebels two weeks ago which left three rebels dead.

Rosario for his part said his marching order is to continue the peace and order functions of the police as pursued by his predecessor particularly the anti-criminality campaign.

Davao karatekas bag 3 PNG golds

By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan

DAVAO City karatekas bagged three gold medals and one bronze at the close of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission (POC-PSC) National Games 2014 karatedo competition at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City over the weekend.

Siblings Bern Rexander, Rexor and Miyuki Tacay topped their respective events. Bern outclassed Jonipol Fortaliza of Sphinx Karatedo in the finals of the men's individual kumite 30 years old and above category, while Rexor, a national team member, defeated John Cenard Cullera of PKF-NSA Typhoons National Team in their men's -67 kgs. individual kumite championship match.

The 16-year-old Miyuki, a High School graduate at the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC), beat Keshia Ruth Labiaga of Cebu City in the junior female individual kumite 15-17 years old -59 kgs final.

Dabawenya Lya Marie Carrillo, a 2012 National Batang Pinoy Games double gold medalist, salvaged a bronze in the same class.

Playing-coach Bern, of PSKAI-Takai Gijutsu School of Martial Arts, was satisfied by their performance, saying: "I think we did great. Five Dabawenyos with three golds and bronze from the most prestigious and stiffest annual sporting competition of the country is a remarkable feat."

Bern, in text messages to Sun.Star Davao on Monday, added, "We fought our hearts out to bring honor to our beloved city. My younger brother and I even suffered knee injuries during the tournament. We went there on our own expense for the love of the sport."

Over at the Marikina Riverbanks, Christian Dan Ivan Loriezo snatched a bronze in junior boys arnis lightweight sparring event.

Kapatirang Doble Olisi (KDO) Escrima-Davao City team coach Mario Palazuelo, in a phone interview, said the players didn't make it on time for the anyo (form) events so they only caught up with sparring competition. The team was composed of two junior and six senior players.

"Nag C130 lang man sila so wala na gyud sila kaabot. Nag-una ra ko para dili ma-disqualify ang team kay kinahanglan dunay representative para sa solidarity meeting ug tournament briefing (They took the C130 plane that so they didn't arrive on time. I went ahead so the team won't be disqualified as there is a need for a representative in solidarity meeting and tournament briefing," said Palazuelo, who shouldered the Manila-Davao trips of the players.

He added that the 2014 edition was the biggest PNG arnis tournament that they've been to. "A total of 575 entries joined the tournament. One player has to go through a lot of matches during the eliminations before reaching the quarter-finals. It's really tough."

Meanwhile, Mark Allen Fabriga of Davao City clinched a bronze in wrestling. Dabawenyos John Ray Arenas and Sheldon Cortez finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in separate wrestling divisions.

Firm seeks Davao city council's nod for USD 390-M hydropower plant

(PNA), FPV/LCM/LOVELY A. CARILLO/LDP

DAVAO CITY, May 26 (PNA) -- A property developer now investing into the development of hydropower plants is seeking an endorsement from the Davao City Council for its 160-Megawatts (MW) hydropower plant with a total investment of USD 390 million.

City Councilor John Louis Bonguyan, chairperson of the Committee on Energy, said the San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group has assured the city council that the run-of-river power plant would not affect the city’s water system when it utilizes the Tamugan River. San Lorenzo’s plant will not exceed the allowable 200-meter elevation, he added.

Bonguyan however said the proposed project will still need further consultations as this might raise another burden to the city’s water sources.

The Department of Energy (DoE) has already endorsed the hydropower plant project which means it can proceed provided it gets the endorsement of the local government. If it can secure city’s endorsement, the company can also proceed with other requirements of other government agencies.

“We have asked them to submit a water analysis and their data on how much water they are going to get from the river since even at a 200-meter elevation the water would still be needed by the farmers,’ Bonguyan said.

“I will wait for the committee’s recommendation because I am not sure about how this will affect our water source,” Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte of Davao City said.

Even if they tell us that it is waste water that they are going to use, it will still be useful for other people - so let’s see how the environmental advocates will react to this, Duterte said.

“We have asked them to submit a water analysis and their data on how much water they are going to get from the river since even at a 200-meter elevation the water would still be needed by the farmers,’ he said.

Given that San Lorenzo will get the city council’s endorsement and permit’s from government agencies, the company will still go back to the city council for a special use permit for use of resources for industrial purposes.

If it pushes through, the San Lorenzo Builders hydropower plant will be bigger than the two newly-inaugurated hydropower plants of Hedcor which has a combined capacity of 14MW.

San Lorenzo intends to invest 2.5-billion-dollar worth of four hydropower plants with an aggregate capacity of 1,212 MW in Davao City; Rodriguez, Rizal (500MW); Tabuk, Kalinga (240MW) and in Lawaan, Eastern Samar (312MW).

Empowerment of livestock, poultry players lauded

(Manila Bulletin)

Davao City – The Region-11 office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-11) recently convened the livestock and poultry players in the area in a forum held at the Brokenshire Convention Center here that was designed to boost their productivity and expand linkages to market centers.

The gathering, dubbed as “Forum on Philippine Native Animal Development” (PNAD) was lauded by livestock and poultry stakeholders in the region after realizing the strong support that the agency has provided to the industry.

Aside from the industry’s main players, the gathering was also graced by provincial veterinarians, partner academes, and various non-government organizations in the area.

The Mindanao Cattle Research and Development Project, Philippine Native Animal’s Resiliency to Climate Change, Enterprise, and its Market Potentials, and PNAD’s program updates and roadmap were all presented to the participants to widen their knowledge in the industry.

“There is a need for the conservation, production, and marketing of domesticated native food animals since this will not only give additional income to the farmers, but also provide a savoring and healthy meat,” said DA-11 Director Remelyn Recoter said.

