Mindanao Island - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 18

boju2

May 14th, 2009, 08:35 AM

Thursday, 14 May 2009
In 2007: Bukidnon, Mindanao's biggest earner, spender
(http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6375&Itemid=204)by Walter I. Balane / MindaNews
Thursday, 14 May 2009

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 May) -- Bukidnon topped 25 other provinces in Mindanao to have the highest income earned from local revenues in 2007 with P1.295 billion in gross income, making it also the country’s tenth biggest.

Bukidnon is the only province from Mindanao to make it to the Top 10 list, according to the 2007 Financial Statements Highlights of Local Government Units posted in the Commission on Audit website.

The provinces with highest income for 2007 were Bulacan (P1.807 billion), Negros Occidental (P1.674 billion), Cebu (P1.657 billion), Cavite (P1.542 billion), Laguna (P1.487 billion), Pangasinan (P1.482 billion), Batangas (P1.386 billion), Quezon (P1.36 billion), Rizal (P1.361 billion) and Bukidnon (P1.295 billion).

Except for Visayas’ Negros Occidental and Cebu and Central Luzon’s Pangasinan, the rest of the provinces compose Luzon’s elite CALABARZON growth provinces.

Bukidnon’s internal revenue allotment in 2007 was P835.1 million, projected at P904.7 million in 2008, and expected at P1.01 billion in 2009, according to Bukidnon’s Certified Statement of Receipts endorsed by the Local Finance Committee to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in October 2008.

The Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act 7160 gives LGUs the power to create their own sources of revenue and to levy taxes, fees or charges which shall accrue exclusively to their treasury.

Davao ranked fifth among cities with the Top 10 highest gross revenues at P3.153 billion. It is the only city from Mindanao on the list. No town from Mindanao made it to the Top 10 list in the municipality category.

The provinces of Camiguin, Dinagat Island, and Siquijor placed second, third, and fourth lowest earner with gross revenues ranging from P182 million to P195 million in 2007.

The cities of El Salvador (Misamis Oriental), Lamitan (Basilan), Tandag (Surigao del Sur), and Cabadbaran (Agusan del Norte), also ranked first, second, third, and fifth among the lowest gross income earners with figures ranging from P55-to P87 million in 2007. They were among six in Mindanao that lost citihood status for failing to comply with the requirements of the law based on a Supreme Court decision late in 2008.

The towns of Mangudadatu, Maguindanao ; Pandag, Maguindanao; Sibutu, Tawi-tawi; Limbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur; Burgos, Surigao del Norte were included in the bottom 10 for earning the lowest gross income ranging from P8 to 15 million in 2007.

Bukidnon was also Mindanao’s highest spender in 2007, with P1.213 billion in expenses landing at eighth of the Top 10 highest spending LGUs in the country.

The provinces in the Top 10 spenders were Negros Occidental, Bulacan, Cebu, Cavite, Quezon, Batangas, Laguna, Bukidnon, Pangasinan, and Iloilo.

The provinces of Dinagat Islands, Siquijor, Camiguin, and Basilan were at the Bottom 10 for spending the least in 2007.

Davao City ranked fourth in the Top 10 highest spenders at P2.888 billion.

In 2007, the cities of El Salvador, Tandag, Lamitan, Cabadbaran, and Bayugan were among the Bottom 10 for spending the least, ranging from P55 to P99 million.

Three Maguindanao towns: Pandag, Mangudadatu, and Datu Anggal Midtimbang; Sibutu, Tawi-tawi; and Alegria, Surigao del Norte belonged to the Bottom 10 for spending the least in 2007 ranging from P6 to 13 million only.

Bukidnon, however, did not belong to the Top 10 provinces with highest net income while the cities of Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro made it to the Top 10 for cities.

The provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Bukidnon made it to the Top 10 provinces with highest current assets with P802 million and P765 million, respectively.

For the Top 10 highest liabilities, Zamboanga del Sur (P979.84 million) and Zamboanga del Norte (P641.99 million) were included as third and ninth.

The COA’s list of LGU financial statements include balance sheet and statement of income and expenses.

The balance sheet shows the financial condition of local government agencies in terms of assets, liabilities and equity. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

eflex

May 14th, 2009, 08:52 AM

davaoeagle

May 14th, 2009, 08:58 AM

A big bulk of this investment was reported to be sunk into Davao. :applause:

Potential $300-million Saudi investments cited
Vol. XXII, No. 200
Thursday, May 14, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
The Economy
Business World

A VISIT last week by Saudi Arabian businessmen could result in $300 million in investments to develop 20,000 hectares of farm lands for commercial crops.

"There is an initial indication of a $300-million investment," Marriz B. Agbon, president of the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp., told reporters yesterday.

Saudi Agriculture Minister Fahad A. Balghunaim led 20 businessmen for the five-day visit last week.

"Bulk [of investments] will generally go to Mindanao, either for banana or pineapple production," Mr. Agbon said in a phone interview. "As a business, they are looking to fulfill [the needs of their] domestic market first."

The country has 1.9 million hectares of arable, idle lands, with Mindanao accounting for 171,000 hectares, data from the Environment department show.

Mr. Agbon said the Philippine Economic Zone Authority has said these investors could target ecozones, where lease could run for 75 years. — N. J. C. Morales

dark_knight_detectve

May 16th, 2009, 03:53 PM

First Quarter 2008 Summary
http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_726987638l.jpg

dark_knight_detectve

May 16th, 2009, 03:54 PM

Second Quarter 2008 Summary
http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_685722799l.jpghttp://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_977642303l.jpg

dark_knight_detectve

May 16th, 2009, 03:55 PM

SUMMARY ON PORT PERFORMANCE
PORTS NATIONWIDE
2007
http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_344591791l.jpghttp://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_732057762l.jpg
http://www.ppa.com.ph/

dark_knight_detectve

May 16th, 2009, 03:57 PM

Third Quarter 2008 Summary
http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_416247198l.jpghttp://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_176726745l.jpg

dark_knight_detectve

May 16th, 2009, 03:57 PM

Fourth Quarter 2008 Summary
http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_753247374l.jpg

MtApoStandard

May 16th, 2009, 06:01 PM

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppaship.jpg
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http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppaship6.jpg

*http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppaship3.jpg

http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/2008Files/08-Stat_2008_4thQtr_shipping.htm

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppacarg.jpg
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http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppacarg4.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppacarg5.jpg

http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/2008Files/08-Stat_2008_4thQtr_cargo.htm

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppateu.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppateu2.jpg
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http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/ppateu5.jpg

http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/2008Files/08-Stat_2008_4thQtr_TEU.htm
...

MtApoStandard

May 16th, 2009, 06:04 PM

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/nso.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/nso1.jpg

http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/2009/lf090130.htm

MtApoStandard

May 16th, 2009, 06:35 PM

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
2010 Japanese Government Scholarships

Different scholarships are open to all Filipino citizens. Application forms are available at the JICC Library in Manila, the Consular Offices of Japan in Cebu City and Davao City, or may be downloaded from the Embassy Website: (www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp). Deadline for submission of requirements is on May 29, 2009 (Friday) .

The selection process is composed of several stages, i.e. document screening, written exams & interviews. Only selected applicants at each stage will be notified for further instructions.

Free scholarship consultations are also held at the library of the Embassy of Japan every Friday at 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 2:00-4:30 PM. Interested individuals are requested to bring a valid ID so they can enter the embassy premises.

For more information, visit or call:

Consular Office of Japan, Davao
Suite B305m, 3/F, Plaza de Luisa Complex
140 Ramon Magsaysay Ave., 8000 Davao City
Tel #: (082) 221-3100
http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/pressandspeech/press/pressreleases/2009/39.htm

http://youngglobalpinoys.blogspot.com/2009/05/2010-japanese-government-scholarships.html

tonight

May 17th, 2009, 12:22 PM

New Mindanao flight route to boost tourism (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20090517-205528/New-Mindanao-flight-route-to-boost-tourism)
By Ryan Rosauro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—Northern Mindanao's tourism industry could get a boost with budget carrier Cebu Pacific's opening of its Davao-Cagayan de Oro route, a local tourism official said Saturday.

The new route is a “good connection” for international flights to Davao City, which is fast becoming Mindanao’s international hub, with direct flights from Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore, said Catalino Chan, tourism director for Northern Mindanao.

Davao City is also the country’s main link to the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), he said.

Chan said the expected increase in tourist arrivals would also spur the economies of nearby tourism service-providing localities in Northern Mindanao such as Camiguin, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

The Gokongwei-owned carrier opened the 50-minute Davao-Cagayan de Oro route last Thursday, with flights every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Using a 72-seater ATR aircraft, the flight leaves Davao City at 6 p.m., and returns to the city at 7:10 p.m.

Before Cebu Pacific opened the route, tourists going to Northern Mindanao have to fly to Manila or Cebu before flying to either Butuan or this city.

For those flying into the country via the Davao Airport, the only option then was land transport, which takes about eight hours to this city.

In Ozamiz city, Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. said Cebu Pacific also announced that it would open a Manila-Ozamiz flight.

Cebu Pacific's vice-president for marketing and distribution, Candice Iyog, confirmed this, saying the new route would start on June 16, with an Airbus A319 aircraft.

The route will likely be serviced four times a week, she said.

The Manila-Ozamiz route is currently served only by Air Philippines, another budget airliner.

davaoeagle

May 18th, 2009, 07:48 AM

Sarangani Bay Festival The biggest beach party in Mindanao
Written by: pelima , Russtum
Monday, 18 May 2009

GUMASA, Sarangani – The provincial tourism office sees tourists to double their number on this year’s celebration of the Sarangani Bay Festival.
Packed for a three-day summer fun and beach sports (May 28-30), Sarangani Bay Festival is tagged as the biggest beach party in Mindanao.

“Now we have teams competing for our historic 15-kilometer swim across the bay with contesting teams not only in Mindanao but also from Boracay and Palawan,” organizer Nemrod Butil said.

Boracay and Palawan have held three-kilometer swim challenges in the past two years. But Sarangani’s swim would be their longest, crossing Sarangani Bay from one town to another.

Ten teams will be competing for the swim challenge on May 29 from Tinoto reef in Maasim town to Reycon beach in Glan.

“The celebration is actually a tribute to the bay for the bounty it provides to the community especially our marginalized fisher folk who depend much on fishing from the bay,” said Michelle Solon, president of Sarangani Tourism Industry Association.

Sarangani is composed of seven municipalities. Six of these municipalities are along the 230-kilometer Sarangani Bay coastline.

Connecting the province’s six coastal towns is a 170-kilometer highway from the eastern towns of Glan, Malapatan and Alabel crossing General Santos City, farther to the west coast composed of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum towns. Malungon, the only landlocked municipality, is located up north.

A bike adventure race on May 28 will start along the coastal highway from Maitum to Glan with six pit stops.

The three-day festival opens in Kiamba on May 28 with a lumba bugsay, a boat race with the use of paddles among local fisher folk, while jet-speed motorized bancarera competition will be held in Gumasa on May 30.

During the day, an underwater photography contest and scuba fest will be held in Lemlunay Diving Resort in Maasim town. Professional divers frequent at the resort as it is an all-year round diving spot.

Final day for skimboarding participated in by skimboardists from South Cotabato, General Santos City, Sarangani and Davao will be held in Kiamba on the same day.

Beach sports such as beach volley ball, beach football will be played at the white sand beaches of Gumasa. For beach sports wannabes, organizers will provide free clinics for jetsking and skimboarding on the third day.
See also Sarangani’s hot baybodies competition on May 29 in Gumasa, with beach concert and DJ mix party.

In 2006, Kiamba mayor and former provincial board member Rommel Tomas Falgui passed a resolution protecting and celebrating the beauty and natural bounty of the bay.

Sarangani Bay has been the passage for trade, businesses and social contacts with the Philippines’ southernmost tip and neighboring countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei for hundreds of years.

But in particular, the bay provided a safe route to Sangils of Northern Indonesia and established trade and social relations with the Blaan natives of Glan some 500 years ago.

Sarangani Bay’s biodiversity is twice richer than Carigara Bay in Northern Leyte, Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte, Bais Bay in Negros and Illana Bay in Northwestern Mindanao.

Peng Hok

May 19th, 2009, 07:31 AM

^^
Let me do some highlighting of the article, Ambs.

Trading Post - Is Davao defying the impact of the global downturn?
Monday, 18 May 2009 01:46
by Aurelio A. Peña

IF YOU”RE commuting daily from Lanang to Bajada and back, along the long stretch of J.P. Laurel Avenue, you’ll get the impression that this bustling southern city of Davao seems to be defying the full impact of the global downturn.

Why am I saying this? Deep beneath my skin, I can feel the vibrance, the breathless anticipation and the excitement of how Davao’s future will look like five to ten years from now. It’s all there before your eyes when you take a commuter jeepney along Bajada to Lanang. Philippine investors are investing millions in this city right in the middle of the global crisis!

You can see and feel the frenzy in the ongoing construction of the Abreeza shopping mall and property development joint project of Anflo Management and the Makati-based Ayala Land at the bend of the Bajada highway in front of the Redemptorist Church.

You can see the clearing going on by the SM Property Development group at the former Lanang golf course, hidden by the thick shrubs and foliage of lush trees near Damosa -- which, by the way, has its own, new shopping center called “The Gateway”.

If Damosa feels threatened by another big SM shopping mall along Lanang, right at its doorsteps, tree-lovers like me also feel threatened that the beautiful greenery at that former golf course in Lanang will all be gone. You can’t stop progress when Henry Sy’s architects and construction people will swoop and cut down all the trees, bulldoze all that beautiful grass and turn that huge tree-shaded area into a concrete jungle.

If you’ve gone to all the SM shopping malls in Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Cebu, etc, etc, that’s how all SM malls look like: a giant monolith of grey concrete with huge areas of cemented parking areas. All grey, no green spaces.

Of course, no one knows yet whether the new SM shopping mall in Lanang might turn out to be a totally new design that will finally respect fully-grown trees to the point of preserving them and protecting them right where they are, even if the mall structure itself will still emerge as the usual block of grey monolith.

Fact is, I’m still crossing my fingers on the Abreeza mall project of Anflo and Ayala group.whether or not they’ll turn out another commercial building that refuses to blend with the environment. I cannot deny that I’m impressed by the Ayala Center project in Cebu where the mall has a beautiful park with lots of trees and a big lagoon that makes it such a nice place to relax on Sundays. You can see lovers seated under the trees beside the lagoon, whole families having a picnic in the shade and some, just reading books and listening to birds with nests up in the trees.

The new opening of Robinson’s Cybergate shopping center along Bajada the other week didn’t generate the kind of excitement whenever an Ayala mall or an SM mall opens in any major city of the country. And it didn’t care less about preserving trees because that area was already barren when they constructed that small building, dedicated it seems, to provide more renting spaces to call centers and other ICT companies now mushrooming all over this city.

For all you know, that’s also the same reason the Anflo-Ayala group and SM are jumping into the cyber space ventures because more and more call centers and ICT’s are set to invest millions in Davao City in the next three to five years down the road.

Yet, even with all these hundreds of millions of pesos in investments now pouring into Davao City for all these malls and ICT buildings, we’ve not given up wishing that these guys who are building all these structures will try to blend them with the cool, green environment of this southern city.

EDGE DAVAO (http://www.edgedavao.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=459:trading-post-is-davao-defying-the-impact-of-the-global-downturn-&catid=36:vantage-points&Itemid=70)

tonight

May 21st, 2009, 05:38 AM

Mindanao and Indonesian schools forge partnerships (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW052109/content.php?src=3&id=075)
by Carmelito Q. Francisco

DAVAO CITY — Partnerships between 18 Indonesian and 21 Mindanao schools aimed at promoting student exchange and the sharing of resources were formed here.

The Indonesian consulate in this city said these initiatives cover 49 memoranda of understanding and 17 letters of intents signed during a three-day interaction between officials of participating schools.

Consul General Lalu Malik Partawana, who facilitated the interaction, said the objective of the partnerships was to strengthen the schools’ curricula.

"The challenge now is the implementation of these partnerships," Mr. Partawana said.

Indonesian Vice-Consul F. Bernard Loesi, who oversaw the planning of the interaction, said these partnerships were needed "because education is a vital component of development and cultural linkages."

These partnerships were all under the auspices of the Jakarta-based Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization.

Distant learning system which some Indonesian schools have implemented in their campuses in Thailand and Myanmar will replicated in these new partnerships.

Powered by the Indonesian satellite that covers most of Southeast Asia and some parts of Australia and Papua New Guinea, distant learning will help teachers and students of the two countries interact.

"We should be able to maximize the use of modern technology in improving our educational system," Mr. Loesi said.

Joji Ilagan-Bian, president of the Joji Ilagan Foundation, a local school, has already started marketing her College of Business and Tourism to parts of the Brunei-Indonesia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, particularly to Indonesian provinces that are near to the Philippines.

She said she would send some of her tourism students to undergo on-the-job training in Bali.

Several medical students from Manado in Indonesia are also undergoing internship at the Davao Doctors Hospital, among those that have advanced partnerships, specifically with SMK Negeri 1 Mosongo, an Indonesian medical school.

Under their five-year agreement, the two schools agreed to cooperate on the "exchange of scholarly ideas, information and materials."

They also agreed to consult and establish "partnership between individual faculty, academic departments and research centers to explore mutually based activities."

The schools will hold student exchanges either through scholarships, fellowship grants or assistance with the funding requirements to be discussed when the programs are implemented.

They will also jointly look for "external funding sources for projects deemed to be mutually beneficial" to both.

tonight

May 21st, 2009, 05:50 AM

Super region projects in Mindanao rushed (http://mb.com.ph/node/201420)
By BONG REBLANDO

Pagadian City — Key government agencies are ready for the 12th Mindanao Super Region Inter-Agency meeting here on Friday, May 22 to thresh out issues and recommendations for the speedy completion of the Mindanao Super Region projects.

"It is imperative that given the urgency of the situation, these projects should be fast-tracked to boost economic activities, improve access to social services as well as generate employment and business opportunities for Mindanao," said Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) and Mindanao Super Region Deputy Development Champion.

He urged the fast-tracking of the projects in Zamboanga del Sur like the Pagadian Airport Development Project and the upgrading of the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Hospital.

The P379.46-million Pagadian airport development project commenced last June 2008 and is targeted to be completed on August 2009.

The rehabilitation and construction of airport facilities is seen to impact the safe and efficient airport operation as well as safer and smooth landing.

The Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Hospital Upgrading, one of the presidential priority projects in hospital upgrading amounts to P20 million in project cost.

To date, eight major projects have been completed from the 35 infra projects identified under the Mindanao Super Region.

This includes the 210 MW Mindanao Coal-fired Power Plant also located here, the 950 KV Photovoltaic Power Plant in Cagayan de Oro, the Diosdado Macapagal Bridge in Butuan City, the Manay-Mati Road Section of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road, the port development projects in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City, as well as the upgrading of provincial and district hospitals.

Completed under the hospitals upgrading program are the Dr. Jose Memorial Hospital in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Hospital, General Hospital in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao Central Sanitarium and Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City, General Hospital in Basilan, and Compostela Valley District Hospital.

Meanwhile, 21 projects are still ongoing. These include roads and bridges, airports, agri-support projects, power and energy, and health projects. The rest still have to be funded to physically integrate Mindanao, and optimize its potential as an Agri-Fishery Export Zone in the South. Budgetary aid for farm-to-market roads and irrigation facilities are also pushed.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) heads the Mindanao Super Region Inter-Agency group which is tasked to consolidate the updates of the various Mindanao Super Region projects and lobby for the fast-tracking of these projects.

Under the Super Region strategy, Mindanao’s strong potential to become the country’s agribusiness center is being developed and harnessed through major infrastructure support.

dark_knight_detectve

May 21st, 2009, 06:23 AM

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_989969300l.jpg

dark_knight_detectve

May 21st, 2009, 06:24 AM

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_929742396l.jpg

Govinda

May 21st, 2009, 11:29 AM

from tamzdav..

Top 10 Richest Cities (According to Total Income, 2007)
Posted by: alvinrexlucero | May 17, 2009
1. Quezon City -Php 8,437,074,000

2. Makati – Php 8,296,147,000

3. Manila – Php 8,240,815,000

4.Pasig – Php 3,952,455,000

5. Davao – Php 3 ,153,457,000

6. Caloocan – Php 2,509,297,000

7. Cebu City – Php 2 ,445,149,000

8. Parañaque – Php 2,153,843,000

9. Pasay – Php 2,020,352,000

10. Mandaluyong – Php 1,794,555,000

Source: COA

Top 10 Richest Cities in the Philippines

Link: www.alvinrexlucero.wordpress.com

at least may pumasok na Mindanao city :cheers:

davaoeagle

May 22nd, 2009, 12:40 AM

^^

So Davao City is the richest in VisMin....let's drink to that! :D

boju2

May 22nd, 2009, 04:58 AM

Mindanao’s pineapple export sales rise 42% (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/mindanao%E2%80%99s-pineapple-export-sales-rise-42/)

http://www.philtourism.gov.ph/bigimages/rmp_pineapple.jpg

Mindanao’s pineapple industry posted robust growth last year despite the global economic downturn, generating export sales of $352.3 million, official data showed.

Pineapple export sales last year were 42.17% more than the previous year’s $247.8 million, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics said in a report released recently.

The United States and Japan, two of the countries affected by the global financial turmoil, bought at least 60% of the country’s pineapple exports in 2008. Japan took the bulk of fresh pineapple, while the US bought canned products.

The volume of exports reached 809,315 metric tons (MT) in 2008, up 37.36% from the previous year’s 589,206 MT.

Mindanao produces nearly 90% of the country’s pineapples, a large part of which comes from Northern Mindanao (Region 10) and Central Mindanao (Region 12 or Soccsksargen), specifically in the form of canned products.

Northern Mindanao is home to the pineapple farms of Del Monte Philippines, Inc., while Region 12 hosts Dole Philippines, Inc. (Dolefil).

The Davao Region also exports mostly fresh pineapple to Japan.

Pineapple production in 2008 rose by 9.6% to 2.2 million MT from 2 million MT the previous year. “The gain was attributed to area expansion in Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen. Producers were encouraged by the increasing market demand,” the report explained.

Area planted to pineapple rose to 58,000 hectares from 54,000 hectares in 2007.

dinabaw

May 22nd, 2009, 05:54 AM

Davao Region export pineapple & banana for Japan market its because Del Monte Intl. is located here.

michael_ray

May 22nd, 2009, 06:02 AM

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_989969300l.jpg

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/1_929742396l.jpg

I've noticed Normin's stat has been taking extra mile every year. :cheers:

eflex

May 22nd, 2009, 06:02 AM

from tamzdav..

at least may pumasok na Mindanao city :cheers:

wow only city in mindanao..nice:)

davaoeagle

May 22nd, 2009, 06:13 AM

Davao Region export pineapple & banana for Japan market its because Del Monte Intl. is located here.

It's Tropi Fresh isn't it?

davaoeagle

May 22nd, 2009, 06:19 AM

Friday, May 22, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
The Economy
Business World
Saudi, RP businessmen explore cooperation

DAVAO CITY — The visit early this month of a 23-man delegation composed of government and private sector representatives from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) opened prospective new investment and collaboration opportunities for local businessmen, particularly those engaged in agriculture.

Mindanao businessmen meet with Saudi Arabian counterparts on areas of possible collaboration during an Agri-Trade and Investment Mission led by the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture early this month. — MEDCo During a business-matching session, local businessmen submitted proposals on banana plantation and processing; livestock and poultry raising; as well as pineapple, grain and pangasius fish production.

"This creates an opportunity for both countries to benefit from comparative advantages," a statement of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) quoted KSA Agriculture Minister Fahad A. Bal Ghunaim, who led the mission, as saying.

The KSA delegation was accompanied by Agriculture Sec. Arthur C. Yap as they visited banana processing plants and plantations in Davao del Norte as, well as the Panabo City Mariculture Park.

"There is only one place to go to," Mr. Yap said, referring to the vast potentials for agribusiness in Mindanao due to its rich soil and relatively good climate.

Mr. Yap had said that the Saudi investors were keen on acquiring tracts of land for planting and processing and that the government was studying the possibility of setting up a special economic zone in Mindanao for this purpose.

Ishak V. Mastura, chairman of the Regional Economic Authority who presented the investment prospects in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao such as seaweeds, coconut, rubber and cassava, noted that Saudi investors have poured investments into other areas in the world where there is conflict.

Peng Hok

May 22nd, 2009, 06:40 AM

at least may pumasok na Mindanao city :cheers:

^^

So Davao City is the richest in VisMin....let's drink to that! :D

And take note, the only cities in the top ten outside Metro Manila are Davao and Cebu.

The stat only underscores the position of Cebu and Davao as the primary cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, respectively.

Govinda

May 22nd, 2009, 06:45 AM

Davao Region export pineapple & banana for Japan market its because Del Monte Intl. is located here.

It's Tropi Fresh isn't it?

it's Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc..:)

Govinda

May 22nd, 2009, 06:45 AM

And take note, the only cities in the top ten outside Metro Manila are Davao and Cebu.

The stat only underscores the position of Cebu and Davao as the primary cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, respectively.

right! :cheers:

davaoeagle

May 22nd, 2009, 07:16 AM

it's Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc..:)

I stand corrected...thanks Gov!

Govinda

May 22nd, 2009, 07:24 AM

I stand corrected...thanks Gov!

but tama ka rin actually sir @davaoeagle..that was the name before..

davaoeagle

May 22nd, 2009, 07:39 AM

^^

I thought so...a friend used to work there before that's why I knew such company exists.

The Vow

May 22nd, 2009, 09:19 AM

he he he
kayo talaga

TONZI

May 25th, 2009, 05:28 AM

Land of unfulfilled promise

By Cielito Habito
Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://business.inquirer.net/money/columns/view/20090525-206915/Land-of-unfulfilled-promise)

MANILA, Philippines - Mindanao accounts for 24 PERCENT of the total Philippine population, and 41 percent of our land area. And yet the six regions of Mindanao altogether account for only 18 percent of our total domestic production and, therefore, total incomes, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP).

That, in itself, asserts Congressman Rufus Rodriguez—who was a cospeaker in a Davao forum I spoke in last Friday—tells us there is a problem.

At the very least, this disparity in numbers implies that Mindanao has not been able to achieve its potential contribution to our economy, for which we could roughly take its proportion to total population as a lower bound, and to total land area, as an upper bound.

Land of challenge

It was decades ago when I first heard Mindanao described with the popular appellation “Land of Promise” in my fifth grade social studies class.

Early on, this relatively underpopulated southern part of the country had been widely recognized for its exceptionally bountiful natural resources and year-round moderate climate. For these reasons, population and land area shares arguably still far understate the true potential contribution Mindanao could make to national development. The nickname was indeed quite apt.

Alas, that “promise” remains as such—a promise unfulfilled.

Volumes have been written explaining why, with persistent conflict and violence figuring most prominently among the reasons cited, which also included government neglect, high degree of cultural heterogeneity, self-serving political machinations and flawed economic priorities and policies.

What is clear is that “fixing” Mindanao will continue to be one of the foremost challenges confronting the nation and its leaders.

The Philippines as a whole could have been much more in step with or even ahead of the other dynamic economies of this region if only Mindanao’s potential had been fully realized long ago.

Budget shares

Congressman Rodriguez cited an array of budget data showing how the government had failed to give Mindanao its due share of public resources.

At the very least, he argues, Mindanao should be getting back in government budgetary resources a share proportionate to its contribution to GDP. But an examination of the 2009 national budget would show that Mindanao is allotted only 14 percent of the total budget allocated to the regions (i.e., net of the “nationwide” expenditure of the government), 4-percentage points short of its GDP contribution. This is roughly equal to P70 billion in additional budget that Mindanao should be getting, he argues.

Looking more closely, some catching up appears to have happened of late in the Mindanao share of the infrastructure budget. In the 2009 national budget, Mindanao gets 27 percent of the DPWH budget allotted to the regions and 19 percent in DOTC. For the two departments combined, Mindanao gets 26 percent of the regionally allocated budget.

These shares are more than the island’s proportionate share of the population, but still much less than its proportionate share of land area. I will not go into which of the two yardsticks would be the more appropriate basis for allocating the budget. I note, however, that these shares are still less than the 30 percent or more achieved in the 1990s, which was the result of affirmative action for Mindanao undertaken during the Ramos administration.

One Mindanao

Fortunately for Mindanao, the global economic downturn appears not to have had a serious impact on the island’s economy so far. It is electronics exports, which account for two-thirds of our total export earnings, that have taken the heaviest brunt of the export decline, and none of these are produced in Mindanao. Indeed, Mindanao agriculture appears to continue thriving. Bananas, a prominent mainstay in the Mindanao economy, actually posted a double-digit growth as of the end of 2008, and defied expectations by growing even faster than it did in 2007. This is in spite of the economic meltdown that had already taken its toll on the economies of the major importers of our bananas even then.

Former Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Paul Dominguez explains that bananas are still the cheapest fruit around, compared to the alternatives usually found in the developed country markets. Thus, demand for them has been relatively unaffected by recession.

Time and again, my lament about Mindanao has been how it has not been able to achieve a unified Mindanao economy, whereby the economic centers in the island interact with and complement one another synergistically. Instead, what has been perpetuated is a situation where Mindanao’s economic centers serve as individual satellite economies serving Metro Manila and Cebu.

Efforts to link Mindanao with nearby economic centers in Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia via the BIMP-EAGA growth area also aim to help better achieve such unification of the Mindanao economy.

The continued expansion of energy, transport and communication infrastructure on the island would also help achieve this economic unification and invigoration. What Mindanao needs now is a widely shared vision that would unify Mindanaoans not only in their aspirations, but more importantly in their actions for fulfilling the promise that their island has long been recognized for.

davaoeagle

May 26th, 2009, 08:24 PM

Region 11 projects cited
in GMA’s SONA
Mindanao Daily Mirror
May 27, 2009

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has poured billions of pesos worth of infra funds to fulfill her commitment to the people of Region 11.

Starting with her State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2007, the DPWH XIth Regional Office has implemented a total of P467.2 million worth of high impact projects notably the Improvement/Concreting of the Surigao-Davao Road and the Improvement/Concreting of the Kapalong-Talaingod (Davao del Norte) – Valencia (Bukidnon) Road.

Again in 2008, the President has committed another P1.690 billion for the improvement concreting of Kapalong – Talaingod (Davao del Norte) – Valencia (Bukid-non) Road.

Yet again for 2009 GMA released an additional funding of P1.144 billion for the Rehabilitation/Improvement along the Surigao – Davao Coastal Road and for the Improvement/Concreting of the Kapalong – Talaingod – Valencia (Bukidnon) Road. When finally completed, these two projects will entail an estimated cost of P3.020 billion.

The Surigao Sur – Davao Oriental Coastal Road (Manay–Boston )

The Surigao Sur – Davao Oriental Coastal Road forms part of the country’s arterial road network and is classified as one of the roads with vital strategic importance.

It functions as the main trunkline for the coastal municipalities of three provinces that leads to the main Pan Philippine Highway as its terminal point. This road traverses the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur in Region 13/Caraga and Davao Oriental in Region 11.

The project commences at the municipality of Manay and traverses the municipalities of Caraga, Baganga, Cateel and ends at Boston for a total length of 132 kilometers. More than 83 kms of this stretch needs to be paved. The improvement/concreting of the Bislig-Manay section which is .770kms. long and is worth P15.2 million has already been completed while the rest of the sections are ongoing.

This project is intended to strengthen the socio-economic linkage among the influence provinces including the nearbv provinces and municipalities. It will vastly improve accessibility and transportation services as well as expedite the delivery of goods, social services and enhance mobility. It is also expected to promote the development of agriculture and tourism.

The Improvement/Concreting of Kapalong – Talaingod ( Davao del Norte) – Valencia (Bukidnon) Road.

The Improvement/Concreting of Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia (Bukidnon) Road has a total length of 57.79 kms. including the construction of 6 bridges.

It starts from the municipalities of Kapalong and Talaingod in Davao del Norte up to sitio Kalagangan in San Fernando , Bukidnon which is in the boundary of Region 11 and 11, respectively.

This project is a national secondary road that will link the provinces of Davao del Norte in Region 11 and Bukidnon in Region X. It is an inter-regional link that will connect two (2) of the country’s major arterial roads – the Pan Philippine Highway in Davao del Norte in Region 11 and SAYRE Highway in Bukidnon which is a main Highway in Region 10.

Work on this project is now on-going and in various stages of development with two (2) projects already completed: (1) concreting of 490 kms at junction Tagum-Asuncion-Kapalong-Sto Tomas – DAPECOL-Panabo circumferential road worth P10 million; and (2) Concreting of 2.088 kms at contract package 6 worth P56 million.

The road is intended to become an alternate route to the Davao – Calinan – Bukidnon Road and the Agusan – Davao Road . As an alternate, the road can divert traffic from those routes that many be closed due to landslides or major repairs. One such incident was the closure of the Davao – Calinan – Bukidnon Road (July 25 – August 1, 2004) due to a road slip at sitio Kilpolot, Palacapao, Quezon which was triggered by heavy rains.

The road was closed for eight (8) days necessitating the diversion of traffic through Digos – Cotabato Road via Carmen, North Cotabato vast agricultural lands in the interior.

“This proposed road will also greatly contribute to the progress of the indigenous communities as it will provide them with greater opportunities to conveniently market their farm produce on a much shorter time to market centers either in Region 11 or Region 10”, Dir. Ali added.

In the forefront of this implementation is the tireless and aggressive leadership of Director Osop L. Ali of DPWH11 who is proving to be a match to the demanding pace needed by the department to deliver PGMA’s SONA commitment to the people of Region 11. A.L. Dacumose/Rose Palacio/PIA 11

dark_knight_detectve

May 27th, 2009, 02:45 PM

NEDA reports 99,000 new jobs in Region X (http://www.individual.com/storyrss.php?story=101648479&hash=723270ebf319fc31d1c8e05de39853c4)
May 21, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) --

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 21 (PNA) ? The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Region X reported that a total of 99,000 new jobs were generated in northern Mindanao in 2008.

In its 2008 State of the Region Report (SORR), the NEDA attributed the jobs growth to the influx of investments and a 10.7 percent growth in the trade subsector throughout northern Mindanao?s five provinces of Camiguin, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental.

dark_knight_detectve

May 27th, 2009, 02:47 PM

PIA Press Release
2009/05/17
Northern Mindanao top 20 importers pay P3.17-B custom duties in 2008 (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&sec=reader&rp=1&fi=p090517.htm&no=2&date=)
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (17 May) -- A total of P3.17 billion in importation taxes was paid by the top 20 importers of Northern Mindanao, last year.

Data at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) show that P2.24 billion of the collection was on the value added tax (VAT), P858.50 million on customs duties, P66.55 million on excise tax, P2.85 million on energy tax and P26,342 on safeguard duties (SGD).

Atty. Abedin P. Macapasir, Customs Collector of BOC District No.10 based in Cagayan de Oro City, said the highest amount of such taxes was paid by Nestle Philippines, Inc., P1.66 billion, followed by Jetti Supply Distributors, Inc., P242.25 million.

The rest of the importers and the amount of import taxes they paid in 2008 are as follows: STEAG State Power Inc., P212.81 million, Holcim Phil., Inc., P193.82 million and Pilmico Foods Corp., P190.69 million.

Petronas Energy Phil., Inc., P153.36 million, RI Chemical Corp., P100.81 million, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., P63.14 million, Del Monte Phil, Inc., P59.24 million and Treasure Steelwork Corp., P47.59 million.

Global Steel Phil., Inc., P45.01 million, LimKetKai Manufacturing Corp., P38.95 million, Newtech, P35.10 million, RICOR Mills Corp., P28.60 million, Pryce Gases, Inc., P26.91 million and JS Unitrade Merchandise, Inc., P18.04 million.

Elegant Chemical Alloy Corp., P16.61 million, Universal Robina Corp., Ph14.60 million, Mabuhay Vinyl Corp. P12.43 million and Tiara Commercial Inc., P11.54 million.

So far, only four of these importers paid the energy tax because they are into the fuel and petroleum business while only one importer was charged the SGD, Macapasir added. (PIA 10) [top]

dark_knight_detectve

May 27th, 2009, 02:48 PM

Top 20 NorMin export commodities rake in US $315.90-M in 2008 (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/top-20-normin-export-commodities-rake-in-us-315-90-m-in-2008/)
Posted on May 18, 2009. Filed under: economy | Tags: export, Northern Mindanao |

Northern Mindanao’s top 20 export commodities raked in a total of US$315.90 million, last year, the Bureau of Customs, District No.10 (BOC-10) data show.

“Such data already represent the combined figures of the export commodities from the region that were loaded at the Port of Cagayan de Oro and that of Manila,” Atty. Abedin Macapasir, BOC-10 Customs Collector, said.

Of these export commodities, Canned Pineapple Products valued at US$143.30 million continued to be first in the list, followed by the Philippine Crude Coconut Oil with $23.24 million.

The rest of the export commodities and their value were as follows: Desiccated Coconut, $13.70 million, Philippine Cane Sugar, $13.16 million Everyday Milk Powder, $10.42 million, Fresh Bananas, $8.15 million and Limestone Cement, $7.68 million.

Ferronickel, $7.58 million, Coconut Shell Charcoal, $6.38 million, Abaca Pulp, $6.36 million, Fresh Pineapple, $6.23 million, Cement Clinker, $ 6.12 million, Fiber Plastic, $5.85 million and Coconut Acid Oil, $4.99 million.

Kiln Dried Wood Products, $4.98 million, Falcata Lumber, $4.32 million, Ordinary Portland Cement, $3.83 million, Frozen Shrimps, $3.18 million, Desiccated Coconut which was filed in Manila, $2.40 million and Copra Expeller Cake/Meal, $2.04 million.

Meanwhile, Macapasir said the top13 import commodities of the region was valued at P30.35 billion, last year, of which Foodstuff at P17.23 billion topped the list, followed by Minerals/Chemicals, P9.27 billion.

The other imports commodities and their value in pesos were Articles of Iron, P1.77 billion, Machine Parts Accessories, P363.35 million, Miscellaneous Items, P531.95 million, Electrical Machinery, P268.10 million and Paper & Paperboard, P226.27 million.

Articles of Plastic, P181.65 million, Ship, Boat and Floating Structures, P160.81 million, Textiles & Other Fabrics, P140.69 million, Motor Vehicle Parts, P51.90 million and Forest Products, P35.21 million.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

May 28th, 2009, 07:32 AM

Malaysian studes tour BIMP, visit Mindanao

Courtesy by: Sun.Star.Davao
Wednesday, May 27, 2009

AS PART of their curriculum on international relations, 40 students from the Malaysian Armed Forces Defense College (MAFDC) are now touring the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) to observe economic development in the sub-region.

Headed by First Admiral Dato Tan Eng Seng, MAFDC commandant, the delegation then recently visited the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) for a courtesy call and briefing on Mindanao, Palawan and BIMP-Eaga as a whole.

During their courtesy call with Medco, Seng underscored the importance of security for the sustainable development of a country and for its neighboring communities.

Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Medco chair, then pointed out the need to forge efforts in securing the sub-region's very rich natural endowment, the Coral Triangle, which is dubbed as the world's largest biodiversity site.

"Security is a big factor in sustainable development," said Leyretana as he concurred with Seng's view of sustainable development as not just for today but also for the benefit of future generations.

Leyretana sees the visit as a milestone between Malaysia and Philippines' cultural and diplomatic relations, which are further strengthened by the two countries' active participation in BIMP-Eaga.

"Our exchanges should not be limited to business, trade and tourism but also to academic studies as well," said Leyretana as he pointed out that exchanges like this are long overdue.

It can be recalled that in 2006, Mindanao played host to the 2nd BIMP-Eaga urban scout jamboree, which gathered 3,000 boy scouts from the sub-region and other participating countries.

The said jamboree, which aimed to foster peace and unity in spite of varying cultures among the participants, have promoted the spirit of camaraderie and mutual respect while celebrating the gains of BIMP-Eaga throughout the years.

It was also in 2006 when the Thunder Riders of Sabah joined Mindanao's aspirations for a lasting peace through the 3rd Mindanao Ride for Peace.

A BIMP-Eaga friendship games is also held annually which shares the same intention of strengthening long-standing ties and close relations among the four countries that date back to decades ago.

Prior to their visit here, the MAFDC delegation has already visited Kuching in Sarawak, Malaysia; Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and Brunei Darussalam.ÿThe team will also visit Pontianak in Indonesia.

The establishment of MAFDC in Malaysia in 1980 was brought by the need of the Malaysian government to put up an institution of higher military learning especially on national security.

BOB-bXu

May 30th, 2009, 09:43 AM

UK Travel Advisory : Travel To CARAGA and Davao Regions only :)

Gov't expects increased UK tourists in Mindanao this year

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 05/30/2009 12:46 PM

The Department of Tourism (DOT) expect more tourist arrivals in Mindanao as the British government recently lifted travel restrictions to certain parts of the south.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has now allowed its citizens to travel to Davao and Caraga regions (northeastern part of Mindanao) after a two-year restriction. This, he said, will generate more revenues to local communities.

"Amendments will encourage tourists from the UK to experience nature, adventure, and culture that the island of Mindanao has to offer," Durano said in a statement. Some of Mindanao's popular tourist destinations include Siargao, Butuan, Pearl Farm, Mt. Apo, and Compostela Valley.

"This development signals growth in travel brought about by the strong security measures now being implemented in the area. The best thing about this is that the local communities will directly benefit, with an additional demand to meet," he added.

