Mindanao power generation starting to normalize–Napocor (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/16483-mindanao-power-generation-starting-to-normalizenapocor.html)
Friday, 25 September 2009 02:30

POWER generation in Mindanao is starting to normalize with the 210-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant of STEAG State Power Inc. coming back online on Thursday.

This is what Dennis Gana, corporate communications manager of the National Power Corp. (Napocor), said in a text message to reporters.

“With Steag’s 210-MW generation today, there is more than enough power to supply the demand of the Mindanao grid,” Gana said.

He added that the Mindanao grid has a total generating capability of 1,380 MW against a forecast peak demand of just 1,167 MW and a required reserve capacity of 1,138 MW.

Gana noted that there is 75 MW in net reserve capacity that can be dispatched.

“The Mindanao grid is starting to normalize. As soon as the plants that are under maintenance shutdown are completed, then those plants would immediately be reconnected to the grid,” Gana said.

Napocor earlier said four of its power-generation facilities and two independent power producers have been temporarily shut down due to a variety of reasons.

“Rest assured, our people are working round the clock and continuously coordinating with the proper agencies such as the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and our customers involved in power distribution for updates on the power-supply situation,” Napocor said in a statement.

The power firm added that it remains optimistic the Mindanao grid will have a normal power situation by September 26, 2009.

Napocor said the shutdown resulted in deficient capacity to meet the Mindanao grid’s electricity demand. Rotating brownouts have to be implemented during peak hours. Power supply is normal during off-peak hours.

Napocor also appealed for the understanding of its customers and electricity consumers, as it is doing its best to mitigate the effects of the temporary shutdown of its plant facilities.

“We apologize and request the patience of our customers and the electricity-consuming public. Napocor is doing all that it can to bring power supply back to normal, and we are optimistic to make it happen soon,” Napocor said.

Napocor added that the reasons for the decrease in capacity were due to the tripping of Agus 1 (Unit 2) on August 10, and shutdown of the 100 MW Western Mindanao Power Corp. (WMPC), which coincided with the scheduled preventive-maintenance operations of Agus 2 (Unit 1), Agus 5 (Unit 1), Pulangi 4 (Unit 1) and Mindanao (STEAG) Coal (Unit 1).

Overall, more than 400 MW out of a total of 620 MW dependable capacity were affected.

Napocor said the ongoing scheduled preventive- maintenance operations would, in the long run, assure a more reliable and stable power supply for the grid.  

Also, the WMPC has already put online two 10-MW units out of 10 units.

It is likewise undertaking round-the-clock operations to put back its normal dependable capacity online in the soonest possible time. Paul A. Isla

=========================>>>

Malaking tulong talaga itong planta sa Villanueva, Misamis Oriental sa power generation ng buong Mindanao:)

2 regions in Mindanao show sign of resiliency (http://mb.com.ph/articles/221924/2-regions-mindanao-show-sign-resiliency)
By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO

Post growth rates surpassing national average


DAVAO CITY – At least two Mindanao regions showed signs of resiliency as they posted growth rates surpassing the national average last year, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said Wednesday.

Despite the global economic slump that marred the growth of most of the country’s regional economies last year, Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) were among the fastest growing regional economies in the country, posting gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth above the national percentage of 3.8 percent, recent data from the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) shows.

Northern Mindanao topped the list of growing economies with a GRDP growth of 5.3 percent in 2008 – the highest among all regions during the period.

The region is composed of the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Camiguin, as well as chartered and component cities of Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan, Oroquieta, Tangub, Ozamiz, Gingoog, Malaybalay and Valencia.

Ranking third in the entire country is SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12) which registered a 4.6 percent growth.

The region is composed of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani provinces including General Santos City and Cotabato City.

The other top growing regional economies last year according to NSCB are the National Capital Region or NCR (ranks 2nd) with 4.9 percent growth rate, Western Visayas (4th) with 4.4 percent and Bicol (5th) with 4.3 percent.

As most of the regional economies slowed down, year-on-year data, however, showed a sluggish performance for Mindanao as its overall GRDP fell from seven to four percent growth rate from 2007 to 2008.

However, the island-region maintained its 17.7 percent contribution to the national economy as it did in 2007, the bulk of which comes from Northern Mindanao. Northern Mindanao’s share to the national economy slightly increased from 4.9 percent in 2007 to 5.0 percent in 2008.

Mindanao power situation improves as STEAG plant resumes operations (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=508244&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Donnabelle L. Gatdula (The Philippine Star) Updated September 25, 2009 12:00 AM


MANILA, Philippines - State-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) said yesterday the power situation in Mindanao has improved with one of the power plants that went down recently has returned operations.

“With STEAG generating at 210 megawatts (MW) (yesterday), generation is more than enough to supply the demand of Mindanao grid,” Napocor spokesman Dennis Gana said in a text message.

He said the capability of the grid to supply the power needs of Mindanao is now back to normal.

“We have a total generating capability of 1,380 MW and our forecast peak today is 1,167 MW plus 138 MW in required reserve,” he said.

The Napocor official also noted that “we have a net dispatchable reserve of 75 MW.”

The 210-MW Mindanao coal plant in Misamis Oriental, owned by German firm Evonik Industries AG (formerly STEAG) and Aboitiz Power Corp., was shut down for maintenance work early September which caused, among other factors, the rotating brownouts in Mindanao.

Recently, Napocor’s power generation facilities and two independent power producers (IPPs) have been temporarily closed due to a number of reasons.

Napocor said there was a decrease in capacity due to the tripping of Agus 1 (Unit 2) last Aug. 10 and shutdown of the 100-MW Western Mindanao Power Corp. (WMPC), coupled with the scheduled preventive maintenance operations of Agus 2 (Unit 1), Agus 5 (Unit 1), Pulangi 4 (Unit 1) and Mindanao (STEAG) Coal (Unit 1).Overall, more than 400 MW out of a total of 620 MW dependable capacity were affected and caused the frequent power outages in the region.

The Department of Energy earlier admitted a possible power supply problem for the whole country if no new power facilities are put up soon. The DOE has been issuing a warning that by 2010, Luzon would be needing additional capacity.

Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, Act 9136, the government, through Napocor, is prohibited from entering into a power generation contract.

Thus, the DOE encourages more private sector participation in the construction of more power facilities in the country.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes earlier said with an annual demand growth of 4.4 percent, the Philippines would need 4,100 MW additional capacity for the period 2008 to 2017.

Of the 4,100 MW, about 3,000 MW would be required in Luzon for the 2008-2017 period; 500 MW for Visayas and 600 MW for Mindanao.

He noted that the Visayas grid has been experiencing rotating brownouts since 2008 due to very tight power generation capacity in Cebu and Panay.

He said Mindanao is also vulnerable and is now encountering power supply problem.


View previous articles from this author.

MINDANAO INVESTMENT CONFERENCE and

MINDANAO OTOP FAIR

is slated in Zamboanga this October..

estimated footprint of some of Mindanao's malls :)

Gaisano South
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/60/85719545.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/85719545.jpg/) http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/85719545.jpg/1/w1680.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img199/85719545.jpg/1/)

Victoria Plaza
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5474/51753396.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/51753396.jpg/) http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/51753396.jpg/1/w1680.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img10/51753396.jpg/1/)

GMall Davao

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5817/gmall.jpg (http://img264.imageshack.us/i/gmall.jpg/)

SM Davao

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8899/smdavao.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/i/smdavao.jpg/)


KCCC GenSan

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4513/kcc.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/kcc.jpg/)


LKK

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7826/lkk.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/lkk.jpg/) http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/lkk.jpg/1/w1680.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img28/lkk.jpg/1/)

Gaisano Butuan

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8444/butuan.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/butuan.jpg/) http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/butuan.jpg/1/w1680.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img268/butuan.jpg/1/)

way, walay gamay gamay nga bytes ana... dili man ma view ang mga photos... :cheers:

waaah ayaw i requote kay ga doble na dire sa akoa hehe palihug edit bai and dont quote the images :D

edited... dili makita ang mga photos nga imong gi post way.... :cheers:

nyak, kita man lagi ni fahdingding ug Peng hok? naka dialup ka bai?

medyo gamay ra diay ning Gmall butuan...

dili man dial up ning amo diri.. hinay lang jud ang dagan sa net... tapos gina block sad sa company..

;43704796']nyak, kita man lagi ni fahdingding ug Peng hok? naka dialup ka bai?

dili lang kay mejo qwertoy, gamay ra jud ang gmall sa butuan.

medyo gamay ra diay ning Gmall butuan...

so what's the largest mall in Mindanao then??

;43703922']estimated footprint of some of Mindanao's malls :)

Gaisano South
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/60/85719545.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/85719545.jpg/) http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/85719545.jpg/1/w1680.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img199/85719545.jpg/1/)

Victoria Plaza
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5474/51753396.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/51753396.jpg/) http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/51753396.jpg/1/w1680.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img10/51753396.jpg/1/)

GMall Davao

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5817/gmall.jpg (http://img264.imageshack.us/i/gmall.jpg/)

SM Davao

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8899/smdavao.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/i/smdavao.jpg/)


KCCC GenSan

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4513/kcc.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/kcc.jpg/)


LKK

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7826/lkk.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/lkk.jpg/) http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/lkk.jpg/1/w1680.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img28/lkk.jpg/1/)

Gaisano Butuan

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8444/butuan.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/butuan.jpg/) http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/butuan.jpg/1/w1680.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img268/butuan.jpg/1/)

puede bay nga imultiply sya sa number of floors para mahibal.an jud nato what's Mindanao's largest mall??

i think Gaisano davao pa rin zoro^^. 5-6 levels kasi siya eh...

dili lang kay mejo qwertoy, gamay ra jud ang gmall sa butuan.


naa pa bay room for expansion ang Gmall bXU?

Energy dep’t finalizing deal to develop deep ocean power

THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) said it is close to finalizing a contract with a US-based firm to develop deep ocean power technology.

Department data show there are 16 potential sites for such development.

"We are just finishing the documentation. We need to sit down and proceed with their contract already. It means they are ready," Mario C, Marasigan, DoE assistant secretary, told reporters.

Deep Ocean Power Philippines, a unit of California-based Deep Ocean Power, applied to the DoE in February for 36 sites in the country covering 21,450 hectares to develop deep ocean power technology.

Deep ocean power technology utilizes "ocean thermal energy conversion" by capitalizing on the temperature difference between the warm surface water of oceans, heated by solar radiation, and the deep water which is colder, to generate electricity through a heat engine. The same power principle is used in steam turbines and internal combustion engines.

"That is just one company, but [there are] more than 16 sites. We are looking what [sites] we could already finalize," Mr. Marasigan said.

"We are now on the final stage as we have re-qualified them already," Mr. Marasigan added.

The DoE is promoting investments in renewable energy in the wake of the government’s approval of the Renewable Energy law last year.

DoE data indicate 16 possible sites in the country for ocean power development, including Davao Oriental, Camarines, Northeastern Samar, Bataan, Surigao, Catanduanes, Siargao, Tacloban, Ilocos Norte, Babuyan Island, and San Bernardino Strait.

full story http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092909/content.php?id=051

Mindanao to ship thousands of hogs a month to Metro Manila in the 4th quarter

DAVAO CITY — Hog raisers in Mindanao will ship thousands of live hogs monthly to Metro Manila in the last quarter of the year, anticipating a shortage in the wake of culling of hogs in Luzon during the Ebola Reston outbreak.

Davao region alone can send 5,000 heads of hogs monthly, Northern Mindanao, 1,800 heads; Zamboanga Peninsula, 2,000 heads; while Central Mindanao has committed to contribute a still undetermined amount, said Rafael T. Mercado, head of the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture’s Davao Region office.

"Sixty percent of production of Central Mindanao goes out of the region, but we don’t know where — some in Tacloban, Cebu and in [other parts of] Mindanao, so we could not say how much volume they can contribute," Mr. Mercado said in a recent interview.

Last February, Agriculture Secretary Arthur T. Yap ordered the slaughter of 6,000 pigs to arrest the spread of the Ebola Reston virus from farms in Tarlac, Bulacan, parts of Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.

"It [culling] had a big impact and it has created a temporary shortage," Mr. Mercado said.

He said the Davao Region has a surplus of about 500 metric tons per month, or roughly 5,000 heads. In the second quarter of this year, Davao production slightly increased to 29,472 MT of live weight, compared with the 29,081 MT recorded in the same period last year.

Based on the official statistics, there were 34,320 heads of hogs shipped out at the Davao port in the first half.

Metro Manila is the least favored market for the region’s hog raisers with only 447 heads shipped between January to June. This is due to distance and the high cost of transport.

In comparison, Cebu got from Davao 14,214 heads in the same period; followed by Bukidnon with 7,440 heads; Maasin (Leyte), 4,342 heads; Surigao, 2,700 heads.

Eduard So, president of the Davao Hog Farmers Association, said the region can easily ship out hogs if the government will only negotiate with vessel owners to bring down the cost.

"The government should intervene. Who are we to demand from the shipping companies for lowered cost?" asked Mr. So.

He said the government would rather import meat than address the problem of freight cost. "If they have the money to import, why can’t they buy from the local producers?" he asked. "The region’s kilogram-live price is only about P84-P86, compared with Manila’s P105-P108 kg-live."

The members of the group, he said, have dwindled to 11 amid competition from importers, down from 13 a couple of years back. — Joel B. Escovilla

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092909/content.php?id=054

Renewable energy pushed for Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — Big power investments in renewable energy sources like hydro and solar are key to averting a power cirsis in Mindanao, Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said in a one-day power investment forum held here last week.

The Mindanao situation is peculiar, Mr. Reyes said, since 60% of the power on the island is produced in the northern side, while the southern side consumes about 60%.

He noted in the same forum that there are "eight projects... already being finalized in Mindanao with indicative capacity of 581 megawatts, or just about 20 megawatts short of the 600 megawatts necessary to cushion the impact of a power crisis." — CQF

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW093009/content.php?src=3&id=056

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Ganito kami sa Mindanao

Magulo dito. Sabi kasi ng national media, warzone daw ang Mindanao. Tanong pa ng isa sa isang presscon na nadaluhan ko: ang BJE ba ang solusyon sa “kultura ng baril” sa Mindanao? Huwat? Eh, halata namang wala siyang alam sa konteksto ng conflict sa rehiyong ito. Nakalimutan din ng The Imperial Manille na nandidito din ang Davao, Cagayan, Zamboanga, General Santos, Butuan, Surigao at iba pang mga emerging cities na promising ang mga potentials pagdating sa business and tourism. Marahil di din nito alam na kaya may nakakain pa sila sa taas eh dahil panay pa rin ang supply natin ng agricultural produce.

Siguro nga dahil they need to feed their own agenda, and Mindanao is an easy scapegoat. Sabi pa nga nung isang executive ng BPO ng minsang dumalaw sa isang conference dito sa Davao: di daw akalain ng ibang dayuhan na may BPO industry na palang natayo sa Mindanao, kala nila puro giyera, puro Abu Sayyaf.

Di nga naman tulad sa Makati, kung saan makakita ka ng mga professional at sophisticated-looking people who sashay and brandish their cigarettes outside high-rise buildings like the RCBC tower, at hindi mga baril. Talagang, what a sight of civilization and modernization it is.

Ganito raw kasi sila sa Makati. Yung lahat ng kailangan mo – edukasyon hanggang mga health benefits at welfare ng mga matatanda – ay sagot ni... Aba, kung kaya niyang gawin ‘yon eh di dapat ngang ihalal natin siya, by all means. Lalo na kung nung bata ka pa eh nagpapakain ka ng baboy habang kinukutya ka ng mga kalaro mo.

Ganito rin sana sa buong bansa… Naku, napaka-misguided at napaka-baluktot na logic. Hindi pwedeng i-replicate mo na lang ang Makati at gawin mong Makati ang buong bansa. Talagang hindi pwede yun. Hayaan nating ang Manila ay magpaka-Manila, ang Makati, magpaka-Makati. Ang bawat rehiyon sa bansa ay may kanya-kanyang strength, sa agricultura man or sa larangan ng industriya at services.

Op kors, hindi naman sasabihin ng ad na kaya dahil libre ang notbuk at Paracetamol sa Makati eh dun halos lahat ng malaking establishments –central financial district kung baga, parang Wall Street. Kahit na ba ang mga kompanyang ito ay may mga operation or yung mismong largely operating outside Metro Manila -ang iba sa liblib na parte ng Pilipinas kahit dun sa mga tinatawag naming conflict-affected areas. Mas nakakagulat kung sa laki ng revenues na pumapasok sa lungsod nila ay ‘di pa malilibre ang basic social service.

Kung gusto ng pagkakapantay-pantay, paigtingin at bigyang puwang ang local autonomy, coupled with greater transparency at accountability to its people. Sa isang banda, mukhang mahihirapan nga tayo sa huling ‘yon, dahil the katiwalian is deeply entrenched in the higher echelons of power. Pero subukan natin ang patakbuhin ng mabuti ang local autonomy. Patotohanan natin ang katagang decentralization, dahil magpasa-hanggang ngayon mukhang kakarampot lang ang natatamasa ng mga nasa kanayunan. Okay the term is too provincial, make it outside-Metro Manila. Diba, probinsya naman talaga ang tawag nila sa mga lugar outside their territory…

Let’s make local autonomy work. Decentralize. Look at the examples of Galing Pook and the untold stories of LGUs making it out on their own. Headline readers will be shocked that away from politics and crime, good things are actually happening on the ground. At siguro, tsaka natin masasabing, ganito kami sa Pilipinas, hindi lang yung Ganito kami sa Makati…

still thinking (http://jayclopsz.blogspot.com/2009/09/ganito-kami-sa-mindanao.html)

Mindanao's 10 storey+ buildings as of 2009

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/1589218/marco-polo-davao.jpg

http://neodavao.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/landco.jpg

http://nylarej.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/landco.jpg

http://clickdavao.com/realestate/properties/delta4/durian_hotel/durianhotel_01.jpg

http://www.geocities.jp/chacha_woo/grand_regal_hotel.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1903/10063903/19576053/371101197.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t93/bermudez_08/DSC02764.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6823/1001824io3.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1258/1253749844_1c2e9ad07c.jpg

http://cagayandeorodev.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/100_5846.jpg?w=386&h=511

unsa na nga buildig ang 2nd to the last murag lahi sad syag style. davao kung concentrated lang sa usa ka area ang mga highrise og midrises murag nana japon feeling na pagkadense

sa Zamboanga na sya bai, Skyrise hotel ata ang name.. 11 floors daw

‘Byahe Ta Mindanao’ kicks off (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=6&rid=233916)


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

DAVAO CITY, Oct. 7 (PNA) -- The Mindanao Tourism Council (MTC) and Davao Council of Travel and Tours and Allied Agencies (DCTTAA) have agreed to sell Mindanao as one to local and global tourists through its brainchild project dubbed “Byahe Ta Mindanao”.

MTC and DCTTAA consisting of various tour operators kicked off ‘Biyahe Ta Mindanao” last Oct. 2-4 with a familiarization tour together with members of the media to Northern Mindanao particularly in Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Oroquieta, Ozamis and Dapitan.

The group had its first stop in Seagull Valley in Budda, Bukidnon with its overwhelming scenery and freezing weather and proceeded to Gloria's Fantasyland, the so-called Disneyland of the Philippines, Dakak Beach Resort, Rivercruise Dining in Dampa Marine Park and the historical place of Jose Rizal's exile in Dapitan City.

The group on its way back to Davao explored Cagayan de Oro and visited some of its tourist sites such as the Gardens of Malasag, Museum of Three Tribes and Makahambus Cave.

Speaking at a press conference while on Rivercruise Dining in Dampa sa Dapitan Marine Park Saturday, MTC president Araceli Ayuste said partnership with media, travel and tour operators and tourism investors with the assistance of government is key to creating a comprehensive package to sell Mindanao’s key destinations to potential travelers.

Through partnership, it would be easier to come up with tour packages and solve problems that serve as hindrances to tourists in visiting preferred destinations, she said.

MTC chair Dindo Ilagan, also vice president of Gloria’s Fantasyland owned by former Zamboanga del Norte Congressman Romeo Jalosjos, said MTC will focus on looking into infrastructure problems since it is the priority of the travelers.

He said the concept of “Biyahe Ta Mindanao” is for Mindanaons to first explore the potential tourism hubs in their own island and later become as first hand promoters of the island’s tourism destinations to the rest of the country and the world.

“Tayo muna magbiyahe sa Mindanao to see for ourselves how peaceful it is, and the other countries will follow,” he said.

DCTTAA president Chato Aranda, for her part, said they are partnering with MTC to help and support Mindanao tourism projects to boost Mindanao’s tourism industry.

She said the organization is coming up with a tour package designed for local and foreign travelers in visiting Gloria's Fantasyland, Dakak Beach Resort, Rivercruise Dining, and Rizal Shrine.

She also said an overnight stay of the tourists at the Gardens of Malasag and Museum of Three Tribes will be included in the package.

She said tour operators are also eyeing to offer affordable tour packages for students who are on education field trips and leisure trips.

Aranda said the cooperation and support of travel and tour operators are vital to pump prime Mindanao’s key destinations.

The second leg of “Byahe Ta Mindanao” will be a road trip to General Santos City and Siargao Island, the surfing hub of the Philippines, and other key destinations in this part of Mindanao and parts of Southern and Western Mindanao on the third leg.

On its second phase “Byahe Ta Mindanao” will be traveling to various parts of the country to strengthen partnerships with tourism sectors at the national level and later to other countries purposely to sell Mindanao.

Ayuste said that “Byahe Ta Mindanao” is purely a private sector-led project, although it is also getting some assistance from the government tourism sector. (PNA)
DCT/JGQ/lvp

Strong earthquake hits near Philippines

AP - Thursday, October 8

WASHINGTON – A strong earthquake struck south of the Philippines on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 and was located in the Celebes Sea, 175 miles southeast of Jolo, Sulu Archipelago, and 730 miles south of Manila. The quake hit at 5:41 p.m. EDT, or 5:41 a.m. Thursday local time.

USGS did not report any damages or injuries.

PAL offers low-fare, no-baggage-limit promo

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/17/2009 8:36 AM

MANILA - "More or less."

That's the tagline of the new promotional offer of local carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its subsidiary, budget carrier PAL Express.

"More" free baggage is allowed for passengers of the 2 airlines' flights to 28 domestic destinations. Baggage allowance has been increased to 20 kilos from previous 15 kilos.

"Less" one-way all-in fares are also in store for passengers for various routes.

P1,188 fares for PAL passengers between the following:

· Cebu and Davao


P1,398 fares for PAL Express passengers for flights between

· Davao and Zamboanga

P2,208 fares for PAL passengers between the following:

· Manila and Butuan
· Manila and Cagayan de Oro
· Manila and Cotabato
· Manila and Davao
· Manila and Dipolog
· Manila and General Santos
· Manila and Ozamiz
· Manila and Zamboanga

P1,188 fares for PAL Express passengers between the following:

· Cebu and Butuan
· Cebu and General Santos
· Cebu and Cagayan de Oro
· Cebu and Dipolog
· Cebu and Ozamiz

Fares are for one-way, Economy class, inclusive of VAT.

Tickets should be bought between October 16 to 23, 2009. Travel period must be between November 4 to December 10, 2009.

Tickets are non-refundable but upgradeable to a higher fare. These are however not eligible to earn miles under the Mabuhay Miles frequent flyer program.

Interested travelers may book online (http:/philippineairlines.com and http://palexpressair.com), or at any PAL ticket offices and accredited travel agents.

The airline also card payments via credit cards Mastercard and Visa, and BancNet ATM cards.

as of 10/17/2009 8:36 AM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/10/17/09/pal-offers-low-fare-no-baggage-limit-promo

^^ Nice!

fantastic golden speculations had me decieved. and im sure a lot of others too. tale of the tape reveals

the real transhipment hub of mindanao

shipcalls

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mindaforeigncalls.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mindadomestcalls.jpg

http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2009_2ndQtr_Shipping.htm

fantastic golden speculations had me decieved. and im sure a lot of others too. tale of the tape reveals

the real transhipment hub of mindanao

foreign shipcalls - private ports

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/privportsforeign.jpg


domestic shipcalls - private ports

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/privportdomestc.jpg
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2009_2ndQtr_Shipping.htm

fantastic golden speculations had me decieved. and im sure a lot of others too. tale of the tape reveals

the real transhipment hub of mindanao

TEU volume cargo - foreign

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/teuforeign.jpg


TEU cargo volume - domestic
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/teudomestc.jpg
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2009_1stQtr_TEU.htm

fantastic golden speculations had me decieved. and im sure a lot of others too. tale of the tape reveals

the real transhipment hub of mindanao

TEU volume private ports - foreign

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/teuppforeign.jpg


TEU volume private ports - domestic

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/teuppdomestc.jpg

http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2009_1stQtr_TEU.htm

fantastic golden speculations had me decieved. and im sure a lot of others too. tale of the tape reveals

the real transhipment hub of mindanao

cargo traffic - foreign

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/cargforeign.jpg


cargo traffic - domestic

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/cargdomestc.jpg

http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2009_2ndQtr_Cargo.htm

;44107006']sa Zamboanga na sya bai, Skyrise hotel ata ang name.. 11 floors daw

Skypark Hotel un bai.

the real transhipment hub of mindanao

cargo traffic private ports - foreign

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/privportsforeign-1.jpg


cargo traffic private ports - domestic

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/privportdomestc-1.jpg

http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2009_2ndQtr_Cargo.htm

the real transhipment hub of mindanao

passenger

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/pax.jpg?t=1255858191

http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2009_2ndQtr_Passenger.htm

SUMMARY ON PORT PERFORMANCE
Ports Nationwide
2008

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/2_545498912l.jpg

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/2_229805499l.jpg

SUMMARY ON PORT PERFORMANCE
Philippine Ports Authority
January-March 2009

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/2_949769085l.jpg

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/2_497213995l.jpg

SUMMARY ON PORT PERFORMANCE
Philippine Ports Authority
April-June 2009


http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/2_536565251l.jpg

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/29/96/101786992/2_312855071l.jpg

^^ allow me to post a bigger picture hehe

summary for 2008
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3905/37428218.jpg (http://img43.imageshack.us/i/37428218.jpg/)

2009 performance

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2645/58955187.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/58955187.jpg/)

^^

Very interesting statistics....

shipcalls summary 2008
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2008_Shipping.htm

http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/391/2308710364.jpg

cargo throughput 2008 summary
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2008_CargoThruput.htm


http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/391/7949918380.jpg

summary of container (TEU) handled in 2008
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2008_TEU.htm


http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/391/8189402367.jpg

passenger traffic summary 2008
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2008_Passenger.htm

http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/391/2328503482.jpg

tale of the tapes...