She added that all of the topics during the forum were focused to create awareness on PNAD’s mandate to formulate, promote, and implement policies and programs for the development, production, and marketing of native animals.

It was gathered that Davao City ranks first in terms of production of native chicken, which contributes 27 percent of the 2013 inventory of almost six million heads in Davao Region.

Davao pushes for inclusion of terminal fee in airline ticket

(PNA), JBP/LCM/LOVELY A. CARILLO/LDP/PJN

DAVAO CITY, May 24 (PNA) -- The local government here is pushing for the incorporation of the Davao International Airport (DIA) terminal fee in the airline ticket cost to avoid further inconvenience during flight schedule.

It is requesting the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to approve the scheme pending the approval in Congress of House Bill 6693 -- An Act creating the Davao International Airport Authority, Inc.

Mylene Garcia-Albano, Davao City’s second district representative and author of HB 6693, said the Authority is expected to undertake the control, management and supervision of the airport now that the Aquino administration has adopted the open sky policy.

Albano said the bill’s approval will pave the way for the creation of a Board which will have full control of decision-making and budgeting. It will also have the power to levy and collect dues, charges, fees or assessments for the use of the airport, invest its idle funds and exercise police authority.

“Incorporating the terminal fee in the amount of the purchased ticket will make the process more efficient for both domestic and international travelers,” councilor Leonardo Avila III, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Communication said.

Avila said this is already being practiced in the airports in Manila and Cebu which already have their own airport authorities. It is important that this is already done here considering the number of passengers that pass through the Davao airport every day.

“There are 54 flights at the Davao International Airport on a daily basis and with only 200 passengers per flights that would mean 10,000 passengers lining up to pay their terminal fees at a single window every day," Avila said.

The airport’s terminal fee is one of the major sources of income with the following collection rate: PHP227 million in 2010, PHP267 million in 2011 and PHP284 million in 2012.

Avila said the separate payment of terminal fees, which is being done at the Davao Airport before the passenger leaves, has proven to be difficult not only for airport personnel but more importantly for passengers.

Some passengers no longer have budget for the terminal fees after they have shopped and toured the city and its nearby attractions. Other international passengers also tend to spend all their peso currency while in the city so they have to change currencies at the airport just to pay for the airport terminal fee, he said.

Luwalhati Antonino, chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa), has promised to help the city push for the incorporation of the terminal fee with the ticket fees.

However, she said the City Council has to pass a resolution signifying their request to CAAP.

“It is worthy to study and to work towards it. This might entail a major change in systems but the convenience of travelers should be foremost in our minds and hearts,” Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. Department of Tourism assistant secretary said.

School exec pushes measures as ASEAN 2015 nears

(PIA/RG Alama)

DAVAO CITY- A school official is pushing for measures that will enhance school’s attractiveness as ASEAN 2015 nears.

The ASEAN 2015 (Asean stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is a regional economic integration which involves the freer movement of capital, goods and people among ASEAN member countries by 2015. Among these movement will be students from different countries in the region.

Rey Castro, Assistant Vice President for Business Development of the University of Mindanao, said that several measures must be enacted so that schools can take advantage of ASEAN 2015.

One is the change of school calendar. The Philippines is the only country in ASEAN where the month June is the opening of classes. Almost all countries have followed the schedule where August is the start of the classes. Castro said that Vietnam and Thailand had changed their school calendar to adapt to other countries.

He said that UM will be following the new calendar this coming 2015 with August as the start of classes and also they will be be using the trimestral calendar instead of the usual semestral classes.

“If you really want to internationalize you must change our school calendar because no students will enroll if our school calendar is different from their countries.” Castro said during an interview at the Kapehan sa Abreeza Media forum held today (May 23) at Abreeza, Ayala Mall.

Another measure for schools to adapt is to ensure that curriculum must adhere to international standards. And one of the steps is to harmonize the credit transferring system in Philippine schools.

Castro also noted the discrepancy of Philippine units with units from other ASEAN countries, for example one Malaysian college subject is equivalent to about three Philippine college subjects.

He said the country is noted for having so many subjects in college. In other countries one college semester has an average of 3 to 4 college subjects while in the Philippines a semester has a load of 8 to 9 college subjects.

He said this is the reason why foreign students only study English and other cultural subjects in the country instead of schooling here full-time.

UM he said has started to harmonize its curriculum and is widely accepted among ASEAN countries.

Another measure is for schools to have foreign professors and to offer foreign languages particularly Bahasa, Japanese, South Korean and Chinese as ASEAN integration will also include the three countries Japan, South Korea and China.

One aspect looking into is fixing the peace and order problem particularly the country’s negative image. Castro cited the school University of Mindanao as hard to promote because of the negative connotation of Mindanao as a war-torn region.

Castro cited huge potentials in the education market in the coming ASEAN 2015, particularly as many students from ASEAN countries will be attracted to study in the country because of its English communication skills.

DPWH XI expands horizon of 11 PWD trainees

(PNA), LAM/LCM/PR/LDP

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH XI) has partnered with the Bigay Buhay Multipurpose Cooperative (BBMC)-Support the Employment and Livelihood Program (SELP) funded by the USAID, by accepting 11 On-the-Job Trainees with physical disabilities.

The BBMC-SELP is a program envisioned to open opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) by exposing them to office work where their skills can be enhanced to increase their competitiveness in mainstream society.

BBMC is an organization that caters to PWDs and is currently operating in three major cities; Quezon City, Cebu City and Davao City.

Regional Director Mariano Alquiza is very warm to the request of BBMC to accommodate PWDs as trainees of the DPWH.