According to the DOT's research and statistics division, British tourists account for the biggest number of European tourists to the Philippines. DOT said that last year, some 87,422 UK tourists arrived in the country, reflecting 2.78 percent of the total traffic for 2008.

The British FCO earlier advised its citizens not to travel to any part of Mindanao due to "terrorist and insurgent activity." However, the DOT said that the political climate in the region has already changed, making travel to these areas "safe and particularly rewarding."

"It is indeed a welcome respite from the present events that have seemed to be unfair to the tourism industry lately," said DOT Undersecretary for tourism planning and promotions Eduardo Jarque Jr, adding that this will encourage stronger ties with other government agencies.

The DOT reported 1.3 million tourist arrivals in the country for the first three months of the year, a 10.3-percent rise from the figure recorded in the same period last year, indicating another banner year for the tourism industry.

Durano said over 1,230 hotel and resort rooms worth P8 billion were opened early this year, and another 2,315 would be built by year-end. These are part of the P550-billion expansion projects of various investors involving some 7,000 new hotel and resort rooms.

The department said it is expecting the tourism sector to create more jobs for Filipinos this year, helping the country recover from the economic crisis.
as of 05/30/2009 12:46 PM

jsl_bxu1206

June 5th, 2009, 02:01 PM

U.S. Ambassador Launches Jeep with Mindanao Universities
June 5, 2009

http://mindanao.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/usaid-gem_marawi-5.jpg

Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney tries out the Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Project speech laboratory established through a partnership between Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City and USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. With her are officials of MSU-Marawi and the five other universities that are also initiating JEEP in partnership with GEM: Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (Iligan), Capitol University (Cagayan de Oro), Western Mindanao State University (Cagayan de Oro), Bukidnon State University (Malaybalay, Bukidnon), and Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology (Zamboanga City). The JEEP Project uses laboratory-based learning with special software to provide college students with the English language skills needed for careers in business process outsourcing, tourism, nursing, allied health services and the maritime industry. GEM

http://mindanao.com/blog/2009/06/us-ambassador-launches-jeep-with-mindanao-universities/

michael_ray

June 5th, 2009, 04:54 PM

Dakpa ang akong tiil

June 13th, 2009, 09:07 AM

Creation of Mindanao dev't body approved
Sun.Star Davao
Friday, June 12, 2009

THE joint House committee on Mindanao Affairs and on government enterprises and privatization approved recently the substitute version of House Bills 5255, 5260, and 2303, which similarly push for the creation of a permanent Mindanao development body.

In a joint hearing last week, Mindanao congressmen approved the substitute bill, entitled an act creating Mindanao Development Authority or MinDa. The bill is then set for second reading at the lower house when session resumes in July.

MinDa bill is a by-product of three bills, HB 5255, HB 5260, and HB 2303, all similar in subject, which is to create a Mindanao-wide development mechanism that will integrate and harmonize all development efforts on the island.

Principally authored by Deputy House Speaker Simeon Datumanong and Sultan Kudarat Rep. Datu Pax Mangudadatu, HB 5255 seeks to create a single, permanent, and unifying development body in Mindanao called the Mindanao Economic Development Authority or Meda, a thrust similar to its counterpart bills, HB 2303 and 5260.

The only difference is that HB 2303 authored by Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo seeks to abolish SPDA, while HB 5260 authored by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez removed the Eaga functions from Meda.

The three bills filed were then deliberated and consolidated by the technical working group on Meda chaired by Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles.

"All bills have been harmonized and hopefully this time Mindanao can move forward," said Cerilles, adding that the turfing issue with the Armm regional government has already been threshed out.

"All the provinces and cities in Mindanao are interconnected, and the Armm region cannot just act without cooperating. All corners of Mindanao have to develop as a whole to attain equal pacing with Luzon," he said.

The TWG also proposes that the head of MinDA shall sit in the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) board to ensure Mindanao's equal share in the prioritization of development programs and projects.

On SPDA, Cerilles said that Congress cannot abolish SPDA because it has been an international commitment and enshrined in the Tripoli Agreement. The TWG, however, recommends that a bill should then be filed to strengthen SPDA.

"I fully agree with the move to empower this authority since Mindanao is also not getting its fair share in the allocation of funds just like the Bicol region," Camarines Sur Rep. Felix Alfelor, chair of the Committee on Government Enterprise and Privatization, pointed out.

Compared to Luzon and Visayas, Mindanao has the highest percentage of unpaved national roads at 37.81%, the lowest in irrigation development at 31.5%, and the least in terms of farm-to-market roads paved at 19.68%.

Mindanao continues to lag behind in terms of economic growth, poverty, and human development. Six out of the ten poorest provinces of the country are in Mindanao while four (4) of the bottom five (5) provinces that ranked lowest in human development all over the country are in Mindanao.

boju2

June 17th, 2009, 11:51 AM

Mindanao Shipyard Reopening Preparations Underway (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/mindanao-shipyard-reopening-preparations-underway/)

http://cagayandeorodev.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/100_5540-copy.jpg?w=300&h=198

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction – Philippines (HHIC-Phil) yesterday (June 16) set up a Mindanao Project Team to prepare for the reopening of HHIC operations in the Phividec Industrial Estate, in the event that the world shipbuilding business shows sign of recovery. The team already put up a fence along the boundary of the estate’s premises as an indication of the reserved area for development. Since April 2008, HHIC has been running a training center within the vicinity to provide job opportunities to local residents and, in turn, contribute to the development of the area. Photo shows Mindanao Project Team Head Myung-Goo Kwon (right) with HHIC-Phil. President Seung-Chil Lee during the inauguration.

tonight

June 20th, 2009, 03:54 AM

Improved socio-economic status, agricultural productivity seen (http://mb.com.ph/articles/207451/improved-socioeconomic-status-agricultural-productivity-seen)
By By BEN R. ROSARIO

The near completion of vital infrastructure projects that are crucial in improving the socio-economic status of Mindanao and agricultural productivity in the region rank high among President Arroyo’s list of accomplishments that may be presented in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) next month.

Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), yesterday disclosed that Arroyo’s vow of creating Mindanao “super regions” that would interconnect provinces in the area has taken shape and will be completed soon.

Leyretana, who appeared at the weekly Usaping Balita News Forum, said the Mindanao circumferential road that physically interconnects key provinces would accelerate socio-economic development in depressed provinces.

Complemented with new ports and irrigation facilities, the circumferential road will likewise boost agriculture in the region.

“Mindanao is capable of producing at least 40 percent of the rice supply deficit of the country as soon as the irrigation structures are finished,” Leyretana told reporters during the news forum.

“Whether we speak about development, peace and security, Mindanao is very important in our country,” he added.

Expected to be completed soon are the airports in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo, Sulu.

“We’re pushing for new ports and airports. Without these infrastructure projects, we cannot develop an efficient logistical hub in the region,” he emphasized.

Leyretana said revision of the 1987 Constitution may also serve as another assurance for growth and a catalyst for peaceful co-existence in a region where there is a diverse cultural set up.

He pointed out that while Mindanao folk submit to the “wisdom of legislators,” it is also important to make known to them the importance of shifting government structure to federalism.

“If we have to give substance to parity, then I think we should look into the wisdom of change from presidential to federalism,” Leyretena said.

Govinda

June 22nd, 2009, 12:15 PM

Mindanao Heart Centre, Mindanao Burn Unit, Mindanao Kidney Centre, all in Davao City and soon Mindanao Cancer Centre in Tagum City. These centres affirm that Mindanaoans from different regions, if not all, share a common confidence that Davao has the best healthcare system in the island. :cheers

:)

P500M cancer center in Tagum pushed

Sun.Star Davao
Thursday, June 4, 2009

NATIONAL Economic Development Authority (Neda) and the Regional Development Council of Southern Mindanao endorsed the proposed multi-million Mindanao Cancer Center in Tagum City.

In a statement, the RDC said the project, which is estimated to cost P500 million, is expected to provide comprehensive treatment and management services for cancer patients in Davao Region and Mindanao.

The Mindanao Cancer Center in DRH will bring to four the major Mindanao health service centers based in Davao Region. The Davao Medical Center in Davao City operates the Mindanao Heart Center, the Mindanao Burn Unit, and the Mindanao Kidney Center.

"We endorsed the project because it directly supports the region's priorities for human development and poverty alleviation," Vicente Lao, chairperson of RDC-Southern Mindanao, said.

Lao said the project will address the rising incidence of cancer, which is now one of the leading causes of death not only in Davao Region and Mindanao but also in the entire country as well. He added the establishment of the center in the region also reduces the financial burden to the cancer patients and their families, especially the poor, since they would no longer have to go to Manila or Cebu for diagnosis and treatment.

Neda-Southern Mindanao Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, who is also the RDC vice chairperson, said in a statement that the project is well supported by officials of local government units and national government agencies, as well as by representatives of the private sector in the region.

The Provincial Development Council of Davao del Norte has also passed a resolution endorsing the project.

"With these endorsements, the project will now be submitted for evaluation at the national level and for funding support from foreign donors," Lim said. (CPM)[/QUOTE]

Peng Hok

June 23rd, 2009, 02:54 AM

^^
Sigurado ka bang Mindanao yan, or Southern Mindanao lang? :D

Govinda

June 24th, 2009, 06:42 AM

^^
Sigurado ka bang Mindanao yan, or Southern Mindanao lang? :D

Mindanao yan! haha..

BOB-bXu

June 28th, 2009, 05:13 AM

Pinoy hip hop dancers from Mindanao win the Dunkin’ Donuts Icy Coolers dance tilt

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/3666390595_1dc0744c59_o.jpg

Pinoy hip hop dancers Next Block Crew from Butuan and Experience Kidz from General Santos snagged the top prize of P100,000 each at the recent Dunkin’ Donuts Icy Coolers Dance Dunkdown 2009 Grand Finals Night held at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia. Dance groups Batang Mama from the National Capital Region and Dance Pull Kids from Bacolod were the runners-up and awarded with P50,000 each.

The Grand Finals night started with a bang as the 14 finalists from all over the country heated up the dance floor to the Pussycat Dolls’ hit “Jai Ho.” Two of the most popular names in the industry, Karylle and Vhong Navarro, hosted the event and also performed.

Butuan's Next Block Crew
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3666390577_a0041409f6_o.jpg

ONaYpjeHv8A

Judges were made up of the hottest names in Pinoy hip hop today, dancer-choreographer Jason Zamora of the Manoeuvres; member and choreographer of the international hip hop group Philippine All Stars Lema Diaz; and iconic Philippine hip hop choreographer and music producer Jungee Marcelo.

Gensan's Experience Kids
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/3666390581_1418739755_o.jpg

They were all optimistic about the performances of each finalist and commented about each group’s hippest moves.

“I’m looking for a group that starts fresh and finishes strong” said Jason. “I want to see variety, popping and locking, not just the same krumping style,” chimed in Lema. “For me precision is the edge,” commented Jungee.

Teen heartthrob Sam Concepcion, the endorser for the Dunkin’ Donuts Icy Coolers Dance Dunkdown also performed, sending the audience squealing as he danced the Icy Coolers jingle.

“The kids I saw were not just the usual dancers you see on the streets, and some of them I think have what it takes to be professional dancers some day,” Sam shared.

As the night ended, all were delighted to see happy faces and were thankful for having been part of the Dunkin’ Donuts Icy Coolers Dance Dunkdown as the kids look forward to another year.

Local show biz personalities Julia Clarete and Pauleen Luna announced the grand winners on noontime show “Eat Bulaga

hakz2007

June 28th, 2009, 05:14 AM

Naga council opposes local gov’t code change (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20090626-212599/Naga-council-opposes-local-govt-code-change)

By Jonas Cabiles Soltes
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 20:45:00 06/26/2009

Filed Under: Laws

NAGA CITY, Philippines -- The Naga City Council has passed a resolution strongly opposing a House bill seeking to amend the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160) to allow several municipalities to become cities by exempting them from income requirement.

In the resolution, passed on June 16, the council said it was joining the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) in opposing the bill which it said discriminates against other local government units in favor the 16 municipalities that recently lost in the case “LCP versus the Commission on Election.”

In the case, the 16 municipalities argued that they should be exempted from the minimum income requirement to be a city because their charters had been approved by Congress before the Supreme Court nullified their elevation to the category of city in November last year.

The Naga City Council said the proposed amendment would violate the “equal protection clause under the 1987 Constitution” and would be a retroactive implementation of a law, which is in violation of Section 450 of Republic Act 7160.

It also noted that the 16 municipalities must comply first with the requirements provided under Section 450 of Republic act 7160 which states that to become a city, a municipality should have an annual income of at least P100 million.

It said that when the decision of the Supreme Court in the LCP vs Comelec case became final, Naga City, for instance, was notified that it was going to receive an IRA adjustment amounting to P42 million.

The cities reverted back to being municipalities and call themselves the "League of 16", which include Baybay (Leyte province), Bogo, Naga and Carcar (Cebu), Catbalogan and Borongan (Samar), Tandag (Surigao del Sur), Lamitan (Basilan), Tayabas (Quezon), Tabuk (Kalinga), Bayugan (Agusan del Sur), Batac (Ilocos Norte), Guihulngan (Negros Oriental), Cabadbaran (Agusan del Norte), El Salvador (Misamis Oriental), and Mati (Davao Oriental).

Dakpa ang akong tiil

June 28th, 2009, 01:39 PM

Mindanao Trade Expo set in August

Sun.Star Davao
Thursday, June 25, 2009

THE Mindanao Trade Expo will be staged again in August this year in Davao City after it went on hiatus last year.

In a press conference Wednesday at the Apo View Hotel, Ann Pamintuan, president of the Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation Inc.--the organizer of the event, said it was revived to help other budding entrepreneurs of Mindanao.

"The board has decided to have a re-launch of the expo after we have received several suggestions and inquiries from previous exhibitors and other stakeholders, and we decided to bring it back," Pamintuan said.

The Mindanao Trade Expo is one of the biggest trade exhibitions in Mindanao which showcases and promotes products ranging from processed food, fresh produce, ornamental plants, home accents, furniture, handicrafts, and fashion accessories.

"We have realized the need of micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs for a venue to showcase their wares; that is why we made sure to stage again the Mindanao Trade Expo," Pamintuan said.

Sketches of lavishly designed exhibition halls and a pompous opening ceremony were also shown to the press.

The event will be staged on August 13 to 16 at the Convention Hall of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

dark_knight_detectve

June 29th, 2009, 02:21 PM

Globe WiMax Internet service now in Mindanao (http://www.mindanaoan.com/2009/06/20/globe-wimax-internet-service-now-in-mindanao/)
June 20, 2009 by Taga Mindanao
Filed under Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Compostela Valley, Corporate, Cotabato, General Santos City, Internet, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Mindanaoan Update, News, Technology, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, agusan del norte, blogging, zamboanga peninsula

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The Globe WiMax Internet Service isn’t new, yes…but the fact that it’s expanding in Mindanao (and Visayas, actually) is certainly something exciting! Globe Telecom and Intel Philippines have partnered up to bring us WiMax or worldwide interoperability for microwave access. It’s a cutting-edge service cum wireless technology that will bring Internet access to more and more Filipinos around the country.

According to Globe, “WiMax is a standards-based technology designed to enable the deployment of wireless broadband access as a cost-efficient alternative to cable and wired broadband DSL. This new technology also aims to improve reach since it can cover distances greater than those covered by other wireless technologies like WiFi, CDMA, or 3G.”

The Globe WiMax package offers Internet service for P795 per month. The package also comes with an aggressive money-back guarantee.

“We challenge anyone with a competitive wireless subscription to try out our Wimax-backed plans. We are so confident with our service that we challenge you try out our connection, risk-free. Should you be unhappy with the connection within one month from installation, we’ll give you your money-back, no questions asked,” according to Menchi Orlina, head of Globe’s consumer broadband business group.

Starting this June 2009, the Globe WiMax service will be offered in CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY. Before the end of the year, the service will also cover these other areas in Mindanao: Zamboanga, Cotabato, General Santos City, Lanao province, Surigao area, Compostela Valley and the Agusan province.

Interestingly, Globe hasn’t announced if the WiMax service will be available in Davao City. Do you think it’s because of the stiff competition among Internet providers over there?

Do you think you’ll avail of the Globe WiMax service? (Because I personally am very interested in this!)

eflex

July 1st, 2009, 04:20 AM

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 1st, 2009, 05:15 AM

Mindanao's tourism highway map unveiled in travel expo

By Carlo P. Mallo
Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A TOURISM highway map on Mindanao will be launched in August this year during the Mindanao Tourism and Travel Expo in Davao City.

Organized by the private sector and the Department of Tourism (DOT), the tourism highway map will finally be unveiled after several years of planning.

"This will be the most comprehensive tourism highway map of Mindanao, complete with the information that a traveler needs on a trip," Araceli Ayuste, of the Davao Region Tourism Council, told reporters in a business forum Tuesday.

The tourism highway map on Mindanao will cover dive sites, tourism destinations, transportation, and routes.

"It involves all regions of Mindanao, from Region 9 [Western Mindanao] all the way to the Armm," Ayuste said.

Although Davao City remains to be the gateway of Mindanao, the map will also show other entry points on the island, such as Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro City, Ozamiz, General Santos City, and Zamboanga City.

"The map will give you answers on where to go, what to see, and how to get there," Ayuste said. "What we really want to promote is connectivity among destinations in Mindanao."

The tourism highway map is a collaboration of the various regional tourism councils in Mindanao, the different DOT regional offices and the local government units.

"With the map, we can keep the tourists interested, and have them extend their stay here," Ayuste said.

MtApoStandard

July 2nd, 2009, 11:27 AM

Alcantara group clears $450-m coal power plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores

CONAL Holdings Corp., owned by the Alcantara family, will proceed with the construction of a $450-million coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani.

Project manager Gregorio Gonzales said the 200-megawatt project would be built in two stages with one plant of 100 megawatts constructed in the first phase, along with the common facilities for the whole power station complex.

Gonzales said the first phase was expected to go on stream by late 2012 at the earliest and a second 100-megawatt plant would be built within 18 to 24 months after the start of the first phase. The whole project is expected to be completed by late 2014.

Demand for power in Mindanao is expected to increase over the next three years, according to power industry players.

Archimedes Flores, general manger of Aboitiz Energy Solutions, a sister company of Davao Light and Power Co., earlier predicted that reserve capacity in Mindanao would fall to 7.5 percent, or 84 MW short of the 212-MW requirement in 2010.

Mindanao will likely face a shortage of 174 MW of power by 2011. Power demand in the island is projected to increase by at least 5.76 percent annually starting next year.

Conal Holdings pegged the growth in power demand at 3 percent a year in the preparation of expansion plans using 2008 with a peak demand level of 1,288 MW as the base year.

At this rate, the actual reserves in the Mindanao grid will likely fall to 60 MW in 2014 and to 16 MW in 2015 before completely going into a deficit in 2016.

When reserve capacity goes down to this level, any plant outage in the grid will lead to power outages.

The company said the completion of the second phase would be in time to stave off rolling brownouts in Mindanao due to the predicted capacity shortage.

Conal Holdings vice president for business development Joseph Nocos said Mindanao would most likely experience prolonged power interruptions if no new power plants were commissioned.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business3_july2_2009#top

dark_knight_detectve

July 3rd, 2009, 04:01 PM

Thursday, 02 July 2009
PGMA's Super Regions infra projects, SONA commitment programs gain significant headway (http://www.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2000997&Itemid=2)
(First of 5 parts)

Manila (PNA) -– President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's flagship projects designed to "close the loop" between the Philippines' Super Regions are nearing completion, while her other State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) commitment programs such as economic reforms and poverty alleviation are gaining significant headway.

To start off, the "closing the loop" program under President Arroyo's Super Regions strategy is more than 80 percent complete. These are the priority infrastructure projects in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ), Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB), Central Philippines, and Mindanao Super Regions.

One such priority project is located within the Luzon Urban Beltway, wherein the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) has been interconnected.

"President Arroyo ordered the front-loading of infrastructure development projects with a specific directive that all infrastructure programs must be bid out during the first semester of the current year," says Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo and Presidential Assistant for Region 3, in an interview with the Philippines News Agency (PNA).

Fajardo said that once the interconnection of SCTEX, NLEX and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) is realized, the travel time between Subic in Zambales and Metro Manila will only take one hour and a half. "It used to be three hours, but now, it's a shorter time," she added.

"Travel time between Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga and Subic Naval Base in Olongapo City, Zambales will take 30 minutes, thanks to the North Luzon Beltway Hub of the Philippines," Fajardo said.

"Central Luzon is situated in the heart of Asia and it has so much potential," she said, adding this is the reason President Arroyo is hastening the completion of infrastructure projects such as the road networks.

The Malacañang official also said that SCTEX would eventually connect La Union province from Poro Point in San Fernando City to Baguio City in Benguet province, and also Quezon and Batangas provinces in the Southern Tagalog region through the NLE-SLEX linkage.

'Closing the loop'

"It's what you call 'closing the loop'. It's also known as Luzon Urban Beltway (LUB)," Fajardo said.

The priority infrastructure projects which "close the loop" are classified under the North Luzon Agribusiness Agricultural Quadrangle (NLAQ), the LUB's Transport and Logistics Infrastructure, Central Philippines Super Region Enhanced Central Philippines' Competitive Advantage in Tourism, and Mindanao Super Region Enhanced Agribusiness Development in Mindanao.

The NLAQ, according to Fajardo, involves the Dingalan Port Project in Aurora province and the La Trinidad Fruit and Vegetable Minimal Processing Plant in Benguet.

The LUB Transport and Logistics Infrastructure consists of Subic Bay Port Development Project, Batangas Port Development Project, Lucena Port, and Cawit Port in Boac, Marinduque.

Found in the Central Philippines Super Region Enhanced Central Philippines' Competitive Advantage in Tourism are access roads to the Bacolod-Silay Airport and Bohol Circumferential Road; Pantao Port in Albay, Jagna Port in Jagna, Bohol; Ubay Port in Ubay, Bohol; Siquijor Port in Siquijor; Maasin Port in Southern Leyte; Limasawa Port in Southern Leyte; New Iloilo Airport in Iloilo, and New Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental.

Mindanao Super Region Enhanced Agribusiness Development in Mindanao covers the Diosdado Macapagal Bridge in Butuan City, 210-megawatt Clean Coal-Fired Power Plant in Misamis Oriental and Solar Power Plant in Cagayan de Oro City.

SLEX-STAR linkages

At present, the SLEX project is 76.87 percent accomplished. The Alabang viaduct in Muntinlupa City was opened to the public late last year, while Toll Roads 2 and 3 are scheduled to be completed in June and December 2009, respectively.

The SLEX project, costing P8.5 billion, involves the rehabilitation and upgrading of the existing 28.54-kilometer length of the expressway starting from the Alabang viaduct up to Calamba City in Laguna, and an additional 7.6-kilometer highway to be constructed from Calamba to Sto. Tomas in Batangas that will connect to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) 2.

Once completed, the SLEX-STAR linkage will provide access to the Port of Batangas and offer a seamless nautical and land highway that will save both time and transport cost for both passengers and freight.

It will relieve traffic on the old highway and significantly reduce travel from 46 minutes to 26 minutes when traveling from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Alabang, according to a statement from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).

"The extension of the SLEX is a major infrastructure project. It will not only ease and speed up travel to and from Batangas and Laguna but also connect the CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) to the Luzon Urban Beltway and NLAQ through other priority infrastructure projects such as the C5-NLEX-SLEX Link, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) project and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) project," the PMS reported.

"With this project, new centers of business and commerce in the South are expected to open, which would help decongest Metro Manila," PMS Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said in a report, adding "this would provide our exporters faster and safer access to the Free Port Zone in Subic and the airport in Clark and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)."

To make sure that the project is completed on time, Esperon said "the Pro-Performance Team is pressing the adoption of a 24-hour work shift and constant monitoring of the rate of accomplishment of the remaining sections of SLEX."

C5-NLEX-SLEX interconnection

Fajardo said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recently kicked off the construction of the P520-million Tandang Sora-Luzon Avenue flyover crossing Commonwealth Avenue in Old Balara, Quezon City that will interconnect the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

The infrastructure is one of the vital links in the 41-kilometer NLEX-SLEX project of President Arroyo.

"DPWH has started the implementation of this project which is in line with the instructions of the President to interconnect the two expressways and eventually to the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road in Las Pinas City via C-5," Fajardo said.

On the other hand, DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo, in charge for Luzon operations, explained in a report that the construction involves the completion of a flyover that would directly connect Tandang Sora Avenue (Old Balara side) to Luzon Avenue in Quezon City. It measures more than 500 lineal meters, including approaches with four lanes at two lanes per direction.

He said the structure also has access or service roads on both sides for vehicles coming from and going to Commonwealth Avenue and C-5 and vice versa.

"Once the project is completed, it will be beneficial to all motorists and businessmen in the area," Momo said.

Motorists, especially those coming from Katipunan Avenue would no longer use U-turn slots in Commonwealth Avenue to go to Luzon Avenue as the project directly connects both ways.

The implementation of the project is in coordination with the Quezon City government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In August 2008, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. signed an agreement with Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, wherein the latter assumed the responsibility of securing road right-of-way and some civil works.

Meanwhile, two multi-billion-peso flood control projects –- the Agno River Flood Control Project Phase II and the CAMANAVA (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) Flood Control Project -- are nearing completion with 90 percent accomplishment. The CAMANAVA project is expected to ease flood problems in Metro Manila.

boju2

July 4th, 2009, 09:00 AM

Railway project starts before year-end: exec (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?sectionid=4&id=4371)
By MARK FRANCISCO - Staff member Updated July 4-5, 2009 12:00 AM

THE ambitious Mindanao railways project would be started by year-end to complement the Laguindingan airport, an official of the transportation department said yesterday.

Transportation undersecretary Guiling Mamondiong said he expects initial civil works from Cagayan de Oro City to Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, the site of the airport being constructed in the region.

Mamondiong said the Cagayan de Oro-Laguindingan line would only form part of the first phase of the railways project which would stretch from Linamon, Lanao del Norte, to Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

After the Cagayan de Oro-Laguindingan line has been constructed, engineers would work on the Iligan City-Laguindingan line, followed by the Linamon-Iligan line and the Cagayan de Oro-Jasaan line.

All in all, the Linamon-Jasaan phase would cover 120 kilometers.

According to Mamondiong, the $800-million Mindanao railway system project would stretch across Mindanao, hugging the shorelines in some parts such as northern Mindanao.

It would reportedly cover a total of 2,000 kilometers.

The rest of the project would attempt to connect Butuan City to the Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga provinces as well as the cities of Malaybalay, General Santos and Zamboanga.

“The railway system will always be parallel with the national highway,” said Mamondiong, adding that Saudi Arabian, Spanish and Chinese entities have expressed interest in helping finance the project.

Mamondiong said the first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2012.

In 2006, a congressman said that for the first phase, about 45 tunnels and bridges, measuring a total of 25 kilometers, would be constructed.

The project would require the acquisition of about 360 hectares which would be used for the construction of formation and rail tracks and for the location of the depot and terminal stations.

“There will be no problem with right of way,” Mamondiong assured.

The government is so serious in pursuing the project that it inaugurated the Mindanao Railways Office yesterday in Bulua. President Arroyo created the office in 2006 through a presidential proclamation.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 4th, 2009, 09:03 AM

Aksyon Mindanaw Forum slated

by RG Alama

Davao City (4 July) -- Aksyon Mindanaw, a multi-sectoral and multi-peoples alliance based in Davao City will be holding the launch of a series of forums to discuss issues facing Mindanaoans and encourage local and national candidates to take heed of these discussions.

A forum and general assembly will be held this July 5, Sunday at E-Vibe Super Club in Torres Street, Davao City which will be graced by speakers led by Senator Francis Pangilinan, Fr. Alberto Alejo of Konsult Mindanaw and Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chair of the Mindanao Economic and Development Council or Medco.

The forum will be attended by about 200 leaders in Davao City aimed at gathering inputs on the peace process, the Mindanao economic situation, health and environment.

"We are trying to put together a people's agenda for Mindanao. This will embody our basic call which is sustained action for a peaceful, progressive and green Mindanao." Aksyon Mindanao President Muss Lidasan said.

Lidasan challenged the political candidates to shun politics and set a clear Mindanao agenda that will serve as a barometer for Mindanaoans in choosing their new leaders in the next elections.

"What are their plans to resolve the conflict in Mindanao ? How will they address the economic and environmental issues that hamper its progress? These are the questions that we want to be answered by the 2010 aspirants," Lidasan said.

Aksyon Mindanaw is currently soliciting ideas and recommendations which will set the foundation for a concrete and realizable agenda for Mindanao.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 4th, 2009, 09:05 AM

Philippine Human Development Report launched in Mindanao

PIA

Davao City (4 July) -- The Philippine Human Development Network (HDN), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the New Zealand Agency for International Assistance (NZAID), the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Civil Service Commission Region Xl as local partner, launched the 2008/09 Philippine Human Development Report (PHDR) in Mindanao with the theme "Institutions, Politics and Human Development in the Philippines" on 18 June 2009 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, Magallanes Street, Davao City.

The half day activity was participated in by representatives coming from the different National Government Agencies, Local Government Units and Private Sectors in Mindanao. Regional Director, Annabelle B. Rosell of the Civil Service Commission Region 11 and Dr. Arsenio Balisacan, President of the Philippine Human Development Network delivered the Welcome Remarks.

Dr. Clarissa David, PhD and Dr. Toby Melissa Monsod, PhD of the Human Development Network presented the Provincial Human Development Information and the Key Findings of the PHDR.

2008/2009 PHDR is the 6th in a series of national human development reports (NHDRs) that have advocated the use of concepts and indicators of human development in policy making and practice. The Report examines how the quality of governance institutions matters in moving human development forward, given that policies designed to advance Human Development emanate from and are implemented by public sector institutions. It discusses bureaucratic reforms, the national government budget process, and the internal rule enforcement bodies in government.

The Report cited the experiences of the Department of Education which illustrate how institutional rules may impinge upon an agency's ability to deliver on its mandate.

Among the panel of reactors who responded to the challenge posed by the said Report were Regional Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy of the Department of Education, Governor Rodolfo P. Del Rosario of the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte, Judge Virginia H. Europa of the RTC Davao City and Dr. Ronnie Amorado, PhD. National Coordinator of the EHM, an NGO fighting against graft and corruption.

The program culminated with the Closing remarks of Atty. Adoracion P. Cruz-Avisado, Executive Director of Transformative Justice Institute. A Press conference with the local media followed after the program.

boju2

July 4th, 2009, 09:17 AM

United News Today newspaper soft launch today (http://www.cagayandeoronews-online.com/2009/07/united-news-today-newspaper-soft-launch.html)
BY JOEL ESCOL

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The soft launch of Mindanao’s premier national newspaper will be held today to signal its commitment to serve the information needs of people from all walks of life in Southern Philippines, as well as in the entire Philippine archipelago.

Ms Gigi Yap of Century Vine company, publisher of United News Today, said in an exclusive interview that the paper’s office will be based in Cagayan de Oro but it will circulate in Mindanao and the imperial Manila area.

“Actually our grand launch will be on July 8 but during our soft launch today we will be circulating our newspaper already,” she explained.

Yap said aside from publishing the premier national paper based in Cagayan de Oro they are also committed to serve the other needs of their clients such as in events and promotions, real estate, and other businesses.

“United News Today newspaper is dedicated to bridge the gap between Christians, Muslims and Chinese and we are committed to inform the public of the good news we can get from these sector of society.”

Yap said there should be strong ties and relationship between the Muslims, the Chinese and the Christian to promote peace in the entire island of Mindanao.

AGGRESSIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN
The Century Vine company owner said they are aggressively marketing the newspaper in the island and revealed a 150-strong marketing and sales force to augment the full business operation of the newspaper.

“We have a strong sales force and agents of 150 people and we are aggressively committing ourselves to market the paper anywhere in Mindanao,” Yap concluded.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 6th, 2009, 06:41 AM

DA promotes halal food production in Mindanao

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is promoting halal activities especially in Mindanao, it said in a recent press release.

DA Secretary Arthur Yap said at the recent International Halal Assurance Seminar that his department is conducting trainings and seminars on the proper production, processing and marketing of halal cereal and vegetable crops, fruits, meat, milk, fish and other commodities.

The DA said Mindanao has a competitive edge over other countries in the region because it is free of the foot-and-mouth disease and the avian influenza or bird flu virus.

He said Mindanao also has reliable supply of feed ingredients for halal food production, namely, corn, rice, copra meal, fish meal, and palm oil.

The DA has arranged separate discussions with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Brunei which are looking at billions worth of possible investments in the domestic halal sector, particularly in Mindanao.

Around 32,000 Muslim farmers and entrepreneurs in Mindanao are expected to benefit from proposed halal initiatives.

Halal is an Arabic word, which means permissible. Halal products are prepared in accordance with Islamic laws.

The global halal food market is valued at around $500 billion yearly and the Philippines is eyeing to capture an initial one percent share or $5 billion of this market through exports.

MtApoStandard

July 7th, 2009, 03:29 PM

JICA conducts first regional briefing on Mindanao program

Davao City (8 July) -- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently conducted the first regional briefing on its Country Assistance and Rolling Plan for Mindanao at the Convention Hall, NEDA-RDC XI Center, Bangkal, Davao City.

The JICA Team was led by Masafumi Nagaishi, Senior representative from the JICA Philippine Office. Joining the team were Ms. Akiko Abe, Country Officer for Southeast Asia based at JICA Tokyo Headquarters, and JICA program officers from the JICA Davao Field Office led by Mr. Akira Goto. The briefing was attended by twenty five participants from the national government agencies, state universities and colleges, and local government units of Davao Region.

Regional director Maria Lourdes D. Lim of NEDA XI said that the briefing is an offshoot of the recently ratified Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) between the Philippine and Japanese Governments and for JICA to brief the NEDA regional offices on the thrusts of JICA after its merger with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in October 2008. She added that Davao Region is fortunate to host the first regional briefing for the JICA's Country Assistance Program and Rolling Plan. She said that this kind of briefing was usually conducted at the national level.

During the briefing, Mr. Nagaishi stressed that JICA's assistance will focus on conflict affected areas of Mindanao. He said that the assistance involves three pillars, namely: Sustainable Economic Growth aimed at Creating Employment Opportunities, Poverty Reduction, and Peace and Stability in Mindanao.

Director Lim responded that these three pillars are in line with the goals of the region as spelled out in the Updated Davao Region Development Plan (DRDP), 2008-2010 for increased job creation through economic growth, enhanced social development with direct poverty measures and good governance for attaining peace stability and human security.

Mr. Nagaishi invited the participants to submit their proposals to JICA for consideration through the NEDA Regional Office XI or the JICA Davao Field Office. The NEDA Regional Office here evaluates project proposals for funding by donor agencies, which include JICA and the Embassy of Japan, through its Grassroots Grant Assistance Programs. The project evaluation report of NEDA serves as the main basis in the endorsement of the proposals by the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI. Proposals costing P500 million or above are further evaluated by the NEDA Board Investment and Coordinating Committee.

JICA has a total of thirty three (33) projects included in its rolling plan for Mindanao. Nineteen (19) of which are ongoing projects and are mostly funded under the Japan-Bangsa Moro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development. The rest of the projects are still undergoing different stages of evaluation. (NEDA-PIA XI) [top]

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p090708.htm&no=05

dark_knight_detectve

July 7th, 2009, 03:41 PM

tonight

July 7th, 2009, 03:43 PM

sana tuloy-tuloy na ang project :)

dark_knight_detectve

July 7th, 2009, 03:46 PM

sana tuloy-tuloy na ang project :)

sana nga kasi this will boost mindanao's importance to the rest of the country as well to the rest of the world. imagine! a train station in every mindanaon city. that is so rare in this part of the country

MtApoStandard

July 7th, 2009, 03:49 PM

Customs falls short of goal, blames trade slowdown
By Joel E. Zurbano

The Customs bureau last month collected only P20.7 billion in duties and taxes from the ports, or 20 percent below its P25.91-billion target for June.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said a 38-percent drop in imports, from $4.8 billion to only $3.04 billion, impaired collections. “Our performance depends on imports because ours is to capture revenue from external trade. The indisputable equation is that less importation equals less collection. Yet our target remains the same, unaffected by unfolding economic realities such as marked slowdown in inbound shipping traffic.”

Nine of the Customs bureau’s 17 districts, including the major ports of Manila, Batangas, Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Manila International Container Port, suffered from the slowdown in trade and failed to meet targets assigned to them for the month of June.

Of the nine ports, Manila incurred the biggest shortfall, collecting only P2.944 billion, or P3.056 billion below its P6-billion target, Morales said.

MICP earned P4.828 billion against its P5.579-billion target while Batangas collected P3.775 billion, short by P245 million against its P4.020 target. Naia, on the other hand, posted P1.325 billion, down by P65 million against its P1.390-billion target.

Other collection districts that failed to meet their targets were San Fernando, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro and Limay.

The Office of the Customs Commissioner came up with only P4.292 billion, or 1.3 percent short of its P4.394-billion target.

Import volumes are also down, Morales said. Oil and lubricants are down by half, from $1.03 billion in April last year to $551 billion. Textile went down 28 percent, plastics by negative 39 percent, electronics products by negative 42 percent, iron and steel by negative 59 percent, and transport equipment by negative 59 percent.

But several ports managed to surpass their targets, among them Legazpi with P5.9 million, 8 percent over its P5.5-million target; Cebu with P535 million collection, or 2.7 percent over its P521-million target; Surigao, P5.2 million, from its P1.5-million target; Zamboanga, P4.7 million; Davao, P228 million, or 30.9 percent over its P174-million target; Subic, P390 million, or 1.6 percent over its P384-million target; Clark, P78 million, 9.8 percent higher than its P71-million target; Aparri, P31 million or 81 percent higher than its P17-million target.

Lawyer Arnel Alcaraz, Port of Manila district collector, said a limited volume of importation took its toll on the bureau. There was a marked reduction in the importation of motor vehicles and steel, he said.

Manila’s Harbor Center suffered from a 60 percent reduction in importation of steel, cement and soya, Alcaraz said.

Alcaraz said there could be a turnaround in the third and fourth quarters of the year as traders step up shipments in time for the Christmas season.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business_july6_2009

MtApoStandard

July 7th, 2009, 03:54 PM

Mindanao seen as diving destination PDF Print E-mail
Regions
Written by Cha Monforte / Correspondent
Tuesday, 07 July 2009 21:01

IF resort owners in Davao had their way, Mindanao will soon become a major diving destination in southern Philippines.

Speaking before the Kapihan sa SM Dabaw media forum on Monday, regional tourism council secretary Araceli Ayuste bared that the private sector has been recently initiating moves aiming to develop the promising diving subindustry in Mindanao, urging the government “to finish it.”

“We want to change the perception about Mindanao. The local diving industry, if fully developed, can generate job opportunities that will benefit the local labor force, as at present, a single dive can fetch about P1,500,” she said.

Ayuste, owner of Fiesta del Sol Resort in the “island garden” of Samal, said there are still few players in the diving business in the island. Among those actively engaged in the business are the Pearl Farm Beach Resort and Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort.

“The private sector and the government need to make a concerted effort to attract more foreign tourists into Mindanao,” she said.

She noted that regional tourism councils have met recently in an effort of connecting the start-up diving industries of various regions.

She said Davao’s tourism could now be immediately physically connected due to good roads constructed that will help develop the tourism potentials of Siargao Island with its coast ideal for surfing, and Butuan City which has “history and nature” to boast of.

Technical diver Carlos Munda said the diving potential off the sea of Samal and Davao is unique to other established diving destinations in Luzon such as Anilao in Bulacan and Boracay.

“Divers can use the sea off Davao and Samal as they can be dived year-round unlike Boracay where diving would stop during habagat [southwest wind].”

“Samal’s diving potentials can be developed with world-class standard to generate more income to the local economy,” he said.

Munda estimates that 90 percent of divers in Anilao come from Metro Manila and elsewhere during weekends and only 10 percent are local divers.

He said diving cost, including hotel and food, could range from P6,000 to P10,000 per diver.

“About 95 percent of divers in Samal are Davao residents while only 5 percent are considered tourists. The cost of diving is only about P1,500 per diver,” he said.

