Butuan City - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 2

boybleauXx

January 14th, 2006, 01:59 PM

DENR pushes rehab of 1.2-M hectare watershed areas in Caraga Region
BUTUAN CITY – The rehabilitation of 26 watershed areas in Caraga Region is now in full swing.

The Caraga Region office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said watershed rehabiltation is the thrust of its program this year.

To be rehabilitated are 1,236,583 hectares of watershed areas in the region. This is in pursuance of the objectives of the Integrated Development Plan-Caraga (IDP-Caraga), also known as the "Economic Recovery through Agri-Forest Productivity in Caraga."

The 1.2-M hectare target includes 31,983.33 hectares of degraded watershed areas and 1,000 kilometer of river banks and streams; and increase in forest cover of 588,217 hectares to control forest denudation and reduce floodings in some parts of the region.

The rehabilitation program also intends to support irrigation facilities servicing 28,048 hectares, and increase fresh water and brackish water fish production from 3.75 metric tons per hectare to six metric tons per hectare, and from 1.74 metric tons per hectare to 2.4 metric tons per hectare, respectively.

DENR regional officials, technical working group and field personnel were mobilized to coordinate with their counterparts, including local officials, in the development and rehabilitation efforts covering all watershed areas in the region.

Caraga DENR Regional Executive Director (RED) Benjamin T. Tumaliuan announced these priority programs of the DENR during the coastal and marine clean up activities in Barangay Ata-Atahon, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

The Caraga DENR office, at the same time, held a thanksgiving affair for emerging No. 1 among the 16 regional offices nationwide in accomplishment of regional targets in 2005.

Also part of the priority program is continuous no-nonsense forest protection drive, development of coastal and marine resources, and distribution of land patents.

RED Tumaliuan said the Land Management Services (LMS) had again accomplished beyond its target for the year in the processing and distribution of land titles under the 10point agenda of President Arroyo.

He said that of the 6,968 titles covering 10,452 hectares set as target for 2005, the DENR Caraga office distributed 7,087 lots. The figure is six percent in excess of its target.

He attributed the good performance to the efforts exerted by the 13 Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (CENRO’s) in the four provinces and three cities in Caraga in the processing and issuance of land patents.

Director Tumaliuan also said that the DENR was able to achieve its target with less grievances and complaints reported during the past year.

RED Tumaliuan likewise lauded the full support of the local government units (LGU) officials, particularly Butuan City Rep. Leovigildo "Boy" B. Banaag, chairman of the House committee on environment and natural resources.

Banaag released some R1.5 million from his countrywide development fund (CDF) for the purchase of a tugboat and patrol boats to bolster the anti-illegal logging campaign in the Agusan River.

Earlier, Banaag donated R1 million for research and development of clone-seedling laboratory facilities in Barangay Pinamangculan, this city.

DENR pushes rehab of 1.2-M hectare watershed areas in Caraga Region (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV2006011453815.html)

boybleauXx

January 14th, 2006, 02:03 PM

Cebu Pacific cuts fares further

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the country’s low-fare pioneer, is reducing further its fares to as low as P388 one way in what it calls Great Seat Sale promo to promote domestic travel during non-peak periods. Under this promo, passengers have only six days, January 12 to 17, to buy tickets. Travel will be from January 31 up to March 16. This promotional sale is on top of CEB’s ‘Go’ fares which are permanent – not promotional – low fares and available year round. "We have set aside more than 50,000 seats for this promotional sale. With fares this low, people don’t have to wait for the summer break to travel and visit families," said Bong Mojica, CEB general manager. The Great Seat Sale fares start at P388 for Manila to Roxas and Cebu to Iloilo; P488 for Manila to Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Palawan, Tacloban, and Kalibo; P588 for Cebu to Zamboanga, Cebu to Davao and Davao to Zamboanga and P788 for Manila to Tagbilaran, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Cotabato, Davao, Zamboanga and from Davao to Iloilo for a one-way trip.

boybleauXx

January 15th, 2006, 05:01 AM

http://www.agusanfilchinese.org/images/balanghai.jpg
Magsaysay Bridge at night

boybleauXx

January 15th, 2006, 05:03 AM

http://www.agusanfilchinese.org/images/present.jpg

boybleauXx

January 15th, 2006, 09:15 AM

KAHIMUNAN FESTIVAL
January 15, 2005
Libertad, Butuan City

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/125747660.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/125747681.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/125747677.jpg

tigidig14

January 15th, 2006, 10:05 AM

^ wow galing

ashley12

January 15th, 2006, 10:15 AM

^ agree! :applause:

boybleauXx

January 16th, 2006, 10:29 AM

KAHIMUNAN FESTIVAL January 15 , 2006
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/125917202.jpg

boybleauXx

January 17th, 2006, 11:36 PM

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/125917199.jpg

The tribe of the Mamanuas in a rain dance ritual.

boybleauXx

January 18th, 2006, 11:28 AM

Monday, January 09, 2006

Butuan seen to complete P4 Billion LADP project
By Ben Serrano
Caraga correspondent

BUTUAN CITY -- Construction of the P4.9 billion foreign funded flood control project, otherwise known as the Lower Agusan Development Project (LADP), implemented here in this region's capital of Caraga is seen to be finished this year.

Project director Philip Meñez told Sun.Star that phases I, II, III and IV of the flood control project will be finished by the fourth quarter of this year 2006.

"We are right on target in our schedules if plans won't miscarry because of circumstances beyond our control. Thanks to the support of the local government of Butuan," Meñez said.

Phase I, under the Lower Agusan Development Project (LADP), had already been adjudged as the best in the country in terms of quality and target performance achievement by the Bureau of Standards monitoring of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) central office in Manila.

Butuan City Rep. Leovigildo Banaag, in his speech , said the LADP project is one of the flagship project under the Arroyo administration.

Banaag lauded the efforts of DPWH and the CARBDP for lessening major flooding woes of Butuan City and its low lying barangays.

Irrigation

The DPWH, through its officials Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Undersecretaries Manuel Bonoan and Bashir Rasuman, has been fast tracking the project with the support of the local government unit of Butuan City.

The Caraga Regional Development Council listed the flood control system project or the LADP as one of the priority infra development program of Caraga Region.

LADP is the flood control component under the Cotabato-Agusan River Bank Development Project (CARBDP).

The other component is the irrigation system infra development which stands to provide water supply needs to thousands of hectares of rice lands in Agusan, Compostela and Cotabato Valley ranges.

Assistant Administrator Carlos Salazar of the National Irrigation Administration said there are still many works left undone for the irrigation needs of the Caraga Region saying as of the moment only 25 percent of the region's huge rice lands are irrigated.

The project's phase I started in 1992 with only a P610 million budget derived from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) of the Government of Japan through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The flood control project is expected to protect 80,000 hectares of agricultural areas directly benefiting some 350,000 city residents of Butuan City

The CARBDP management alone managed to relocate 6,000 families to the 100 hectares of land they purchased as relocation site for affected families.

"If funds will allow us, we are planning to buy another 70 hectares of land as relocation site for the affected families", CARBDP Project Director Engineer Philip Meñez said

boybleauXx

January 18th, 2006, 11:58 AM

http://www.math-at-work.com/LOM/Images/LOM_PLATE5.GIF

Mask made of thin gold sheets used to cover the face of the deceased.
Butuan, Agusan. 800-1500 A.D. 2 cm. x 13 cm.;
5.5 cm. x 2.5 cm.; 2 cm.x 6 cm.

ishtefh_03

January 18th, 2006, 12:08 PM

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/125917199.jpg

The tribe of the Mamanuas in a rain dance ritual.

kakatakot naman sila...

boybleauXx

January 18th, 2006, 12:48 PM

ishtefh_03

thats just a depiction.....those dancers are in reality city folks, body painted in black who just wanted to shed those excess flabs :hilarious

Mamanuas is a gentle tribe in the Diwata mountain ranges whose existence and way of life are slowly threatened by the 'vices' of modernism.

boybleauXx

January 19th, 2006, 10:59 AM

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/125917224.jpg

Santo Nino Rain Dance Ritual

boybleauXx

January 20th, 2006, 06:58 PM

BUTUAN ~ City of Culture http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/125917228.jpg

Surigao Contingent

c0kelitr0

January 21st, 2006, 02:23 AM

kakatakot naman sila...

i don't think those are real Mamanuas...coz they're not as black as that...they have this dark-orange color; their palms are orange in fact! and another clue is their costume...that's not how they dress, they wear bright-colored costumes with beaded headresses...

the mamanuas came from australia; they are very closely related to the aborigines.

boybleauXx

January 21st, 2006, 05:39 AM

hello coke:

I agree. As what I mentioned earlier that dance was just a depiction by nonetheless city folks painted in black who just want to shed those excess flabs.

The tribe is now sparsely distributed from the uplands of Diwata fringes in Agusan-Surigao Norte boundary to the flatlands of Cabadbaran and Magallanes.

I wonder how and when they came upon to this country.

_zner_

January 21st, 2006, 05:45 AM

boybleauXx

January 21st, 2006, 01:31 PM

http://p.vtourist.com/1151232-Butuan_Balanghai_Hotel_and_Convention_Center-Butuan_City.jpg
Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center
Doongan, Butuan City

boybleauXx

January 21st, 2006, 01:38 PM

http://www.caragatravelguide.com/gallery/albums/upload/P7253591.JPG
Butuan Bay

boybleauXx

January 22nd, 2006, 05:59 AM

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boybleauXx

January 22nd, 2006, 06:16 AM

http://www.caragatravelguide.com/gallery/albums/upload/P5302308.JPG
Golden Tara of Butuan

boybleauXx

January 22nd, 2006, 10:02 AM

http://www.noblenet.org/year/chineseny.jpg
January 29, 2006
http://zodiac-tshirts.com/images/200dog2.jpg The martial strains have summoned me. To hear your sorrows. Still your pain. I am the protector of Justice. Equality- my sole friend. My vision never blurred by cowardice. My soul never chained. Life without honor is life in vain. I am the Dog.
http://zodiac-tshirts.com/images/250dog10.gif
KUNG HEI FAT CHOI !! KUNG HEI FAT CHOI !! KUNG HEI FAT CHOI !! KUNG HEI FAT CHOI !!

boybleauXx

January 23rd, 2006, 02:59 PM

P4-B flood control project soon to be completed in Butuan

BUTUAN CITY – Construction of the R4.4-billion foreign funded flood control program of the Lower Agusan development Project (LADP) in this region's capital city is expected to be completed this year.

The LADP under the close supervision of the Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Project Management Office (PMO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is one of the flagship project under the Arroyo administration.

It has provided sufficient flood control and irrigation system to some 8,000 hectares of land along the Agusan River and directly benefiting more than 3000,000 city residents.

Major Flood Control Project-Cluster II head Engineer Philip F. Menez said that all Packages I, II, III and IV of the flood control project will be completed by end of 2006.

"We are right on target in our schedules despite continuous bad weather condition in the area. Thanks to the full support of the local government," Meñez said. (Mike U. Crismundo)

chymera00

January 23rd, 2006, 04:34 PM

P4-B flood control project soon to be completed in Butuan

BUTUAN CITY – Construction of the R4.4-billion foreign funded flood control program of the Lower Agusan development Project (LADP) in this region's capital city is expected to be completed this year.

The LADP under the close supervision of the Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Project Management Office (PMO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is one of the flagship project under the Arroyo administration.

It has provided sufficient flood control and irrigation system to some 8,000 hectares of land along the Agusan River and directly benefiting more than 3000,000 city residents.

Major Flood Control Project-Cluster II head Engineer Philip F. Menez said that all Packages I, II, III and IV of the flood control project will be completed by end of 2996.

"We are right on target in our schedules despite continuous bad weather condition in the area. Thanks to the full support of the local government," Meñez said. (Mike U. Crismundo)

hehe 2996, big typo . :D

boybleauXx

January 24th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Chymera

yup...big typo error...that should be 2006.
This is what we get for copy and paste attitudes. :)

boybleauXx

January 25th, 2006, 02:10 PM

http://www.caragatravelguide.com/gallery/albums/upload/P5302311.JPG

Butuan Regional Museum, Ethnology Hall

boybleauXx

January 25th, 2006, 02:22 PM

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/127089386.jpg
South Montilla Blvd.

boybleauXx

January 26th, 2006, 12:40 PM

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/127089689.jpg
city sprawl as viewed from the tip of Mount Mayapay

boybleauXx

January 27th, 2006, 10:22 AM

Butuan execs pushing P7-B Masao dev’t projects

By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO

BUTUAN CITY – The city government here is keen on pushing the R7- billion Masao Development Project that is concentrated on the western side of the city.

"President Arroyo has already given us the green light to look for consultants on this," Mayor Democrito Plaza II said.

The major problem faced by the business community is the lack of seaport facilities in Butuan City.

They have to transport their products 30 kilometers to the Nasipit International Port, thus adding more costs to them.

"The city government is looking into this problem," Plaza told Manila Bulletin.

The Masao Development Project consists of roads, expansion of Masao port and bridges, shipyards, buildings, communication centers and other port and industrial faciltiies.

Masao is only 5 to 7 kilometers away from the heart of the city.

However, Mayor Plaza admitted it would take hard work and patience to achieve this goal.

"The oversight committee, our national, local experts and engineers are already doubly working hard to finish their studies," he stressed.

Currently, the Major Flood Control Cluster 11 and Cotabato Agusan River Basic Development Project under the supervision of Director Philip F. Menez is constructing multi-million drainage and flood system projects along the western side of the city.

Another project is the R1.2-billion 2nd Magsaysay Bridge, which is nearly a kilometer long.

This project can help the business community in transporting their farm and industrial products as well.

Other projects include city gymnassium and Butuan-Bukidnon road.

"These multi-billion projects can benefit Butuanons and provide more employment and income generation," the mayor said.

Butuan execs pushing P7-B Masao dev’t projects (http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2005/11/07/PROV2005110748501.html)

boybleauXx

January 27th, 2006, 04:29 PM

Butuan's Infra-Tourism
By Ben Serrano

BUTUAN CITY -- What do Rome's coliseum, Paris' Eiffel tower, and England's London Bridge have in common? They are now known worldwide as "tourist spots or attractions."

If plans don't miscarry, the government is planning to make scenic infrastructures in Butuan.

These include projects like the P557 million Proposed Magsaysay Viaduct funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the P 1.9-B Magsaysay Bridge and by-pass roads funded under the 23rd Yen Loan also of the JBIC and the floodwall projects of the Lower-Agusan Development Project.

Engineer Philip Nuñez, Project Manager of the Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Project (CARDBP) Project Management Office and Engineer Romeo S. Momo, DPWH-Caraga Regional Director said these projects would be landmarks of infrastructure development in Caraga Region.

They said these would not only spur economic progress but would also be a "tourist spots" because of its exceptional structures.

Nuñez and Momo said the high impact projects such as Butuan's second bridge, Viaduct and the floodwall projects of the Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) would attract local and foreign tourists and local residents.

Nuñez said streetlights in viaducts and in flood control, dam-like structures would be installed wherein park-type benches for park goers and those who wanted to enjoy watching scenic Butuan Bay and Agusan River.

He added the nearly five kilometer stretch dam of the flood control gateway in opposite sides of the Agusan River would have a "walkers avenue" wherein joggers or early morning runners can enjoy.

"A café, tent, food stores or waiting shed areas would also be installed within the huge flood control structures where park goers or plain viewers can easily buy food, chat, relax and sit to make their river watching a total enjoyable one", Nuñez said.

He said the structures would not only protect residents from floods but would also give residents, local and foreign tourists alike a chance to enjoy river and bay watching and to breathe fresh air with families and friends.

boybleauXx

January 28th, 2006, 05:20 AM

http://www.msrdc.org/projects/images/bandra_cable_stayed_bridge_set.jpg
EBDANE INSPECTS BUTUAN 2ND MAGSAYSAY BRIDGE

Assuring quality of works, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. recently inspected the on going construction of the 2nd Magsaysay Bridge in Butuan City.

Ebdane said his regional visit is part of his management strategies showing the departments commitment in reforming DPWH with strict monitoring of project implementation through field inspections.

DPWH Philippine Japan Highway Loan- Project Management Office (PJHL) Director Vic Perez reported that the project is 19.56% complete, ahead of .96% compared to its target accomplishment.

The 2nd Magsaysay Bridge will decongest the traffic within Butuan City because it serves as an alternate route going in and out of the city. It will also pave way to economic development as it reduces the traveling time of commuters and transporting marketing goods going in and out of the city.

Aside from the 2nd Magsaysay Bridge, the project also includes the construction of 13.21 kilometers of Bypass road connecting the existing Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Butuan City Road and Surigao-Butuan Road.

This steel cable stayed bridge is composed of two spans each connected by a steel tower at the center. It will be connected by a new highway now being built at each sides of its western and eastern approaches.

Once completed the bridge shall be the first in the world with the longest road span, connected to the existing highways by a wide 13 kilometer alternate expressway. It shall be integrated into Butuan's arterial road network via a system of elevated viaducts at the citys eastern banks.