He disclosed that PWDs are productive citizens in different levels of capacities and should not be regarded as welfare cases. By opening the DPWH to PWDs, Alquiza hopes that this will help them develop their skills and may later consider hiring them as job order personnel when they would have mastered the minimum skills qualification needed for work with the DPWH.

The positive response of Alquiza is in accordance to the provisions of Republic Act 10524 or the Act Expanding the Positions Reserved for Persons with Disabilities which amended RA 7272 known as the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability where one per cent of all positions in all government agencies shall be reserved for persons with disability.

The first batch of OJTs in the DPWH XI is composed of eight females and three males who are training as data encoders, graphic designers and other related clerical work.

6-month visa extension to boost local tourism

By Reuel John F. Lumawag

THE six-month extension on visitor's visa will help boost the local tourism industry, officials said on Tuesday.

In a press statement, Bureau of Immigration Davao District Office (BI-Davao) announced that foreigners in Mindanao can now extend their visitor's visa up to six months instead of the usual two months.

BI-Davao is the first and only sub-port in Mindanao authorized to implement Memorandum Order RADJR-2013-007 or the Long-Stay Visitor's Visa Extension (LSVVE).

Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) officer-in-charge Lisette C. Marques, in a phone interview on Tuesday, said foreign visitors can now plan for a longer stay in the city.

"They will be able to gain richer experience and be able to understand the culture more," she said.

Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) officer-in-charge Ivan C. Cortez said in an e-mail that the "extension will directly benefit foreign tourists whose intention to stay is longer than two months. This would mean extended tourism receipts too."

"It will not have much effect on foreign investors because we already have the investor's visa policies and incentives," Cortez said.

BI-Davao alien control officer Eddie P. Delima said in a statement that the LSVVE is a welcome development, as it will minimize the expense and effort by foreigners in extending their visa.

"The primary considerations here are the convenience of our clients, the decongestion of our lobbies, and the lessening up of our daily transactions so we could cater more to other services to our clients," he said.

BI-Davao said the total amount of fees to be paid under LSVVE "is the same as if extensions were made every two months. For non-visa required nationals, the total fees to be paid for LSSVE is around P11,500 while visa required nationals will be paying around P13,900."

"This LSVVE is available provided accumulated total stay including LSVVE will not exceed 24 months for visa-required nationals and 36 months for non-visa recognized nationals," the agency said. Interest foreigners may go to BI-Davao's office.

In a separate phone interview, Delima said they have already been implementing the LSVVE for two weeks already.

Aside from Davao City, the Bureau of Immigration in Cebu City is also the other sub-port outside Manila to offer the service.


Davao City Hall eyes partnership with Korean firm for city’s evacuation center

By Lilian C. Mellejor [(PNA), CTB/LCM/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, May 20 (PNA) -– The city government, in partnership with a Korean organization, is building an evacuation center for this city as temporary shelter for families displaced by natural and man-made calamities in the future.

City Hall spokesperson Leomides Villareal said the agreement between the city government and the Korean organization is a work in progress.

He however, will not disclose the name of the organization.

He added that he does not know the full details of the agreement because it is still being drafted by the executive department.

According to Villareal, the proposed partnership was an offer from the Korean organization for which the city has to provide only the area and the Korean organization will build the evacuation center.

Villareal said the city will be allocating a part of the three-hectare Davao City Slaughterhouse in Maa as the site for the evacuation center complete with facilities.

The city government has no evacuation center for families affected by disasters and only uses schools and gymnasiums as temporary shelters.

2014 investment plan to focus on supply, value-added chain

By Reuel John F. Lumawag

INVESTMENTS that will benefit the value added chain and fill-in the gaps in the supply chain will be the focus areas of the 2014 Investment Priority Plan (IPP).

Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, director for industrial policy development of the Bureau of Investments, said in an interview with Sun.Star Davao on Wednesday that the list of priority investment areas are much more specified this year to close the gaps in the supply chain and improve the value added chain.

"In the previous IPPs, we simply list the priority investment areas. Now we are more specific of what industries are priority investment areas," she said.

Dichosa said in the previous IPPs, the list tends to be broad. For example, under agriculture they would simply list down commercial production, commercial processing, and added services.

For the 2014 IPP, they are much more specific as to what industry, in a certain sector, they want investments in. For example, under the agriculture and fishery sector they have identified the following as preferred investment areas: extraction of natural ingredients, mechanized agriculture support services, and agriculture infrastructure.

"In thus IPP, we did not only list what industry is a preferred investment area but we listed industries that will add value to the products and fill in the gaps of the supply chain," she said.

They have come up with a preliminary list of preferred investment areas, they are: manufacturing, agribusiness and fishery, services, economic and low cost housing, energy, public infrastructure and logistics, and private-public partnership (PPP) projects. They further identified specific priority investment sectors under these areas.

Dichosa said the list is just a preliminary and they might add more a long the way.

Aside from the preliminary list, they continue to include the common investment areas like renewable energy, information and communication technology, tourism, and export, among others.

The 2014 IPP is also aimed to increase employment opportunities, promote higher value adding activities and deeper SME participation in the supply chain; and strengthen participation in global and regional production networks including ASEAN economic community.

The IPP was conducted through a series of consultation with both the private and public sectors.

Dichosa presented the 2014 IPP last May 13, 2014 at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites during a consultation with the public and private sector in Davao City.

Davao race track ready for Cyclomax Motocross on May 24 (Sports)

(PNA), SCS/MCL/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, May 18 (PNA) -- The Phoenix Cyclomax Motocross has been slated on May 24 at the MotoX Davao race track inside the Davao Crocodile Park in Maa, this city.

“It is part of the Davao City Sports for Peace Festival,” said organizer Bok Mata of Moto X Davao.