Darky presents it by Region reports....

...Apo presents it by individual Port report....

fantastic golden speculations had me decieved. and im sure a lot of others too. tale of the tape reveals

the real transhipment hub of mindanao

TEU volume cargo - foreign

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/teuforeign.jpg


TEU cargo volume - domestic
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/teudomestc.jpg
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2009_1stQtr_TEU.htm

:lol: interesting lots of speculation!

tale of the tapes...

Darky presents it by Region reports....

...Apo presents it by individual Port report....

let me explain. in answer to post somewhere in cdo thread, there was argument of decongesting cdo port why some shipcalls had to be diverted to mindanao(which was objected by cargo handling co as it will drop their income and livelihood of "porters"). decongestion wasnt the main issue. wharf can expand if necessary. this was probably where "transhipment hub" sig stemmed from and probly word of mouth too by some davao ship passenger who went to use their port.

you dont show pdo cdo performance or even the pmo bec it does not show the marcabalan port performance in the argument. pdos or pmos are clustres of ports. iligans and ozamis ports arent located in cdo city. theyre another ports.
they have own individual operations just like macabalan each having own performance. in showing regional performance, does it answer my "transhipment hub" posted data? mine is the most objective

cargo throughput 2008 summary
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2008_CargoThruput.htm


http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/391/7949918380.jpg

nothing come close to the port of Davao even its not "international" :cheers:

nothing come close to the port of Davao even its not "international" :cheers:
its international seaport dinabaw. a transhipment hub by some international cargo forwarder shipping lines. its also domestic cargo transhipment hub

^^ not me who said that , that's why there's qoute-unqoute ;)

okay. buts thats fyi to them

okay. buts thats fyi to them

well maybe they can't comprehend what's the diff. between region and city and that goes to all statistics economic growth or ship calls ;)

very good performance Davao! :cheers:


cargo throughput 2008 summary
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2008_CargoThruput.htm


http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/391/7949918380.jpg

summary of container (TEU) handled in 2008
http://www.ppa.com.ph/Port%20Statistics/08-Stat_2008_TEU.htm


http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/391/8189402367.jpg

well maybe they can't comprehend what's the diff. between region and city and that goes to all statistics economic growth or ship calls ;)

tumpak!:)

I can see the Port of Davao having the most volume of transactions in the whole of Mindanao. Not bad. Not bad at all. :cheers:

The successful examinees in the CPA Board Exam Result October 2009 (http://www.pinoyboardresults.co.cc/2009/10/october-2009-certified-public.html) who garnered the ten (10) highest places are the following:

1 ROMELYN MANSET CARPIO DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-LIPA 91.71
IVAN RHETT VILLACAMPA MACABEO BICOL UNIVERSITY-LEGAZPI 91.71

2 LAILA TOPACIO AMON DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITYDASMARIÑAS
91.57
REGINALD LAJARA LACO DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-LIPA 91.57
ARIEL CANGREHILLA NACION MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-GEN.
SANTOS CITY 91.57

3 BELVIN LOPEZ ARMENION UNIVERSITY OF CEBU IN LAPULAPU
& MANDAUE 91.29
JOSEPH ALBERT JOSOL BULAO ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY 91.29
MA THERESA SOLANO PAMINTUAN UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINESDILIMAN
91.29

4 JAMIE ANN DELA CRUZ DATOL UNIVERSITY OF THE EASTCALOOCAN
91.00
FRANCIS ANGEL LIM REYES UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS 91.00

5 RYAN DULAMAL NANDWANI UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LA SALLE- BACOLOD 90.86
REYLAND JETHRO PEN TORRES NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL
UNIVERSITY 90.86

6 HEXILON SALENGA MANABAT HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY 90.71
KEVIN BACUNGAN MANANSALA MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITYMARAWI
CITY 90.71


7 KAISER YOHANN PRANADA BALLECER BICOL UNIVERSITY-LEGAZPI 90.57
CRIS LEO MOLINA VILLANUEVA UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS 90.57

8 MIKEN FORTUNATO PADILLA UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS 90.43
ALISSA STAR EMPERADO REYES UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS 90.43
GIBSON TENGCO TAN UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS 90.43

9 JERLYNNE CASTILLO DELA CRUZ UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS 90.29
MARICOR PATRICIO FERNANDEZ UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS 90.29
RONALYN CASTRO LAXAMANA HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY 90.29

10 ROEL SAMSON BOISER BALIUAG UNIVERSITY (BALIUAG
COLLEGES) 90.14
PAUL ROBERT VERA MORATA ATENEO DE NAGA 90.14

http://www.pinoyboardresults.co.cc/2009/10/top-ten-10-board-exam-october-2009.html

View the complete list of succesful passers>> October 2009 CPA Board Exam Result (http://www.pinoyboardresults.co.cc/2009/10/october-2009-certified-public.html)

Click to view the CPA Board Exam Result Perfomrance (Ranking) of Schools for October 2009 Board Exam (http://www.pinoyboardresults.co.cc/2009/10/cpa-board-exam-result-perfomrance.html)
...

I can see the Port of Davao having the most volume of transactions in the whole of Mindanao. Not bad. Not bad at all. :cheers:

naay na koryentiha lol , sama sa convention center of Mindanao.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/736/cargothroughputinmt1.jpg

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/6223/cargothroughputinmt2.jpg


next time, kind show everything. this is interesting statitics indeed!

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/10/numberofshipcalls1.jpg

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5223/numberofshipcalls2.jpg

anlaki ng foreign import stats ng Davao!even bigger than the entire northern mindanao PMO...interesting..

as usual pagdating sa international traffic ga dominate ang davao huh? pero interesting din ang numbers ng surigao, sila ang nagdala sa normin stats..and whats particularly interesting kay ang balance between foreign imports nila and foreign exports..unsa diay kusog na export sa surigao?

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/236/passengertraffic1.jpg

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/5439/passengertraffic2.jpg

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/4729/ppa1q2009x.jpg

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/706/ppa1q2009a.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2302/ppa2008.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/1599/ppa2008a.jpg

kuyawag difference sa NorMin ug SOmin pag abot sa containerized international traffic oi!

pero kapoya aning pabalik balik na charts oi...murag naka pila ka pages na man ni and same same ra man ang numbers

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/736/cargothroughputinmt1.jpg

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/6223/cargothroughputinmt2.jpg


next time, kind show everything. this is interesting statitics indeed!
the point of my data is to see performance of individual port. everything was shown whats behind the figures of pdo and pmos. its to find out which port is the busiest and rightfully a transshipment hub. following that, whats your point of showing the datas vague regional figures. it did not detail to show everything

^^ wag mo daw masyado i detalye ang stats kasi di daw tsada basahin :lol:

;44846766']kuyawag difference sa NorMin ug SOmin pag abot sa containerized international traffic oi!

pero kapoya aning pabalik balik na charts oi...murag naka pila ka pages na man ni and same same ra man ang numbers
and though southern mindanao figures suggestively understood from that of davao cityport(main bulk), northern mindanao figures is different bec figures wasnt monpolised by cdo city port. its notably powered by surigao and iligan too. while ozamis port led the group in passenger traffic

;44846132']anlaki ng foreign import stats ng Davao!even bigger than the entire northern mindanao PMO...interesting..

as usual pagdating sa international traffic ga dominate ang davao huh? pero interesting din ang numbers ng surigao, sila ang nagdala sa normin stats..and whats particularly interesting kay ang balance between foreign imports nila and foreign exports..unsa diay kusog na export sa surigao?

imagine if surigao wasnt in the picture

http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/392/2500008665.jpg

^^ wag na po, mas lalong di tsada pakinggan..therefore unacceptable ang data :lol:

but seriously, kapoya ani oi, wala naman nagbago and same lang ang trend ng stats..

............

as it shows...

if you can not show MUCH as an individual... group yourselves together :grouphug: so your stats would be notice! great impact!:cheers:

From the parade of tables posted, I can still deduce the same thing - that the Port of Davao has the bulk of all transactions amongst all the individual ports of Mindanao. :cheers:

Thanks @darky! :)

From the parade of tables posted, I can still deduce the same thing - that the Port of Davao has the bulk of all transactions amongst all the individual ports of Mindanao. :cheers:

Thanks @darky! :)

that's interesting ha! hindi naman industrial based ang Davao, kung nasa aeroplano ka nga yung Holcim cement plant lang ang makikita mo umuusok sa ere( which is good for the environment ) pero double or even triple that the port handles in any other port in Mindanao thats amazing!

btw and it's growing pa!


BOC exceeds annual target by P75M (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/boc-exceeds-annual-target-p75m)
Monday, October 19, 2009

By Carlo P. Mallo

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Southern Mindanao has achieved its annual target for 2009, two and a half months before the end of the year.

In an interview with Sun.Star Davao, BOC-Port of Davao district collector Ronnie Silvestre said the target set for the Port of Davao for this year is pegged at P2.086 billion worth of revenues.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

"But as of October 9, our revenues have already reached P2.16 billion, or P75 million more than the annual target," Silvestre said.

During the first half of the year, the revenue collection of BOC in Southern Mindanao also exceeded its target by P200 million.

"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.

The bulk of the revenues collected came from the imported products of companies involved in the production and distribution of power throughout Mindanao, occupying two of the top 10 spots.

This was headed by the National Transmission Corporation, placed number one with its projects involving the importation of cable wires and other materials for the creation of a new span of the Mindanao power grid.

Placing second is Dole Philippines, followed by Hedcor Sibulan Inc. which is also engaged in the importation of products for its hydro power plant projects in Davao City and Davao del Sur.

Filpride Resources Incorporated ranked fourth, followed by Cavendish banana exporter Sumifru Philippines Corporation.

Davao Citi Hardware placed sixth followed closely by Deco Arts Marketing at seventh place. Macondray Plastic placed eighth; Davao Packaging is ninth, and Sanyo Philippines completing the top ten importers.

would it be logical to assume that part of the reason of Davao's dominance sa foreign imports is because of the market size of Davao?

Would it also be logical to assume that the high domestic numbers for NorMin's ports can be attributed to its proximity to the visayas hence di lahat ng end destination ng goods from and to normin eh sa normin galing/papunta and some may even be to/from Davao?

But im interested sa exports sa Surigao, unsa diay na?

^^Banana is the reason < The Philippines is 2nd in banana industry in the world and Davao Region has a share of 70% plus ALL banana and other fruit exports in Mindanao goes thru Davao ports.


I guess Surigao have nickle and copper for exports

;44877656']would it be logical to assume that part of the reason of Davao's dominance sa foreign imports is because of the market size of Davao?

Would it also be logical to assume that the high domestic numbers for NorMin's ports can be attributed to its proximity to the visayas hence di lahat ng end destination ng goods from and to normin eh sa normin galing/papunta and some may even be to/from Davao?

But im interested sa exports sa Surigao, unsa diay na?

^^Banana is the reason < The Philippines is 2nd in banana industry in the world and Davao Region has a share of 70% plus ALL banana and other fruit exports in Mindanao goes thru Davao ports.


I guess Surigao have nickle and copper for exports
more like it i would assume the same dinabaw. if you look at the TEU, i would think export products of surigao werent loaded in van

;44877656']would it be logical to assume that part of the reason of Davao's dominance sa foreign imports is because of the market size of Davao?

Would it also be logical to assume that the high domestic numbers for NorMin's ports can be attributed to its proximity to the visayas hence di lahat ng end destination ng goods from and to normin eh sa normin galing/papunta and some may even be to/from Davao?

But im interested sa exports sa Surigao, unsa diay na?
based sa news waway, attributed largely to importations accounted sa hydropwer project/construction holcim expansion, ug uban pa. and at same time good for customs bureau income

My take:

High volume of exports from Surigao can be attributed to big mining (nickel??) and logging industries of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur respectively. PICOP though experiencing low revenues due to downsizing of operations in recent years continues to supply paper products to global market.

logging is still being done in Surigao... thats what I heard from relatives who lives up in normin

last month... I was in Cantilan, Surigao
2 industries were visible from the area...

1. an exporting plywood plant - they don't produce for domestic sales
2. gold mining - using strip mining techonology... kawawayang bundok.

Wala na ang PICOP. The big forests of comval. dav oriental, agusan del sur and surigao del sur, I would say is under anarchy these days. Illegal logging and kaingin is everywhere.
All I can say is TSK TSK!

http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/395/2394983891.jpg

http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/bp09q2tx.html

unsa nang number? in millions of pessos ba na? coz unsa nang 15 lang ang sa ARMM?

;45014240']unsa nang number? in millions of pessos ba na? coz unsa nang 15 lang ang sa ARMM?

in the right upper corner is a box- the reference total of the country. map showing the distribution

Number of approved building permit applications posts a 48.2 percent growth

1. A total count of 37,266 approved building permit applications in the country were reported during the second quarter of 2009. This number registered an increase of 48.2 percent from the 25,145 applications received during the same period of 2008.

http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/bp09q2tx.html

^^
Davao City probably carrying the bulk for Davao del Sur?

Davao del Sur, in turn, carries the bulk for Region 11 as I see it...

^^
Davao City probably carrying the bulk for Davao del Sur?

Davao del Sur, in turn, carries the bulk for Region 11 as I see it...

disregarding the boundaries, its the stretch of cities/municipalities between Digos and Tagum for me

;45044480']disregarding the boundaries, its the stretch of cities/municipalities between Digos and Tagum for me
dont forget real estate boom in the city of samal island

RP delegates gear up for 6th BIMP EAGA Summit in Thailand

Manila (23 October) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and key Philippine-EAGA officials are heading off for Hua Hin, Thailand to participate in this year's Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit on October 25.

Joining President Arroyo's entourage are Senator Miriam Santiago, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Presidential Adviser for Mindanao and Philippine EAGA Signing Minister Jesus Dureza, Mindanao Economic Development Council Chairman Virgilio Leyretana and Trade Undersecretary Merly Cruz, also the Philippine Senior Official for BIMP-EAGA.

The Philippine delegation will also be joined by key private sector and local government representatives which include BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Philippine Director Vicente Lao, Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Lagdameo representing the House EAGA Affairs Committee, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for Mindanao Director Elena Haw, South Cotabato Governor Daisy Fuentes representing the Confederation of Provincial Governors, City Mayors and Municipal Mayors League Presidents of Mindanao (CONFED) and BIMP EAGA Special Envoy to Indonesia Retired Gen. Efren Abu.

The BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit is an annual gathering of the sub-region's four Heads of State to renew commitment and further deepen cooperation among the member countries in various areas.

The summit is also a venue for EAGA Leaders to discuss and exchange views on various sub-regional issues of mutual concern.

At the Informal Senior Official Meeting (SOM) held in Melaka, Malaysia last October 14, the four EAGA member countries met to finalize the agenda and preparations for the Summit.

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak, standing chair of this year's summit, will lead the four countries to the discussions on various BIMP EAGA initiatives which are geared towards making the sub-region a Single Ecotourism Destination and Food Basket for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the rest of Asia.

The Summit will highlight issues such as providing opportunities for cooperation in food production and small and medium enterprise (SME) Development, enhancing Intra-EAGA connectivity, promoting the sub-region as an ecotourism destination and expanding BIMP-EAGA's strategic partnerships.

The meeting will also include presentations and updates on various accomplishments from the 5th BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit also held in Thailand last February 28.

In line with the expansion of the sub-region's partnerships, the Framework of Economic Cooperation (FoEC) between BIMP-EAGA and China was recently completed and is scheduled for signing on October 24, a day before the Summit.

The areas of cooperation include agriculture, forestry, fishery, tourism, exploration of minerals, energy and other natural resources, infrastructure, human resources development, development of alternative sources of fuel, and finance.

Created in 1994, BIMP-EAGA is a four-country grouping collectively pursuing sub-regional economic growth. With an estimated 50 million people spread out across 1.5 million square kilometers of land in four countries, the BIMP-EAGA is Asia's largest sub-regional cooperation. (MEDCo) [top]

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p091023.htm&no=03

^^
Davao City probably carrying the bulk for Davao del Sur?

Davao del Sur, in turn, carries the bulk for Region 11 as I see it...



;45044480']disregarding the boundaries, its the stretch of cities/municipalities between Digos and Tagum for me



question is davao also separated like zamboanga peninsula or as one like cebu?

question is davao also separated like zamboanga peninsula or as one like cebu?

ito yung mali na pilit kinocorrect ng davao city LGU. i remember mayor duterte ranting at one national agency for always associating davao city with davao del sur. :lol:

ganito kasi yan:

long time ago 1 province lang ang davao, then na separate sya into 3... davao del sur, davao del norte and davao oriental. later nag separate ang compostela valley sa davao del norte making it 4 provinces na. davao city is not connected to any province all along which means walang governor at walang provincial capitol ang davao city.

kaya nga lang palagi ina associate ang davao city sa davao del sur specially sa portal address ewan ko kung bakit, which is obvious sa mga census kasi impossible naman makaabot ng ganyan kataas ang davao del sur w/out davao city, kasi kahit davao del norte hindi kayang lamangan ng davao del sur IMO. :)

ito yung mali na pilit kinocorrect ng davao city LGU. i remember mayor duterte ranting at one national agency for always associating davao city with davao del sur. :lol:

ganito kasi yan:

long time ago 1 province lang ang davao, then na separate sya into 3... davao del sur, davao del norte and davao oriental. later nag separate ang compostela valley sa davao del norte making it 4 provinces na. davao city is not connected to any province all along which means walang governor at walang provincial capitol ang davao city.

kaya nga lang palagi ina associate ang davao city sa davao del sur specially sa portal address ewan ko kung bakit, which is obvious sa mga census kasi impossible naman makaabot ng ganyan kataas ang davao del sur w/out davao city, kasi kahit davao del norte hindi kayang lamangan ng davao del sur IMO. :)


aw oki oki same pala cia ng Zamboanga Peninsula separated but regionally connected :cheers:

aw oki oki same pala cia ng Zamboanga Peninsula separated but regionally connected :cheers:


Quote:
Originally Posted by junax View Post
ito yung mali na pilit kinocorrect ng davao city LGU. i remember mayor duterte ranting at one national agency for always associating davao city with davao del sur.

ganito kasi yan:

long time ago 1 province lang ang davao, then na separate sya into 3... davao del sur, davao del norte and davao oriental. later nag separate ang compostela valley sa davao del norte making it 4 provinces na. davao city is not connected to any province all along which means walang governor at walang provincial capitol ang davao city.

kaya nga lang palagi ina associate ang davao city sa davao del sur specially sa portal address ewan ko kung bakit, which is obvious sa mga census kasi impossible naman makaabot ng ganyan kataas ang davao del sur w/out davao city, kasi kahit davao del norte hindi kayang lamangan ng davao del sur IMO.

aw oki oki same pala cia ng Zamboanga Peninsula separated but regionally connected
__________________

could you explain further... I didn't know these...

Minda coops push peace, devt agenda (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?id=7116)

By LITO RULONA - Correspondent Updated October 27, 2009 12:00 AM

SOME 5,000 Mindanao-based cooperatives have signed a manifesto to push a common agenda for peace and development of Mindanao.

A formal declaration would be done during the 1st Mindanao Cooperative Peace Forum here on Oct. 29. Their theme: Advancing the Essence of Cooperati-vism for Peace in Minda-nao.

Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) regional director Orlando Ravanera said the cooperatives have long been working ‘‘to make life better for the oppressed, the poor and the down trodden, in whose name and for whose cause, cooperatives exist.’’


Ravanera said cooperative sector in Mindanao has significantly played a vital role in the island’s economy. Collectively, they have assets of over P24 billion.

“We have witnessed hunger in a land described as the food basket of the nation and have experienced glaring poverty in an island oozing with rich natural resources. We decry that while Mindanao is rich in fisheries, agriculture, forests and mines, it is where 14 of the 20 poorest provinces are found and its poor are the poorest throughout the Philippines,” he said.

He said unless these contradictions are resolved, poverty would always breed violence. ‘‘It will always remain as the best recruiter of terrorists. Unless the causes of dissent and conflict are addressed, military actions will just be palliatives and cannot provide the long term solution.


“We are aware that the root cause of poverty in Mindanao is the social exclusion and powerlessness of the people to have some access and control over the resources,” said Ravanera.


The cooperatives have a five-point agenda:

First, they believe that the country’s number one resource is its people. Enhancing therefore their capabilities, developing their potentials and harnessing their skills must take precedence over other priorities knowing that countries that have not developed their human capital are now penalized by slow growth.

Second, the marginalized sectors (Muslims, lumad, small farmers, fisherfolks) be given the preferential use rights in developing their respective resources and that their cooperatives be accorded with the utmost priority in the use and management of such resources.

Thirdly, they believe that the utilities such as those providing basic needs (electricity and water) should be cooperativized especially the so-called electric cooperatives.

Fourth, they are one with Muslims in promoting Halal program, to make thousand hectares productive to be planted with crops and raising of livestocks for local consumption and for local and international market.

“It is our unequivocal stand that we can have peace not through the firepower but by the strength of the human spirit, in love and oneness with one another, irrespective of race, class, gender, beliefs or ideologies. To that, we strongly commit ourselves to craft our own destiny, devoid of conflict, but bannering the essence of peace through cooperativism,” reads a portion of their manifesto.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Economy
EAGA to start 12 priority projects in two years
Business World

LEADERS of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (BIMP) have agreed to start within the next two years 12 priority infrastructure projects worth a total of $1 billion under the BIMP East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) subregional cooperation program, a statement of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) read.

The list consists of transport and power interconnection projects that will help boost trade, investment and tourism in the sub-region, the press release quoted from a joint statement of the leaders of the four countries, who met last Sunday for their sixth summit at the sidelines of the 15th ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand.

The leaders also endorsed the process of identifying, implementing, and reviewing future subregional projects, and a technical assistance proposal from ADB to help conduct feasibility studies for the priority projects.

Apart from providing financial and technical assistance to the BIMP-EAGA program, ADB serves as regional development advisor for the grouping.

Established in 1994, the BIMP-EAGA program focuses on various initiatives to increase connectivity, boost economic growth and reduce poverty in the subregion.

BIMP-EAGA countries are pursuing a road map consisting of projects to improve transport connectivity, power interconnection, tourism promotion, and trade facilitation.

The program has a long-term goal of making the subregion the major food producer for Asia, as well as being a premier ecotourism destination.

"We have directed our ministers and officials to determine future priorities and to enhance approaches to cooperation to sustain momentum and to build on the gains achieved so far," the joint statement said. "Cooperation must now be further intensified in the agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries sectors."

"While steady progress is good, it is time for BIMP-EAGA to shift to a higher gear," the statement quoted ADB president Haruhiko Kuroda as saying at the summit. "An accelerated agenda of cooperation in infrastructure will be needed if BIMP-EAGA is to effectively address the constraints to creating a more economically integrated subregion."

Priority EAGA projects in the Philippines for 2010 and 2011 consist of a program expanding Mindanao ports and the rehabilitation of the Davao-General Santos Road.

Other priority projects in EAGA for this period include the Sarawak (Malaysia)-Kalimantan (Indonesia) power interconnection, upgrading of the Kuala Lurah (Brunei Darussalam) border crossing facility and the Pontianak-Entikong road link (Indonesia), and construction of a bridge over Pandaruan river between Brunei and Malaysia.

Formally launched on March 24, 1994 in Davao City, EAGA consists of Brunei Darussalam, as well areas in the three other member states that were chosen for their distance from their capital regions, namely: the provinces of East and West Kalimantan, and North Sulawesi in Eastern Indonesia; the federal states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the federal territory of Labuan in Eastern Malaysia; as well as the islands of Palawan and the entire Mindanao in the Philippines.

The grouping was designed to promote close cooperation and coordination of development and use of resources in order to help these regions develop faster and catch up with the rest of their countries.

Ravanera: Cooperativism: The Roadmap to Peace in Mindanao (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/ravanera-cooperativism-roadmap-peace-mindanao-0)

(Last of 3 parts)

SOME 5,000 delegates from the six regions of Mindanao are coming today to attend the 1st Mindanao Cooperative Peace Forum which will be graced by no than Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. They will be crafting the cooperative agenda for peace and to showcase grassroots’ peace initiatives. This supports the truism that cooperativism, by nature and nurture, is the roadmap to peace in Mindanao.

On this historical convergence, the one million two hundred twenty six thousand six hundred forty active cooperative members in Mindanao are declaring through their delegates their collective intent to build peace in Mindanao. It is their resounding outcry to stop the war to erase miseries and poverty in this land of plenty. In this age of spiritual awakening, rectifying historical and social wrongs through the firepower of guns has become obsolete in our cosmic journey towards the light.

It has been said that neither the past nor the present shapes the future. What will shape the future is our collective of what we want it to be. Notwithstanding the fact the stripe in Mindanao is the second longest running conflict in the world. Notwithstanding the intricacies of the problems, the cooperatives firmly believe that when the Mindanawons work together towards that vision of oneness in diversity, then this wonderful island with its beautiful people will finally be in harmony. For in truth, we are all waves of one sea and leaves of one tree. For whatever our differences be, we are all sons and daughters of Mindanao.