Ayuste said on August 20, the local resort industry will meet with the Department of Tourism to unveil a “tourism highway map” to guide tourists on the various tourism destinations in Mindanao.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/12828-mindanao-seen-as-diving-destination.html

dark_knight_detectve

July 7th, 2009, 03:55 PM

Laguindingan Airport Devt. Project hiring by Hanjin (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/laguindingan-airport-devt-project-hiring-by-hanjin/)
Posted on July 7, 2009 by damarre
from http://misorjobs.com/?p=1173

Job Openings for Terminal Building and Control Tower Construction

Date: 06-05-09

http://cagayandeorodev.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/ladp1.jpg
Airport site - photo by Vic Orencia

Company: Hanjin Heavy Industries & Const. Co., Ltd. is a Korean corporation licensed to undertake construction and development of projects of the Philippine Government. It is the Contractor of the Laguindingan Airport Development Project located in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

Positions and Qualifications:

1. SITE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

must be registered electrical engineer
with experience in air navigation/control tower electrical works
with experience in industrial and commercial building wiring
2. MECHANICAL ENGINEER FOR LADP MECHANICAL WORK

must be a licensed ME with experience in plumbing, air condition and fire protection system
must have at least 3 years experience
age must not exceed 45 years
3. SITE ENGINEERS

licensed civil engineers preferred with experience in building construction, drainage construction and utilities and PCCP
must bear at least 3 years experience in field of work
age must not exceed 45 years
4. SURVEY ENGINEER

licensed engineers preferred
with 3 years experience
experience in roads and airport project an advantage
age must not exceed 45 years
5. OFFICE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

licensed engineer preferred
with knowledge in building wiring installation and estimation
can prepare electrical work methodology, work scheduling
knowledge in Microsoft Project Software, AutoCAD, Word, Excel
6. OFFICE CIVIL ENGINEER

must be licensed civil engineer
with knowledge in estimation of building structure inclusive of architectural and structural
can prepare construction methodology, scheduling with CPM
knowledge in Microsoft Project Software, AutoCAD, Word, Excel
at least 3 years experience
age must not exceed 45 years
7. CAD OPERATOR

with experience in buildings inclusive of architectural and structural works
at least 3 years experience
age must not exceed 40 years
Requirements:

application letter
resume
How to Apply: Send your application to

Hanjin Heavy Industires and Const. Co., Ltd.
Laguindingan Airport Development Project
Laguindingan – 9019
Misamis Oriental

Contact person: Liza Ricah A. Ubalde

E-mail: izing2@yahoo.com

dark_knight_detectve

July 7th, 2009, 03:59 PM

repost
DOTC Usec: Mindanao Railways to start late 2009 (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/dotc-mindanao-railways-to-start-late-2009/#more-585)
Posted on July 4, 2009 by damarre

http://cagayandeorodev.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/mindanao-railway-copy.jpg?w=468&h=324

Quoting local dailies, DOTC Undersecretary Guiling A. Mamondiong has said the long-delayed Mindanao Railways Project would start before the yeard ends.

Accordingly, he expects civil works on the first segment from Cagayan de Oro to Laguindingan, where the Laguindingan Airport is currently being constructed. After the CDO-Laguindingan line, the Laguindingan-Iligan segment will follow, then Iligan-Linamon and CDO-Jasaan. This first phase of the project consists of a 120 kilometer stretch of railway that will pass through the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan industrial corridor. Some 45 tunnels and bridges will be constructed along this phase with a total length of 25 kilometers.

From www.pnr.gov.ph, below are the segments of the MRP.

1st Segment, Phase I (Cagayan de Oro City-Iligan City)

2nd Segment, Phase I (Cagayan de Oro City-Gingoog City)

3rd Segment, Phase I (Iligan City-Marawi City)

4th Segment, Phase I (Marawi City-Cotabato City)

Phase II (Gingoog City-Butuan City-Surigao City)

Phase III (Davao City-Monkayo-Butuan City)

Phase IV (Davao City-General Santos City-Cotabato City)

Phase V (Iligan City-Aurora-Dipolog City-Liloy-Ipil-Zamboanga City)

Phase VI (Cagayan de Oro City-Malaybalay City-Damulong-Davao City)

The planned railway consists of a criss-crossing network of lines linking Cagayan de Oro to Iligan, Iligan to Zamboanga City, and Cagayan de Oro to Agusan and Surigao, as well as extensions to Davao and General Santos cities.

The MRS will consist of six phases, covering a total length of 2,000 kilometers.

MtApoStandard

July 7th, 2009, 04:32 PM

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/1-1.jpg?t=1246977026
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/Noname1.jpg?t=1246976883
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/Noname-3.jpg?t=1246976965

MtApoStandard

July 7th, 2009, 04:37 PM

http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/bp09q1f2.gif
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/bp09q1f2.gif

MtApoStandard

July 7th, 2009, 04:49 PM

RP to get €170-M loan from French government to build modular ports PDF Print E-mail
Economy
Written by VG Cabuag / Reporter
Tuesday, 07 July 2009 21:49

MANILA is set to get its loan from the French government anytime this month to build dozens of modular ports all over the country, but Malacañang will have to decide where to place these facilities.

Philippine Ports Authority general manager Oscar Sevilla said they expect the €170-million government-to-government loan, or about P11.7 billion, to be released anytime this month or in August by French bank BNP Paribas.

Sevilla said the PPA needed quick approval and disbursement of the loan as it will build an initial six ports this year, and these should be done before the election ban on government infrastructure projects that will set in by November this year.

“We have submitted to Malacañang a list of areas where we intend to build the port. It is up to them [President Arroyo] where will they place them [modular port],” Sevilla said.

He said the PPA is looking at a total of at least 72 ports that will be rolled out in the next four years.

“We have submitted the list of 66 areas which need new ports and 44 ports for improvement,” he said.

The PPA said it is the only agency that will implement the project, since the Department of Transportation and Communications is the main proponent of the loan in behalf of the Philippine government.

The provinces that were earlier identified to set up modular ports include Isabela, Aurora, Pangasinan, Quezon, Romblon, Mindoro, Cavite, Palawan, Masbate, Albay, Eastern Samar, Surigao del Norte, Davao and Cotabato.

The idea of rolling out of modular ports was hatched during the visit of President Arroyo to Spain in 2007. The loan was supposed to come from the Spanish government, in the form of official development assistance, but Sevilla said the plan fizzled out.

Most of the structures of the modular ports are made of steel and the ramp can be adjustable. It can be built within one to two months depending on the size, with each facility costing between P50 million and P150 million.

The PPA said the port can last between 30 to 50 years.

Such technology is relatively newer in the industry as only a few countries are using it, which includes Russia, Sevilla said.

“It’s cheaper because I remember our ports from JBIC [Japan Bank for International Cooperation] cost about P150 million per port,” Sevilla earlier said.

BNP Paribas opened a representative office in Manila in 1975, and two years later it became a licensed offshore banking branch.

The BNP Paribas Manila offshore branch offers a broad range of products and services to its institutional clients, including interest-rate and foreign-currency hedging, bond underwriting, loan syndication, project finance, leverage and acquisition finance, and commodity derivatives.

Its Manila branch takes full advantage of BNP Paribas’s worldwide network, the company said on its web site

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/economy/12835-rp-to-get-170-m-loan-from-french-government-to-build-modular-ports.html

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 8th, 2009, 08:16 AM

Jica's programs to focus on Minda's war-torn areas

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will focus its programs this year to conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

This was learned during the donor agency's first regional briefing on Country Assistance and Rolling Plan for Mindanao, which was held recently at the regional office of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) in Davao City.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

"The Jica assistance will be poured in for sustainable economic growth aimed at creating employment opportunities, poverty reduction, and peace and stability in Mindanao," Masafumi Nagaishi, senior representative from the Jica Philippine Office, said during the briefing.

Neda-Southern Mindanao chief Lourdes Lim concurred that the three focus areas of Jica are in line with the goals of the region as spelled out in the Updated Davao Region Development Plan (DRDP), 2008-2010.

The region's DRDP also focuses on increased job creation through economic growth, enhanced social development with direct poverty measures, and good governance for attaining peace, stability, and human security.

Nagaishi invited the participants to submit their proposals to Jica for consideration through the Neda-Southern Mindanao regional office or the Jica Davao Field Office, which will then evaluate the project proposals for funding by donor agencies, which include Jica.

At present, Jica has a total of 33 projects included in its rolling plan for Mindanao, 19 of which are ongoing projects and are mostly funded under the Japan-BangsaMoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development.

Also present during the briefing were Akiko Abe, Country Officer for Southeast Asia based at Jica Tokyo Headquarters, and Jica program officer from the Jica Davao Field Office Akira Goto.

The briefing was attended by 25 participants from the National Government agencies, state universities and colleges, and local government units of Davao Region.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 8th, 2009, 08:22 AM

Highway Map major tool to sell Mindanao’s tourism hubs

BY JUDY QUIROS

The tourism sector in Davao Region is looking at the almost finished Mindanao Tourism and Transport Highway Map as a major tool in aggressively selling the region as a tourism destination.

Davao Region Tourism Council (DRTC) chair Araceli Ayuste said the map, with an estimated cost of P1 million, will be unveiled during the 4th Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MTTE) on August 20 to 22 at the Davao Convention and Trade Center.

Ayuste said a technical meeting to be spearheaded by DRTC and the Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 regional office will be conducted on July 18 in Cagayan for the finalization of the map.

A 3x3 meter miniature of the map will be displayed at the Davao Convention and Trade Center during the two-day MTTE and later be placed at the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MED-CO), Ayuste said.

The map is costly because it includes brochures and other data of the region’s tourism destinations. The budget is drawn from contributions from both the private sector and government, Ayuste said. She said she is optimistic the map could help boost efforts to promote the Davao Region’s tourism destinations.

The man idea of this year’s MTTE is to sell Mindanao and the map would be a great help to achieve the target, Ayuste said. DRTC and DOT 11 are working overtime in preparation for the MTTE.

The two tourism bodies are targeting to finish four roadshows in promoting the grandest exposition in southern Philippines to various regions in Mindanao.

Ayuste said the first roadshow took place on June 22 to 26 in which the team from DRTC and DOT was brought to northern and western Mindanao. The second roadshow to Caraga region was conducted last week.

The third leg will be held on July 9-10 to SOCSK-SARGEN region.

DRTC and DOT 11 has almost covered most regions and key cities in Mindanao.

Ayuste said the team has raked in a lot of confirmations from potential exhibitors from the two road shows.

The MTTE 2009 will not only be a typical exposition and showcase.

The event will also feature significant events among others, Mindanao Interactive Showcase, Mindanao Tourism and Transport Congress, Mindanao Tourism Investment Summit, Unveiling of the Mindanao Tourism Highway Map, Mindanao Wellness Tourism and Hospitality Showcase and Summit, TESDA Regional Congress, Mindanao OTOP Pasalubong Showcase, Travel Exchange, and launching of the Island-to-Highland Coffee Table Book.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 9th, 2009, 04:40 PM

Palace: Martial law yarn ‘preposterous’

By TJ Burgonio
PDI

Filed Under: Explosion, Politics, Acts of terror

MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang on Thursday hit back at critics who accused President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of plotting emergency rule on the pretext of the wave of bombings in Mindanao.

“As government goes about its job of tracking down the culprits and protecting the public, what cannot be condoned are the attempts of some people to profit politically from these incidents,” deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said at a news briefing.

“Now the critics even go as far as to accuse the Palace of complicity in the bombing incidents, supposedly as an excuse to declare martial law. As with their other big lies, this preposterous claim is offered up with not a shred of evidence in support,” he added, reading from a statement.

tonight

July 10th, 2009, 06:13 AM

P200-million aid for Mindanao approved (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=485427&publicationSubCategoryId=63)
By Pia Lee-Brago

MANILA, Philippines - The European Commission has approved some P200 million in additional aid to civilians displaced by armed hostilities in Mindanao.

The announcement came a day after the United Nations – through its World Food Program – announced the suspension of its food aid to displaced civilians in the wake of bombings that killed eight and injured dozens in Jolo, Cotabato City and Iligan City. The UN said the decision was made out of concern for the safety of its workers.

“We’re very saddened by the bombings in Cotabato, Sulu and Iligan. We’re monitoring the situation but we don’t see reason to suspend our cooperation activities in Mindanao,” Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of delegation of the EC to the Philippines, told The STAR.

“Over the past years, we had not suspended development programs. We’ve not felt the programs in any sense are at risk. We keep a very close eye on the situation,” MacDonald said.

The new grant is on top of the $17 million provided since fighting broke out between government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in August last year, the EC said, adding that the humanitarian aid will cover food, water, sanitation and health care.

The grant will be implemented over a nine-month period.

As with previous humanitarian assistance, the funding will be channeled through international organizations and non-government organizations working in close coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo welcomed the EC’s offer of additional aid.

“This additional aid will further boost the Philippine government’s humanitarian programs in Mindanao. It is also a reaffirmation of the EU’s confidence in the Arroyo administration’s continuing efforts to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao,” Romulo said.

In December, the EC approved a grant of approximately P65 million to NGOs to help promote dialogue and confidence building in Mindanao.

eflex

July 10th, 2009, 07:04 AM

Govinda

July 11th, 2009, 05:17 AM

A repost of an article about the Mindanao Heart Centre..

:cheers:

Nograles turns over P39.5-M for Mindanao Heart Center
Friday, July 10, 2009
By Ben O. Tesiorna

HOUSE Speaker Prospero Nograles turned over P39.5 million to the Mindanao Heart Center as part of his P104.5-million Congressional Medical Assistance Program.

He also ordered the release of additional P16 million for the Davao Medical Center (DMC).

In a statement e-mailed by Nograles' office to Sun.Star Davao, it said the Speaker does not want to run out of funds for much needed health services, especially in light of the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak and the global financial crisis.

"The Speaker sourced the funds for this much needed world-class heart diagnostic and treatment center for Mindanao so that no Mindanaoan would need to fly to Manila for specialty heart care," said the Speaker's chief of staff and son Karlo Nograles.

The young Nograles also announced plans of purchasing a brand-new MRI machine, as well as establishing a women and child center for the DMC.

The Speaker is also working at expanding the DMC into a 1,200 bed capacity hospital and renaming it the Southern Philippines Medical Center and appropriating the necessary funds thereof.

Plans are also underway for the construction of new buildings for the Davao Mental Hospital.

"The Speaker has earmarked a total of P 104.5 million for these new projects as part of his commitment to ensuring proper medical and healthcare for the people of not just Davao City, but for the whole Mindanao," said the young Nograles.

Since 2001, Speaker Nograles, through his flagship Oplan Kalusugan, has appropriated P70 million for the Congressional Medical Assistance Program that has provided free medicines and hospital expenses to more than 50,000 beneficiaries thus far.

The first congressional district office, through the initiative of the young Nograles, has also sponsored more than 12,000 free PhilHealh cards for indigent constituents.

Sun-Star (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/nograles-turns-over-p395-m-mindanao-heart-center)[/QUOTE]

dark_knight_detectve

July 11th, 2009, 10:39 AM

Cagayan de Oro cable firm to offer digital TV system (http://www.itmatters.com.ph/news.php?id=071009g)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — This city will be the first in Mindanao to offer digital technology in cable television (TV), with Parasat Cable TV, Inc., announcing on Wednesday the start of digital television services to subscribers by the end of the month.

Elpidio M. Paras, president of Parasat Cable, told reporters his firm had invested a substantial amount to shift to a digital cable system to better serve thousands of subscribers in the city and neighboring Malaybalay and Valencia.

Ted Buenavista, Jr., Northern Mindanao director of the National Telecommunications Commission, said digital television technology offers "less operational costs, wider bandwidth, and lesser consumption of electricity."

He noted that the country won’t shift to digital broadcasting from analog until 2015.

Mr. Paras said more bandwidth would allow faster Internet services to be included in packages for subscribers.

"We’re also looking at other value-added services like voice over Internet protocol or VoIP," said Mr. Paras noting the service would bring down costs and benefit overseas Filipino workers calling their family members and relatives here.

"There is a lot of content in the world, there are thousands of television programs all over and we can already have that with a digital cable setup," said Mr. Paras.

The digital service comes with a box connecting the cable system to TV sets. An initial 2,000 digital boxes have been readied.

Parasat Cable TV started as an electronics retail store and repair shop in 1976. In 1985, Mr. Paras started manufacturing satellite dishes. A year later, his satellite system was able to capture reports on the EDSA revolution, paving the way for the airing of live events from all over the globe to local facilities in real time.

Rina Paras, vice-president and chief operating officer, said the digital service will initially cover the areas of Poblacion, Lapasan and Gusa. "We will eventually cover all the other areas before the end of July," said Ms. Paras. — Geefe P. Alba

dark_knight_detectve

July 11th, 2009, 10:44 AM

repost

Vol. XXII, No. 196-A
Saturday, May 9, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Corporate News
Teriyaki Boy puts up first resto in Mindanao
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Teriyaki Boy Group, Inc. opened its first restaurant in Mindanao at this city’s SM mall on Friday. :cheers:

The firm is optimistic its newest Teriyaki Boy outlet would attract young professionals not only from this city but those from neighboring towns and cities as well.

Ana Felizardo, senior marketing manager of the firm, said they expect smooth operation in its Cagayan de Oro operation, the 39th Teriyaki Boy store in the country.

"We had a successful delivery of fresh products and the local contractors were very cooperative," said Ms. Felizardo.

The 80-square meter restaurant can accommodate 40 diners.

"We have improved our service architecture with more efficient customer service and faster kitchen turnover," said Ms. Felizardo. She said with over eight years of operation, the group found out that the restaurant has been a favorite among young professionals instead of family dining, which was the initial target.

"We had a study of our market and found that young professionals tend to dine out because they had little time to cook at home and they want to be served immediately and that is where we focus our improvements on," said Ms. Felizardo.

In 2005, Teriyaki Boy merged with Pancake House, Group, Inc., another dining chain, to improve its share in the market. The long-term goal of the dining firm, said Ms. Felizardo, is to expand in the Southeast Asian market.

"We are very pleased to note that there are a lot of inquiries for franchising despite the global economic crisis, even here," said Ms. Felizardo.

This city’s branch has 20 staff including the kitchen crew on several shifts. — Geefe P. Alba

Back to top

MtApoStandard

July 12th, 2009, 10:34 AM

http://www.mindanao.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/dmc.jpg
Davao Medical Center (http://rizalbiz.com/PDS/davao-medical-center/) , a government hospital, is the main referral center in Mindanao

mike durero

July 13th, 2009, 02:35 AM

DestinAsian (http://www.destinasian.com/issuedet.php?id=916), a Hongkong-based magazine, recognize Siargao Island as one of Asia's best island beaches.

10 Great Island Beaches

For that ultimate tropical idyll,nothing beats a ravishing stretch of sand—particularly when the beach in question is located on an equally serene isle. After a considerable amount of island-hopping around the region, our writers have identified 10 such strands that are among the best in Asia. Some of these picturesque shores are remote and undeveloped, while others pamper visitors with luxurious lodgings. But all share tha most elusive quality: paradise

Compiled by Natasha Dragun, with reports from Cynthia Rosenfeld, Leisa Tyler, David Tse, Martin Westlake, Petrina Price, and Cathy Paras-Lara.

From Malaysia to the Maldives, Asia has its fair share of exotic islands, fabled archipelagos, and legendary beaches. The fact that many come with abundant offshore attractions and luxury lodgings makes a visit even more appealing. Here, we travel to 10 countries to profile the region’s hottest island shores—endless stretches of sand fringed by rain forest and coral reefs—looking at when to go, what to do, where to be pampered, and the best places to eat and sleep when you arrive.

Bai Sao
Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Getting to Bai Sao, known locally as Star Beach, requires patience, but you’ll be well rewarded for your effort. Set on the southeast coast of Phu Quoc—Vietnam’s largest island, 50 kilometers from the mainland in the Gulf of Thailand—Bai Sao’s gentle arc of powdery sand sweeps down to shallow, turquoise waters that are warm year-round.

Where to Stay
Save for the occasional beach shack, Bai Sao is as yet undeveloped. But comfortable lodgings are close at hand. On Phu Quoc’s west-coast Duong Dong Beach, La Veranda (84-77/398-2988; laverandaresort.com; doubles from US$135), is only four kilometers from Bai Sao, easily accessed by bicycle or taxi. Rooms come with private balconies, paddle fans, and handmade decorative tiles, while the resort’s main wing is home to a breezy restaurant with ocean views.

What to Do
Feast on barbecued seafood at the small restaurants along Bai Sao in between dips in the bathwater-warm water. For something more active, hire a bike and pedal to the village of Ham Ninh, where you can pick up pearls and the island’s famed fish sauce. You don’t need scuba tanks to explore the shallow reefs, but there are several dive outfits on the island, and bamboo shark sightings are common offshore.

When to Go
The monsoons strike the island between June and November. Avoid the rain and visit in the dry season, when temperatures hover around 30°C.

Godellawela Bay
Sri Lanka
Set at the southernmost tip of the country, Godellawela Bay earned its local nickname, Dream Beach, for a reason. The long stretch of soft white sand is lapped by gently curling waves, and crystal-clear waters extend as far as the eye can see. The bay is hemmed by soaring coconut palms and rocky bluffs, making it one of the most secluded shores on the island.

Where to Stay
Postcard-perfect views are afforded by the 30 rooms at Amanwella (65/6887-3337; amanwella .com; doubles from US$325). Linger on daybeds on your private terrace before retreating to your suite—think classic Aman sleekness accented with floor-to-ceiling windows and fantail coconut-wood furniture. The resort’s restaurant dishes up the catch of the day above a 47-meter-long infinity pool.

What to Do
Time seems to lose meaning at Amanwella, where daybeds and hammocks pepper the path to the beach. Once you do finally make it to the shore, you might be rewarded with sightings of baby leatherback turtles—hatchings occur here every spring. Farther afield, spot elephants, exotic birds, and free-roaming tigers at Uda Walawe National Park.

When to Go
Sri Lanka’s sun shines brightest from November to April.

Kenting Beach
Taiwan
Nestled at the southern tip of Taiwan and surrounded by national parkland—fields of sugar cane, banana and coconut groves, and rain forest —Kenting Beach is a popular holiday spot. But if you time your visit right, you might have this strip of sand to yourself.

Where to Stay
The Kenting Chateau Beach Resort (886-8/886-2345; ktchateau.com.tw; doubles from US$182) features three themed guest wings; rooms in the Marbella Hall and Italian-style Positano Hall come with ocean views and private balconies. Seafood stars at the resort’s four restaurants; the Barbados Beach Bar is just meters from the sand and is great place to catch a dazzling sunset.

What to Do
From bird- watching to banana boating, there’s never a dull moment on Kenting Beach. Ornithologists will want to head inland to the Kenting National Park on the banks of Lungruan Lake. On any given day in October, thousands of migrating gray-faced buzzard eagles and Chinese sparrow hawks pass through here. If you’re feeling restless, try your hand at paragliding, mountain biking, or snorkeling.

When to Go
Surfers will not want to miss the awesome curls that roll in between November and March. With the monsoon season past, these months are also good for diving and snorkeling—the waters are crystal clear, and the crowds have subsided. Avoid summer, when temperatures can soar and the beach becomes overrun with vacationers from Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Landaa Giraavaru Beach
Baa Atoll, Maldives
Clownfish and Oriental sweetlips add color to the azure waters that surround this 18-hectare isle in the Baa Atoll, a 45-minute seaplane flight north of the international airport. Of the Maldives’ 1,190 coral islands, Landaa Giraavaru boasts one of the most romanticsandbanks—it changes hue and shape from sunrise to sunset.

Where to Stay
Guests at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives Landaa Giraavaru (960/660-0888; fourseasons.com; doubles from US$800), the island’s only accommodations, can watch fish swim into view from the massage beds inside Landaa Spa’s glass-bottomed suites. Waves break against Sri Lankan architect Ismail Murad’s striking over-water villas, while at Al Barakat, the open-air restaurant, underwater lights keep guests entertained while they dine on aromatic mezzes and succulent chicken couscous with cinnamon, chickpeas, and raisins.

What to Do
Take an underwater tour with one of the resort’s six resident marine biologists, who oversee endeavors like the 200-plus coral propagation trays that enhance the island’s lagoon. Snorkel deeper into the Indian Ocean in search of butterfly fish and white-tail unicorn fish, or strap on a tank and dive with mantas and sharks.

When to Go
The best time to view underwater life is between December and April, when the sea is calm and clear. Manta rays and whale sharks are seen in their highest numbers from July to November.

Luhuitou Bay
Hainan Island, China
Hainan Island, China’s southernmost province, may be best known for its Yalong Bay resorts, but nearby Luhuitou Bay has won us over for its crowd-free strip of white sand. Backed by foothills, the beach borders calm, clear waters that offer some of the best diving on the island.

Where to Stay
Opened in 2008, the Banyan Tree Sanya Resort & Spa (86-898/8860-9988; banyantree.com; doubles from US$249) offers 49 villas, each with private plunge pools, landscaped gardens, and outdoor bathtubs. The decor is smart and minimal, with an earthy palette offsetting the tropical surrounds. Four open-air restaurants and bars look out to the South China Sea, where fishing boats ply the waters in search of your next meal.

What to Do
It may not have its own dive center, but the Banyan Tree can arrange scuba expeditions in a snip. On dry land, make the most of the resort’s village tours, or tee off at the nearby Sanya Luhuitou Golf Course. Recuperate at the Banyan Tree’s sprawling spa, where traditional Chinese medicine is paired with state-of-the-art hydrothermal facilities.

When to Go
The rainy season hits the island between May and October and can turn the sand into sludge. The best time to visit is between November and March, when temperatures are in the mid-20s.

Nihiwatu Beach
Sumba, Indonesia
Around 400 kilometers east of Bali on the southwest coast of Sumba Island, this pristine strand is a popular pilgrimage site for surfers, who descend to hang ten on theoffshore wave known as “God’s Left.” But when they pack up their boards come evening, you’ll have the entire 2.5-kilometer-long stretch of sand to yourself.

Where to Stay
The Nihiwatu (62-361/757-149; nihiwatu.com; doubles from US$490) resort’s sea-facing villas include a sprawling three-bedroom hilltop chalet with private pool overlooking the Indian Ocean. The thatched-roof rooms are outfitted with Sumbanese textiles and a host of modern amenities.

What to Do
In the interest of surfer safety, a strict policy limits wave riders to nine at a time, but there is plenty to keep you entertained otherwise. The resort organizes activities like fishing trips (the area is famed for its Spanish mackerel, wahoo, and trevally), snorkeling and scuba diving, and boat excursions to the three seashell-strewn coves of Konda Maloba Bay, an hour’s journey to the south. At low tide, staff leads tours to nearby villages, where you chat with locals and pick up beautiful handicrafts.

When to Go
The best breaks wash ashore from April to December, after which the monsoon season descends. The Nihiwatu resort is closed from January 10 to February 28.

Radhanagar Beach
Havelock Island, India
One of only a handful of India’s far-flung Andaman Islands where tourism has a toehold, Havelock fulfills the pristine-beach dreams of no more than 10,000 visitors a year. Those who make the journey will be rewarded with a stunning two-kilometer ribbon of footprint-free sand along Havelock’s west coast. Radhanagar, unofficially known as Beach No. 7, backs onto dense rain forest, where coconut palms reach out from a thick mesh of ferns and cast shadows over the translucent, sandy-bottomed cove.

Where to Stay
The island’s best digs, Barefoot at Havelock (91-319/228-2151; barefootindia.com; doubles from US$80) is a rustic, low-impact resort with 18 thatched-roof cottages built from bamboo and palm fronds. Some come with air-conditioning, but a better way to cool down is with an Iyengar yoga class by the water. Even the most jaded globetrotters will fork over the considerable fee to have their photo taken underwater with Rajan, the resort’s 58-year-old swimming elephant—his trunk is his snorkel.

What to Do
Lionfish and Napoleon wrasse abound in the 15 dive sites off Radhanagar. Snorkelers will be enthralled by the vibrant hues of the lagoon’s coral gardens, just meters from the sand. Visitors can also kayak through surrounding mangroves in search of monitor lizards and crocodiles, trek into the canopied forest (home to 150 animal and plant species unique to these islands), or go deer-spotting along the beach at sunrise.

When to Go
Rajan remains on land during the monsoon season, from May to October. To avoid the downpours, and to glimpse turtle hatchlings, visit between December and March.

Siargao Beach
Siargao, Philippines

Siargao Island, a tiny islet 800 kilometers southeast of Manila, is another site that surfers flock to on a regular basis. The waves at Cloud 9, a notorious break off the island’s eponymous beach, are said to be the best in the Philippines, and the white sands they curl towards are powder-soft.

Where to Stay
The brand-new Kalinaw Resort (63-921/320-0442; kalinawresort.com; doubles from US$136) is the only luxe accommodations on the island. Kalinaw (which translates as “peaceful” in Visayan) features a series of design-oriented cottages with dark-wood floors, free Wi-Fi access, and beach views.

What to Do
If you’re not tackling Cloud 9’s barrel rolls, take to the water and explore the nearby Sohoton Caves, a beachfront nature reserve hemmed by wild forest cliffs with semi-submerged caves. Alternately, ask the resort to pack you a picnic hamper and spend the day paddling between the shallow reefs.

When to Go
The best waves are to be had between July and November, although these months do coincide with monsoon season. To avoid the rain, visit between November and May.

Sunrise Beach
Koh Lipe, Thailand
One of the 51 islands that constitute the Tarutao National Marine Park in the Andaman Sea, off the southwest coast of Thailand, the tiny isle of Koh Lipe is as popular for its sand as it is for its sea. Of the island’s four main beaches, Sunrise catches the early morning rays, casting silhouettes of coconut palms over a stretch of soft sand.

Where to Stay
One of the newest hotels on the island, the Idyllic Concept Resort (66-81/802-5453; idyllicresort.com; doubles from US$83) is set amid tropical gardens that end in ocean-facing bungalows overlooking Sunrise Beach. Sixteen airy villas are minimal in design, but come with mod-cons including flatscreen TVs and broadband Internet access.

What to Do
The petite island is easily explored on foot, but Idyllic can also organize bikes and motorcycles. While the reefs immediately offshore abound with aquatic life (the 2004 tsunami had little impact here), divers should not miss the opportunity to explore Tarutao, Thailand’s first marine park, covering some 1,490 square kilometers. These waters are home to dolphins and sperm whales, as well as an incredible 25 percent of the world’s tropical fish species.

When to Go
The best, albeit busiest, time to visit Koh Lipe is in December, when the weather is relatively cool and the rainy season has passed. Diving is optimal in March and April, when the water is still and clear and tourist numbers have subsided. Daily ferries connect Koh Lipe with surrounding islands from November to May, with weekly crossings between May and November.

Teluk Dalam Kecil Beach
Redang Island, Malaysia
Set at the northern tip of Redang Island, off the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, this idyllic beach is lined with powder-soft sand surrounded by rain forest. Splash about in the turquoise waters of the sheltered lagoon, or swim out to Aziz’s Reef, 100 meters offshore, where you’ll find an underwater menagerie bursting with marine life.

Where to Stay
The best lodgings on this sparsely populated strip of sand are the new hillside villas at the Berjaya Redang Beach Resort (609/630-8888; berjayaresorts.com; doubles from US$265), replete with private patios and unbeatable lagoon views. What to Do It’s hard not to spend day after lazy day on the beach. But if you must take shelter, pull up one of the resort’s padded sunloungers, set under thatched umbrellas. There’s always a game of volleyball on the go, and the Berjaya’s marine centre is fully equipped to take out divers of all experience levels. On-land adventure seekers can trek into the rain forest towards Teluk Dalam Besar Beach, equally idyllic and often deserted.

When to Go
Redang is blessed with blue skies for most of the year, except between November and January when the monsoon strikes.[/QUOTE]
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dark_knight_detectve

July 13th, 2009, 01:32 PM

Mindanao food aid from United Nations to continue - definitely good news! (http://www.mindanaoan.com/2009/07/12/mindanao-food-aid-from-united-nations-to-continue-definitely-good-news/)
July 12, 2009 by Taga Mindanao
Filed under Advocacy, Announcements, BIMP-EAGA, Commentary, Food, Government, Headline, Mindanaoan Update, News, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, armm, basilan, sulu, zamboanga peninsula

Leave a comment
MINDANAO - Thankfully, the Mindanao food aid from the United Nations World Food Program will continue! We Mindanaoans should really be thankful for this because the UN WFP food assistance can really help so many people especially those displaced by the recent conflicts here in Mindanao.

UN Resident Coordinator ad interim Dr. Soe Nyunt-U has reportedly announced that the delivery of food aid for Mindanao will resume once the travel restrictions imposed on their personnel are lifted. I’m hoping that the travel restrictions will be lifted very soon! So many families will really benefit from the UN WFP food assistance.

Accordingly, the travel restriction to Mindanao for UN World Food Program personnel was only for the week of July 6 and was a precautionary measure following the spate of bombings in Mindanao.

dark_knight_detectve

July 13th, 2009, 02:43 PM

PIA Press Release
2009/07/13
Northern Mindanao collection of customs duties up 4.5% in 1Q'09 (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=r10&y=&mo=&fi=p090713.htm&no=35)
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (13 July) -- A total of Php941.69 million have been collected by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Northern Mindanao for the first quarter of 2009, higher by 4.5% compared to Php901.11million during the same period last year.

Lawyer Abedin P. Macapasir, Officer-in-Charge of BOC District 10, said the highest increase was posted by the Port of Ozamiz, from Php1.05 million to Php3.79 million or 261.19% followed by the Mindanao Container Terminal Port (MCTP), from Php504.61 million to Php642.696 million or 27.36%.

However, collection of customs duties in the Port of Iligan went down, from Php56.66 million to Php27.40 million or -51.64% and that of the Port of Cagayan de Oro, from Php338.79 million to Php267.81 million or -20.95%.

Meanwhile, a customs collection efficiency (CCE) of 100.6% have been posted by BOC-10 during the quarter when its actual collection amounted to Php941.69 million compared to its target for the period of Php936.50 million.

Macapasir said the month of March posted the highest CCE of 104.2% when its actual collection amounted to Php366.26 million compared to its target of Php351.50 million while that of January posted an CCE of 103.3% for actually collecting Php304.64 million compared to its target for the month of only Php295 million.

Likewise, the month of February posted an CCE of 93.4% for actually collecting Php270.79 million compared to the its target for the period of Php290 million, Macapasir added. (PIA 10) [top]

dark_knight_detectve

July 13th, 2009, 02:45 PM

PIA Press Release
2009/07/13
NEDA reports increase in VAT collection (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=r10&y=&mo=&fi=p090713.htm&no=38)
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (13 July) -- An 8.08% increase in value-added taxes (VAT) have been noted in region 10 during d first three (3) months of the year.

Data gathered by the National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA), region 10, show that the VAT collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), region 16 that covers Northern Mindanao amounted to Php275.34 million noting a Php20.58 million increase from last year's Php251.76 million.

Engr. Leon Dacanay, Regional Director of NEDA-10, also said percentage taxes slightly increased during the period from Php57.1 million 2 Php59.6 million or 0.91%.

However, "other" taxes, such as, documentary & capital gains tax, etc. went down from Php112.9 million to Php68.1 million or -39.68 and "income" taxes, from Php520.9 million to Php368.9 million or -29.19% while "excise" taxes, from Php159,121.97 to Php61,279.97 or -61.49%.

Dacanay said the downtrend in income taxes resulted from the tax relief package of the government increasing the personal exemptions per Republic Act (RA) 9504 that started in July 2008.

The reprieve covered both individual income tax and corporation income tax with lowered rates from 35% to 30%. "Further affecting the revenue generation, though, was the economic slowdown that characterized the region during the period," Dacanay added. (PIA 10) [top

MtApoStandard

July 13th, 2009, 05:56 PM

http://www.mindanao.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/dmc.jpg
Davao Medical Center (http://rizalbiz.com/PDS/davao-medical-center/) , a government hospital, is the main referral center in Mindanao

H1N1 machine to arrive soon

THE much needed machine that will identify patients suffering from influenza A (H1N1) virus in just two days will soon arrive in Davao City.

The machine will facilitate for a much faster release of the result on swab tests taken on suspected cases of the virus in the Davao Region.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Davao Medical Center chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega said last week that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine will expedite the result from the usual four days to two days.

At present, the swab samples taken here in the region are transported to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Metro Manila for testing, thus the delay on the release of the result.

RITM officials have already coordinated with DMC officials for the setup of the A (H1N1) testing center at the DMC.

It was learned that RITM will train some DMC staff on how to operate the machine.

DMC has recorded a total of 30 A (H1N1) positive cases in Eastern Mindanao as of Monday, 26 of whom are from Davao City. (BOT)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/h1n1-machine-arrive-soon

MtApoStandard

July 13th, 2009, 06:12 PM

http://www.bsp.gov.ph/images/BSP-LOGO3.JPG Mindanao main office

BSP DAVAO REGIONAL OFFICE
Quirino Avenue, Davao City
Tel. No: (082) 300-3709
Fax No: (082) 226-4130
Branches

* Cagayan De Oro Branch
Trinidad Bldg., cor Corrales Ave & Yacapin Sts., Cagayan de Oro City
Tel No : (088) 857-1554
Fax No: (088) 857-4146

* Cotabato Branch
Quezon Ave., cor Sinsuat Ave., Cotabato City
Tel Nos: (064) 421-3117 / 421- 7370
Fax No: (064) 421-3117

* General Santos Branch
Pendatum & Daproasa Sts., General Santos City
Tel Nos: (083) 552-1905

* Ozamiz Branch
Circumferential Road, Ozamiz City
Tel Nos: (088) 521-2678

* Zamboanga Branch
LHB Bldg. I, Veteranos Ave., Zamboanga City
Tel No: (062) 991-2151
Fax Nos: (062) 991-2692 / 992-3055

http://www.bsp.gov.ph/contact/regional.asp

mike durero

July 14th, 2009, 05:29 AM

AT SOHOTON COVE,BUKAS GRANDE ISLANDS, SIARGAO

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dark_knight_detectve

July 14th, 2009, 02:14 PM

dark_knight_detectve

July 14th, 2009, 03:20 PM

BY JOSE BIMBO F. SANTOS
More and more Pinoys becoming ‘netizens’ (http://www.itmatters.com.ph/news.php?id=032709b)
YOUNG, SINGLE, well-educated, and trendy - if it’s a check for you on all four, then chances are that you’re a true-blue Filipino "netizen".

A new study released by Yahoo! and Nielsen yesterday said more and more Filipinos — mostly aged 10 to 19, single, employed in blue collar jobs and with a college degree — are going online, with 28.3% of individuals in cities across the Philippines having accessed the Internet in the past month and 5% going online everyday.

The 28.3% internet penetration rate was up from the 20.8% noted in the first quarter of last year.

The survey also noted that "Filipino Internet users are more likely to be opinion leaders and early adopters compared to traditional media consumers. They are likely to be individualistic, trend conscious, willing to pay for quality products and are tech-enthusiasts."

Marked growth in internet usage was found in cities outside Metro Manila (which had 35% of its population accessing the Internet): Cavite, at a higher 37% of its population; Cagayan de Oro, 35%; and Angeles, above 30%.

"It has cut across the regions in a significant way. The Internet has already cascaded and trickled down across geographic boundaries," said Jay G. Bautista, Nielsen Media Research Philippines executive director.

The survey also found that 51% of Filipinos had visited a social networking site, with Friendster as the top site, while one in three had a blog.

Among the factors behind growth, Mr. Bautista said, were an infrastructure that has moved to broadband from dial-up; more access points and affordability that has contributed to the proliferation of Internet cafes and Wi-Fi hotspots; and cheaper computers.

"As the appetite increases more improved facilities will be there. The Internet is now really becoming a very attractive and relevant medium," he said.

The survey found the top three reasons for going online as: research, 45%; get information, 44%; and connect with friends and families, 44%. The top three websites visited are Friendster, 92%; YouTube, 26%, and Yahoo groups, 23%.

In terms of media reach, the Internet, radio and DVD/VCD were the only three which exhibited growth from 2006 to 2007, Nielsen said. The Internet grew to 28% from 21% , radio grew to 80% from 69%, while DVD/VCD grew to 58% from 46%.

Newspapers, however, declined to 15% from 20% and magazines fell to 7% from 18%.

The global economic crisis may affect internet usage but online number will still increase, Mr. Bautista said.

"For this year, it would depend on how much the economic situation will pinch the purse. But internet will still grow."

The Nielsen survey, conducted in October to November last year, utilized door-to-door interviews of 1,200 respondents spread over 22 major cities. The respondents were aged 10 up across all economic classes.

boju2

July 15th, 2009, 10:47 AM

Neda sets Mindanao Strategic Devt Framework integration workshop (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?sectionid=8&id=4589)
By MIKE BAÑOS Updated July 15, 2009 12:00 AM

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) will be conducting a workshop on the second week of this month to integrate the various aspects of the Mindanao Strategic Development Framework (MSDF).

The activity will be a follow-up to the MSDF workshop held June 30 in Cagayan de Oro City when Neda directors of Regions 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 met to discuss initiatives undertaken in the preparation of the MSDF.

“This document will become the basis to formulate a more detailed development plan for the island,” said Neda-10 Director Leon Dacanay, Jr.

“The draft plan consists of seven thematic chapters, including Basic Principles, Strategic Framework, Thematic Interventions, Peace-Building, Harnessing Partnerships to Improve Governance, Programs/Projects/Activities and Policy Agenda.” he added.

Dacanay said the development of the seven chapters has been distributed among the five Neda Regional Offices in Mindanao and the Regional Economic Planning and Development Board (REDPB) of the Armm.

“The draft outline assesses the initiatives already undertaken in Mindanao and recognizes the need for a more responsive decision-making on the use, allocation, management and development of resources,” Dacanay said, adding, “this outline is further proposed to speed up the process of adaption by which the MSDF shall proceed in accordance with Executive Order No. 757.”

dark_knight_detectve

July 15th, 2009, 03:40 PM

Mindanao graduates sought for PRIDE internships in major corporations (http://www.kagay-an.com/articles.php?key=684)

By Growth with Equity in Mindanao

MAKATI CITY—College graduates from Mindanao can apply for a job internship program that provides work experience for three to six months in major national and multinational corporations in Metro Manila.

The Productive Internships in Dynamic Enterprises (PRIDE) Project, implemented by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, is looking for qualified graduates from traditionally-underserved communities in Mindanao, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, who wish to apply for internships in corporations that have established PRIDE partnerships with the GEM Program.

KFC Philippines, Interphil Laboratories, and Globe Telecomm are among the corporations which are accepting applications through the PRIDE Project, for management internships or technical internships at their offices in Metro Manila.

The internships provide graduates with an opportunity to build up their resumes and increase their knowledge and skills relative to the expectations and human resource needs of the corporate world. PRIDE is also aimed at increasing awareness, on the part of participating companies, of the skilled pool of potential employees available in Mindanao.