The categories are the PeeWee 50, PeeWee 65, Super Mini, Pantra, Enduro Open, Novice Production Open, Intermediate Production Open, Executive, Expert Production Open, KLX150 Beginner and KLX150 Novice.

Among those expected to see action are riders from Davao, Tagum, Digos, Agusan, Bukidnon, Midsayap, Kabacan, Cotabato, Monkayo and Ozamiz.

They include the Team Phoenix composed of Kimboy Pineda of Tagum, Abu Mata and Michael Tapic of Davao, Jeven Lagrada of Agusan, Ambo Yapparcon of Palawan, Jeff Razonable of Digos, Glenn Lapuz of Bukidnon, Aldyx Pantone of Monkayo, Charlie Vince Pascua of Kabacan, Jaspher Banot of Don Marcelino, Michael Bediot and Tonton Fernandez of Midsayap. The top five placers will receive cash prizes.

The motocross event is sponsored by Kurmat, Kawasaki, Honda, Best Bike, KTM, ETG, Toyota, Red Bull, Nature’s Spring, Lipovitan, Mac Cycle Mart, Sign Factor, Phoenix Premium 98, JVF Commercial, JBK Promotions, Sankai Japanese Restaurant, Project One Audio Sales and Phoenix Lubricants.

It is also supported by the City Sports Development Division, Maa Barangay Council, SCOOP Davao, 92.3 WT and 95.5 Hit Radio.

DOST-Davao's food processing center set to operate soon

By Reuel John F. Lumawag

THE Food Processing Innovation Center (FPIC) of the regional office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Davao Region is set to begin its operations soon once all equipments have arrived.

DOST-Davao Director Anthony Sales, during the Club 888 forum at Marco Polo Hotel Davao on Wednesday, said they are expecting four of the seven food processing equipment this week.

The center will house seven food processing equipment that are capable of supporting small scale productions. These are: water retort, immersion freezer, vacuum packaging machine, spray dryer, vacuum evaporator, vacuum fryer, and vacuum dryer.

He said the P5.3-million project is a national program of DOST and is intended to be used in developing meat, fruits, fish, and vegetables into processed food products.

In a press release, the center will function as a common service facility for food innovation, micro toll processing, and packaging to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the academe, and other interested sectors.

The center also aims to "upgrade manufacturing operations and processing systems through the application of technologies."

"The FPIC is open to be used by everyone particularly for food researchers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and those in the private sector," Sales said.

Sales said the FPIC has the capacity to handle two to three locators at the same time.

"DOST will be supplying the personnel who will man the center," he said.

He added that there will be a fee for those who will use the FPIC.

"The fee will be used to maintain the equipment," he said.

Consultancy services are also available in the center to help "improve quality, marketability, withstand inefficiencies in transport system, and comply with the standards and regulations set in the domestic and export markets."

He also said they are eyeing to expand the center in the coming years so that they will be able to cater to the needs of those in the food processing industry.

"We are now doing a survey on what are the needs of the food processing industry in the region," Sales said.

The FPIC is located at the Philippine Women's College (PWC).

It is a collaborative initiative of DOST-Davao, PWC, Department of Trade and Industry-Davao, the Food Processing Association of Davao Inc., and the City Government of Davao.

Mazda Davao launched today

(SunStar Davao)

MGM Motors Mindanao Inc. (MMMI), is set to launch today its second Mazda dealership on the island with the opening of its showroom on Km 7, Lanang in Davao City.

Mazda Davao offers Mazda vehicles, parts and accessories, car insurance, auto detailing, automotive repair and maintenance services.

With the vision to offer the premium Mazda brand that excite and delight our customers through value-for-money ownership programs, the best automotive products and services, MMMI initially launched its Mindanao presence with the dealership in Cagayan de Oro City in 2011. It is also eyeing expansion in Butuan City and other areas in Mindanao depending on market requirements.

The company obtained its registration certificate from the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2006.

As such, Mazda Cagayan de Oro became the first official provincial Mazda dealer in Mindanao to sell Mazda vehicles, parts and accessories and to provide the world-renowned high quality automotive repair and maintenance services.

MGM's executive operating officers are headed by Willy Q. Tee Ten, president; Paul L. Gotianse, executive vice president, and Maribel L. Chua general manager.

Mazda Cagayan de Oro, launched on June 17, 2011, is located on Km 3 National Highway Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City.

With the vision to offer the premium Mazda brand that excite and delight customers through value-for-money ownership programs, the best automotive products and services, MGM Motors will likely be one of the leading automobile companies in the Philippines.

DFA's Sensei Futbolfest set May 17 in Davao City

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

DAVAO CITY, May 15 (PNA) -- The Davao Football Association (DFA) is holding its Sensei Futbolfest on Saturday, May 17 at the Tiongko football grounds at Quimpo Blvd., this city in memory of the late football coach Jose “Sensei” Te.

Te’s former assistant coach-turned national coach Albert Ryan “Abing” Lim said “this is exclusively for DFA team or club members only”.

There are two separate categories for ages 6 to 12 and 18 years old and above (open). Registration is free.

“We are holding this in memory of our great football Sensei Te,” Lim said.

The former players of Te, including DFA president Edward “Chaya” Lam are expected to participate in the event.

15th annual Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute begins

(Press Release/Rappler.com)

MPI is an Asian peacebuilding training institute grounded in the Mindanao context, using models developed and adapted for and by Asians

DAVAO City, Philippines – 120 peacebuilders from around the world will be gathering in Davao City starting May 11 for the 15th Annual Peacebuilding Training of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI).

This year’s training will be held at The Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases, Davao City, from May 12 to 30, 2014.