In the forum, good governance will be presented as a condition sine qua non to peace and development. It follows democratic processes. Unless the people participate in development processes, all the outpourings of development assistance will just be palliatives and cannot be the real solution.

Social change to have positive peace has been illusive all these years despite two people power revolutions and two decades of martial law.
There might be changing of the guards but the structures that breed violence and poverty are still as formidable as ever. As poverty is rooted in the powerlessness and social exclusion of the people, remedial measures must be taken to empower them. Increasing therefore their capabilities, enhancing their skills and developing their well-being are the imperatives for people to be empowered.

Another path to peace is to develop the capabilities, to enhance the skills of the people especially those in the margins of development. A country that has not developed its human capital is now being penalized by slow growth. Enhancing the inhabitants’ skills, knowledge and values is imperative to mitigate social exclusion and to contribute to peace building processes.

Sheikh Ali Mamondiong said, “A boil cannot be cured by merely cutting it off with a blade. The contaminated blood will only produce more and more boils.”

Advancing the essence of cooperativism means mitigating, if not, uprooting the causes of conflict. As we draw all the cooperatives into the mainstream of peace-building, conflict transformation can be had to erase the factors to transform negative peace into a positive one.

Indeed, the road to peace is long and tedious and the climb will be steep but we will get there. Join the cooperatives in this noble crusade. If not now, when? If not the Mindanawons, then who? (cda_cdo@yahoo.com.ph)

Arroyo, coop leaders in Oro for peace gab (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/arroyo-coop-leaders-oro-peace-gab)


AT LEAST 5,000 Mindanaoan cooperatives representing 1.2 members will gather Thursday in Cagayan de Oro to discuss the role the coop sector will play in helping achieve peace in the troubled island.

Aside from being a major driver of economic growth in the island, it was time for the cooperative sector to take on the larger role of being a “vehicle of peace” and an “instrument of social justice,” said Orlando R. Ravanera, regional director of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in Northern Mindanao.

Ravanera and the chairpersons of the different Regional Cooperative Development Councils (RCDCs) in Mindanao will present to President Arroyo the “Mindanao Cooperative Peace Declaration.”

The declaration, Ravanera said, “affirms that the cooperative movement in Mindanao is up to the task of peace-building and development.”

Among the issues that they will be raised to Arroyo during the 1st Mindanao Cooperative Peace Forum are the following:

* The creation of Cooperative Human Resource Center in all regions of Mindanao as recognition of the cooperative sector’s human resource to enhance coop workers’ capabilities, develop their potentials and harness their skills

* Preferential use rights to the marginalized sectors—Muslims, Lumads (natives), small farmers and fisherfolk -- in developing their respective of resources

* Rectifying “social wrongs” committed by some utilities providing basic needs like electricity and water against member consumers whose rights of ownership have been “violated” all these years

* Promoting the “Halal” program and making thousand hectares of idle lands productive by planting crops and raising livestock for local consumption and for local and international market.

Ravanera pointed out that in the list of top 100 performing cooperatives in the country, 26 are in Mindanao, contributing 57 percent to the island’s gross domestic product. A 2006 statistics shows that Mindanao’s cooperatives had a total business volume of over P24 billion.

Being an economic powerhouse, Ravanera said cooperatives are in the position to affect change in Mindanao -- and only if their full potentials are unleashed by making them stronger.

Earlier, cooperatives in the region decried what they called “taxation excesses” even as they call for the full application of tax exemptions allowed to cooperatives.

This is one challenge that cooperatives will discuss in Thursday’s forum, Ravanera said.

“We must define cooperativism and not allow other government agencies to do it for us. In the light of the financial crises, taxes are watering down the very purpose of cooperatives,” Ravanera had earlier said in a forum on taxation early this year.

PPA reports flat cargo-volume growth in 1st 7 mos. PDF Print E-mail
Economy
Written by VG Cabuag / Reporter
Thursday, 29 October 2009 22:17

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported a flat cargo-volume growth during the seven-month period ending July after importers increased their shipments during the period.

Total cargo throughput for January to July this year still managed to have a mere half a percentage increase to 85.87 million metric tons from the previous year’s 85.45 million metric tons.

Almost a third of all these volume came from the combined cargoes that were handled at the Manila South Harbor, the country’s second-largest, and Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), the largest. The rest were handled at the different government-owned ports nationwide.

Total imports grew by 3 percent to 28.59 million metric tons, while exports handled in the seaports decreased by 1.1 percent to 16.12 million metric tons.

Positive performances were recorded at PPA’s Port Management Offices in Surigao, with an increase of 106 percent; Batangas, 32 percent; Puerto Princesa, 31 percent;  Nasipit, 18 percent;  as well as Calapan, Legazpi, Dapitan and Davao.

“This is an indication that the global crisis as manifested in the export industry is still very much felt in the country,” PPA said in its report.

Since early this year, export cargo deteriorated in 15 ports particularly in Dumaguete, which registered a drop of 0.128 million metric tons or 74.86 percent.

Significant drop of cargo volume was seen in South Harbor, which recorded a decrease of 2.03 million metric tons or 30 percent, while MICT decreased by 1.37 million metric tons or by 14 percent.

Ports in Iligan, Limay and San Fernando also posted declines in exports by 0.180 million metric tons, 0.422 million metric tons and 0.527 million metric tons, respectively.

In terms of number of containers handled, PPA said the volume declined by 99,991 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), or about 4.4 percent from last year’s volume. MICT and South Harbor handled almost 60 percent of the container volume, while the rest were from other ports.

Foreign container traffic was at 1.3 million TEUs for the seven-month period, down 8 percent from last year’s 1.41 TEUs, while there was a 2-percent growth seen in the domestic traffic to 883,000 TEUs from the previous 886,049 TEUs.

On a monthly basis, however, PPA said there was a minimal growth in container volume to 341,217 TEUs in July from the previous year’s 340,964 TEUs. For the month MICT handled 123,080 TEUs, while South Harbor had 73,640 TEUs.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/economy/17980-ppa-reports-flat-cargo-volume-growth-in-1st-7-mos.html

Two Philippine eagles released into the wild
By Joselle Badilla
Inquirer Mindanao
First Posted 20:12:00 10/29/2009

Filed Under: Animals

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Despite the brutal killing of “Kasagbua,” a three-year-old male Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), by hunters in July 2008, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) released two more eagles at the Mt. Kitanglad Mountain Range in Bukidnon on Thursday morning.

The simultaneous release of the eagles was the first for the foundation since 2004.

“The experimental release will set the stage for a full-scale reintroduction of Philippine eagles in the future,” said Jayson Ibañez, research director of PEF.

The foundation released “Hineleban,” a captive-bred male Philippine Eagle hatched in 2006 and “Kalabugao,” a rescued and rehabilitated eagle, inside the protected Mt. Kitanglad Mountain Range, one of the last remaining rainforests in the country.

Mt. Kitanglad has become a focal point for Philippine Eagle research in Mindanao.

“Kalabugao” was injured when rescued in Impasugong, Bukidnon. Kalabugao sustained a .22-caliber pellet wound on her right leg and was brought to the Philippine Eagle center in Malagos in 2008.

“Their release in Mt. Kitanglad is another opportunity for us to understand the behavior of the Philippine eagle. The fact that Mt. Kitanglad is a protected area with a unique ecological diversity makes it suitable for this experimental release,” Ibañez said.

Monitoring of Hineleban and Kalabugao will continue for one month after their release Thursday and for seven days a month thereafter.

“This opportunity to release eagles to their natural habitat will hopefully end with Hineleban and Kalabugao dispersing and establishing territories of their own,” Dennis Salvador, PEF executive director said.

Salvador said radio and satellite transmitters were attached to the back of the eagles to help researchers and field biologists monitor their status and how they respond to their release environment.

Since 1986, the foundation has already released back to the wild seven rehabilitated eagles.

The PEF is at the center of efforts to protect the Philippine eagle.

The Philippine eagle, the world’s largest bird of prey, larger than the American bald eagle, was declared an endangered species in 1965.

In July 1995, President Ramos declared the Philippine eagle the national bird and considered an endangered species because of its rapidly declining population.

There are an estimated 400 pairs left in the wild today.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20091029-232943/Two-Philippine-eagles-released-into-the-wild

Saudi forms group to focus on investments in Mindanao
By Carlo P. Mallo

TRADE mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Mindanao has finally yielded a result: the creation of business arm that will solely focus on investments for Mindanao.

Early May, a 26-man delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia arrived for an investment and trade mission in Davao City.

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

"The Saudi (Arabia) Group has formed the Far East Agricultural Company, which will focus solely on investments in Mindanao," Marriz Agbon said during Tuesday's Club 888 business forum at the Marco Polo Hotel.

The focus of the trade mission is more on agricultural products and livestock production.

"They are now eyeing investments in banana production, particularly the saba variety, corn production of biofuels, but we have cited that corn is still classified for food security and cannot be produced yet forbiofuels," Agbon said.

Around June, Agriculture Secretary Yap said the delegation of Arab investors is still unsure about investing in the region due to some constitutional restrictions.

The Arab investors were particular in purchasing parcels of land rather than leasing them from Filipino landowners.

"We are still trying to convince them that a lease is good enough," Yap said in an interview.

"Their argument is that they cannot take home the land, so why prevent them from owning it," Yap said.

Under the 1987 Constitution, no foreigner can own land in the Philippines.

The Arabian investors, who are eyeing agricultural and livestock investments in Mindanao, were offered agricultural lands and land that have already been subject to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp).

With the creation of the Far East Agricultural Company, Agbon believes that investments on agriculture coming in from Saudi Arabia will be pouring in very soon.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/saudi-forms-group-focus-investments-mindanao

Role of cooperatives in peacebuilding underscored (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan)



PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underscored Thursday the importance of cooperatives in bringing lasting peace and development, especially in the conflict areas of Mindanao.

"Especially in Mindanao, development must come hand in hand with peace because the problem is rooted in economic exclusion," President Arroyo told over a thousand participants and delegates to the First Mindanao Cooperative Peace Forum at Xavier University Gymnasium here in Cagayan de Oro.


The President said the occasion was historic because "the spirit of cooperativism is channeled through development," noting there is a lack of opportunities in ethnic communities due of the armed conflict in Southern Philippines.

The President noted that in Northern Mindanao Region, some 40 cooperatives of Lumads and 15 cooperatives of Muslims, including cooperatives of former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) combatants, are now engaged in community-based forest management agreements with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The President informed delegates that government has been integrating the programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), and other anti-poverty agencies into a National Social Welfare Program to protect the poorest from the impact of global economic crisis and to help those whose earnings are limited by illness, disability, loss of job or age.

The President added that during her administration, an unprecedented P150 billion has been released for micro-credit and has reached micro-entrepreneurs through cooperatives.

During the program, chairpersons of Mindanao's Regional Cooperative Development Councils (RCDCs) presented to the Chief Executive the Mindanao Cooperative Peace Declaration, a document geared towards sustainable socio-economic transformation and development within the region.

The RCDC chairpersons were Rosalino Sumile of RCDC-9; Isidro Lico, RDCD-10; Carmelina Francia, RCDC-11; Arthur A. Aller, RCDC-12; Francis Loque, RCDC-13; and Administrator Sammy Ibrahim, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The President also conferred the Cooperative Lifetime Achievement Awards to lawyer Mordino Cua and Professor Edna Aberilla, and Posthumous Awards to Marieto Ga and Representative Guillermo Cua.

Special citations were, likewise, presented to ABCA administrator Soc Anthony Del Rosario, and Police Superintendent Benito Olea Ramos, training director of the Philippine Public Safety College, Regional Training School, (PPSC-RTS), and Northern Mindanao Region.

On her way to Cagayan de Oro City Airport, the President dropped by at the
Provincial Capitol grounds and joined the children in the culmination of
Misamis Oriental Universal Children's Month Celebration.

At the airport, she awarded ancestral domain titles to Higaonon tribe from a remote village in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.

The distribution of the land titles coincided with the commemoration of the 12th anniversary celebration of Indigenous Peoples Right Act (IPRA).

Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT) to village chiefs representing the Higaonon tribe of Barangay Minalwang in Claveria, covering an area of 18,028 hectares. Some 1,816 individuals stand to benefit from the CADT.

Higaonon leaders Datu Amumahan Pina-andil, Datu, received the CADTs
Ditumbagan Bio, Datu Dikno Mansumagan and Datu Maagsug Pina-ander.

Datu's Pina-andil and Bio thanked the President for the CADTs, saying the future for the next generation of the tribe is now secure.

The President also ordered Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral to bring the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to Barangay Minalwang.

Secretary Cabral said the President for the next 300,000 family beneficiaries of 4Ps the Higaonon tribe is included in their list as recipient.

The Higaonon tribe of Minalwang applied for Certificate of Ancestral Domain
Claim (CADC-114) on Oct. 21, 1997 and awarded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

After years of waiting, the CADC was converted into CADT-084 through the
National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP), which covers 18,028 hectares in Barangay Minalwang, Claveria town, portions of Barangays Hindangon and Eureka in Gingoog City, portions in the towns of Malitbog and Impasug-ong in Bukidnon, and portions of Barangay Guibunon in the municipality of Esperanza, Agusan Del Sur. (Sun.Star/OPS-PIA)

Northern Mindanao posts P8.31 B in investment (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/227102/northern-mindanao-posts-p831-b-investment)
By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO
October 30, 2009, 2:51pm
BUTUAN CITY – Northern Mindanao continues to attain economic growth after the region posted a P8.31 billion in investment.
Records obtained from the Northern Mindanao office of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) showed the huge investments were posted by the 3,846 cooperatives organized in various areas of the region.

The investments were poured in the five provinces of the Northern Mindanao region.

Latest data showed that the province of Misamis Oriental garnered an investment of P5.39 billion, Bukidnon got P1.77 billion, Misamis Occidental got P553.7 million, Lanao del Norte got P528.2 million, and Camiguin got P72.7 million.

The CDA disclosed that topping the type of cooperatives in the region include multipurpose cooperatives (MPC) – agriculture at 2,051, MPC – non-agriculture cooperatives with 336, credit cooperatives with 160, service cooperatives with 91, consumer cooperatives at 62, producer cooperatives with 60, marketing cooperatives with 45, federated cooperatives have 27, cooperative unions with seven, cooperative banks with five, and one each for insurance and confederated cooperatives.

It was gathered that the fresh investments helped the region in generating additional income and creating employment opportunities for the local residents.

Northern Mindanao CDA Regional Director Orlando R. Ravanera noted that cooperatives in the region are “helping a lot” in uplifting the living condition of the people in far-flung areas.

“Cooperatives in this region contributed in development and progress, and also instrumental for social justice and peace,” the region’s CDA chief said.

The CDA director said the job and economic opportunities offered by the cooperative sector is even bigger than the micro and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as it has assisted the coops to create more employment and livelihood of its members.

“Somehow, the movement could be a solution to the decades-old conflict in Mindanao which could be actually traced to the unequal distribution of wealth resulting on just a few people getting richer, leaving the greater population to live in poverty,” said Ravanera.

As this developed, it was gathered that the Regional Development Council (RDC) noted the big participation of the various cooperatives spread in different places in the region.

GMA to certify MEDA as urgent
BY JUDY QUIROS

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to certify as urgent the proposed Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA) to ensure its approval in the House of Representatives and Senate.

This was announced by Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza at a press conference at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) yesterday.

Dureza said Mrs. Arroyo made the assurance in a private meeting with politicians and individuals from the private sector shortly after the 37th Annual Anniversary of the Bishops Ulama Conference (BUC) last Thursday.

According to Dureza, Mrs. Arroyo said she once authored a similar bill when she a senator but a certain senator blocked the passage of her bill.

Dureza said once approved, the proposed MEDA will pave the way for the continuing development in Mindanao despite changes in administration. This, he said, will be Mrs. Arroyo’s legacy to the people of Mindanao.

The proposed MEDA is due for second reading on plenary in both the Lower House and the Senate.

The proposed bill pushes for the creation of a permanent Mindanao body that will integrate and harmonize all peace and development efforts in Mindanao.

It is also being pushed in view of the need for Mindanao to catch up with mainstream national development.

Mindanao continues to lag behind in terms of economic growth, poverty, and human development. Six out of the 10 poorest provinces of the country are in Mindanao, while four of the bottom five provinces ranked lowest in human development are in Mindanao.

Key players from Mindanao’s business, local government, religious, academe, and youth sectors also gathered at the public hearing and voiced support to the bill.

General provisions of the MEDA proposal seek to strengthen the existing Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) by converting it into a permanent MEDA.

Established in 1992 through EO 512, MEDCo operates as the only existing Mindanao-wide government mechanism that provides a coordinated and rationalized platform for program implementation and monitoring, investment promotion, and policy advocacy for Mindanao.

http://www.dailymirror.ph/Oct/headlines10312009&03.html

The Tourism Act of 2009: A Closer Look
Katherine Marcelo-Roldan | Research & Consultancy
Posted: June 15, 2009
Full article: http://www.inspire.com.ph/ra-kmr-061509.html

Last May 12, 2009, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act (RA) No. 9593, the country’s Tourism Act of 2009. This act, declares "a national policy for tourism as an engine of investment, employment, growth and national development, and strengthens the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its attached agencies to effectively and efficiently implement that policy, and appropriates funds therefore."

The numbers are telling it all, according to the Department of Tourism, the country’s tourist arrivals was 3.14 million in 2008 as compared to our regional counterparts which accommodated 22 million (Malaysia), 14.53 million (Thailand), and 10.11 million (Singapore) tourists. The country lags behind most of its neighbors and as such this Act would be a big boost to the country’s tourism endeavors.

This national tourism policy would create employment for Filipinos affected by the global financial crisis. Workers can enter training programs that would fit them for jobs required in the tourism industry. Currently, tourism enterprises utilize some four million in direct and indirect employment. It also provides livelihood opportunities to farmers, fishermen, factory workers and other suppliers of food, goods, equipment and services.

In addition, two government agencies were created by this act – the Tourism Development Estate Zone Authority (TEZA) and the Tourism Promotion Board (TPB). The TPB would have adequate funding for the country’s promotion as a tourist destination. It also aims to create a favorable image of the Philippines within the international community, thereby strengthening the country’s attraction as a tourism destination and eventually paving the way for other benefits that may result from a positive global view of the country.

On the other hand, TEZA would identify areas for development that can potentially be tourist destinations or defined as Tourism Economic Zones (TEZ).The TEZ is any geographic area that is capable of being defined into one contiguous territory; it has historical and cultural significance, environmental beauty, or existing or potential integrated leisure facilities within its bounds or within reasonable distances from it.

Below are the mandate of the Tourism Enterprise Zone Authorityand its implications:


Mandate


Effect

+


-

Transformation of the Philippine Tourism Authority into the Tourism Enterprise Zone Authority


* Defining historical site and other tourist destinations as a Tourism Enterprise Zone



* Opportunities for the creation of support services and structures for these sites such as ( hotels, lodges, wellness facilities , restaurants etc



* Potentially create problems ( traffic congestions, waste treatment, degradation of facilities) if not properly master planned and all stakeholders have been consulted and provided their inputs




* TEZA is vested with the general powers of a corporation. It can enter into contracts; contract loans; execute mortgage; construct, own, lease, and operate infrastructure facilities; etc.




* Flexibility in dealing with private enterprises(local and foreign) thereby infusing fresh investments to the industry.



* Open to irregularities, as these transactions might not be dealt transparently.
* Issues on foreign ownerships




* Can exercise “domain and police power, including,the power to recommend the removal of structures which may be considered nuisances per se or which impede or impair the enjoyment of historical, cultural and natural endowments.”




* Can help ensure that all structures erected in that area can viably help one another and complement each other’s services.



* Enterprises might be subjected to excessive power/pressure that would lead to corruption if safety measures are not in place..




* Provision for incentives.



* Incentives for businesses inside the tourist zones would have income tax holidays, tax and customs duties exemption on importations, and tax credits. Non-fiscal incentives include the right to repatriate the entire proceeds of the investment and earnings.




* Guidelines should be put in place for firms to qualify for these incentives as these are abused if not regularly monitored.

Some of the areas identified by the Tourism act as tourism enterprise zones and are mostly situated in metropolitan cities with an abundant source of tourist related areas. These are areas such as:

* Cavite–historical site such as Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine – Kawit and Battle of Imus, and the famous Taal Volcano in Tagaytay
* Laguna–natural attractions such as Mt Makiling, Pagsanjan Falls and hot andcold spring and historical site such as the Rizal National Shrine.
* Boracay –pristine white sand
* Iloilo–Guimaras Island, historical churches such as St. Thomas of Villanova, San Juaquin, Sta. Barbara and St. Catherine of Alexandria of Leon and local delicacies
* Palawan–natural attractions such as the Underground River and Tubbataha Reef
* Cebu – beaches in theislands of Bantayan, Malapascua, Camotes and Mactan
* Bohol – natural attractions such as the Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, Panglao Island and the smallest monkey, Philippine Tarsier.
* Davao – known as the“Fruit Basket of the Philippines”, with natural resources such as the Samal Island, Mount Apo, and the home of the world’s largest eagle, Monkey-Eating Eagle or Philippine Eagle

For the next few months expect a lot of activity in these areas, as investors would be exploring investment opportunities that would be in line with the government’s direction.

The investment requirement for developing a typical leisure project range from PHP 300 million to PHP500 million with a payback period of 4-7 years. With this huge investment, it is still advised that investors study the areas, meaning they have to do their homework and understand the market in that zone both for the demand and supply side. It is better to spend for a little planning cost rather than having to burn their full investment.

In the end, what is important is that majority of the stakeholders (internal and external) benefit from RA 9593. And hopefully this will trickle down to its intended beneficiaries.

For comments/suggestions, send an email to kmroldan@inspire.com.ph

...

BIMP-EAGA leaders agree to bolster food basket, ecotourism potentials in Asia
November 3, 2009 9:20 am

DAVAO CITY, Nov. 3 — Leaders of the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Areas (BIMP-EAGA) have agreed to bolster the area as potential regional food basket and eco-tourism haven in Asia.

Presidential Adviser Secretary Jesus said the agreement was formulated during the recent 6th BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit in Thailand.

In said meeting, Dureza said the BIMP-EAGA leaders directed Agriculture Ministers to take the lead in formulating strategies and exploring innovative ways to develop the member countries’ food industry to pump prime its target to become the region’s food basket.

In a statement furnished by Dureza, also the Philippine’s Signing Minister to the BIMP-EAGA, the leaders recognized the importance of community-based ecotourism to the economic development of the sub-regions’ rural areas.

The leaders directed their Tourism Ministers to extend full support to ecotourism initiative.

They agreed to fully support the various programs being undertaken to protect and conserve the environment and sustainable to manage BIMP-EAGA’s rich natural resources such as the Heart of Borneo and Coral Triangle Initiatives.

They also directed the concerned ministries to strengthen collaborative actions in protecting the environment.

In addressing global efforts to address climate change, Brunei Darussalam offered to host a ministerial conference focusing on the Heart of Borneo and Coral Triangle.

Aside from food security and ecotourism development, the leaders lauded the decision of the Ministers to identify and accelerate the development of critical infrastructure projects to improve connectivity and facilitate trade, investment and tourism within the sub-region.

The Ministers endorsed a three-rolling program process for the identification, processing and review of priority projects such as the following:

– Indonesia: Tarakan-Serudong Road and Sarawak-Kalimantan Power Interconnection;

– Malaysia: Sarawak-Kalimantan Power Interconnection (Malaysian Section); and

– Lahad Datu Palm Oil Industrial Cluster; Philippines: Expansion of Mindanao Ports Program 1 and Palawan Ports Development Program. All these projects are for 2010.

On the other hand, the projects for 2011 are the following:

– Brunei Darussalam: Kuala Lurah Border Crossing Facility and Pandaruan Bridge (between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia);

– Indonesia: Pontianak-Entikong Transport Link and Enhancing the Manado-Bitung Link; and

– Philippines: Expansion of Mindanao Ports Program II and Rehabilitation of the Davao-General Santos Road. (PNA) LAP/Judy G. Quiros/lvp

http://balita.ph/2009/11/03/bimp-eaga-leaders-agree-to-bolster-food-basket-ecotourism-potentials-in-asia/

BIMP-EAGA leaders agree to bolster food basket, ecotourism potentials in Asia
November 3, 2009 9:20 am

DAVAO CITY, Nov. 3 — Leaders of the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Areas (BIMP-EAGA) have agreed to bolster the area as potential regional food basket and eco-tourism haven in Asia.

Presidential Adviser Secretary Jesus said the agreement was formulated during the recent 6th BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit in Thailand.

In said meeting, Dureza said the BIMP-EAGA leaders directed Agriculture Ministers to take the lead in formulating strategies and exploring innovative ways to develop the member countries’ food industry to pump prime its target to become the region’s food basket.

In a statement furnished by Dureza, also the Philippine’s Signing Minister to the BIMP-EAGA, the leaders recognized the importance of community-based ecotourism to the economic development of the sub-regions’ rural areas.

The leaders directed their Tourism Ministers to extend full support to ecotourism initiative.

They agreed to fully support the various programs being undertaken to protect and conserve the environment and sustainable to manage BIMP-EAGA’s rich natural resources such as the Heart of Borneo and Coral Triangle Initiatives.

They also directed the concerned ministries to strengthen collaborative actions in protecting the environment.

In addressing global efforts to address climate change, Brunei Darussalam offered to host a ministerial conference focusing on the Heart of Borneo and Coral Triangle.

Aside from food security and ecotourism development, the leaders lauded the decision of the Ministers to identify and accelerate the development of critical infrastructure projects to improve connectivity and facilitate trade, investment and tourism within the sub-region.