Together with other infrastructures now being pursued in Butuan, soon this new bridge shall be one of the destinations of tourists due to its feautures.

http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/images/2005%20NEWS%20IMAGES/wpe1C.jpg
http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1158/4121322/8593373/116578120.jpg

boybleauXx

January 28th, 2006, 08:57 AM

BUTUAN PIPE LINE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

1. 2nd Magsaysay Bridge
2. Butuan By Pass Highway
3. Lower Agusan Development Project
4. Magsaysay Viaducts Projevt
5. Butuan Riverine Waterfront Project
6. International Port of Magellan Poject
7. Butuan International Airport Project
8. Butuan-Malaybalay Highway Project
9. Butuan-Tandag Surigao del Sur Highway Project
10. Regional Government Center Project
11. Urban Renewal and New Township Project
12. Butuan Civic Center Project
13. Butuan Megadome Project
14. Butuan South Supermarket Project
15. Butuan IT Project

Kaiser

January 28th, 2006, 11:30 AM

^^this is good news for butuan:colgate:
any high rise projects?

MarkiiBoi

January 28th, 2006, 11:37 AM

^^ is that really the design of the bridge? its truly world-class!!

boybleauXx

January 28th, 2006, 11:42 AM

right now, there is no need yet for high rises as there is no problem with space yet in Butuan.

presently the city's vast land is being prepared for development as projects like the Lower Agusan Development Project is nearing completion.

the city is seriously planning to extend its urban area further to the eastern banks by developing stellite urban centers such as the New Town Plan in Ampayon, the Uptown Plan in Bancasi, Bonbon and Pinamangculan; the Seaport Town Plan along Masao, Pagatpatan and Agusan Pequeno.

the present downtown area shall be redeveloped under a gradual progressive scheme as drafted by the well known urban planner Palafox and Associates.

all these projects shall be the key ingredients for the envisioned Butuan Metropolis of the future.

boybleauXx

January 28th, 2006, 11:44 AM

hello Mark:

hope budget constraints wont take its toll on the original design.

that is the artist computer rendition of the bridge. there might be some revisions along the construction phase.

Kaiser

January 28th, 2006, 11:56 AM

^^ Butuan really has a good future:)
which is more progressive Butuan or Cagayan de Oro?

calmero

January 28th, 2006, 02:34 PM

boybleauXx

January 28th, 2006, 03:45 PM

I would honestly say Cagayan de Oro has been there first than Butuan.
But then again, tides can change. There shall always be a new city of Rome

Butuan was once under the jurisdiction of Region 10 which Cagayan de Oro holds control....until in February 1995, just 10 years ago...the provinces of Surigao del Sur and del Norte and Agusan del Sur and del Norte decided to separate for more budget allocations and attention....since most projects then tend to be centered around Cagayan de Oro being the regional center.

It was after Butuan attained the highly urbanized status in 1983 by then Ministry of Local Government and its declaration as the regional administrative center and growth hub in the newly formed Northeastern Mindanao Region in 1995 that government have realized the potentials of this vast fertile region.

Since then huge multi-billion projects ranging from physical to socio-economic support systems have been put into place until now that the region is starting to have its economic comeback.

Butuan's catchment area extends from the tip of Surigao down to northern portions of Compostela Valley. This region rests its industries in palm oil, industrial tree plantations, aquaculture, agro-processing, mining, and light manufacturing.

It is the only region in Mindanao that has 4 operatioanl airports with commercial flights. It has airports in the famed surfing capital Siargao; Tandag; Surigao City and the trunkline airport In Bancasi, Butuan.

From a laggard GDP rate of 2.4 per cent in 2003.....the National Statistics and Coordination Board of NEDA have placed the regions GDP rate of 5.8 per cent for 2004....the highest year to year increment among Mindanao's 6 growth areas. It has overtaken Zamboanga Peninsula's 4.2 per cent and is closing in on neighboring Northern Mindanao's GDP of 6.2 per cent growth.

This is accomplished by the Philippines youngest yet the most promising growth corridors in the country....all in less than a decade.

Growth is evident especially in its trade and services center and economic hub city of Butuan as new businesses, enterprises both generated domestically/ local and Cebu or Manila based establishments springing anywhere in the city ranging from real estate, to banking, to manufacturing and service oriented enterprises.

Its rising recreational, shopping, hotel banks, malls are indicative testament of
a robust start up growth that when continously supported by a sound economic program such as infrastructure and social supports......will establish the spring board growth for Butuan and the rest of the region.

Butuan may be a little behind for now but its moving in......closing in fast from behind and very soon will be stepping into anothers tail level ....even overtaking it. As they say .....the throne of wonder does not always belong to Rome..

Butuan is now the dark horse economic battery.

Butuan recognizes its own needs and weaknesses now.....it will not dwell on its previous ancient glories yet clearly sees the horizons towards the future.

With deligence....Butuan shall be the city of the future !

calmero

January 28th, 2006, 05:28 PM

actually i just finished my stay in Butuan for 3 years for a company assignment before coming coming back to Carcar(cebu)..., i like the place, though, i was really disappointed about my travel experience. In majority of my trips, I've got to go to CDO to have a boat ride to Cebu since they offer daily trips and Butuan has only 3.
Transport/terminal service is one very important factor in a progressing city..

Also,..Ive been to both cities and apparently, Butuan is quite far in shopping and entertainment and night life (which i am really particular of)..

IMO, Butuan will never surpass CDO's economic development, especially more riders are coming in and out of the city and even Butuan is dependent on it.

Also, CDO will be having an international airport..so there will be more investors, more tourist arrivals, more people, etc.. A true signal of a more continuous development of the city.

I am not here to cause any trouble or something, i am just expressing my disappointment in travelling Butuan.. And my opion of both cities.

Even I though I say things like that, I am really grateful on how Butuan treated me.. Actually, I had a lot of memories during my stay there.. I met a lot of good people and friends...(and my ka MU) hehehe.. and I miss my different lifestlye there... :)

boybleauXx

January 28th, 2006, 06:25 PM

you are entitled to your own opinion.

But in this dynamic world there can be no absolutes. There will always be possibilities.

When you say and I quote " Butuan can never surpass....". It seems this is a close mind way of looking at things that are dynamic.

Have they said before that metals cannot float and fly?...yes they did...and now they are essentially wrong.

Time and again, even in Cebu during the early 1930s...which was once bereft with other economic activity except for fishing and shipping as the province is short of arable land for agriculture....while its neighboring cities of Bacolod and Iloilo where considered the queens and the princesses of the Visayas due to heavy trading brought about by the sugar industry in Negros and diverse agro economy of Panay.

And yet again....the tide has turned up for Cebu...even now the province is surpassing the average national GDP. And is the new Queen of the south. Now challenging Manila as the emerging Southeast Asian cosmopolis.

Another example is Cotabato City in Maguindanao.....once in early sixties......it has big department stores...bigger than that of Davao's. Its buildings has elevators...indicating an advancing stage of development........and yet today....it is even challenged by the growth of the very young and newly established cities of Kidapawan and Koronadal. Its far, once barren neighbor of Dadiangas now General Santos...is now one of Mindanao's progressive growth zones in the BIMP EAGA Area.

In early fifties, the Philippines is just side by side Japan in terms of economic growth. While our Southeast Asian neighbors looked up on us as the most westernized Asians....dancing the nighlife away with American disco.
It seems now Filipinos are dancing a different very downbeat tune.

What do these things tell us?

There can be no absolutes......As long as things remain moving and dynamic......ones growth may be up-peak...maybe a burst-growth...or a spike growth pattern or a plateau....or a downtrend......
Whichever curve that would be.....bilog pa rin ang mundo

Lets keep an open mind shall we :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Its nice to know that you have a nice time while you are here in Butuan.

since your concern rests on the shipping transport point ( that you concluded that Butuan "can never" surpass).....Let me as well update you on the ship transport sector of Butuan.

Butuan has its port of entry at nearby Nasipit. It s a port town 30 minutes away and is connected to Manila and Cebu and Bohol via several shipping companies of Carlos Gothong Lines; Aboitiz-Superferries; Cebu Ferries Corp; and Sulpicio Lines.

While the existing port exists. Present planners project a substantial influx of inbound and outbound cargo and passenger traffic in the coming years due to rehabilitation and modernization of the Pan Philippine Highway from Surigao to Butuan going to the Davao Region. Once completed, this new upgraded highway shall increase the city's economic influence area....with goods coming from eastern Davao's and Agusan's huge agro output towards the planned 4 Billion Peso Butuan's Port of Magellan for shipment to rapidly growing market economy of Cebu and other Visayan ports....bypassing the long ship travel rounding up the Gulf of Davao and Philippine sea. Goods from Visayas will also take the same route towards Northeastern Mindanao....Eastern and Southeastern Mindanao areas via the planned Butuan Port. This is also the reason why this rising cable stayed bridge south of the city is being built.

Butuan is connected by air to Manila daily and Cebu 3x weekly via PAL and Cebu Pacific . It has also 24 hour round the clock land connections by bus to Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

I will not be disputing regarding nightlife and shopping since this can vary in accordance to once preference, sex, gender and lifestyle. Butuan may be behind....but certainly improvements is much in the offing.

With regards to the airport....Butuan Airport shall be expanded to accomodate Airbuses with the government's
650 Million Bancasi Airport Expansion Project. This project shall break ground soon.

In its essence progress and development is not about building walls of competition....but rather building partnerships and linkages.

In this globalized economy....Butuan sees its neighbors as more partners and linkages rather than just mere competing rivals.

I hope you will also see that way too

Askal82

January 28th, 2006, 08:32 PM

Butuan is a progressive city... however on the overall (in terms of population, infastructure, importance, income etc..), Cagayan de Oro is more developed than Butuan City.. and Cagayan de Oro is the second most developed city in Mindanao..

I think Butuan city is relatively new in development compared to CDO but it seems than Butuan city has a bright future.

calmero

January 28th, 2006, 09:36 PM

I may be wrong in saying those statements but I am confident of it. Perhaps the reason why I unsafely said that is because I was engrossed by those premature proclamations of stating “there shall always be a new city of Rome” by citing those proposed developments in Butuan.

Always remember that CDO is has a very strategic location and the city caters the North, East, West, and South of Mindanao by its unwinding roads. Thus there is an ease transport of goods, services and people thus making the city a potential hub for economic development: more industries, more people, more jobs, and more income.

I cannot provide concrete economic activities of what is going on in CDO. All I know I is that they have business parks, IT eco-zones, bigger and well-designed malls, plans for high rise buildings, upcoming international airport, an operational international container terminal. etc. Similar to what was planned in Cebu before its current flourished developing status.

If Butuan achieves its Boomed and Bloomed description in 50 years, all other more developed and strategic cities will go along, even stronger and more progressive (and Cebu during that time will be a stunning metropolis..weee)

Before thinking the possibility of Butuan surpassing CDO in nearby future, come to think of the hindering factor that the city is most likely to be hit by tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and other natural calamities.

Before I end, I found this article in CDO Thread
(CDO guys you got to thank me for this) :jk:

Cagayan de Oro has been cited by two Philippine leading think tanks for the vast potentials it holds for investors and businessmen who manage to see beyond the fabled warmth and hospitality of its residents.

Roberto de Vera, author and regional studies director of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P),cited Cagayan de Oro as the best positioned for future growth and investments among 23 leading urban regional cities of the Philippines.

In his 2000 paper "Investing in Regional Cities: the Next Big Thing," de Vera describes how Cagayan de Oro is not only the gateway to Northern Mindanao region, but is its regional shopping center as well.

Although it ranked only 16th among the 23 cities in the study in Gross City Domestic Product (GCDP) with P4.93 billion, it led all others in investments with P16.5 billion. It was also the only city in Mindanao among the top five cited by the study in investments posted with the Board of Investments (BOI) in 1999.

Focused Vision
Cagayan de Oro was also cited in a 2000 study by the Washington Sycip Policy Forum -- a think tank of the Asian Institute of Management -- because of its "focused vision for its economic future."

The study said Cagayan de Oro's competitiveness was enhanced by its strong economic ties such as with the Northern and Central Visayas regions, Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor (CIC), and the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Although other regional centers like Davao were also progressive, its average household income from 1994 to 1997 dropped 10%, while those of Cagayan de Oro and General Santos increased.

Another unique feature of Cagayan de Oro is the way by which its strong real estate property development is balanced by inter-regional infrastructure development such as the Laguindingan international standard airport, Mindanao International Container Port, Tubod-Tangub bridge and widening of its Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Bukidnon Road (ICBR), the road artery which links it to key satellite areas.

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 01:26 AM

I cited those quotes .....(there shall be always a new city of Rome) not only referring to Butuan but in generality that all things has its rise and ebb....has its beginnings and ends......has its ups and downs. Either that new Rome will rise in Butuan or somewhere else... or perhaps Cagayan de Oro's closest neighbor Iligan...is always an open posibility.

There is no place in these country that is naturally immune to calamaities and mad made catastrophies. There are areas even inherently along typhoons path and yet are incredably much progresive. Cebu is within Visayan typhoon zone..yet incredably very prosperous. All of Japan lies along a fault zone..that earthquakes are a common occurence and yet they are very prosperous.

But of course disasters can slow down growth....its a known fact. But it is never a single determining factor. NO place in this country is immaculately immune from disasters.

I do not disagree right from the start Cagayan de Oro's prominince in development.....If you did get my point at the start....I mentioned that ....Cagayan de Oro has been there first than Butuan at post #303. This means I affirmed that city's current state of level of development... which is ahead of Butuan.

But with all open mind....the growth rates that Butuan has achieved from a GDP of 2.4 to 5.8 per cent in a year..and the current aggressive phase of infrastructure development, socio-economic programs and the strong attention and focus given by the national government given to the Butuan region.....the chance of this city achieving a highly developed status and the possibility of getting ahead is just too promising to be simply ignored.

You quoted Roberto de Vera's statement. Yes, He is correct about Cagayan de Oro pitted against Davao and General Santos maybe ON THAT time or period. But His statement might not hold true at this time or forever.

Figures do change and so is time and much with development....you may unconsciously insult Butuan's inherent capacity for growth. But again you are entitled to the opinion suited to your state of thinking.

But nevertheless....Butuan is now much mobile moving in...closing in....growing and developing.

Butuan ....may not be there yet today alongside Cagayan de Oro....but with its state of build up of all the ingredients necessary for sustainable growth......in this economic marathon.....the ones at the front should better watch their back.

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 03:49 AM

MarkiiBoi

January 29th, 2006, 07:16 AM

Kaiser

January 29th, 2006, 10:09 AM

^^ I really like those pix, it makes agusan river beautiful...I hope they even make it more beautiful like Seine:colgate:

Kaiser

January 29th, 2006, 10:13 AM

oh, by the way..where will the port of magellan be built? in butuan, magallanes or nasipit?

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 10:51 AM

Joshua

The planned International Port of Magellan will be built along the coasts of barangay Masao and Pagatpatan.
The Spanish government have signified already its intent of helping fund this 9 billion multi-phase port development.
It shall be a polycentric type of development that will serve not only Butuan but the Northeastern, Eastern and Southeastern half of Mindanao.

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 11:00 AM

From Palafox Associates (http://www.palafoxoutsourcing.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=49)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/Capture_011.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/Capture_012.jpg

MarkiiBoi

thanks a lot MarkiiBoi.nice renderings you got there. I did not know Palafox has their own website.

looking at those waterfront structures reminds me of SRP in Cebu along its coasts during sunsets....I am sure it will be very lovely. Miss those times sigh

for an update. the whole stretch of riverside from barangay Bading; New Asia; up stream to Agao and Pangabugan and San Vicente has been cleared of any form of human habitation. As structures along the riverbank were all demolished and the families affected relocated to a new large government housing facility in Pagatpatan.

Mr. Palafox himself have already presented his plan last year of March before the City Development Council Committee for Urban Planning and Development and the Task Force Riverfront and Urban Renewal.

MarkiiBoi

January 29th, 2006, 11:15 AM

So this project has started already? cool!

too bad they have no projects for cebu. hehhe.

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 11:22 AM

they have cleared the area na....hope they will start civil works in due time.

do you have any pic of SRP coastal views.....I do really miss those sights.

the Cebu Boardwalk Project I heard will also adapt similar waterfront development in front of this large commercial complex...

MarkiiBoi

January 29th, 2006, 11:35 AM

^^ is that a riverside or a beachfront? do you have pics of the area?

yeah, the front of the boardwalk will also have the same development:
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6572/cbwcam412aw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

about the SRP, they have already started with the ''baywalk'' development near the cebu city entrance. though i have no pics yet.

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 11:39 AM

the waterfront project is a Riverfront development project at both banks of the Agusan River.

I would love to go jogging along those boardwalks be it here in Butuan or there in Cebu...

Askal82

January 29th, 2006, 11:41 AM

So this project has started already? cool!

too bad they have no projects for cebu. hehhe.

Madami namang projects sa cebu ngayon.

MarkiiBoi

January 29th, 2006, 11:43 AM

oo nga we have the joggers, wala pa lang ang mga boardwalk for jogging. hehehe. so we'll have to wait for god knows when until these projects will be finished.

MarkiiBoi

January 29th, 2006, 11:45 AM

Madami namang projects sa cebu ngayon.

Pero iba if Palafox. hehehe. But of course we are thankful here for what we have..