Applicants must be college graduates of any of the following disciplines: hotel and restaurant management, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, electrical engineering, electronics and communications engineering, information technology, computer science, architecture, pharmacy, or accounting.

Internships in other disciplines will become available as additional PRIDE partnerships are established between corporations and the GEM Program.

Applicants must have had a grade point average of 85 percent and above or its equivalent; be willing to serve as an intern in the National Capital Region for a period of three to six months; be not more than 25 years old; and be physically fit.

They must also be prepared to undergo evaluative tests and interviews administered by the individual corporation.

PRIDE interns will be provided orientation and training, round-trip travel arrangements between their home base in Mindanao and their internship location in Metro Manila, a monthly living allowance, and medical insurance for the duration of the internship.

Those interested in applying must send in a cover letter, official transcript of records stating their grade point average, resume, passport photo, and letter of recommendation from a professor or prominent practitioner in the applicant’s field.

They may send scanned copies of these documents to ervizmonte@mindanao.org, or mail to the PRIDE Coordinator, c/o GEM Program, Louis Berger Group Philippines Inc., 12/F Export Bank Plaza Building, Chino Roces corner Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City 1200. For inquiries, call (02) 8121647. GEM

MtApoStandard

July 15th, 2009, 06:48 PM

Mindanao to have flu testing center

DAVAO CITY — Mindanao would have its first A(H1N1) testing center at the Davao Medical Center within two weeks, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said during a visit here on Tuesday.

Mr. Duque said the central government would be building the capacity of the Davao Medical Center starting with the arrival of a polymerase chain reaction machine that could determine positive A(H1N1) cases.

The machine is currently installed at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City, San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, Vicente Sotto Medical Memorial Center in Cebu City and Baguio General Hospital.

Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega, Davao Medical Center chief, said RITM experts would visit to train local staff in operating the machine as well as handling A(H1N1) cases.

Mr. Duque said establishing a testing center in Mindanao is urgent considering the increasing number of suspected A(H1N1) cases in the island.

For months now, swab samples from suspected swine flu cases from Mindanao had to be sent to Metro Manila with the results sent back only after a week or two. In most cases, the patients stayed in hospital isolation rooms for up to two weeks only to realize they were suffering from common influenza.

Based on reports last month, there were over a dozen positive cases monitored at the Davao and Northern Mindanao regions alone. All patients, regional Health officials claimed, have fully recovered even with some subjected only to treatment at home under the guidance of government doctors. No transmission of the flu to other patients was reported in the two regions.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment yesterday clarified that hospitalization benefits for workers infected by A(H1N1) would come from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), and not from the department.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque said infected health workers would be able to avail of as much as P150,000 in hospitalization benefits on top of company benefits.

Non-health workers may avail of as much as P75,000 worth of similar benefits from PhilHealth as well as sickness benefits from the Social Security System.

The Department of Health on Monday said there are 2,668 confirmed cases of the virus, including three deaths, since May 21.

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW071609/content.php?src=3&id=074

MtApoStandard

July 15th, 2009, 06:51 PM

Customs exceeds P1B target

By Carlo P. Mallo

REVENUE collections of the Bureau of Customs here in Southern Mindanao have breached its P1 billion target for the first six months of the year.

This was the announcement made by BOC-Port of Davao District Collector Ronnie Silvestre in an interview.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

"We have an actual target of P1.2 billion for the first six months of the year, P200 million more than our target," Silvestre said.

The target for the Port of Davao was placed at P1.059 billion for the months of January to June, while the actual collection was 20.49 percent higher at P1,275,976,078.08.

This year's actual collection is also 50 percent higher than the collection for the same period in 2008.

"In 2008, we collected P834.5 million, our collection this year is P441 million higher," Silvestre said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/customs-exceeds-p1b-target

MtApoStandard

July 15th, 2009, 07:00 PM

Phoenix Petroleum opens Batangas depot

Listed Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. will start the commercial operations next week of its 50-million liter terminal within the Batangas Union Industrial Park in Calaca, which it bought from the Phinma Group for P680 million.

Romeo de Guzman, Phoenix Petroleum chief operating officer, told reporters that the terminal would support the company’s projected retail station growth, especially in Luzon.

“We have opened nine stations in Luzon. Now, we have 103 stations nationwide. We expect 11 more stations for Luzon on or before year-end. Nationwide, that will be additional 25 stations by end of the year,” De Guzman said.

Each station costs about P6 million to P8 million with an area of about 1,000 to 1,500 square meters. Dealer-owned stations, on the other hand, cost less at around P3 to P5 million to construct (excluding lot cost).

De Guzman said the first shipment of around five to 10 million liters would be delivered to the Calaca terminal by end of the month or early August. Phoenix sources its supply from Taiwan and/or Singapore.

The company’s Luzon stations are in Zambales, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Laguna and Marikina. The other stations are located in Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Cagayan Valley, Surigao del Sur, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Agusan del Sur, Sultan Kudarat and General Santos.

Phoenix Petroleum has 100 gasoline stations, mostly in Visayas and Mindanao. It is one of the few oil companies with a terminal that has safety features that follow international and industry standards.

Phoenix Petroleum started as a family venture and has successfully transitioned into one of the more prominent companies engaged in the trading and distribution of petroleum products in Mindanao. Alena Mae S. Flores

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business4_july15_2009
____________________________________________________

Oil firm to put up 100 more stations (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/oil-firm-put-100-more-stations)

MtApoStandard

July 16th, 2009, 06:13 PM

Arroyo to return home via Mindanao for anti-terror meet
07/16/2009 | 09:49 PM
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MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is set to return to the country on Friday to hold an anti-terrorism meeting with top government security officials in Cotabato City, the site of a deadly bombing last July 5.

A Malacañang statement said Mrs. Arroyo would fly in to Cotabato City from Davao City, then preside over the Anti-Terrorism Council meeting at Cotabato City Hall.

Mrs. Arroyo will arrive in Davao City straight from her attendance in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Leaders Summit in Egypt.

Expected to attend the meeting are Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, national security adviser Norberto Gonzales, Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado, and Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.

Six people were killed while several others were wounded when an improvised explosive device went off near the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato City. It was the first of a series of bombing attacks that recently hit key areas in the restive Mindanao region.

On July 7, a bomb at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu killed two people. Hours later, another bomb went off in Iligan City, wounded several people.

The attacks have been blamed on rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

While in Cotabato City, Mrs. Arroyo will also lead the inaugural drive-through of the newly- concreted and widened Awang-Cotabato Airport Access Road project, and cut the ribbon at the newly-completed waiting area of the airport.

In Davao, she will head the Zero Basura Caravan at the Waterfront Insular hotel. Some 175 mayors and other officials from Regions 11, 12, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will attend the caravan.

"It will be the first official local engagement of the President after representing Asia in the NAM Summit where she was widely applauded for her speech," the Palace statement said.

Mrs. Arroyo is also expected to hold a regional media interview at the Waterfront Insular Hotel. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/167557/Arroyo-to-return-home-via-Mindanao-for-anti-terror-meet

dark_knight_detectve

July 18th, 2009, 04:19 AM

repost

$800m Railway Gets Nod (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?sectionid=8&id=4658)
By LITO RULONA - Correspondent Updated July 18-19, 2009 12:00 AM

Retired police general Thompson Lantion, DOTC under secretary leads transportation officials during the ground breaking of the opening of the Mindanao railway system office in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City.

The House of Representatives through the Committee on Infrastructure and Urban Development has approved the construction of the first Mindanao railways project from Cagayan de Oro City to Laguindingan in Misamis Oriental costing US$800 million.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez,( 2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), who joined the oversight committee for the Mindanao railways project, said that the project would commence before the year-end.

He said an office was recently established in Cagayan de Oro City to over see the preparation and implementation stage of the multi-million railway project.

“Gi-finalized na karon ang feasibility study and it would be implemented soon. Construction stage would follow,” he added.

The approved Mindanao railway project will be implemented in four phases. The first phase is from Laguindingan to Cagayan de Oro City; second phase is Laguindingan to Iligan City; third phase is Cagayan de Oro to Phividec area in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental and the final phase from Iligan City to Linamon town, Lanao del Norte.:applause::applause::applause:

“This would become the first railway system in the entire Mindanao stretching across 2,000-kilometer when completed,” Rodriguez said.

He said the project is done through the effort of DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, transportation undersecretary Guiling Mamondiong; House Speaker Prospero Nograles together with the Mindanao based congressmen.

Rodriguez said the facilities to be used in the railways system are modern equipment used in India and Europe provinces.

He said the first phase of the railways system is expected to be finished in one-and-half- year, just in time for the operation of the Laguindingan International Airport in 2013.

“This would become the cheapest and fastest mode of transportation in Misamis Oriental. Ang atong mga negosyante dili na mobiyahe nga magdala sa ilang sakyanan. Ibilin lang nila sa terminal,” he added.

The rest of the project would attempt to connect Butuan City to Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga provinces as well as the cities of Malaybalay, General Santos and Zamboanga.

Earlier, Mamondiong claimed that Saudi Arabian, Spanish and Chinese entities have expressed interest in helping finance the project.

The project would require the acquisition of about 360 hectares which would be used for the construction of formation and rail tracks and for the location of the depot and terminal stations.

MtApoStandard

July 18th, 2009, 09:55 AM

MINDANAWORLD
New outsourcing age in Mindanao
By Joji Ilagan-Bian
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:06:00 07/17/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Over the past two weeks, bad news came out of Mindanao, with TV and the front pages of newspapers carrying reports on the bombings. But rays of light have broken through via Zamboanga City.

Last Sunday, of course, came the momentous news that Eugenio Vagni had been released after six months in captivity and had been brought safely to the city. And there were other positive news as well; not as earthshaking as Vagni’s release, but with long-term and positive effects on Mindanao’s economy.

Last week, I was at the launching by Globe of its new WiMax system for Zamboanga City.

WiMax, short for “worldwide interoperability for microwave access,” will provide citywide mobile broadband Internet access to Globe subscribers. (Imagine a Wi-Fi café the size of many, many Olympic sporting arenas put together).

WiMax is obviously a great resource for schools in the areas of coverage. Guest of honor Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney launched the new system by conversing through the WiMax connection with students in a high school 3 kilometers away. No landline cables, no satellite dishes.

But as the Ambassador herself pointed out, citywide wireless Internet access is not just a leap forward for local schools, but for businesses and medical and social services as well, which is why USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program was happy to bring Globe together with key city officials to get WiMax going.

And the economic sector that stands to benefit most from the new telecommunications system is business process outsourcing (BPO).

The outsourcing market is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the years to come, with more and more companies planning to outsource to offshore destinations like the Philippines. And as the information, communication and technology (ICT) resources of Manila and Cebu become stretched, BPO locators will inevitably look to Mindanao, already the site of next-generation ICT hubs like Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

In 2008 alone, the BPO industry generated $6 million in revenues here in Mindanao. Industry analysts expect the outsourcing sector to generate about 500,000 jobs within Davao City and nearby areas in southern Mindanao, spreading to General Santos, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.

Davao already has more than 20 big and small call centers, and there will soon be more of them with the opening of the city’s two ICT-ready malls.

Up north, Iligan City’s Iligan Institute of Technology—which is already running a call center at the heart of its campus in partnership with the Hubport Group—and Marawi City’s Mindanao State University are neck and neck in their race to give their graduates a competitive edge in the BPO career ladder and help attract BPO locators to their cities.

They are among the six Mindanao schools partnering with the GEM Program in its Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Project, which provides college-level students in Mindanao with English language skills required in the BPO industry and other fast-growing sectors.

On the day of the WiMax launch, Ambassador Kenney was also the guest of honor at the opening of the JEEP speech lab in Western Mindanao State University. The other JEEP schools are Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay, Bukidnon and Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology.

The timing of all this is particularly propitious, given the emerging BPO trend identified in the Inquirer’s business section last Monday: According to the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, more small and medium companies (SMEs) are outsourcing some operations to countries like the Philippines.

This will likely lead to the expansion of a subsector made up of smaller BPO call centers and offices, and cities like Zamboanga are particularly promising locations.

I was one of the first local businesspeople to set up a relatively small call center—just 100 seats—in Davao City, around three years ago. There were challenges, but my confidence both in the local economy and, of course, in my people, has paid off.

We are now running at 200 seats and we are proud to say that we are one of the most successful SMEs in Mindanao’s call center industry. And quite a number of even smaller call centers and transcription offices have sprouted up more recently, ranging from 20 to 50 seats.

Seen in this context, Globe’s launch of WiMax is clearly Zamboanga’s debut as the emerging ICT hub of western Mindanao. It now has the infrastructure and, more importantly, it has the people. Its 70 colleges and universities turn out 19,000 new graduates a year.

The city’s high level of education, general fluency in English and many cultures and languages—including the Spanish creole language of Chavacano—have combined to produce skilled call center agents that can adapt to a wide range of markets, including Latino population niche markets.

By investing heavily in expanding its information and communications services through WiMax, Globe has not only expressed its confidence in the future of this city and this region, but has helped to create conditions under which other companies will be attracted to the city to take advantage of the expanded ICT infrastructure and capabilities.

It demonstrates, to the fast-moving and highly competitive BPO industry, that this city, and indeed the Mindanao region, is the next great place in which to invest.

(Joji Ilagan Bian is an advocate for the development of the region. She is chair of Joji Ilagan Foundation. E-mail comments to jojibian2@yahoo.com.)

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20090717-215991/New-outsourcing-age-in-Mindanao

MtApoStandard

July 18th, 2009, 10:18 AM

http://www.angdabawenyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/bloggers-usambassador-590x442.jpg
US ambassador and Mindanao bloggers. Taken at the American Corner of the Ateneo de Davao University College Library.

http://www.angdabawenyo.com/2009/07/18/davao-bloggers-american-ambassador/

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 18th, 2009, 01:10 PM

PGMA to find market for Mindanao products in US visit

By Mai Gevera

Davao City -- Besides peace and security issues, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that she will find market access for Mindanao products in her coming US visit where she will meet with US President Barack Obama.

This she bared in yesterday's Regional Media Interview, the first activity she engaged in after her trip from Egypt where she attended the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Leaders Summit.

Being the first ASEAN leader to be hosted by the White House, President Arroyo took it as a testament of a vibrant US-Philippine relations.

The President mentioned Mindanao products such as banana, mango, smoked tuna, and seaweeds as the island's potentials for the international market.

Like her past visits in foreign countries, the coming meeting with the US President is aimed to bring home substantial investment and aid for jobs, poverty alleviation, environment and security.

"I will also discuss to President Obama how we can address the impact of the economic crisis to the poor," she said.

Other items in her agenda in the meeting with President Obama include discussions on assistance for Mindanao, climate change and global warming issues, and the Choral Triangle Initiatives.

PGMA was in the city to attend the Zero Basura Caravan at the Waterfront Insular Hotel where she met some 175 chief executives from Regions 11, 12, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao to advocate for the Zero Basura.

Zero Basura is a sequenced intensive, information, education campaign nationwide to cascade key environmental programs and strengthening LGU-government partnership under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 18th, 2009, 01:12 PM

Stronger efforts pushed towards ensuring security, sustainability of investments in Mindanao

Davao City (18 July) -- The need for an integrated and coordinated security and development efforts to better secure investments in Mindanao as well as in facilitating trade and investments should be strongly pushed, a Mindanao exec say.

"Coordinated efforts between the security and civilian component should be integrated in the whole gamut of development because as we accelerate our efforts towards the socio-economic development of Mindanao, we need to already protect our gains in peace and development," Usec. Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said.

He said that potential investors need to feel secure with their investments and at the same time existing investments needed to be protected as this provide economic support in the different regions in Mindanao.

He said that infrastructure such as arterial roads, airports, seaports, telecommunication and power generation facilities should be safeguarded because this serves as a backbone of Mindanao's physical integration.

"By doing this we will ensure that the gains of peace and development in the island will be enjoyed by future generations," he said.

He said that the integration of Mindanao has proven that an integrated, holistic, and Mindanao-wide approach to developing the island-region is far more effective than the usual national-led and region-centric approach.

"With this, the convergence and active participation of all sectors particularly the private sector as well as our development partners in Mindanao is critical," he said.

Leyretana added that this initiative will also impact the BIMP-EAGA sub-regional cooperation as it involves increasing trade, facilitating free and safe movement of people and goods within the sub-region, in which MEDCo plays an integral role as the Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA (PCOBE).

"Previous experiences in the sub-regional work have made it clear that unless we make the sub-area secure, its full potential for development won't be realized," he said.

Major part of EAGA is surrounded by seas particularly in the tri-border maritime area between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Leyretana also added that securing investments in Mindanao augurs well with the government's economic resiliency plan, adding that this will ensure that the various programs and projects for Mindanao's development would be protected and sustained.

He said that MEDCo will work closely with the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) as the private sector arm, along with the Area Unified Commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in consolidating Mindanao-wide issues and concerns relative to security.

FrancisXavier

July 18th, 2009, 03:12 PM

dark_knight_detectve

July 19th, 2009, 07:33 AM

repost

$800 Million Mindanao Railways to start before 2010
Posted on July 18, 2009 by damarre

http://www.hitachi-rail.com/rail_now/hot_topics/2008/images/080701_1.jpg
A local daily has quoted Rep. Rufus Rodriguez saying that the Mindanao Railways project would commence before the year-end. This after the Project Management Office was recently established in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City to oversee the preparation and implementation of the project.

The project which is estimated to cost around $800 million with the first phase of the project from Cagayan de Oro City to Laguindingan in Misamis Oriental has been approved by the Committee on Infrastructure and Urban Development of the House of Representatives. From the website of DOTC, it is stated that the revision of the Feasibility Study of the project is being finalized.:cheers::banana:
The approved Mindanao railway project will be implemented in four phases. The first phase is from Laguindingan to Cagayan de Oro City; second phase is Laguindingan to Iligan City; third phase is Cagayan de Oro to Phividec area in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental and the final phase from Iligan City to Linamon town, Lanao del Norte.

Accordingly, the facilities to be used in the railways system are modern equipment used in Europe with the first phase expected to be finished in time for the opening of the Laguindingan Airport.:cheers::banana:
Certainly, this will be Mindanao’s first and soon to further boost the island’s economy.

dinabaw

July 19th, 2009, 07:35 AM

Sunday, 19 July 2009

ARMM health exec lauds setting up of swine flu testing center in Davao
by Malu Cadeliña Manar / MindaNews
Sunday, 19 July 2009
KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/18 July) -- Doctors in Southwestern Mindanao and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are elated over the Department of Health’s move to set up a regional testing center for A(H1N1) infections in Davao City. New layer...Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said during the ARMM Regional Health Summit here that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine, which is used to test swine flu infections, will be delivered to the Davao Medical Center in the next few days.)

“That would boost our efforts to fight the spread of A(H1N1) influenza in the autonomous region,” said DOH-ARMM regional secretary Dr. Tahir Sulaik.

Duque and Sulaik, with ARMM Regional Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, jointly presided over the three-day summit that ended Friday. Swine flu was among the main issues discussed by participants.

Duque said he is glad that there is no recorded case of A(H1N1) infection yet in the ARMM despite the increasing number of internally displaced persons in the region, which are supposed to be “extremely vulnerable.”

Dr. Ramon Rabago Jr., of the Philippine Medical Association, said putting up a regional A(H1N1) influenza testing center is expensive but “essential” in the effort to control the spread of the disease.

“We need this. It would be easier for suspected A(H1N1) patients in far-flung areas in Mindanao and ARMM to go to the DMC in Davao City than go outside of Mindanao to undergo the needed tests,” he said. (Malu Cadeliña Manar / MindaNews)

Mindanews (http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6696&Itemid=151)

MtApoStandard

July 19th, 2009, 10:45 AM

ONB recognizes performance excellence of branches in Mindanao

ONB recognizes performance excellence of branches in Mindanao.
The selection of the branch performance excellence award was based on the following: increase in deposit liability, increase in loans portfolio, increase in net income, decrease in past due ratio, and increase in past due amount.

Branches that bagged the excellence award were those in Malita and Padada in Davao del Sur, Mati in Davao Oriental, San Isidro in Davao del Norte, San Francisco in Agusan del Sur, Libungan in North Cotabato and Quirino in Davao City.

The affair was highlighted by a performance from the Apo Hiking Society and the holding of the annual ONB Pop Idol singing contest.

This year”s pop idol winners were the following: champion Jasper Ian Pelos of CARAGA; first runner-up Mark Anthony de Leon of Zamboanga Peninsula, and second runner-up Ramil Teh, Jr.

http://class.studentsofexcellence.com/onb-recognizes-performance-excellence-of-branches-in-mindanao/

boju2

July 20th, 2009, 01:44 AM

CdeO Mayor Jaraula calls on nat’l leaders to look into 3 key concerns to spur Mindanao dev’t (http://themindanaocurrent.blogspot.com/2009/07/mindanaos-development.html)

City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula has underscored three key issues and concerns that need utmost attention from the national government in a bid to harness the full development of the long-neglected island of Mindanao.

In a forum, Mayor Jaraula said the three major areas of concern that the country’s national leaders should look into include the Philippine government’s pending claim over Sabah Island in Borneo, Malaysia; the socio-economic development of areas surrounding Lake Lanao; and the natural gas exploration on Liguasan Marsh in Central Mindanao region.

“It’s about time that we, Mindanaons, must assert what we have and what we must have because I have not heard for the last 10 years of any national leader articulating on any of the three issues,” Mayor Jaraula emphasized when he spoke before guests and delegates during the opening of the “First Mindanao Leaders Congress” held July 16 at Dynasty Court Hotel, this city.

While the Philippines and Malaysian government’s claim over Sabah is still unresolved, Mayor Jaraula said both parties must sit down on the negotiation table in order to settle the matter, once and for all.

“We must assert our claim over Sabah, but let’s not go into fighting. Let us be aggressive in negotiating but anchored on proprietary rights, not on sovereignty rights, because any settlement amount can help develop Sulu Archipelago and it will radiate all throughout Mindanao,” the Mayor explained.

“Let us establish full neighborly relationship with Malaysia and settle on the proprietary level,” he added.

Another key issue pointed out by Mayor Jaraula during the forum is the government’s inaction on the high cost of electricity on areas surrounding Lake Lanao, which supplies 65% of hydropower electricity to the entire island.

“Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities are paying cheaper electricity than in areas surrounding Lake Lanao, and yet that power comes from them? Why can’t the government correct this anomaly?,” the Mayor asked.

The Cagayan de Oro Mayor also wondered why, until now, the national government did not exploit the presence of abundant natural gas believed to be found in Liguasan Marsh, a vast 288,000-hectare swampland which straddles the provinces of Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.

“Why can’t the national government initiate aggressively and make Mindanao an oil-producing island?,” Jaraula lamented, citing that several multi-national oil companies have expressed interest to invest in the past.

Shortly after giving his remarks, Mayor Jaraula signed a covenant in support of the cause of the Mindanaons for Mindanao (M4M), organizer of the two-day leaders’ forum.

M4M, which was conceived and founded by Rolly V. Pelinggon, Jr. is a movement whose goal is to promote an enduring cycle of economic development in Mindanao by achieving long-lasting peace and prosperity, solidarity among the island’s various ethnic groups and equity in the government’s programs and projects. (CIO)

boju2

July 20th, 2009, 01:50 AM

Government to launch special 3D map to boost M’nao tourism (http://goldstardailynews.com/content.php?id=4684)
Updated July 20, 2009 12:00 AM

IMAGINE being a foreigner traveling to Siargao with a two-night stopover in Cagayan de Oro alone minus the services of a tour guide. Can it be done?

With the new joint program of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), it can be done.

The DOT and DOTC are embarking on a program called “Mindanao Tourism and Transport Highway Map” to make it happen.

For starters, the DOT and DOTC are identifying at least three eco-tourism sites in every province provinces to be included in the map.

The map would be available by August in time for the Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo at the Davao Convention Center.

Tourism Undersecre-tary Oscar Palabyab on Friday said he was inspired to undertake the project when he traveled to Japan alone last November.

While in Japan, said Palabyab, he never availed of the services of a tour guide and instead relied only on an “interactive map” to guide him on how to get to his destinations. He said it even provided information on specific places where he could buy tickets.

“I said that if we could replicate such a map in the Philippines, it would be a good thing,” said Palabyab.

The map would not be an ordinary street map. It would be a 3D map mounted on a 6x6 meter screen featuring three eco-tourism sites in each of the 27 provinces in Mindanao.

DOT and DOTC would initially release 10 thousand copies.

An interactive version of the map is also expected to be shown in buses and commercial vessels and planes. Palabyab said he was confident that the map would bring more investment opportunities in Mindanao. -MARK FRANCISCO

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 20th, 2009, 04:22 AM

More lands opened for export banana

DAVAO CITY (Minda-News) – For about 30 minutes, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio and officials of banana plantations stayed inside the small business center of the hotel, talking, occasionally pointing to a map.

Twice, Claudio asked for a can of soft drinks and an electric fan.

What it was they talked about inside the small, 10 feet by 11 feet room on Friday morning, Edilberto Arreza, regional director of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, declined to answer when he stepped out of the room.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said, “something the banana growers wanted.”

“She signed EO 807,” another one said.

Executive Order No. 807 repeals Letter of Instruction no. 58 issued by the late President Ferdinand Marcos which limited the area for export banana plantations to 26,250 hectares.

But EO 807 was supposed to have been signed as early as June 8, according to newspaper reports.

Whatever it was, President Arroyo proceeded to the business center after meeting town mayors from Regions 11, 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao who gathered at the Waterfront Insular Hotel for the "Zero Basura Caravan.”

Mindanao Business Council chair Vicente Lao told MindaNews in a telephone interview Saturday that they merely presented a letter of appreciation to President Arroyo from the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), for issuing EO 807.

From the business center, she met with PBGEA members at the same hotel before flying to Cotabato City.

The meeting with PBGEA was not listed in the Presidential agenda in Davao.

"This will open the country to serious investments for banana plantations. This will provide impetus to the banana plantations all over the country," Stephen Antig of the AM Soriano Group of Companies, also PBGEA president, told MindaNews.

Interviewed after President Arroyo left for Cotabato City, Antig said the signing of EO 807 lifted the restrictions on land investments of the banana industry "with finality."

No copy of EO 807 was made available. Sources at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Mindanao said they have yet to secure a copy.

The Office of the President’s website also does not provide a copy of EO 807 that was supposed to have been signed June 8 but it has a PDF copy of EO 811 signed on June 17.

Freshplaza.com, a website on “global fresh produce and banana news,” quoted two reports on the EO -- from manilastandardtoday.com on June 25 and Busi-nessWorld Online on June 22.

BusinessWorld reported that Ms Arroyo signed EO 807 on June 8, repealing LOI 58. Former President Ferdinand Mar-cos issued the LOI in 1973, limiting to 26,250 hectares nationwide, the area that could be planted to export-quality banana.

Most of the banana plantations are in Mindanao.

The BusinessWorld report quoted the EO as saying “the Philippine export banana industry has gained global market strength over the years, producing one of the country’s major export products and source of jobs. The existing hectarage planted to export banana increased over the years and has exceeded the limit allowed under the said LOI due to increasing global demand.”

It said "improving the country’s global market position in the export banana industry necessitates the repeal of LOI 58.”

The manilastandard-today.com did not say when EO 807 was signed. But it said the Philippines accounts for almost a fifth of world banana exports with close to 50,000 hectares planted to export-quality bananas.

The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics said “exports of banana and products such as banana chips have increased to 537,095 metric tons worth $101.267 million in the first quarter from only 503,198 metric tons worth $93.415 million during the same period last year.”

Environment groups reacted strongly against the EO.

“These toxic banana plantations are already encroaching on our uplands and if they expand following Arroyo's order, the only viable areas in Davao City are the watersheds, our sources of drinking water,” said Tom Villarin, member of the National Organic Agriculture Board.

The Go Organic Mindanao, a coalition of organic agriculture practitioners and advocates, warned that the EO, in the guise of improving the country’s global market position as a major banana exporter, will instead legitimize chemical-intensive plantations' aggressive expansion to environmentally critical areas where Davao's water sources are located.

The group said that instead of looking for ways to develop sustainable and chemical-free agriculture, “the government is opening its natural resources to corporate plantations that not only threaten food security by converting lands into cash crop farming, they also endanger scarce water resources as well.”

“While expanding the areas for the export banana industry will strengthen the country's global position as a major exporter, such national government policy does not respond to the call to end hunger and poverty especially during these times of global recession,” Villarin said.

Environment groups and the PBGEA are locked in a legal battle over the practice of aerial spray over banana plantations.

PBGEA won a major victory this year when an appellate court in Cagayan de Oro ruled that a local ordinance issued by the Davao City Council banning aerial spray was illegal.

In a new study conducted by the Department of Health in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, experts said aerial spraying allegedly contaminated the soil, air and residents of farmlands far from the banana plantations

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 20th, 2009, 08:43 AM

mao bitaw na i would rather change the constitution kay para at least dili na capital lang ang capital ang mo asensu kay puro nalang man sila... mga salin sa nahurot nalang ang mga gagmayng lugar sama sa ato.... nga mas daghan pag potensyal kay sa uban.... but then we must be thankful sa support din ni Ate Glow nga gitagaan sad ug pag tagad ang Mindanao oi... infra sa Caraga baya nag improve man...

YES!
im vry much n favor of Chacha, ky tama ka, salin n lng jud atoa sa nhurot dri Mindanao,
nga kung buot hunahunaon, daku ang a2 income, ky almost free of calamities ang ato Isla, dpat ang income sa Mindanao pra lng unta sa Mindanao (Region - Region). Dli ky ang income na2 dal-on sa kaulohan, pisik n lng ang mabalik, kurakot pa... wa na!
I GO FOR CHACHA! GO FOR SUPER'REGIONS!!!

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 20th, 2009, 10:05 AM

i do believe na dapat ibalhin an capital city sa cebu! those people from manila doesnt see any places aside from thiers!!!! mga gahaman! tayo dito sa mindanao especially caraga, were only get the spare!

mao bitaw na i would rather change the constitution kay para at least dili na capital lang ang capital ang mo asensu kay puro nalang man sila... mga salin sa nahurot nalang ang mga gagmayng lugar sama sa ato.... nga mas daghan pag potensyal kay sa uban.... but then we must be thankful sa support din ni Ate Glow nga gitagaan sad ug pag tagad ang Mindanao oi... infra sa Caraga baya nag improve man...

mao bitaw na i would rather change the constitution kay para at least dili na capital lang ang capital ang mo asensu kay puro nalang man sila... mga salin sa nahurot nalang ang mga gagmayng lugar sama sa ato.... nga mas daghan pag potensyal kay sa uban.... but then we must be thankful sa support din ni Ate Glow nga gitagaan sad ug pag tagad ang Mindanao oi... infra sa Caraga baya nag improve man...

YESSS TO CHACHA! The answer for Mindanaoans!
but does not mean that im in favor of PGMA as PM...

yes but not now.. init pa kaayo ang kan-on basin mapaso ato dila

yup mapaso sa dli kbalo mohuyop, meaning, sama sa aq nga nkasabot kung unsa kadaku ang advantage sa a2 nga mga tga Mindanao...

Story: Si Mindanao ngpadala ug 1 ka sakong tipasi nga humay sa Manila pra ipagaling. Human, unta ibalik na sa kay Mindanao, gikwaan ni Manila ug 30% aron byad sa pgpagaling(processing), dyon gipadala dri ka Mindanao, gikwaan sa ngdala (1st corrupt official) ug 20%, gikwaan na pod sa barko (2nd corrupt off'l) ky kuno pamasahe ug 20%, gikan barko padulong inland terminal, gikwaan na pod mga higala ug 15% (3rd c/o) ky byad daw sa bus, gkan bus - jeep gikwaan na pod ug 10% na pambyad (4th c/o), jeep - ngbaktas ky wa nay ikapamasahe ug pedikab ky unsaon na lng 5% na lng bilin, mahurot kung ibayad no? ay mali, gihurot ug kuha as nagdala pa jud...
---Pag-abot kang Mindanao,
Ana na lang tawon si Mindanao: "Kaluoy ni Manila, nglisod jud cguro pag-ayo did2 ky grabe bya ang bagyo, ngkinahanglan jud ni pag-ayo sa akong tabang ky nagpadala ug sako pra akong sudlan sa akong bugas itabang sa iya.."

TSK! TSK! TSK!
Kinsa ang luoy???
mao kung mpadal-an mn galing ta dri, salin sa nahurot na lng ato, ky daghan ang kurakot! mao dpat federalismo ta!
mohatag mn japon ta did2 pro xempre a2 ang dakung porsyento sa atong kinayod ky kita man dinhi ang nikayod unya sila ang mabulahan???!
Mosugot pa ko na mapaso ko sa init nga kan-on ky pwede pa mahuyop, kysa sa prituhon ka sa imong kaugalingong mantika..!!!

dark_knight_detectve

July 20th, 2009, 11:30 AM

PRIDE seeks Mindanao grads for internships in major corp (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?sectionid=3&id=4695)
Updated July 20, 2009 12:00 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

College graduates from Mindanao can apply for a job internship program that provides work experience for three to six months in major national and multinational corporations in Metro Manila.

The Productive Internships in Dynamic Enterprises (PRIDE) Project, implemented by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, is looking for qualified graduates from traditionally-underserved communities in Mindanao, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, who wish to apply for internships in corporations that have established PRIDE partnerships with the GEM Program.

KFC Philippines, Interphil Laboratories, and Globe Telecomm are among the corporations which are accepting applications through the PRIDE Project, for management internships or technical internships at their offices in Metro Manila.

The internships provide graduates with an opportunity to build up their resumes and increase their knowledge and skills relative to the expectations and human resource needs of the corporate world. PRIDE is also aimed at increasing awareness, on the part of participating companies, of the skilled pool of potential employees available in Mindanao.

Applicants must be college graduates of any of the following disciplines: hotel and restaurant management, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, electrical
engineering, electronics and communications engineering, information technology, computer science, architecture, pharmacy, or accounting.

Internships in other disciplines will become available as additional PRIDE partnerships are established between corporations and the GEM Program.

Applicants must have had a grade point average of 85 percent and above or its equivalent; be willing to serve as an intern in the National Capital Region for a period of three to six months; be not more than 25 years old; and be physically fit.

They must also be prepared to undergo evaluative tests and interviews administered by the individual corporations.

PRIDE interns will be provided orientation and training, round-trip travel arrangements between their home base in Mindanao and their internship location in Metro Manila, a monthly living allowance, and medical insurance for the duration of the internship.

Those interested in applying must send in a cover letter, official transcript of records stating their grade point average, resume, passport photo, and letter of recommendation from a professor or prominent practitioner in the applicant’s field.

Mindanao Bee

July 20th, 2009, 10:41 PM

Government to launch special 3D map to boost M’nao tourism

Updated July 20, 2009 12:00 AM

IMAGINE being a foreigner traveling to Siargao with a two-night stopover in Cagayan de Oro alone minus the services of a tour guide. Can it be done?

With the new joint program of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), it can be done.

The DOT and DOTC are embarking on a program called “Mindanao Tourism and Transport Highway Map” to make it happen.

For starters, the DOT and DOTC are identifying at least three eco-tourism sites in every province provinces to be included in the map.

The map would be available by August in time for the Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo at the Davao Convention Center.

Tourism Undersecre-tary Oscar Palabyab on Friday said he was inspired to undertake the project when he traveled to Japan alone last November.

While in Japan, said Palabyab, he never availed of the services of a tour guide and instead relied only on an “interactive map” to guide him on how to get to his destinations. He said it even provided information on specific places where he could buy tickets.

“I said that if we could replicate such a map in the Philippines, it would be a good thing,” said Palabyab.

The map would not be an ordinary street map. It would be a 3D map mounted on a 6x6 meter screen featuring three eco-tourism sites in each of the 27 provinces in Mindanao.

DOT and DOTC would initially release 10 thousand copies.

An interactive version of the map is also expected to be shown in buses and commercial vessels and planes. Palabyab said he was confident that the map would bring more investment opportunities in Mindanao. -MARK FRANCISCO

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 21st, 2009, 05:47 AM

Composition of the Super regions:

http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt14/Jheaux/Picturisque/384px-Super_regions_of_the_Philippi.png

North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle
* Ilocos Region or Region 1 (I)
* Cordillera Administrative Region or CAR
* Cagayan Valley or Region 2 (II)
* Northern portion of northern provinces of Central Luzon or Region 3 (III)
o Aurora (north of Baler)
o Nueva Ecija (north of Cabanatuan City)
o Tarlac (north of Tarlac City)
o Zambales (north of Subic)

Metro Luzon Urban Beltway
or simply "Luzon Urban Beltway."
* Southern portion of the northern provinces and the rest of Central Luzon or Region 3 (III)
o Aurora (south of Baler, including Baler)
o Bataan
o Bulacan
o Nueva Ecija (south of Cabanatuan City, including Cabanatuan)
o Pampanga
o Tarlac (south of Tarlac City, including Tarlac)
o Zambales (south of Subic, including Subic)
* Metro Manila or National Capital Region or (NCR)
* CALABARZON or Region 4-A (IV-A)
* MIMAROPA or Region 4-B (IV-B) (excluding the provinces of Palawan and Romblon)
o Marinduque
o Occidental Mindoro
o Oriental Mindoro

Central Philippines Region

also known as Tourism Super Region.

* MIMAROPA or Region 4-B (IV-B) (excluding the provinces of Marinduque, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro)
o Romblon
o Palawan
* Bicol Region or Region 5 (V)
* Western Visayas or Region 6 (VI)
* Central Visayas or Region 7 (VII)
* Eastern Visayas or Region 8 (VIII)
* Camiguin of Northern Mindanao or Region 10 (X)
* Siargao Island of Caraga or Region 13 (XIII)

Mindanao Super Region

also known as "Agribusiness Mindanao" Super Region.

* Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9 (IX)
* Northern Mindanao or Region 10 (X), except Camiguin
* Davao Region or Region 11 (XI)
* SOCCSKSARGEN or Region 12 (XII)
* Caraga or Region 13 (XIII), except Island of Siargao
* Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or (ARMM)

Cyber Corridor

* Traverses the above "super" regions from Baguio to Cebu to Davao.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 21st, 2009, 10:58 AM

Government to launch special 3D map to boost M’nao tourism

Na'post na 2 ni Boju2... Nasa ibabaw na Sir,

MtApoStandard

July 21st, 2009, 06:57 PM

Insurance premiums of BDO affiliate hits P1.2 billion
Updated July 21, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. (BDO) and Generali Pilipinas bancassurance team has generated individual life premiums worth P1.175 billion in the first five months of 2009.

Bancassurance is the practice of selling or cross selling the products of the bank’s subsidiaries. BDO controls up to 40 percent of Generali Pilipinas, a life and non-life insurance company.

BDO is considered the largest commercial bank in the Philippines in terms of assets and branch network. The life insurance segment of Generali Pilipinas was ranked among the top 10 life insurers last year.

The practice of bancasssurance will result in fee-based earnings for BDO, one of the earnings stream increasingly contributing to its bottomline.

Generali Pilipinas president and chief executive officer Derek Chan said that the first five-month performance creates an atmosphere of confidence to outperform 2008.

Last year, the life insurer reportedly sold premiums worth P1.36 billion from the P1.45 billion in 2007. The life insurance industry was after all not spared the global crunch as premiums fell by over 30 percent in the period in question.

“Our initial target was to reach P1.2 billion in June 2009. With the favorable condition, I believe bancassurance production alone may exceed Generali Pilipinas’ entire companywide production of P2.6 billion by the end of the year,” Chan said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Generali Pilipinas senior vice president Melvin Esteban attributed the bancassurance distribution channel’s growth to the synergy between BDO’s Branch Banking Group and the insurer’s Financial Advisors (FAs).

FAs are licensed sales agents of Generali Pilipinas, based in the branches of BDO. They acquire their license with the Insurance Commission and get additional training as financial advisers.

Generali Pilipinas has 250 FAs while BDO has 702 branches. The ideal ratio is one FA for every branch although it depends on the potential of the branch locations.

“Our growth is a reflection of the clients’ confidence in the GP and BDO partnership. Our approach to our clients is holistic. We want our clients’ wealth to grow and be protected as well. And this is very much appreciated by our clients,” Esteban added.

He added that new products would also be rolled out this year in cooperation with BDO.

Generali Pilipinas is a joint undertaking of Assicurazioni Generali of Italy, one of the world’s largest insurance company, Jerneh Asia Berhad of Malaysia, a specialist insurer in the marine, industrial, and engineering fields, and BDO.

It is a composite license holder issued by the Insurance Commission, meaning it can sell both life and non-life policies. Its products and services include individual life insurance, group life and medical, auto and home insurance, small and medium business protection, as well as commercial property insurance. It has offices in Metro Manila, Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao and other major cities throughout the country.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=488548&publicationSubCategoryId=74
_________________________________________________

Customizing cash management for corporates
Updated July 21, 2009 12:00 AM

Metrobank has been providing cash management services to over 1,500 companies, including leading corporations, multinationals, distributors, franchisees, academic institutions, top retailers, insurance companies, and service providers.

Cuna credits the bank’s branch network, systems technology, and quality service for the positive client response.

Metrocash Manager has a comprehensive disbursement system that allows clients to pay its suppliers nationwide through the vast branch network of Metrobank. Upon request of the client, a supplier may conveniently collect their check at a Metrobank branch.

Metrobank has 18 check releasing branches in Metro Manila, 33 in Cebu, and 16 in Davao. It has check printing hubs in the key areas of Makati, Cebu, Davao, and the First Philippine Industrial Park in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Complementing the branch network are the automated processes that have been put in place, such as electronic invoicing and online debit through metrobankdirect, the Internet banking portal of Metrobank. The automation benefits the corporate client in that it streamlines operations, improves efficiency and reduces the costs associated with paper-based and manual processing.