MPI is an Asian peacebuilding training institute grounded in the Mindanao context, using models developed and adapted for and by Asians. The Institute was established in 2000 by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to bring together peacebuilders of diverse cultures from the Asia-Pacific Region to join in its annual peacebuilding training.

Christine Vertucci, MPI Director, says that, “The facilitators for the Annual Training courses are extremely qualified and form a committed, high-caliber team. They come from diverse backgrounds and countries, but are all professionals who have worked in the field, thus being both grounded in practice and skilled in facilitation.”

While based in the Philippines and at the service of peacebuilders in Asia-Pacific, the Annual Peacebuilding Training attracts peacebuilders from around the globe. This year’s training will include participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Korea and the United States.

This year’s training builds on the theme of MPI’s anniversary: “15 Years and Beyond – Building Just Peace for All.” Along with some of the previously offered courses on peace education, non-violence, negotiation skills, trauma healing and peacebuilding and the arts, MPI will be offering three new courses: Conflict Sensitive Economic Governance: Peace-Enabling Approaches in Complex and Fragile Contexts, From Understanding to Action: Theories and Tools for Designing Effective Peace and Development Interventions in Fragile and Unpredictable Situations and Resource-Based Conflict: Indigenous People’s Perspectives and Approaches. The latter is offered in cooperation with MPI’s Resource-Based Conflict and Peacebuilding Training Program in Northwestern Mindanao.

Davao investment center eyes solar panel business as priority investment

By Judy G. Quiros [(PNA), CTB/LCM/JGQ/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, May 13 (PNA) -- The Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) is considering a solar panel manufacturing as a priority investment in wake of the worsening power problem in the city.

In an interview, DCIPC chief Ivan Chin Cortez said DCIPC is planning to sell the idea of solar panel manufacturing to a Chinese businessman soon. He however, opted not to identify the Chinese businessman in order not to preempt the negotiation.

Cortez said the solar panels are installed on roofs to produce power.

He said DCIPC is currently discussing the matter with some partner agencies.

DCIPC is pushing promotion of the solar panel business after seeing a potential Korean property developer that is currently scouting for a big property in Buhangin and Mintal in Davao City to develop a housing subdivision.

The developer plans to adapt retrofitted roofs in which the solar panels could be very useful, Cortez said.

With climate change taking toll on supply capacity, he said DCPIC sees power generation as priority investment in the city. He was optimistic that Davao City would survive the power crisis in the future as investors on power generation have started to come in.

Once these investors venture in Davao City, it will be the fastest city in Mindanao to recover from the impact of power crisis, Cortez said.

Davao mayor ensures food security, assistance during El Nino

By Lilian C. Mellejor [(PNA), FPV/LCM/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, May 12 (PNA)--The city government of Davao will ensure programs are in place to lessen the impact of El Nino to agriculture.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte however raised concerns of a reported depleting calamity funds for programs to ensure food security and financial assistance to victims of future crisis brought by natural and man-made disasters.

If needed, “mag utang ko sa banko (I will borrow from the bank),” Duterte said emphasizing that the city government needs to act to lessen or minimize the damage when drier months impact on the agricultural production.

He recalled that the city used its calamity funds in assisting the fire victims of Isla Verde at about Php 45 million. The funds were also utilized in helping survivors of the Typhoon Yolanda in Southern Leyte and the earthquake in Bohol.

Duterte said he also needs money to help in terms of financial assistance to affected residents.

“We have to figure out a way to minimize the impact of El Nino,” he said.

He was also concerned on where to source money for the additional assistance to the victims of the fire incident in Isla Verde as the families will have to rebuild their homes before the opening of classes. City Hall has asked an allocation of Php 60 million for additional assistance to the fire victims.

The city government has about Php 250 million allocated for calamity funds.

City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus was concerned that an additional cash assistance to the victims will deplete the city’s calamity funds and nothing will remain for future disaster.

Mahipus was also concerned on how the City Treasurer’s Office will source additional budget for the city.

Duterte tasked the city treasurer to look for sources.

He said he was also looking at the recommendation of Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte of pressing delinquent property owners to pay dues to the city government.

"Maybe I will be forced this time…bayad na mo (you pay now)," he said.

According to the mayor, it would be a double whammy for the city and elsewhere in Mindanao when drier months strike since everybody is already suffering from blackouts due to decrease power supply capacity from the Mindanao Grid. The water level in Lanao is nearing crisis level, thereby affecting the operation of the Agus and Pulangi plants.

Duterte said El Nino, high temperatures and lowering of water level to run the Mindanao Grid are the effects of climate change. This is not first time the city experienced El Nino.

In the past, the city government assisted affected families particularly in the second and third districts where agricultural production areas are located.

Climate change is the changes in the earth’s weather, including changes in temperature, wind patterns and rainfall, especially the increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere that is caused by the increase of particular gases, especially carbon dioxide.

He said the city government has already its crisis committee, which can be convened anytime to find measures on how to alleviate the impacts of natural calamities.

Duterte said it is very important to work on ways and means before any damage is done on the food sector.

Last week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) asked the public to brace for the effect of El Nino expected to come in June. The decreasing water level in extreme dry season will severely affect the agricultural sector.

So far, Duterte said he only heard people complaining of high temperatures.

“Pag makita na nato mo-siak ang yuta -– diha na ta (when we see soils are cracking -– then that’s it...),” Duterte emphasized.

Love of horses gallops in Davao City

By Germelina Lacorte (Inquirer Mindanao)

Beneath a tree that provides cool shade to the makeshift stable of an Arabian horse from Bukidnon province, George Misa grapples for words to describe his fascination with horses.

“When your name is called or when you’re made to stand on one side of the barrel before the competition, the adrenaline rush is simply indescribable,” Misa, president of the Davao Horse Club (DHC), said, shaking his head and smiling.