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 11:48 AM

Askal82

January 29th, 2006, 11:55 AM

MarkiiBoi

January 29th, 2006, 11:58 AM

And if Cebu has done it, any other Philippine city can do it.. And from the look of things, Butuan is one those cities poised for take off. Kudos to us all!

Kaiser

January 29th, 2006, 12:45 PM

Kaiser

January 29th, 2006, 12:51 PM

Yes....and I must say to some degree that Cebu has graduated from the league of the Philippine dynamic cities....she is now along the ranks of rising South East Asian regional cosmopolises like Surabaya, Penang, Kota Kinabalu etc.

Go GO GO GO !

CEBUTUAN

well Kota Kinabalu dosn't have really tall scraper or lets say 25+ & I havn't heard if there's any proposed:) unlike cebu there are tall ones & proposed tall ones like the Fuente tower 40 flrs.(correct me if i'm wrong):colgate:
so my real point KK is only the level of Davao City... Cebu is way more better:colgate:

Kaiser

January 29th, 2006, 12:57 PM

^^K...back to the butuan thread..lol:colgate:

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 04:30 PM

Oh please... Cebu city has more potential than them. They may have a lot of scrapers now but lets see it in the future given that economic growth is on track. Lets treat Cebu like a part of Metro Manila now :)

I would definitely agree....these places may have attained that level of growth....but the big question still....does these places possess the potential for sustainable growth.....maybe yes...maybe not...

Figures and growth paths change.....as volatile as the Philippine stock market :)

But with regards to Southeast Asia's next cosmopolitan capital.....I would definitely :cheers: bank on Cebu......

Ceboom.....Cebooom.....la.....la.....la......la :)

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 04:32 PM

Thnx for the info....I was just thinking, is the port of magellan different from the inland port in masao?

the inland port is one of the components of this port complex called the International Port of Magellan

boybleauXx

January 29th, 2006, 04:53 PM

BUTUAN PIPE LINE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

1. 2nd Magsaysay Bridge ~ 1.9 billion, ongoing
2. Butuan By Pass Highway ~ 300 million, ongoing
3. Lower Agusan Development Project ~ 4.5 billion, ongoing
4. Magsaysay Viaducts Projevt ~ 250 million, ongoing
5. Butuan Riverine Waterfront Project ~ 350 million,on-line
6. International Port of Magellan Poject ~ 9 billion, on-line
7. Butuan International Airport Project ~ 650 million, on-line
8. Butuan-Malaybalay Highway Project ~ 5 billion, planned
9. Butuan-Tandag Surigao del Sur Highway Project
10. Regional Government Center Project ~ 200 million
11. Urban Renewal and New Township Project
12. Butuan Civic Center Project
13. Butuan Megadome Project ~ 350 million, on-line
14. Butuan South Supermarket Project
15. Butuan IT Project ~ on-line

opps....I forgot in the list

16. Mindanao Railway Project....in which the first phases shall commence along Iligan going to Cagayan de Oro then terminates in Butuan. This rail system shall parallel the Iligan-Cagayan-Butuan Highway, one of Mindanao's busiest highways.

The city has already allocated 6 hectares of land along its border with Buenavista town as the terminal railway station and another in the eastern side for the second phase ( Surigao-Butuan-Davao)

But I dont have any idea as to the status of this project now....maybe our people at MEDCO Davao office can update us on this

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 05:01 AM

GONG HSI FA CAI Everybody !!

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 05:50 AM

GONG HSI FA CAI

http://pic13.picturetrail.com/VOL473/4138906/8638500/118072575.jpg

BUTUAN ~ DRAGON ECONOMY BY 2010

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

watch out.....watch out.....there's a Dragon coming at your back !!

FrancisXavier

January 30th, 2006, 06:01 AM

opps....I forgot in the list

16. Mindanao Railway Project....in which the first phases shall commence along Iligan going to Cagayan de Oro then terminates in Butuan. This rail system shall parallel the Iligan-Cagayan-Butuan Highway, one of Mindanao's busiest highways.

The city has already allocated 6 hectares of land along its border with Buenavista town as the terminal railway station and another in the eastern side for the second phase ( Surigao-Butuan-Davao)

But I dont have any idea as to the status of this project now....maybe our people at MEDCO Davao office can update us on this

Iligan-CDO-Butuan is actually the busiest in minda.. and has the largest ridership. that's why this phase is being prioritized. i hope this really push through.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 07:49 AM

FrancisXavier

Do you have any updates as far as to when this multi billion project shall commence?

Once completed, it will really bring a very drastic change as far as the rapid urbanization of the towns in between Butuan and Cagayan de Oro in particular.

practically the whole Misamis seaboard will be benifitted due to this railway.

I can foresee... a transport system just like the ones between the cities of Osaka and Tokyo Megapolitan area.

I can envision that this railway shall form the catalyst of the future Tri City Megapolis in North West, North Central and North Eastern Mindanao.

Hope it will push through....

I am keeping my fingers crossed to this big one.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 12:47 PM

BUTUAN ~ City of the Future

http://pic13.picturetrail.com/VOL473/4138906/8638500/117796674.jpg
http://pic13.picturetrail.com/VOL473/4138906/8638500/117796561.jpg

650 Million Butuan International Airport Project
http://www.cowi.com/NR/rdonlyres/AE61C9F5-9054-4911-9467-B75B89267E42/0/thirdairportB3.jpg

Urban Renewal Project and Waterfront Development Project
[CENTER]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/Capture_011.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c145/MarkiiBoi2/Capture_012.jpg

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 01:43 PM

Bridge Tower Rising
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/127694501.jpg

MarkiiBoi

January 30th, 2006, 01:57 PM

^^ so the renderings of the bridge are correct.. that would certainly be a beauty!!!

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 02:06 PM

hello MarkiiBoi

yup......nothing here is padded nor sugar coated.

what you see...is what you will get.....an engineering and architectural feat :)

Kaiser

January 30th, 2006, 02:13 PM

the inland port is one of the components of this port complex called the International Port of Magellan

Thnx again....another question w/c is bigger port of magellan or the one in CDO?

MarkiiBoi

January 30th, 2006, 02:13 PM

the most beautiful bridge in RP in the making... so what's the projected completion date?

KulasKusgan

January 30th, 2006, 02:17 PM

Bridge Tower Rising
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/127694501.jpg

that would surely change the status of caraga region. its nice to see developments of historic butuan.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 02:19 PM

Thnx again....another question w/c is bigger port of magellan or the one in CDO?

Local executives here in Butuan say....the International Port of Magellan will be among the biggest in Mindanao...

But I guess .....its just the size as that court suit riddled port (MICT) in Tagoloan since both ports serve as regional port hubs in Mindanao.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 02:23 PM

that would surely change the status of caraga region. its nice to see developments of historic butuan.

once completed....the Philippines shall consider building more bridges.....

I am much excited with the planned Tangub Bay Bridge proposal accros Panguil Bay in between Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.....it will be a suspension type I heard.....but no available funds yet.....

Likewise....the Davao-Samal bridge proposal......hmmmm
Sleep can you update us on this please

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 02:27 PM

the most beautiful bridge in RP in the making... so what's the projected completion date?

target completion date is early quarter next year.....but I guess it wont open open to traffic yet because the elevated viaducts that shall integrate it to Butuan's road network is still on going and the 13.2 kilometer roadspan is currently working at the eastern half pa.

KulasKusgan

January 30th, 2006, 02:54 PM

once completed....the Philippines shall consider building more bridges.....

I am much excited with the planned Tangub Bay Bridge proposal accros Panguil Bay in between Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.....it will be a suspension type I heard.....but no available funds yet.....

Likewise....the Davao-Samal bridge proposal......hmmmm
Sleep can you update us on this please

davao-samal bridge? it will push through. no funds available.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 03:02 PM

on the underside....the presence of Samal-Davao bridge will decrease the luster of Samal as a secluded paradise....

for the moment I would definitely go with the development of yatch clubs along the city coasts facing Samal....it will be more adventurous riding boats to this secluded paraiso

what do you think kaya Sleep?

KulasKusgan

January 30th, 2006, 03:15 PM

ye i agree with you. also, its presence would push davao further ahead of the pack. i like to see equal or equitable distribution of infra among mindanao's cities like what is happening now. davao & gensan have airport & fishport; cdo & butuan have port & bridge. after butuan is building its new airport, i hope it will be davao's turn to build that planned bridge.

MarkiiBoi

January 30th, 2006, 03:17 PM

^^ dba brand new pa yung airport nyo? hehehe :D

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 03:24 PM

you mean our Bangoy Airport there in Sasa is currently inadequate?

hope they will expand it soon. ....as Davao will surely play a vital role as the main entry point from Australasia, Micronesia and Indonesia.

the Pan Philippine Highway which is currently being upgraded that connects Davao to Butuan will definitely be maximized as economic influences will merge from these growth zones.

Sayon ra unya adtuon namo ang Samal dinha para mag swimming swiming :)

KulasKusgan

January 30th, 2006, 03:26 PM

@ markii: opo brand new pa ang dvo airport. i mean davao's turn to materialize the proposed bridge.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 03:32 PM

KulasKusgan

January 30th, 2006, 03:39 PM

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 03:48 PM

rivalry?

I guess wala.....since it seems we are not yet on the same footing.

I guess...its a little hinanakit as the provinces that comprise Caraga including Butuan used to be considered backwaters before when they are still under Region 10 where CDO holds control as projects tend to be centered near or around Oro....thats the reason why the eastern Chunk of Northern Mindanao separated.

But now Butuan sees its sister (CDO and Butuan were created on the same year) more as a partner.....

Hope CDO and other cities in Mindanao will not see Butuan's aggressive economic growth as a threat :)

KulasKusgan

January 30th, 2006, 04:10 PM

good for caraga.

butuan is not a threat. rather deserves more projects since kelangang bumawi.

like what happened between davao & gensan. both used to be under region 11. we now have DAVAO Region & SOCSARGEN.

nwey, i think ang mejo nabiyaan ang zamboanga & cotabato. wala koy balita nila.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 04:20 PM

yup

sa mga kasimanwa nato sa dinha Kagayan..maayong gabii..ug mga kasikbit na mga lugar susama sa Dabaw....madayaw na gabii!

KulasKusgan

January 30th, 2006, 04:23 PM

maayong gabii pud.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 04:31 PM

Sleep

Is there an existing Gensan thread?

wala pa akon nakita na thread dito.....hope someone from dadiangas mismo will make one....

cyrusal

January 30th, 2006, 04:40 PM

KulasKusgan

January 30th, 2006, 04:41 PM

wala pang gensan thread. other cities na walang thread, i include them at Mindanao thread. i know one gensan forumer but he seems inactive. he visits once in a while.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 04:52 PM

:rofl: what is this???
GAAWAY?

cyrusal;

you must take note that the one who posted is not either from Butuan and Cagayan de Oro.

He had raised some personal issues..that certainly not reflective of our forumers in CDO...which I feel not entirely correct..

If you have been reading my posts...I do not upfront make absolute pronouncements just like what he had said ..that "Butuan will never...'....I think thats either a sentence or an insult.

And in my rightful right...I do have the right to disagree.

Thank you for your visit at Butuan thread...hope to hear more from you all there.

boybleauXx

January 30th, 2006, 04:56 PM

wala pang gensan thread. other cities na walang thread, i include them at Mindanao thread. i know one gensan forumer but he seems inactive. he visits once in a while.

good work and kudos for promoting our island ....mabuhay ka Sleep !
:cheers:

MarkiiBoi

January 30th, 2006, 05:34 PM

MarkiiBoi

Speaking of bridges...do you see any possibility that the provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental be connected by a bridge in the future?

I know of a plan in the Visayas but its between Bacolod daw and Iloilo (hope this bridge will finally bridge the rivalry between these two warring parties :) )

Unsa kaha no?

actually this was raised during the proposal of the VIsayas Republic. negros oriental and cebu will be bridged in their closest point:
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6005/visayas20we.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

so where will they build the bridge between bacolod and iloilo?

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 01:55 AM

it was one of the promises made by one of the presidentiables during her campaign sorties in Iloilo way back 1997..if I am not mistaken

Kaiser

January 31st, 2006, 11:27 AM

boyblu: any news in cabadbaran? I heard it will almost be a city.
just asking in my hometown. i'll be coming home this april...lol:colgate:

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 01:22 PM

chymera00

January 31st, 2006, 01:49 PM

actually this was raised during the proposal of the VIsayas Republic. negros oriental and cebu will be bridged in their closest point:
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6005/visayas20we.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

so where will they build the bridge between bacolod and iloilo?
Maybe it will be Iloilo-Guimaras then Guimaras-Negros

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 02:02 PM

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 02:41 PM

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/127694501.jpg

Butuan 2nd Bridge has almost similar feautures as to the dsign of its tower to that of Nanpu Bridge in Shanghai.....a riverine city.
Nanpu Bridge connects the Shanghai business district with the new once backwater Pudong district.
http://www.richmangalleries.com/images/NanpuBridgeweb.jpg
http://bridge.tongji.edu.cn/chinabridge/images/Nanpu-3.jpg

MarkiiBoi

January 31st, 2006, 02:56 PM

^^ hmmm parang same nga, except for the base of the tower. shanghai's is hollow, while yours is solid. pero parehong-pareho pa rin! :D

slerz

January 31st, 2006, 03:15 PM

that bridge of Butuan looks huge... is it a 4 lane or 6 lane bridge?

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 03:15 PM

I wonder if both bridges have the same architect and designer.

Butuan 2nd bridge is designed by Japanese construction firms namely Towa Consult and Nippon Steel and Engineering Corp.

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 03:18 PM

that bridge of Butuan looks huge... is it a 4 lane or 6 lane bridge?

I think 4 lanes lang at its mid span...but the east and western approaches I believe will be 6 lanes wide

slerz

January 31st, 2006, 03:19 PM

do you have pics if the 1st Butuan bridge?
how bout a rendering of this 2nd butuan bridge... I never thought that there's a more than the usual bridge that is built there in butuan...

MarkiiBoi

January 31st, 2006, 03:26 PM

^^ maganda talaga basta cable-stayed..

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 03:26 PM

do you have pics if the 1st Butuan bridge?
how bout a rendering of this 2nd butuan bridge... I never thought that there's a more than the usual bridge that is built there in butuan...

http://www.greatestcities.com/9660pic/677/CP6677.jpg/Magsaysay_Bridge-BUTUAN.jpg
the congested, first Magsaysay Bridge ...built in the 1950's...one of Mindanao's longest and largest arched-type steel bridge...

slerz

January 31st, 2006, 03:29 PM

^^oh, thanks bai... nice bridge too... I've never seen a picture of this butuan bridge before...

MarkiiBoi

January 31st, 2006, 03:38 PM

pareho pala tayo: our first bridge is arch-type while the second is cable-stayed..

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 03:40 PM

cable stayed bridges are also useful for long spans such as the one below in Penang, Malaysia
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/127826366.jpg

slerz

January 31st, 2006, 03:45 PM

^^can't see the pic bai...

chymera00

January 31st, 2006, 03:55 PM

Hello Chyme:

I have been to Iloilo City 3 years ago...they say that nobody is allowed to bring a mango fruit that is not from Guimaras...when youre within the Guimaras island......baka mahaluan daw ng inferior variety ang mangga nila...is this true?

Do u have any pic of Isla Naburot?.....

While I was in iloilo....I had a nice time sampling those Talaba restaurants.....I forgot the name ...hmmmm..in front of Sarabia Manor....along Biscocho haus and St. paul Hospital.....ano gani ngalan of that restaurant.....

Its right at the tip of my tongue.....hay ka budlay
Yes its true ... There's a big sign in Jordan Port that says you cannot bring mangoes to Guimaras in Jordan Port. Its because the Guimarasnons are afraid that their Mangoes will be infected with seed weevils, whatever that is.
They do it with good reason because Guimaras Mango is of high-value abroad.

I don't have pics of Isla Naburot... haven't been there yet

Is it Marina's Restaurant? in Gen. Luna St.

I didn't get to say hi before, so hi :D Thanks for posting about the projects in Butuan, I would have never known them if it weren't for you posts. Especially the second Butuan Bridge, impressive ...

boybleauXx

January 31st, 2006, 04:02 PM

Yes its true ... There's a big sign in Jordan Port that says you cannot bring mangoes to Guimaras in Jordan Port. Its because the Guimarasnons are afraid that their Mangoes will be infected with seed weevils, whatever that is.
They do it with good reason because Guimaras Mango is of high-value abroad.

I don't have pics of Isla Naburot... haven't been there yet

Is it Marina's Restaurant? in Gen. Luna St.

I didn't get to say hi before, so hi :D Thanks for posting about the projects in Butuan, I would have never known them if it weren't for you posts. Especially the second Butuan Bridge, impressive ...

Then I would say Madjao na pagkani hong Butuan Chyme :)

i remeber now the resto...its sounds like...Ocean City?....am not sure

seafud galore talaga ako when I am in Iloilo...yum!

LordCarnal

February 1st, 2006, 08:14 AM

^^

Nice bridge boybleuz.. :) Hope to be in Butuan City... :) I have lots of friends there mostly former members of Junior Jaycees...