In addition to providing solutions that meet the needs of its customers, Metrobank gives high-level support through a dedicated service desk for corporate clients, comprised of a team of cash management experts.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=488549&publicationSubCategoryId=74

MtApoStandard

July 21st, 2009, 07:03 PM

SE Asia pushes sustainable fishing pact

DAVAO CITY — Member countries of the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) are deliberating on a draft framework designed to ensure sustainable management of tuna spawning grounds in the Coral Triangle.

A statement yesterday of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said that the sub-ASEAN grouping, composed of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, is now finalizing the draft memorandum of agreement (MoA) crafted by the Philippine EAGA Working Group on Fisheries with the help of the German Technical Cooperation.

Among others, the proposed framework will form a forum that will facilitate discussion of issues on fisheries development as well as opportunities such as access to market, funding and technology; capacity-building of fishermen, and public-private partnerships.

Moreover, the MoA proposed that each county will designate specific areas within their respective territorial waters where fishers of member countries can be allowed to operate, subject to the laws of the host country.

Strategic seas

The World Wildlife Fund has said the Coral Triangle covers about 2.3 million square miles of sea bounded by six countries, namely: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

The area hosts up to 75% of all known coral species in the world, 50% of reefs, 40% of the coral reef fish species and six of the seven species of marine turtle.

EAGA members signed the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security at the World Ocean Conference in Manado last May.

"The time to get our acts together for the conservation and sustainable management of our marine biodiversity is of timely importance now, more than ever, because the future generations will largely benefit from this abundance," the statement quoted MEDCo Chairman Virgilio L. Leyretana, Sr. as saying. — with a report from CQF

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072209/content.php?id=052

MtApoStandard

July 22nd, 2009, 05:48 AM

(2008) (2007)
Northern Mindanao 5.3 (7.7)
National Capital Region (NCR) 4.9(7.8)
SOCCSKSARGEN 4.6 (6.7)
Western Visayas 4.4 (7.7)
Bicol with 4.3 (7.5)
Central Luzon 3.8 (5.9)
Davao Region 3.7 (6.6)
Eastern Visayas 3.6 (3.1)positive
Central Visayas 3.4 (8.6)
Caraga 3.2 (7.7)
MIMAROPA 3.1 (9.8)
Zamboanga Peninsula 2.2 (7.2)
CALABARZON 2.0 (5.3)
Cagayan Valley 2.0 (6.4)
ARMM 1.9 (5.4)
CAR 1.8 (7.1)

dark_knight_detectve

July 22nd, 2009, 07:04 AM

repost

Hanjin scouts for more investments in N. Mindanao
Thursday, July 16, 2009

HANJIN Heavy Industries and Construction Co. is scouting for more investment opportunities in Northern Mindanao, an official said Wednesday.

OIC-Regional Director Leon M. Dacanay Jr. of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Northern Mindanao Regional Office met with Du Sik Mun, director and general nanager of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company, and Yoo Kyeing Seong and discussed the current and future regional projects that Northern Mindanao is pursuing and for local and foreign investors to invest on.

Dacanay, together with OIC-ARD Alan L. Olavides, oriented Mun and Seong on the regional profile of Northern Mindanao and informed them on the major projects that the region planned to pursue as stipulated in the Regional Development Plan (2004-2010) and the Regional Physical Framework Plan 2004-2030.

He also informed them that aside from the Panguil Bay Bridge which is being offered by the government under the “Public-Private Partnership” scheme, the region is also supporting projects related to power generation and solid waste management.

He further explained that as the planning period is about to end in May 2010, more programs and projects will further be identified as the region prepares its successor plan in 2010.

With this, he assured the visiting party that the office will closely coordinate with their company for further investment opportunities in the region.

Mun conveyed the interest of their company to invest in Northern Mindanao and promise to coordinate closely with Neda for further developments.

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. is a Korean company and is interested to invest on construction of ship ports, airports, expressway, power plants and waste management projects.

Presently, Hanjin is working on the civil works and building component of the Laguindingan Airport Development Project (LADP). (PR) :banana: :cheers:

dark_knight_detectve

July 22nd, 2009, 07:06 AM

Complete Infra Projects in 2010 (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?sectionid=8&id=4739)
Updated July 22, 2009 12:00 AM
Government engineers and workers are fast tracking various multi-billion infra projects in Mindanao to make sure these projects are completed before the year ends or in 2010. -PHOTO FILE

http://www.goldstardailynews.com/imageThumb/phpThumb.php?src=../uploads/48175827Business%20photo%201.jpg

Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has ordered all regional directors and district engineers to work “double time” to finish the multi-billion major infrastructure projects by the end of the year or in 2010.

In his meeting in Malaybalay City, in Bukidnon province Monday, the public works secretary relayed the instruction of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to his field engineers that all major infrastructure projects “must be completed” on or before 2010.

“Should good weather prevails, ground works on these projects should be in three shifts, seven days a week,” said Secretary Ebdane.

He said infrastructure projects would help reverse the migration of rural folks to urban areas.

Ebdane cited the fast-tracking of multi-billion ground works on the 146.34 kilometer Zamboanga West Coast Road in Zamboanga Peninsula; the Awang-Upi-Lebak Road in Maguindanao; the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road in Caraga region; the Kapalong-Talaingod Road in Davao del Norte-Bukidnon and Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan Road in Agusan del Sur.

He also cited the fast-tracking of ground works of the P396.9 million Agusan del Sur-Surigao del Sur package, under the Rural Road Network Development project. This project is being supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the Japan Official Development Assistance Funds (JODA).

In Surigao del Norte, Northeastern Mindanao Public Works and Highways Regional Director Dr. Evelyn T. Barroso reported that the P797.26 million Bacuag-Claver Provincial Boundary Section will be inaugurated on August 15 this year.

Last year, Pres. Arroyo personally opened the Bacuag-Claver Section, which also connects the nearby Surigao del Sur province. The DPWH is currently undergoing construction of the P2.9 billion Surigao-Davao Coastal Road. -PNA

dark_knight_detectve

July 22nd, 2009, 07:10 AM

Secure M’danao investment (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?sectionid=3&id=4720)
Updated July 21, 2009 12:00 AM
BUTUAN CITY-- The need for an integrated and coordinated security and development efforts to better secure investments in Mindanao as well as in facilitating trade and investments should be strongly pushed, said Mindanao Economic and Development Council (MEDCo) chair Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, on Sunday.

“Coordinated efforts between the security and civilian component should be integrated in the whole gamut of development because as we accelerate our efforts towards the socio-economic development of Mindanao, we need to already protect our gains in peace and development,” Leyretana said.

He said potential investors need to feel secure with their investments and at the same time existing investments needed to be protected as this provides economic support in the different regions in Mindanao.

Leyretana said infrastructure such as arterial roads, airports, seaports, telecommunication and power generation facilities should be safeguarded because this serves as a backbone of Mindanao’s physical integration.

“By doing this, we will ensure that the gains of peace and development in the island will be enjoyed by future generations,” he said.

Leyretana said the integration of Mindanao has proven that an integrated, holistic, and Mindanao-wide approach to developing the island-region is far more effective than the usual national-led and region-centric approach.

“With this, the convergence and active participation of all sectors particularly the private sector as well as our development partners in Mindanao is critical,” he said.

Leyretana added that this initiative will also impact the BIMP-EAGA sub-regional cooperation as it involves increasing trade, facilitating free and safe movement of people and goods within the sub-region, in which MEDCo plays an integral role as the Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA (PCOBE).

“Previous experiences in the subregional work have made it clear that unless we make the sub-area secure, its full potential for development won’t be realized,” he said.

Major part of EAGA is surrounded by seas particularly in the tri-border maritime area between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Leyretana added that securing investments in Mindanao augurs well with the government’s economic resiliency plan, adding that this will ensure the various programs and projects for Mindanao’s development would be protected and sustained. -PNA

dark_knight_detectve

July 22nd, 2009, 02:24 PM

repost

Northern Mindanao’s economy records fastest growth in 2008
Posted on July 22, 2009 by damarre

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/420/delmontecan.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/delmontecan.jpg/)
Northern Mindanao’s economy posted the fastest growth rate among the country’s 17 regions at 5.3 percent in 2008, albeit a slowdown from its 7.7 percent growth in 2007. The region’s robust performance was fueled by the 10.7 percent expansion of its agriculture, fishery and forestry sector which had a 31.2 percent share of the region’s output.

The top five fastest growing regions in 2008 also included the National Capital Region (NCR) with a 4.9 percent growth, SOCCSKSARGEN with 4.6 percent, Western Visayas with 4.4 percent, and Bicol with 4.3 percent. On the other hand, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) registered the slowest growth at 1.8 percent in 2008, a deceleration from 7.1 percent in 2007.

In 2008, 16 of the 17 regions posted decelerated growths as follows: NCR (7.8 percent to 4.9 percent), CAR (7.1 percent to 1.8 percent), Cagayan Valley (6.4 percent to 2.0 percent), Central Luzon (5.9 percent to 3.8 percent), CALABARZON (5.3 percent to 2.0 percent), MIMAROPA (9.8 percent to 3.1 percent), Bicol (7.5 percent to 4.3 percent), Western Visayas (7.7 percent to 4.4 percent), Central Visayas (8.6 percent to 3.4 percent), Zamboanga Peninsula (7.2 percent to 2.2 percent), Northern Mindanao (7.7 percent to 5.3 percent), Davao Region (6.6 percent to 3.7 percent), SOCCSKSARGEN (6.7 percent to 4.6 percent), ARMM (5.4 percent to 1.9 percent), and Caraga (7.7 percent to 3.2 percent). Only Eastern Visayas recorded an accelerated growth from 3.1 percent in 2007 to 3.6 percent in 2008.

NCR continued to increase its share to the country’s total output with a 33.0 percent share in 2008 – up from 32.7 in 2007 and 32.5 in 2006. It is followed by CALABARZON with 11.9 percent and Central Luzon with 8.3 percent. On the other hand, ARMM has the lowest percentage share of only 0.9 percent of the country’s GDP.

NCR, likewise, contributed 1.6 percentage points to the national GDP growth which stood at 3.8 percent in 2008, albeit 0.9 percentage point lower than its 2007 contribution of 2.5 percent. This was followed by Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Northern Mindanao, each contributing 0.3 percentage point. ARMM and Caraga, on the other hand, have the least contribution with less than 0.1 percent.

The economies of all the major island groups (Luzon – excluding NCR, Visayas and Mindanao) recorded decelerations from 2007 to 2008. Luzon’s economy slowed down from 6.2 percent to 2.7 percent while that of Mindanao decelerated from 7.0 percent to 4.0 percent. Meanwhile, the economy of the Visayas island group recorded the biggest deceleration, from 7.5 percent to 3.8 percent or by 3.7 percentage points.

The Luzon island group with seven regions excluding the NCR, contributed nearly a third (32.7 percent) of the country’s GDP in 2008 – the largest share among the island groups. However, its percentage share has continuously declined from 33.3 percent in 2006 and 33.1 percent in 2007. The Visayas island group, consisting of three regions, sustained its 16.5 percent share between 2006 and 2008 while the Mindanao island group, composed of six regions, kept its share of 17.7 percent for the same period.

In terms of contribution to growth of the country’s GDP, the Luzon island group accounted for 0.9 percentage point while the Mindanao island group added 0.7 percentage point and the Visayas island group chipped in the remaining 0.6 percentage point.

NCR continued to register the highest real per capita GRDP, increasing by 3.4 percent from PhP40,241 in 2007 to PhP41,624 in 2008. NCR’s level is almost three times the national per capita GDP of PhP15,686. Besides NCR, only CAR and Northern Mindanao have higher real per capita GRDP than the national average at PhP19,043 and PhP17,050, respectively. On the other hand, ARMM posted the lowest real per capita GRDP at PhP3,572. Meanwhile, only three regions – CAR, CALABARZON and ARMM, posted a decline in their per capita GRDP from 2007 to 2008.

NCR also posted the highest per capita index relative to the national average at 265.4 with CAR at a distant second with 121.4 and Northern Mindanao at third with 108.7. All other regions posted indexes lower than the national average with ARMM recording the lowest at 22.8.

The gross regional domestic product (GRDP) measures the goods and services produced in each of the geopolitical regions of the country. It provides for an analysis of the regional distribution of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the industries and factors that contribute to the regional economies, and the pace at which these economies are moving. The National Statistical Coordination Board compiles the GRDP on an annual basis.

dark_knight_detectve

July 22nd, 2009, 02:29 PM

PGMA cites importance of international engagement (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=219302)

IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon, July 21 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today the importance of international engagement in the country’s development.

“This is one of the fruits of international engagement,” the President said when she led the groundbreaking of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) -funded road project here that stand to benefit some four million Filipinos.

“This road project will benefit not only the people of Impasugong or Bukidnon but also the neighboring areas,” she explained.

The President, assisted by Bukidnon Governor Ma. Jose Zubiri Jr., Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Rep. Candido Pancrudo, lowered the time capsule containing the project’s plan.

Governor Zubiri informed the President that the AusAID project will cover some 160 kilometers of all-weather roads.

“This is something new for Bukidnon and this was made possible through the efforts of the President and our good relations with the Australian government,” he said.

Australian Charge d’Affaires Steve Scott said the Philippines is an “important partner of Australia,” adding that the funds were made available to the Philippines because of “good governance and good execution of AusAID projects.”

The road project is under the Southern Philippines Provincial Road Maintenance Program (SPPRMP) that covers 10 provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao and is funded with some 100 million Australian dollars or around P3.5 billion by the Australian government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

The program has a Provincial Road Maintenance Facility (PRMF) that provides P50 million each year to every beneficiary province for construction and repair of provincial roads over a five-year period.

It has been noted that provincial roads are the key links of rural communities to the national highway and eventually to the centers of trade and commerce, political administration, and health and educational services, among others.

By improving transport, the welfare of rural folks will significantly improve.

Apart from improving the road network, the program also seeks to strengthen each province’s institutional capacity and governance system related to the provision and maintenance of provincial roads.

Depending on the performance of each beneficiary province in carrying out the program, these could be eligible for another round of assistance.

The beneficiary provinces of the SPPRMP are Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Surigao del Norte, in Mindanao; and Bohol and Guimaras in the Visayas.

Three more beneficiary provinces are still to be identified.

Within five years, the SPPRMP is principally expected to have rehabilitated at least 1,000 kilometers of provincial roads in the 10 provinces; improved access for over four million people to schools and health centers; and reduced transport costs.

The PRMF is said to be Australia’s single largest grant project in the Philippines to date; the bilateral agreement covering this was signed last March.

Australia is the country’s second largest bilateral grant aid donor after Japan. Its aid program has grown significantly in the last three years. For the fiscal year 2008-2009, its assistance portfolio is estimated at Aus 109 million dollars. (PNA)
scs/OPS/ssc

Mindanao Bee

July 22nd, 2009, 11:45 PM

MtApoStandard

July 23rd, 2009, 02:37 AM

the figures did not show anything to put up any good impresssion bec everyone suffered significant drop of growth except eastern visayas. meaning they did not grow topped previous years figures. but then, regional figure does not represent the economy of each regional centres. like in mindanao, davao region performance does not represent davao city. so is gensan of socksargen, zamboanga city of western mindanao, cdo city of northern mindanao, butuan city of caraga. regional capital cities economic ranking wil change that picture. davao city economy did very well iguess despite recession. and still is on top as the biggest econmic centre of mindanao.

as soon as mindnao provincial stats are updated, i will post the figures of mindanao regional cities or provinces that lumped in a city without own data.

dinabaw

July 23rd, 2009, 03:00 AM

^^ correct afaik Region XI have the lowest displacement for the whole country at 600. if not for Bukidnon(also an agricultural province) their growth drop must be lower.

Banana industry spares Davao from econ slowdown 'mess'
Wednesday, July 22, 2009

By Carlo P. Mallo

THE banana industry is among mitigating factors that pushed the economy of Davao Region amid the global economic slowdown.

Lawyer Bienvenido Cariaga, management representative to the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Southern Mindanao, said Monday that the banana industry "spared" Davao City from all the mess of the global financial crisis.

"Other areas in the country that are in export have been heavily affected," Cariaga said. "If not for banana, Davao (Region) would have fared badly."

The total number of displaced workers in Southern Mindanao, based on the monitoring of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), barely reached 600, while other areas in the country that are also engaged in exports had displacement of workers reaching by the thousands.

"We are in export but it is agriculture-based," Cariaga said, citing that other areas are into exporting electronics and finished products.

Southern Mindanao registered one of the lowest displacement rates in the entire country, as brought about by the financial crisis which took its toll from October 2008 until early 2009.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on July 22, 2009.

Sun-Star (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/banana-industry-spares-davao-econ-slowdown-mess)

Juan Pilgrim

July 23rd, 2009, 03:07 AM

:banana2::banana2::banana2:

:horse:

MtApoStandard

July 23rd, 2009, 03:32 AM

right.

lets leave it that way danabaw:D was only reacting whats with the loling icon and red highlight

MtApoStandard

July 23rd, 2009, 03:39 AM

DBP serving 90% dev’t, 10% commercial loan assistance projects in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY (PNA) – The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is now serving 90 percent development and 10 percent for commercial loan assistance projects in Mindanao, DBP board member for Mindanao Rey Magno Teves said.

Teves, however, did not give a detailed data on the programs.

He said the bank finances development loans including infrastructure in line with the “Ro-Ro” (roll-on-roll-off) nautical highway and cold chain for faster movement of goods, other social services projects, the environment, hospitals, public markets, depots and other related projects.

Teves said DBP is into its new policy thrust of going back to basics, quoting DBP chief executive officer Rey David among others to put more financial muscle, maintain strong corporate social responsibility, observe safety of balance sheet and earnings.

He said in the pipeline is a hospital project in Mati, Davao Oriental.

Teves said loan sharing by areas is still being denominated by the National Capital Region, explaining that most of the proponents have their main offices in Manila and the fund that were accessed in the bank were used for expansion programs in Mindanao.

However, he said there is now a shift of the ratio five years ago as current share registered at 88 percent for development loans and 12 percent commercial.

Teves said these were reversal from 60 percent on commercial loans and 40 percent for developmental loans before.

He said with the coming Board Meeting and Forum to be held in Davao City on August 5, 2009 at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao, DBP will provide the bank’s officials a current feel of the situation in Mindanao and for them to be able to see if they could actively participate in the development of the island.

“We are hoping to have more participation here through our programs and projects,” he said.

Teves said during the Mindanao business forum which they will undertake in coordination with the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc, (DCCCII), the stakeholders here have the chance to present their programs for possible partnership with DBP.

He said it will also be in the same forum that Al-Amanah Bank will be presented to the stakeholders of Mindanao.

DBP gained full control of Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines (AAIIBP), the first and only Islamic bank in the country mandated to serve the banking needs of the Muslim community in the country.

http://www.dailymirror.ph/July/local07232009&03.html

MtApoStandard

July 23rd, 2009, 03:42 AM

UDP mid-year assessment on

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) holds its Mindanao-wide Upland Development Project (UDP) Mid-Year Assessment at Waterfront Insular Hotel beginning July 22.

The said assessment will run for three days and will be participated in by DENR Regional Offices of Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cotabato and Caraga. Its main objective is for these regions to present their accomplishment reports with regard to the UDP implementation for the first semester. This is a venue for sharing of experiences that would include status-based on revised timeline, problems encountered, strengths and weaknesses and interventions needed.

The Upland Development Project is in response to the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo which aims to provide green collar jobs to upland farmers by giving them short-term employment opportunities.

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza said there will be around 52,425 upland farmers that will be hired as workers to plant forest and fruit tree seedlings including high-value cash crops. For reforestation and agro-forestry activities that will be undertaken by upland families, some 49,318 hectares of upland areas and around 2,000 hectares of mangrove areas were already set aside.

To date, DENR-11 Regional Executive Director (RED) Jim O Sampulna disclosed that in Region11, there are a total of 1,950 Bantay-Gubat (BG), 93 Forest Extension Officers and 3,274 upland farmers hired under CLEEP.

Also lined-up in the program is the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the DENR, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the San Alfonso Parish for the special cutting permit for the 230KV Transmission Line Project in Maramag-Bunawan area. The signing will be done tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. in the morning. DENR-11

http://www.dailymirror.ph/July/business07232009&04.html

MtApoStandard

July 23rd, 2009, 03:55 AM

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/AirportClass.jpg?t=1248313969...

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 23rd, 2009, 04:12 AM

Mindanao fruit industry eyeing global buyers

Sun.Star.Davao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- This "Gateway to Northern Mindanao" is opening its doors to fruit industry stakeholders when it hosts the 2nd Minfruit Market Encounter from July 30-31.

"The Mindanao fruit industry is keeping abreast of new markets and trends, especially in the global fruit market," said Antonio Partoza Jr., president of the Mindanao Fruit Industry Development (Minfruit) Council, the lead organizer of the event.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

"This marketing activity is aimed at filling the supply-demand information gap between buyers and suppliers," he said.

The two-day event at the Harbor Lights Resort will focus on market matching among the 200 fruit growers, institutional buyers, consolidators, processors and exporters who are expected to attend.

The Market Encounter is being organized by the Minfruit Council, Greater Northern Mindanao Mango Industry Development Foundation (GNMMIDF) and Banana Industry Development Association (Bida).

The event is supported by the Department of Agriculture, the local governments of Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental, the Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries of Northern Mindanao (Caffinormin) and USAid's Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

"This is a venue where buyers can present their fruit requirements in terms of volume and quality, and where fruit growers and suppliers, particularly those from Northern Mindanao, can explore different market options for their products," said Partoza.

Partoza said the 2nd Market Encounter was a prelude to the 7th Mindanao Fruit Conference to be held in November, which will showcase new technologies and serve as a venue for formulating policy recommendations to address industry issues.

The Market Encounter will also present production and post-harvest technologies, including updated Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and the off-season production of mangoes.

dark_knight_detectve

July 24th, 2009, 03:27 AM

Northern Mindanao economy posts fastest growth among the country's 17 regions last year -- NSCB (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=219698)

MANILA, July 23 (PNA) -- Northern Mindanao’s economy posted the fastest growth rate among the country’s 17 regions at 5.3 percent in 2008, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

The agency said the region’s robust performance was fueled by the 10.7 percent expansion of its agriculture, fishery and forestry sector which accounted for a 31.2 percent share of the region’s output. In 2007, the region posted a 7.7 percent growth rate.

Northern Mindanao or Region 10 is composed of the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, including the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Also included in the top five fastest-growing regions last year were the National Capital Region (NCR) with a 4.9 percent growth; SOCCSKSARGEN, 4.6 percent; Western Visayas, 4.4 percent; and Bicol, 4.3 percent.

Composing SOCCSKSARGEN are the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato and General Santos.

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) registered the slowest growth at 1.8 percent in 2008, a deceleration from 7.1 percent in 2007.

The NCR continued to increase its contribution to the country’s total output with a 33 percent share in 2008 -– up from 32.7 in 2007 and 32.5 in 2006.

It is followed by CALABARZON with 11.9 percent and Central Luzon with 8.3 percent. On the other hand, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) had the lowest percentage share of only 0.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

CALABARZON is composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

The NCR, likewise, contributed 1.6 percentage points to the national GDP growth which stood at 3.8 percent in 2008, albeit 0.9 percentage point lower than its 2007 contribution of 2.5 percent.

This was followed by Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Northern Mindanao, each contributing 0.3 percentage point. ARMM and Caraga, on the other hand, had the least contribution with less than 0.1 percent.

The Luzon island group with seven regions, excluding the NCR, contributed nearly a third (32.7 percent) of the country’s GDP in 2008 – the largest share among the island groups.

However, the NSCB said its percentage share has continuously declined from 33.3 percent in 2006 and 33.1 percent in 2007.

It added that the Visayas island group, consisting of three regions, sustained its 16.5 percent share between 2006 and 2008 while the Mindanao island group, composed of six regions, kept its share of 17.7 percent for the same period.

In terms of contribution to growth of the country’s GDP, the Luzon island group accounted for 0.9 percentage point while the Mindanao island group added 0.7 percentage point and the Visayas island group chipped in the remaining 0.6 percentage point.

NCR continued to register the highest real per capita gross regional domestic product (GRDP), increasing by 3.4 percent from P40,241 in 2007 to P41,624 in 2008.

The GRDP measures the goods and services produced in each of the geopolitical regions of the country. It provides for an analysis of the regional distribution of the country’s GDP, the industries and factors that contribute to the regional economies, and the pace at which these economies are moving.

NCR’s level is almost three times the national per capita GDP of P15,686.

Besides NCR, only CAR and Northern Mindanao have higher real per capita GRDP than the national average at P19,043 and P17,050, respectively.

On the other hand, ARMM posted the lowest real per capita GRDP at P3,572. Meanwhile, only three regions - CAR, CALABARZON and ARMM, posted a decline in their per capita GRDP from 2007 to 2008.

NCR also posted the highest per capita index relative to the national average at 265.4 with CAR at a distant second with 121.4 and Northern Mindanao at third with 108.7. All other regions posted indexes lower than the national average with ARMM recording the lowest at 22.8. (PNA)
scs/DGA/utb

MtApoStandard

July 24th, 2009, 11:28 AM

Puno to address 2 major conventions in Davao today

Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is expected to arrive in Davao City today as guest speaker of two major assemblies.

DILG regional director Quirino M. Libunao said that Puno will grace the Liga ng mga Barangays-Davao del Norte Chapter this morning at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, and the Joint Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines-Provincial Councilor’s League Regional Convention 2009 at the Waterfront Insular hotel in the afternoon.

As DILG secretary, Puno has carried out several projects for the local government units including programs aimed at assisting LGUs in relation to local economic enterprises, creation of jobs and livelihood opportunities and poverty alleviation in the barangays.

Libunao said Puno is known for his skills as a political strategist and crisis manager and is equipped with the expertise on the advancement and development of local governments, establishing firm leadership in the Philippine National Police to maintain national peace and security.

Puno is a strong advocate of women and children’s concerns, he added. msmagtulis.dilgxi

http://www.dailymirror.ph/July/headlines07242009&04.html

Mindanao Bee

July 24th, 2009, 03:27 PM

bornagain

July 25th, 2009, 09:06 AM

Aguy, unsaun ta man. Di gyud nato malalis. :lol:
you need to use your shell all the time beybi,
CDO is just a dot in North Min

eflex

July 25th, 2009, 09:27 AM

Agagay, number one na pod. Mao ni klaro. :banana:

:banana::banana::banana: no.:banana: 1 normin..

eflex

July 25th, 2009, 09:29 AM

you need to use your shell all the time beybi,
CDO is just a dot in North Min

yup..tama ka...kung city cguro ang pinagusapan alam na natin kung ano ang sagot.....:cheers:

Alingatong

July 25th, 2009, 10:07 AM

base sa stat ng fastest growing region, first sa ranking ang Northern Mindanao and that's the fact. Walang sinabi at nagsabi na no. 1 ang CdeO pwera na lang sa mga di nagbabasa ng maayos na nagbibigay ng ibang kahulugan.

michael_ray

July 25th, 2009, 12:42 PM

Aguy, unsaun ta man. Di gyud nato malalis. :lol:

I agree. Dili bitaw gyud malalis. Despite the economic downfall (almost every part of the globe is experiencing it right now), it feels good to be at the top. :)

michael_ray

July 25th, 2009, 12:44 PM

you need to use your shell all the time beybi,
CDO is just a dot in North Min

Did he mention CDO in his post, beybi? :) And oh, lemme emphasize. CDO is not just a dot, it is the regional center or capital of Northern Mindanao.

Alingatong

July 25th, 2009, 12:48 PM

^^Ayon sapul! :lol:

MtApoStandard

July 25th, 2009, 01:21 PM

Businesses urged to protect IP amid crisis
By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:06:00 07/24/2009

Filed Under: Technology (general), Patents and Copyright and Trademarks

MANILA, Philippines – Businesses should continue to pursue innovation even when the economy is bad, according to the head of the government’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

“Don’t stop innovating even if the economy is bad and always protect your ideas,” said IPO director general Adrian Cristobal Jr. during a recent workshop conducted with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

The IPO chief said companies feeling the impact of the global economic crisis can innovate to stave off risks in their business. Innovation could be in the form of better customer relations or new products that are apt for the current situation.

Companies, meanwhile, are advised ensure proper protection of their IP (intellectual property) assets. In fact, some of these assets can be patented and provide additional income for the owner through royalties.

Cristobal noted that companies in the micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSME) account for more than 99 percent of all registered business establishments in the Philippines.

These companies’ “survivability” can be attributed to their own innovations that make them unique.

The PCCI has put up an IP committee to protect Filipino companies, especially small businesses, from IP piracy and trademark violations, which could have negative effects on companies’ image as potential business partner or investment opportunity.

Anil Sinha, Wold Intellectual Property (WIPO) counselor for small and medium scale enterprises, noted that companies that used to be small are expanding their services portfolio and widening their customer reach abroad.

While these types of companies help improve the local economy, they are also prone to IP violations. He warned that some innovations become stolen as they reach other markets.

“Exporters often realize the importance of protecting their IP once it is too late, for example, once they have missed the deadlines for application or once their product or brand has been copied,” said Sinha.

To protect against these issues, Cristobal said IPO already established satellite offices in the cities of Cebu, Davao, Pampanga, and Legaspi. These can accommodate trademark applications of MSMEs.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090724-217041/Businesses-urged-to-protect-IP-amid-crisis

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 26th, 2009, 02:15 AM

Young Muslim leaders craft peace action plan

July 26, 2009

YOUNG Mindanao leaders with a unique experience in the forefront of national policy formulation and lawmaking met in Davao City to draft their action agenda in support of peace and development in the region.

Alumni of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Muslim Leaders (CIPYML), a partnership project of the Philippine House of Representatives and the US government, gathered for their first-ever reunion to focus on how they can play a more effective role in peace-building and economic growth in their communities.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

"Community is where it all begins," said former CIPYML intern Abdelnur Campong. "It's where we can make a difference, right here, right now."

This is the first reunion for the former interns, who come from different areas of Mindanao and from various Moro tribes. Although they regularly contribute to the CIPYML e-group, this was the first time that alumni from different batches had gathered together under one roof.

"This was a chance to see how we can converge our efforts," said Marifah Agar, one of 163 young leaders who have 'graduated' from the internship program over the last four years.

Agar, a data analyst, regularly volunteers as a peace education teacher at the barangay level, working with local religious leaders.

CIPYML is managed by USAid's Growth with Equity in Minanao (GEM) Program, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco).

Interns spend 13 weeks in Congress, during which they obtain “hands-on” experience in policy research and formulation. They are also given the opportunity to interact with members of the House of Representatives, Senate and other national government leaders.

The program includes immersion in specialized courses provided by Mindanao State University and the University of the Philippines' National College of Public Administration and Governance.

Breakout sessions focused on Mindanao's economic competitiveness, and on fostering enabling environments for business through private-public collaboration and improved governance. Other sessions identified ways of promoting peace, particularly through transparency and improved governance, and of developing the region's workforce.

"Moro communities place value on higher education, but we have to help them understand that vocational training is an option, and that a vocational workforce is needed for the economy to grow," said former intern Norhana Kamid, now a senior economic development specialist at Medco.

The main objective of CIPYML is to develop a core of informed young Muslim leaders who are committed to democratic forms of government and who support the development of effective, democratic processes and institutions.

Using the knowledge and skills they acquired during their stint in Congress, some have run for public office, and others have pursued post-graduate studies. A good number have joined private sector and non-government organizations focused on helping to bring development to remote, conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

"ZukiChirO"

July 26th, 2009, 06:07 AM

List of Topnotchers in the June 2009 Nurse Licensure Examination

1. Golda Manto Yap, Felipe R. Verallo Memorial Foundation — 86.80%

2. Ronie Rose Capati Arevalo, Adamson University — 86.40%

3. Michelle Alejandro Barberan, Arellano University-Manila — 86.20%

4. Caroline May Rellosa Chamen, Philippine College of Health & Sciences — 86.00%
Clarissa Leonor Tible Escober, Naga College Foundation — 86.00%

5. Marco Magtulis Dometita, University of Santo Tomas — 85.80%
Margaret Cheung Encarnacion, University of Santo Tomas — 85.80%
Marc Bago-Od Marzan, University of Santo Tomas — 85.80%
Lalaine Lim Perlas, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela — 85.80%
Debbie Rose Uy Tanengsy, Velez College — 85.80%

6. Lisa Angelica Vela Evangelista, University of Santo Tomas — 85.60%

7. Adrian Patrick Patawaran Calimag, University of Santo Tomas — 85.20%
Jed Asiaii Mariano Dimaisip, University of the Philippines-Manila — 85.20%
Aaron Miranda Esporlas, University of Santo Tomas — 85.20%

8. Mary Joy Sarreal Crisostomo, University of Santo Tomas — 85.00%
David John Gabriel Egbalic Cristobal, University of Santo Tomas — 85.00%
Libby Joy Recinto Evangelista, University of Santo Tomas — 85.00%
Ma Paula Rhove Rivera Ortega, University of the Philippines-Manila — 85.00%
Andrew Chua Tiu, Velez College — 85.00%
Ginelle Marie Galarpe Visaya, University of Santo Tomas — 85.00%

9. Helene Marie Mejorada Calderon, University of Santo Tomas — 84.80%
Abigail Ann Borromeo Candelario, University of Santo Tomas — 84.80%
Jan Benzon Tan Chan, University of Santo Tomas — 84.80%
Anna Melissa Señga Lo, University of Santo Tomas — 84.80%
Jernedell Geishar Tabugara Mabiling, Western Mindanao State University — 84.80%
Von Vener Palicpic Miguel, Perpetual Help College of Manila — 84.80%
Johanna Thomas Yu, University of Santo Tomas — 84.80%

10. Angela Carmela Fernandez Agbay, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Pheelyp Edward Cruz Aytona, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Julienne Katrina Bulaon Beltran, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Maria Rosario Angala Brillante, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Jasper Quintana Castillo, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Diane Rachelle Cruz Crisostomo, Centro Escolar University-Malolos — 84.60%
Jose Mari Niño Leonor Cuarto, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Salvador Isidro Buban Destura, Immaculate Conception College-Albay — 84.60%
Abigail Joanna Uy Doluntap, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Rove Ann Tonolete Enguerra, Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-QC) — 84.60%
Jana Flores Fragante, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Jan Igor Temple Galinato, Mindanao State University-Marawi City — 84.60%
Divina Viktoria Pobre La Torre, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Vanessarose Delavin Lim, Far Eastern University-Manila — 84.60%
Rachel Rañola Milante, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Loraine Ab-Abaen Payangdo, Benguet State University-La Trinidad — 84.60%
Kristine Arcilla Ramos, Catanduanes State Colleges-Virac — 84.60%
Robert Joe Isip Sagum, Far Eastern University-Manila — 84.60%
Ingrid Buela San Juan, University of the Philippines-Manila — 84.60%
Christelle Miracle-An Quizon Santiago, University of Santo Tomas — 84.60%
Jian Laurice Ramos Sicat, Angeles University Foundation — 84.60%
Miriem Paulle Beltran Soriano, Saint Louis University — 84.60%
Teddy Jr Chan Untalasco, Lorma College — 84.60%

if i am not mistaken...Dalawa na taga mindanao ang pumasok sa Top list..:banana::banana:Congrats everyone!!!

Mindanao Bee

July 26th, 2009, 06:34 AM

you need to use your shell all the time beybi,
CDO is just a dot in North Min

what's ur problem beybi? Are you a CDO hater beybi? :nuts:

Mindanao Bee

July 26th, 2009, 06:34 AM

I agree. Dili bitaw gyud malalis. Despite the economic downfall (almost every part of the globe is experiencing it right now), it feels good to be at the top. :)

suya siguro siya sa CDO mga bai. :nuts:

KING CITY

July 26th, 2009, 08:04 AM

Aguy, unsaun ta man. Di gyud nato malalis.

Agagay, number one na pod. Mao ni klaro

^^ nasuya siya sa imong 2 ka post cguro... :lol: well, congrats Normin...

eflex

July 26th, 2009, 10:31 AM

Aguy, unsaun ta man. Di gyud nato malalis.

Agagay, number one na pod. Mao ni klaro

^^ nasuya siya sa imong 2 ka post cguro... :lol: well, congrats Normin...

go normin...:banana::banana::banana:

michael_ray

July 26th, 2009, 01:32 PM

MtApoStandard

July 27th, 2009, 02:16 PM

EAGA Trade Expo set August 5-9

Davao City (27 July) -- Various products of Mindanao and Palawan shall take center stage as these will be brought to Brunei Darussalam for the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Trade Expo 2009 on August 5 to 9.

Romeo L. Castañaga, central secretariat of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Cluster of the BIMP-EAGA and chief of the Management Support and Special Concerns Division (MSSCD) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11, said Davao Region's products ranging from processed food to gifts, toys, and house wares (GTH) will be consolidated and transported to the exposition venue by Mae Alcantara, owner of Crystal Seas Hand-woven and Hand-crafted Products based in Davao City.

The Philippine exhibitors will also promote the bayong and other products under the One Town One Product (OTOP) program.

"Each region is only given one slot in the trade expo, that's why, Ms. Alcantara, being the official participant to the event, offered to consolidate the products and bring them along with her own creations. With such, more local products will be given the chance to widen market reach," Castañaga said.

Castañaga added that with the participation of the trading partners from China, Japan, and Northern Territory (Darwin), there's no doubt that the local MSMEs will find new business opportunities especially that their products are world-class.

Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, BIMP-EAGA Philippine Signing Minister, and Trade Undersecretary for Regional Operations and Development Group Merly M. Cruz, Philippine Senior Official, will head the Philippine Delegation.

The BIMP-EAGA Trade Expo is among the events during the 18th Senior Officials' Meeting/14th Ministerial Meeting (SOM/MM).

Generally, the 18th SOM/14th MM is expected to gather key officials and stakeholders from both the government and private sector of the member-countries to discuss issues relative to the sub-regional cooperation, particularly the progress in the implementation of flagship programs and projects.

Aside from the trade expo, other events will be the SOM with Development Partners on August 6 and BIMP-EAGA Business Conference on August 6 to 7. (PIA) [top]

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090727.htm&no=16

dark_knight_detectve

July 27th, 2009, 02:23 PM

New P379.46M Pagadian airport readies for take-off (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220425)
By Mike U. Crismundo

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BUTUAN CITY, July 27 (PNA) - Residents in Pagadian City and in the nearby provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula will no longer have to travel hours to the next city to fly to any domestic and international destination, as the newly-upgraded Php379.46-million Pagadian Airport is set to re-open in September this year, said Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) Chair Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Sr., on Monday.

On the other hand, airport officials in Pagadian also expressed hope that this city will revitalize links with the rest of the country as the ongoing upgrading of the Pagadian airport is seen to revive flights, which have been suspended since smaller aircrafts tended the airport last May 2007.

At the recently concluded 12th Mindanao Super Region (MSR) meeting in Pagadian City, local leaders pushed for the speedy completion of critical infrastructure in Mindanao such as the Pagadian Airport along with the upgrading of Mindanao airports and road improvement projects that will harness Mindanao’s agri-industrial and tourism potentials.

“By fast tracking the upgrading of our airports, we will be able to improve our connectivity with the rest of the country," said Leyretana, who at the same time the MSR Deputy Development Champion.

Recent data from the project monitoring visit of MEDCo earlier this month show that around 94.9 percent of the total Php379.46 million worth of improvement and development projects that have been committed for the said airport project has already been implemented.

Concreting of the airport’s existing runway, apron and construction of new flight-service station (FSS) and Powerhouse buildings have been ongoing while three pre-construction stage projects have already been bidded out.

These include the construction of administration building, rehabilitation of existing terminal building, widening and extension of runway (under CY 2009), and construction of perimeter fence.

Leyretana added the rehabilitation and construction of airport facilities will contribute to safe and efficient airport operations, as well as ensure safer and smoother landings.

Other airport development projects under the MSR in the Zamboanga region include the upgrading of the Php478.05-million Dipolog airport and the Php428.5-million Zamboanga Airport development project which are also targeted for completion by the end of the year.

The airport development projects are being implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) in close coordination of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) under the MSR development strategy.

The airport development projects here are among the 38 projects under the Mindanao Super Region, with nine big ticket projects already completed.

These include the Php11.285-billion 210-MW Mindanao Clean Coal-fired Power Plant in Misamis Oriental, the Php218-million 950 KV Photovoltaic Power Plant in Cagayan de Oro, the Php2.1-billion Diosdado Macapagal Bridge in Butuan City, the Php984.121-million Manay-Mati Road Section of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road, the Php90 Million Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan Road of Agusan del Sur, the Php 453.04-million Davao port development project, the Php 608.06-million Cagayan de Oro port development project, the Php74.82 Million Balbagon Port Improvement Project in Camiguin, Mambajao and the Php2.616-billion flood control component of the Lower Agusan Development Project in Butuan City, as well as the completion of 13 out 15 hospital upgrading projects.

Ongoing MSR projects include two provincial hospital upgrading project, seven national roads construction projects, eight airport development projects and two irrigation projects.

Of the total Php 88.19 billion worth of MSR projects, 55.39 percent or Php48.85 billion funds have been released. (PNA)
LDV/MUC/utb

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 28th, 2009, 05:13 AM

Copra prices up

By: CPM @ SSD

THE price of copra has bounced back after it slumped to a low of P14 per kilo early this month.