The Ministers endorsed a three-rolling program process for the identification, processing and review of priority projects such as the following:

– Indonesia: Tarakan-Serudong Road and Sarawak-Kalimantan Power Interconnection;

– Malaysia: Sarawak-Kalimantan Power Interconnection (Malaysian Section); and

– Lahad Datu Palm Oil Industrial Cluster; Philippines: Expansion of Mindanao Ports Program 1 and Palawan Ports Development Program. All these projects are for 2010.

On the other hand, the projects for 2011 are the following:

– Brunei Darussalam: Kuala Lurah Border Crossing Facility and Pandaruan Bridge (between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia);

– Indonesia: Pontianak-Entikong Transport Link and Enhancing the Manado-Bitung Link; and

– Philippines: Expansion of Mindanao Ports Program II and Rehabilitation of the Davao-General Santos Road. (PNA) LAP/Judy G. Quiros/lvp

http://balita.ph/2009/11/03/bimp-eaga-leaders-agree-to-bolster-food-basket-ecotourism-potentials-in-asia/

It's confusing to me why they have to rehab this road when it's fairly new. Expanding or widening it may be a no brainer but rehabilitating it is a bit premature unless the recent landslides and soil erosions in the area has caused a big damage to this Davao-Gensan link.

French Speaking Agent in Davao
Nov 5, 2009 Author: ninja | Filed under: Link2Support

French Speaking Agent ( Davao City )
(Central Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao)

Requirements: (http://callcenterjobs.com.ph/link2support/french-speaking-agent-in-davao/)

* Vocational Diploma / Short Course Certificate, Bachelor’s/College Degree , Linguistics/Languages or equivalent.
* Experienced Employees specializing in IT/Computer – Network/System/Database Admin or equivalent.
* Must be willing to work in Davao.
* Fluent in French.
* Willing to work on shifting schedule.
* A team player.
* 15 Full-Time positions available ASAP.

Mount Kitanglad named an ASEAN Heritage Park
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
November 2, 2009, 7:06pm

Environment officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) declared the Mt. Kitanglad Range Protected Area in Bukidnon as an ASEAN Heritage Park, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced.

DENR Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. said the declaration was made during the recent 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment held in Singapore.

Atienza attended the said meeting to seek for the inclusion of the park, which is one of the priority protected areas in the Philippines.

ASEAN is formed by 10 countries namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The park now joins the list of 27 other ASEAN Heritage Parks.

Mt. Kitanglad is the third declared ASEAN Heritage Park in the Philippines, after Mt. Apo in Davao and Mt. Iglit-Baco in Mindoro Oriental.

“Mt. Kitanglad range contains a wide range of biodiversity that represents the ASEAN region. It is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals, about half of which is unique to the area,” Atienza said.

Atienza said President Arroyo was “very excited and optimistic” that the declaration will further enhance the government’s efforts in not only conserving the country’s biodiversity but also in preserving the culture and tradition of the region.

Under the ASEAN Heritage Parks program, protected areas with unique, diverse, and outstanding value are given the highest recognition as an ASEAN Heritage Park. The program aims to promote conservation of the region’s natural heritage.

Mt.Kitanglad covers seven municipalities and one city in Bukidnon, namely, Talakag (4,945 ha), Baungon (3,157 ha), Libona (6,196 ha), Manolo Fortich (595 ha), Sumilao (3,532 ha), Lantapan (7,912 ha), Impasug-ong (1,985 ha), and Malaybalay City (2,317 ha).

Covering an estimated area of about 30,642.0 hectares, Mt. Kitanglad was declared a protected area in 2000 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8978.

Manila Bulletin (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/227575/mount-kitanglad-named-asean-heritage-park)

PGMA names 5 new Court of Appeals justices (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=239517)

MANILA, Nov. 5 (PNA) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed five new associate justices of the Court of Appeals (CA).

In a transmittal letter sent by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to the Office of Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Reynato Puno, those appointed as associate justices of the CA are Judges Edwin Sorongon, Ramon Cruz, Agnes Carpio, Angelita Gacutan and Socorro Inting.

The five new CA justices will be assigned to the branches of the CA in the cities of Manila, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu, respectively.

Meanwhile, SC Sr. Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing on Thursday reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago also retired on Oct. 5, 2009 and Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario will bow out of service on Dec. 5, 2009. (PNA)
DCT/PTR

High speed cruising from Davao to CDO

By Jojie Alcanta

PLDT myDSL has done it again.
Spearheading advance technology, innovation and incomparable services for the Filipino people, it surges into Davao and Cagayan de Oro to provide more cutting-edge solutions to subscribers and fulfilling its purpose of getting every home broadband-connected.
Last year was a fulfilling event as they reached more Dabawenyos with their Quick Install Kits and promise of a speedy process of internet connectivity for every home.
This year, like a heady adrenaline rush, PLDT swept into Mindanao and revved up the Kadayawan Festival in Davao and Kagay-an Festival in Cagayan de Oro, bringing in tow drift champ Alex Perez, Wonder Boy Gio Rodriguez, endorser and actress Isabel Oli and the rest of the myDSL crew.
Launching quite a national campaign called Overdrive, both Dabawenyos and Cagayanons were treated to an overwhelming experience of car drifting exhibitions, motorcades, campuses and mall tours topped with the launch of the one-of-a-kind Speedster Bus. The activities might as well be named Overload.
According to PLDT myDSL head Gary Dujali, 2009 is the most aggressive year for them to embark on as they try to reach the goal of enlisting more subscribers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
In Davao alone, there are more than 9,000 allocated DSL-ready lines for the locals, while there are over 2,000 in Cagayan de Oro. New infrastructures and the latest in high technology are secured in place to make sure every Filipino home is wired.
The Speedster Bus is a one stop mobile vehicle which roams around, acting as an internet hub, lounge and internet cafe‚ in one, with free coffee to boot. There is one for Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region.

BOI approves incentives for 5 new projects

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:39:00 11/10/2009

Filed Under: Investments

THE BOARD OF INVESTMENTS has approved the granting of various fiscal and nonfiscal incentives to P719.1 million worth of projects in the mass housing, hotel, and aquaculture sectors.

Entailing the largest investment among the five projects is the Peninsula Garden Midtown Homes of Federal Land Inc., which will cost P246.7 million to complete.

Located in Paco, Manila, the mass housing project involves the development of a 15-storey condominium building that will house 184 units on 1,441 square meters of land.

Once the project becomes operational by next month, it will provide employment to 256 individuals.

Another mass housing project, that of Johndorf Ventures Corp. in Butuan City, will also get BOI perks.

The P127-million development entails the construction of 196 low-cost housing units to be sold for between P705,000 and P819,000 a unit.

The project has generated 75 new jobs in the area.

Apart from mass housing, the BOI also approved the registration of two hotel projects worth a combined P314.9 million: The P224.9-million Hotel St. Ellis in Legazpi City and the P90-million Highlander Hotel and Resort in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya.

Hotel St. Ellis, which has been classified by the Department of Tourism as a tourist inn, will have 40 rooms with floor areas ranging from 23-54 square meters.

It is scheduled to start commercial operations next month.
Highlander Hotel and Resort, on the other hand, will have two storeys and 76-rooms, and will cater to foreign and local tourists visiting Nueva Vizcaya.

Set to start commercial operations by January 2010, it will provide jobs to 100 employees.

BOI perks were also given to Malalag Bay Aquaculture and Processing Corp. for its P30.4-million aquaculture business in Davao del Sur and General Santos City.

The project involves two stages: The growing of milkfish in Davao del Sur and the processing of the fish and other marine products in a leased General Santos facility.

The company intends to sell its products both here and abroad.
Abigail L. Ho

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20091110-235470/BOI-approves-incentives-for-5-new-projects

12 PHILIPPINE CITIES PARTICIPATING IN WORLD EXPO 2010 SHANGHAI, CHINA
Philippine theme statement: Performing CITIES

DAVAO CITY
NAGA CITY
ILOILO CITY
CEBU CITY
MANILA
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY
GENERAL SANTOS CITY
MALAYBALAY
MAKATI CITY
TAGUIG CITY
SAN FERNANDO CITY
CALBAYOG

ZestAir flies to Sandakan thrice a week PDF Print E-mail
by MindaNews
Thursday, 12 November 2009 05:44

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/11 November) – Zest Air has resumed the Zamboanga-Sandakan (Malaysia) route, flying there thrice weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The route was suspended in April last year under Asian Spirit and resumed on October 16 under Zest Air, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) reported.

The flight between Zamboanga and Davao uses a 56-seater MA60 modern ark aircraft.

ZestAir flies to Sandakan Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:45 noon, arriving there at 2:05 p.m. The plane departs Sandakan for Zamboanga at 2:50 p.m., arriving there at 4:10 p.m.

From Manila, Zest Air flies daily to Davao, thrice weekly to Siargao in Surigao del Norte (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting November 17), four times weekly to Surigao City in Surigao del Norte (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays starting November 16).

From Cebu, ZestAir flies daily to Cagayan de Oro and Davao City and thrice weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays) to Zamboanga.

Starting December 8, ZestAir will fly four times a week to Siargao on Tuesdays, Thurdsdays, Saturdays and Sundays. (MindaNews)

http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7202&Itemid=106

OFW remittances in Mindanao show huge jump PDF Print E-mail
Regions
Written by Manuel T. Cayon / Reporter
Wednesday, 11 November 2009 19:06

DAVAO CITY—Monitoring done by Mindanao’s largest banking network showed a huge jump in remittance earnings from overseas Filipinos to their families and relatives, indicating that the same amount has also been plowed to the local economy, easing the apprehension of a deep backlash of a rampaging global recession.

But Alex Buenaventura, president of One Network Bank (ONB), said the 52-percent jump in remittance in only the third quarter, amounting to P100.635 million, was only a little percentage of the entire amount that was actually sent to both the bank, nonbank and undocumented channels.

“It shows that a lot of money [came] in despite the global crisis, and we would expect the amount to enter the economy, whether it is in the form of consumption or expenditure,” he said.

ONB’s remittance payout carries a fraction of the clients of the other remitting companies, 11 of them having a tie-up with ONB to serve their clients that cannot be reached and which the ONB could penetrate.

ONB is one of the country’s largest rural bank with the widest banking network in Mindanao, most of them in rural areas.

ONB has remittance tie-up with Uniteller, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Banco de Oro, Moneygram, Philippine National Bank, Epci Xoom, I-Remit, Development Bank of the Philippines, Asia United Bank, Security Bank and Trust Co. and G-Cash.

ONB gets a fixed amount transaction fee from these remittance outlets for handling out their payout to clients, especially those in the countryside.

ONB payout reached P96.359 million in the second quarter this year, indicating an increase of 4 percent by the third quarter. The third-quarter figure was a 54-percent jump compared with the third-quarter figure last year, which posted P66.194 million.

Buenaventura said their figure was “only a little fraction of the combined payout done by remittance companies. We could not even be 2 [percent] or 5 percent of the combined transactions of these 11 remittance outlets.”

He said the bigger transactions may be carried by the nonbank remittance outlets.

“These are pawnshops and remitting outlets, probably because of the perception that these outlets require less documents as required by banks,” he explained.

Four more banks have finalized their tie-up agreement with ONB, which has started installing the system software to start the formal operation. These are the Bank of the Philippine Islands, LBC Bank, Metrobank and Perhillion, the remittance arm of Philippine Business Bank.

Although the remittances were not the lone indicator of prosperity, Buenaventura said combined with the double-digit upward performance of the deposit and loans of the ONB would actually show that “Mindanao is not in crisis.”

Its deposit volume has jumped 21 percent higher to P6.5 billion as of the end of the third quarter, and the loan volume also reached P6 billion, a 6-percent increase from the same period last year. Its total assets were currently placed at P9.3 billion, an increase of 18 percent from last year.

The ONB has 75 branches in Min-danao, making it the rural bank with the widest banking network on the island, with five more branches awaiting final approval from the Central Bank.

ONB has absorb also the Rural Bank of New Corella, with final consolidation operation in April next year. The absorbed bank in New Corella, Davao del Norte, has a total asset of P25 million.

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/18405-ofw-remittances-in-mindanao-show-huge-jump.html

Cignal TV Launch in Mindanao

I was fortunate A new Digital TV satellite broadcast service has landed in Mindanao. Cignal TV was launched today giving consumers the option to watch videos in 100% crystal clear high definition digital video format.

4413_98837934461_94852354461_2612855_1498718_n

Cignal TV currently offers 21 Standard definition channels and 8 digitally enhanced channels for everyone’s viewing pleasure.

Subscribers can choose from the following plans/packages:

cignal package

*they currently have a promo: the cignal TV SD package can now be availed for only P1,500 (not P4,700).

I’ve been seeing a lot of Cignal TV satellite dish here in Compostela Valley and on my way to Davao City.

For those interested you may reach Cignal TV at 0908-7699119 / 0908-655722. Email: cignalcare@mediascape.com.ph. Or you may get in touch with the local Cignal TV provider nearest you:

* Davao del Norte/Oriental: (082) 300-4132
* Davao del Sur: (082) 228-6006
* Compostela valley: (085) 343-8657
* Agusan del Norte/Sur/ Surigao del Norte/Sur: (085) 342-9068

http://tagadavao.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/cignal-tv-launch-in-mindanao/

House okays MinDA Bill on second reading

Manila (14 November) -- The House of Representatives approved Tuesday on second reading the bill creating the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) which will become a permanent agency that will integrate the socio-economic development of Mindanao.

After a series of committee deliberations at the House, the chamber in plenary session passed House Bill 6958. The bill's approval on third and final reading is expected next week.

The passage of the bill at the House heralds a longed-for development after efforts in pushing for the creation of a permanent Mindanao development agency has been delayed for more than five decades. Previous advocacies for the creation of the first Mindanao Development Authority (MDA) dates back to 1960.

House Bill 6958 seeks to strengthen the existing Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) into a more permanent institution which would ensure the continuity and consistency of interregional and Mindanao-wide programs as well as ensure a permanent mechanism that provides a coordinated and rationalized platform for program implementation and monitoring, investment promotion, as well as policy advocacy for Mindanao.

full story http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p091114.htm&no=01

i got this one already.. og nice daw ingon sa akong ate... it's 395 per month... tin-aw kaayo daw... tin-aw pas tubig... :lol:

Cignal TV Launch in Mindanao

I was fortunate A new Digital TV satellite broadcast service has landed in Mindanao. Cignal TV was launched today giving consumers the option to watch videos in 100% crystal clear high definition digital video format.

4413_98837934461_94852354461_2612855_1498718_n

Cignal TV currently offers 21 Standard definition channels and 8 digitally enhanced channels for everyone’s viewing pleasure.

Subscribers can choose from the following plans/packages:

cignal package

*they currently have a promo: the cignal TV SD package can now be availed for only P1,500 (not P4,700).

I’ve been seeing a lot of Cignal TV satellite dish here in Compostela Valley and on my way to Davao City.

For those interested you may reach Cignal TV at 0908-7699119 / 0908-655722. Email: cignalcare@mediascape.com.ph. Or you may get in touch with the local Cignal TV provider nearest you:

* Davao del Norte/Oriental: (082) 300-4132
* Davao del Sur: (082) 228-6006
* Compostela valley: (085) 343-8657
* Agusan del Norte/Sur/ Surigao del Norte/Sur: (085) 342-9068

http://tagadavao.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/cignal-tv-launch-in-mindanao/

House approves on 2nd reading proposed Mindanao dev’t body (http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=1460)

THE HOUSE of Representatives on Tuesday night approved on second reading a bill that will create a new development body in Mindanao.

House Bill (HB) 6958, a substitute bill to HBs 2303, 5255, and 5620 principally authored by Reps. Pedro P. Romualdo (Camiguin), Simeon A. Datumanong (Maguindanao) and Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro), seeks to form the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which will be a stronger version of the current Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo).

Specifically, MinDA will institutionalize coordination and an integrative approach to the formulation and implementation of interregional and Mindanao-wide development programs.

In a reflection of its more powerful functions, MinDA will be attached to the Office of the President, even as its main office will be located in Davao City.

In comparison, the existing MEDCo operates merely under the oversight of the National Economic and Development Authority.

While its coverage will include all Mindanao regions, the province of Palawan will be included only as regards its involvement in the Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The envisioned MinDA will have following functions:

* identify the development priorities for Mindanao;

* prioritize Mindanao-wide programs that will cut across regional boundaries, including official development assistance projects;

* encourage investments, including joint venture projects in Mindanao; and

* act as the official Philippine coordinating office for BIMP-EAGA.

Mr. Datumanong said there is a need to institutionalize an agency that works for Mindanao’s development needs.

"With its uneven development and peace-and-order problems, Mindanao needs to catch up with the mainstream national development. To do that, we need to legislate an agency that seeks to address Mindanao’s development imperatives as well as issues of continuity and consistency of development efforts in the island-region," he said in a statement yesterday.

In a phone interview yesterday, he said: "there are many problems hindering the growth of Mindanao, one of which is the secession by our Muslim brothers. The intent of this bill is very much welcome as we hope that the creation of this agency will provide the necessary development to Mindanao."

At the Senate, the still-unnumbered substitute bill to SBs 3496, 3421, 3312, 3261, 3260, 3242 and 3226 -- counterparts of the House measure -- awaits second reading approval.

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, one of the principal authors of the Senate version, said in a phone interview yesterday that "he expects second reading approval of the measure at the Senate by next week." -- JFSV

MinDA bill’s final approval seen next week: MEDCo
BY JUDY QUIROS

The Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) is optimistic that the bill creating the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) which will become a permanent agency that will integrate the socio-economic development of Mindanao will be passed and approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives next week.

It’s optimism came after the House approved on second reading the measure that proposes the creation of MinDA last Tuesday.

After a series of committee deliberations at the House, the chamber in plenary session passed House Bill 6958. The bill’s approval on third and final reading is expected next week, MEDCo said in a statement yesterday.

House Bill 6958 seeks to strengthen MEDCo into a more permanent institution which would ensure the continuity and consistency of inter-regional and Mindanao-wide programs as well as ensure a permanent mechanism that provides a coordinated and rationalized platform for program implementation and monitoring, investment promotion, as well as policy advocacy for Mindanao, MEDCo said.

Deputy House Speaker Simeon Datumanong, principal author of the bill, underscored the urgent need for an institutionalized agency that looks beyond regional concerns in Mindanao, MEDCo said.

“With its uneven development and peace and order problems, Mindanao needs to catch up with the mainstream national development. To do that, we need to legislate an agency that seeks to address Mindanao’s development imperatives as well as issues of continuity and consistency of development efforts in the island-region,” MEDCo quoted Datumanong as saying.

The MinDA, when created, shall also “act as implementing agency for Mindanao-specific interregional and Mindanao-wide programs and projects.” The authority will cover all provinces and cities in Regions IX, X, XI and XII, the Caraga region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

When enacted, the MEDA shall also act as the Philippine Coordinating Office for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), the lead government agency in coordinating the formulation and implementation of all Philippine-EAGA activities, programs and projects.

It shall also be the prime agency that will advocate for the adoption and approval of policies as well as promotion of initiatives for Mindanao and Palawan’s active participation in the BIMP-EAGA cooperation, MED-Co said.

Meanwhile, MEDCo said the House is also set to deliberate on second reading next week the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA) bill, the counterpart bill of MinDA at the Senate.

Earlier, Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Jesus Dureza said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to certify the proposed MEDA Bill to ensure its approval in the Senate.

Dureza said Mrs. Arroyo made her promise in a private meeting with some personalities shortly after the presentation of the final result of the Mindanaowide peace dialogue by the Bishops-Ulama Conference recently in Davao City.

http://www.dailymirror.ph/Nov/business11142009&01.html

Gov't awards SoCot mining firm for best practices (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=242155)

DAVAO CITY, Nov. 18 (PNA) -- A mining company exploring for copper in south western Mindanao has again been bestowed awards for its best practices in community development and environmental initiatives.

Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) operating in Tampakan, South Cotabato was recognized by government with two awards in ceremonies held recently in Baguio City.

The awards namely Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards (PMIEA) and the Special award for the Best Mining Forest under the Mining Forest Program of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), are given yearly to deserving exploration and mining companies.

Horacio Ramos, director and head of the PMIEA secretariat and chair of the MFP national executive committee, said SMI won both the PMIEA and MFP awards this year in the exploration category.

The company, known in the mining industry for its environmental mitigation programs and various community development projects, has been consistently winning awards since it first launched exploration activities in the Tampakan Gold Copper Project.

The project is taunted to be the biggest copper deposit in Southeast Asia.

Ramos said the awards were bestowed on SMI for its outstanding levels of dedication, initiatives and innovations in the pursuit of excellence in environmental, safety and health management and community development.

The SMI got 98.12 percent overall rating for winning the PMIEA award, bulk of which came from sound environmental practices notching 38.68 percent.

On the best mining forest (metallic, non-metallic and exploration) category, SMI got a rating of 83 percent. (PNA)
LAP/Digna D. Banzon/lvp

IP Philippines urges local IP stakeholders to file more domestic patents (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=3&rid=242222)

MANILA, Nov. 18 (PNA) -- The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) urges Filipino creators, entrepreneurs, innovators, and businesses to file more patents.

Doing so would enhance their IP assets and portfolios, spurring a stronger and more balanced IP regime for the country, said Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., Director General of IP Philippines.

IP is an effective tool for national development because IP assets enhance a country’s competitiveness, he stressed.

Cristobal said this as the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) 2009 World IP Indicators revealed that of the 20 emerging countries studied, “the patent office of Ukraine received the largest number of applications, followed by the patent offices of Indonesia, the Philippines and Chile.”

The patent study likewise shows that 96.4 percent of the patents granted in the country were issued to non-resident filers.

The report, which was based on the 2006 worldwide statistics, indicated that in that year, 92.9 percent of the patents filed in the Philippines were from non-resident filers.

Aside from the Philippines, the emerging countries covered by the study are Ukraine, Indonesia, Chile, Malaysia, Egypt, Colombia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Thailand, Peru, Morocco, Romania, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uzbekistan and Serbia.

Stressing the importance of improving domestic patenting figures, Cristobal urged Filipinos to make full use of the local patent system to spur homegrown innovations.

Patent indicators are largely used as a measure of a country’s innovative output.

IP Philippines data show that from January to August 2009, the patent applications reached 2,929. Of these, 1,378 were granted/registered.

This is almost half the total applications granted in 2008, which was 2,509.

A breakdown of the applications granted is as follows: invention, 766; industrial design (ID), 381; and utility models (UM), 231.

The 2009 (January to August) patenting activity in the country also reflects the same scenario observed by the WIPO in 2006.

Majority of the invention patents (751 of 766) granted this year are still from non-resident filers. However, more local applications were granted for UM (184 versus 47) and ID (222 versus 159).

But while local Philippine scientists and inventors get recognitions from various award-giving organizations around the world, WIPO’s study indicated that local patents filed and granted in the country’s IP office are largely outnumbered by non-resident filings.

Cristobal identified two factors that discourage domestic patent filings: the absence or lack of intellectual property (IP) policies within higher education institutions; and the lack of capabilities to pursue or “prosecute” patent applications.

Remedial actions, however, are being undertaken. IP Philippines and the Commission on Higher Education issued a joint circular in 2008 mandating state universities and colleges and private higher education institutions (HEIs) to develop their IP policies. This is with the end-goal of harnessing innovations developed in the academe.

Part of this is the establishment of the Intellectual Property Research and Training Institute (IPRTI) in 2008 to be the center of research, education and training on IP in the country, and the Southeast Asian region.

Another noteworthy undertaking is the opening of IP Satellite Offices (IPSOs) which brings IP Philippines’ services to key cities around the country.

To date, five satellite offices have been established: Cebu, Davao, Angeles, and Legazpi in Albay and Baguio. Through the IPSOs, IP Philippines has also connected and established partnerships with business organizations, academe, and other IP-stakeholder groups.

IP Philippines promotes creativity and innovation through the country's intellectual property system. IP Philippines grants patents and trademarks, supports the creative industries and advocates a vibrant IP culture.(PNA)
vcs/BAC/mec

Mindanao wins 5 coal contracts
Friday, 20 Nov 2009

Titan Exploration and Development Corp has bagged five more coal contracts which could potentially generate 200 million tonnes of high grade coal reserves worth PHP 1.5 billion.

The projects, which will open up about 18,000 new jobs in Mindanao in the near term, will be located in Zamboanga Sibugay and Davao Oriental under the Department of Energy’s Philippine Energy Contracting Round.

These mining contracts will cover 11,000 hectares in Zamboanga Sibugay distributed throughout Siay, Payao, Diplahan and Buug and 7000 hectares in Manay, Davao Oriental.

As per report the company is expected to start coal mining operations in the second quarter of next year. It said it has entered into negotiations with potential buyers of its coal produce led by cement and canning companies based in the area.

Mr Jaime T Ang president of Titan Exploration said the wide array of its coal output will serve market demands across different industries. He said that “The awarding of the five coal operating contracts will allow us to build up our exploration and development portfolio, as well as increase local coal production to help the country reduce the reliance on energy imports.”

Mr Ang said that TEDC plans to supply thermal coal to coal fed power plants, cement plants, canneries and other manufacturing plants to support the country’s goal of working towards energy independence.

Mr Ramon V Oca energy undersecretary said that “With Titan Exploration’s huge potential coal reserves, it will soon be the next big player like Semirara Mining Corp. in the short term.”

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/11/20/MTIxNTgx/Mindanao_wins_5_coal_contracts.html

Submarine cable to link
EAGA member countries

CAGAYAN DE ORO — A submarine cable project that will link the Philippines with the rest of its counterparts in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) as well as with other Asian nations is now being eyed after a recent meeting of the BIMP-EAGA Working Group on information and communications technology (ICT) here.

The said proposal was presented by the EA Trilink, a Philippine telecommunications company, during the said meeting held 10 November 2009. The proposed project will link Philippines with proposed fiber optic links in EAGA via Mindanao.