It seems that skyscrapercity is full of members like Calmero, eazyboy, tallers, et al... I dunno if they're the same person but they really have the same kind of posting. And they have created quite a situation too. Just take a look at the Ilo-ilo thread.. No wonder why sleepwalker_uno inquired about that rivalry thing even though if there's not...

boybleauXx

February 1st, 2006, 11:49 AM

they must be the crabby chameleons.....who are just green with envy

trouble makers :)

KulasKusgan

February 1st, 2006, 12:58 PM

just activate that "ignore mode" once they attack. :)

Kaiser

February 1st, 2006, 01:58 PM

hmmm...Cabadbaran.....no cityhood plans.....but the Capitol office shall be moved to this old town soon as works on the future provincial government center has startd early last year....

when was the last time you've been here in Butuan?

^^thnx anyway:-).....
its really a long time I last visit butuan, trust me its really really really really been a long time since I last visit:colgate:

chymera00

February 1st, 2006, 02:02 PM

Then I would say Madjao na pagkani hong Butuan Chyme :)

i remeber now the resto...its sounds like...Ocean City?....am not sure

seafud galore talaga ako when I am in Iloilo...yum!
oo gali, its Ocean City ...

I have a few Qs
What language does the people of Butuan Speak?
and
How wide is the river (Agusan River?) they plan to build the 2nd Butuan bridge over?

Kaiser

February 1st, 2006, 02:25 PM

I wonder if both bridges have the same architect and designer.

Butuan 2nd bridge is designed by Japanese construction firms namely Towa Consult and Nippon Steel and Engineering Corp.

I hope the bridge will look like this pic 'cause mga japanese ang mga engineers:colgate:

http://www.morgenthal.org/higashi_kobe.jpg

Askal82

February 1st, 2006, 02:41 PM

I hope the islands of Panay, Negros and Cebu will be connected through these kind of bridges as well!! Just imagine how big the economic region will be!!

boybleauXx

February 1st, 2006, 04:04 PM

oo gali, its Ocean City ...

I have a few Qs
What language does the people of Butuan Speak?
and
How wide is the river (Agusan River?) they plan to build the 2nd Butuan bridge over?

It used to be the Binutuanon tongue......
but for the past 30 years.....predominantly Bisaya/Cebuano...owing to close proximity to Cebu....

Cebuanos were among the first wave of migrants during the 1940s up to the logging industry boom in the early 50s...then the Ilocanos and Boholanos and the Ilonggos

Butuan has a strong migrant population until now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Agusan River part where the 2nd bridge is being built is about 400 meters wide.

boybleauXx

February 1st, 2006, 04:06 PM

I hope the bridge will look like this pic 'cause mga japanese ang mga engineers:colgate:

http://www.morgenthal.org/higashi_kobe.jpg

I hope too that Butuan will soon be like this in a very short span of time....

boybleauXx

February 1st, 2006, 04:08 PM

I hope the islands of Panay, Negros and Cebu will be connected through these kind of bridges as well!! Just imagine how big the economic region will be!!

thats very possible..considering the technology in construction which has advanced significantly for the past decade....

boybleauXx

February 2nd, 2006, 03:35 AM

On Kahimunan festival
February 1,2006
Daily Mirror

While Cebu City has its Sinulog, in Butuan City, as soon as the New Year starts, specifically first week of the first month of the new year, natives, migrants and visitors alike, are busy finding ways to make “Kahimunan festival” a joyful and prolific celebration.
Kahimunan festival is one of the tourist attractions in the city aside from Undak-undak, both a tribal festivities featuring ethnic dancing, distinctive music and their colorful ornaments which includes a head-dresses or “tubaw” and bracelets.

Kahimunan is a “lu-mad” or “native” word which connotes festival gathering. It is a traditional ritual performed by native Butuanons before the start of the planting season and characterized by chanting, singing, playing, accompanied by their na-tive musical instruments such as the gimbar (drum), the gong and bamboo instruments called the Kalatong and Katik.

The distinctively Manobo rhythm of the Kahimunan starts with a slow beat increasing gra-dually causing the dancers to dance to different paces of the music.

The ritual is still done by existing tribes in the Philippines like the maman-was, who have resettled in the hinterlands of Agusan in their quest for an ideal settlement. Despite the advent of the newly acquired Christian Faith, these situations have stayed with the native and further promoted by the government among its tourist attractions not only locally but nation-wide as well.

These days, natives, young and old alike specially the “devotees” of the younger version of Jesus Christ, celebrate Kahimunan honoring the Sto. Niño for good health and prosperity where every household’s hospitality is exhibited through servings of colorful and passersby alike.

To celebrate Kahimunan is also a form of offering, thanksgiving and sacrifices on the part of devotees. Kahimunan celebration is a one week celebration consisting of novenas, street dancing, grand procession of the Sto. Niño icon, motorcade, Children Kahimunan and various sorts of competitions.

The recent activity was a joint concerted effort of the city government, church and barangay to further promote tourism in the city which was chaired by former lady Mayor Daisy B. Plaza and Pablito Tiu as director general of the council.

See you next year folks to witness another Kahi-munan festival in Butuan.

* * *

Mayor Democrito Plaza II is serious on minimizing garbage in his city by creating a task force who will be helping the city aide in cleaning esteros and areas identified as garbage prone. According to him, this “garbage” special task force will compose of at least ten to fifteen casual employees who will assist street sweepers/garbage collectors in cleaning the city.

The special garbage task force will be scheduled twice a week on rotation basis depending on which office is assigned for the day. Casual employees assigned for the day will be identified through its “vests” which will be supplied by the city.

That’s good, Mayor.

* * *

The Mayor also gave a ‘stern warning’ to employees who are engaged in the ‘palusot system’ especially those who would not release official documents without any ‘extra payments’ a practise which according to him should be stopped. Because whatever infrac-tions are committed by government workers are automatically thrown to chiefs of office like him.

According to him, majority of government workers are affected or blamed for mistakes com-mitted by some erring workers. It is unfair that government workers are ‘labeled’ as corrupt when in fact there are workers who are true to their profession.

Mayor Plaza said “Magbag-o na ta kay bag-ong tuig na.”

boybleauXx

February 2nd, 2006, 03:40 AM

Sense and Sensibility : Gold

by Bambi Harper
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Editor's Note: Published on page A11 of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

DR. B. LEGARDA e-mailed to say that an encomienda was the right to collect taxes on a piece of land. He added: "Forgot to add that an encomienda was not permanent but had a limited duration, say, one, two or three lifetimes-all the more reason for concluding that it was not ownership. Of course, the crown wanted to get back the sources of revenue! Supposedly it was given to those who took part in the conquest, but there were encomenderos with names like Liwag and Macapagal -- see Cushner's 1970s book on Spain in the Philippines.

"Encomiendas were also given to charitable institutions like San Juan de Dios Hospital; I remember seeing in the archives many years ago encomienda records for that hospital dating from as late as the 18th century."

I bring this up because if you've been following developments lately, you'd know from the papers that there's a resurgence of interest in gold. There was a boom in that metal in the 1930s (I have an old stock certificate of my dad's some place of a gold company called Anaconda based in Shanghai), and today, there are speculations that gold may reach $800 an ounce, nearly double its present price. The Philippines has always been a gold-producing country, and even before the Spaniards came, it was trading gold with the Chinese in exchange for pottery, porcelain, silks and other commodities. Gold was apparently the main object of the Chinese traders.

Giovanni Gaetano, pilot of the San Juan from the ill-gated Villalobos expedition, in his description of Mindanao, wrote of "a very special gold, which is dug out of mines in the same land; they value it, and use it for exchange, and wear chains and jewelry made of it." Another member of the expedition, Garcia Alvarado, spoke of an old Filipino that he ransomed who informed them that there was a large town on the island of Abuyo where the Chinese who kept a house there for their merchandise would go every year to trade "gold and some slaves." In Cebu, he continued, there were still some Spaniards from Magellan's time and that the Chinese would go there to "buy gold and certain jewelry because that island has it." He said Butuan, near Zubu (Cebu), "is rich in gold" and junks from many places would go there to trade. North of Samar was an island he called Albay that had gold mines.

In Sarangani, the Villalobos crew also noted that a lot of gold was found. In the five accounts of this expedition, whenever Filipinos are mentioned, they are described as wearing gold earrings, bracelets, necklaces and even on their teeth. Filipinos apparently were as fond of gold jewelry and bangles as now (otherwise why would Virra Mall do such thriving business?), but the other favorite down the ages has been Chinese jars and plates which were considered, together with the gold, as part of their wealth.

By the time Legaspi's troops occupied Luzon and the rest of the archipelago, the country had been parceled out into encomiendas or trust territories. It must have been with gold in mind that some of the recipients chose the north eastern and eastern districts of Mindanao, aware of reports of the legendary gold. In 1573, Andres de Mirandaola reported to the king that "much gold is found on the island of Vendanao, in the districts of Butuan, Curigao and Parasao." (The name Parasao still exists today as a barrio in Caraga.)

Guido de Lavezares, later governor general after Legaspi, was one of those who had an encomienda along the Butuan River. The first Spaniards who settled in Cebu had encomiendas in Surigao and Parasao as well.

Two present-day towns in southern Surigao are Bislig and Linguig, names that sound similar to types of gold found even in Luzon. Bizlin was gold worth a tael (1.5 ounces) and linguinin was worth P4. Filipinos used these for trade and barter, although in reports dating to the 1600s, these were spelled as "bixlin" and "linguin."

Today we hear of the placer mines. Here is an account from the Augustinian Memoranda 1580 about a small island near Placer: "The chief mines ... are ... on the island that the Spaniards call Vermeja, about two leagues from Curigao, where, according to a report, ... the greatest wealth of all" could be found.

There were many gold placers in many small islets near Siargao, according to Miguel de Loarca (1582). Francisco Colins, in his "Labor Evangelico," states that the best known place for gold was Butuan. Datu Silongan told his father to send some samples to the captain general in Manila. Two bamboo tubes "of one-half fathom length" and as thick as a leg were filled with gold dust. The other was filled with "gold in the form of necklaces made of different kinds of rings linked together."

Thirty years later, Fernando de Silva, an encomendero, said that all the natives had to do to pay their tribute for the year was work for a week "because there was so much gold in the river."

Granted that this was all a long time ago, but the renewed interest in the metal today confirms that there is still gold in "dem dar hills." So if anyone tells you that this is a poor country, don't believe him. It's only the people who are poor basically because they have been ill-served ("Keep them poor and keep them ignorant," as one politician allegedly said), but this does not have to be the case.

* * *

Comments at bambiharper@yahoo.com

slerz

February 2nd, 2006, 03:40 AM

I like this saying of the Mayor “Magbag-o na ta kay bag-ong tuig na.” :D

So finally, I heard of a festival in Mindanao that also honors Sr. Sto. Niño... :okay:

boybleauXx

February 2nd, 2006, 03:42 AM

yeah....

Santo Nino brings blessings to places where He is honored and venerated.....just like Cebu

boybleauXx

February 2nd, 2006, 07:05 AM

A Tiger Business Born Out of Setbacks
DBP News Letter

BUTUAN CITY- “You really think Filipinos are that dumb?”

This was Rory Ong Yiu’s candid reply to a group of foreign capitalists who backed out of a planned investment in Yiu’s banana chip business. Ong Yiu had hoped the businessmen would infuse much-needed capital to his young venture, but a year after, the group admitted that they had no money to help him.

Ong Yiu was lost. He had previous success in wood manufacturing and tuna fishing, but knew nothing about banana processing. He engaged the services of a reputed expert in banana chips, only to find out that the person’s only know-how was in packaging. His first fifteen deliveries to Germany, meanwhile, were all rejected. Worse, someone from a local agency tasked to help entrepreneurs told him in 1986 that banana chips production was a “sunset industry.”
http://www.devbankphil.com.ph/images/proj1.jpg

“It was a nice experience,” Ong Yiu deadpans.
Things only started to get well for Ong Yiu after he discovered a vital process- the second frying of the chips, which wards off an unpleasant taste on the products. “We fortunately found out the second frying after almost three months of no earnings,” Yiu recalls.

From then on, his banana chips production has become the biggest in the country, and the cornerstone of his Celebes Group of Companies, one of Mindanao’s most progressive. With four companies under his control - Celebes Coconut Corporation, Celebes Oil Mill, Incorporated, Celebes Agricultural Corporation (CAC) and Royce Foods Corporation (RFC)- Ong Yiu has earned a reputation as a shrewd, inventive entrepreneur.
http://www.devbankphil.com.ph/images/proj2.jpg

Entrepreneurial Spirit
Succeeding in business, it seemed, is Ong Yiu’s destiny. While others of his age chased girls, Ong Yiu chased his dreams. “When I finished high school, I wanted to stop and not to go to college. I wanted to have my own business, ” Ong Yiu shares. He imagined having a chopstick manufacturing company as a teen, and realized this almost a decade later. “We had so much raw materials here. People were using these as firewood, they were throwing it away, but there was a large market for that abroad,” Ong Yiu said.

In 1981, Ong Yiu successfully put up a wood manufacturing company, sourcing timber from its own forest concession in this city. The company produced chopsticks, and crates for soda products, among others. Two years later he diversified into deep-sea tuna fishing, taking advantage of the island’s abundant natural wealth. In 1986, he started his banana chips production, then an oil mill in 1992 and finally a desiccated coconut production in 2000.

Ong Yiu saw, grabbed and turned the most out of every opportunity. While it was initially established to serve the requirements of its banana chips production, his coconut oil milling found its way to produce 3,000 tons for export worldwide. His desiccated oil production that initially yielded 60 by 20 feet containers a month in 2000 now exports 180 containers in 29 countries.

And with his numerous clients across the globe, Ong Yiu found a ready market for his desiccated coconut and tropical fruits, used in confectionaries, chocolate fillings and toppings, baked macaroons, candies and coconut-sprinkled cereals.

Environmental Awareness
Ong Yiu has also invested heavily on different environmental practices through the help of DBP-Butuan, which has been its partner in various expansion and environmental efforts since 1992. To date, Celebes is the only Mindanao manufacturer that boasts of waste water treatment facilities.

“We’re in for the long term,” Ong Yiu tells, “ that’s why we invested in the waste water treatment even if it accounts for about 25% of the cost of the plant. It is one of the reasons why our clients are buying from us.”

The corporation has also complied with various product standards and certification. Celebes Agricultural Corporation has passed the stringent Quality Standard Tests (QST), which demands strict monitoring and compliance to high food production standards, including the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCAP). Celebes has also obtained organic certification from a leading European certification organization for its coconut products.

Celebes’ continued success has reaped dividends not just for the Caraga region, but for Mindanao and Visayas as well. Currently, there are some 10,000 employees belonging to the corporation. Some 2,000 of them come from the Caraga region, while the rest are scattered in various cities in the south.

His success, Ong Yiu says, is a result of his inventiveness. He has made full use of the wealth of resources in his area. His travels abroad have also given him ideas on how to expand his craft.

“We have so many things to export here. There are a lot of opportunities in Mindanao. I have just been resourceful all these years,” Ong Yiu maintains. This attitude, coupled with his diligent nature- Ong Yiu admits to working tirelessly 18 hours a day- has made him a prime mover of countryside development in Mindanao

slerz

February 2nd, 2006, 07:12 AM

yeah....

Santo Nino brings blessings to places where He is honored and venerated.....just like Cebu

I agree and it is proven...

dominique

February 2nd, 2006, 09:46 AM

It seems butuan city is experiencing unprecedented growth..all the while i thought butuan is in the league of dumaguete, tagbilaran and dipolog since i havent visited this place yet..but seemingly I am wrong its more developed than those cities i mentioned (am i right?).By the way since it is a regional center just like tacloban, which do you think is more developed butuan or tacloban?

boybleauXx

February 2nd, 2006, 09:58 AM

Both cities are regional capitals....Tacloban for eastern Visayas....and Butuan for Northeastern Mindanao.

Butuan though became a city on August 1950. Tacloban City I presume must be 5 to 10 years older (in cityhood).

However...Butuan is a classified Highly Urbanized city....as sanctioned by the guidelines set by the DILG since 1984. While Tacloban remains a chartered regional Eastern Visayan city.

Butuan just became the regional capital upon the creation of the Northeastern Mindanao region in February 1995.

Butuan has bigger population base as compared to that of Tacloban. It also has a bigger territorial area and catchment area.

However...I need to check on that citys growth rates ( to be objective about it) as I am more familiar with Butuan's current aggressive economic growth these past few years.

dominique

February 2nd, 2006, 10:05 AM

thanks boybleau for that very intelligent reply. you are very knowledgeable about butuan. I presume you are the city's tourism or economic officer?

boybleauXx

February 2nd, 2006, 12:01 PM

thanks boybleau for that very intelligent reply. you are very knowledgeable about butuan. I presume you are the city's tourism or economic officer?

your always welcome dominique....