Hundreds of horse lovers and spectators flocked to the sprawling open field of Riverfront Stables in Barangay Maa here on May 1 for the 15th horse show and game competition. The event is the country’s longest-running “gymkhana,” or games on horseback, mostly done Western-style, reminiscent of American cowboys and the Wild, Wild West.

“Our two mainstay games are the barrel race and the obstacle race,” Misa said. His club adheres to the rules of the Philippine Horsemen Federation, which follow the standard American barrel race rules, he said.

A parade of horses as the opening act transformed the 3-hectare field into a backdrop for Western movies, with people wearing cowboy hats and riding gear—the Davao horsemen, as they like to call themselves, according to Misa.

The DHC has been running the event since 1998, a year after it was formed.

“It’s different from Masbate’s rodeo, which has been running in the last 17 years,” Misa said. “No cattle are involved here,” he said, and horse fight is definitely a “no-no.”

The Davao event featured parlor games involving horses, which included message relay and even “Trip to Jerusalem,” where riders roam around a circle of chairs and dismount when the music stops to scamper for a seat.

Horses also had to compete for the best tricks and the best groomed, but what stirred spectators and enthusiasts were the more riveting barrel, oval and obstacle races in the novice, intermediate and expert divisions.

“Horseback riding, the sport, brings us back to nature and makes us think about protecting the environment,” Misa said, reflecting on projects that the club wants to pursue. DHC members include a 15-year-old girl—the youngest and one of the most competitive members—and a 72-year-old.

“In 2014, the Year of the Horse and the Davao Horse Club, we want to promote the sport and horseback riding,” Misa said. “Secondly, we want to share what we have, this love for horses.”

“What I love about this club is we’re all fired up by our love for horses,” he said.

Unlike in other areas where such an event has been hosted by the local government, the Davao horse show has been largely an activity of the private sector.

“I’m very glad that we reached this far because in other areas, they either stopped or changed names,” Misa said, referring to clubs in Cebu and other cities. “We’re proud of the fact that the 15th edition brings in visitors from all over the country to Davao. It spurs sports tourism. Families, kids enjoy watching games on horseback.”


City Hall allocates space for Davao fire victims

(PNA)

DAVAO CITY – Occupants of the burnt site in Isla Verde can now start rebuilding their structures in the area but only within the 50-square meter lot allocated by the local government of Davao City for each house owner.

City Administrator Melchor Quitain said the city has to limit the space for the houses to pave the way for the construction of roads. The lack of road access had impeded fire responders to the area at the height of the fire incident last April.

“This is one instance where you have to put your foot down, this is not a wishy-washy, we have to start with the identification of the families now,” Quitain said in the wake of some occupants aggressively pushing to build their structures beyond the specifications of Task Force Isla Verde.

City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) Chief Ma. Luisa Bermudo said there is a total of 1,981 house owners, as of May 6, affected by the Isla Verde fire are qualified for the Los Amigos relocation site.

Of the number, 1,956 are owners of totally damaged houses while 25 are owners of partially damaged houses.

Quitain said the fire victims, as long as they are qualified, could also build their houses at the Los Amigos relocation site in Mintal.

Meanwhile, he said public schools which are currently used as evacuation centers by the fire victims must be vacated by May 15 to prepare the schools for the opening of classes this month of June.

On the other hand, Gerald Pil, Department of Education (DepEd) administration officer, assured that the schools will be ready for the school children when classes open in June.

Davao City investment arm urges solar energy ventures

(MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/09 May)—With the power crisis besetting Mindanao, the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) is encouraging more energy investments in the city to augment supply.

Speaking at Thursday’s iSpeak forum at City Hall, Ivan Cortez, DCIPC officer-in-charge, said they are looking for more investments on rooftop solar panels as well as other energy-producing ventures.

Cortez cited that solar panels can help curb the faltering supply in the Mindanao grid once they are developed.

Despite the rotating brownouts in the city, Cortez said they have not monitored “any investor trying to back out from doing business in the area.”

Among the persistent proposals was a $116 million waste-to-energy facility, currently being discussed at the city’s private-public partnership board.

The proposal from Synova has been existing since 2011, Cortez said.

While claiming that businesses are losing up to P6 million per hour during peak hours, he said that the city “has slowly learned to adjust to the rotating brownouts.”

Generators have also become as cheap as P6,000 per unit, Cortez said.

He added that consumers have also flocked to more regularly electrified areas such as malls to manage the power outages. “We’ve experienced it before, and we’ve learned to cope.”

The more responsive business players are the more they will survive the power crisis, he said.

120 peacebuilders from around the world gather in Davao City

(MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews) – A hundred and twenty peacebuilders from around the world will arrive here for the 15th Annual Peacebuilding Training of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute (MPI) on May 12 to 30 at The Ritz Hotel, Garden Oases.

The annual training has been attracting peacebuilders from all over the world.

This year, participants include peace workers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Korea and the United States.

MPI’s trainings are grounded in the Mindanao context, using models developed and adapted for and by Asians. It was established in 2000 by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to bring together peacebuilders of diverse cultures from the Asia-Pacific Region to join in its annual peacebuilding training.

MPI’s press statement quoted MPI Director Christine Vertucci as saying that the facilitators of the annual training “are extremely qualified and form a committed, high-caliber team.”

“They come from diverse backgrounds and countries, but are all professionals who have worked in the field, thus being both grounded in practice and skilled in facilitation,” She said.

This year’s training builds on the theme of MPI’s anniversary: “15 Years and Beyond – Building Just Peace for All.”

MPI’s regular courses include peace education, non-violence, negotiation skills, trauma healing and peacebuilding and the arts.