A joint study was conducted by Malaysia’s Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd and SACOFA with PT Trans Hybrid of Indonesia to implement the proposed Kuching-Pontianak Fibre Optic Link, a 150-km cable system project between Tebedu in Kuching and Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

A terrestrial fiber optic network is available from Sarawak, through SACOFA to Sabah (CT-Sabah) via Brunei Darussalam through TelBru. The network can further connected to the rest of the world thru the submarine cable namely SEA-ME-WE3 (SM-W3) and Asia-America Gateway (AAG) in Tungku Cable Station (TelBru) Brunei Darussalam.

EA Trilink will coordinate with other EAGA countries for their participation in the proposed BIMP-EAGA cable consortium.

In their presentation, EA Trilink said that the said project is an opportunity to “develop a high-quality regional network business at a very low cost” and that it “fits with anticipated timing of the exhaustion of capacity from upgraded existing consortium cables”.

The Working Group also discussed tariff rationalization and its importance not only in Border Areas but BIMP- EAGA as a whole.

The Meeting agreed to have the private telecommunication companies to discuss bilaterally and come up with their agreements by February 2010 and to work towards formulating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tariff Rationalization that aims to bring down access charges and tariffs.

The member-countries also discussed next steps towards establishing a secured ICT network within BIMP-EAGA which will complement existing initiatives on Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS).

A proposed visit to Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commissions Headquarters in Cyberjaya along with the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threat (IMPACT) is scheduled on February 2010 to solicit best practices on ICT network security which can be replicated in the other member countries. MEDCo


Mindanao Daily Mirror (http://www.dailymirror.ph/Nov/business11232009&03.html)

Shippers' group pushes North-South Mindanao Expressway (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=243158)


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

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov. 23 (PNA) -Logistics and infrastructure industry players are pushing for the construction of an expressway that would link the northern and southern parts of Mindanao--a main corridor like the Davao-Cagayan expressway.

“We would like to sell the idea of an integrated logistics highway or corridor; one that would connect Northern and Southern Mindanao, two big economic centers in the region, that will propel Mindanao’s socio-economic development,” Mindanao Federation of Shippers's Association (MINFESA) president Vic Lagdamen said Monday.

Lagdamen said proposal will be presented to the government during the two-day first Mindanao Logistics Conference to be held from Wednesday until Thursday in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

The two-day conference is themed: “Southern-Northern Mindanao Logictics Corridor: Key to Fast Track its Economic Development.”

Lagdamen, who spearheaded the conference’s regional consultation recently held in Davao City, said that the “expressway” would not necessarily be the one passing through the current national highway, as long as it will “facilitate for a faster movement of goods and people”.

Lagdamen said that while the Northern Mindanao link is being pushed as a main corridor, the proposed integrated logistics and transportation plan should also include the Zamboanga, Caraga and other regions in Mindanao.

He said Mindanao is yet to have an integrated logistics and transportation plan.

He said the plan should figure significantly with the recent infrastructure boost in Mindanao, wherein major infrastructure were recently built like the Mindanao Container Terminal, along with the expansion of seaports and airports and improvement of national roads.

“It is high time for Mindanao to have something like a logistics corridor given that infrastructure development in Mindanao is being fast tracked, and most especially since MEDCo is now currently formulating the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan,” Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) Chairman Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Sr. said.

Leyretana said infrastructures are the arteries for progress since they provide access to economic opportunities for the depressed and vulnerable rural communities by opening new areas for economic development and linking the production areas with the urban centers and market.

“The shift to logistics infrastructure should be a more comprehensive approach in tackling the overall logistics needs of Mindanao,” Lagdamen said.

Lagdamen said cold chain and banana industries will also be among focus topics in the two-day first Mindanao Lgositics Conference.

A “banana logistics corridor in Mindanao” has been identified as one of the topics in the two-day conference, he said.

Data gathered by MEDCo showed that banana exports continued to remain the top two Mindanao export raking in US$ 456.11 million in 2008, a 16.12 percent increase from 2007’s US$ 392.8 million.

The conference also had its consultations in Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga that will gather sectoral issues and concerns and will be presented in the two-day logistic conference.

Lagdamen said that they will not only forward the conference resolutions to concerned agencies like the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) but to aspiring presidential candidates saying that “the new administration should already have a buy-in into the idea”.

Some international players like foreign shipping industries are also expected to attend the 200-strong delegation of shippers, shipping lines, cargo forwarders, service providers, and representatives from private sector and government agencies.

The port director of the Muara Port in Brunei Darussalam is also expected to be one of the conference speakers who would highlight port and infrastructure development thrust in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-regional cooperation, Lagdamen said.

“Luzon is ahead of us in planning its own integrated logistics corridor and building expressways, interconnecting its ports and airports. It is high time for Mindanao to plan its own future and face the global challenge,” he said. (PNA)
RMA/TPG/mec

DA assures supply of pork, chicken this holiday season (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=11&rid=243189)
By Lilybeth G. Ison


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

MANILA, Nov. 23 (PNA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday assured of ample supply of pork and chicken this holiday season up to the first quarter of 2010 as it implemented a two-pronged approach involving the procurement of these commodities from both domestic and overseas sources.

DA Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup said it is also mulling a plan to release suggested retail price ranges for pork and chicken, in which a price band would be observed for both commodities to prevent a spike in their retail prices, especially during the Christmas holidays.

He said the DA has already implemented this scheme by suggesting a reference price for pork before the onset of the Christmas season last year -- when retail prices shot up to as high as P180 to P190 per kilo of choice cuts -- a move that was welcomed by both wholesalers and retailers of the commodity. Retail prices eventually stabilized at P145 to P170 per kilo.

Salacup said the initiative of private sector’s active participation, as discussed with pork stakeholders in a meeting held recently in Davao, involves transporting pork from Mindanao and importing some 15,000 to 20,000 metric tons (MT) of pork and 5,000 MT of chicken from overseas markets like the United States, Canada and South Korea.

"The arrival of the supply of pork from the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga in Mindanao, which consists of about 3,000 heads, is expected in the last week of November and in December. We also expect the arrival of 9,500 MT of pork from Canada, USA and South Korea," he said in an interview.

Salacup said the DA is also monitoring continuously the supply and prices of these commodites in the market.

The latest monitoring report by DA field teams show that the price of pork kasim is between P150 to P180 a kilo, and liempo at P160 to P190 a kilo.

As for chicken, poultry producers said they will bring in 5,000 MT from the US and Canada to augment domestic supply.

In October last year, DA Secretary Arthur Yap and other agriculture officials along with over 30 livestock stakeholders agreed on a reference price band for pork after reaching consensus on the reasonable profit margins for growers, wholesalers and retailers.

The reference price was agreed upon after determining that it was beneficial for producers, traders, and consumers.

Salacup earlier said that considering hog producers have already warned of a possible supply shortfall even before the onset of the typhoons, the DA had already encouraged the private sector to import up to 15,000 MT of pork from foreign sources such as the United States, Canada and neighboring Asian countries.

Even before tropical storm "Ondoy" battered Luzon, the government already projected a shortage of 30,000 MT to 40,000 MT, though on producers’ appeals, it agreed on a 20,000-ton projected supply gap.

Yap had instructed agriculture officials to work first on sourcing pork from Mindanao and the Visayas, to ensure that the commodity will arrive in time for the Christmas season, and offset possible delays in imports from foreign markets.

He said then that the deadline for traders and importers to bring in as much as 2.5 million kilos of the commodity by December 15 takes into account possible red tape. The deadline was also set so as not to dampen farmgate prices.

"We want our farmers to profit at this time to sustain their productivity momentum for the first quarter of 2010," said Yap.

As for the supply of chicken, Salacup said earlier that key players in the domestic poultry industry are studying the possibility of importing an additional 3,000 MT from the original 5,000 MT that they have proposed under the Special Safeguard (SSG) Measure Free approach.

Under the SSG, importers pay additional customs duties once the landed cost falls below a trigger price, so as not to unduly depress domestic market prices of the commodity and hurt local hog and chicken growers. (PNA)
V3/LGI

OT: I was watching the news right now at di na naman maganda ang mga pangyayari dyan sa Mindanao particularly sa may Maguindanao.....grabe naman yon walang awa, walang takot sa Diyos kung sino man ang mga yon. The Political atmosphere in the Phils di talaga maganda, nakakahiya nakikita sa buong mundo buti sana kung sa mga Pilipino channel lang pinapalabas ang balita na yan eh pati sa CNN at Fox News binabalita rin:ohno:


I believe that this issue is isolated....but the image will really affect the whole island of Mindanao. This kind of barbaric attack should not be tolerated. Government should really deal with this very seriously. So Sad.

RaSpovTYgHw

OT: I was watching the news right now at di na naman maganda ang mga pangyayari dyan sa Mindanao particularly sa may Maguindanao.....grabe naman yon walang awa, walang takot sa Diyos kung sino man ang mga yon. The Political atmosphere in the Phils di talaga maganda, nakakahiya nakikita sa buong mundo buti sana kung sa mga Pilipino channel lang pinapalabas ang balita na yan eh pati sa CNN at Fox News binabalita rin:ohno:


I believe that this issue is isolated....but the image will really affect the whole island of Mindanao. This kind of barbaric attack should not be tolerated. Government should really deal with this very seriously. So Sad.

Ganito rin ang balita sa BBC News kahapon ng Miyerkules.
May mga mauunlad, maganda at progresibong lugar sa MINDANAO pero kapag nabahiran ng mga ganitong klaseng balita sa isang probinsya duon ay apektado ang buong imahe ng Mindanao.
Ganito rin ang nangyayari sa imahe ng Pinas sa labas ng bansa.

Mindanao logistic corridor pushed (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=243791)

DAVAO CITY, Nov. 26 (PNA) -- Key players in the island of Mindanao are pushing for an integrated logistics highway or corridor that would link the northern area to the south where two big economic centers in the region are located.

Vic Lagdamen, president of Mindanao Federation of Shippers Association (MINFESA), said the link would enable greater mobility of goods and people and propel Mindanao's socio-economic development.

The proposal was presented to the government during the first Mindanao Logistics Conference held on November 25 to 26 in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental with the theme: “Southern-Northern Mindanao Logictics Corridor: Keyto Fast Track its Economic Development.”

The conference was attended by 200 strong delegations from shippers, shipping lines, cargo forwarders, service providers, representatives from private sector and government agencies.

He said the expressway would not necessarily be the one passing through the current national highway, as long as it will “facilitate for a faster movement of goods and people”.

The Northern Mindanao is also being pushed as a main corridor and the proposed integrated logistics and transportation plan should also include Zamboanga, Caraga and other regions in Mindanao.

He said the plan should figure significantly with the recent infrastructure boost in Mindanao like the recently built Mindanao Container Terminal, the expansion of seaports and airports, and improvement of national roads.

Lagdamen said the approach must be more comprehensive in tackling the overall logistics needs of Mindanao.

Prior to the conference were consultations made in Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga and their sectoral issues and concerns gathered in the consultations were also presented in the conference.

Lagdamen said they will forward the conference resolutions to concerned agencies like the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and to aspiring presidential candidates, saying “the new administration should already have a buy-in into the idea”. (PNA)
LDV/DDB/lvp

Philippines: Mindanao growers report sharp rise in vegetable shipments to Luzon and Visayas markets (http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=54481)

Three growers’ associations in northern, southern and central Mindanao have reported a 75-percent increase from 2007 to 2009 in shipments of vegetables to Cebu and other markets in Visayas and Luzon.

The annual aggregate vegetable out-shipment by these Mindanao growers to the two regions totals approximately 4,730 metric tons (MT) annually, or about 90 MT weekly; a significant increase from the annual shipment of 2,700 MT in 2007, according to reports compiled by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

“The market has begun to recognize the capabilities of vegetable growers here and the fact that we can maintain production even during bad weather in other parts of the country,” said Jovic Santos, president of the Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Development Council (CEMVIDEC).

The largest of the three groups reporting on their shipments is the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association (NorMinVeggies), with a membership base of more than 7,000 growers, whose individual vegetable production areas total more than 3,000 hectares in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.



The other groups are the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (VICSMIN), which has 800 members and a total vegetable production area of more than 650 hectares, and CEMVIDEC, which has more than 350 members and approximately 400 hectares.

NorMinVeggies reports that its members are supplying more than 70 MT of assorted vegetables weekly to Luzon and Visayas buyers.

Through its NorMinVeggies Vegetable Consolidation Center alone, the group ships at least 5 MT of assorted semi-temperate vegetables per week to key Cebu-based institutional buyers, including Metro Gaisano supermarket, consolidators for fast food chains KFC and Jollibee, and hotel and restaurant distributors.

“Buyers like these require large volumes of consistently high quality vegetables, and growers here have proven that they can deliver,” said Marcelino Remotigue, NorMinVeggies president, and also a strong advocate for the “commodity clustering approach,” in which groups of farmers focus on a specific commodity and time their harvests to coincide with shipment schedules agreed by buyers and growers.

Santos, whose group hosted the National Vegetable Congress in General Santos City in July, said that participants from other parts of the country were “surprised by how well-organized the growers were in different areas of Mindanao.”

“We expected about 500 participants, but about 700 to 800 attended, with 11 regions represented,” Santos said. “They visited our farms and could see we are practically at par with growers in Luzon in terms of quality and sustainability. It was a good marketing opportunity.”

“Mindanao has big tracts of land, including large upland areas well-suited for growing semi-temperate vegetables,” Remotigue added.

“Mindanao’s great advantage is that it is typhoon-free,” said Ray Acain, president of VICSMIN. “This allows growers to engage in production all year round and ensure regular shipments.”

Acain also heads a VICSMIN affiliate, the 200-member Davao del Norte Vegetable Industry Development Council (DNVIDC), which weekly ships at least 10 MT of chayote and “pinakbet vegetables”—squash, eggplant, okra, bitter gourd and others—to Leyte province, which lies within the Visayas typhoon belt.

“Leyte has its own growers, but they can only produce during certain months,” said Acain.

His group established a supply agreement with a Leyte wholesaler last year when it conducted its first market exploration tour of the province, with support from GEM, which works with the Department of Agriculture and other partners to strengthen the vegetable sector. The GEM Program is being implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council.

Santos said that in the wake of the last two “super typhoons,” the Department of Agriculture called on Mindanao growers to help stabilize the supply of vegetables in major demand centers in the country.

Seizing the opportunity, CEMVIDEC has shipped approximately 64 MT of assorted vegetables from Mindanao to Luzon from October to mid-November this year, Santos said.

Even newer groups such as the Zamboanga del Norte Hi-Green Farmers Association (ZaNorte) and the Caraga Vegetable Growers Association (CaraVeggies), are expanding their vegetable production for the Visayas market. ZaNorte is now shipping at least 3 MT of tropical vegetables to Cebu weekly.

Vegetable producers are also supplying larger-scale food manufacturers such as tuna canners based in General Santos City, that require huge volumes of sweet pepper, carrots and other vegetable ingredients for their products.

Growers say there still are industry hurdles which have to be overcome by Mindanao’s vegetable sector. “We need more farm-to-market roads, better access to financing for growers, and we have to step up marketing,” said Remotigue.

Acain noted that growers must keep pace with new [production and post-harvest] technologies through training. But, he added: “The demand is there, and more growers are waiting to join the industry. There’s definitely room for expansion in Mindanao.” GEM





Publication date: 11/25/2009

CDO hosts Mindanao power summit
November 21, 2009 at 6:07 am • Filed under Events, Places and tagged: Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao power summit



The Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) and the Cagayan de Oro Chamer of Commerce and Industry (CDOCCI) are organizing a two-day power summit aimed to address the shrinking reserve capacity of the Mindanao Grid.
Dubbed as the Mindanao Power Summit, it will be held on December 2-3 at the Xavier Estates Sports and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro City.
The summit will be focusing on three major themes, namely: Creating an Enabling Environment for Investors in Power Generation; Addressing Governance Issues for Sufficient and Reliable Power; and, Mainstreaming Sustainable Responsible Investments in the Power Industry.
MinBC chairman Vicente Lao said that a Mindanao Power Action Agenda will also be presented during the summit to Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Zenaida Ducut.
Ducut is expected to respond to the agenda which is a consolidation of all the inputs gathered during the Mindanao-wide consultations which took place sometime in August.
“The situation will reach a critical state if we do not act fast and act now. We do not want to have a repetition of the power crisis in the early ’90s where we acted too late and we did not have much choice of the available solutions but to avail of whatever was available at that time, regardless of the cost,” Lao said.
“Business (stakeholders) must take the lead in this campaign as the impact is expected to be heaviest on them,” he added.
Over the next five years, Mindanao’s annual power requirement is expected to grow by an average of six percent while the island’s dependable capacity has been on a stand still at 1,510 megawatts, Lao said.
If left unchecked, he said the entire Mindanao grid will be experiencing regular rotating brownouts as early as next year, especially with the coming in of additional new investments that are anticipated to further deplete the grid’s reserve capacity.
By 2014, Lao said projections have it that Mindanao will have a deficit capacity of 484 megawatts, which is equivalent to putting out power in the five major cities of Mindanao, namely Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Butuan, and Cotabato. (PNA)

Tourist arrivals in 16 local destinations post P4-M in 6 months of 2009
By Lynda B. Valencia
Philippine News Agency
November 27, 2009

MANILA, Nov. 27 (PNA)-– Tourist arrivals in the top 16 destinations posted P4-million, up by 16.5 percent in the first semester of 2009.

Tourism Secretary Joseph 'Ace' Durano said the 16 destinations are Camarines Sur, Cebu, Boracay, Baguio, Davao, Puerto Galera, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Ilocos Norte, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Puerto Princesa, Legaspi, Catanduanes and Sorsogon.

Durano said foreign tourists make up 808,389 while domestics totaled 2,965,126.

He said Camarines Sur posted a hefty growth in both foreign and domestic arrivals by 52 percent and 260 percent, respectively, ranking it as the most visited destination during the first half of 2009 with 903,202 tourists.

The provincial government of Camarines Sur promoted the wakeboarding tourism product which stimulated visitor volume while continuing to bolster demand for more accommodation, tour services and transportation.

The influx of tourists in Camarines Sur also facilitated the expansion of infrastructure and development of tourism-related products.

The success of the local government unit (LGU) initiatives serves as a model for other LGUs to harness their tourism potentials and optimize local resources to create more economic activity.

He said that Cebu is the second most visited tourist destination with 830,599 visitors, claiming 23 percent share of total arrivals,

Cebu continues to be the top destination for foreign tourists with 321,116 in the first semester.

Durano also stressed that the expansion in air access from major tourists markets, including the new charter flights from Incheon, Busan, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kaohsiung as well as increase in room supply, aggressive promotion, public and private sector partnership to diversify the tourism products greatly contributed to the hike in visitor volume to Cebu.

Visitor count in Puerto Princesa and Bohol went up by 63 percent and 16 percent, respectively, as diving, ecotourism, bird-watching, adventure and incentive tourism products were jointly launched by the DOT, LGUs and the private sector.

Other most frequently visited destinations included Boracay (383,813); Davao City (330.247); Puerto Galera (215,755); and Ilocos Norte (99,747) tourist arrivals.

"The department’s efforts to maximize opportunities to international markets and encourage greater domestic travel or movement in the first six months provided the impetus to sustain tourism growth in the midst of challenger brought by the global financial crisis and influenza A(H1N1)," he said.

This feat is attributed to the substantial increase in domestic tourism by 20 percent in second quarter of 2009, enhancing the sector’s business and investment confidence.

Likewise, Durano said, the challenging lifestyle and travel pattern of more Filipinos and Philippine residents to spend their Holy Week, long weekends, summer/holiday vacation in the country boosted tourist flow.

The increased demand encouraged more entrepreneurs to create new products and experienced for visitors.

The Island Banca Cruises in Cebu attracted visitors with its differently organized and packaged island hopping tour of the marine sanctuaries of Nalusuan and Gilutungan, the pristine white beach of Pandanan and dive sites of Moalboal.

Kultura Filipino in Intramuros also gave the tourists an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Philippine cultural heritage through local dances, music and cuisine.

Similarly, the Pasig Cruise lured tourists to visit and appreciate many sights and attractions of Metro Manila. More than a river cruise, the product provides cultural interaction, culinary treats, historical tours and enchantments.

With increased popularity for adventure tourism, spelunking in the Suhoton Caves in Basey, Samar offers visitor a quaint experience – communicating with nature, exploring the area’s wonders.

The volume of dive tourists in Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Mindoro Oriental, Batangas grew by 62.8 percent for the first semester of 2009.

German dive enthusiasts posted 131.9 percent while the Koreans dive tourists went up by 104 percent, American (37 percent); Japanese (34 percent); and Chinese (31 percent.

Substantial growth of 82 percent was recorded during the first quarter of 2009. Revenues generated by dive operations in Bohol surged by 195 percent while those in Cebu rose by 69 percent. (PNA)
LOR/LBV

repost

Mindanao railway seen getting $1.3-B Saudi funding (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20091129-239255/Mindanao-railway-seen-getting-13-B-Saudi-funding)

First phase awaiting Neda approval


By Paolo Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:29:00 11/29/2009





MANILA, Philippines—The state-run Saudi fund for Development may provide as much as $1.3 billion in cheap financing to fund the government’s planned construction of a railway system through parts of Mindanao deemed vital to the economy.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said officials were currently looking for concessional loans from several sources to fund the Mindanao Railway System, listed as one of the Arroyo administration’s priority projects.

“One possible party is the Saudi Fund for Development. They’ve expressed willingness [to finance] this project,” DOTC Undersecretary Guiling Mamondiong said in a recent interview.

The official said the estimated cost to build the Mindanao railway project’s first phase, which will pass through the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan industrial corridor, was raised to $1.3 billion from the previous $800 million to $1 billion due to changes to include more municipalities.

“There was some realignment of the railway in our studies. Four municipalities—one in Lanao del Norte and three in Misamis Oriental—were included,” Mamondiong said. “The project will now be 124 kilometers long from the 120 kilometers originally planned,” he said.

“This will be good for their local economies,” he added.

The government earlier approached lenders from Poland and Spain for help in financing the railway’s construction, but the Saudi Fund had emerged as the most likely funding source.

“They’re just awaiting the Neda’s [National Economic Development Authority] approval of the feasibility study for the project’s phase one, so there’s a possibility that they will fund the entire project if they are willing,” Mamondiong said.

Once the feasibility study for the project has been approved by the Neda and construction is given the green light, Mamondiong said the railway would likely be operational in five years time.

He said the transportation agency has also approached lenders from Japan and South Korea for the possibility of multilateral financing for the single project.

The railway system aims to link two vital Mindanao gateways, Mamondiong said. These are the Laguindingan International Airport and the Mindanao Container Terminal. It will have passenger and cargo operations.

Discussions for the succeeding phases for the entire railway system have not yet taken off, the DOTC official said.

The Cagayan de Oro-Iligan route is being prioritized since the covered stretch is an industrial gateway and a key trade center for the southern Philippines island group.

The planned Mindanao railway is made up of a 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 plan for the railway started with former President Fidel V. Ramos. It was revived by his successor Joseph Estrada, but the project failed to take off.

repost

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez assures restoration of Mindanao Railways project office budget
(http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/130577)


The budget for the Mindanao Railways Systems office in Cagayan de Oro will be fully restored to enable the project to move forward next year.

This was the assurance made by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) during a project presentation update hosted by the project office at a local hotel November 23.

"The biggest obstacle now facing this project is the budget for the project office," Rodriguez said. "But I am confident we can restore the full amount once we tackle the budget in detail later ."

Earlier, the Department of Budget and Management scratched the P13.2-million budget allocation for the 2010 operations Mindanao Railways System project office.

Rodriguez said he immediately went to see House Speaker Prospero Nograles and appropriations committee chair Rep. Junie Cua to urge them to officially write DBM to restore the amount.


The congressman is optimistic the entire amount will be restored to enable the project office headed by Dept. of Transportation and Communications Undersecretary for Rails Special Action Officer Guiling A. Mamondiong to pursue the railways project.

"The bill I filed in 2008 is House Bill # 1855, an act creating the Mindanao Railways Corporation prescribing its powers, frictions and duties, and providing for the necessary funds for its operation," Rodriguez said. "The P51-million that I and Speaker Nograles worked for the release to finance the just completed feasibility study is in consonance with that bill."

Group mulls sea lanes to propel development (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/231698/group-mulls-sea-lanes-propel-development)
By NONOY E. LACSON
November 28, 2009, 8:42pm
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Mindanao Federation of Shippers’ Association (MINFESA) presented to the government a proposal that would connect via sea lanes Northern and Southern Mindanao which is aimed to propel socio-economic development and activities in the region.

The proposal was presented to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) and other government agencies during the first Mindanao Logistics Conference held from November 25 to 26 in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental with the theme “Southern-Northern Mindanao Logistics Corridor: Key to Fast Track its Economic Development.”

“We would like to sell the idea of an integrated logistics highway or corridor, one that would connect Northern and Southern Mindanao, two big economic centers in the region, that will propel Mindanao’s socio-economic development,” said MINFESA president Vic Lagdamen.

According to Lagdamen, the “expressway” would not necessarily be passing through the current national highway, as long as it will “facilitate for a faster movement of goods and people.”

A similar view and opinion was also aired by the Mindanao logistics and infrastructure industry players who attended the Mindanao Logistic Conference.

Some 200-strong delegation of shippers, shipping lines, cargo forwarders, service providers including international officials of foreign shipping industries and representatives from private sector and government agencies attended the two-day conference.

While the Northern Mindanao link is being pushed as a main corridor, he said the proposed integrated logistics and transportation plan should also include the Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga Region and other areas in Mindanao.

Mindanao is yet to have an integrated logistic infrastructure and transportation plan, he said.