Butuan is a dark horse in the growth race yet underrated

I am just a private Butuanon individual :)

boybleauXx

February 2nd, 2006, 01:50 PM

Butuan Catchment Area Arterial Road System
http://www.caraga13.gov.ph/roads/images/caraga.jpg
http://www.caraga13.gov.ph/roads/images/adn.jpg

boybleauXx

February 2nd, 2006, 02:20 PM

THE PHILIPPINE CDS EXPERIENCE:
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO URBAN
GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

(Presentation delivered by Hon. Arnan C. Panaligan, Mayor of the City of Calapan and Vice President for Luzon of the League of Cities of the Philippines, in the CDS2 Concluding Workshop, Pan Pacific Hotel, Manila)

One of the most dramatic changes that occurred in the past several decades of the last century was the rapid urbanization of many cities both in the developed and developing countries. The unceasing tide of urbanization will continue well into the first quarter of the new millennium.From Mumbai to Manila and from Sao Paulo to Seoul, most of the world’s cities are undergoing one of modern history’s most significant transformations: the inexorable arch to urbanization. By the year 2030, for the first time in history, 60% of the world’s population will be living in cities. However, the most dramatic increase in the rate of urbanization has been and will be in the Third World. The cities in Asia will account for a greater share in this urban explosion.

Twenty five years from now, most Asians will live in cities. In fact, according to an article in Newsweek magazine, of the more than 2 billion people who will be added to the world’s total population, the vast majority will live in urban Asia. The Philippines has not been exempted from this remarkable urban transformation. In the immediate postwar period up to the 1960s, urbanization was concentrated primarily in Manila and in its suburban cities and towns as well as in the secondary cities of Cebu and Davao. But
starting in the 1970s, urbanization occurred in more cities and towns outside Metro Manila such as in Baguio, Dagupan, Olongapo, Angeles, Batangas, Lipa, Lucena, Naga, Legazpi, Iloilo, Bacolod, Iligan, Butuan,Cagayan de Oro, Gen. Santos and Zamboanga

The late 1980s and the 1990s saw a rapid expansion in the number of urban areas in the Philippines. New regional and provincial centers emerged as growth areas. These were mostly provincial capitals or premiere towns where expanded commercial activities were generated and urban services and facilities provided. Notable among these new urban areas in the provinces
are places such as San Fernando, Vigan, Urdaneta and Tuguegarao in the north, Balanga, Tarlac, San Fernando and Malolos in Central Luzon, Antipolo, Tanauan and Calapan in Southern Luzon, Tagum, Digos and Kidapawan in Mindanao.

The rapid urbanization in the Philippines can be gleaned from the fact that in a period of only 10 years from 1991 to 2001, a total of 53 new cities were created in the country. Contrast this with the record from 1909, when Baguio City was chartered, to 1991, or a period of 85 years, wherein only 60 cities were created in the country. The last decade of the 20th century was
therefore an era of unprecedented urban expansion in the Philippines. This trend will continue. At present, the Philippines has 230 urban areas with populations exceeding 50,000 residents. Some studies estimate that by 2020, the Philippines may have as much as 600 urban areas and that 65% of the country’s total population will be living in these urban areas.

Cities and the Challenge of Urbanization
This massive urban transformation of cities in our country and elsewhere will either make us or doom us. Cities are the fundamental building blocks of prosperity both for the nation and for families, according to Marc Weiss, chairman of the Prague Institute for Global Urban Development. This can be gleaned from the fact that in most countries of the world, industrial and commercial activities in cities and urban areas account for between 50% to 80% of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Urbanization therefore creates an opportunity to promote economic growth and improve the standards of living of the population. If not managed well, however, urbanization will give rise to a variety of economic, social and environmental problems that will impact on the quality of life in the cities. One of these problems is the rise in urban poverty brought about by limited income and employment opportunities in the cities as the urban population continues to grow naturally and through migration from the countryside. This also gives rise to the proliferation of slums in the cities. Lack of potable water supply and sanitation and waste disposal problems are also manifested in rapid urbanization resulting to environmental degradation. Inadequate
infrastructure and transport facilities in cities, on the other hand, lead to gridlock that restricts economic growth. In turn, all these urban problems lead to the breakdown in the social fabric in our cities as evidenced by community violence, juvenile crimes, drug use and broken families.

It is therefore clear that the quality of life for most people in the future will be determined by the quality of their cities. Against this backdrop, our cities must be prepared to respond to the challenges of urbanization in order to ensure that they become livable, sustainable and economically vibrant which can be achieved if the cities are governed and managed well.

City Development Strategy: Comprehensive Approach to Urban Governance
It is in this context that the League of Cities of the Philippines, under the dynamic and visionary leadership of its president, Mayor Francis N. Tolentino of Tagaytay City, took the pivotal lead in equipping cities in our country with the capability and the means to address urban development issues through the City Development Strategy process or CDS. In 1999, 7 cities were initially piloted in CDS in the Philippines. Being a pilot undertaking, CDS1 was implemented by the World Bank with the support of a team of local consultants.
In 2001, 31 additional cities were included in the CDS process. The second CDS began in October 2001 with the League of Cities of the Philippines as implementing agency with funding assistance from the Cities Alliance and support from the World Bank and the United Nations Center for Human Settlements or UN Habitat.

The City Development Strategy was formulated in response to the need to come up with an integrated, comprehensive and participatory approach to urban governance and management. Founded on the principles of livability, bankability, competitiveness and good governance, the CDS process guides the cities in the assessment of their problems and opportunities, the crafting
of a common vision for the city, the formulation of long term development strategies, the prioritization of programs and projects for attaining the vision and the mobilization of resources.

A key feature of the CDS process is the involvement by City Governments of the local stakeholders in the entire strategic planning process – from the assessment and situational analysis, visioning, strategy formulation and project prioritization and capital investment programming – through a series of consultations. The key element of participatory approach in all steps of the CDS process is intended to foster common ownership of the vision,
strategies, programs and projects – the entire City Development Strategy plan – among the stakeholders of the city thereby ensuring continuity.

Impact of CDS in Pilot Cities in General
It may still be too early at this point to make a definitive assessment of the results of the CDS process in the pilot cities. However, it can be said that the initial impact of CDS is that it has enabled the pilot cities to engage their stakeholders in the task of urban governance and management. Before, strategic planning in cities and other local governments in the Philippines
was undertaken with only minimal participation of the sectors that make up the community. These strategic planning exercises were mostly participated in by the local officials, local government department heads and employees and representatives from a handful of so called non-government organizations or associations most of which were organized at the behest of the local governments themselves. In those cases, the output was largely prepared by consultants based on a standard format of a strategic plan.
This is where CDS differs. CDS is not only a plan but also a process that guides the participants in the definition of their problems, in outlining a common vision for the city, in listing down priority programs and projects and in the identification of resources. In all these steps, the city’s stakeholders were involved. With broad stakeholder participation in the entire process
through a series of consultations and workshops conducted in the pilot cities, community ownership of the CDS plan is inculcated. The institutionalization of stakeholder participation in the process by the pilot cities is one of the notable impacts of CDS in the Philippines.

Another impact of CDS in the pilot cities is that it has enabled them to come up with a more realistic approach in addressing urban issues and development concerns. In the past, the strategic plans are mere wish lists of proposed projects without any provision for funding or resource mobilization schemes. This was due to the fact that these plans were prepared without institutional support and linkages. As a result, these plans failed to take off. CDS differs in that it was conceptualized with funding, technical and institutional support from organizations dedicated in addressing urban issues such as the Cities Alliance, the World Bank, the UN Habitat and the United Nations Development Program.

Still another impact of CDS in the pilot cities is that it has given them the opportunity for capability building for their key staff. Unlike in the usual strategic planning exercises in other local government units which are usually two day affairs, the CDS is a lengthy process with a capability building component. In our case, our key city officials and staff underwent a series of trainings in various topics such as service delivery, resource mobilization, local economic development, poverty alleviation, urban planning and design and others as part of the capability building process of CDS. These trainings and exposures for our staff will help a lot in improving the quality of governance and management in our respective cities.

boybleauXx

February 3rd, 2006, 07:57 AM

The link below provides an insight on the city Millenium Development Goals....
it was presented last year by the city mayor before the UN Convention in urban governance in Hanoi, Vietnam ...
http://www.citynet-ap.org/en/Hanoi%20Congress/PostCongress/SympoAPlaza.ppt

dhoyax

February 3rd, 2006, 10:15 AM

i kept on reading this thread and hoping i can find some of my long lost friend in Butuan.
i was born in Burgos Ext. Butuan city, my family migrated to other places when i was grade 3.

is there any butuan city forum?

boybleauXx

February 3rd, 2006, 12:37 PM

dhoyax

yes there are a lot of Butuan content forums....

Butuan internet community is alive and kicking.

Kindly read the private message I sent to you.

welcome home!

boybleauXx

February 3rd, 2006, 12:40 PM

The rendering is owned by Palafox Associates...the Makati-based urban design firm tasked to redesign and redevelop the Butuan downtown district, urban expansion plan and the soon to commence Butuan Waterfront Development Project. Once completed it is envisioned that it will be the most beautiful waterfront redevelopment in the country..complementing the elevated viaducts that is now being built across it.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/128097270.jpg

Kaiser

February 3rd, 2006, 01:11 PM

^^Q: only one part of the river?

boybleauXx

February 3rd, 2006, 01:16 PM

Joshua

the project shall be in phases....the first phase will be the one posted above.

it will run along 3 urban riverine barangays at the west bank...

the overall project calls for the construction of a riverine boulevard along the east bank (opposite side) along Baan riverside....

Kaiser

February 3rd, 2006, 01:57 PM

boybleauXx

February 3rd, 2006, 02:23 PM

once completed...the area will become a magnet for new business locators as restos, bars and cafes and other private family recreation enterprises are expected building shops along the strip.

janusngo

February 3rd, 2006, 08:54 PM

Is there an ETA or approximate time frame when the waterfront project will be completed. Has construction already been started? or is it just the planning stage

boybleauXx

February 4th, 2006, 01:34 AM

Janusngo

They are completing the clearing operations along the area.
Late last year, city executives laid the groundbreaking and placing of the time capsule for the project.

dhoyax

February 4th, 2006, 02:09 AM

dhoyax

yes there are a lot of Butuan content forums....

Butuan internet community is alive and kicking.

Kindly read the private message I sent to you.

welcome home!

thank you tol.

Kaiser

February 4th, 2006, 03:45 AM

Q: after butuan what is the 2nd most important city/town in agusan del norte

boybleauXx

February 4th, 2006, 04:51 AM

all municipalities in the province of Agusan del Norte are equally important.

Nasipit is important due to its Nasipit International Port and the NANIE (Nasipit Agroindustrial Estate)....while Cabadbaran due to the soon to be completed...provincial government center and Tubay due to the planned TAPCEN (Tubay Agro-processing Center)

Butuan, being higly urbanized city...is autonomous from the province.

Askal82

February 4th, 2006, 07:04 AM

I never thought Butuan city to be this fantastic!! Keep it up!! Talunin natin yung mga kapitbahay sa Asya na puro sibuyas bombay ang iniisip nila sa mga buildings. :lol:

boybleauXx

February 4th, 2006, 09:49 AM

while all these things essential for the city to be at pace with globalization are now laid out....there is much work to be done....

there might be odds along the way....but the city has already set its sights ~ to become this countrys next economic wonder

Kaiser

February 4th, 2006, 02:09 PM

^^sana magdilang anghel ka:colgate:

boybleauXx

February 4th, 2006, 05:05 PM

nothing beats prayers..preserverance....and hard work....

boybleauXx

February 5th, 2006, 04:16 AM

taken from the state of the city report 2005

BUTUAN FINANCIAL STATUS

In keeping with its tradition of upholding sound fiscal management and judicious allocation of resources, the city focused on its revenue raising and fund allocation functions.

Statement of revenue shows an annual increase of 12.2% from 2002-2004, with total revenues of P629,446,487.59. Under major class revenues, tax revenue posted an annual revenue growth rate of 6.76%. Collection efficiency revenues of the city, where the primary fund of the government came from, reached 93.3% complemented by the expending efficiency garnering a 85.13% performance.

A total of Seven Hundred Twenty Million Five Hundred Thirty Two Thousand and Eight Hundred Twenty Eight pesos ( P 720,532,828.00) is allotted for the 3 functional areas namely; Economic Services (41.0%), General Services (38.0%), and Social Services (21.0%).

For fund allocations, the following elements of the budget stand out: The General Administration of Government (Executive, Legislative, Budget and Accounting Services) got the biggest expenditure at 17.95% ; followed by Social Improvement at 16.92% ; and Economic Development at 14.29 %.

Budgetary support is continuously given on Program thrusts of the City. One of these is the review of the organizational structure in order to upgrade our system and eventually clarify the different duties and functions for effective administration of service to the people. The appropriations of fund like the salaries of the employees are now given to the respective offices where they are detailed. Moreover, to put into the right perspective the vision of the city, an urban planner was engaged to do the urban planning and design of the Butuan Civic Center and Major Thoroughfares and Waterfront Development, Urban Expansion Area Concept Plan and Review of Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinances.

With efficient allocation of resources, coupled with increased revenues, government services are rendered with efficiency to put the city at a more favorable financial status for the coming years.

Bitoy_

February 5th, 2006, 01:00 PM

Teka bakit sa lahat ng nakikita ko na proyekto dito , halos ang mga Hapones ang naka korner ng mga construction contracts? :sleepy:

Bitoy_

February 5th, 2006, 01:41 PM

explain mo iho okeys

boybleauXx

February 5th, 2006, 03:11 PM

maybe you have not read enough

You should understand too....that almost all of these projects are funded by the Japanese ODA (official development assistance)....big time projects....that only technologically capable contractors such as these Japanese contractors are capable of.

okey iho/iha?

boybleauXx

February 6th, 2006, 05:28 AM

reprinted from City Accomplishment Report 2005

The Culture of Tourism

In the whole Caraga Region XIII, Butuan City has the most number of tourism-related establishments operating, and indicators such as utilization of conference venues and tourists arrivals show that it has proven to be the favorite Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibits (MICE) destination of local and national events. The total tourist arrivals for year 2003-2004 had a significant increase of 13.20%. The breakdown of the tourists arrivals show that domestic had 12.49% and foreign, 41.97% growth rates. Most of the foreign visitors came from the USA which had February and May as the highest month of arrival during 2004.

Source: City Tourism Office

The conventions held in Butuan City also grew by 29.22% and the number of delegates by 56.56% compared with the preceding years. The data taken from these establishments on its usage does not include personal functions and other occasions such as weddings, birthday parties, JS Prom, baptism, graduation and family reunions.

The significant increase of visitors to the city can be attributed to the prevailing peace and order condition, the inherent warm hospitality of the people and clean environment. It is estimated that tourists spend about P935,527,500 during the 3 days stay in the City.

Utilization of Convention Facilities
2003-2004

Year -- No. of Events -- GrowthRate (%) -- No. of delegates -- Growth Rates
2002 -- 922 -- ---------------------------- 41,756
2003 -- 948 ---------------- 2.8 -- ----- ---48,076 --------- 15.14
2004 -- 1,225 -- ------------ 29.22 -------- 75,267 --------- 56.56

Source: City Tourism Office, Butuan City

Supporting these arrivals are the massive distribution of promotional collaterals, TV ads/campaigns, special events, participation to the 2nd Wow Philippines – Best of the Regions in Intramuros in 2004 and probably, the 3 existing travel agencies operating in the city. During the Madyaw Karadjao Best of Caraga, Butuan was one of the emerging destination during that promotion because of its unique historical and cultural heritage showcasing its archaeological artifacts. Its displays generated P2.038M sales of local products and 115,981 viewers of the exhibits. ..

boybleauXx

February 6th, 2006, 11:37 AM

uprooted from the City Accomplishment and Plans Report 2005

BUTUAN IT PROJECT

The city government will vigorously pursue its commitment to create a good business atmosphere for the investors. Hopefully, with the support that the City Government will extend in funding the proposal to explore business opportunities in the IT Enabled Services Sector together with the DTI, TIDD-BCIB, the Call Center existing in major cities will be realized. With the private sector investment, the Call Center is projected to generate employment of about 1,500 besides the construction phase employment....

boybleauXx

February 6th, 2006, 02:50 PM

reprinted from City Accomplishment and Plans 2005

Infrastructure and Utilities Sector

The City will focus its development of infrastructure and facilities for 2005 in lined with the seven point program of the Hon. City Mayor Democrito D. Plaza II. One of the proposed project is the construction of Butuan Port and the Dredging of Agusan river. The expansion of Bancasi airport, Acquisition of six (6) hectares lot for the construction of City Coliseum. The D.O.Plaza Regional Center will be realized through Bond flotation scheme with an estimated cost of P240 million. The provision of potable water supply to twenty two (22) rural barangays. More farm to market roads, concreting of roads, construction of drainage canals, Construction of Buildings and other facilities.

These are the following action plan of infrastructure and utilities sector for year 2006.

1. Realization of Second Magsaysay/ alternate bridge

The DPWH- Regional Office as the implementing arm of the national government

2. Continue the construction and improvement of roads and bridges

The efficiency of and benefits to be derived from the construction of road network are highly dependent on the bridges that will interconnect them. The easier transport of farm products, the faster response of government agencies and the implementation of government projects will hardly be realized if the bridges that span across the roads will be left at their present condition. Every year the construction and rehabilitation of bridges are always a priority.

The City has appropriated under the 20% Development Fund a total amount of Php 10 million for the Construction of Tagulahi Bridge at Barangay Antongalon. The completion of Pigdaulan bridge worth P 2 million was also a priority. Other project includes the construction of Mini Wharf in the amount of 1.2 million .