Copra is now pegged at the market between P20 to P22 per kilo.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

During Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, Lornito Orillaneda, director of Philippine Coconut Authority Southern Mindanao, said that this is the common benchmark used by stakeholders to determine the status of the coconut industry.

"We have a fluctuating price of copra, which changes as world market changes," Orillaneda said. "We are dependent on the world market."

The Philippines remains to be the number one exporter of coconut oil which is derived from copra, although Indonesia has already overtaken the country in terms of coconut production.

Aside from copra, the Philippines also exports desiccated coconut, sapal, coconut powder, coconut coir, coconut dust, and charcoal.

To address the various concerns of the coconut industry, a Mindanao-wide coconut summit has been slated on July 30 to 31 in the town of Mati in Davao Oriental.

Aside from competing in the world market, the summit will also discuss issues on technology and of financial resources for the development of the coconut industry.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 28th, 2009, 05:16 AM

Businessman gives Arroyo 8.5 out of 10 rating

By: Judy Quiros @ TMDM

Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) chair Vicente Lao rated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 8.5 out of 10 in her eight years of serving the country.

“I gave her that rating because she performed quite well in the areas of infrastructure and economy,” Lao said.

He also commended Mrs. Arroyo for focusing on the infrastructure problem in Mindanao.

“Never did we have a single President who focused on solving the infrastructure problem in Mindanao. She had a very specific instruction that all roads in Mindanao will have to be rehabilitated, and we should be thankful for that,” Lao said.

He also said the economy had been on the right track under the Arroyo administration but was sidetracked by the global financial crisis.

Lao also said investments posted sluggish growth under the Arroyo administration, but added this was caused by the level of bureaucracy in business processing procedures and not the administration per se.

He said the processing of business documents in the country is very complicated compared to other areas in Asia.

“There is a need to streamline our procedures. In other countries the process in business registration for instance is very simple, “ he said.

Lao also rated Mrs. Arroyo positively in terms of human capital investment, saying she fared well in propping up scholarship programs from both the informal and formal sectors.

Meanwhile, Lao said government should address the peace and order situation in Mindanao in order to reach an agreement which is acceptable to both the Muslim sector and the non-Muslim sector in Mindanao.

“Peace is something we cannot afford not to have, that’s why the business sector has been supportive of any efforts being initiated to the peace talks both in the GRP and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and GRP and the National Democratic Front (NDF),” he said.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 28th, 2009, 05:21 AM

Group welcomes truce

By: Jose G. Dalumpines

A NON-GOVERNMENT organization working for peace in Mindanao expressed reprieved that the Suspension Of Military Operations (SOMO) declared by the government and the response of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to declare a Suspension Of Military Action (SOMA) will serve as tickets for internally-displaced persons to return to their homes, rebuild their communities and resume their normal lives.
Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, chair of the Mindanao People’s Caucus, in a press statement thanked by government and the MILF for taking an important step towards ending the hostilities in the conflict areas of Mindanao.

She urged all leaders of both groups to support the SOMO and the SOMA and to allow the ceasefire to fully ripen so that it could result in the resumption of talks. “We also appeal to politicians to avoid any threatening statement that will only weaken this fledgling truce. We appeal for restraint on the part of those who would rather sustain the armed hostilities in Central Mindanao. For the sake of peace, in the name of God and for sake of precious innocent lives of our children, we beg you to give the SOMO and SOMA a real chance to take off and develop into a full-blown operational and functional ceasefire,” Arnado said.
She also appealed to politicians aspiring for national positions on the 2010 elections to heed the cry of the IDPs who badly need support and cooperation.
Arnado urged politicians to put their sincerity by helping uplift the poor, defend the weak and fight for the oppressed.

She said with rebels and soldiers silencing the guns, there can be no better condition to end the hostilities and isolate the so called saboteurs, spoilers and war profiteers.
“Let us not stop, let us not give up on whatever opening and opportunity to reclaim peace. It is possible. The SOMA and SOMO, came after 11 months and 2 days of untold suffering, loss of loved ones, deaths of the innocents, starvation and violence. Yet, the IDPs did not give up. They did not stop until their cries are heard – after 11 months and 2 days of running, scampering and mourning for every death of a loved one,” Arnado said.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 28th, 2009, 06:49 AM

PGMA satisfies Mindanao biz group

By Mai Gevera @ PIA

Davao City (28 July) -- The business group in Mindanao gives President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo an 8 out of 10 rating based on her performance in the last nine years of service.

Mindanao Business Council President Vicente Lao cited infrastructure, economy and investment on human capital as the strongest points of the present administration.

"More than anything else, the President is a big supporter which promoted a business-friendly environment here in Mindanao. " Lao added.

In the BEAT THE ODDS targets of the President, her administration was able to create 12 million jobs from 2004 to 2009. In her last State of the Nation Address, PGMA gave clear instructions in pouring in most of the government money to infrastructure.

"It is only in this administration that infrastructure development was clearly pronounced and emphasized." Lao said. Infrastructure development, according to him, has contributed so much in helping out the business sector level up their playing field.

PGMA targeted a strong republic nautical highway by establishing 30 operational RORO ports which link the archipelago and make travel and transport of goods faster and cheaper. This stimulated business and tourism.

The administration also reported specific achievements such as the case of Teletech Philippines which inspired American businessmen to explore investment opportunities in the country.

Another sign of a vibrant business environment is the expansion of Texas Instrument in CLARK Freeport Zone which generates jobs for 3,000 workers and expects a $1 billion investment over ten years.

However, Lao thinks that the President's greatest weakness is the people's perception of a corrupt government under her administration.

Also, the President could hardly initiate radical change for the country due to certain limitations as pronounced in the constitution.

The business sector stressed that they are behind the move for charter change as this would directly benefit Mindanao business.

But Lao clarified that they too want for an election to take place before pushing for a change of the charter.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 28th, 2009, 06:52 AM

Most Mindanao projects completed, Dureza says

by JMD Abangan @ PIA

Davao City (28 July) -- MOST of the big-ticket projects for Mindanao have been completed, Mindanao development in-charge Jesus Dureza aired his assessment of President Gloria Arroyo's accomplishment in an interview over a local morning television program.

"Kadaghanan sa iya mga giplano for Mindanao hapit na mahuman,'" he said while noting that infrastructure projects are due to get done by December this year.

Dureza who used to sit as the chief of the Mindanao Economic Development Council before serving as the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and then later as the press secretary believed that Mindanao gets a substantial share of the infrastructure projects implemented during President Arroyo's administration.

In her previous State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Arroyo clustered areas in the country into so-called "super regions" which include the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines, Mindanao Agribusiness, the Cyber Corridor.

Data from the Philippine Information Agency national office showed that the 6 projects put on the ground in the Mindanao Agribusiness areas had been completed as of April 2009.

Among the reported completed projects in Mindanao are the Cagayan de Oro Port; the Davao Port ; Diosdado Macapagal Bridge or the Butuan-Magsaysay Bridge; the 210 MW Clean Coal-Fired Power Plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; the Jatropha Nurseries in General Santos City; and the Solar Power Plant in Cagayan de Oro.

boju2

July 28th, 2009, 07:02 AM

Peace in Mindanao Academy proposed (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/13659-peace-in-mindanao-academy-proposed.html)

Written by Bong Fabe / Correspondent
Sunday, 26 July 2009 18:05

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Mindanao, which has been highlighted by the national and international press as an island of mismanaged conflicts, should now be the center of all peace-building initiatives in the Philippines and even in Asia.

Rep. Ariel Hernandez (Anak Mindanaw party-list) said this could be done through the establishment of the Peace in Mindanao Academy (PMA) “to strengthen and hasten the ongoing peace processes in Mindanao, in the country and in the Asian region, by a combination of academic inputs, field-based learning and community-based initiatives.”

“Amin is steadfast in its belief that the only way to peace is through genuine and equitable development of, for, and by the Mindanaoans,” he said.

Hernandez, who is now on official leave as executive director of the Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc., stressed that it is imperative that political settlement and peace agreements be reached before peace can reign in Mindanao.

 “If war and conflict have dominated the picture of our beloved island over the last five decades, Amin believes that by setting up the PMA, our beloved region of Mindanao will be known as the center of gravity of all peace education and peace-building initiatives not only in Mindanao and in the country but also in the Asian region,” he said.

The PMA, Hernandez said, “will be the premier education center for peace in the country and the Asian region.” “I specifically highlight the Asian region as the bigger arena of the PMA because of the ongoing mismanaged conflicts in the region, namely Sri Lanka, parts of Indonesia, and East Timor. Rather than seeking help from these countries, we might even be able to provide help for them,” he said.

The PMA is also envisioned to offer full courses on conflict management and peace-building, peace negotiations, transitional and restorative justice and demobilization, disarmament and reintegration.

The PMA’s curriculum and education program will be designed by the Commission on Higher Education, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the defense department, civil society and the Catholic Church, which are all actively involved in peace-building in Mindanao and in the country.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 28th, 2009, 07:02 AM

4 me, PGMA is good enough for Mindanao...
may tiwala pa rin aq sa knya (8.6% out of 10)
xa lng ang Pres na may malaking pgpphalaga sa Mindanao,
di sa dating pres na grabe ang pangako, kesyo, magtayo ng Malacanyang version d2 sa Mindanao :lol::bash: pro wlang ngyari... kkatwa tlga!
kya lng ang hirap ippaniwala sa mga taong na'brainwashed n ng mga pulitikong kritiko na wlang nagawang maganda eh puro pninira lng... kaya di tau mkaahon.
pansariling interes lng ang tinitingnan...
enwy, sariling opinyon ko, sori sa mga di mkatanggap sa opinyon ko...

CHACHA is the answer for Mindanao!!!

dark_knight_detectve

July 28th, 2009, 04:08 PM

Completion of multi-billion infra projects seen to boost Mindanao tourism industry (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=220646)
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BUTUAN CITY, July 28 (PNA) -- The multi-billion infrastructure projects such as road, air and sea ports will make Mindanao economically develop and progressive before the eyes of the South East Asian Regions in the coming years, according to Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) on Tuesday.

The MEDCO made this assessment after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Tourism (DOT) and other government line agencies submitted their quarterly report on status of the infrastructure projects under the “Mindanao Super Region” (MSR).

Among these infrastructure projects are the improvement and rehabilitation of the Dapitan-Dakak Road and Dipolog Airport, which are now being fast-tracked to provide greater access to the region’s famous tourist attractions.

MEDCo’s recent project monitoring visit to Super Region projects in Mindanao showed that the P 309.5-million Dapitan-Dakak road project is now 72.8 percent complete.

As of April this year, around 92.6 percent of the P478.05-million worth of improvement projects committed for the Dipolog Airport has also been implemented.

Both projects are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Four of the seven segments of the Dapitan-Dakak Road Project are now complete with three segments underway. The completed segments are the P30-million Bagting-Talisay Section, the P20-million Talisay-Sto. Niño Section, the P50-million Taguilon-Dakak Section Phase 1 and P20-Million Phase 3.

Engr. Veronico Micarandayo, Assistant District Engineer of DPWH-3rd Engineering District in Dapitan, said that the department committed to finish the project by December 2009.

However, he said that the project needs an additional P58 million to undertake the gaps along the road sections.

“The completion of these infrastructures will significantly improve the tourism industry in the province and will make the tourist destinations in Mindanao more accessible,” said Atty. Allan Ranillo, Zamboanga del Norte Regional Tourism Council (RTC) Chairman.

With the completion of these road projects, Ranillo said, stakeholders will expect a surge in tourism activities, particularly with the opening of more tourism establishments and the entry of more investments.

For his part, James Eldridge Adraincem, regional director of the DOT, said the completion of the road projects will add to the region’s booming tourism industry, noting that tourist arrivals have increased from the average number of 4,000 from 2004-2007 to 60,000, or almost 200 percent, in 2008.

Apart from the famous for the world-class Dakak beach resort and the 16-hectare Jose Rizal Shrine, the region now has the recently-inaugurated Gloria’s Fantasyland, Mindanao’s first theme park and second largest in the entire country, to its roster of must-visit tourist locations.

Also located in the region is the 138-year old St. James Church and the entertainment center called Gloria de Dapitan, which features the region’s own version of Sunset Boulevard.

“The completion of these critical infrastructure projects in Zamboanga del Norte is seen to provide greater accessibility and connectivity of the region with the rest of Mindanao.It will also boost its tourism potentials, especially with the rich cultural heritage of this region,” said MEDCo chair Undersecretary Virgilio L. Leyretana, Sr.

Meanwhile, five of the 10 improvement projects for the Dipolog Airport are now completed with one project ongoing and the remaining four projects still at the pre-construction stage.

The ongoing project involves the extension of runway, construction of perimeter fence and continuation of shore protection.

Erlinda Delos Reyes, Dipolog Airport Manager, said that the ongoing shore protection need to be completed as soon as possible to prevent outsiders as well as stray animals from entering the airport perimeter.

The Dapitan-Dakak Road and Dipolog Airport Development Projects are among the 38 projects under the MSR.

So far, nine out of the 38 MSR projects have been completed.

These include the P11.285-billion 210-MW Mindanao Clean Coal-fired Power Plant in Misamis Oriental;the P218-million 950 KV Photovoltaic Power Plant in Cagayan de Oro; the P2.1-billion Diosdado Macapagal Bridge in Butuan City; the P984.121-million Manay-Mati Road Section of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road; the P90 Million Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan Road of Agusan del Sur;the P453.04-million Davao port development project; the P608.06-million Cagayan de Oro port development project; the P74.82-million Balbagon Port Improvement Project in Camiguin, Mambajao and the P2.616-billion flood control component of the Lower Agusan Development Project in Butuan City and the completion of 13 hospital upgrading projects.

The ongoing MSR projects include two provincial hospital upgrading projects, seven national roads construction projects, eight airport development projects, and two irrigation projects.

Of the total P88.19-billion worth of MSR projects, 55.39 percent or P48.85-billion funds have been released.

MEDCo takes the lead in the MSR Inter-Agency Task Force, which is tasked to consolidate the updates of the various Mindanao Super Region’s projects and lobby for the fast-tracking of these projects.

Under the Super Region strategy, Mindanao's strong potential to become the country's agribusiness center is being developed and harnessed through major infrastructure support, MEDCo added. (PNA)
FFC/ZST/MUC/utb

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<<< Back

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 29th, 2009, 11:00 AM

New revenue streams eyed amid fickle copra price

BY JUDY QUIROS

Mindanao coconut farmers will explore alternative revenue streams to damage-control the impact of copra’s price fluctuation problem, Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) chair Vicente Lao said.

Lao said the matter will be the second main objective of upcoming 1st Mindanao Coconut Summit on July 30-31 in Mati, Davao Oriental.

The first objective is for the Mindanao coconut sector to organize as Mindanao Confederation of Coconut Farmers aimed at strengthening the marketing links of Mindanao’s coconut and its byproducts.

Lao said the coconut farmers have to organize themselves, adding “you can’t go into marketing without being fully organized.”

He said prices of coconut, specifically copra, vacillates from time to time due to strong competition with other coconut producing countries.

“The price of copra goes up and down because we’re not the only one producing coconut,” Lao said.

He said there is a need to develop revenue streams from other coconut commodities such as coconut oil (virgin coconut oil or cooking oil), charcoal production using brick kiln technology, cocopeat-based bio-organic fertilizer production and the prospects of using coconut as bio diesel fuel to address the vacillating copra prices.

Dessicated coconut oil and virgin coconut oil can be sold to food manufacturing and pharmaceutical firms for food and beauty consumption, respectively, Lao said.

These are alternative commodities of coconut which could generate additional and bigger revenues, he added.

Lornito Orillaneda, regional director Philippine Coconut Authority, said the coconut industry suffered a downtrend five years ago until 2006 due to the price fluctuation of copra in the world market.

The industry started to improve in 2007 when government and the private sector instituted measures to save the industry.

Orillaneda said the outlook for the industry became brighter in 2008 as the coconut industry sector started to develop the marketing of coconut byproducts.

He is optimistic the industry will fully bounced back as the price of copra has climbed from P14 per kilo to P20 per kilo last week.

He said the US and Europe are the major markets for Region 11’s copra and coconut oil.

Region 11 is the biggest coconut producing region in the entire country, with a total of 140,000 hectares planted to coconut producing at 2 million metric tons (MT) per hectare a year.

Coconut export revenues of Region 11 hit $700 million last year, accounting for a 2.3 percent growth compared to 2007, Orillaneda said.

He said the coconut sector is targeting to produce 2.5 million MT per year in 2009 with 20,000 additional hectares newly planted in 2008.

As of this period, 50 percent of this year’s target is already achieved making Orillaneda very optimistic to meet the target at end of year.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 29th, 2009, 11:11 AM

P1.5-B set aside for cold chain

By Joel B. Escovilla @ MT

THE GOVERNMENT will earmark P1.5 billion for cold chain program next year as it seeks to cut down post-harvest losses in agricultural commodities by five percent annually.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary S. Salvador said a bulk of the funding might go to Mindanao being the food basket of the country. The funding will be sourced from the Department of Agriculture’s Fields program, which stands for the six areas of agriculture support, including fertilizer, irrigation, infrastructure, education, loans, dryers and seeds
Next year, the budget for the Fields program will be increased from the current P37 billion to P45 billion.
He said the post-harvest losses in vegetables is currently at a high of 35%, while farmers’ wastage for rice and corn is pegged at 15%, respectively. According to the DA’s own roadmap, postharvest losses for the country’s cash and staple crops would stay at single digits in four to five years’ time.

“Mindanao is still the food basket with no typhoons while there are 21 typhoons visiting the country each year,” he said, adding that 55% of the total agriculture demand of the country is located in the National Capital Region which are mostly sourced from Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Anthony S. Dizon, president of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines, said after the more than P600 million investments in cold chain facilities in the cities of Davao, General Santos and Cagayan de Oro in two years ago, they don’t expect new investments from the private sector.
“They are lying low because of the global economic crisis,” said Mr. Dizon who quickly added that the association is not slacking off in inviting local and foreign investors to pour their money in cold chain facilities.
Each cold chain facility could cost somewhere between P100-200 million depending on the type of industry it supports.

Clemen Gehlhar, head of the Office of Capacity Building and Development of the United States Department of Agriculture, said the Philippines has the potential to have a very efficient cold chain system at par with the international standards and regulations.
She said part of the difficulty is how to identify the weakest link in the chain since each industry such as the retail, transportation, or storage have their own issues. For now, however, there is a need to cut down the rate of post-harvest losses in the Philippines which is about 30-40%.
“I can anticipate in the Philippines that the same trend will prevail,” she said. “We hope to come up with an integrated approach that will cover all these links in the chain.”
The 3-day USDA International Cold Chain Conference opened in Davao City on July 27 to discuss the issues hounding the cold chain or the uninterrupted refrigerated handling operation of high value commodities in the country.

dark_knight_detectve

July 30th, 2009, 01:44 PM

P1b for Mindanao Water (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?id=4891)
Updated July 30, 2009 12:00 AM

The absence of potable water in most parts in Mindanao is one of the problems that rural folks are facing in their everyday life. Photo shows children in the hinterlands fetching water for drinks and household chores. -Photo Supplied

BUTUAN CITY–- In line with President Gloria Macapagal Arro’s food security program, Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Chairman Prospero Pichay pledged to allocate P1 billion to fund water system projects throughout the southern island in keeping with his responsibility to improve the lives of the people of Mindanao.

Chairman Pichay, a former congressman of Surigao del Sur before his appointment to head the nations’ water utilities body after the 2007 polls, made the pledged in his message during the two-day 1st Mindanao Leaders Congress (1st MLC) here that ended Friday. The event was organized by the newly organized Mindanaoans for Mindanao (M4M) movement founded by businessman Rolly V. Pelinggon Jr.

He told the 300 Mindanao business and local government officials and people’s organizations (POs) leaders that LWUA has a P2.9 billion budget for the water program, especially for irrigation system and that to pursue his service to the people of Mindanao he would allocate P1 billion water projects all over Mindanao to be implemented before the end of the year.

As a Surigaonon, Pichay strongly backed the M4M vision to get a fair share of the national budget and to press for equity sharing in the national wealth.

The outspoken water utilities chair noted some problems in Mindanao, particularly on peace and order.

Pichay lauded the forming of M4M, saying “Only us Mindanaoans can solve the problems of peace in Mindanao because only us know and understand what are the causes of communist and separatist movement, including the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group.”

The LWUA chairman lamented “that the people of Mindanao has a history of not voting as one and instead, voted for senatorial candidates from Luzon and who, after the elections, forgot them”.

“We must have more senators (from Mindanao), in that way we get a fair share, I have not recalled in political history that Mindanao votes as one, how can we talk of unity when in choosing leaders for our country, we do not choose one from Mindanao,” Pichay noted.

Pichay reiterated his full support to the M4M as the Mindanao leaders are also fully supporting President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s peace and development program, especially in Mindanao.

“Today, Mindanao is awakened. It’s high time to bind ourselves together for better Mindanao, count me in, I’m one of you” he further stressed. -PNA

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 31st, 2009, 08:50 AM

Coco summit starts with bleak prediction

By Ben O. Tesiorna @ SSD

THE 1st Mindanao Coco Summit started with a bleak prediction from Mati Mayor Michelle Rabat who declared that the coconut industry in their municipality is declining.

In an interview after her speech at the opening of the coconut summit Thursday, Rabat said that the "traditional" coconut industry that's merely focused on copra production is already declining due to the increase on demand for coco coir and other new products out of coconut.

Though the need for the latest coco products is a welcome development, Mayor Rabat said that a lot of their coconut farmers are however affected by the need for a "whole coconut" instead of the processed ones.

"Kasi dahil buong niyog na ang binibili ngayon, nawawalan na ng trabaho ang mga nagabiyak ng niyog, pati na yung mga nagalugit ng lubi," Rabat said.

Mati has majority of its 27,000 hectares of total land area devoted to coconut with approximated three million coconut trees. There are about 18,000 coconut farmers in Mati.

In her speech, Rabat said the coconut industry in Mati is being faced with a lot of challenges. Among the challenges mentioned are as follows:

1. Mati, as the capital of the country's number one coconut-producing province, has not other coconut industry facility other than the copra-buying station, like Cargil;
2. Mati has no virgin coconut oil and coconut desiccated plants;
3. Mati has no large-scale coconut nursery;
4. Mati is not part of the national coconut biodiesel industry of the Philippines.

The mayor said the challenges could be due to the fact that for more than 100 years, many have taken for granted the coconut industry in their town.

But such is no longer the case, the mayor said. In 2004, the local government of Mati has started the formulation of coconut industry developmental programs. The Coconut Industry Council of Mati was also created in 2008 in order to institutionalize the local government's desire to mainstream industry interventions.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 31st, 2009, 08:52 AM

Mindanao trader seeks repeal of Cabotage Law

By Carlo P. Mallo @ SSD

MINDANAO Business Council chair Vicente Lao is renewing calls for the repeal of the Cabotage Law in order to upgrade domestic shipping market, which traverses the inter-island ports of the country.

As defined by the Makati Business Club, the cabotage law in essence allows a country to reserve coastwise trade to national flag carriers to the exclusion of foreign vessels.

This principle is embodied in Sections 902 and 1009 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, which was incorporated in Republic Act 5173.

The Cabotage Law is intended to protect the domestic shipping industry, but amendments or even repeal of the cabotage principle has nonetheless been proposed by some of the country's exporters and various business groups.
"It has been very bad for the local shipping industry," Lao said, citing the lousy services and the exorbitant fees charged by local shippers.

MinBC is calling on the government to address the country's high shipping costs and the perceived inefficiencies of its port system, various amendments to the Cabotage Law have been proposed.

"The local shippers are not pressured to be competitive," Lao said. "We must open the market."

A report from the Makati Business Club said that Mindanao businessmen and exporters are among the more vocal proponents of reforms in the country's ports and shipping industry, and are particularly clamoring for amendments to the Cabotage Law.

The Cabotage Law prohibits foreign vessels from directly transporting domestic cargo between two ports other than those designated as international ports, it has been argued that exporters and traders, particularly those from Mindanao, face higher shipping costs because the law hinders competition and fosters inefficiency among local vessel operators.

At present, among the most significant international ports of the Philippines include the Manila International Container Port, the Manila South Harbor, Batangas, Limay, and Davao.

Consequently, the prohibition on foreign-flagged vessels to pick up local cargo for the delivery to another port within the country has allowed local shipping companies not to peg freight costs at competitive prices and the quality of service has not been at par with international shipping companies.

Lao said that the amendments to the Cabotage Law will allow for the increase in port revenues, lower shipping costs, and a better service among shipping companies.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 31st, 2009, 09:02 AM

1st Mindanao Coconut Summit takes centerstage in coco capital of RP

By Neela Duallo

Mati, Davao Oriental (31 July) -- Being the number one coconut producer in the country, the province of Davao Oriental, the local government unit of Mati and the Mindanao Business Council has taken the initiative in addressing the today's plight of the coconut industry, initiate moves to save the industry, and help the coconut farmers so they can hold on, continue to cultivate their land, and bring back the glory of the product that has given both comfort and challenge to the economic lives of the people of the province.

Supposedly slated on June 25-26 as part of the 6th Pujada Bay Festival activities and the 42nd Araw ng Davao Oriental, the 2-day Coconut Summit on July 30-31 hopes to gather hundreds of coconut industry stakeholders to partake in the said historic event.

The Coconut Summit is also another move of Governor Corazon Malanyaon, strongly supported by Mayor Michelle Rabat, to materialize her thrust of maximizing agricultural production.

"It's true, we are the number coconut producer in the country, but this fact has not been divulged from across the country, Now, it's time that the whole country will know that we are," Governor Malanyaon strongly emphasized.

In the pursuit of maximizing agricultural production, the provincial government already had the "Abaca Summit", and the "Rice Summit", all geared towards knowing the situation of the abaca and rice industry, and elicit commitment of revitalizing the industries.

The Governor emphasized that the said measure is the way to face the problem that has been befalling world economies, saying that we have to go back to our land and put them into greater use.

Mr. Louie Rabat, a Trustee of the Mindanao Business Council, sees the Coconut Summit as an avenue to showcase the by-products of coconut.

"Even the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) says that there are many uses of coconut. That's why we do not have to rely and we should not concentrate on copra. You see, when the price of copra went down, a lot of our coconut farmers are greatly affected. So we now see the need of intercropping," he explained.

The price of copra has been a cycle, as noticed by the stakeholders, as there are certain period when it zooms down, and there are also times of the year when coconut farmers enjoy a little comfort from the increase of the copra price.

By-products of coconut include the virgin coconut oil, coconut diesel oil, coco fiber, coco peat, desiccated coconut, among others.

Rabat also stated the fact that a vast portion of agricultural land is not put into use, as there is nothing planted into it.

"We have to instill to the farmers that we must plant variety of crops, depending on the crop that the land is conducive with. There are crops for the upland like coffee, and for the lowland, we can plant cardava," he said.

Topics to be discussed in the Summit include coconut-based food production, cocopeat-based bioorganic fertilizer production, and the prospect of coconut as bio diesel fuel, among others.

Leading the speakers for the forum is Mr. Jesus Arranza, President of the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF).

The 1st Mindanao Coconut Summit is made possible also through the strong coordination of the Philippine Coconut Authority, Davao Region Coconut Industry Cluster, Dept. of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology.

Mayor Michelle Rabat is happy to welcome all the participants to the Coconut Summit, a right time to know and see the richness of the potentials of coconut, dubbed as the "tree of life".

It will be held at the Honey's Hotel and Restaurant, Matiao, Mati, Davao Oriental.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 31st, 2009, 09:14 AM

DCCCII’s meeting focuses on energy crisis

With the continuing growth and development in key cities of Mindanao, it is expected that a looming power crisis is imminent in 2010. Last year, the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) in General Santos City bared that unless new power plants are constructed in the next three years, a power shortage in Mindanao looms.

For its 7th General Membership Meeting on 31 July 2009 at the Serenade Ballroom, Grand MenSeng Hotel, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc (DCCCII) is spearheading another discussion to address the issue and provide venue for its members to be informed of the current challenges and opportunities.

In this meeting, DCCCII has invited Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Zamzamin L. Ampatuan to present programs and activities expected to be implemented by the DOE to cushion the impact of an imminent Mindanao power crisis.

The activity, themed “2010 Looming Power Crisis”, will also have representatives from the Davao Light and Power Company and the Alcantara Group to shed light on the current Mindanao Power Situation and what needs to be done.

Again through its regular monthly meeting, DCCCII provides a venue for its members to be informed of the current issues that affect the business community.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

July 31st, 2009, 10:21 AM

Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) MINDANAO Super Region

City Code Province City Class Income Class Registered Voters1 (2009)

CITY OF PANABO
112315000 DAVAO DEL NORTE Component 4th Class 89,860

ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL
112317000 DAVAO DEL NORTE Component 3rd Class 50,809

CITY OF TAGUM (Capital)
112319000 DAVAO DEL NORTE Component 1st Class 110,206

DAVAO CITY
112402000 DAVAO DEL SUR Highly Urbanized 1st Class 797,214

CITY OF DIGOS (Capital)
112403000 DAVAO DEL SUR Component 3rd Class 95,060

CITY OF KIDAPAWAN (Capital)
124704000 COTABATO (NORTH COTABATO) Component 2nd Class 66,240

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (DADIANGAS)
126303000 SOUTH COTABATO Highly Urbanized 1st Class 263,082

CITY OF KORONADAL (Capital)
126306000 SOUTH COTABATO Component 3rd Class 78,120

CITY OF TACURONG
126511000 SULTAN KUDARAT Component 4th Class 53,306

COTABATO CITY
129804000 COTABATO CITY (Not a Province) Independent Component 2nd Class 131,036

MARAWI CITY (Capital)
153617000 LANAO DEL SUR Component 4th Class 67,456

BUTUAN CITY (Capital)
160202000 AGUSAN DEL NORTE Highly Urbanized 1st Class 154,553

SURIGAO CITY (Capital)
166724000 SURIGAO DEL NORTE Component 2nd Class 78,992

CITY OF BISLIG
166803000 SURIGAO DEL SUR Component 4th Class 53,644

DAPITAN CITY
097201000 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE Component 3rd Class 43,747

DIPOLOG CITY (Capital)
097202000 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE Component 3rd Class 58,615

PAGADIAN CITY (Capital)
097322000 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR Component 2nd Class 105,200

ZAMBOANGA CITY
097332000 ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR Highly Urbanized 1st Class 395,564

CITY OF ISABELA (Capital)
099701000 CITY OF ISABELA (Not a Province) Component 5th Class 45,173

CITY OF MALAYBALAY (Capital)
101312000 BUKIDNON Component 1st Class 74,049

CITY OF VALENCIA
101321000 BUKIDNON Component 3rd Class 96,913

ILIGAN CITY
103504000 LANAO DEL NORTE Highly Urbanized 1st Class 152,523

OROQUIETA CITY (Capital)
104209000 MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL Component 4th Class 41,171

OZAMIS CITY
104210000 MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL Component 3rd Class 73,787

TANGUB CITY
104215000 MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL Component 4th Class 31,326

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Capital)
104305000 MISAMIS ORIENTAL Highly Urbanized 1st Class 225,188

GINGOOG CITY
104308000 MISAMIS ORIENTAL Component 2nd Class 67,562

Notes:

*Red color cities are Mindanao's highly urbanized cities.

1. Figures on registered voters are partial data from Commission on Elections (COMELEC) which may still be subject to corrections/adjustments from their field offices

2. Figures on registered voters exclude data on absentee voters.

3. Figures on registered voters are as of 17 March 2009.

4. PSGC Information are as of 30 June 2009.

5. Income Classification based on Department of Finance Department Order No.20-05 Effective July 29, 2005.

6. Urban/rural classification based on 2000 CPH, Report No. 4 Urban Population, National Statistics Office, June 2006.

7.Legislative District Source: Records and Statistics Division, Commission on Elections (COMELEC): As of May 2008.

8. Population (as of August 1, 2007): a) Total Population Count by Region, Province, City/Municipality and Barangay as of August 1, 2007 ; b) Population of Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs) are excluded in the total population of their respective provinces but are included in the regional total; and c) Population of barangays with boundary disputes are excluded in total population of their respective municipalities and cities but are included in the provincial and regional total. Source: 2007 Census of Population: National Statistics Office (NSO).

9. Population counts for the regions do not add up to national total (88,574,614). Source: National Statistics Office (NSO)
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/census2007/index.html.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

August 1st, 2009, 09:54 AM

Mindanao swine producers may stop pork shipment to Singapore

By Bong S. Sarmiento @ SSD

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Majority of swine producers in Mindanao tapped to pioneer the country's foreign pork meat foray have threatened to back out from the venture, industry players said on Monday.

Emilio V. Escobillo Jr., president of the South Cotabato Swine Producers Association, said that swine producers are losing the appetite to take part in the pilot pork shipment to Singapore because of the prolonged failure of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) to declare southern Philippines as free from ebola reston virus.

At least five swine producers in central and southern Mindanao have been recognized to ship cut pork meat products to Singapore. They were supposed to bring the first pork meat shipment to Singapore last December but stopped by the Agriculture department when several swine farms in Luzon were found positive for ebola reston.

"They're taking so long to declare Mindanao as ebola reston-free. We have no outbreak of that disease here. Something is holding [the BAI] not to make a declaration. It has been several months already since the discovery of the disease that was not in Mindanao but in Luzon," Escobillo said.

The ebola reston virus, a subtype of Ebola, was discovered in the Philippines in 1989 among crab-eating macaques exported to the Hazleton Laboratories in Reston, Virginia. Late in October last year, the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture reported to the Philippine DA that six out of 28 pig tissue samples taken from four hog farms in May, June and September in Luzon were positive for the virus.

Owing to the BAI's failure to declare to date Mindanao as free from ebola reston, Escobillo said that a swine producer in the Davao region, which he did not identify, has already signified intention not to participate in the pork meat export.

In an earlier text message, Escobillo accused the BAI of not doing a surveillance monitoring for ebola reston in Mindanao.

Local BAI officials in the region could not be reached for comment.

In a separate interview, Dr. Castro Leo A. Ejercito, veterinary quarantine service officer here, said the country should "forget exporting pork meat products to Singapore for now."

"Many are losing hope to export pork meat products to Singapore [due to the delayed proclamation of Mindanao as ebola reston-free]. There are international pressures, which includes many requirements from Singapore," Ejercito said without elaborating.

Ejercito noted that ebola reston "is also not found in Mindanao," backing the claims of Escobillo.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 1, 2009.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

August 1st, 2009, 09:59 AM

Entrepreneurs urged: Focus on quality, innovative designs

By Carlo P. Mallo

PRODUCT quality and innovative designs are two important factors that entrepreneurs must take into consideration if they want to hurdle the global economic challenges.

"Challenges are not actually new to these entrepreneurs. What is new right now is their ability to cope with different global challenges. New challenges mean new strategies to hurdle such," said Reimon Gutierrez, product designer hired by the MTE Foundation Inc., during a workshop on product design for the MTE 2009 participants.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Gutierrez, who was in Davao City last week for the Davao leg of the series of product workshops, cited the present world economic crisis as the biggest trial that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have to face.

"The challenge here is how they are going to sustain their business despite the not-so-good status of the world economy," Gutierrez said.

The product designer said that by adopting certain measures like bio mimicry, SMEs will surely get through the challenges.

"It's actually creating more opportunities for those who are next in line. Hindi lang puro kita sa ngayon ang iniisip kundi pati na rin kung ano ang mga produktong magbibigay buhay sa mga susunod pang henerasyon," Gutierrez said.

"You are addressing the challenges in front of you right now because you want to sustain everything for those who are next in line," he added.

Gutierrez also said that since entrepreneurs are making products that can give life to the next generations, their masterpieces will clearly demonstrate their passion and creativity.

BOB-bXu

August 1st, 2009, 10:01 AM

BUTUAN Sadto : 59 Years of Butuan

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St. Joseph Cathedral in the early 1940s..before it was destroyed during World War II

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Abayan Festival during the late 1950s

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Steamships dock along the busy river port along the Agusan River, 1960s circa

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Bureau of Forestry during the logging boom of the 1960s

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Bancasi Airport welcoming the flight of Fast Air from Manila, 1960s circa

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Bancasi Airport during the arrival of Philippine Airlines McDonnel Douglas twin props, 1960s circa

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commemorating the 14th Adlaw Hong Butuan in August 2, 1966

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Rizal Park at night during the late 1960s

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President Diosdado Macapagal during his visit in Butuan in 1964

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Congressman Ferdinand Marcos during his campaign in the city for Senate seat as interviewed by DXBC

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students and ladies and tartanilla at AD Curato Street, 1960s circa

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major infrastructure projects during the 1970s were mostly devoted to road constructions and flood control

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Butuan in the mid 1970s circa...showing the Freedom Park along G. Flores Ave. and the River Port

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Butuan during the early 1970s showing the St. Joseph Cathedral, Rizal Park, with Montalban Bldg. and Diamond Theater Bldg. in the foreground

Dakpa ang akong tiil

August 1st, 2009, 10:02 AM

Coco industry players want share of coconut levy funds

COCONUT industry players in Mindanao want a share of the P100-billion coconut levy fund as support for the ailing industry dubbed as one of the country's major export products sector.

In a resolution passed during the 1st Mindanao Coco Summit in Mati, Davao Oriental on Friday, coconut-based organizations, along with the Mindanao Business Council, sought the government's help for the Mindanao coconut industry through the utilization of a portion of the interest earnings of the coconut levy funds.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Coconut farmers, meanwhile, promised to submit a proposal for an integrated coconut farms productivity improvement, coconut-farming incentives, and support programs for the coconut-based micro, small and medium enterprises for Mindanao.

At the same time, the Mindanao Confederation of Coconut Farmers, a Mindanao-wide organization of all the regional coconut farmers' associations, was also launched in an effort to bring together all key stakeholders of the industry from all over the island.

Jason Magnaye, executive director of the Mindanao Business Council who spearheaded the event, said the coco summit is very successful in "getting a good Mindanao-wide representation of coconut farmers."

Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon expressed optimism that the just-concluded Mindanao Coco Summit would prod both the government and private sectors to look closely and seriously into the plight of the coconut industry.

"We need to rethink of our development direction for the industry, consider and work on innovative options and explore strategies to propel the industry's growth into a high level. We have to consider that with almost 70 out of 79 provinces of the country known to be coconut areas with more than three million hectares of farmlands planted to it and with coco-based products as among the leading export products of the country, there is no doubt that we should continue to foster the coconut industry's increased productivity and sustained growth," Malanyaon said.

"I hope that this summit will provide the venue where we can agree on actions and steps that would bring us to that level of development that we have been envisioning for the industry. As host province to this 1st Coconut Summit, incidentally the biggest coconut-producing province in Mindanao if not the whole country, it is with great pleasure that I welcome all of you to this momentous event," she added.

The coconut industry continues to be a major source of foreign exchange with the Philippines coconut exports accounting to about 65 percent of the world traded coconut products. The industry earns an average of $800 million per year or P32 billion per year from exports trade and contributes about five percent of the country's total annual merchandise exports receipts.

It is the top export earner on net basis considering that its raw materials and labor components are domestically based unlike other export products, and the Philippines supplies 64% of the global coconut oil requirements.

About 24 million Filipinos, or one third of the Philippine population, directly or indirectly benefit from the coconut industry. There are 1.5 million coconut farmers and farm workers in the country.

Mindanao is home to six coconut regions with the entire island economy contributing more than 60 percent of the national output.

Despite this, however, the productivity level of coconut still remains low due mainly to the lack of resources of farmers to buy agricultural inputs as well as tenurial problems, limited access to credit, inadequate farm-to-market roads and post-harvest and processing facilities, indiscriminate cutting of productive coconut trees, and the increasing trend of conversion of coconut lands for other commercial and agricultural purposes.

MtApoStandard

August 4th, 2009, 07:01 AM

Mindanao economic situation at DBP business forum, Wednesday

The Mindanao economic situation will get a closer look at the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Business Forum on Wednesday, August 5 even as the government development bank will familiarize business and government leaders on the financial institution’s major thrusts and relevant priority programs.

The entire Board of Directors of the DBP led by its chair Patricia Sto.Tomas and president Reynaldo G. David will be on hand for the forum.

This rare opportunity of the entire Board’s presence is made possible by the fact that the Board is holding its first out-of-town regular weekly board meeting here in Davao City.

The forum is being undertaken in conjunction with the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII).

The MEDCo and MinBC will present the Mindanao Situationer while Pres. Rey David will inform the gathering about DBP’s participation in economic and development efforts, and loan products and social packages that can be availed of by Mindanao entrepreneurs, LGUs and institutions.

The Forum will be held at the Marco Polo Hotel starting at 8:30 a.m. (up to lunchtime) Wednesday, August 5

http://www.dailymirror.ph/August/business08042009&04.html

marlowe_cano

August 4th, 2009, 07:38 AM

.
.
.

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experience the wild waves of Malamawi Island...

an island offshore city of Isabela, Basilan...

:banana::banana::banana::banana:

Dakpa ang akong tiil

August 5th, 2009, 12:11 PM

Mindanao biz forum set today

By SSD
Tuesday, August 4, 2009

MINDANAO entrepreneurs will find out how to avail various development programs offered by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) during the conduct of a Mindanao-wide business forum at Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City Wednesday.

The forum will focus on the current thrusts of DBP, as well as to engage the government and private sectors in determining how and where DBP can play a role in pursuing peace and development in Mindanao.

"As a financial institution, DBP has significantly participated in Mindanao and we are interested in how we can be of further help to its development by engaging directly with the entrepreneurs," said DBP director Rey Magno Teves.