This year, three new courses are being offered: Conflict Sensitive Economic Governance: Peace-Enabling Approaches in Complex and Fragile Contexts; From Understanding to Action: Theories and Tools for Designing Effective Peace and Development Interventions in Fragile; and Unpredictable Situations and Resource-Based Conflict: Indigenous People’s Perspectives and Approaches.

“Unpredictable Situations” is being offered in cooperation with MPI’s Resource-Based Conflict and Peacebuilding Training Program in Northwestern Mindanao.

More details are available at www.mpiasia.net. Testimonials from participants in previous trainings can be read at http://www.mpiasia.net/testimonials.html

Mindanao electric power group to convene in Davao City

(PNA), LAM/MCL/LACARILLO/LDP

DAVAO CITY — Members of the Mindanao Electric Power Alliance (MEPA) will convene in this city on May 18-19 to find a solution to Mindanao’s power problem.

MEPA is a group of 33 stakeholder organizations involved in Mindanao’s power industry chaired by the Mindanao Business Council (MBC). MEPA is a member of the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee created by President Benigno S. Aquino IIIs through Executive Order No. 81 issued in 2012.

Among MEPA’s members are local distribution utilities, chambers of commerce and industry, investors in power generation, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

“I have called a meeting so that we can discuss the current power situation in Mindanao and see what we can do to solve it,” MBC and MEPA chairperson Vicente Lao said.

He said MEPA has always been active in proposing reforms in the power industry after it was formed. “We have to look for a solution or else Mindanao’s economy will be in trouble,” he added.

While Lao is steadfast that government and the private sector must jointly solve the power situation in Mindanao. He is not, however, agreeable to the idea of expanding the Aboitiz-owned 345-MW coal-fired power plant located along the boundary of Binugao in Toril, Davao City and Inawayan in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur because of its effect on the environment and the marine resources of Davao Gulf.

He said there is a need to conduct a study on the effects of thermal pollution as a result of the operation of the 300MW coal-fired power plant which is expected to go online by 2015.

The Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS), a non-government organization has also called on other groups to conduct a study on the mercury pollution of the area for comparative data once the plant operates.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is fully supportive to the coal-fired power plant if only to make sure that the city will have enough power supply and draw more investors to the city.

Davao City to hire more police auxiliaries to combat theft

By PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines (PIA11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

DAVAO CITY, May 6 (PIA) Mayor Rodrigo Duterte mulled of hiring local police auxiliaries to combat the theft incidents among local communities in the city.

He said the local police alone cannot deter theft incidents perpetrated by the akyat-bahay gangs because of their limited number.

Duterte said he needs to bring the issue to the Sangguniang Panglungsod since he needs more or less P5-Million allocation per month for every five police auxiliaries deployed in all 182 barangays in the city.

He said every barangay must have its own security activity.

Duterte said theft is the only security concern of the city nowadays.

He said police auxiliaries must be young and are willing to work.

“I can call anybody to help me maintain law and order. Once appointed, they become agents of the person in authority for their protection once the kill someone or they are killed in the line of duty,” Duterte said.

He said the Davao City Police Office works currently on the criteria of a police auxiliary candidate.

Duterte said every candidate must undergo thirty-day training on police work, handling of suspects, the law on arrest, respect for human rights and due process of the law.

“Every barangay including the bigger ones will be provided with police auxiliaries armed with shot guns,” he said.

Mindanao-North Sulawesi Sea route opened to boost trade

By Allan Nawal (Inquirer Mindanao, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

DAVAO CITY—The goal of cheaper movement of goods and people between Indonesia and the Philippines will be realized this month with the opening of the Mindanao-North Sulawesi Sea route, according to the head of Malacañang’s development unit for the country’s south.

Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda), said the opening of the Davao-General Santos-Tahuna-Bitung sea route this month will boost trade and economic ties between Mindanao and North Sulawesi.

These two areas are among the targeted growth centers under the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (Bimp) economic cooperation treaty.

She said that, before this, consumer items for North Sulawesi area have to be brought in through Jakarta. This method jacked up prices, considering that Jakarta is almost a thousand nautical miles from North Sulawesi, she added.

In contrast, Antonino said the direct sea route would only cover 350 nautical miles.

“We commend the continuous efforts of the private sector in making this route possible, which will significantly cut shipping costs and thereby allow our small and medium entrepreneurs to engage in international trading between these two points in Bimp-Eaga (East Asian Growth Area),” she said.

Antonino said the opening of the sea route was covered by the agreement signed in Jakarta on April 11 between the Indonesian shipping line PT Kanaka, the North Minahasa Chamber of Commerce of Indonesia, Philippine-based cargo company ARREE Freight Express and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce.

“The sea route has expanded to include Tahuna, a fishing and trading center in Sangir Talaud group of islands in the province of North Sulawesi, situated in between Bitung and General Santos City,” she said.

Dr. Malou Monteverde, former Davao chamber president, said PT Kanaka will provide shipping services to the route with conventional cargo-type vessel with a 120 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity. ARREE Freight Express on the other hand will handle the cargo consolidation requirements for the shipping route, she said.

“We have always looked into this route as one of the cheapest and fastest ways to transport goods from Mindanao to Indonesia, and vice versa,” Monteverde said.

She said the vessel was expected to ply the route twice a month and will ferry canned beverage, fresh and dried tropical fruits, processed coconut, corn feeds, construction supplies, meat, poultry and fish products from the Philippines to North Sulawesi.

Minda said a study made by the Research Education and Institutional Development (Reid) Foundation in 2010 cited that the North Sulawesi-Mindanao Sea link “offers strong potentials for international trade and commerce between Indonesia and the Philippines since it offers a proximate channel for the shipment of goods.”