Opening of new roads

The proposed construction of roads that are included in 2005 budget under the 20% Development Fund and with the approval from the City Development Council (CDC) costing about Php 58 million broken as follows; City Hall- Employees Village-Libertad Road (25 meters wide), P20 million, NRJ- Bonbon- Kinamlutan road (30 meters wide), P15 million, T. Calo Ext.- Doongan road (20 meters), P8 million, Burgos Ext.- J.C. Aquino Avenue (20 meters wide), P4 million, Estacio Village (Victoria Street)- Sosompit road (25 meters wide), P5 million and Doongan-Capitol Bonbon road (20 meters wide) Raniel, P6 million.

Under 20 % Development Fund

Construction of Roads Amount
City Hall- Employees Village-Libertad Road (25 meters wide) Phase I P20 million
NRJ-Bonbon-Kinamlutan Road (30 meters wide) 15 million
T. Calo Extension – Doongan Road 8 million
Burgos Extension – NRJ J.C. Aquino Avenue (20 meters wide) 4 million
Estacio Village (Victoria Street) – Sosompit Road (25 meters wide) 5 million
Doongan- Capitol Bonbon Road (20 meters wide) Raniel 6 million
Total 58 million

Source: CEO

Continue the construction of more farm to market roads

The National government through its implementing arm, the Department of Public Works and Highways- Butuan District ( DPWH- Butuan District) appropriated an amount of P2.5 million for the Rehabilitation of Aupagan Circumferential Road. The project are CARP funded project and the memorandum of agreement between the DPWH and the Local Government is on process before the project start. Other projects that has been started by the agency reflected as regular infra are the Improvement of Butuan City- Masao Port Road (Suatan section) and the Improvement of Butuan City- Pianing – Tandag Road (Taguibo Section). These sections of road were proposed to be concreted and graveled.

Regular Infra
CY 2005

Programs Plans Total Cost
Improvement of Butuan City- MasaoPort Road (Suatan Section) Concreting of 6.10 width unpaved road with .23m thickness at Sta. 1247+048.80 to Sta. 1247+522 and Raising of grade (gravelling) at Sta. 1267 +760 to Sta. 1248 + 220 5 Million
Improvement of Butuan City-Pianing –Tandag Road (Taguibo Section) Concreting of 6.10 width unpaved road with .23 thickness at Sta. 1232 +419 to Sta. 1232 +879 and gravelling of road at Sta. 1241 +760- Sta. 1242 + 760 5 Million
TOTAL 10 Million
Source: DPWH-Butuan District

Continue the concreting of main roads going to the rural barangay

As reported by the City Engineering Office, the total length of barangay roads was 222.540 kilometers, only 3.821 kilometers are paved or concrete and 218.719 kilometers are still unpaved or graveled.

Continue the Concreting of more Urban Barangays

As of 2004, the City Government has evaluated a total of 66.772 km. concrete (paved) roads for the City roads alone. A total amount of P38,100,000.00 for 2005 priority project is allocated

Concreting of Roads

Project Length Amount
1. Rehab/Concreting of JCT. J.C. Aquino Capitol (Continuing) 10,000,000.00
2. Langihan ong Yiu, Ochoa Road (Continuing) 5,000,000.00
3. Concreting of NRJ Balanghai Libertad Road (Phase I) 5,000,000.00
4. Concreting of T. Sanchez Street 87.70 L.M 900,000.00
5. Concreting of Pareja Subdivision Road 1,200,000.00
6. Concreting of Agusan Pequeño Road (Phase I) 10,000,000.00
7. Concreting of Road Bus Terminal Premises 6,000,000.00
TOTAL 38,100,000.00

Source: CEO

Continue the construction of more drainage canals

The City Government appropriated an amount of P1.5 million for the construction of Box Culvert at Barangay Aupagan.

The DPWH-Butuan District has appropriated an amount of 5 million for the Construction of 2-1.85 X 2.0 m Box Culvert, Installation of 610 mm diameter R.C. Pipes and Construction of Manhole and Catch basin Manhole. The project is funded under Other Infra Projects for 2005.

Flood Protection:

For 2005, the CARBDP-DPWH-PMO also implement the full completion of the on-going Agusan river Improvement (East Bank) and Cut-Off Channel at a cost of 639 million which is undertaken by China International Water and Electric Corporation, the construction of Magsaysay Viaduct at a cost of 560 million which is being awarded to F.F. Cruz. The Completion of Masao River Improvement and Construction of Urban Drainage System in Butuan City amounting to 825.62 million which is also being undertaken by Kajima Corporation.

The DPWH-Butuan District will also implement the Improvement of Masao Flood Control/Dredging of Soil at a cost of 10 million, 5 million will be funded under the Regular Infra and the other 5 million from the Other Infra.

3. Acquisition of lot for City Coliseum/ South Market.

The City also appropriated an amount of 20 million for the acquisition of land for the Construction of City Coliseum and South Market.

4. Realization of the Regional Center

5. Provision of Water Facilities

The City Government through the Executive Order No.___ Series of 2005, creates the Rural Water System Development Project Management team (PWSDPMT) and its advisory to support and cause the implementation of Rural Water System- Spring Development of Rural Barangay. Out of thirty seven (37) Rural Barangays, thirty four (34) Rural Barangays are requested to Butuan City water District for a waiver to give the City Government the free rein to undertake the Spring Development. Only twenty two barangays were granted through Resolution No. 001-2005 by the Board of Directors of BCWD. The following Rural Barangays are :

1. Barangay Bugsukan 12. Barangay Bitan-agan
2. Barangay Florida 13. Barangay MJ Santos
3. Barangay San Mateo 14. Barangay Tungao
4. Barangay Dulag 15. Barangay Aupagan
5. Barangay Maguinda 16. Barangay Mandamo
6. Barangay Camayahan 17. Barangay Dankias
7. Barangay Maibu 18. Barangay Bilay
8. Barangay Kinamlutan 19. Barangay Nongnong
9. Barangay Don Francisco 20. Barangay Manila de Bugabus
10. Barangay Basag 21. Barangay Amparo
11. Barangay De Oro 22. Barangay Salvacion

The Butuan City Water District (BCWD), plans and programs for 2005 fro their Water Supply System Phase II Improvement Project are the following:

A) Pipelines

v Complete all excavation/jointing, backfilling for pipelines construction
v Conduct hydraulic testing for the newly installed hydraulic pipes
v Disinfection of the newly constructed pipelines
v Commissioning of water supply system
v Pipeline interconnection work

B) Chlorination House & Pressure Releasing Valve (PRV) Building

v Installation of Chlorination Facilities

C) Reservoirs

v Installation of Pumping equipment for the three (3) Reservoirs and for the Sump Tank and Booster Pump

6. Irrigation

For 2005, the NIA Provincial Office will implement six (6) Communal Irrigation System at a total cost of P12,750,000.00 for Barangays Dulag, Camayahan, Taguibo, Basag and Taligaman & Antongalon . The agency will also implement the Communal Irrigation Project at the sum of P1,250,000.00 at Barangay Dulag. A total of 598 hectares will be serve by these projects.

NIA-CIPS Projects

Project Location Service Area Funding Source Project Cost
1. Tagpulangi CIS Dulag 70 CARP-IC 2,000,000.00
2. Camayahan CIS Camayahan 100 CARP-IC 2,000,000.00
3. Tagulahi CIS Taguibo 70 CARP-IC 5,000,000.00
4. Basag CIS Basag 38 BSPP 2004 1,250,000.00
5. Tagulahi CIS Taguibo 70 BSPP 2004 1,250,000.00
6. Taligaman-Antongalon CIS Taligaman &Antongalon 180 BSPP 2004 1,250,000.00
7. Tagpulangi CIP Dulag 70 BSPP 2004 1,250,000.00
TOTAL 598 12,750,000.00

Source: NIA-Provincial Office

7. Energy

Electrification

The City will also implement the installation and fabrication of Street lighting amounting to P4,606,186.00.

Installation/Fabrication of Street Lighting

Name of Projects Project Cost
1. Installation/Fabrication of Decorative Lamp Post 898,000.00
2. Restoration of National Highway St. Light (Right Portion) 1,015,700.00
3. Purchase of City Street Lighting Luminaires 2,374,111.00
4. Purchase of Different Electrical Facilities 318,375.00
TOTAL 4,606,186.00

Source: CEO

Kaiser

February 6th, 2006, 03:14 PM

^^THATS REALLY A LOT OF MONEY

boybleauXx

February 7th, 2006, 02:00 AM

Joshua

indeed....despite the city's increasing IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment)....the city has come up with novel means of raising capital inorder to finance these locally initiated projects...

Last year the city had initiated Bond Flotation scheme to raise up to 250 Million peso to finance its Megadome Project and South Supermarket Projects...

Butuan is one of the very few cities to initiate Bond Flotation...as a means to generate capital for its projects.

boybleauXx

February 7th, 2006, 04:07 PM

janusngo

February 7th, 2006, 09:28 PM

Boyleauxxx i've seen it being constructed sa libertad...when i went home sa butuan last october...do you know when Otis will be opened?

which part of butuan do you live?

janusngo

February 7th, 2006, 09:32 PM

im going back next year....excited ako :)

paulkrps

February 7th, 2006, 09:39 PM

Rendering of the newly opened Otis Metro Mall, Libertad, Butuan City

this is really great boy!

bulakenyo

February 7th, 2006, 11:13 PM

boybleauXx

February 8th, 2006, 01:45 AM

Boyleauxxx i've seen it being constructed sa libertad...when i went home sa butuan last october...do you know when Otis will be opened?

which part of butuan do you live?

Metro Mall opened its doors last December 18, 2005....
During the opening...there was a Chinese Dragon and Lion Dance that started from the mall going along JC Aquino Avenue towards its department store branch.

WELCOME back home to Butuan !

boybleauXx

February 8th, 2006, 01:47 AM

JP san ka?

Nice looking mall! I'm very optimistic about Butuan. I've seen the articles posted here and it's nice to know that finally, there are some signs of economic decentralization. Great job Butuan!

thanks a lot bulakenyo...

we will be all praying and working for a more progressive and dynamic BUTUAN :)

boybleauXx

February 8th, 2006, 01:49 AM

this is really great boy!

thank you Paul :)

boybleauXx

February 8th, 2006, 08:53 AM

im going back next year....excited ako :)

how long have you been away ?

cyrusal

February 8th, 2006, 09:22 AM

Rendering of the newly opened Otis Metro Mall, Libertad, Butuan City

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/128615242.jpg

I like the design.. colorful and elegant

c0kelitr0

February 8th, 2006, 09:38 AM

omg, nindot na lagi kaayo ang otis no? the last time i was there, it was so dark and gloomy. they may really need to spruce up their place as gaisano may have given them a hard competition!

boybleauXx

February 8th, 2006, 12:08 PM

omg, nindot na lagi kaayo ang otis no? the last time i was there, it was so dark and gloomy. they may really need to spruce up their place as gaisano may have given them a hard competition!

Otis Mall is one of the major projects being undertaken by the Chan-Uy Realty Corp....they do have other plans for their sprawling property beside their new mall.

boybleauXx

February 8th, 2006, 12:11 PM

I like the design.. colorful and elegant

the style and color are hip.

IMO, your OroRama had already bought a property south of Montilla Blvd. for their future mall development...

OroRama is one of the pioneers in commercial center development in CDO..

who is the owner of OroRama?

Kaiser

February 8th, 2006, 02:44 PM

Rendering of the newly opened Otis Metro Mall, Libertad, Butuan City

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/128615242.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/128615237.jpg

Speechless :eek2: ............really beautiful:colgate:

by the way how many malls are there in butuan?

boybleauXx

February 8th, 2006, 02:57 PM

only two......

I think too few for a midsize city.....

but there are future players to expect.....one of them is the development of the Plaza Mall....which will sit on a 3 hectare lot along JC Aquino....it is owned by Plaza Crest Realty of DO Plaza Management Development Co...

The lot is still leased to several native grill houses....but they say....the lease is going to expire this year....so they will start building another homegrown mall...

then there's the Capitol Commercial Complex....a 5 hectare lot owned by the provincial government in front of the capitol....it is for full development once the fund from Land bank is finally ironed out...

then there's the proposed OroRama Mall along South Montilla Blvd in Villa Kanangga....I guess 5 hectare lot size.

the homegrowns are trying to beef up.....because anytime soon..the SM Prime Holdings will be finalizing their intent of building their mall in Butuan...

a city hall insider said that SM Prime daw had already requested the socio-economic profile of the city early last year......

and this 2006....SM Prime will be opening its banking outlet in the city.....I believe....to facilitate their establishment and foothold in this fast growing city.

cyrusal

February 8th, 2006, 04:29 PM

the style and color are hip.

IMO, your OroRama had already bought a property south of Montilla Blvd. for their future mall development...

OroRama is one of the pioneers in commercial center development in CDO..

who is the owner of OroRama?

I only know the name..

Ororama - See Hong
Limketkai - Albino Limketkai
Gaisano - Stephen Gaisano :)
(sorry sa unsolicited na dagdag)

janusngo

February 8th, 2006, 06:50 PM

boybleuxx...do u have actual photo's of the otis mall? medyo na excite ako to compare the graphic version and te actual mall

boybleauXx

February 9th, 2006, 02:05 AM

boybleuxx...do u have actual photo's of the otis mall? medyo na excite ako to compare the graphic version and te actual mall

I only got an old pic...taken during the construction period...the photo is quiet oversized :)
http://pic13.picturetrail.com/VOL473/4138906/8638500/118365534.jpg

janusngo

February 9th, 2006, 04:28 AM

I only got an old pic...taken during the construction period...the photo is quiet oversized :)
http://pic13.picturetrail.com/VOL473/4138906/8638500/118365534.jpg

nabisita ko yung contruction site...yah...hindi sya masyado malake...but its good for now i guess...seemingly theres only a gaisano mall there and not much...there's always the muslim market where u can get cheap stuff and haggle for lower prices :D

boybleauXx

February 9th, 2006, 05:13 AM

you mean the tiangges !.....

there are tiangges too here....at Divisoria prize daw...they claim :)

there's even a new spot called Caraga Square....built like a tiangge for the tiangge afficionados :)

mhe-ann

February 9th, 2006, 05:38 AM

I like that Otis Mall. nice design.

boybleauXx

February 9th, 2006, 04:06 PM

I only know the name..

Ororama - See Hong
Limketkai - Albino Limketkai
Gaisano - Stephen Gaisano :)
(sorry sa unsolicited na dagdag)

thanks Cyrusal

LordCarnal

February 10th, 2006, 07:46 AM

I'm curious, what does CARAGA mean?

LordCarnal

February 10th, 2006, 07:49 AM

This is what we call a strip mall.. Building lots of this kind of mall is surely far more better than a single large mall.. Nice architecture too..

Rendering of the newly opened Otis Metro Mall, Libertad, Butuan City

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/128615242.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/128615237.jpg

boybleauXx

February 10th, 2006, 07:51 AM

its from the old name calagan....or karagan....

the spaniards use the name Karaga / Caraga....to their vast Encomienda that comprises the 2 Agusans and Surigao's

I will try to research on that....some more :)

boybleauXx

February 10th, 2006, 07:53 AM

This is what we call a strip mall.. Building lots of this kind of mall is surely far more better than a single large mall.. Nice architecture too..

a 'strip' mall...hmmm nice term...

I guess you have a nice eye on architecture and design Arnoldsa... :)

c0kelitr0

February 13th, 2006, 06:20 AM

Boybleau, is everything okay there in Butuan? I heard many died in the floods...

boybleauXx

February 13th, 2006, 06:48 AM

we're alive and kicking butts as usual....

sad to say that some agri lands in the citys outskirts are damaged due to monsoon rains....the Agusan River tributaries even inundated some outlying towns and barangays...

good for the large part of the urban area....the LADP and CARBDP...despite its on the final stage of the works pa....are keeping and mitigating the damages on the heavy populated areas...only few portions of the old downtown such as in Agao district...AD Curato and M Calo is affected....

will update you also with the situation in Surigao....am hooking with chatmates at Surigao mIRC for eyewitness accounts....

c0kelitr0

February 13th, 2006, 06:53 AM

okay, thanks! di nga binabagyo ang caraga ngayon, may monsoon rains naman...that's so sad!

boybleauXx

February 13th, 2006, 06:59 AM

yep...its quiet a long time we havent experienced typhoons....

but weather analysts say this is the effect of La Nina..

boybleauXx

February 14th, 2006, 05:26 AM

Congratulations to our neighbor city ILIGAN for making it to top 5 among mid-sized cities and the city of SURIGAO among the selected small cities in the latest Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2005

click the link:
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/02/13/1368750.htm

boybleauXx

February 14th, 2006, 10:41 AM

the results of the latest competitiveness ranking project...has added even more fuel to Butuan's aggressive quest for ultimate progress....

watch out watch out...there's a dragon coming at your back !

goldexplorer

February 17th, 2006, 10:44 AM

ACTUAL SITE OF MAGELLAN’S FIRST EASTER MASS, MAGELLAN’S BURIAL SITE AND A TRIBUTE TO TWO NOBLE CARAGANON RAJAH’S

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

It was also Easter Sunday in 1979 that I got interested in the dispute on where the first Easter Mass in the Philippines which was celebrated by Magellan in March 31, 1521.