Adding that with these plans, it will eventually help boost the economy of Mindanao, where he noted that some major infrastructures were recently built like the Mindanao Container Terminal, along with the expansion of seaports and airports, and improvement of national roads.

“The shift to logistic infrastructures should be a more comprehensive approach in tackling the overall logistic needs of Mindanao,” Lagdamen said.

The port director of the Muara Port in Brunei Darussalam was one of the conference speakers giving emphasis to port and infrastructure development in this part of the country.

Tourist arrivals in 16 local destinations post P4-M in 6 months of 2009
By Lynda B. Valencia
Philippine News Agency
November 27, 2009

MANILA, Nov. 27 (PNA)-– Tourist arrivals in the top 16 destinations posted P4-million, up by 16.5 percent in the first semester of 2009.

Tourism Secretary Joseph 'Ace' Durano said the 16 destinations are Camarines Sur, Cebu, Boracay, Baguio, Davao, Puerto Galera, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Ilocos Norte, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Puerto Princesa, Legaspi, Catanduanes and Sorsogon.

Durano said foreign tourists make up 808,389 while domestics totaled 2,965,126.

He said Camarines Sur posted a hefty growth in both foreign and domestic arrivals by 52 percent and 260 percent, respectively, ranking it as the most visited destination during the first half of 2009 with 903,202 tourists.

The provincial government of Camarines Sur promoted the wakeboarding tourism product which stimulated visitor volume while continuing to bolster demand for more accommodation, tour services and transportation.

The influx of tourists in Camarines Sur also facilitated the expansion of infrastructure and development of tourism-related products.

The success of the local government unit (LGU) initiatives serves as a model for other LGUs to harness their tourism potentials and optimize local resources to create more economic activity.

He said that Cebu is the second most visited tourist destination with 830,599 visitors, claiming 23 percent share of total arrivals,

Cebu continues to be the top destination for foreign tourists with 321,116 in the first semester.

Durano also stressed that the expansion in air access from major tourists markets, including the new charter flights from Incheon, Busan, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kaohsiung as well as increase in room supply, aggressive promotion, public and private sector partnership to diversify the tourism products greatly contributed to the hike in visitor volume to Cebu.

Visitor count in Puerto Princesa and Bohol went up by 63 percent and 16 percent, respectively, as diving, ecotourism, bird-watching, adventure and incentive tourism products were jointly launched by the DOT, LGUs and the private sector.

Other most frequently visited destinations included Boracay (383,813); Davao City (330.247); Puerto Galera (215,755); and Ilocos Norte (99,747) tourist arrivals.

"The department’s efforts to maximize opportunities to international markets and encourage greater domestic travel or movement in the first six months provided the impetus to sustain tourism growth in the midst of challenger brought by the global financial crisis and influenza A(H1N1)," he said.

This feat is attributed to the substantial increase in domestic tourism by 20 percent in second quarter of 2009, enhancing the sector’s business and investment confidence.

Likewise, Durano said, the challenging lifestyle and travel pattern of more Filipinos and Philippine residents to spend their Holy Week, long weekends, summer/holiday vacation in the country boosted tourist flow.

The increased demand encouraged more entrepreneurs to create new products and experienced for visitors.

The Island Banca Cruises in Cebu attracted visitors with its differently organized and packaged island hopping tour of the marine sanctuaries of Nalusuan and Gilutungan, the pristine white beach of Pandanan and dive sites of Moalboal.

Kultura Filipino in Intramuros also gave the tourists an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Philippine cultural heritage through local dances, music and cuisine.

Similarly, the Pasig Cruise lured tourists to visit and appreciate many sights and attractions of Metro Manila. More than a river cruise, the product provides cultural interaction, culinary treats, historical tours and enchantments.

With increased popularity for adventure tourism, spelunking in the Suhoton Caves in Basey, Samar offers visitor a quaint experience – communicating with nature, exploring the area’s wonders.

The volume of dive tourists in Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Mindoro Oriental, Batangas grew by 62.8 percent for the first semester of 2009.

German dive enthusiasts posted 131.9 percent while the Koreans dive tourists went up by 104 percent, American (37 percent); Japanese (34 percent); and Chinese (31 percent.

Substantial growth of 82 percent was recorded during the first quarter of 2009. Revenues generated by dive operations in Bohol surged by 195 percent while those in Cebu rose by 69 percent. (PNA)
LOR/LBV

:cheers:

House approves bill creating Minda Development Authority
Monday, November 30, 2009
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THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill creating the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda), which seeks to promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect peace and development in Mindanao.

House Bill (HB) 6958 aims to address the need for a coordinative and integrative approach in the formulation and implementation of various inter-regional and Mindanao-wide development plans, programs and projects.

Minda shall cover all provinces and cities of regions 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm). It shall be attached to the Office of the President and its main office shall be located in Davao City.

Palawan shall also be covered by Minda but only in so far as its involvement in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) is concerned.

House Deputy Speaker Simeon Datumanong (Second district, Maguindanao) said it is the declared policy of the State to accelerate the socioeconomic growth and development of Mindanao by encouraging and increasing trade, tourism and investments, private enterprise and advancing efforts towards peace and development.

Camiguin Representative Pedro Romualdo said Minda shall prioritize, integrate and implement, whenever necessary, inter-regional and/or Mindanao-wide programs and projects cutting across regional boundaries, including the Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects.

Sultan Kudarat Representative Datu Pax Mangudadatu said Minda shall encourage investments including the promotion of joint venture projects in Mindanao by extending the necessary planning, management and technical assistance to prospective and existing investors.

Under the bill which shall be known as the "Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) Act of 2009," Minda shall recommend to and, whenever necessary, call upon the proper agencies on the technical support, physical assistance and generally, the level of priority to be accorded to agricultural, industrial, commercial and infrastructure, environmental and technological programs and projects soliciting or requiring direct or indirect help from or through the national government or any of its instrumentalities.

The bill empowers Minda to recommend to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board for approval inter-regional and Mindanao-wide programs and projects.

Likewise, Minda shall act as the official and permanent Philippine Coordinating Office for Bimp-Eaga (PCOBE) and the lead agency of the government in coordinating the formulation and implementation of policies and programs and monitoring of all activities related thereto.

Minda will be replacing the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) once passed into law. (PR)

Mindanao Rail to start in 2011 – Rufus (http://cagayandeorodev.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/mindanao-rail-to-start-in-2011-rufus/)
Posted on December 1, 2009 by damarre
from BusinessWeek Mindanao



Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez of the second district of Cagayan de Oro City foresees the start of the infrastructure phase of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) by year 2011.

Speaking during the MRP Presentation to Key Political Leaders and Media last Monday, Rodriguez said he expects the approval of the MRP full scale feasibility study (FS) by the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) before the year ends.

ICC is one division of NEDA, tasked with recommending to the President the implementation timetable of major capital projects (MCPs) and programs on a regular basis after reviewing the fiscal, monetary and BOP implications of such projects.

Rodriguez recalled that the MRP was ‘germinated’ by then representative and now City Mayor Constantino Jaraula of Cagayan de Oro.

Rodriguez contended that MRP should now be put in place, as “there are so many railway projects now obtaining in Manila and the rest of Luzon, but not even a single inch in Mindanao.”

The full scale FS, which is now up for deliberation at NEDA-ICC, was formulated and completed recently by the consultants of TCGI Engineers, DMI Management and Engineering Consultants and the Woodfields Consultants, Incorporated. The FS results were presented by TCGI Vice President and Project Director Bernardo N. Buenaventura and Assistant Project Manager Alberto C. Cañete.

MRP will set up 22 stations between Jasaan, Misamis Oriental and Linamon, Lanao del Norte, utilizing the state of-the-art Diesel-Electric Multiple Units (DMUs), which are of European and American standards.

The six-car units, with individual capacities of 400 passengers, will cruise at the speed of 160 kilometers per hour.

Meanwhile, DOTC Undersecretary Guiling A. Mamondiong disclosed that MRP will have for its implementation phase the needed funds from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at a very minimal interest of two percent.

MRP will also have such other components as 124-kilometer mainline track; three depots; 81 bridges; three-kilometer tunnel; 24 trains; rail systems; signaling and telecommunications; and 30-meter wide road-right-of-way. The MRP Management Office at National Highway, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City is headed by Regional Director Sultan Mandangan Darimbang of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 10.

Filed under: Proposal, construction | Tagged: Cagayan de Oro, Cagayan-Iligan Corridor, Mindanao Railway

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Power Lack Alarms Bizmen (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?id=7964)
Updated December 2, 2009 12:00 AM


A business leader in Mindanao has urged the private sector to take the lead and find ways to address the power shortage in the region, claiming that the government has passed on to their sector the generation of power.

Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) chair Vicente Lao said the private sector should be able to come up with a mechanism in order to address the pressing concern of the lack of power supply.

“They must take a look on this and we do not pass this on to the hands of government. It is now our task to look for solution but government has to address some concerns that would allow new investments in the power sector industry,” he said.

Lao said government must also look into regulations and other related issuance in order for the smooth entry of investors.

Right now, he said the power rate in Mindanao is very low citing that cost in the island is only P6 per kilowatt hour (kwh) compared to Visayas at P7 and Luzon P8.

He said given this, the investors would rather invest in areas where they could get a better return that’s why the Mindanao key players are asking government to reconsider the scheme once new investments come in.

“Putting up new infrastructures for power generation is costly compared many years when power generation plants were constructed. We are looking at the power generated based on the existing plants to follow the prescribed rate but the new ones will have a different rate that could be higher than the existing rate. In this way the investors have the options,” he said.

He said the issue of Mindanao’s power rate structure for new private investors will have to be addressed if they were to entice new players in power generation.

He said the government must come up with rates that are acceptable to everybody.

The issue on power crisis will be tackled in the Mindanao Power Summit that will be held in Cagayan de Oro City on December 2 to 3 with Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Zenaido Ducut.

Ducut will be responding to the Mindanao Power Action Agenda that will be presented by the Mindanao Business Council and the Mindanao Power Alliance - a grouping of various local business organizations and power distribution utilities from key cities in Mindanao.

The agenda contains proposed measures that aim to encourage the entry of new investors in power generation including a proposal to put in place a formula that will help craft an acceptable and rational power rates to new investors.

Lao said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will play a key role in this regard.

Meanwhile, a MinBC report indicated that over the next five years, Mindanao’s annual power requirement is expected to grow by an average of six percent while the island’s dependable capacity has been on a stand still at 1,510 megawatts. If left unchecked, the entire Mindanao grid will be experiencing regular rotating brownouts as early as next year, especially with the coming in of additional new investments that are anticipated to further deplete the grid’s reserve capacity.

By 2014, projections have it that Mindanao will have a deficit capacity of 484 megawatts which is equivalent to putting out power in the five major cities of Mindanao (Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Butuan and Cotabato) the report added. (pna)

Legislators pushing for more
UP-Mindanao funding to arrive
Mindano Daily Mirror
December 2, 2009

National legislators pushing for additional funding for the state-owned UP Mindanao will grace the 60th founding anniversary of the UP Alumni Association of Davao on December 5.

Senate majority floor leader Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and House deputy speaker Simeon Ampatuan Datumanong will grace the event, which is also the date of cornerstone-laying for the UP Mindanao School of Management Building.

Zubiri authored Senate Bill 3304 which proposes a special development fund for UP Mindanao.

Ina press statement, UP Mindanao said Zubiri released P10 million this year for the construction of a dormitory annex.

Datumanong is co-author of the House of Representative’s counterpart, House Bill 5946 along with House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

House Bills 5946 and 3304 propose UP Mindanao’s special development fund for 2009-2012 amounting to P1.2 billion, according to Rene Estremera, UP Mindanao public relations officer.

The budget is intended to fund infrastructure projects, buildings, and other facilities of UP Mindanao.

Under the proposed bills, the budget will fund the following projects: P50 million for the construction of a School Management Building; P50 million for the construction of a student’s dormitory; P50 million for concreting and landscaping of the University avenue; P150 million for the Mindanao Loop and Oblation Plaza; and P100 million for the construction of UP Mindanao main library.

For 2010, P150 million is proposed for the construction of Biotech Facility for indigenous food resources and P150 million for the construction of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building.

For 2011, P55 million is proposed for the construction of a Center for the Advancement of Research in Mindanao; P50 million for the construction of Center for Continuing Education; and P250 million for the construction of a UP Mindanao Eco-Habitat; and P250 million as second phase of the eco-habitat for 2012.

UP Mindanao is getting P 1 million share from the national budget a year. Judy Quiros

Mindanao’s veggie growers increase shipments to Luzon and the Visayas (http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=2512)

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Three growers’ associations in northern, southern and central Mindanao have reported that their shipments of vegetables to Luzon and the Visayas have risen by three-fourths since 2007, a statement released yesterday by USAID-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program said.


Specifically, annual aggregate vegetable outshipment by these Mindanao growers to the country’s two other main island groups has totalled about 4,730 metric tons (MT), or about 90 MT weekly, compared to 2,700 MT in 2007, the statement said.

"The market has begun to recognize the capabilities of vegetable growers here and the fact that we can maintain production even during bad weather in other parts of the country," the statement quoted Jose Victor M. Santos, president of the Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Development Council (CEMVIDEC), as saying.

The largest of the three groups reporting on their shipments is the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association (NorMinVeggies), which has about 7,000 growers as members, whose production areas total more than 3,000 hectares in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

The other groups are the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (VICSMIN), which has 800 members and a total vegetable production area of more than 650 hectares, and CEMVIDEC, which has more than 350 members and approximately 400 hectares.

GEM said that NorMinVeggies members supply more than 70 MT of assorted vegetables weekly to buyers in Luzon and the Visayas. Through its NorMinVeggies Vegetable Consolidation Center alone, the group ships at least 5 MT of assorted semi-temperate vegetables per week to key Cebu-based institutional buyers, including Metro Gaisano supermarket, consolidators for fast food chains KFC and Jollibee, as well as hotel and restaurant distributors. "Buyers like these require large volumes of consistently high-quality vegetables, and growers here have proven that they can deliver," NorMinVeggies president Marcelino E. Remotigue said.

VICSMIN president Ray Acain said "Mindanao’s great advantage is that it is typhoon-free."

Mr. Acain, also heads a VICSMIN affiliate, the 200-member Davao del Norte Vegetable Industry Development Council which ships each week at least 10 MT of chayote, squash, eggplant, okra, and bitter gourd to Leyte province, which lies within the Visayas typhoon belt. "Leyte has its own growers, but they can only produce during certain months," Mr. Acain noted.

Mr. Santos said that in the wake of recent successive storms since end-September, CEMVIDEC shipped approximately 64 MT of assorted vegetables from Mindanao to Luzon from October to mid-November.

Even newer groups such as the Zamboanga del Norte Hi-Green Farmers Association (ZaNorte) and the Caraga Vegetable Growers Association, are expanding their production for the Visayas. ZaNorte now ships at least 3 MT of tropical vegetables to Cebu weekly.


Vegetable producers also supply larger-scale food manufacturers like tuna canners based in General Santos City that require huge volumes of sweet pepper, carrots and other vegetable ingredients for their products.

To be sure, the growers groups admit there still are hurdles to surmount, like lack of farm-to-market roads, ineffective marketing, as well as poor access to financing and new farming technologies.

RP's Mt. Kitanglad declared an ASEAN Heritage Park (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p091202.htm&no=81)

Cagayan de Oro City (2 December) -- THE Mt. Kitanglad Range Protected Area was declared as an ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Heritage Park during the 11th annual meeting of ASEAN ministers of environment in Singapore.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, who attended the meeting, successfully batted for the inclusion of the park as it is one of the priority protected areas in the Philippines established by law.

"Mt. Kitanglad range contains a wide range of biodiversity that represents the ASEAN region," Atienza said. "It is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals, about half of which is unique to the area," he added.

Mt. Kitanglad joins 27 other ASEAN Heritage Parks and the third in the Philippines after Mt. Apo in Davao and Mt. Iglit-Baco in Oriental Mindoro. It covers seven (7) municipalities and a city in Bukidnon, namely: Talakag consisting of 4,945 ha., Baungon (3,157 ha), Libona (6,196 ha), Manolo Fortich (595 ha), Sumilao (3,532 ha), Lantapan (7,912 ha), Impasug-ong (1,985 ha) and Malaybalay City (2,317 ha).

Covering an estimated area of 30,642.0 hectares, Mt. Kitanglad was declared a protected area in 2000 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8978. It is the habitat of the Philippine Eagle, which is considered one (1) of the largest eagles in the world and the most endangered. It is also where rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world, is found.

About 80 percent of the residents in the area are populated by indigenous peoples, such as Manobos, Talaandig, Higaonon, Matigsalug and Umayamnon.

Atienza said Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was "very excited and optimistic" that the declaration will further enhance the government's efforts in not only conserving the country's biodiversity but also in preserving the culture and tradition of the region.

According to Atienza, scientists have discovered a source of anti-malaria drug in the bark of Cinchona tree which can be found in the area.

Mt. Dulang-dulang, the highest point in the Mt. Kitanglad range at 2,938 meters above sea level, is a sacred place where indigenous people hold rituals of thanksgiving to the spirits.

Under the ASEAN Heritage Parks program, protected areas with unique, diverse, and outstanding value are given the highest recognition as an ASEAN Heritage Park.

The program aims to promote conservation of the region's natural heritage. (DENR)

UK to mediate in RP, MILF peace bid (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=528541&publicationSubCategoryId=67)
By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated December 02, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The United Kingdom has accepted the invitation of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to become a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) to provide support to the peace negotiations.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie conveyed yesterday to the negotiating panels the British government’s acceptance of the joint invitation to join the ICG.

“I am happy to accept the invitation on behalf of the UK government. I hope the ICG will help both parties in their efforts to work for a lasting and just peace in Mindanao,” Lillie said.

The invitation for the UK to join the ICG was given in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 16.

The ICG is envisioned to provide support to the negotiations. It will be composed of the United Kingdom, Japan and Turkey, as well as international non-government organizations.

The creation of ICG is expected to pave the way for the resumption of formal peace talks between the government and the MILF.

On Friday, Japan announced that it accepted the invitation for Japan to become a member of the ICG for the peace process between the GRP-MILF.

Japanese Ambassador to Manila Makoto Katsura informed on Friday Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special Concerns and GRP Peace Panel Rafael Seguis and MILF chief for information and negotiator Mohagher Iqbal that Japan agreed to become ICG member.

Terms of reference

Under the Terms of Reference, the term International Contact Group (ICG) covers both states and NGOs that have formally joined the group. This contrasts with other groups (such as the EU, and OIC) that might join its activities without being formal members. The term “Parties” refers to GRP and MILF, and “Facilitator” refers to the Malaysian facilitation team.

The role of ICG is complementary to the existing facilitation mechanism and peace process architecture. Its role is in accordance with the Framework Agreement which it is ad-hoc in nature and issue-specific in its engagement and the ICG may give impartial advice to either party or both.

The ICG may accept tasking from the Facilitator, GRP or MILF as appropriate. The ICG acting as a group may issue public statements as appropriate, in writing, decided by consensus.

ICG members may review their commitment as appropriate. When a final peace agreement is reached, the ICG, Facilitator and Parties should review the nature of the ICG’s role and membership.

The Framework Agreement on the Formation of the ICG for the GRP-MILF peace process, which was forged on Sept. 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and immediately effective, topped the agenda items.




Resumption of peace talks hailed (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=529137&publicationSubCategoryId=67)
(The Philippine Star) Updated December 04, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Japan welcomed yesterday the resumption of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

In a statement from the Japanese embassy, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said his country values highly the efforts of both negotiating parties and facilitator Malaysia to reach this agreement.

“The Government of Japan welcomes that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is based in Mindanao, agreed to resume the official peace talks in the Mindanao Peace Process,” read the statement.

Upon the request of the negotiating parties and Malaysia, Japan decided to participate in the International Contact Group.

Apart from Japan, the ICG is comprised of the United Kingdom, Turkey and four non-government organizations.

It is expected to give advice to the parties concerned on the Mindanao peace process and participate in peace talks as observers.

On Friday, Japan said it has accepted the invitation to become a member of the ICG for the Mindanao peace process.

The ICG may issue public statements as appropriate, in writing, decided by consensus.

ICG members may review their commitment as appropriate.

When a final peace agreement is reached, the ICG, Facilitator and Parties should review the nature of the ICG’s role and membership.

Development experts

Japan has contributed to the Mindanao peace process through the dispatch of development experts to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the J-Bird projects, which include intensive implementation of grant assistance for grassroots human security projects in the conflict-affected areas.

Rafael Seguis and Mohag*her Iqbal, government and MILF panel chairmen, announced on Wednesday that both panels agreed to resume the peace negotiations in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday following the establishment of the ICG.

In 2003, the government and MILF signed a ceasefire after approximately 40 years of armed conflict. It was further developed through the activities of the IMT (headed by Malaysia) since 2004.

However, in August 2008, armed conflict resumed when the national coordination surrounding resolutions of pending land problems failed.

Last July, the government and MILF announced a joint statement for the suspension of military operations/actions and resumption of peace talks.

The parties then signed a framework agreement on the ICG in September and another framework agreement on the civilian protection mechanism of the IMT in October. – Pia Lee-Brago

Conference starts move to integrate Mindanao logistics

Monday, December 07, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
BusinessWorld

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Mindanao’s government and business sectors are pushing for a logistics corridor that will integrate key production areas and link the ports of Cagayan de Oro and Davao City, a statement of US-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) read.

This subject was the focus of the two-day Mindanao Logistics Conference held last Nov. 25-26 by the Mindanao Federation of Shippers’ Association (MINFESA) at the Phividec industrial complex in Misamis Oriental.

The event was held in cooperation with the Northern Mindanao Shipper’s Association Inc., the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., the Department of Trade and Industry, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and GEM.

"The last five years have seen a surge in investments in key infrastructure projects, such as the Mindanao Container Terminal [in Phividec], and the Davao international airport…Yet we still have to see a master plan connecting key ports and highways," the statement quoted MINFESA president Vicente G. Lagdamen, Jr. as saying.

"This would take advantage of the north’s proximity to the rest of the Philippines," said Tony Pandes, area manager of 2GO/Aboitiz Transport System, Inc.

He pointed out that by utilizing the Cagayan de Oro port, transit time to the Visayas and Luzon could be reduced by a day.

Davao, on the other hand, offers direct international links by both sea and air, and is thus a key gateway for exports.

Logistical challenges faced by businesses in Mindanao -- especially producers of high-value agricultural commodities -- range from the poor condition of barangay roads, to substandard handling and packing technologies, to inadequate ports and the lack of cold storage facilities.

Mindanao bishops say martial law is 'necessary' in Maguindanao (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=245950&nga_Session=1b339ac621413e81266c1b4a0290a4d2)


MANILA, Dec. 7 (PNA) —- Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, in statement meant as a pastoral guideline last Sunday, accepted martial law in Maguindanao as a “last resort” to expedite the resolution of peace and order in the Muslim-dominated province.

Archbishop Quevedo stressed, however, that “it must immediately cease” once it is no longer necessary, as martial law would endanger human rights.

In his December 6 statement to the Catholic faithful, Quevedo said "martial law, as a last resort, may be necessary only for the decisive resolution of the problems in Maguindanao."

"I do not know if all other recourse to resolve the above situation, particularly the appalling and most dreadful crime of November 23 that cries out to heaven, would be adequate,” the archbishop said.

The Archbishop observed that even a “state of emergency” did not seem adequate to cope with the situation."

"Media and politicians from far away Manila do not seem to be familiar with these social, political, and cultural situations in Maguindanao. They seem to think that the police and the military can easily go into an area and just arrest the suspected culprits,” Quevedo said.

“The complexity and the abnormality of the situation and the need for swift justice for 57 brutally massacred innocent civilians would dictate an extraordinary measure." he said.

“Since martial law has been declared. Let it be. I let the lawyers debate it. I pray that martial law resolve the abnormal situation and deal swift justice for the victims," he said.

"Once it (martial law) is no longer necessary, it must immediately cease. The shorter the time, the better. This is because of the double-edge nature of martial law. The longer it is exercised, the more likely it would be for human rights to be violated and for weapons to be used for evil,” the archbishop said.

Quevedo served as president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president from 1999 to 2003 and as Secretary-General for the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).

Quevedo observed the proliferation of firearms, legal and illegal, throughout the province which are not only in the hands of so-called warlords, civilian volunteer organizations and police.

“Liquidations by motorcycle-riding men, kidnapping by armed groups, despite deterrence provided by the army’s Operation Tugis, still occasionally take place. Rido between some MILF commanders and the Ampatuan clan has been going on since Datu Saudi Ampatuan, the young enlightened mayor of Datu Piang, was killed some years ago. This cycle of violence has affected the peace process in that area and its surrounding municipalities." he said.

“Guns seem to be everywhere. The functioning of courts of justice and of election bodies have been highly suspect for a long time partly due to the political allegiances of court officers. Competence, transparency, and accountability in political governance in many places have to be significantly improved."

Other Mindanao-based church leaders voiced their support to the decision to impose martial law.

Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo was quoted as saying he was agreeable to the declaration of martial law as long as it is in accord with the Constitution.

Bagaforo explained that "the elements of general public safety and imminent danger to lives are there along with terrorism."

“Civilian governance is almost unreliable at present for justice to prevail,” he was quoted as saying.

Earlier, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez said there is a need for an appropriate response to the Maguindanao situation but added that people should observe whether martial law would be used to restore peace.(PNA)
V3/rudyma

Mindanao growers report sharp rise in vegetable shipments (http://www.dailymirror.ph/Dec/business12082009&03.html)


CAGAYAN DE ORO — Three growers’ associations in northern, southern and central Mindanao have reported a 75-percent increase from 2007 to 2009 in shipments of vegetables to Cebu and other markets in Visayas and Luzon.