Teves added that DBP is offering various programs among its major thrusts which include social services, environment, infrastructure and logistics, and microfinance for small and medium enterprises.

For social services, programs focus on education, housing, and community development while environment focus on water, solid waste management, pollution control, and alternative energy.

Teves said DBP has significantly supported sustainable logistics program like the roll-on roll-off (Ro-ro) facility and the One-Town-One-Product program as well as loans and technical assistance for SME development.

The forum will be a rare opportunity for participants since the entire board of directors of DBP will be around to interact with the participants.

DBP chair Patricia Sto. Tomas and CEO president Reynaldo David as well as other senior officials of the bank will also be attending.

Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) chair, and Vicente Lao, Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) chairman, is set to speak on Mindanao development priorities and perspectives.

This affair is in collaboration with Mindanao Economic Development Council (MDC), Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII).

Expected to attend the forum are various business organizations in Mindanao, including chambers of commerce and industry associations.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

August 5th, 2009, 12:14 PM

Mindanao exporters to look beyond global econ slowdown

By SSD

MINDANAO exporters and other concerned stakeholders are not losing hope and still believe that opportunities lie ahead of the global economic recession.

With the theme "Mindanao Looks Beyond the Global Crisis," the Mindanao Exporters' Forum slated on August 13 and 14 at the mini-theater of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in Davao City will tackle issues and concerns on how the export sector and its support services can sustain their survival in anticipation on the recovery of the global markets after the current recession.

"We really are harping on the importance of putting our acts together and implement tailor-fit initiatives and measures for the Mindanao exporters not to lose the stamina to keep on despite the present economic challenges," Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE) 2009 chair Ann T. Pamintuan said.

Moreover, the forum will find better strategies in developing and promoting cross-border trade and investment relationship with other Mindanaoans and some neighboring countries.

"The economies of our neighboring countries are still doing well. So, why not tap them as our trading partners?" she said.

The two-day forum, which is expected to gather at least 150 stakeholders, has lined up a battery of speakers who are adept/expert in their respective fields relative to trade partnership and opportunities. Among the topics for discussion are: Understanding the Global Economic Crisis; Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) and Exports; Accessing the Export Support Fund of the Economic Development Council (EDC); Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) Extension Law and its Opportunities for Agro-based Products, Cooperatives, and Exporters; European Union’s Fair Trade Practices and its Benefits to the Philippine Exporters; Exports Efficiency and Profitability of the International Standards Organization (ISO) Certification; Pangasius Farming and Moringa (Malunggay) Production; Exploring New Market Opportunities in Japan; Proposed Amendments to Labor Contracting; Financing Facilities of the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation (SBGFC) for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); Financing Facilities for the Exporters by the Philippine Export Import Bank (Philexim); and Looking Beyond the Global Crisis.

Pamintuan said considering the subject matters that will be tackled by experts, the participants will be provided with appropriate knowledge in winning over the present challenges.

"This forum is really timely and relevant. Guiding the entrepreneurs and the entire export industry during trying times is as crucial as providing them funding support when they were just starting up," she said.

The forum is among the highlights of the MTE 2009. It is co-organized by the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PhilExport)-Southern Mindanao and sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Export Development Council (EDC), and Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

Dakpa ang akong tiil

August 5th, 2009, 12:16 PM

Demand for banana exports to reach 15M metric tons

By Carlo P. Mallo @ SSD

DEMAND for banana exports is expected to reach 15 million metric tons by 2010 based on the assessment of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the UN-Food and Agriculture Organization.

Banana exports will be composed primarily of cavendish variety, which will be sourced from countries in the Latin America and the Philippines.

The Philippines accounts for 12 percent of total global exports of cavendish banana, ranking third and the only Asian country to land in the top five Cavendish exporting countries.

Placing first is Ecuador with 29 percent, second is Costa Rica with 13 percent, Colombia is fourth with 10 percent, while Guatemala is fifth with seven percent.

Production of cavendish bananas in the Philippines has increased with Stanfilco Philippines remaining to be the top exporting company for the first three months of 2009 with more than 129,000 metric tons.

Based on the monitoring of the umbrella group of banana growers and exporters, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), a total of 473,301 metric tons were exported from January to March this year.

With 129,401 metric tons of cavendish banana exported, Stanfilco ranked number one, followed by the Anflo Group of Companies which exported 99,560 metric tons of cavendish banana.

A far third is Sumifru Philippines with exports reaching 73,395 metric tons, followed closely by Lapanday Foods Corporation, which ranked fourth with 70,110 metric tons of exports.

The AMS Group of Companies rounded up the top five with a total export of 25,644 metric tons of cavendish bananas.

At number six is the Marsman Drysdale Group of Companies exporting 20,409 metric tons, while the Nader & Ebrahim Sons of Hassan Philippines placed seventh with 13,877 metric tons.

La Frutera Inc., which mainly operates in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (Armm), placed eight on the list with total exports for the first three months of the year reaching 11,673 metric tons.

Ranking ninth is Unifrutti Philippines with 8,723 metric tons of export, while Dizon Farms Philippines ranked tenth exporting 8,106 metric tons.

Other banana companies have a consolidated export of 12,403 metric tons.

PBGEA president Stephen Antig said in an earlier interview that the demand for Philippine produced Cavendish bananas have increased, particularly in the Middle East and China as new markets open up.

The export for the first three months of 2009 is 54,000 metric tons higher compared to the same period in 2008.

MtApoStandard

August 6th, 2009, 04:41 PM

PPA wants ISO certification for Batangas Port PDF Print E-mail
Regions
Written by VG Cabuag / Reporter
Thursday, 06 August 2009 22:12

THE Philippine Ports Authority is working on an ISO certification, a move to standardize some of the operational functions, of its Batangas Port facility. If successful, the agency will replicate it in some of its other facilities.

The PPA has already started launching the ISO quality management system, or ISO 9001:2000, for the Batangas Port, which is geared to become an alternative facility to congested terminals in Manila.

The certification, which costs about P2 million or more depending on the operations, will only change the way the port handles or processes its documents and not on how it handles its cargoes. The certification contains the general requirements for a quality-management system. The standard is applicable to all companies, including manufacturing and service providers.

If granted, ISO will review the PPA’s operation on a regular basis, such as on a monthly or a semiannual basis, depending on the need.

Lilian Javier, port operations services department manager, said Malacañang has directed all the departments to have an ISO certification.

The PPA has selected the vessel entrance and clearance process to be certified.

“The objective of the Department of Transportation and Communications is also to gain expertise, and it’s up to the agencies concerned to replicate the training to other ports and expand to other processes,” Javier explained.

The PPA targets to start the implementation in the Port of Batangas by next week, and by September they expect to work on Davao and General Santos. “We will also extend the program to the ports of Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis, Zamboanga and Iloilo by next year,” he said.

Manila International Container Terminal and Manila South Harbor, operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc. and Asian Terminals Inc., respectively, have already adopted ISO certification.

“By year-end, we will have an external audit. If there are minor nonconformities, which are normally documentary requirements, we can easily comply, but when there’s nonconformity, we have two to three months to comply,” Javier said.

External auditors can be Bureau Veritas, ABS Quality Evaluations, and AJA Registrars.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/14274-ppa-wants-iso-certification-for-batangas-port.html

boju2

August 7th, 2009, 01:56 AM

Mindanao seen leading bid to boost coffee yield (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW080709/content.php?id=053)

MALITBOG, BUKIDNON — The Philippine Coffee Board, Inc. (PCBI) is looking at Mindanao, led by the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon, to be instrumental in the country’s achievement of the goal of coffee self-sufficiency in next five to 10 years.

The board’s data showed that local farms supply only 50% of the annual local requirement of 65,000 tons. About half of the demand is supplied by neighboring countries Vietnam and Thailand. The coffee board targets that local farmers will be able to meet demand within the next five to 10 years.

"In 2015, we are expecting 75,000 tons demand for coffee and we should be prepared," said PCBI chairman and area director for the Visayas Nicholas A. Matti.

PCBI is a private sector-led group, formed in 2002 as the National Coffee Development Board.

PBCI executives visited this town last July 25 to launch the National Coffee Planting Month.

"Bukidnon will come next to Sultan Kudarat in hosting the biggest land area for coffee production," Mr. Matti said.

It takes just an hour’s drive to reach Barangay Tablon in Cagayan de Oro where Nestlé Philippines, Inc., the biggest buyer of coffee beans on the island operates a manufacturing plant.

Mr. Matti said the favorable climate in the province as well as its fertile soil give Bukidnon a comparative advantage in coffee farming.

PCBI is coordinating with Landcare Foundation of the Philippines, Inc., a nongovernment organization based in Misamis Oriental, for grants to small-scale farmers who will be willing to start their own coffee plantations.

"We’re still in the first phase of the project and we’ll be giving P20,000 worth of farm inputs to each farmer beneficiary," said Lyndon J. Arbes, Northern Mindanao Landcare Foundation coordinator. Mr. Arbes said they are targeting to assist and support 200 farmers covering at least 200 hectares of coffee farms.

Joel Lumagbas, PCBI area director for Mindanao, said the coffee board will continue its program of rejuvenating old coffee trees and planting new trees. "We’re seeing expansion areas in Mindanao and we intend [to promote coffee farming more] especially in the northeastern areas of Mindanao in the coming years," said Mr. Lumagbas.

He said that, through the Landcare Foundation, farmers can continue intercropping their farms. Seedling to flowering stage could take more than a year, thus, other cash crops are suggested such as abaca or cassava that could earn additional income to farmers before the coffee harvest. — Geefe P. Alba

boju2

August 7th, 2009, 05:23 AM

Six out of 20 top universities in the Philippines are in Mindanao:cheers:

Top 20 Universities in the Philippines 2009 (http://www.alvindimla.com/2009/08/top-universities-philippines-2009/)

1. University of the Philipines-Diliman
2. University of Santo Tomas
3. Mindanao State University- Iligan institute of Technology
4. University of the Philippines-Los Banos
5. Mindanao State University- Marawi
6. Ateneo de Davao University
7. Ateneo de Manila University
8. Silliman University
9. University of San Carlos
10. Saint Louis University
11. University of the Philippines-Manila
12. De La Salle University-Manila
13. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
14. Xavier University
15. University of Negros Occidental
16. Univesity of Southern Philippines
17. Polytechnic University of the Philippines
18. Mapua Institute of Technology
19. Central Mindanao University
20. Adamson University

_leonell_

August 9th, 2009, 04:57 PM

Good day Mindanao!!!

A warm greeting from the Cebuanos out here!!!

I miss my last vacation there...........

jsl_bxu1206

August 10th, 2009, 06:36 PM

Mindanao cooperative launches ATM service
Sunday, 09 August 2009 19:12

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Aurora Integrated Multipurpose Cooperative (AIMCoop) launched on Thursday the automated-teller machine (ATM) service enabling the cooperative to serve its more than 10,000 clientele in this southern port city 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

AIMCoop general manager Pacienciano Tomarong said the launching of the ATM service in this city is the 12th for the cooperative, which has 21 branches in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Tomarong said AIMCoop is the first cooperative in Mindanao to engage in electronic banking and the second in the country. The first one that launched ATM service to its clientele is a cooperative based in the Visayas region.

He said AIMCoop members who are holders of ATM cards could also transact with other banking institutions that are members of the Bancnet, Megalink and Expressnet as the cooperative qualified to the standards of the three banking networks.

Likewise, he said ATM cardholders of other banking institutions that are members of the three banking networks could also make transactions with any of the 12 AIMCoop branches that have ATMs.

Councilor Cesar Iturralde, chairman of the city council’s committee on cooperatives, described the launching of ATM service by AIMCoop as the first of its kind in this southern port city.

“This [launching of ATM service] will bring more effective services, especially to cooperatives in the city of Zamboanga,” Iturralde said in an interview.

Iturralde said the launching of ATM service by AIMCoop is a step forward for the cooperative as “this will make them more efficient in their business transaction in this city.”

The AIMCoop branch in Zamboanga City is barely more than two years in operations as it opened its branch here on July 20, 2007.

Tomarong disclosed that the AIMCoop branch in Zamboanga City has at present 10,868 members and its membership is still growing.

Tomarong said they intend to open three more branches in this city.

AIMCoop services include savings, time deposits, loans, money transfer and special kiddie and teens savings.

AIMCoop was organized in the town of Aurora in Zamboanga del Sur by a Columbian priest in 1967 with 44 members and with a total capitalization of P400.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/14332-mindanao-cooperative-launches-atm-service.html

MtApoStandard

August 11th, 2009, 06:07 AM

P15.3-billion DBP facility for infra development now available

Manila (11 August) -- State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is making available a P15.3 billion (Y30.380 billion) facility that will finance improvements in the logistics and infrastructure systems in the country.

DBP president & chief executive officer Reynaldo G. David said the Logistics Infrastructure Development Project (LIDP) is a continuation of DBP's Sustainable Logistics Development Program (SLDP) but on a more expanded scope.

"The LIDP particularly provides long-term funding for critical infrastructure projects such as roll-on, roll-off (roro) vessels and related facilities such as ports and ramps; toll roads; farm-to-market roads; and related maintenance equipment," he said during an investor's briefing held recently at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City.

Other projects eligible under this facility are packaging, transport, and distribution facilities, projects under the bulk grains highway which facilitates efficient transport of products from Mindanao to Luzon, and projects under the cold chain highway which re-engineers the logistics system for perishables.

"This facility will improve farm-to-market efficiency and enhance movement of products and goods to the major trading areas to help boost the domestic economy," David added.

David said the facility can be accessed by private corporations with at least 70% Filipino ownership, government-owned-and-controlled corporations, and local government units. Borrowers are required to provide counterpart funding of 30% of the project cost.

The facility is sourced from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and has a disbursement period of seven years. David added that the LIDP was among the two Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans signed during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's working visit to Japan last June. (DBP/PIA) [top]

jsl_bxu1206

August 12th, 2009, 07:37 PM

Poor Mindanaoan voices must be heard at Mindanao Forum with 11 Presidentiables
by Ben Serrano
August 12, 2009

BUTUAN CITY- Various non government organizations in Caraga Region have expressed apprehensions on whether voices from Mindanao’s marginal sectors like the Indigenous People, fisherfolk, farmers, small-scale miners and ordinary residents were consulted on what issues will be taken at the August 27 Mindanao Forum with eleven presidentiables to be held at Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City.

Under the auspices of elitist Mindanao Business Council, the forum is said to gather presidentiables in the likes of Ed Panlilio, Nicolas Perlas, Manuel Roxas II, Manny Villar, Francis Escudero, Gilbert Teodoro, Joseph Estrada, Noli de Castro, Bayani Fernando, Richard Gordon and Loren Legarda.

Jason Magnaye, executive director of MBC, said the forum would be a ‘litmus test’ for 2010 presidential candidates on how serious they are with their plans for Mindanao.

The forum intends to mainstream the culture of truth and accountability by gathering civil society groups and other sectors to dialogue with the presidentiables.

Joy Almanzor, project team leader of Truth and Accountability (TAG) project, said the candidates would be asked by representatives from each sector to explain their developmental agenda for women, health, youth, government, education, Moro, agriculture, peace and labor.

Although, the last presidentiable forum conducted June 11 in Cebu were only attended by two candidates, Mar Roxas and Chiz Escudero, Magnaye is confident they would be able to gather the eleven candidates.

“If Mindanao really matters to them, they would attend the forum,” Magnaye said.

But several peoples’ organizations here in Caraga Region claimed not one among them in the region were invited to represent the poor people of the region which compromises almost 80% of the total population of the region.

Beverly Del Valle urban poor leader of Caraga Region claimed of all the people that must be invited to air their voices at the Mindanao Forum with presidentiables are supposedly leaders and representatives from rural and urban poor.

“Dream of Mindanao of being independent economically will remain an elusive dream if present Mindanao leaders will always forget to empower the poorest of the poor in Mindanao. This is the reason why armed conflict always flourish in the country’s second biggest island because the mass based are always forgotten”, Del Valle said.

Del Valle said that many groups at present and in the past have been formed to economically liberate Mindanao, “but leaders of these groups only used Mindanaoans for their personal gains, greedy interests and ambitions”, Del Valle added.

“Their battle cry Mindanaoans for Mindanao but in reality it is Mindanaoans for themselves, for their personal vested interests”, Del Valle concludes.

http://mindanao.com/blog/2009/08/poor-mindanaoan-voices-must-be-heard-at-mindanao-forum-with-11-presidentiables/

boju2

August 13th, 2009, 03:27 AM

DA invites foreign clients to invest in Mindanao’s halal industry (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/14527-da-invites-foreign-clients-to-invest-in-mindanaos-halal-industry.html)
Written by Bong D. Fabe / Correspondent
Thursday, 13 August 2009 02:36

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now actively inviting investors from the Middle East, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the United States to invest in the halal sector in Mindanao even as it continues to strengthen the island’s halal investment opportunities with the proposed establishment of the Halal Economic Zone.

Halal is the term used for food that is permissible according to Islamic law.

Aside from the Halal Economic Zone, which is planned to be set up in Davao City to the tune of P2.2 billion, the DA is also inviting investors to invest in the proposed P840-million halal model poultry farm to be set up in this capital city of Northern Mindanao.

According to Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras, the proposed Halal Economic Zone will serve as the centerpiece of the halal investment portfolio the government has drawn up.

Once established, the Halal Economic Zone will boost the Philippines’ export earnings by at least $200 million a year aside from generating 24,000 new jobs, Paras said in a statement.

These two halal investment opportunities, according to Paras, are the Philippines’ way of getting even just one percent of the very lucrative world halal food-export industry which is currently valued at $500 billion.

He said the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro were chosen as the site for these $3.04-billion projects because these areas are free from the avian-influenza virus and the foot-and-mouth disease plaguing pigs. They also have a very reliable supply of feed ingredients like corn, copra meal and fishmeal.

Paras disclosed that DA officials have already talked to representatives of Kuwait and Brunei for possible investments in the halal sector here.

“Our exporters will be pleased to hear that initial talks have already been held with Kuwait and Brunei on possible investment opportunities in the halal sector,” he said.

boju2

August 13th, 2009, 03:28 AM

Small oil players in thick of expansion, depot-building in Davao, rest of Mindanao (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/14528-small-oil-players-in-thick-of-expansion-depot-building-in-davao-rest-of-mindanao.html)

Written by Manuel T. Cayon / Reporter
Thursday, 13 August 2009 02:37

DAVAO CITY—Small oil companies have aggressively pushed their expansion programs here and elsewhere in Mindanao in a low-key positioning aimed at getting a slice of the Mindanao market.

Gil Dureza, chief of the Board of Investments in Eastern Mindanao, said at least two independent oil players that were not yet highly visible in Mindanao have already informed his office that they were finalizing the locations of their new depots either in the city or in two towns of Davao del Sur.

Dureza would not disclose the names of the two companies, but he said one of them already has a depot in Cagayan de Oro City in northern Mindanao.

“They were looking at either Santa Cruz or Malalag towns,” Dureza told the regular Wednesday news forum at the Marco Polo Hotel here.

He said many of the independent oil players already operating here have also signified plans of expanding their operations, including one of the fastest-growing oil companies in the Philippines today that is based here.

Dureza said he was not surprised by a reported disclosure of a development bank that one of the small oil players has already submitted an application for a loan of P1 billion.

The amount would be used to finance an oil depot to be constructed in the industrial north of this city, according to Antonio Ajero, the forum moderator, who said he was told of the transaction by a highly placed executive of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

The DBP made a sortie here last week to meet business groups from around Mindanao.

Dureza said it would not be surprising if the said oil company would apply for such a big loan, saying that only a few years ago, the same company was able to put up a P.5-billion depot when it operated here.

Many of the independent oil players have already set up their Mindanao operations, but Dureza said the trend is in the construction of oil depots.

dinabaw

August 13th, 2009, 03:28 AM

Positioning of Mindanao as
investment hub gains ground
BY JUDY QUIROS

Forty-six investment prospects worth P1.6 billion that are open for joint ventures have been identified in Mindanao, signifying that attempts to position the island as an investment hub are rising.

Speaking at the Club 888 Forum yesterday at The Marco Polo, Davao, Board of Investments Mindanao chief Gil Dureza said the investment prospects will be presented for joint venture agreements during a business matching activity in the 4th Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MTTE 2009) on August 20 to 22 at the Davao Convention and Trade Center.

This year’s MTTE is a multi-faceted, multi-event exposition of Mindanao tourism and related industries.

It will be anchored on the need to give greater emphasis on local tourism through interconnectivity and accessibility of all stakeholders, the MTTE in its brochure said.

The MTTE 2009 is also an official component event of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw 2009 festival.

The biggest of the list of projects is the P800 million agri-tourism project involving a 400-hectare white sand beach in Davao Oriental.

“We hope Davao Region will top in the investment sector in the next five years, once these projects are developed,” Dureza said.

He said Davao Region is booming in investments not only in the tourism sector but also in the services sector.

He cited the coming in of a new call center opening an initial 300 seats by December and will expand to 5,000 seats.

Overall, the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector in the Davao Region particularly in Davao City is eyeing to hire 8,000 workers this year, he said.

He also said that new oil firms other than the big three oil giants are also planning to start investments somewhere in Sta. Cruz and Malalag in Davao del Sur.

Local and foreign investors are expected to join the business matching activity stirring up the spirits of BOI Mindanao to corner a considerable number of joint venture projects, Dureza said.

Lawyer Lucky Ballique, officer-in-charge of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (Nerbac) for his part said, the 46 projects are all over Mindanao but over 50 percent is located in Region 11. Most of the projects are tourism-related, he added.

He said BOI-Mindanao has already sent the listed investment prospects to BOI-Manila, result of which is expected next week.

He said BOI-Mindanao has identified the investment prospects through the provincial offices, which have instituted their respective investment promotion centers.

He also said that many of the local government units in the Davao Region have established their Local Investment Code, enabling them to identify and prioritize investment prospects.

Mindanao Daily Mirror (http://www.dailymirror.ph/August/business08132009&01.html)

dinabaw

August 13th, 2009, 03:40 AM

Brunei Trade minister to push halal system at Mindanao Trade Expo in Davao City

DAVAO CITY — Food exporters and producers in Mindanao are urged to take a serious look at halal opportunities during the 2009 Mindanao Trade Expo that opens here today.

Ann T. Pamintuan, president of the Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation, an organizer of the event, said that although a Halal Brand Project has been established in Brunei, it still lack products that can be marketed globally.

"The minister of Trade and Industry of Brunei Darussalam is coming over to personally discuss this," Ms. Pamintuan said.

"Participants in the discussion will get the chance to appreciate the halal project more and even snatch the opportunity to do business [with Brunei]," she said.

The Brunei Halal Brand is initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Brunei Islamic Religious Council, Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Health.

In the project Web site (www.bruneihalal.gov.bn), one reads how the endeavor offers the credibility of Brunei Halal Certification.

It said the Brunei Halal Brand basically acts as a passport for businesses to penetrate into the lucrative world of halal industry, giving an opportunity to investors inside and outside Brunei through joint-venture agreements or foreign direct investments.

" now looking for partners who can provide them with halal products. With that, Mindanao can be a potential producer and supplier of halal products," Ms. Pamintuan said.

Brunei and Mindanao, she said, are already partners in economic development through the East ASEAN Growth Area, so it would be easier for both countries to come to an agreement and enable Mindanao exporters to supply a portion of the demand estimated from 1.5 to 1.8 billion Muslim consumers in over 100 countries.

"We just need to adopt the right marketing strategies in order to capture a share of the huge global halal market estimated to be at $580 billion to $1.2 trillion," she said.

Government agencies are already in the process of amending the law governing halal to give teeth to the Philippine National Standards on Halal Food specified in Memorandum Order 201 issued by President Arroyo last year.

Led by the Department of Trade and Industry, the team also includes the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Department of Science and Technology, and the Office of Muslim Affairs.

Ustadz Esmael W. Ibrahim, managing director of the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board, said only 11 products have so far been certified as halal in Mindanao. [B]These products are produced in Zamboanga del Sur, Butuan City in Agusan del Norte, and in Tagum City in Davao del Norte.

But Mr. Ibrahim said they face difficulty in policing restaurants and fastfood chains outside of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that supposedly offer halal food but have not been certified by the board, the main body comprising the country’s leading muftis, or Muslim scholars, and food experts that has the authority to accredit products and establishments.

BusinessWorld (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW081309/content.php?src=3&id=054)

dark_knight_detectve

August 13th, 2009, 03:15 PM

repost

NorMin growth outpaces National Capital Region

By Cong B. Corrales [1]

"IN THE land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king," thus sums the economic growth of Northern Mindanao as compared to other regions in the Philippines.

Although Northern Mindanao is currently the fastest growing and still the largest economy in the country last year, the national economic growth plummeted.

Northern Mindanao Knowledge Division Chief Cecilio Clarete of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) made the conclusion when he gave economic updates of the country and the region during the Communication and Advocacy Program for the Medium Term National and Regional Development Plan Task Force (CAP-TF) meeting last week at Cagayan de Oro Neda Office.

From 2006 to 2007, the country's economic growth rate was 7.1 percent while the region had 7.7 percent growth during the same period.

Meanwhile, from 2007 to 2008, the country's economic growth rate dived to 3.8 percent while Northern Mindanao's growth rate was recorded at 5.3 percent.

Despite the contraction in its economic growth rate, the region still managed to outpace the National Capital Region (NCR) that same year.

Northern Mindanao's share in the national gross domestic product (GDP) last year was 5.0 percent.

Clarete said the agriculture sector recorded the largest expansion among sectors last year, outperforming the usual growth contributors of the region, services and industry sectors, at the time when the global financial crisis ravaged most of the economic sectors.

Last year, the agriculture sector contributed 10.7 percent while services marked a paltry of 2.3 percent and the industry sector at 4.2 percent. In the services sector's subcomponent, trade nose-dived from 10.7 percent in 2007 to 1.6 percent last year.

"In times of crisis, we can always lean back to agriculture. Although we project to be an industrial and trade region, we cannot neglect the agriculture sector," Clarete said.

The global economic crunch, he added, greatly affected manufacturing -- a subsector of the industry sector. Last year, mining and quarrying was a disappointment as it contributed a measly 0.7 percent to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP).

Yet, Northern Mindanao sustained its position as the third highest per capita in the GRDP and second in terms of per capita growth in the national economy.

Engr. Leon Dacanay Jr., acting regional director of Northern Mindanao Neda, said the slowdown in the exports and investments sectors due to the global economic crunch played another factor in the dismal GDP growth outlook for the region this year.

Exacerbating this, according to Dacanay, is the widening budget deficit in the national budget because of tax revenue leakages.

"We would still need more tax revenues to pump prime our economy," he said. This prompted them to move the deadline to balance the budget from 2008 and 2010 to 2011, he added.

Dacanay said with this economic outlook for the country and the region, the fiscal policy of national government is "expansionary yet prudent."

"The key growth driver for this year would be the construction sector," he said.

Under the fiscal policy, Dacanay said, the national government would realign the budget to "fast-moving infrastructure projects and front-loading of resources."

He said the real estate and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors would benefit from the global economic slowdown, complementing positive prospects from agriculture and tourism sectors.

Dacanay said the national government would protect the sectors most vulnerable to the economic slowdown by expanding social protection programs and increase the purchasing power of these sectors.

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on August 11, 2009.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/normin-growth-outpaces-national-capital-region

MtApoStandard

August 16th, 2009, 05:16 AM

P1.6B in new Mindanao businesses seen
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:56:00 08/15/2009

Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance, Investments

DAVAO CITY – The Board of Investments (BOI) has identified at least 46 prospective investment projects worth P1.6 billion in Mindanao.

Gil Dureza, BOI Mindanao chief, said the availability of so many investment opportunities on the island could position it as one of the country’s investment hubs.

Dureza told reporters here on Tuesday that Mindanao’s investment opportunities would be presented during the business matching activity in connection with the 4th Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MTTE 2009), which will be held here from August 20 to 22.

This year’s MTTE is a multifaceted, multievent exposition of Mindanao tourism and related industries, according to the organizers.

The MTTE 2009 is also an official component event of the annual Kadayawan sa Dabaw festival.

P800-M tourist facility

Dureza said the biggest in the list of prospective investment projects in Mindanao was the P800 million agri-tourism project that involves a 400-hectare white sand beach in Davao Oriental.

“Local and foreign investors are expected to join the business matching activity stirring up the spirits of BOI Mindanao to corner a considerable number of joint venture projects,” Dureza said.

Lawyer Lucky Ballique, officer-in-charge of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (Nerbac), said half of the 46 projects identified in the whole of Mindanao were in Region 11.

“Most of the projects are tourism-related,” he said.

As this developed, Dureza said that six investment projects – which are outside the list of 46 projects they have identified – would start this year.

He said one of the projects was related to medical tourism, a sector constantly growing in the city.

Retirement villages

He said also in the pipeline were retirement villages being put up by Filipino and Korean investors.

“An inland resort in Davao City is also scheduled to start before the end of the year,” Dureza said.

He said the proponents of the six projects were currently processing their documents and were optimistic that they could start before the year ends.

The country has so far survived the effects of a global recession.
Judy Quiros, Inquirer Mindanao

Fahdingding

August 16th, 2009, 09:19 AM

Obviously, DAVAO City ang primary investment destination...

Lagi na lang DAVAO, DAVAO, DAVAO! :lol:

zoroethgenre_003

August 16th, 2009, 01:06 PM

junax

August 16th, 2009, 06:27 PM

Mindanao’s tourism industry set to launch key projects this week

DAVAO CITY — Mindanao’s tourism sector will unveil six projects during the Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo on August 20-22, simultaneously with the Kadayawan festival.

The list involves three medical tourism projects, two retirement villages and an inland resort, said Gil M. Dureza, head of the Board of Investments in the region.

A three-dimensional map will also be unveiled that will be eventually posted on the Internet to help would-be tourists better plan their travels on Mindanao.

Mr. Dureza said the medical tourism projects involve a dental facility and expansion of two big hospitals. "Let us wait for their officials to identify these projects," he said declining to provide details.

One of the retirement villages is a project of a Korean company, while the other is that of a Filipino company, he said. The inland resort, he added, is run by a local company.

Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque, chief of the Trade department’s National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center, confirmed that documents on these projects have already been filed with his office. "We have started looking into these documents since we want to approve them the soonest we can so they can immediately start development," he said in an interview.

A list of 46 proposed projects, other than the six, was sent to Board’s head office, Mr. Dureza said, so those projects could be matched with investors who are willing to pour in their capital in Mindanao. Many of these projects are from the Davao Region, while the others are from other regions of Mindanao, he added.

He said tourism is among the sectors with high potential for investment. "The region is endowed with much beauty. Davao Oriental, by way of example, has one of the longest beaches with white sand at 400 kilometers," he said.

The three-dimensional topographical map that will be unveiled this week will show the highways and bridges that connect key tourism spots on the island to help travelers plan their routes.

The 6x6 feet Mindanao Tourism and Transport Highway Map was developed by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Transportation and Communication.

Sonia V. Garcia, tourism regional director, said a parallel map which also shows the hotels and accommodations in all key sites as well as brochures will also be unveiled during the expo. Ms. Garcia said the map will show the routes from Davao City going to Island Garden City of Samal, Cagayan, Surigao, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga or tourist spots like Lake Sebu, Mt. Apo, or Mt. Kitanglad and others. "On the map, you will also able to see gaps in the connectivity...so it is now up to the private sector to ask the National Government to bridge those gaps," she said.

A soft copy of the map will soon be uploaded at the DoT Web site for Internet surfers who will like to have an idea on traveling by land in Mindanao, said Araceli L. Ayuste, vice-chairman of the Davao Region Tourism Council.

"The [original] map is so big I still don’t know where we are going to put it, maybe in a museum," she said.

Ms. Ayuste said domestic tourists seem to be more particular about accommodations, accessibility and security and they won’t travel unless they are confident of where they are going.

She said her team traveled throughout Mindanao for a road show for the travel expo.

"We went to Butuan from Davao City for a meeting thinking it will take seven hours," she said. "But we left 5 a.m. for Butuan and arrived there by 9 a.m."

That route usually takes from seven hours on good weather to up to 10 hours during rainy days.

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo R. del Rosario said the Talaingod-Kapalong-Bukidnon road has been completed which makes it easier to travel to Northern Mindanao from Davao del Norte. The first-class coastal road linking the province to Davao Oriental and Surigao has also been completed, cutting travel time. — CQF and JBE

boju2

August 19th, 2009, 08:06 AM

STEAG supplies 20% power requirement for Mindanao (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/steag-supplies-20-power-requirement-for-mindanao/)
Posted on August 19, 2009 by damarre

from BusinessWorld

http://cagayandeorodev.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/mindanao-steag.jpg?w=300&h=220

STEAG State Power Inc.’s coal-fired thermal power plant in the town of Villanueva has covered 20% of the island’s 1.7-gigawatt power requirement in two and a half years of operation, exceeding its previous target of only 15% of Mindanao’s power demand.

Jerome Soldevilla, spokesman for the company, said the 210-megawatt (MW) power plant has become a reliable source of power for the Mindanao grid since it started operating in November 2006. The Department of Energy had said Mindanao would need an additional capacity of 850 MW until the middle of the next decade. The Mindanao grid only had a capacity of 1,700 MW, largely from hydropower plants and geothermal sources. In 2007, The German power firm’s third power plant outside Germany became the biggest single foreign investment in Northern Mindanao. STEAG State Power earmarked $305 million in investments and installed two thermal units fed with imported coal from Indonesia.

jsl_bxu1206

August 20th, 2009, 08:18 PM

Mindanao eyed as RP’s southern agro-trading hub
Wednesday, 19 August 2009 20:06

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Stakeholders foresee a bright prospect for Southern Mindanao’s economic grouping to become the region’s agro-trade hub and gateway for cross-border trading with Indonesia, particularly North Sulawesi, with the establishment of the Customs-Immigration-Quarantine-Security (CIQS) one-stop action (Osac) in Glan, Sarangani.

Local officials, as well as business groups, in the Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Sarangani cooperation triangle (JAGS-CT) are upbeat doing domestic and foreign deals particularly with its neighboring counterparts in North Sulawesi following the establishment of CIQS Osac.

North Sulawesi is one of Indonesia’s focus areas under the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga).

The establishment of Osac streamlines business transactions for traders, tourists and investors as it houses all CIQS licensing agencies in one building.

The operation of Osac includes the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Plant and Animal Quarantine.

“By establishing the Osac here [in Glan, Sarangani], we would like to formalize the traditional trade between JAGS-CT and North Sulawesi in Indonesia which dates back for centuries,” Glan municipal Mayor Enrique Yap Jr. said in a statement.

Yap said throughout the years, the JAGS-CT has continued its trading relationship with Indonesia, which has been further strengthened by its sisterhood agreements with the towns of Manado and Tahuna in North Sulawesi.

He said the business groups from JAGS-CT have been trading beauty soaps, cosmetic products, construction materials, and agricultural products like banana and cacao with North Sulawesi.

JAGS-CT is a local growth area under the auspices of BIMP-Eaga which aims to increase trade, tourism and investment activities within the cooperation triangle through joint local resource mobilization and local public-private sector partnerships.

Established in 2003, JAGS-CT seeks to initiate activities that facilitate freer movement of people, goods and services within the area and establish strong economic linkage with strategic neighbors in BIMP-Eaga, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The North Sulawesi business group brings in tiles and roofing materials for construction and virgin- coconut oil to JAGS-CT areas.

Indonesian Consul Lalu Malik Partawana Partawana said Tahuna is now preparing for cargo and passenger vessels en route to the port of Glan.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the establishment of Osac in Glan marks the beginning of a harmonized and simplified CIQS procedures in BIMP-Eaga designated entry and exit ports in Mindanao.

“With the establishment of the OSACs, we are anticipating direct shipping linkages between Brooke’s Point and Sabah, as well as between JAGS-CT and North Sulawesi, Indonesia,” Mindanao Economic Development Council chairman and Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana said.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/14824-mindanao-eyed-as-rps-southern-agro-trading-hub.html

dinabaw

August 21st, 2009, 03:13 AM

PIA Press Release
2009/08/21

Adventure tourism sustains boom in Mindanao

Davao City (21 August) -- THE number of project profiles gathered by the provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Regions 10 and 11 revealed that adventure tourism is on an upswing.

The 30 project profiles submitted to the investment arms of DTI – the Board of Investments (BOI) and National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) in Davao - showed that majority of the investments that are on the pipeline and are up for business partners will cater to the adventure-seeking buffs. The 30 projects cost an aggregate of more than a billion peso. Of the 30 projects, 28 are from the Davao Region.

BOI chief for Regions 9, 11, and 12 Engr. Gil M. Dureza said that tourism developments these days have put emphasis on the inclusion of adventure-related activities within the resorts.

Dureza added that among the adventures that are integrated in resort development nowadays are spelunking, scuba-diving, rappelling, crossing the zip line, and mountain-climbing.

Meanwhile, NERBAC-Davao acting manager Lawyer Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque said that of the 30 project profiles, the biggest is the agri-tourism project in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) which costs P800 million.

"The projects are actually an indication that tourism development is really among the top investment potentials in Mindanao, especially in the Davao Region," Balleque said.

However, Balleque said, certain infrastructures and facilities have to be established in order to complement the on-going tourism developments.

"One necessary infrastructure is the bridge connecting Davao City and IGACOS. With this, the movement of goods and people will be much easier. This is an opportunity which the government and private investors can look into," he said.

Dureza and Balleque encouraged everyone who is interested to partner with the proponents of the 30 projects to visit the Mindanao Tourism Investment Summit on August 22 at the Davao Convention and Trade Center along F. Torres Street, Davao City. Business-matching activities will start at 10 in the morning.

The Mindanao Tourism Investment Summit, which is a joint undertaking of the DTI and Department of Tourism (DOT), is part of the 4th Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo slated on August 20 to 22. (DTI) [top]

PIA News (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=R11&y=09&mo=08&fi=p090821.htm&no=01)

tonight

August 21st, 2009, 05:18 AM

Muslims prepare for start of Ramadan (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=497720&publicationSubCategoryId=67)
By Ramil Bajo

KORONADAL CITY , Philippines – Muslims around South-Central Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are gearing up for the start of the holy month of Ramadan that would possibly fall on either today or tomorrow.

Jahal Kaliff, management officer II of the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) in Central Mindanao, said millions of Muslims in the three regions have been preparing for the start of the “month of fasting” this year.

Kaliff said the start of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month of the Muslim calendar, is traditionally determined by the sighting of the new moon.

“The OMA will declare the opening of the Ramadan once na magpakita ang bagong buwan. It’s either Friday, Saturday or depende kung kailan ito magpakita,” Kaliff said in a long distance interview yesterday.

During the Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn until dusk.

Muslim leaders in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City (Socsksargen) said they would pray for Allah’s intervention to end the violence in Mindanao and hoping that peace would soon reign in the war-troubled Mindanao region.

The said Muslim leaders, including Moro professionals and youth sectors, said they were saddened by the fighting between government troops and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Palawan and the skirmishes of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and ground forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in various parts in Mindanao.

“We will ask Allah to end the war in Mindanao. We know he would listen to our prayers. We want the war in Mindanao to end because many people are suffering due to the war,” Amina Yahya, a female Maranao educator based in Socsksargen

dinabaw

August 25th, 2009, 08:00 AM

P2.5-B in future investments in Mindanao seen
Written by: Fusilero , Kristianne
Tuesday, 25 August 2009

THE 4th Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MTTE) recorded commitments of at least P2.5 billion worth of investments in Mindanao during the business matching conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry and Board of Investments.
Araceli Ayuste, the newly elected president of the Mindanao Tourism Council (MinTC), said the commitments are just one of the gains of just concluded event which drew in the biggest number of exhibitors and visitors.

A total of 78 exhibit booths and showcase areas were occupied, featuring indoor exhibits and pasalubong and adventure showcase. The second day featured a travel exchange with the exhibitors for packages and tours to nine foreign buyers from Hong Kong and Singapore.
“Mas maayo jud ang negosyo karong tuig (The business is better this year),” she said, adding the affordable products in the island are always a come-on for foreigners.
“We have even invited exhibitors outside Mindanao,” she said, referring to exhibitors that came from Subic, Guimaras, Puerto Princesa, Ilocos and even as far as the National Capital Region (NCR).
During the event, tourism players presented the priority tourism and transport project list to government officials. Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and Transportation Usec. Guiling Mamondiong then signed a manifesto expressing support to the priority list.(with reports by: Mick Basa)

Mindanao Times (http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/?p=3155)

MtApoStandard

August 27th, 2009, 05:17 PM

Expo unites 6 Mindanao regions: exec
By Jade C. Zaldivar

MINDANAO Tourism Council president Araceli Ayuste said much was achieved by the recently concluded Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MTTE) held August 20-22 at the Davao Convention Center.

"MTTE achieved to unite all the six regions in Mindanao and also there were other regions that joined the expo. This year's MTTE was the biggest and most successful,' Ayuste said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Among the biggest achievements of the MTTE were the formation of the Mindanao Tourism Council and the unveiling of the 3-dimentional Mindanao Tourism and Transport Highway map, a joint project of the Department of Tourism and the Davao Region Tourism Council.

The MTTE displayed 54 strong booths showcasing Mindanao’s booming tourism-related activities. The expo was anchored on the need to give greater emphasis on local tourism at affordable costs through interconnectivity between the tourism sector and the private sector.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) regional directors themselves showcased their region's tourist destinations. National tourism stakeholders were present to give their full support for Mindanao's great potential.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, who graced MTTE's opening, said he is confident that Mindanao will be the country's top tourist destination. Durano said Mindanao's connected transportation system makes it easy for tourists to enjoy themselves with accessible sites.