Until now, after 484 years, whether it was held in Limasawa Island or in Masao, Butuan City, cannot be positively established because historical and geographical data seem not to fit either of this location.

The 485th anniversary of this is coming this Easter and I would like to try to put Magellan’s body and soul to rest. I truly believe that he has been haunting me for the last ten years to do this.

We will present historical data, geographical conditions and the most recent maps to show that Magellan landed in Mahaba (Masapild) Island in Surigao del Norte where he was met by Rajah Kulambu of Butuan and then went on shore to the palace of Rajah Si-Aui, brother of Rajah Kulambu at what is now called the Municipality of Claver and celebrated the first mass on the shore now named Barangay Magallanes at the mouth of the Magallanes River. And then sent some men to climb what is now called Mount Magallanes to plant the cross to claim the land for Spain and to look at the seas beyond Surigao to decide whether he could enter the Surigao Strait and go that way back to the Spice Islands.

It is believed the names to honor Magellan was given by the second wave of Spanish explorers in 1543 led by Villalobos and accompanied by Gines De Mafra who was with Magellan on the first trip in 1521. This is only 22 years after the trip of Magellan so Rajah Si-aui was very much alive and Mafra led Villalobus straight to his settlement at Claver on the
eastern coastal area of the Caraga Region which was heavily colonized by the Spaniards as noted by the Spanish place names along the entire coast line from Surigao on the north to Davao on the south.

Butuan got involved here because Rajah Kulambu, King of the Butuan region was visiting his brother Raja Si- Aiu of the Eastern Caraga Region. Rajah Kulambu was the first person to meet Magellan when he landed.

We will also conclude that after Rajah Kulambu took Magellan to Cebu where he was killed brought back Magellan, now his bloodbrother, back to his home in Butuan and buried him in what is now named Magallanes in Masao, at the mouth of the Agusan River at Butuan City.

I am an exploration geologist working for over 10 years in eastern Mindanao and during the Easter in 1970 a strong typhoon cancelled our plane flights from Surigao City to Manila.

I was completing my reports when the Sunday papers came thru Davao City. An article on the controversy on the first mass was published in the Sunday magazine of that newspaper.

With several maps right in front of me and my detailed knowledge of the geography and ecological date of the area, I came to the conclusion that the first mass was celebrated in what is now called Magallanes in Claver, Surigao del Norte.

And for over ten years data just keep coming to support my observation and I would like now to finalize what I think really happened to put the souls of Magellan and his good friend and great Butuanon Rajah Kulambu to rest in peace. And I hope this paper will recognized the greatness of these two men.

The landing at Mahaba Island, Surigao Del Norte

Magellan crossed the Pacific Ocean and first landed at the island of Homonhon, Samar Province in what is now Philippines.

When they were in Guam earlier, and now in Homonhon, all his men wanted to head directly south to the Spice Islands (Mollucas) and head home to Spain from there.

But Magellan spotted the Surigao Strait and he was thinking that there could be a way through this passage to the ocean farther west on the way back to the Spice Islands.

So he made three scouting trip to the vicinity while his men were resting and recuperating in Homonhon Island.

But it was Easter week, and it was full moon, the rip tides on the Surigao Straight and Dinagat Sound was strongest and Magellan saw the strong sea currents, and the whirlpools and he thought to make the crossing would be dangerous for his small boats

This is the strongest reason against the first landing either in Limasawa or in Masoa. Because it meant that Magellan made the strategic decision to enter the Surigao Straight and although he was already an experience sea man, unless he had an expert guide it was dangerous or impossible for his fragile boats to make the crossing during strong rip tides (full moon). Easter is always celebrated on the third full moon of the year. This is one point strong against Limasawa and Masao as the site of the first mass, as claimed by Mr. Anderson, an American historian who wrote bout this in 1902 with very limited geographical knowledge and other data.

One map showing the route of Magellan from Homonhon shows the flotilla headed due south, where Magellan heeded the wishes of his men and probably decided to head back directly to the Spice Islands.

When he reached the southern part of Bucas Grande Island his route shows he made a sharp heading to the west towards mainland the coast of eastern Mindanao.

The strongest reason for this is, by this time he already saw the vastness of Mindanao Island, and already passed more than six big islands. He was promised two of the six new islands he could discover for Spain so he decided to further explore and claim for Spain the archipelago he just discovered.

It was recorded that when he was nearing the shores of Mindanao, Magellan saw lights of a settlement which he avoided and sailed farther north and anchored near an island named Mazzava, now mark on maps as Mahaba Island, located at Latitude nine and two thirds degrees.

Magellan during that time was using an Astrolabe (or Cross Staff ) to determine his latitude location and the accuracy of this instrument is plus or minus one degree. The must have landed and then check their latitude location which is why they could read to a one third of a degree which they could not have done on a moving ship. There was no way during that time to determine Longitude as the chronometer which could measure Longitude was only invented by James Harrison, an Englishman, in 1740.

Mazzava Island appears on present detailed maps of the area to be Mahaba Island in the Municipality of Placer, Surigao Del Norte, Magellan could have mistaken Mahaba Island , a small island to be part of Masapilid Island, because if is almost touching this bigger island ia and at low tide it could easily be mistaken to be connected the bigger island at the northern tip. This could be the reason that the island where they landed was described as shaped like a sting ray, which Masepilid is, and about 10 x 5 miles in area,

If present maps (1: 50,000 sheet Taganan No.) will be examined today it will be noted that Mahaba Island is very close to the Island of Masepilid and the flotilla of Magellan most probably anchored between these two Islands. It will note also that Masepilid is shaped like a sting ray as described by Pigapetta.

Stefan Zweig describes the landing as follows:

On the fourth day, March 28, the day before Good Friday, of voyage from Homonhon, the fleet reached Mazzava. At Mazzava, a tiny islet of the Philippine group, so small that only with a lens one can find it on the map.

It will noted on the above 1:50,000 modern maps you don’t need a lens to find Mahaba Island which clearly is the islet Mazzava Zweig was referring to and exactly on Latitude ten degrees and 40 minutes or nine and two thirds degrees. During Magellan time they no instrument to measure in the accuracy in minutes.

Now let us examine first what Magellan actually “discovered” and the conditions of the Butuan Nation (now the Philippines) at that time when he landed in Mazzava on March 28, 1521.

The Butuan Region from 10th century to the 15th century appears to be the main settlement and a prosperous trading post for foreigners, Chinese, Indians and others foreigners.

The Chinese Imperial court in AD 1011 recognized Butuan as a State under King Sri Bata Shaja.

The Butuan state was recognize internationally by China, Vietnam and India.

This people that Magellan did not came across arwe not savages but people of an establish prosperous nation who for centuries have been used to trading with people from different countries diplomatically.

In 1521 north eastern Mindanao was ruled by two brothers, Rajah Kulambu of Butuan, the Butuan Nation (Agusan River Valley) and his Brother Rajah Au-Aiu of Calagan, or Caraga on the eastern coastal areas.

On the day Magellan landed in Mahaba Island, on the eastern coast, Rajah Kulambu of Butuan was visiting his brother at Calagan (Caraga).

Rajah Kulambu of Butuan was the one who met Magellan and so was the mistaken notion that Magellan was anchored on the shores of Masao, Butuan. This is the main reason for the claim of Butuan to be the site of the first mass.

Following are quotes from records of Pigapetta:
On Good Friday, the captain (Magellan) sent ashore the said slave (Enrique) our interpreter, to the King (Si-aui) requesting him to cause some provisions to be given for his ships. The King hearing that, came with seven or eight men in a boat and boarded the ship and embraced the captain, and give him three porcelain jars covered with leaves and full of raw rice and two orades (dorado) which are fairly large fish and other things."
"In the island of that King (Kalambu) who came to the ship are mines of gold , which are found by digging from the earth large pieces as large as walnuts and eggs, and all the vessels that he uses are likewise gold, as are also some parts of his house which was well fitted in the fashion of this country . And he was the most handsome person whom we saw among those peoples. He had very black hair to his shoulders with a silk cloth in his head, and two large gold rings hanging from his ears. He wore a cotton cloth, embroidered with silk, which covered him from his waist to his knees. At his side he has a long dagger with a long handle, and all of gold, the sheath of which was carved wood. Withal he wore on his person perfumes of storax and benzoic . He was tawny and painted all over. His island is called Butuan and Calaghan (Surigao). And when the two kings wished to visit each other, they go hunting on the island (Mazau ) where we were. Of this Kings, the aforesaid painted one is Raia Kulambu, and the other Raia Si-aui."
The dispute on where the first mass was celebrated begins on the notion that it was celebrated on the place were Magellan first anchored when he entered Mindanao.

If the Pigapetta notes were to be read carefully he said that on good Friday Magellan sent Pigapetta and Enrique to the palace of King Si-aui to request for supplies and when friendly bonds were made they went back to on Easter Sunday March 31, 1521 to celebrate the first mass in what is now know as the Philippines.

Magellan then planted the cross on a nearby hill to claim the islands for Spain.

So, now the real question is where is the place of King Si-aui is exactly located, if this could be pin pointed then it is the site of the First Easter mass.

This is now what is called Barangay Magallanes on the town of Claver, Surigao del Nor, about 5 nautical mile from Mahaba island and easily accessible by the small boats of Magellan.

From the description of Pigapetta and examining modern maps this appears to be at the site now marked Magellan, at the mouth of the Magellan River at the Municipality of Claver, Surigao del Norte. The head waters of the Magellan River are located at what is now known as Mount Magellan. The Municipality of Claver was divided from the old Municipality of Gingaquit.

.

This is also bid rice fields are in the vicinity and the site of Magellan is at the mouth of the Magellan River where fresh water could have been loaded in the small boats and taken to the flotilla,

Thee are also is wide swamp areas where nipa grove and wine until now is being produced. These wines are locally called “laksoy”.

The place had o be a wide sprawling area to accommodate at least a thousand men.
It was described during Magellan’s visit there were two camps, the of King Si-Aiu and his other and quest Kulambu guided Magellan to Cebu with over a 1000 Balanghais, this could need more that 500 people to man.

Gingaquit fits all he physical characteristics described by Pigapetta, the gold mentioned is now in Placer that Masapilid island where Manila Mining is operating a gold mine very near the landing place at Mahaba Island.

THE TRIP TO CEBU AND MAGELLANS DEATH

Rajah Kulambu convince Magellan to go to Cebu on April 3 and provided an armada of “Balinghais “to escort the flotilla to Cebu..

As history very records Magellan was slain in Cebu on April 26 by Rajah Lapulapu.

Four days after his companions was still trying to negotiate for the release of his body but some was lured to a trap back to the island and likewise slain whereupon there main boats left Cebu headed back to the Spice islands..

Then Stefan Zweig writes:

No one knows what became of Magellan’s body, or to which element his mortal envelop was returned; whether to fire, to earth, or to air. No witness was there to tell us; and his grave, if he was buried, remains secret all traces of the man who wrested its last mystery from the unknown have vanished.

Rajah Kulambu with Enrique brings back
Magellan’s Body to His home in Butuan.

As Historian Zweig mentioned there is no record or witness as to what happened to Magellan’s body, but there are heavy obvious circumstantial evidence on what could have happened after the companions of Magellan abandoned his body in Cebu.

Rajah Kulambu accompanied Magellan’s flotilla with an armada which could mean hundreds of men and boats. It is clear that the Rajahs in Cebu were his friends and trading partners which why he was able to convince Magellan to go to Cebu.

It is also clear that Rajah Kulambu was a King, Diplomat and international trader and his majestic character is beyond dispute. And no Filipino today had given him the honor he deserves and as plainly and shamefully treated as a savage.

And there is Enrique, Magellan’s faithful friend, who circumnavigated the world with him and who chose to remain with his dead friend rather than go back to Spain.

These two honorable people could not have made any other decision but to carry Magellan’s body to the home of Rajah Kulambu in Butuan and bury him there.

Rajah Kulambu buried Magellan in his home place now called Magallanes at the eastern side of the mouth of the Agusan River.

This is the home of Rajah Kulambu since the wide river-sea inlet now called Magallanes river is the only place in Butuan which could a safe place to anchor the king’s armada of boat or Balinghais. It could not have on the banks of the Agusan River because of the strong river current and the frequent flood that occur in the region

And for the last word: Rajah Kulambu must have been buried in the same place along with Magellan and Enrique.

Magallanes in Butuan City, instead of making a disputable claim as the site of the first Easter mass should be honored by being the burial place of two great men Magellan and Rajah Kulambu.

Enrique should like wise be honored because he could have been a Filipino, since he spoke the language of the times he very well be the first Filipino who circumnavigated the world,

And on the eastern side Brgy, at Claver at the of Rajah Siagu and an archeological place. It is amazing that not a single piece of archeolocal piece have been discovered here.

There much to research and this should be further researched by experts with the new findings and modern maps. To settle once and for where he first Easter mass in the Philippines was celebrated and most important to recognized thart Magellan was buried in Magallanes, Butuan.

Watch out for the next posting as we will write bout wealth and nobility of Butuan before the 13th Century.

We will tell you about the archeological treasures of Butuan specially the story of the Golden Tara, the lost mine from where gold from this statue was mined in Butuan..
It is still there. And we know where to find it.

Just let us know if you are interested to find the lost treasures of the Butuan Balanghai and the Lost Mine of the Golden Tara.

boybleauXx

February 17th, 2006, 11:05 AM

gold explorer:

whew ! thats quiet loong narration of Butuan's 2000 year history

c0kelitr0

February 17th, 2006, 11:17 AM

^^ great read!

Kaiser

February 17th, 2006, 11:56 AM

^^really interesting!

Kaiser

February 19th, 2006, 11:29 AM

why cebu is the oldest city in the Phils. but Butuan is older than the Phils?

Kaiser

February 19th, 2006, 11:56 AM

............................Just let us know if you are interested to find the lost treasures of the Butuan Balanghai and the Lost Mine of the Golden Tara.

^^ I want to know:colgate:

LordCarnal

February 19th, 2006, 02:15 PM

@Joshua888

Maybe because Cebu was the first Spanish settlement in the country.

Anyway, this is great! I myself am a frustrated archeologist and anthropologist!

By the way is it already official that the first mass in the Philippines was held in Masao (Butuan) and not Limasawa?

The original Golden Tara I guess is in a museum in Chicago? Am I right? Hope the Philippine Government could do something about this..

kevinb

February 19th, 2006, 03:30 PM

Lili

February 19th, 2006, 04:11 PM

^^ That's new to me, too. Can you give me an official resource that I can verify?

@goldexplorer: So far, some of the items there in your account are still based on conjecture, especially the part that Rajah Kulambo and Enrique brought back the body of Magellan to Butuan and buried him there. If that were the case, wouldn't the Spanish chroniclers been able to record that?

I wish I can read it more extensively complete with citations. Do you have a website?

slerz

February 19th, 2006, 04:28 PM

yeah..cebu is the oldest spanish settlement in the country..

as for the story,,is this real???

this story is old to me, infact this was featured sa Magandang Gabi Bayan when Noli de Castro is not yet a VP... There are a lot of antique treasures in Butuan but still Limasawa is recognized where the first mass was held.
In the case of cebu, it is because the spaniards first settle in Cebu....

c0kelitr0

February 20th, 2006, 03:26 AM

boybleauXx

February 20th, 2006, 05:05 AM

in the municipality of Magallanes.....a town used to be under Butuan....there's this very old marker of Magellans landing.....it was writtten in Spanish declaring the first landing of Magellan in the Philippines..the signature of the Spanish Governor General who ordered the marker erected was Governador Carvallo.

However....the marker was not recognized during the American era. until.. late seventies when massive arceological finds were unearthed in Masao-Libertad-Suatan Areas...that manifests Butuan's economic advancement before the Spanish came....

It was also theorized that the whole Philippines was previously named the Butuan State by some ancient Chinese chronicles in the Sung Annals when the Butuan State sent several tribute trade missions to the imperial court to gain recognition as a direct trading link with China and not thru Sri Vidjaya ports of Java and Sumatra.

It was again theorized that sometime around 1600 A.D. the half of Mindanao from Surigao coasts towards Bukidnon and Misamis and Davao southwards was previously named the Butuan Kingdom.

Lili

February 20th, 2006, 10:36 AM

LordCarnal

February 21st, 2006, 11:10 AM

Is it true that it was Imelda Marcos herself (during their regime) who insisted on having the first mass be officially bestowed on Limasawa, despite the fact that a centuries-old marker already exists in Butuan?

boybleauXx

February 21st, 2006, 01:09 PM

yes....it was under her direct orders. But local Butuan based historians have given the Imelda 'blessing' of this Leyte island a tough time until now...despite the big political clout Imelda posessed at that time.

Today...there is a new shrine within Limasawa just inaugurated last year but again the Catholic Church is too hesitant to declare it as true site relevant to to the history of Catholicsm in this country.

The bottom line is the truth is just too heavy to hide....more and more historians know...that the truth are now begining to surface from the deep bowels of the earth in the archeological sites in Libertad-Suatan, Ambangan,Pinamangculan, Butuan.

This 2 decade old Butuan claim will surely raise some eyebrows...or turn some heads...but let the truth reveal.