The annual aggregate vegetable out-shipment by these Mindanao growers to the two regions totals approximately 4,730 metric tons (MT) annually, or about 90 MT weekly; a significant increase from the annual shipment of 2,700 MT in 2007, according to reports compiled by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

“The market has begun to recognize the capabilities of vegetable growers here and the fact that we can maintain production even during bad weather in other parts of the country,” said Jovic Santos, president of the Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Development Council (CEM-VIDEC).

The largest of the three groups reporting on their shipments is the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association (NorMinVeggies), with a membership base of more than 7,000 growers, whose individual vegetable production areas total more than 3,000 hectares in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

The other groups are the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (VICSMIN), which has 800 members and a total vegetable production area of more than 650 hectares, and CEMVIDEC, which has more than 350 members and approximately 400 hectares.

NorMinVeggies reports that its members are supplying more than 70 MT of assorted vegetables weekly to Luzon and Visayas buyers.

Through its NorMin-Veggies Vegetable Consolidation Center alone, the group ships at least 5 MT of assorted semi-temperate vegetables per week to key Cebu-based institutional buyers, including Metro Gaisano supermarket, consolidators for fast food chains KFC and Jollibee, and hotel and restaurant distributors.

“Buyers like these require large volumes of consistently high quality vegetables, and growers here have proven that they can deliver,” said Marcelino Remotigue, NorMin-Veggies president, and also a strong advocate for the “commodity clustering approach,” in which groups of farmers focus on a specific commodity and time their harvests to coincide with shipment schedules agreed by buyers and growers.
Santos, whose group hosted the National Vegetable Congress in General Santos City in July, said that participants from other parts of the country were “surprised by how well-organized the growers were in different areas of Mindanao.”

“We expected about 500 participants, but about 700 to 800 attended, with 11 regions represented,” Santos said. “They visited our farms and could see we are practically at par with growers in Luzon in terms of quality and sustainability. It was a good marketing opportunity.”

“Mindanao has big tracts of land, including large upland areas well-suited for growing semi-temperate vegetables,” Remotigue added.

“Mindanao’s great advantage is that it is typhoon-free,” said Ray Acain, president of VICSMIN. “This allows growers to engage in production all year round and ensure regular shipments.”

Acain also heads a VICSMIN affiliate, the 200-member Davao del Norte Vegetable Industry Development Council (DNVIDC), which weekly ships at least 10 MT of chayote and “pinakbet vegetables”—squash, eggplant, okra, bitter gourd and others—to Leyte province, which lies within the Visayas typhoon belt.

“Leyte has its own growers, but they can only produce during certain months,” said Acain.

His group established a supply agreement with a Leyte wholesaler last year when it conducted its first market exploration tour of the province, with support from GEM, which works with the Department of Agriculture and other partners to strengthen the vegetable sector. The GEM Program is being implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council.

Santos said that in the wake of the last two “super typhoons,” the Department of Agriculture called on Mindanao growers to help stabilize the supply of vegetables in major demand centers in the country.

Seizing the opportunity, CEMVIDEC has shipped approximately 64 MT of assorted vegetables from Mindanao to Luzon from October to mid-November this year, Santos said.

Even newer groups such as the Zamboanga del Norte Hi-Green Farmers Association (ZaNorte) and the Caraga Vegetable Growers Association (CaraVeggies), are expanding their vegetable production for the Visayas market. ZaNorte is now shipping at least 3 MT of tropical vegetables to Cebu weekly.

Vegetable producers are also supplying larger-scale food manufacturers such as tuna canners based in General Santos City, that require huge volumes of sweet pepper, carrots and other vegetable ingredients for their products.

Growers say there still are industry hurdles which have to be overcome by Mindanao’s vegetable sector. “We need more farm-to-market roads, better access to financing for growers, and we have to step up marketing,” said Remo-tigue.

Acain noted that growers must keep pace with new [production and post-harvest] technologies through training. But, he added: “The demand is there, and more growers are waiting to join the industry. There’s definitely room for expansion in Mindanao.” GEM
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Downsouth -- By Hernani De Leon

Business as usual

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6308/urbandavaobb3.jpg

DAVAO CITY -- It is business as usual in this city after an edgy weekend. Authorities have been on heightened alert since Saturday after the patriarch of the Ampatuan clan was rushed to a hospital here. The city’s shopping malls and Chinatown were packed with customers unmindful of the Ampatuan supporters’ presence as well as the martial law declaration in Maguindanao.

Retailers said sales have increased significantly compared with that of previous months as shoppers started spending yearend bonuses, even as business chamber officials warn of a double whammy on the local economy brought about by the massacre and martial law scare.

Immediately affected sectors are property, tourism and even business process outsourcing. A significant number of property buyers in this city are from Luzon and the Visayas, and from overseas. Major urban centers on the island, meanwhile, are promoting their areas as ideal contact center sites.

Investors would likely temporarily postpone planned projects in most parts of the island, like what foreign donors did. But from previous experience, the current situation could also benefit safer areas in Mindanao. This city, for one, has been a consistent recipient of capital from other regions experiencing security-related issues.

During the all-out war of the Estrada administration against Moro rebels in 2000, and the years of bombing and kidnapping in Central Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula, entrepreneurs from affected regions put up shops here. A big number of successful businesses in this city, by the way, are owned by families originally coming from Mindanao’s troubled areas.

For years now, rich families from nearby regions have regarded this city as a safe haven for investments and a good place to keep their money. Prominent Moro families maintain residences here and have kept developers of upscale projects happy by paying in cash for their units. The Ampatuans, for instance, own three mansions in three separate areas all over the city, one north, another south of the city proper and another on the fringe of the city’s downtown.

A friendly banker once said combined deposits in this city’s banking system would roughly amount to P30 billion at any given time, while other Mindanao cities such as Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and General Santos could each only post less than P12 billion. That would support claims that confidence is highest in this city compared to other urban centers in the island.

Businessworld Online (http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=3081)

^^ great news @sir peng! :cheers:

by the way, nice aerial shot!

Downsouth -- By Hernani De Leon

Business as usual

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6308/urbandavaobb3.jpg

DAVAO CITY -- It is business as usual in this city after an edgy weekend. Authorities have been on heightened alert since Saturday after the patriarch of the Ampatuan clan was rushed to a hospital here. The city’s shopping malls and Chinatown were packed with customers unmindful of the Ampatuan supporters’ presence as well as the martial law declaration in Maguindanao.

Retailers said sales have increased significantly compared with that of previous months as shoppers started spending yearend bonuses, even as business chamber officials warn of a double whammy on the local economy brought about by the massacre and martial law scare.

Immediately affected sectors are property, tourism and even business process outsourcing. A significant number of property buyers in this city are from Luzon and the Visayas, and from overseas. Major urban centers on the island, meanwhile, are promoting their areas as ideal contact center sites.

Investors would likely temporarily postpone planned projects in most parts of the island, like what foreign donors did. But from previous experience, the current situation could also benefit safer areas in Mindanao. This city, for one, has been a consistent recipient of capital from other regions experiencing security-related issues.

During the all-out war of the Estrada administration against Moro rebels in 2000, and the years of bombing and kidnapping in Central Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula, entrepreneurs from affected regions put up shops here. A big number of successful businesses in this city, by the way, are owned by families originally coming from Mindanao’s troubled areas.

For years now, rich families from nearby regions have regarded this city as a safe haven for investments and a good place to keep their money. Prominent Moro families maintain residences here and have kept developers of upscale projects happy by paying in cash for their units. The Ampatuans, for instance, own three mansions in three separate areas all over the city, one north, another south of the city proper and another on the fringe of the city’s downtown.

A friendly banker once said combined deposits in this city’s banking system would roughly amount to P30 billion at any given time, while other Mindanao cities such as Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and General Santos could each only post less than P12 billion. That would support claims that confidence is highest in this city compared to other urban centers in the island.

Businessworld Online (http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=3081)

:cheers:

Pepsi-Cola to spend P350M for expansion (http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=3073)

Listed Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. is setting aside P350 million to expand the operation of one of its plants in Mindanao.

The beverage company told the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday its board had approved the plan to install an additional production line at its Cagayan de Oro plant and expand its manufacturing capacity.

Corporate communication manager Bobby Franco said in an interview that the new bottling line would produce seven million cases of carbonated soft drinks and noncarbonated soft drinks annually.

This, he said, was equivalent to an additional P1 billion in annual revenues. Construction, Mr. Franco said, would start in the first quarter of 2010.

“The additional volume will double the current capacity of our Cagayan de Oro plant. The new line will bring to 27 Pepsi-Cola’s bottling lines,” he said.

Pepsi-Cola has 11 bottling plants all over the country. The company first disclosed plans to expand its Mindanao plant last month, saying this would add another six to seven million cases to the company’s output of 170 million cases annually.

The listed firm described the Mindanao market as “something that is new which can give [the firm] a good 20% market growth in the succeeding years.”

Pepsi-Cola has 18% of the carbonated soft drinks market and 25% of the market for noncarbo-nated drinks.

The firm’s noncarbonated drink line includes Tropicana Twister, energy drink Propel, Tropicana, Lipton Ice Tea, Premier and Sting.

Pepsi-Cola’s carbonated drinks include Pepsi, 7Up, Mountain Dew, Mirinda and Mug.

Pepsi-Cola also said it was on the lookout for the acquisition of new noncarbonated drink brands, saying the firm’s noncarbonated segment was growing at a faster rate than the carbonated drink segment.

For the past three years, carbonated drinks have been growing only by 9%, lower than the 30% growth recorded by the noncarbonated drink segment, Pepsi-Cola said.

For fiscal year ending June, Pepsi-Cola’s net income grew by 5% to P800 million. Revenues, meanwhile, stood at P14.2 billion, a double-digit rise.

The beverage firm said it was optimistic for the business next year because election spending would boost demand for its products.

Shares in the beverage company climbed by 0.86% to P2.34 apiece yesterday. -- Kristine Jane R. Liu

PGMA orders fast tracking of ground works of P187.76-M Iligan-Cagayan-Butuan access road (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=247495)


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

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 15 (PNA) -– President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday inspected the progress of ground works of the P187.76-million access road that connects the Northern and Northeastern Mindanao regions.

The Chief Executive made her personal inspection as she also instructed the officials and field engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fast track the ground works and hit the target timeline before she steps down in June 2010.

“The access road is very vital for continuous economic activities in this region and I want you (DPWH) to finish this in our target date,” said President Arroyo, who was impressed with the accomplishment of the four-lane access road.

The P187.76-million access road will connect to the Iligan (Lanao del Norte)-Cagayan de Oro City (Misamis Oriental)-Butuan City (Agusan del Norte) national highway.

In her swing in Northern Mindanao on Monday, President Arroyo also checked on the progress of the ongoing construction of the Laguindingan International Airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

The Chief Executive, together with Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno and other local officials, walked through the Laguindingan International Airport terminal building which is still under construction. She then inspected the runway.

The Laguindingan International Airport sits on a 4.17- square kilometer site in Barangay Moog, Laguindingan 1 and is located 46 kilometers from the existing Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City.

Upon its completion, it will be the fourth international airport in Mindanao, after the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, Zamboanga International Airport in Zamboanga City, and General Santos International Airport.

When completed, it will also be the first international airport in Northern Mindanao (Region 10).

The target completion of the said new airport will be on 2011. The project ground works of the said airport is now 54 percent accomplished.

It can be recalled that Mrs. Arroyo broke ground on the project on January 11, 2006. The runway of the airport as well as the apron could be completed by April 2010, before her term ends.

The civil works are being done by the Korean contractor Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo on Monday also inaugurated the 1.9–kilometer farm-to-market road (FMR) also of that same town, which represented the 17,000th kilometer of such farm-to market roads constructed so far by her administration.

Accompanied by Laguindingan Mayor Oliver Ubaub, Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Mrs. Arroyo led the inaugural drive-through of the Poblacion-Gasi-Liberty-San Isidro farm-to-market road.

The project will directly benefit more than 2,000 households of the four barangays of that town with farms planted to 600 hectares bananas, 177 hectares mango, 210 hectares coconut and 360 hectares corn. (PNA)
LAP/MUC/mec


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<<< Back

Senators lauded for passing Meda bill

MINDANAO Economic Development Council (Medco) chairman Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana Sr. lauded the senators for passing the bill creating the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (Meda).

Senate Bill 3496, otherwise known as the Meda bill, was unanimously approved on third reading last Monday and the senators agreed to adopt House Bill 6958, the counterpart bill approved by Congress on 16 November, as the final version.

Leyretana said the approval of the bill validates the Senate's commitment to develop Mindanao and accelerate the region's inclusion in the mainstream of national body politic.

"The enactment of the Meda Bill is seen to enhance the potential role of Mindanao as the bridge to all cultures in this country and in Bimp-Eaga (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area), as well as the linchpin of our country's security and national interest," Leyretana said.

He said the passage of the bill will pave the way for the creation of a permanent Mindanao body that will integrate and harmonize peace and development efforts in the region.

He said it has also been pushed in view of the need for Mindanao to catch up with the mainstream national development.

The official also noted that the general provisions of the Meda proposal seek to strengthen the existing Medco by converting it into a permanent government agency.

Medco, established in 1992 through Executive order 512, operates as the only existing Mindanao-wide government mechanism that provides a coordinated and rationalized platform for program implementation and monitoring, investment promotion and policy advocacy for the region. (Bong Garcia)

Sunstar Zamboanga

US increases aid to RP for security, development (http://www.malaya.com.ph/12182009/news8.html)

THE United States Congress has decided to increase its development and security assistance to the Philippines by an additional $15.4 million, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

In a statement, Secretary Alberto Romulo announced the increase in the budget appropriation to $135.1 million for fiscal year 2010.

"It represents an increase by 13 percent from the fiscal year 2009’s appropriated budget of $119.7 million," noted Romulo.

The figure is also higher than the $118.7 million proposed by the Obama administration, the DFA added.

The development and security assistance grant comes in the heels of the approval of the US Millennium Challenge Corporation to include the Philippines as among the recipients of the compact agreement amounting to almost $450 million.

"The US Congress has always played a key role in ensuring that the alliance between the Philippines and the United States remains strong and is supportive of peace and development efforts in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao," Romulo said.

Sixty-seven percent of the financial grant is devoted to Mindanao for livelihood, basic services, and reintegration of ex-combatants.

The increase is part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the US House of Representatives on Dec. 8 and the US Senate on Dec. 13.

The legislation awaits Obama’s signature. – Gerard Naval

Washington holds release of $135-M military aid to RP (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/nation/19910-washington-holds-release-of-135-m-military-aid-to-rp.html)

Nation
Written by Estrella Torres / Reporter
Thursday, 17 December 2009 20:41

WASHINGTON has increased the financial military financing for the Philippines by $33 million but had to hold its release pending Manila’s resolution of atrocities, particularly the massacre in Maguindanao where among the 57 people murdered were 31 journalists.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the US Congress is increasing US development and security assistance to the Philippines for fiscal year 2010 by $33 million, which now totals $135.1 million, or higher than the $118.7 million requested by the Obama administration.

“The conditionalities on the [financing aid] are part of the larger entity that consists of the breadth and scope of Philippines-US bilateral relations and is reflective of the constructive engagement between our two governments on the issue of human rights. The Philippine government welcomes this aspect of our engagement with the US as both our governments are committed to upholding and protecting human rights,” said Romulo.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International (AI)-Philippines welcomed the passage of the international humanitarian law (IHL) that would help protect civilians, religious and humanitarian personnel in conflict-stricken provinces, particularly Mindanao.

AI-Philippines executive director Dr. Aurora Parong said the Maguindanao massacre happened due to the strong powers and influence of morally depraved local officials who lawlessly use paramilitary forces who, in turn, are supported by the military and the police due to the politicians’ “closeness” to the powers that be.

She is hopeful the IHL passed last week will strengthen Philippine commitment to the international human-rights treaties, particularly the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

The Philippines is also a state party to the Protocols 1 and 2 of the Geneva Conventions also known as the International Humanitarian Laws. Protocol 1 guides governments on International Armed Conflict and Protocol 2 provides guidelines on internal armed conflict now happening in Mindanao.

“We welcome the passage of the international humanitarian law that recognizes the limits of wars. It provides special protection to civilians, prisoners of wars, children, religious, medical and humanitarian personnel,” said Parong in an interview at a peace forum held on Thursday at the Edsa Shangri-La.

AI, along with the Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court, the Philippine National Police (PNP) brass and National Defense officials held a roundtable discussion at the forum on how they could coordinate efforts in addressing issues in armed conflicts and land disputes and prevent human-rights abuses.

Chief Supt. Victorio Caragan Jr. of the PNP community-relations office said engaging with human- rights organizations is key to increasing human-rights awareness among the police and military officers, especially those engaged in conflict-stricken areas.

On the Maguindanao massacre, Caragan said there is a need to amend rules on appointing chiefs of police of local government units. He said under the law, local executives have the power to appoint the chiefs of police.

“The Maguindanao incident should give us the opportunity to take a second look at our laws on who chooses the local police officials,” said Caragan, in an interview at the sidelines of the forum. He said the appointment of local police chiefs should instead be given to the National Police.

AMIN urges devt of Mindanao’s rice fields
Written by Bong D. Fabe / Correspondent
Sunday, 20 December 2009 17:24
BusinessMirror

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party-list today reiterated its call to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to invest in the development of Mindanao’s agriculture, particularly the vast rice fields of the island to ensure an adequate supply of the Filipino people’s staple food.

AMIN Rep. Ariel Hernandez said that while importation can immediately supply the rice needs of the nation, this is only a stop-gap measure that will eventually drain the country’s coffers as well as put Filipino farmers at a disadvantage.

“Long-term solutions to our rice shortages should be given priority by the DA. We are proposing that the DA should invest in Mindanao to develop the island’s vast and untapped rice fields, which when fully developed can supply all our rice needs,” he said.

Reacting to reports that high world market prices of rice could endanger the country’s supply, Hernandez reiterated his call for the DA to develop Mindanao’s agriculture sector.

He also urged the DA to capacitate Mindanao farmers and not just concentrate its resources in Luzon.

One of AMIN’s objectives is the development of Mindanao’s agriculture as a way of reducing, if not totally eliminating, poverty in the island.

Mindanao, which provides more than 50 percent of the Philippines’ food requirement, only has an irrigated area equivalent to 31.5 percent of its total land area of 10,199,886 hectares.

Almost 50 percent of Luzon’s farmlands is irrigated.

Worst, 19.2 percent of Mindanao’s population is considered food-poor.

Also, six of the 10 poorest provinces of the Philippines are in Mindanao.

“I strongly disagree with people who say that we are a poor country or that Mindanao is a poor island. We are not poor! Mindanao is not poor! We are rich! What makes Mindanao poor and underdeveloped is that its wealth is being enjoyed only by Manila and Luzon,” Hernandez said.

Records show that Mindanao contributes an estimated 64 percent of the national income, but receives only 18 percent of national-development share.

Records also show that Mindanao only received a total of P31.81 billion overall budget compared with the P51.29 billion in Luzon in 2008.

Despite the glaring bias of Manila against Mindanao, the island showed its economic resiliency despite the economic crisis in 2008, growing at 7.4 percent, the Neda said.

“It’s the time for the national government to seriously and once and for all develop Mindanao rather than look at the short-term solution of importation,” he said.

Hernandez said that unlike Luzon and the Visayas, which are always ravaged by typhoons, Mindanao enjoys a relatively typhoon-free climate. This translates to rich agricultural production.

Agriculture is the driving force behind Mindanao’s economy. Close to a third of its land area is devoted to agriculture. More than one-third of the island’s labor force is employed in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors.

“Mindanao’s evenly distributed tropical climate makes it ideal for year-round crop production. If wisely harnessed, Mindanao’s rich agricultural resources can serve as the Philippines’ foundation for sustainable growth,” Hernandez said.

Mindanao’s rich soil accounts for bountiful harvests of a variety of farm products. It grows most of the Philippines’ major crops such as rubber (100 percent of national production), pineapple (91 percent), cacao (90 percent) as well as banana, coffee, corn and coconut (over 50 percent). The island also produces exotic fruits like pomelo, mangosteen and durian.

its a good thing that this project has a huge propensity to push through

RDC-X endorses shift in Mindanao Railway System financing from BOT to ODA
December 20, 2009
By Mike Banos
www.kagay-an.com

The Regional Development Council for Region X has requested the Office of the President to change the method of undertaking for the Mindanao Railway System (MRS) of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) from Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) to Official Development Assistance (ODA).

"The Regional Development Council (RDC-10) recognizes the importance and fully supports the Cagayan De Oro-Iligan Corridor (CIC) Mindanao Railway System (MRS) Project for the further socio-economic development of Mindanao," said Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, RDC-X chairman.

The MRS is an identified priority projects contained in the Northern Mindanao Physical Framework Plan (2004-2030) and the Northern Mindanao Regional Development Plan (2004-2010). It is also included in the list of projects for the Mindanao Super Region.

On 25 April 2003, the RDC-10 Executive Committee passed Resolution No. 10 endorsing the conduct of the feasibility study for the Mindanao Railway Project and its inclusion in the Northern Mindanao Regional Development Investment Program and Philippine Medium-Term Public Investment Program, said Dir. Leon Dacanay Jr., RDC-X co-chair and NEDA-X regional director.

"The Feasibility Study for the Segment 1 Phase 1 of the MRS Project covering the area from Cagayan de Oro City to Iligan City was completed and submitted to NEDA for evaluation in July 2004," Dacanay said. "The FS was prepared by Thaipicon and Industry Company Limited of Thailand."

During the 1st August 2006 Cabinet Meeting President Gloria Arroyo instructed the DOTC to include the Cagayan de Oro City-Iligan City Railroad Project in her SONA listed projects as a BOT project.

Later, however, DOTC Undersecretary Guiling A. Mamondiong advised NEDA-10 that the FS for the Cagayan de Oro City-Iligan City Railroad Project shall be revised due to consideration in the alignment to avoid substantial tunneling to reduce its project cost.

On 30 September 2009, NEDA-10 received from NEDA-Public Investment Staff (PIS) the Mindanao Railway System Feasibility Study Report for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor (CIC) covering the municipalities from Linamon, Lanao del Nodte to Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

The project cost is about US$1,328.032 Million or PhP66.402 Billion (at US$1 =PhP50) and shall be sourced from ODA loans from Saudi Arabia and China and the equity to be provided by the Philippine Government.

To resolve further confusion arising from its mode of implementation, the the RDC-10 Infrastructure Committee agreed during its 29 October 2009 meeting to request the approval of the Office of the President through RDC-X to undertake the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor (CIC) Mindanao Railway Project through Official Development Assistance (ODA) instead of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme..

AMIN urges devt of Mindanao’s rice fields
Written by Bong D. Fabe / Correspondent
Sunday, 20 December 2009 17:24
BusinessMirror

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Anak Mindanao (AMIN) Party-list today reiterated its call to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to invest in the development of Mindanao’s agriculture, particularly the vast rice fields of the island to ensure an adequate supply of the Filipino people’s staple food.

AMIN Rep. Ariel Hernandez said that while importation can immediately supply the rice needs of the nation, this is only a stop-gap measure that will eventually drain the country’s coffers as well as put Filipino farmers at a disadvantage.

“Long-term solutions to our rice shortages should be given priority by the DA. We are proposing that the DA should invest in Mindanao to develop the island’s vast and untapped rice fields, which when fully developed can supply all our rice needs,” he said.

Reacting to reports that high world market prices of rice could endanger the country’s supply, Hernandez reiterated his call for the DA to develop Mindanao’s agriculture sector.

He also urged the DA to capacitate Mindanao farmers and not just concentrate its resources in Luzon.

One of AMIN’s objectives is the development of Mindanao’s agriculture as a way of reducing, if not totally eliminating, poverty in the island.

Mindanao, which provides more than 50 percent of the Philippines’ food requirement, only has an irrigated area equivalent to 31.5 percent of its total land area of 10,199,886 hectares.

Almost 50 percent of Luzon’s farmlands is irrigated.

Worst, 19.2 percent of Mindanao’s population is considered food-poor.

Also, six of the 10 poorest provinces of the Philippines are in Mindanao.

“I strongly disagree with people who say that we are a poor country or that Mindanao is a poor island. We are not poor! Mindanao is not poor! We are rich! What makes Mindanao poor and underdeveloped is that its wealth is being enjoyed only by Manila and Luzon,” Hernandez said.

Records show that Mindanao contributes an estimated 64 percent of the national income, but receives only 18 percent of national-development share.

Records also show that Mindanao only received a total of P31.81 billion overall budget compared with the P51.29 billion in Luzon in 2008.

Despite the glaring bias of Manila against Mindanao, the island showed its economic resiliency despite the economic crisis in 2008, growing at 7.4 percent, the Neda said.

“It’s the time for the national government to seriously and once and for all develop Mindanao rather than look at the short-term solution of importation,” he said.

Hernandez said that unlike Luzon and the Visayas, which are always ravaged by typhoons, Mindanao enjoys a relatively typhoon-free climate. This translates to rich agricultural production.

Agriculture is the driving force behind Mindanao’s economy. Close to a third of its land area is devoted to agriculture. More than one-third of the island’s labor force is employed in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors.

“Mindanao’s evenly distributed tropical climate makes it ideal for year-round crop production. If wisely harnessed, Mindanao’s rich agricultural resources can serve as the Philippines’ foundation for sustainable growth,” Hernandez said.

Mindanao’s rich soil accounts for bountiful harvests of a variety of farm products. It grows most of the Philippines’ major crops such as rubber (100 percent of national production), pineapple (91 percent), cacao (90 percent) as well as banana, coffee, corn and coconut (over 50 percent). The island also produces exotic fruits like pomelo, mangosteen and durian.


maau bitaw jud nang e-improved nila ang mga provinces lalo na sa mindanao area para hindi na magsiponta o mabawasan ang mga tao sa manila,,,
thanks for sharing gudnews to us,,, cheers :cheers:

2 vice presidential bets, 10 senatorial aspirants coming from Mindanao (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=248576)

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 21 (PNA) -– Two vice presidential bets and 10 senatorial aspirants have gotten the nod of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as official candidates in the May 2010 national and local elections.