“The opening of this sea route concretizes our long-running efforts to establish a shipping link between Mindanao and North Sulawesi,” Eko Hartono, Indonesian Consul General to Davao, was quoted in a Minda news release as saying.

North Sulawesi is among the 10 provinces in the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya that are part of the Bimp-Eaga region.

Hartono added that once fully utilized, the sea route will serve as an impetus for the reopening of the Davao-Manado air links that will boost trade and tourism links between the two key cities in the sub-region.

18 para athletes represent Davao in national games

By Merle Dawn S. Comidoy

SOME 18 para athletes of Davao City will vie for honors as the 2014 Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (Philspada)-National Games kicks off on May 15-25 at Marikina Sports Complex, Metro Manila.

Philspada Davao City president James Infiesto said the 18 qualifiers were selected through the tryout held recently at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Matina Sports Complex.

Visually impaired para athletes entered in athletics and goalball were Cris Alfante (discus throw, shot put throw, javelin throw), Ian Nakila (discus throw, long jump, javelin, 100 and 200 meters dash), Jonathan Español (javelin, discus, shot put), Jose Saburdo (100m dash, discus), Ebenezer Celebrado (shot put, 100m dash) and Allan Español (javelin, shot put, discus).

Orthopedically handicapped Kadir Antalani will compete in class 57 discus throw, shot put and javelin throw, while Smith Billy Cartera and Jobert Lumanta for table tennis.

Bemedalled Henry Lopez of Panabo City will see action in chess along with visually impaired Aldrin Pana.

Wheelchair Basketball or basketball on wheels will be played by Armand Amoncio, Allan Belicario, Jonathan Mamitag, Narciso Maglasang, Racleo Martinez, Anotion Español and Edgardo Villasica who will also participate in discus throw, javelin throw and shot put throw.

Davao City para athletes will be joined by their coaches Infiesto (chess) Association of Differently-Abled Person president Redendo Martinez (wheelchair basketball), Joey Ganaban (athletics) and Joel Tapere (goalball).

Partnership for youth building

(PR)

A MEMORANDUM of agreement was signed by Davies Paints Inc. and Habitat for Humanity Philippines to formalize the partnership to repaint the wall fences of Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elementary School last April 30 at Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.

Included in the agreement is for Davies Paints Inc. to provide all the paints for the repainting and mural painting activity at the said school on May 19. This activity will engage more than 600 youth volunteers from different colleges and universities in the city.

Davies will also provide paints for the repainting of 3 Day Care Centers in Davao City.

Representing Davies Paints Inc. was Albert Lee Gan, vice president for Sales and Marketing, and Dolly Santos-Serranillo, resource development manager for Habitat for Humanity Phils.

Also present to witness the MOA signing were Melinda Roma, principal of Kapitan Tomas Elementary School, Don ElecciTorno, Arthur Uy, and Gerardo, who are all officers of Rotary Club of South Davao.

Arthur Uy of Rotary Club of South Davao helped in the forging of the partnership.

Ford tops PBA Youngstars Davao Leg Crown

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

DAVAO CITY, May 2 (PNA) -- Ford Academy routed Assumption College, 80–67, in the do-or-die finals to clinch the 2014 Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars Davao Leg crown at the Gaisano Skygym on Tuesday, April 29.

Playing three knockout games in three days, Ford banked on a complete team effort and remarkable performance of Louie Jay Batoon in the finale to earn the right to represent the city to the Mindanao finals in Zamboanga City.

Batoon fired 31 points, including fourteen in the second half, for Ford that will depart to Zamboanga City today in time for the regional qualifier.

Julius Caezar Requillo chipped in 19 markers as Ezequil Leo Austria and Jose Darell Agunta had 11 and 10, respectively, for Ford which turned things around in the pay off period.

Ford reeled off a huge run midway of the final canto after a tight contest in the first three period that came to an end at 62 – 57 with the Buhangin-based dribblers on top.

Batoon made a pull-up jumper and Requillo converted an uncontested lay up to give Ford a double digit lead under three minutes to go and the Bambi Santander-mentored squad held off several Assumption rallies down the stretch to secure the win.

Cris Marvin Vistal scored 20 points for Assumption which was trailing most of the game. Dennis Reyes made 19.

Ford survived an 94–92 overtime win over the pesky Emar squad on their first do-or-die game to make it to the crossover semifinals before knocking off the two time defending champion and top-seed Holy Child, 62–49, in the semis.

Ford then went on to beat Assumption in the finals to complete its remarkable campaign this year which opened with a 78–54 loss on the hands of Ateneo in the opener.

Ten team saw action in the league organized by Duterte Basketball League (DBL) and sanctioned by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) regional office under Regino “Boy” Cua.

New investments in city up 49% in Q1

By Reuel John F. Lumawag

THE Davao City Business Bureau registered a total of P1.599 billion in new investments poured in the city in the first three months of the year, representing a 49 percent increase as compared to the same period last year with P1.073 billion.

Also, a total of 1,357 new business permits have been issued during the same period as against 1,352 issued in the previous year.

Maribel T. Paguican, acting assistant officer at the Business Bureau, told Sun.Star Davao that though the increase in the number of establishments is just minimal, most of the investors who came in the first quarter this year poured in bigger capital outlay.

For the month of January 2014, a total of 251 new businesses were issued permits with a total investments of P81.259 million. In February, there were 492 new businesses with total investments amounting to P236.774 million. In March, there were 614 new businesses with total investments of P1.281 billion.

Paguican said most of the businesses were in the retail and wholesale industry. She also said most of the businesses applied for a business permit after January because they did not want to go with the busyness of renewal period.

"The entry of many new businesses shows the business climate in Davao City is improving. More businesses also means more jobs for Dabawenyos," she said.

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