The claim will not be for Butuan's honor alone...but in effect will show that we Filipinos are not a race of lazyheads..nor thieves...nor backward cave or tree swinging inhabitants nor savages when white men came ashore.....but a prosperous, industrious community of people trading with the ancient Asiatic world.

Lili

February 21st, 2006, 02:19 PM

^^ Very interesting.

boybleauXx

February 22nd, 2006, 04:03 AM

Is there anyone who can please post a map of the Philippine Islands, particularly showing Butuan? I'm very much interested in looking at the navigational routes of Magellan per @goldexplorer's posting. Thank you.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/130324749.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/130324734.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/130324723.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1243/4295337/9035609/130324711.jpg

boybleauXx

February 22nd, 2006, 04:46 AM

BUTUAN WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT~ Update

To date....a large portion of the west bank of the riverfront is being cleared for structures and other eyesores to pave way for the Riverfront Park and Boardwalk development.

A large resettlement project was built to house the marginalized families being affected by this project. In keeping with its aim for a slum and eye-sore free Butuan City, the city in partnership with various organizations, real estate companies have built various resettlement sites for the affected residents in the citys suburbs; worthy mentioning here is the project in Pagatpatan.
http://www.gawadkalinga.org/gk_communities/images/butuan_before.jpg
BEFORE

http://www.gawadkalinga.org/gk_communities/gk_butuan/after_bg.jpg
http://www.gawadkalinga.org/gk_communities/gk_butuan/2_bg.jpg
AFTER

Kaiser

February 23rd, 2006, 02:01 PM

^^nice....it looks like the homes that was build in Payatas for the victims of the landslide there.......lol:colgate:

boybleauXx

February 23rd, 2006, 03:07 PM

:) slums is a common thing in rapidly growing population center like Butuan; actually, more houses in the city in general is made of standard and strong materials. Here's a descriptive data published by National Census on Population in 2000....but released in 2002

BUTUAN CITY:
THREE OUT OF FIVE HOUSING UNITS WITH GALVANIZED IRON
FOR ROOF AND WOOD FOR WALLS
(Results from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, NSO)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Population growth rate increased to 1.70 percent

The population of Butuan City, as of May 2000 was 267,279 persons. This was up by 20,205 persons as compared to 247,074 persons in 1995. The population growth rate of Butuan City had been continuously declining since 1980 to 1995. From a growth rate of 5.40 percent during the 1975 to 1980 period, it dropped to 2.82 percent during the 80?s and further to 1.53 percent during the early 90?s. However, in 1995 to 2000 period, the annual growth rate increased to 1.70 percent. The number of households also rose to 50,273 from 46,596 in 1995. The average household size was 5.30 persons, a slight increase from 1995 (5.28 persons) and higher than the national average of five persons.

Butuan City ranked fifth in Caraga

Butuan City ranked fifth in terms of population size among the four provinces and one highly urbanized city (Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte, Butuan City) in Caraga Region. This city contributed 12.76 percent to the 2.1 million population in the region. At the national level, the city shared 0.35 percent to the total population of 76.5 million as recorded in the 2000 Census of Population and Housing.

Barangay Libertad was the largest in terms of population size

Of the 86 barangays comprising Butuan City, Libertad contributed the biggest proportion (6.50 percent) to the total population of the city. Ampayon and Obrero Poblacion followed with 3.52 and 3.08 percent, respectively. Humabon was the smallest barangay in terms of population with 328 persons or 0.12 percent of the population of the city.

Butuan City had a median age of 20 years

Butuan City had a young population with a median age of 20 years. This meant that in 2000, half of the population was below 20 years old. The percentage of the total population belonging to the age group 0 to 14 years was 39.3 percent. The oldest group (65 years and over) accounted for 3.3 percent of the total city population while 57.4 percent belonged to the economically active population aged 15 to 64 years.

In 2000, overall dependency ratio was 74

The overall dependency ratio in 2000 was 74.10. This meant that for every 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years, there were about 74 dependents (68 persons aged 0 to 14 ? young dependents; and 6 persons aged 65 and over ? old dependents).

Females dominated the higher levels of education

About 39 percent of household population five years old and over had completed or attended elementary education; 29.77 percent, high school; and 5.27 percent were academic degree holders. Males dominated the elementary (52.68 percent) and post secondary levels (50.73 percent), while females dominated the higher levels of education, from college to post baccalaureate level.

Over one-third were Butuanons

Most of the persons in Butuan City classified themselves as Butuanon (35.2 percent). About 24.1 percent as Cebuano while 3.8 percent as Surigaonon and 13.7 percent as other ethnic groups.

More single men than women

Almost half of the total population 10 years old and over were single (45.38 percent) while 43.53 percent were married. The remaining 11 percent were either widowed, separated/divorced, with other arrangements and with unknown marital status.

Single persons were mostly men (53.16 percent) compared to 46.84 percent for women. The proportion of widowed females was noticeably higher (73.13 percent) than the males (26.87 percent).

Housing unit occupancy rate was almost 100 percent

The total housing units in Butuan City was 48,857, of which 48,843 were occupied or an almost 100 percent occupancy rate. This registered an increase of 3.29 percentage points from 1990 and a ratio of 1.03 households per occupied housing unit or a ratio of 5.45 persons per occupied housing unit.

Most households preferred single houses

Majority of the occupied housing units were single houses (91.9 percent). About two out of three housing units needed no repair/minor repair, and 32 percent were built from 1996 to 2000.

Most houses were made up of strong materials

Most households in Butuan City used strong materials for their houses. About 60.9 percent used galvanized iron/aluminum for their roof, while 32.6 percent used cogon/nipa/anahaw. As to the construction materials of the outer walls, 67.8 percent used wood and 14.8 percent used concrete/brick/stone.

One in four housing units had a floor area of 10 to 19 square meters

Most of the occupied housing units had a floor area of 10 to 19 square meters (25.9 percent). About 19 percent had a floor area of 20 to 29 square meters. Only 6.1 percent of the occupied housing units had a floor area of 120 and over square meters.

Butuan City

Butuan City, which is situated north of Agusan River, has an area of 758 square kilometers.

In 1901, Butuan became a sub-province of Surigao. It became a part of Agusan province together with Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon in 1907.

Butuan City is called "Prehistoric City by the River". Balanghais or wooden boat and other archeological artifacts have been found in the vicinities of Butuan City, which bolster the claim that it is the oldest settlement in the Philippines.

Source: Website of League of Provinces of the Philippines (www.leagueofprovinces.org.ph)

(Sgd.) CARMELITA N. ERICTA
Administrator

Table 1. Total Population Distribution of Top Ten Barangays: Butuan City, 2000

Municipalities Total Population Percent
Butuan City 267,279 100.00
Libertad 17,364 6.50
Ampayon 9,404 3.52
Obrero Pob. (Bgy. 18) 8,240 3.08
San Vicente 8,159 3.05
Limaha Pob. (Bgy. 14) 8,122 3.04
Ambago 7,138 2.67
Baan Km 3 7,108 2.66
Holy Redeemer Pob. (Bgy. 23) 6,642 2.49
Baan Riverside Pob. (Bgy. 20) 6,118 2.29
Ong Yiu Pob. (Bgy. 16) 5,398 2.02
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing
Table 2. Total Population by Age Group, Sex and Sex Ratio: Butuan City, 2000

Age Group Total Population Male Female Sex Ratio
Butuan City 267,279
135,735
131,544
103.19

Under 1 7,649
4,036
3,613
111.71

1 to 4 27,887
14,524
13,363
108.69

5 to 9 35,226
18,055
17,171
105.15

10 to 14 34,305
17,244
17,061
101.07

15 to 19 28,429
14,186
14,243
99.60

20 to 24 23,052
11,454
11,598
98.76

25 to 29 19,778
10,075
9,703
103.83

30 to 34 18,562
9,338
9,224
101.24

35 to 39 16,817
8,451
8,366
101.02

40 to 44 14,187
7,272
6,915
105.16

45 to 49 11,380
5,930
5,450
108.81

50 to 54 8,909
4,559
4,350
104.80

55 to 59 6,604
3,410
3,194
106.76

60 to 64 5,800
2,915
2,885
101.04

65 to 69 3,711
1,863
1,848
100.81

70 to 74 2,391
1,194
1,197
99.75

75 to 79 1,412
675
737
91.59

80 & Over 1,180
554
626
88.50

Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing
3. Household Population 5 Years Old and Over by Highest Educational Attainment and Sex:
Butuan City, 2000

Highest Educational Attainment Household Population
5 Years Old & Over Male Female
Butuan City 230,696
116,578
114,118

No Grade Completed 9,862
5,342
4,520

Pre-School 4,684
2,357
2,327

Elementary 90,541
47,698
42,843

High School 68,683
33,892
34,791

Post Secondary 10,116
5,132
4,984

College Undergraduate 27,703
13,347
14,356

Academic Degree Holder 12,155
5,261
6,894

Post Baccalaureate 434
189
245

Not Stated 6,518
3,360
3,158

Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing
Table 4. Total Population 10 Years Old and Over by Age Group and Marital Status: Butuan City, 2000

Age Group Total Population
10 Yrs Old & Over Single Married Widowed Divorced/
Separated Others Unknown
Butuan City
196,517 89,173 85,537 7,663 2,012 8,878 3,254
Below 20 62,734 58,744 1,050 47 36 797 2,060
20 ? 24 23,052 15,563
5,105 35 117 1,769 463
25 ? 29 19,778 7,274 10,479 74 181 1,528 242
30 ? 34 18,562 3,296 13,428 149 256 1,318 115
35 ? 39 16,817 1,653 13,527 274 292 990 81
40 ? 44 14,187 967 11,647 408 305 808 52
45 ? 49 11,380 615 9,298 578 272 567 50
50 ? 54 8,909 391 7,058 793 213 409 45
55 ? 59 6,604 238 5,063 897 118 268 20
60 ? 64 5,800 159 4,109 1,189 102 202 39
65 ? 69 3,711 104 2,391 1,018 60 111 27
70 ? 74 2,391 75 1,322 889 36 52 17
75 ? 79 1,412 60 650 629 15 37 21
80 & Over 1,180 34 410 683 9 22 22
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing
Table 5. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex: Butuan City, 2000

Ethnicity Both Sexes Male Female
Butuan City 266,200 135,122 131,078
Cebuano 64,072 32,639 31,433
Butuanon 93,589 47,135 45,454
Boholano 21,171 11,096 10,075
Surigaonon 10,071 4,851 5,220
Bisaya/Binisaya 39,185 19,649 19,536
Others 36,440 18,841 17,599
Other Foreign Ethnicity 478 301 177
Not Reported 1,194 610 584
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing
Table 6. Total Occupied Housing Units, Households, Household Population and Ratio of Households and Household Population to Occupied Housing Unit by Type of Building: Butuan City, 2000

Type of Building Occupied Housing Unit Household Household Population Ratio of Household & Household Population
Household to
Occupied
Housing Unit Household
Population to
Occupied
Housing Unit
Butuan City 48,843 50,273 266,200 1.03 5.45
Single House 44,904 46,084 245,835 1.03 5.47
Duplex 1,793 1,895 9,020 1.06 5.03
Multi-Unit Residential 1,270 1,391 6,257 1.10 4.93
Commercial/Industrial/Agricultural 208 216 1,106 1.04 5.32
Institutional Living Quarters 19 31 128 1.63 6.74
Other Housing Unit 12 12 38 1.00 3.17
Not Reported 637 644 3,816 1.01 5.99
Source: NSO, 2000 Census of Population and Housing
TECHNICAL NOTES

Average Household Size ? average number of people who live in the household

Growth Rate ? the rate at which the population is increasing (or decreasing) in a given year due to natural increase and net migration, expressed as a percentage of the base population

Median Age ? the age at which exactly half of the population is young and half is old

Sex Ratio ? the ratio of males to females in a given population expressed as the number of males per 100 females

Age-Dependency Ratio ? the ratio of persons in the "dependent" ages (under 15 years and over 64 years) to those in the "economically productive" ages (15 to 64 years old) in the population

Household ? a social unit consisting of a person or a group of persons who sleep in the same housing unit and have common arrangements in the preparation and consumption of food

The 2000 Census of Population and Housing (Census 2000) was undertaken by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in May 2000, as mandated by Commonwealth Act No. 591, Batas Pambansa Blg. 72 and Executive Order No. 121. It was the 11th census of population and 5th census of housing undertaken in this country since the first census in 1903. It was designed to take an inventory of the total population and housing units all over the Philippines and to collect information about their characteristics. Census day for the Census 2000 was May 1, 2000 (12:01 a.m.). Enumeration started on May 1, 2000 and lasted for about 30 days.

Being a highly urbanized city, the population of Butuan City was excluded in the population counts of Agusan del Norte. As defined in the 1991 Local Government Code, a city is considered highly urbanized if it has an annual income of not lower than fifty million pesos based on 1991 constant prices, as certified by the city treasurer; and its population is at least two hundred thousand (200,000) inhabitants, as certified by NSO.

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Page last revised: June 20, 2002

Sinjin P.

February 27th, 2006, 03:29 AM

How is the cable-stayed bridge going?

boybleauXx

February 27th, 2006, 02:54 PM

Sinjin:

everything is right on track....a major portion of land in Villa Kananga is now being cleared and right of way issues is now ok for the roadway construction. They say that the roadway will be at least 30 meters wide.

The bridge tower is almost complete and the contractors (Nippon Steel and Towa Construction) is set to start building the spans.

the elevated viaducts in Baan near the present Magsaysay Bridge are also in full blast construction.

boybleauXx

March 2nd, 2006, 04:15 PM

4 Billion LADP Project.....construction site (2005)
http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1158/4121322/8593373/116578132.jpg

Kaiser

March 3rd, 2006, 09:26 AM

whats LADP?

boybleauXx

March 3rd, 2006, 03:48 PM

Joshua

its Lower Agusan Development Project :)

boybleauXx

March 3rd, 2006, 04:00 PM

I find this news from Sunstar Mindanao Daily interesting.....

Friday, March 03, 2006
Zambo airport modernization program aborted
Sunstar Daily

THE long-range modernization program for the Zamboanga City International Airport (ZCIA) City has been totally cancelled and, instead, diverted to two other airports in Mindanao -- Cotabato and Butuan.

This was the bad news received directly from officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) who were in the city on February 1 to personally inform local officials, including the Airport Transportation Office (ATO) here under Celso Bayabos, of their decision.

Bayabos sadly announced that their dream to modernize the airport has been dashed away, despite its long-range planning that started way back in the late 80's.

"The news that they (ADB officials) told us on February 1 was that the project of the Zamboanga airport is totally scratched - goodbye (to the dreamed modernization)," Bayabos said.

Bayabos revealed that four ADB officials headed by Frenchman Blancheeti Revelli gave two major reasons for completely dropping the plan: the Executive Proclamation, giving the area (west of the airport) to the urban poor (PALAR), and the absence of economic viability.

Bayabos said they were surprised over the second reason, because compared to the two mentioned cities of Cotabato and Butuan, Zamboanga City is better off economically.

He said Cotabato City has only a single flight a day from their city direct to Manila while Butuan has none.

He said this is a shocking and a devastating blow to the local airport here, considering that in their (ADB) study, Zamboanga City is their number one top priority for rehabilitation and improvement in a bid to modernize its terminal and all its facilities here.

He said the plan was to initially transfer the airport somewhere in the east coast, most preferably in the adjacent two barangays of Mercedes and Talabaan.

In fact, Bayabos revealed that they already surveyed the areas from November until early January, this year, reaching up to Manicahan, and accompanied by the consultant of the ADB and personnel from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) under Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

Bayabos said the amount intended for the airport improvement here even increased from the initial proposed amount of P700 million to a billion pesos more.

And that the ADB proposal to have the airport moved to its northern big portion near the Edwin Andrews Airbase (EAAB) in Sta. Maria was highly considered instead of having it transferred to the east, according to him.

"It would have been okay, as the area near the airbase is much bigger and more credible, because the intention also for its transfer is to allow the adjacent barangays to develop," Bayabos informed.

"And here comes the ADB. They promised an amount for the transfer and rehabilitation of the airport facilities to the other side (near EAAB), although the local government insisted that it be better transferred farther in Mercedes-Talabaan (area)," Bayabos said further.

He disclosed that in so far as the 10-hectare area where the urban poor, comprising about 300 families, are situated, "that's not a problem at all (as it won't affect our area), but on our side we explained that they (urban poor) have to follow the International Civil Aeronautic Organization (ICAO) standards and that's to move away 150 meters from the center line."

Just to give Mr Bayabos an update on the state of Butuan Airport....
Both inward and outward passenger movement has steadily been growing on Butuan's Bancasi Airport.....most noticeable is the perishable aqua-agro cargo load that is shipped daily to Manila and Cebu.

Butuan airport is served daily by both PAL and Cebu Pacific with flights to Manila and Cebu. Butuan is the only city in Northern Mindanao that has a jet link with Cebu.

He may be correct by saying Zambo is currently economically better off....for now....But its potential might be dwindling fast..

This was seen with the latest stripping of Zamboanga's title as the Regional Administrative center of Zamboanga peninsula Region of which the new regional capital is now transferred to Pagadian City.