"Mindanao is the best as far as adventure and eco-tourism sites. In fact, ang ubang lugar (other places), sa Luzon and Visayas who are starting on their own, ang nagbutang sa ilang (put up their) adventure facilities taga dinhi (are locals)," Durano said.

"Maingon nato nga gidoble nato ang (We can say that we doubled the) achievement sa tourism sector in the past five years. Tourism gave 10 percent of total employment. Today close to five million Filipinos are directly employed by tourism," Durano said.

"Before, tourism was just about two percent sa atong economiya (of our economy), karon (now) seven percent na siya sa atong economiya (of our economy). The least makaingon ta nga nidoble ang atong economiya (we can say it doubled the economy) in the past five years," Durano said.

Durano said the great challenge of tourism in Mindanao is terrorism. "For me, these pockets of peace and order challenges should not be a hindrance to the development of the country," Durano said.
"But the action needed is to really insulate the rest of Mindanao from the rest of these challenges. So that the rest of Mindanao can develop; it's a containment policy," Durano said.

Durano added that we should look at other countries with insurgency problems and yet managed to handle the matter.

"I always say look at South Korea as the sixth largest economy today, pero (but) throughout its history naa silay (they have a) neighbor nga dili lang pusil ang nag-tutok sa ilaha, kundi (that does not only have guns but) nuclear warheads but they managed to develop themselves. Look at Israel. Look at Spain," Durano said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/expo-unites-6-mindanao-regions-exec

MtApoStandard

August 27th, 2009, 05:33 PM

MTE '09 design contests highlight Mindanaoans' ingenuity

Davao City (27 August) -- THE recently-concluded Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE) 2009 has highlighted the ingenuity and creativity of local entrepreneurs during the two on-the-spot competitions conducted in line with the said event.

Ms. Yvette Celi and Mr. Ray Monteclaro, both from Davao City, emerged as winners in the Components Designing and Fashion Illustration, respectively.

With the theme "eco-peso", the Components Designing competition focused on the use of waste materials, fibers, and other indigenous materials in coming up with components for furniture, fashion accessories, and gifts, toys, and house wares (GTH).

The eight competing designers showed off their skills.

Ms. Celi topped among the eight contenders with the components she made out of fibers and wooden beads.

Meanwhile, the Fashion Illustration contest made "eco-design" as the theme of the designs sketched by the eight participants.

Mr. Monteclaro of the Institute for Small Farms and Industries (ISFI) of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) caught the nod of the judges with his design of a three-piece jewelry set.

Ms. Carmaela B. Alcantara, a member of the Special Events Committee of the MTE 2009 and designer of Crystal Seas Handwoven and Handcrafted products, said that the two competitions have proven once again that Mindanaoans are gifted designers.

"The participants were only given an hour to finish what they have in mind. Despite the limited time given to them, they were still able to come up with good entries," Ms. Alcantara said.

MTE 2009 chair Ms. Ann T. Pamintuan said that these features of this year's MTE didn't just showcase the creativity and ingenuity of Mindanao entrepreneurs but also the values of hardwork and commitment.

"If you could only see their outputs, you can really exclaim that their commitment to their craft is really there. This is actually innate among us, Mindanaoans. When we do something, we really put our heart into it," Ms. Pamintuan said.

The MTE 2009 Special Events Committee is headed by Ms. Betty More of the Kababayen-an Alang sa Teknolohiya Nga Haum sa Kinaiyahan ug Kauswagan (Katakus, Incorporated). (DTI-MTE) [top]

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090827.htm&no=41

MtApoStandard

August 27th, 2009, 05:37 PM

One Network Bank posts hike in net income

DAVAO CITY — One Network Bank increased its first-half net income by a fourth to P131 million, a result its president, Alex V. Buenaventura, attributed to an improved loan portfolio.

Earnings could have gone higher were it not for a 2008 agreement with the Department of Education that capped interest on loans taken out by teachers at 12%, he said.

The bank lent P2.5 billion to public school teachers during the first six months of the year, and Mr. Buenaventura said the bank had also started extending loans to micro and small entrepreneurs in the countryside.

Mr. Buenaventura said extensive branching had resulted in a rise in deposits of about a tenth to P5.9 billion for the period.

He said this made the bank "well leveraged while staying self reliant in terms of funding loans with cheaper own funds versus alternative borrowers which are much more costly."

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW082709/content.php?id=024

MtApoStandard

August 27th, 2009, 05:44 PM

http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/final-27.jpg
POWER CONSULTATION. Personalities from all over Mindanao
coming from the business sectors and LGUs had a two-day
consultation and action planning on power at The Grand Regal
Hotel in anticipation of a power deficit in the island in the next
few years. RENE B. LUMAWAG
www.mindanaotimes.com.ph

ScReWfAcE

August 27th, 2009, 11:29 PM

wow thats great to hear

dinabaw

August 28th, 2009, 03:13 AM

Design tilts highlight Mindanaoans' ingenuity (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/design-tilts-highlight-mindanaoans-ingenuity)
Thursday, August 27, 2009

THE recently concluded Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE) 2009 has highlighted the ingenuity and creativity of local entrepreneurs during the two on-the-spot competitions conducted in line with the said event.

Yvette Celi and Ray Monteclaro, both from Davao City, emerged as winners in the Components Designing and Fashion Illustration, respectively.

With the theme "eco-peso", the Components Designing competition focused on the use of waste materials, fibers, and other indigenous materials in coming up with components for furniture, fashion accessories, and gifts, toys, and house wares (GTH).

The eight competing designers showed off their skills.

Celi topped among the eight contenders with the components she made out of fibers and wooden beads.

Meanwhile, the Fashion Illustration contest made "eco-design" as the theme of the designs sketched by the eight participants.

Monteclaro of the Institute for Small Farms and Industries (ISFI) of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) caught the nod of the judges with his design of a three-piece jewelry set.

Carmaela B. Alcantara, a member of the Special Events Committee of the MTE 2009 and designer of Crystal Seas Handwoven and Handcrafted products, said that the two competitions have proven once again that Mindanaoans are gifted designers.

"The participants were only given an hour to finish what they have in mind. Despite the limited time given to them, they were still able to come up with good entries," Alcantara said.

MTE 2009 chair Ann T. Pamintuan said these features of this year's MTE didn't just showcase the creativity and ingenuity of Mindanao entrepreneurs but also the values of hard work and commitment.
"If you could only see their outputs, you can really exclaim that their commitment to their craft is really there. This is actually innate among us, Mindanaoans. When we do something, we really put our heart into it," Pamintuan said.

The MTE 2009 Special Events Committee is headed by Ms. Betty More of the Kababayen-an Alang sa Teknolohiya Nga Haum sa Kinaiyahan ug Kauswagan (Katakus, Incorporated).

dinabaw

August 28th, 2009, 03:18 AM

Using banana,
durian for fashion
BY MAYA M. PADILLO

Unique, refined, and outstanding – these best describe the creations featured at the grand finals of Moda Mindanao 2009 held at the event center of SM City Davao last August 23.

Moda Mindanao is one of the attractions of the celebration of Kadayawan sa Dabaw. It is where the creativity and originality of local designers in flower arrangement and gown designing using endemic materials are showcased.

The recent competition was a revelation of unique Mindanaoan designs seen only here in Davao City.

This year’s fashion contest not only showcased the talents and abundance of flowers and Mindanao, it also promoted the use of natural fibers like banana and durian produced by the women of KATAKUS (Kababayen-an Alang sa Teknolohiya nga Haum sa Kinaiyahan ug Kauswagan).

Twelve local designers competed for the categories Street Wearable Female, Street Wearable Male and Formal Gown.

Winners for street wear female were Ivan Raborar (first place), Windel Mira (second place), and Fuji Jimenez (third place), while winners for the male category were Jimenez, Mira and Raborar for first, second, and third places respectively.

Formal gown winners were Jhayar Magdaleno (first place), Mira (second place), and Raborar (third place).

Of the 12 competing florists for the headdress competition, the entry of Manuel Dumbrigue won first place while the entries of Anecito Cesar Jr. and Faustino Pacardo won second and third places, respectively.

Dumbrigue still topped the bouquet arrangement contest followed by Pacardo and Cesar Jr. as second and third placers.

Other designers who participated in floral arrangement were Joey Albacin, Harold Andy Cabrera, Romeo Cordero Jr., Gracel Boniel, Myrnanet Rivera, Noel Guillen, Inez Bayud, Erwin James Timbol and Jayson Delloso.

Participating in fashion design were Don Mascariñas, Pei Tiambeng, Grand Crizzel Ravacio, Stefy Dacalus, Brian Booth Sustento, Allan Matuguinas, Marco Laurencio and Ariel Taray.

The judges for floral and handheld accessory were Dr. Gary Sicam, promotions manager of Ezzeya; Victor Secuya, artist and poet; Maureen Avisado-Siongco, fashiondesigner/owner of Knots Forever; Arlene Puentespina, manager of Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants; Melissa Gala, stylist and florist; Dr. Joel Mendez, Mendez Medical Group; and Florence Alejandre, co-chair Moda Mindanao 2009.

Judges for fashion designing were Rodolfo Milan, stylist and couturier; Jesus Joji Loren, one of the Philippine’s famous and well-renowned fashion designers; Barge Ramos, fashion designer; Ann Pamintuan, multi-awarded international artist; Charisse Revilla, Hiyas sa Kadayawan 2005; and Sonia Garcia, regional director of Department of Tourism.

The event also presented the collection of local designer Garimon Roferos, an alumni of Moda Mindanao.

Mindanao Daily Mirror (http://www.dailymirror.ph/August/weekdays08282009.html)

MtApoStandard

September 2nd, 2009, 05:22 PM

Mindanao stakeholders prepare for power gab

AFTER a series of consultations in different areas of Mindanao, the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) will gather key leaders in the island to finalize the agenda for the power summit that will be held in November this year.

MinBC executive director Jason Magnaye said an extensive discussion will be held during the summit with regard the looming power crisis in Mindanao.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

But he said we are now feeling the crisis considering that the supposed 13.1 percent power reserve, during off peak period that is to ensure continuous supply of power, dropped to one percent.

"It has to have a standby reserve so that when the plant will bog down, we are ably supplied with power because of the reserve," he said.

Citing a medium term plan, Magnaye said within the five-year period starting from 2009, the power deficit in 2014 is pegged at 512 megawatts. The study presented by the Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. during the recent consultation revealed that deficit in 2014 is at 484 megawatts. Both data showed a deficit in the next few years.

But with the low reserve the region is getting, the crisis will come in earlier by 2010 and if this could not be fixed in record time there will be an overload resulting to power trip offs, he said.

"Although Mindanao is better off than Luzon and Visayas where cost of power is more expensive with the Visayas already experiencing 10-hour brownout, we do not want to reach that point that is why we are trying to find ways to avert the power crisis," he said.

The issue of securing the transmission lines was also tackled and Magnaye said there is a need to strengthen collaboration in the communities of Lanao, Bukidnon, Cotabato and Davao where these lines traverse.

We need to help the National Power Corporation (Napocor) by providing information on suspicious activities within these areas so that necessary actions will immediately be made, he said.

Napocor still need to finish the work of the toppled power lines which are being repaired and any information would be of help to the military and the local government unit.

Meanwhile, he said the power generation in Mindanao accounts to 80 percent being generated in Northern Mindanao and only 20 percent in Southern Mindanao but 51 percent of what Northern Mindanao is generating is consumed by Southern Mindanao while the remaining 49 percent is distributed to the rest of Mindanao.

And with the increasing investments locating in the Davao Region as stressed by the Board of Investment, the demand of power supply is increasing, he added.

Samal City administrator Cleto Gales Jr. said the power issue during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent Accountable Governance (MCTAG) was the highlight of the activity even as he said industry players are looking at involving the communities for power generation projects.

This will ensure that as co-owner of the projects, there will be utmost concern and protection from the residents. Possible sites of these projects are in areas where there are no investors wanting to locate, he said.

The MCTAG event was capped with the sponsored event of the MinBC and The Asia Foundation on a Forum with presidential hopefuls on August 27 at the Grand Regal Hotel where the resource persons were asked to present their insights on the power crisis affecting Mindanao.

Both Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda said there is a need to review, amend or repeal some provisions of the Epira law to make it more relevant even as Escudero said with the privatization of the assets of Napocor there has to be provision for the government to check and monitor in areas that need to be looked at as well as the construction of quality generating plants.

Legarda also said with Mindanao having vast areas of land could perhaps tap communities and involve the residents on projects that would generate clean energy.

Magnaye, however, said they are still hopeful that the two senators would take immediate steps in looking at existing policies to make it more relevant in the implementation of power programs and projects and a friendlier environment for new businesses on energy.

Joining Escudero and Legarda was Nicanor Perlas while the rest of the presidential hopefuls failed to come due to conflict in schedule. The presidentiables were asked to present their takes about Mindanao on relevant issues. Aside from power they were asked to state their concern on agri-fishery, business, education, indigenous peoples, Moro, women and youth affecting the island or a national policy that would directly affect the island.

In a brief message of Asia Foundation country representative Steven Rood and Pacific Island Nations Regional Advisor for Local Governance he said the forum would allow the concerns of Mindanao be heard by policy makers and that Mindanao should also be given the experience to influence.

He said the peace and development efforts of Mindanao are essential for the development of the Philippines as a whole.

The Forum was joined by key players both in private and government sectors to include among others from Bukidnon, Zamboanga, Panabo, Island Garden City of Samal, Tagum City, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City. It had for its theme "PaglalaTAG 2015: Sustaining the Collaborative Counter Corruption Program of the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent Accountable Governance (MCTAG)". (PDBanzon)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/mindanao-stakeholders-prepare-power-gab

dinabaw

September 3rd, 2009, 03:03 AM

Day tours seen the way to go for Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — The regional office here of the Department of Tourism will be promoting day tours for visitors interested in remote natural attractions despite the sometimes poor peace-and-order image the whole of Mindanao has.

Sonia V. Garcia, Tourism regional director, said the idea is patterned after the so-called day tours offered by Malaysian and Indonesian tour agencies, when terror attacks attributed to the Jemaah Islamiyah crippled the two countries’ tourism sectors for a time.

"[Avoid staying] overnight, but you can go with the day tour," Ms. Garcia said.

"We should consider that if there’s security concern. We work with what we have," she added.

While Mindanao has found a niche as an eco-tourism destination, there are packages ideal for tourists who come to experience the rich tribal culture.

Mindanao’s niche as an eco-tourism area seemed to be affirmed by the rise in committed investments listed at the Board of Investments and the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (Nerbac) in the Davao Region.

Gil M. Dureza, board chief for western, southern and central Mindanao, said recent investments in the Davao Region are mostly on adventure-related facilities supporting such activities as spelunking, scuba-diving, rappelling, and mountain climbing.

Ruben A. Neri, president of the Davao Association of Tour Operators, said day tours are especially suited to promote Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, some areas in General Santos City and Sarangani, as well as Lake Agco in Mt. Apo that straddles Davao City and North Cotabato.

He said his travel agency, Surelite Travel and Tours, is already offering day tour packages to Lake Agco and Lake Sebu, which are very popular with foreign tourists, particularly Japanese and Europeans. The package is inclusive of transportation, trips to cultural and weaving villages for Lake Sebu and a dip in the hot springs and mud bath at Mainit Falls in Mt. Apo.

Tourists leave Davao City at 6 a.m. and are expected back by 5 p.m. on these tours.

"Sometimes they ask us, ’how far is the war zone?’ and we tell them, ’it’s very far from where we are going’," Mr. Neri said.

"Their experience is very different from what they have been hearing on the news," he said.

Though she failed to provide actual figures, Ms. Garcia said tourist arrivals actually increased in Mindanao by a tenth because of the government’s and private sector’s island-to-highland marketing campaign targeting adventurous tourists.

Official data show that 655,651 tourists visited the region last year, up two percent from the previous year.

However, the number for foreign visitors — who generally account for about 10% of the region’s total — declined, prompting tourism businesses to focus their marketing campaigns on the domestic market.

The top five sources of foreign tourists for the Davao Region since 1992 have been the US, Japan, Korea, China and Australia, local official tourism statistics show.

Foreigners spend an average of P4,000 daily and stay an average of 3.5 days, the same data show.

BusinessWorld (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW090309/content.php?src=3&id=053)

dark_knight_detectve

September 3rd, 2009, 10:23 AM

Philippines gears for WiMax invasion (http://computerworld.com.ph/philippines-prepares-for-wimax-invasion/)

By Computerworld Philippines Staff
September 3, 2009

Top telecommunication companies and IT firms in the Philippines are laying out plans to prepare the country for the widespread deployment of WiMax technology, which outdistances WiFi by up to 40 to 50 kilometers in range.

Tech executives from telco giants Globe Telecoms and Smart Communications, as well from IT companies Intel, Acer, Dell and Lenovo, made the announcement in a recent IT forum with CyberPress, also known as IT Journalists Association of the Philippines (ITJAP). It is the first IT press club established in South East Asia (SEA) in mid-1996; and remains to be the only IT media organization in the Philippines.

WiMax, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a broadband wireless technology that provides high-speed data and telecommunication services. Backers describe it as a robust vehicle for the wireless transmission of text, audio, and video over the Internet.

According to Intel Philippines business development manager Carlo Subido, WiMax chips are slowly being integrated by the world’s top PC markets. He claimed Intel now has the products to support WiMax connectivity and is coordinating efforts with partner hardware vendors for WiMax’s smooth and widespread launch in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Globe Telecom demand management and capacity planning head Bong Gonzales, said the company would make WiMax available in most parts of the Philippines by end of 2009.

Yet Gonzales did not reveal the specific schedules for the rollouts but listed the areas where the service would be available. And these are: Metro Manila, Rizal, Benguet, Nueva Ejica, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Southern Luzon, Bataan, Cebu province, Bohol, Iloilo, Leyte, Guimaras, Capiz, Negros island, Cagayan de Oro, Compostela Valley, the Agusan provinces, Lanao,Surigao, Cotobato, and General Santos City.

Similarly, Smart Communications public affairs head Ramon Isberto shared that the operator would support all forms of Internet connectivity as long as it will benefit their subscribers.

Isberto reported Smart has been working on its own deployment of WiMax technology in the country which will complement its HSPA (high speed packet access) upgrade.

However, on the PC makers’ side, Lenovo Philippines country manager Vicky Agorilla said a number of their mobile units already support WiMax. She said Lenovo would be ready to meet any surge in market demand for computers once WiMax becomes more widely available throughout the country.

Acer Philippines marketing manager Agnes Espino told reporters that they would soon introduce into the Philippines its own set of WiMax-enabled products. She explained that even now, Acer has been manufacturing from abroad various hardware that are WiMax-capable.

Intel claimed WiMax is the first 4G solution available today that meets the pent-up demand for the high-speed wireless Internet. The technology is now deployed in 139 countries covering at least 430 million people.

Commission on ICT (CICT) chairman Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua recently commented that the rollout of WiMax in the Philippines will certainly boost broadband penetration in the country and help government reach its vision of Universal Internet access for all Filipinos. – Tom S. Noda

Govinda

September 3rd, 2009, 10:54 AM

This is a pressing issue that should be discussed soonest possible..

Mindanao stakeholders prepare for power gab

AFTER a series of consultations in different areas of Mindanao, the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) will gather key leaders in the island to finalize the agenda for the power summit that will be held in November this year.

MinBC executive director Jason Magnaye said an extensive discussion will be held during the summit with regard the looming power crisis in Mindanao.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

But he said we are now feeling the crisis considering that the supposed 13.1 percent power reserve, during off peak period that is to ensure continuous supply of power, dropped to one percent.

"It has to have a standby reserve so that when the plant will bog down, we are ably supplied with power because of the reserve," he said.

Citing a medium term plan, Magnaye said within the five-year period starting from 2009, the power deficit in 2014 is pegged at 512 megawatts. The study presented by the Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. during the recent consultation revealed that deficit in 2014 is at 484 megawatts. Both data showed a deficit in the next few years.

But with the low reserve the region is getting, the crisis will come in earlier by 2010 and if this could not be fixed in record time there will be an overload resulting to power trip offs, he said.

"Although Mindanao is better off than Luzon and Visayas where cost of power is more expensive with the Visayas already experiencing 10-hour brownout, we do not want to reach that point that is why we are trying to find ways to avert the power crisis," he said.

The issue of securing the transmission lines was also tackled and Magnaye said there is a need to strengthen collaboration in the communities of Lanao, Bukidnon, Cotabato and Davao where these lines traverse.

We need to help the National Power Corporation (Napocor) by providing information on suspicious activities within these areas so that necessary actions will immediately be made, he said.

Napocor still need to finish the work of the toppled power lines which are being repaired and any information would be of help to the military and the local government unit.

Meanwhile, he said the power generation in Mindanao accounts to 80 percent being generated in Northern Mindanao and only 20 percent in Southern Mindanao but 51 percent of what Northern Mindanao is generating is consumed by Southern Mindanao while the remaining 49 percent is distributed to the rest of Mindanao.

And with the increasing investments locating in the Davao Region as stressed by the Board of Investment, the demand of power supply is increasing, he added.

Samal City administrator Cleto Gales Jr. said the power issue during the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent Accountable Governance (MCTAG) was the highlight of the activity even as he said industry players are looking at involving the communities for power generation projects.

This will ensure that as co-owner of the projects, there will be utmost concern and protection from the residents. Possible sites of these projects are in areas where there are no investors wanting to locate, he said.

The MCTAG event was capped with the sponsored event of the MinBC and The Asia Foundation on a Forum with presidential hopefuls on August 27 at the Grand Regal Hotel where the resource persons were asked to present their insights on the power crisis affecting Mindanao.

Both Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda said there is a need to review, amend or repeal some provisions of the Epira law to make it more relevant even as Escudero said with the privatization of the assets of Napocor there has to be provision for the government to check and monitor in areas that need to be looked at as well as the construction of quality generating plants.

Legarda also said with Mindanao having vast areas of land could perhaps tap communities and involve the residents on projects that would generate clean energy.

Magnaye, however, said they are still hopeful that the two senators would take immediate steps in looking at existing policies to make it more relevant in the implementation of power programs and projects and a friendlier environment for new businesses on energy.

Joining Escudero and Legarda was Nicanor Perlas while the rest of the presidential hopefuls failed to come due to conflict in schedule. The presidentiables were asked to present their takes about Mindanao on relevant issues. Aside from power they were asked to state their concern on agri-fishery, business, education, indigenous peoples, Moro, women and youth affecting the island or a national policy that would directly affect the island.

In a brief message of Asia Foundation country representative Steven Rood and Pacific Island Nations Regional Advisor for Local Governance he said the forum would allow the concerns of Mindanao be heard by policy makers and that Mindanao should also be given the experience to influence.

He said the peace and development efforts of Mindanao are essential for the development of the Philippines as a whole.

The Forum was joined by key players both in private and government sectors to include among others from Bukidnon, Zamboanga, Panabo, Island Garden City of Samal, Tagum City, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City. It had for its theme "PaglalaTAG 2015: Sustaining the Collaborative Counter Corruption Program of the Mindanao Coalition for Transparent Accountable Governance (MCTAG)". (PDBanzon)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/mindanao-stakeholders-prepare-power-gab

boju

September 5th, 2009, 04:16 AM

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The conduct of the feasibility study for the formulation of a strategic railway development plan for Mindanao will be finished within this year, this was the information relayed by Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Usec. Guiling Mamondiong.

During the Regional Development Council (RDC)’s 129th meeting at the Liga City Convention Center recently, the DOTC presented its strategic Railway Development Plan for Mindanao, pre-feasibility studies and technical assessments for the different railways section which is targeted for completion the 3rd quarter of this year.

According to the initial strategic railway development plan for Mindanao, the project aims to connect urban centers and provincial capitals in Mindanao such as Zamboanga, Pagadian, Dipolog, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Marawi, Cotabato and Davao cities.

Three private consultancy firms—the TCGI Engineering, DMI Management Engineering and Woodfields Incorporated were named and tasked to conduct the study for the Mindanao Railway System (MRS) within five months.

At present, only the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor has finished its full-scale feasibility study while that of the Cagayan de Oro-Davao-General Santos line is ongoing and that of Iligan-Zamboanga City line is still in the technical assessment level.

When realized, travel time in the 145-kilometer Iligan-Cagayan de Oro route will be shortened by 15-20 minutes in contrast to the present three-hour travel time by bus.

During the RDC meeting, the MRS was considered a priority project as members felt the need to have a fast, efficient and cost effective integrated public transport system for Mindanao.

Last January, several Mindanao lawmakers recommended to President Gloria Arroyo the funding for the construction of the MRS.
The congressmen, led by Speaker Prospero Nograles have been pushing for the MRS project for the island’s accelerated growth and development.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/mindanao-railway-study-done-december-dotc)

:banana::banana:

giGaGO Mindanao!:cheers:

Govinda

September 5th, 2009, 04:24 AM

This Davao-based bank has gone a long way in its vision for countryside development in Mindanao. Battlecry nila is PERA NG MINDANAO PARA SA MINDANAO! :cheers:

One Network Bank posts hike in net income

DAVAO CITY — One Network Bank increased its first-half net income by a fourth to P131 million, a result its president, Alex V. Buenaventura, attributed to an improved loan portfolio.

Earnings could have gone higher were it not for a 2008 agreement with the Department of Education that capped interest on loans taken out by teachers at 12%, he said.

The bank lent P2.5 billion to public school teachers during the first six months of the year, and Mr. Buenaventura said the bank had also started extending loans to micro and small entrepreneurs in the countryside.

Mr. Buenaventura said extensive branching had resulted in a rise in deposits of about a tenth to P5.9 billion for the period.

He said this made the bank "well leveraged while staying self reliant in terms of funding loans with cheaper own funds versus alternative borrowers which are much more costly."

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW082709/content.php?id=024

dinabaw

September 5th, 2009, 04:46 AM

in Mindanao only Davao landed in top 16

Originally Posted by johnnylance View Post
Tourist Volume in Top Sixteen Destinations
January to June 2009

Destinations Foreign Domestic Total Growth Rate

Camarines Sur 147,504 754,698 902,202194.0%
Cebu 321,116 509,433 830,599[/COLOR] 2.3%
Boracay 112,315 271,498 383,813 6.0%
Baguio * 20,677 350,528 371,205 -14.5%
Davao 29,691 300,556 330,247 2.7%
Puerto Galera ** 215,755 20.2%
Bohol 45,995 114,619 160,614 15.6%
Negros Occidental * 32,780 113,724 146,504 -55.2%
Negros Oriental 22,729 95,069 117,798 11.1%
Ilocos Norte 8,088 91,659 99,747 6.5%
Masbate * 10,257 71,630 81,887 -7.5%
Camarines Norte 1,711 79,466 81,177 63.9%
Puerto Princesa 11,380 69,376 80,756 63.0%
Legaspi 7,892 59,732 67,624 10.9%
Catanduanes 9,953 55,188 65,141 115.0%
Sorsogon * 26,251 27,952 54,203 -14.0%
Total 808,389 2,965,128 3,989,272 16.5%
Source: First Semester Performance Report for 2009 http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/dot/statistics.asp

Igsuonnimo

September 5th, 2009, 05:15 AM

Nene: Federalism will help solve conflict in Mindanao (http://www.mb.com.ph/node/218179/nene-federali)
By MARVYN N. BENANING
August 29, 2009, 2:07pm

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. still pushes for federalism as solution to secessionism in the south and the communist- led insurgency elsewhere in the country.

Pimentel stressed that with autonomy and political decentralization, leaders can actually solve needling problems and allocate public funds for sustained and focused development in Mindanao.

The opposition senator explained to journalists in Saturday's edition of the Friday Balitaan sa Rembrandt that decentralization would end the patronage politics and corrupt bureaucratic practices that have become the hallmark of the Arroyo administration.

He noted that in spite of the much-bruited about ceasefire with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), fighting in Maguindanao in August 2008 caused 130,000 people to flee.

Conflict also led to squalor, hunger and fear for 90,000 evacuees in Marawi City, Pikit, Datu Piang and other parts of Maguindanao. Only 15 percent of the fertile lands of Lanao del Sur is being tilled.

Pimentel noted that the problem of peace and development in the south requires focused attention and long-term commitment by the Filipino people and expressed support for the work being done by Ali Santoli and the Asia American Initiative (AAI) in supporting health, livelihood, education and peace programs in Mindanao.

In the same forum, Commissioner Eduardo Escueta of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said preparations for the National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW) celebration during the first week of September are underway.

Escueta said Napolcom is advocating the use of whistles in alerting the police and seeking their response to any felony or crime.

Peng Hok

September 5th, 2009, 06:36 AM

Tourist Volume in Top Sixteen Destinations
January to June 2009

Destinations Foreign Domestic Total Growth Rate

Camarines Sur 147,504 754,698 902,202194.0%
Cebu 321,116 509,433 830,599[/COLOR] 2.3%
Boracay 112,315 271,498 383,813 6.0%
Baguio * 20,677 350,528 371,205 -14.5%
Davao 29,691 300,556 330,247 2.7%
Puerto Galera ** 215,755 20.2%
Bohol 45,995 114,619 160,614 15.6%
Negros Occidental * 32,780 113,724 146,504 -55.2%
Negros Oriental 22,729 95,069 117,798 11.1%
Ilocos Norte 8,088 91,659 99,747 6.5%
Masbate * 10,257 71,630 81,887 -7.5%
Camarines Norte 1,711 79,466 81,177 63.9%
Puerto Princesa 11,380 69,376 80,756 63.0%
Legaspi 7,892 59,732 67,624 10.9%
Catanduanes 9,953 55,188 65,141 115.0%
Sorsogon * 26,251 27,952 54,203 -14.0%
Total 808,389 2,965,128 3,989,272 16.5%
Source: First Semester Performance Report for 2009 http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/dot/statistics.asp

Mabuti naman at may nakapasok kahit papaano from Mindanao. :ohno:

Govinda

September 5th, 2009, 06:55 AM

in Mindanao only Davao landed in top 16

rock on Davao, Mindanao! :cheers: :)

dark_knight_detectve

September 5th, 2009, 03:12 PM

Mindanao Railways Cagayan-Iligan Corridor Line Stations Identified (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/mindanao-railways-cagayan-iligan-corridor-line-stations-identified/)
Posted on September 5, 2009 by damarre

The proposed Cagayan-Iligan Corridor Line of the Mindanao Railways project will have main terminals at Linamon and Jasaan. According to the proposal, Express Stations will be put up at Iligan Port, Laguindingan Airport, and Agora Terminal in Cagayan de Oro City. Intermediate stations will be constructed in each municipality along the corridor.

In previous gatherings, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino Jaraula said the proposed project will construct elevated railways in both Iligan and Cagayan de Oro because of space limitations. In Cagayan de Oro City, from Opol, it will pass beside Westbound (Bulua) Terminal acorss Ayala Property then proceed towards and along the 5th bridge then another elevated railway up to Agora Terminal similar to the MRT/LRT system in Metro Manila.

Trains to be used will be Diesel-Electric Multiple Units with maximum speed of 160 kph, 6-car trains, and seating capacity of 400 passengers. The final feasibility study was submitted last August 10, 2009 and is now under review by DOTC. The following months will have field works focusing on environmental, traffic and geodetic surveys as well as railway planning and engineering studies.

dark_knight_detectve

September 5th, 2009, 03:13 PM

repost

Mindanao railway study done by December: DOTC (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/mindanao-railway-study-done-by-december-dotc/#more-1289)
Posted on September 4, 2009 by damarre
http://cagayandeorodev.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/mindanao-railway-copy.jpg?w=468&h=324&h=324

By Jong Cadion (Sun Star CDO)
Correspondent

The conduct of the feasibility study for the formulation of a strategic railway development plan for Mindanao will be finished within this year, this was the information relayed by Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Usec. Guiling Mamondiong.

During the Regional Development Council (RDC)’s 129th meeting at the Liga City Convention Center recently, the DOTC presented its strategic Railway Development Plan for Mindanao, pre-feasibility studies and technical assessments for the different railways section which is targeted for completion the 3rd quarter of this year.

According to the initial strategic railway development plan for Mindanao, the project aims to connect urban centers and provincial capitals in Mindanao such as Zamboanga, Pagadian, Dipolog, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Marawi, Cotabato and Davao cities.

Three private consultancy firms—the TCGI Engineering, DMI Management Engineering and Woodfields Incorporated were named and tasked to conduct the study for the Mindanao Railway System (MRS) within five months.

At present, only the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor has finished its full-scale feasibility study while that of the Cagayan de Oro-Davao-General Santos line is ongoing and that of Iligan-Zamboanga City line is still in the technical assessment level.

When realized, travel time in the 145-kilometer Iligan-Cagayan de Oro route will be shortened by 15-20 minutes in contrast to the present three-hour travel time by bus.

During the RDC meeting, the MRS was considered a priority project as members felt the need to have a fast, efficient and cost effective integrated public transport system for Mindanao.

Last January, several Mindanao lawmakers recommended to President Gloria Arroyo the funding for the construction of the MRS.
The congressmen, led by Speaker Prospero Nograles have been pushing for the MRS project for the island’s accelerated growth and development.

dark_knight_detectve

September 5th, 2009, 03:14 PM

Outside the Mindanao Railway Project Office in Bulua, CdeO taken last Sept. 3, 09

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dark_knight_detectve

September 5th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Inside the Mindanao Railway Project Office in Bulua, CdeO taken last Sept. 3, 09

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dark_knight_detectve

September 5th, 2009, 03:16 PM

random pictures of the Mindanao Railway Project Office in CdeO

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dark_knight_detectve

September 5th, 2009, 03:28 PM

repost

CDO to host Milo Little Olympics (http://damarre.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/cdo-to-host-milo-little-olympics/)

September 4, 2009 at 1:57 am · Filed under Events, Sports and tagged: Cagayan de Oro, Milo Little Olympics

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Cagayan de Oro City will again host a major sporting event as the city hosts the Milo Little Olympics, the country’s biggest and most successful inter-school sports competition for elementary and high school students, on Sept. 11, 12 and 13, 2009. Thousands of young athletes from all over Mindanao are set to compete in a spirit of camaraderie and sports excellence. The Little Olympics blasts off on Sept. 4, 5 and 6 in Manila and Cebu. Pangasinan will host the Luzon edition on the same schedule with CDO.

Now on its 22nd year, the Little Olympics is aligned with the efforts of Milo to build champions in sports and in life. Last year, as many as 22,000 student-athletes from close to 800 schools took part in the event, which features 11 sports disciplines that teach children not just about sports excellence but also character-forming values like discipline, respect, determination and honesty to help them become well-rounded individuals.

Among the featured sports include athletics, badminton, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, swimming, sepak takraw, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

To date, products of the Little Olympics in gymnastics, taekwondo, tennis, athletics and swimming have represented the Philippines in major sports competitions like the Southeast Asian Games, Word Youth Cup (tennis) and the Asian Junior Track and Field (athletics).

The Little Olympics remains seriously committed to develop tomorrow’s champions. Proof of this is the staging of the first-ever National Milo Little Olympics scheduled on Oct. 23 in Cebu City, which will usher in a new and more exciting level to youth sports as it will bring together the best student-athletes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

davaoeagle

September 5th, 2009, 05:41 PM

Mabuti naman at may nakapasok kahit papaano from Mindanao. :ohno:

I believe the figures show only that of Davao City and not for the entire Davao Region. There should be a significant increase if numbers of whole region are lumped together as one.

dinabaw

September 7th, 2009, 04:50 AM

Kayak expedition arrives here today
Sunday, September 6, 2009

By Jojie Alcantara

THE Friendship Kayak Expedition is an attempt to traverse the entire distance of the Philippine archipelago from Sarangani to Ilocos Norte, a journey of 3,300 kilometers over 100 days. This is a feat that has never been done before, and will expect to showcase the raw beauty of the country's landscape and warm hospitality of Filipinos.

The kayak team is expected to arrive in Davao City at noontime today, Monday. Kayakers and supporters are on hand to welcome the group and a short press conference will follow as they dock by Pearl Farm Marina in Lanang.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

The team will stay for a day to rest before they move on to the next stop, which is Siargao.

This expedition aims to inspire everyone with its message of perseverance, exploration, and hope. It also celebrates the 40th anniversary of Filipino-Singaporean diplomatic relations, and is also instrumental in bringing attention to the Department of Tourism's latest campaign in developing adventure tourism thru kayaking.

The kayak team paddlers are composed of one Singaporean and two Filipinos. Khoo Swee Chiow is an extreme adventurer, author and inspirational speaker who has climbed Mount Everest twice and explored both south and north poles. He has successfully attempted world record feats from cycling from Singapore to Beijing, swimming in Malacca Straits, world's longest scuba dive and world's longest journey on skates. He has undergone months of kayak training prior to this event.

Erwin Glenn "Buzzy" Budlong of Cebu and Arnel Gabutero from Davao City are expert kayakers, but none have attempted kayaking at this distance before. Their adventure will test the human spirit, the physical and mental strength, problem-solving skills and teamwork. They will experience what the country has to offer from each island stop. New friendships will be forged and exciting stories told.

In Sarangani, Gov. Miguel Dominguez sent them off supportively from the beach in Gumasa, Glan last August 31.

Joining them in the support boat is a small crew of Singaporeans and Filipinos who takes care of provisions, safety, documentation and logistics in every stop. Keeping track of the expedition on land are Toby Martin, expedition manager; Randell "Buko" Raymundo, expedition video documentary producer; and Randy Su, expedition logistics director.

Martin explained how he hopes this would be an inspiring community effort, where everyone supports and encourages them as they finish the unprecedented trek in three months, unless typhoons and strong winds will delay them. He invites everyone to keep track of the kayakers through www.friendshipkayak.com, where a blog is posted for regular updates as well as a map tracking their progress. Updates can also be located on their Facebook.

Martin also said funds are continuously being raised to complete this effort. For now, the expedition has sufficient finances and sponsorship to complete the trip to Boracay, which is only half the journey. The team is hoping more support from the media and the locals they visit to generate more funds. Primer Group, holding company of ROX and Columbia, is a major sponsor.

From the starting point in Sarangani which is the southernmost point in Mindanao, other highlights of the route will be Davao (Mati, Bislig, Tandag, Surigao, Maasin), Bohol, Cebu, Boracay (midpoint of expedition), Mindoro, Batangas, Manila, Subic Bay, Alaminos, Lingayen, Dagupan, San Fernando, Candon, Vigan, Laoag, all the way to its finish point in Maira-ira Point in Pagudpud, the northernmost point of Luzon. They will also be passing through Palawan, the country's top kayak destination.

dinabaw

September 7th, 2009, 04:56 AM

^^

A kayak adventure through the Philippines
(The Philippine Star) Updated September 06, 2009 12:00 AM

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9770/travel2.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/i/travel2.jpg/)
People behind the Friendship Kayak Project are Randy Su, president of Team Habagat; Toby Martin, expedition manager; Khoo Swee Chiow, Jeannie Suderio from the DOT-PCVC; Jacky Quintos, COO of Primer Group of Companies and Roel Chan, AVP-marketing Primer Group of Companies

MANILA, Philippines - After completing the Adventure Grand Slam — conquering the seven highest summits in each continent — Singaporean adventurer and Guinness World Record holder Khoo Swee Chiow sets his sights on another record. And together with Filipino adventurers Buzzy Budlong of Team Habagat and Arnel Gabutero, they will attempt to be the first to traverse the Philippines by kayak.

The Philippines is a natural playing field for water sports, environment and adventure tourism activities such as kayaking. Recently the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched the Philippine Kayaking Series 2009 which aims to make the country the Kayaking Capital of Southeast Asia.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano calls kayaking one of the fastest growing sports worldwide, and it’s one of the country’s nature-based products. “We have natural assets for this ecosport because we are surrounded with different bodies of water like oceans, seas, rivers, marshes, mangroves and 30,000 wonderful coastlines,” said Durano.

It is no wonder that Swee Chiow chose the Philippines as the starting point of his dream journey to kayak around the world. Together with Cebu native, Buzzy Budlong and Davao-born Arnel Gabutero — who faced each other in last year’s Bugsay Kayaking Festival — the team will link the islands of the Philippines through a course that will take them from the south-central regions of Mindanao moving north to Luzon’s most celebrated locales.

“We’re hoping that this becomes the first official kayaking trail in the country,” says Toby Martin, expedition manager. “So we are calling on everyone to lend their support for this historical event either through additional funds for the team, so they can complete the 3, 300 kilometer journey or by paddling with the team in their own kayaks.” Swee Chiow and Buzzy’s expedition started on Aug. 29 and is estimated to reach its destination by November.

The team started paddling at Sarangani in Mindanao. Predominantly a coastal province in the southernmost tip of the Philippines, Sarangani has a 230-kilometer coastline lined with inspiring coves and jaw-dropping rock formations. Afterwards, the team will head to Davao del Norte and then to Davao del Sur.

For the second leg of the kayak expedition, the team will depart from the historical province of Leyte. Witness to many monumental events in history such as the landing of General Douglas McArthur in 1942, it is also home to largely undeveloped white sand beaches along the coasts of Libertad, Capoocan, Leyte and Puro Island. This will be followed by a beach-buffet that begins with Bohol, Cebu, surfing Mecca Siargao and top tourist destination Boracay.

The final stretch is the most difficult one. Who would want to leave an island destination rated by the National Geographic Traveler magazine as the 13th Best Island Destination in the World in 2007 because of its “incredibly beautiful and natural seascapes and landscapes”? And to complete the expedition, the team will traverse the open waters to Pangasinan and finally reach its destination at Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte.

Recreational Outdoor eXchange! ROX is the big