Comelec said the two vice presidential candidates from Mindanao are Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. (Bangon Pilipinas) of Davao City and TV personality Jose “Jay” Y. Sonza (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan or KBL) of Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

The Comelec also approved the candidacies of 10 Mindanawons in the senatorial race. They are: Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Rodrigo “Ompong” Plaza (Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC), Nereus O. Acosta, Jr., of Bukidnon (Liberal Party or LP), Shariff Ibrahim H. Albani (KBL), Zafrullah M. Alonto of Lanao del Sur (Bangon Pilipinas), Teofisto D. Guingona III (LP), Yasmin Busran-Lao of Lanao del Sur (LP), Gwendolyn D. Pimentel of Cagayan de Oro (PDP-Laban), Adel A. Tamano of Lanao del Sur (Nacionalista Party or NP), Manuel E. Valdehuesa, Jr., of Cagayan de Oro City (Ang Kapatiran) and Silvestre H. Bello III of Davao City (Lakas).

Rep. Plaza, a successful businessman, is the son of the late former Congressman and Gov. Democrito Plaza and former Gov. Valentina Plaza. He authored several bills in the House of Representatives like the LPG Bill. He also made Agusan del Sur province more progressive and economically globally competitive.

Caraganons and different organizations in Northeastern Mindanao favorably endorsed the candidacy of the son of Agusan in the senatorial race next year.

Bello was a former executive secretary of then Davao City Mayor Luis Santos before the assassination of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983. He also led the Justice for Aquino, Justice for All chapter in Davao City and after the EDSA People Power was made Justice Undersecretary. He later became Justice Secretary and until recently was Cabinet Secretary.

Pimentel, a lawyer, is the daughter of Senator Aquilino Pimentel. She is her father’s chief of staff.

Alonto is a professor. Acosta was a former three-term representative of the first district in Bukidnon. Guingona was second district representative.

Yasmin Busran-Lao is a peace advocate and was a recipient of the Sen. Ninoy Aquino Fellowship for public service in 2005 while Shariff Albani is described as a “successful Taosug businessman.” Valdehuesa is an author of books on barangays and cooperatives. (PNA)
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Mindanao Growers Report Sharp Rise in Vegetable Shipments to Luzon and Visayas Markets (http://mindanao.com/blog/2009/12/mindanao-growers-report-sharp-rise-in-vegetable-shipments-to-luzon-and-visayas-markets/)

December 7, 2009 by MindanaoBob
Filed under Feature, News

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CAGAYAN DE ORO—Three growers’ associations in northern, southern and central Mindanao have reported a 75-percent increase from 2007 to 2009 in shipments of vegetables to Cebu and other markets in Visayas and Luzon.

The annual aggregate vegetable out-shipment by these Mindanao growers to the two regions totals approximately 4,730 metric tons (MT) annually, or about 90 MT weekly; a significant increase from the annual shipment of 2,700 MT in 2007, according to reports compiled by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

“The market has begun to recognize the capabilities of vegetable growers here and the fact that we can maintain production even during bad weather in other parts of the country,” said Jovic Santos, president of the Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Development Council (CEMVIDEC).

The largest of the three groups reporting on their shipments is the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association (NorMinVeggies), with a membership base of more than 7,000 growers, whose individual vegetable production areas total more than 3,000 hectares in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

The other groups are the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (VICSMIN), which has 800 members and a total vegetable production area of more than 650 hectares, and CEMVIDEC, which has more than 350 members and approximately 400 hectares.

NorMinVeggies reports that its members are supplying more than 70 MT of assorted vegetables

weekly to Luzon and Visayas buyers.

Through its NorMinVeggies Vegetable Consolidation Center alone, the group ships at least 5 MT of assorted semi-temperate vegetables per week to key Cebu-based institutional buyers, including Metro Gaisano supermarket, consolidators for fast food chains KFC and Jollibee, and hotel and restaurant distributors.

“Buyers like these require large volumes of consistently high quality vegetables, and growers here have proven that they can deliver,” said Marcelino Remotigue, NorMinVeggies president, and also a strong advocate for the “commodity clustering approach,” in which groups of farmers focus on a specific commodity and time their harvests to coincide with shipment schedules agreed by buyers and growers.

Santos, whose group hosted the National Vegetable Congress in General Santos City in July, said that participants from other parts of the country were “surprised by how well-organized the growers were in different areas of Mindanao.”

“We expected about 500 participants, but about 700 to 800 attended, with 11 regions represented,” Santos said. “They visited our farms and could see we are practically at par with growers in Luzon in terms of quality and sustainability. It was a good marketing opportunity.”

“Mindanao has big tracts of land, including large upland areas well-suited for growing semi-temperate vegetables,” Remotigue added.

“Mindanao’s great advantage is that it is typhoon-free,” said Ray Acain, president of VICSMIN. USAID GEM_TCEP“This allows growers to engage in production all year round and ensure regular shipments.”

Acain also heads a VICSMIN affiliate, the 200-member Davao del Norte Vegetable Industry Development Council (DNVIDC), which weekly ships at least 10 MT of chayote and “pinakbet vegetables”—squash, eggplant, okra, bitter gourd and others—to Leyte province, which lies within the Visayas typhoon belt.

“Leyte has its own growers, but they can only produce during certain months,” said Acain.

His group established a supply agreement with a Leyte wholesaler last year when it conducted its first market exploration tour of the province, with support from GEM, which works with the Department of Agriculture and other partners to strengthen the vegetable sector. The GEM Program is being implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council.

Santos said that in the wake of the last two “super typhoons,” the Department of Agriculture called on Mindanao growers to help stabilize the supply of vegetables in major demand centers in the country.

Seizing the opportunity, CEMVIDEC has shipped approximately 64 MT of assorted vegetables from Mindanao to Luzon from October to mid-November this year, Santos said.

Even newer groups such as the Zamboanga del Norte Hi-Green Farmers Association (ZaNorte) and the Caraga Vegetable Growers Association (CaraVeggies), are expanding their vegetable production for the Visayas market. ZaNorte is now shipping at least 3 MT of tropical vegetables to Cebu weekly.

CENTRAL MINDANAO VEGGIES FEED LUZON A container holding eight metric tons of squash produced by the 350-member Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Development Council (CEMVIDEC) is readied for shipping to Manila. In the wake of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, the Department of Agriculture called on Mindanao growers to help stabilize the supply of vegetables in major demand centers in the country. Seizing the opportunity, CEMVIDEC has shipped approximately 64 metric tons of assorted vegetables to Luzon from October to mid-November this year. CEMVIDEC and other Mindanao growers’ associations are working to strengthen the region’s vegetable sector in partnership with USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. GEM is being implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council. GEMVegetable producers are also supplying larger-scale food manufacturers such as tuna canners based in General Santos City, that require huge volumes of sweet pepper, carrots and other vegetable ingredients for their products.

Growers say there still are industry hurdles which have to be overcome by Mindanao’s vegetable sector. “We need more farm-to-market roads, better access to financing for growers, and we have to step up marketing,” said Remotigue.

Acain noted that growers must keep pace with new [production and post-harvest] technologies through training. But, he added: “The demand is there, and more growers are waiting to join the industry. There’s definitely room for expansion in Mindanao.” GEM

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Home » Sun.Star Davao » Business
Mindanao Business Council expects 4-5% growth
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
By Jade C. Zaldivar



MINDANAO Business Council (MinBC) chair Vicente Lao said Tuesday MBC expects a four to five percent growth in Davao Region in 2009.

During Monday's Kapihan sa SM media forum, Lao read a text message from National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Davao Region regional director Maria Lourdes Lim, relaying that the country's gross domestic product as of third quarter of 2009 grew at a positive rate and the region expect a positive growth this year compared to last year.

"Sir here's the actual GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for Philippines as of third quarter of 2009. We still grew at a positive rate but compared to third quarter 2008, which was 4.6 percent, it went down," Lao quoted Lim as saying.

Lao added that for Davao Region, the GRDP (Gross Regional Domestic Product) grew by 3.8 percent in 2008 and expects an improvement this year.

"We expect at least four to five percent growth for 2009. The data is still not in for 2009, but we expect a four to five percent growth," said Lao also chair of Davao Regional Development Council (RDC 11).

"Our strength in Mindanao are on four: we're very strong on food, services, IT, mining. These four industries have to be developing because these are our strength. A lot of industries have to gear into these. This is where we're strong," Lao said.

Lao recalled that 2008's economic driver, which is infrastructure, affected this year's growth.

"Last year was the pump priming activities of the government, the basic, the strongest stimulus was infrastructure. If you notice that most of the regions in the Philippines, construction and infrastructure activities were quite maximized because infrastructure is still one of the most effective pump priming activities and stimulus that government can do," Lao said.

"The downstream industries which infrastructure affects are about 15 to 17 industries. When you do projects of infrastructure a lot of other industries will be affected it will also prosper," Lao said.

"Every time there's road construction, economies move. Cement companies has to produce more cement, steel companies produce more steel bars, hardwares, sand and gravel, employment, and this with infrastructure as the single stimulus spending from the government," Lao said.

"Now with infrastructure, better port activities, then investment comes in. Several industries were also invested here in Mindanao because the investors feel that the infrastructure is already in place. A lot of these infra are basically in the agri based industries because sad to know we are still lacking in power because we cannot really invite heavy power-using industries for industrialization in Mindanao," Lao said.

"What the government did was there were programs that were allocated for expenditure for 2009, what they did is they just frontload a lot of these activities. And aside from frontloading these activities they also added other expenditures that were programmed for 2010. So you will notice a lot of activities, road construction," Lao said.

Small ports hit target collection, big ports fail
Top News
Written by VG Cabuag / Reporter
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 20:59
REVENUES from the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) collection are showing mixed signals in December, with most of the smaller ports able to hit their respective targets, but the Port of Manila continuing to drag down the agency’s revenues.

Preliminary figures from the BOC show that only four of the 12 smaller ports of collection were not able to hit their assigned collection goal as of December 23. Those unable to hit their targets for the month were the ports in San Fernando, which collected only P10.6 million of its P175-million target; Surigao, which produced only a fraction of its P1.1-million goal; and Cagayan de Oro, which was P28 million off its target.

The ports that hit their goals were those in Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao, Subic Bay, Clark Field and Aparri.

Both Manila International Container Port (MICP), the country’s largest collection district, and Batangas Port surprised the BOC by exceeding their goals for the period.

MICP, a port operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc., exceeded its P4.5-billion target for the month by at least P497 million, while Batangas Port surpassed its goal of P3.97 billion by P441 million.

Limay, also an oil port, continued its dismal performance after collecting just P925 million from its P3.04-billion target.

Port of Manila, which has been a drag to the BOC for most of the year as it accounts for more than a third of the agency’s shortfall, continued its dismal performance but at a slower rate with just P210 million deficit, a narrower figure compared with the previous months.

The port collected P3.58 billion against its P4.23-billion target.

The BOC’s cash collection for the month was placed at P15.89 billion against its target of P21 billion.

In the previous years, when the BOC was able to attain its targets, the government gave funding for the National Food Authority’s rice imports, which then became the Tax Expenditure Fund (TEF) collection of the agency.

This year, however, the BOC has to step up its cash collections—or those revenues coming from the ports—after the Department of Budget and Management only released funding for rice imports from March to November.

The BOC’s TEF target was placed at P33.27 billion but the agency was able to collect only P21.98 billion for the year.

The BOC has a total cash collection from January to December 23 of P220.29 billion, while its goal was P240.02 billion.

Of the P48.94-billion shortfall, some P19.49 billion belongs to Port of Manila, P11.28 billion from TEF, P8.18 billion from Limay, P6.84 billion from MICP and P3.28 billion from Batangas.

P1-B Infra Projects for Cagayan de Oro's 2nd District (http://www.kagay-an.com/articles.php?key=816)

By Mike Banos

Cagayan de Oro would be getting nearly a billion pesos worth of infrastructure projects following Congress ratification of the proposed P1.54-trillion national budget for 2010 on Friday, December 18.


“The congressmen and senators from Mindanao have worked together to bring in almost a billion pesos worth of projects to Cagayan de Oro and Region 10,” Rodriguez told members of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club during a social occasion in a downtown restaurant Dec. 21.

The biggest appropriation was P500 million for the right-of-way (ROW) acquisition for the Mindanao


After its approval and endorsement by the Regional Development Council 10 during its Dec. 11 full council meeting, the project is next slated to be evaluated by the NEDA’s Investment Coordinating Council (ICC) technical committee and thence to the NEDA Board for final approval.


Rodriguez said he has also managed to have the second tranche P360-million allocated for first phase of the P1.4 billion Cagayan de Oro Coastal Super Highway, a 12-kilometer four-lane coastal road running from Puntod to Bugo. Included in this amount would be the addition of another lane in Julio Pacana street.


The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) already has an initial P120 million to reclaim land for the superhighway along Lapasan to Gusa.

Not the least, Rodriguez said the Mindanao bloc of Congressmen also included P86-million to add another lane to the 3-lane portion of Sayre Highway which rises in Carmen Hill along Bgy. Puerto, Cagayan de Oro going to Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.



A portion of the Sayre Highway in Bukidnon. (courtesy of Wikipedia)


Sayre Highway is the portion of the Philippine national highway which links Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City to Kabacan, North Cotabato, traversing Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and North Cotabato.


Originally named Route 3 , it was renamed in honor of Francis B. Sayre, the U.S. Philippine High Commissioner who spearheaded its construction. It extends southward through central Mindanao for a distance of about 100 miles, linking the northern and southern arms of Route 1 (Digos-Butuan Highway). This section of the Philippine national highway was constructed during the American occupation of the Philippines. Railway System (MRS) project to commence next year.

Earlier, Rodriguez said he would work to get some P100-million for the acquisition of the Cagayan de Oro side 30-meter ROW of the MRS next year on top of the P13.2 million restoration of the MRS project office operations budget headed by Undersecretary for Rails Guiling A. Mamondiong, concurrently MRS Special Action Officer. along Bgys. Puntod and Macabalan

BIR requires personnel to undergo examination
BY LAILANY P. GOMEZ REPORTER

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it would conduct a written comprehensive examination for all revenue officers, intelligence officers and special investigators who belong to the assessment group in a bid to improve their performance. In a memorandum, Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres said the examination would also support the agency’s professionalization and career development program.

He said the exam, which will be held on January 24, 2010, should serve as a means through which the BIR could improve its training and skills enhancement programs and determine the most effective assignments for its personnel.

The examination would be held simultaneously in the cities of Quezon, Cebu and Davao.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business-columns/8802-bir-requires-personnel-to-undergo-examination

Power capacity addition fo Luzon grid seen deferred to year 2014
By MYRNA M. VELASCO
January 1, 2010, 7:41pm

Greenfield capacity for Mindanao, in the same vein, is seen needed by 2014; while the completion of the three coal-fired power projects in Visayas will momentarily provide level of stability in the grid’s supply.

Aboitiz echoed that the two fastest ways to supply additional power would be through: privatization of the NPC plants; and the start of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the Visayas.

By the assumption of Philippine Independent Power Producers Association (PIPPA) president Ernesto Pantangco, “there is definitely no current supply shortage in Luzon and shortages in peak power is still expected in 2012-2013.”

Citing the year 2009 peak demand of 6,400 megawatts as reference, Pantangco indicated that Luzon grid will still have enough room to plan for greenfield or new power projects.

He proposed though that government must start working now on improving the business climate as well as on the implementation of policies so capital will flow as they are needed.

“What is required is political will to converge all of the government agencies’ approval processes and coordinate power investments with local government units,” Pantangco stressed.

In Mindanao’s case, the PIPPA chief executive noted that the problem is more on the reliability of transmission lines supplying power from Cagayan de Oro to the economically-burgeoning Davao and General Santos areas.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/236538/power-capacity-addition-luzon-grid-seen-deferred-year-2014

Mindanao growers ship more veggies to Visayas and Luzon (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/236521/mindanao-growers-ship-more-veggies-visayas-and-luzon)
January 1, 2010, 7:09pm

CAGAYAN DE ORO — Three growers’ associations have reported a 75 percent increase in their shipments of vegetables to Cebu and other markets in Visayas and Luzon.

The annual aggregate vegetable out-shipment by these groups increased from 2,700 metric tons (MT) in 2007 to 4,730 metric tons last year or about 90 MT weekly, according to USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

“The market has begun to recognize the capabilities of vegetable growers here and the fact that we can maintain production even during bad weather in other parts of the country,” said Jovic Santos, president of the Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Development Council (CEMVIDEC).

CEMVIDEC has more than 350 members cultivating 400 hectares. The Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (VICSMIN), on the one hand, has 800 members with a production area of more than 650 hectares.

The largest of the three groups is the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producers Association (NorMinVeggies) with 7,000 growers cultivating more than 3,000 hectares in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. It supplies more than 70 MT of assorted vegetables weekly to Luzon and Visayas.

Through the NorMin Vegetable Consolidation Center alone, the group ships at least 5 MT of assorted semi-temperate vegetables weekly to institutional buyers in Cebu.

“Buyers like these require large volumes of consistently high quality vegetables, and growers here have proven that they can deliver,” said Marcelino Remotigue, NorMin Veggies president.

On one hand, CEMVIDEC has shipped approximately 64 MT of assorted vegetables to Luzon from October to mid-November last year. It also hosted the National Vegetable Congress in General Santos City in July. Santos said that participants from other parts of the country were “surprised by how well-organized the growers were in different areas in Mindanao.”

“We expected about 500 participants, but about 700 to 800 attended, representing 11 regions. They visited our farms and could see we are practically at par with growers in Luzon in terms of quality and sustainability. It was a good marketing opportunity,” Santos added.

VICSMIN, on the other hand, has established a supply agreement with a Leyte wholesaler last year when it conducted its first market exploration tour of the province, with support from GEM, said Ray Acain, its president.

In fact its affiliate Davao del Norte Vegetable Industry Development Council (DNVIDC) weekly ships at least 10 MT of sayote and pinakbet veggies squash, eggplant, okra, bitter gourd and others to the province.

Even new groups such as the Zamboanga del Norte Hi-Green Farmers Association and the Caraga Vegetable Growers Association are expanding their production for the Visayas market. And vegetable producers are also supplying larger scale food manufacturers such as tuna canners based in General Santos City that need huge volumes of sweet pepper, carrots, and other vegetable ingredients.

However, their problem now, said Remotigue, is that they “need more farm-to-market roads and better access to financing for growers” and they “have to step up marketing.”

11 killed by NPA landmines in Mindanao―military.



Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 12:56:00 01/02/2010

Filed Under: News, Armed conflict, Military, Police


DAVAO CITY, Philippines—At least 11 people were killed and 30 others were wounded by landmines allegedly set by the New People's Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao last year, the military said on Saturday

Major General Carlos Holganza, chief of the military's 10th Infantry Division, said three policemen and a civilian were among those killed. The rest were soldiers and militiamen.

Of the 30 injuries, Holganza said, two were also civilians and the rest were soldiers, policemen and militiamen.

Holganza said the use of landmines has long been banned by the United Nation’s Geneva convention but the NPA continues to use them.

The NPA justified the use of landmines, saying the ones used by the rebels were manually triggered, not automatically set off when someone steps on them

Agusan Sur mine reported harrased by NPAs (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p091216.htm&no=67&r=&y=&mo=)

By PO3 Philip Amer Posas Mazo

Butuan City (16 December) -- Undetermined number of Communist Terrorists (CTs) believed to be members of Front Committee 21B North Eeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) harassed a small scale mining owned by Datu Calpito Egua located at Sitio Manhulayan. Barangay La Purisima, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on December 15, 2009 around 4:30 dawn. Firefight ensued for about two hours until the CTs withdrew.

More or less 60 CT members of FC-21B, FC 30 & FC-19A, NEMRC harassed a small scale mining owned by Datu Calpito Egua located at Sitio Manhulayan, Barangay La Purisima, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

One Felixberto Egua, 23 years old, married, a Mining Portal Guard and a resident of Barangay Sta Irene, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur sustained wounds at the different parts of his body due to splinters from a riffle grenade during the firefight between the CTs and the SCAA members.

Victim was rushed to San Miguel Hospital of Surigao del Sur for medical treatment but was transferred to Adela Sierra Ty Memorial Medical Center, Tandag, Surigao del Sur. The CTs also suffered undetermined number of injured members as evidence of blood stains left on the route of withdrawal.

Distribution of leaflets on crime prevention tips

As duty of the PNP to warn and inform the public against criminalities, PNP personnel of 143rd RMG led by PI Archie V Amores, Company Commanding Officer posted and distributed leaflets on Crime Prevention Tips at the Public Market, Schools and Public Integrated Terminal of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte on December 15, 2009 around 9:00 in the morning. The activity was conducted to warn the populace as many people will flock in towns during yuletide season. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

Kenney says Filipino vets’ claims deadline February 16
By MADEL R. SABATER
January 3, 2010, 6:28pm

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) earlier said it will be sending representatives to the regions so that veterans in the Visayas may go to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office in Cebu City on January 14 while those in Mindanao can proceed to the PVAO in Davao City on February 11.


story detail (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/236776/kenney-says-filipino-vets-claims-deadline-february-16)

Nearly P1b in infrastructure projects for Oro this year (http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?id=8645)
By MIKE BANOS - Correspondent Updated January 4, 2009
CAGAYAN de Oro would get nearly a billion pesos in infrastructure projects based on the P1.54-trillion national budget for this year.

“The congressmen and senators from Mindanao have worked together to bring in almost a billion pesos worth of projects to Cagayan de Oro and Region 10,” said a Cagayan de Oro congressman.

The biggest appropriation was P500 million for the right-of-way (ROW) acquisition for the Mindanao Railway System (MRS) project to commence next year.

Some P360 million was also allocated for first phase of the P1.4-billion Cagayan de Oro Coastal Super Highway, a 12-kilometer four-lane coastal road running from Puntod to Bugo. Included in this amount would be the addition of another lane in Julio Pacana street.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has an initial P120 million to reclaim land for the superhighway along Lapasan to Gusa, according to Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro’s 2nd District.

Not the least, the Mindanao bloc of congressmen also included P86 million to add another lane to the three-lane portion of Sayre Highway which rises in Carmen Hill along Puerto, Cagayan de Oro to Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Sayre Highway is the portion of the national highway which links Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City to Kabacan, North Cotabato, traversing Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and North Cotabato.

Davao gets award for anti-smoking efforts
2010/01/05


By Mai Gevera

Davao City (5 January) -- Davao City is cited as the only city to get the Global Smoke-Free Partnership Award along with other countries such as India, Guatemala, and Turkey.

Task Force on Anti-smoking chairperson Dr. Domilyn Villariz announced this achievement in yesterday's Kapihan sa Dabaw and called it as one of the fruits of the strict implementation of the anti-smoking ordinance in the city.

The task force recorded 1,193 violators in 2009, totaling to 9,244 apprehended violators since the start of the implementation in November 2002.

Villariz noted that the significant reduction of mortality due to lung cancer can be attributed to the strong will power of the anti-smoking task force. From 113 deaths in 2008, the Department of Health recorded only 38 deaths in 2009 and only 104 persons got sick due to lung problem.

The task force also strictly released permits for smoking rooms as a form of discouragement to people from smoking in public places like restaurants. Last year, only nine establishments were given approval to have their specific smoking rooms.

The TF chair also reminds establishments that the group is strict in monitoring the display of articles or the name of cigarette products as this is a form of advertisement.

"We are strict in sending notices to establishments caught displaying parasol, tissue holder, doors, and other articles with the name of a cigarette product." Around 25 establishments were already warned for this kind of violation. Most of those sent with notices had immediately complied with the order.

Villariz hopes that the next city mayor would still continue the support for anti-smoking efforts.

"We have already made a mark in the field of anti-smoking, we just hope that there's no turning back anymore even with a new administration," she said. (PIA XI) [top]

PIA News (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=R11&y=10&mo=01&fi=p100105.htm&no=05)

BOC-Davao exceeds target by P800-M
Home » Sun.Star Davao » Business
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
By Carlo P. Mallo


THE Bureau of Customs at the Port of Davao exceeded its target by more than P800 million in 2009 even as its central office failed to meet its target on the national level.

Surpassing its target of P2.086 billion as early as October 2009, it comes as no surprise that the BOC-Port of Davao nearly raked in another billion on top of its target.

As of December 15, the BOC Port of Davao already collected revenues amounting to P2.781 billion. The Port of Davao projects an excess collection of P841.7 million for 2009.

For the first 15 days of December, the Port of Davao already registered a P100 million surplus on top of its target for the month.

However, on the national level, the BOC recorded a collection shortfall of P50 billion at the end of 2009.

Preliminary records from the bureau revealed that it only collected P15.896 billion as against the target of P16.942 for the last month of the year.

Despite this, five ports posted a surplus in their target collection for the month of December, aside from the Port of Davao.

The Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Port of Batangas have posted a surplus of P498 million and P441 million, respectively, while the ports of Cebu, Subic, and Iloilo likewise exceeded its target.

On the other hand, the cash collection as of December 23 is higher than the P13.891 billion the bureau managed to get during the same period in 2008.

It also brought the total collection during the year to P220.295 billion, which was short to meet its supposed target of P269.234 billion.

For the 12-month period, it was the Port of Manila (POM) that led in the biggest shortfall with 33.6 percent or P19.492 billion, accounting for nearly half of the entire BOC deficit for the period.

Port of Limay posted a shortfall of P8.118 billion after collecting only P19.701 billion as against its target of P27.819 billion, while eight more ports likewise incurred a deficit.

The ports that failed to meet its target collection in 2009 are San Fernando, MICP, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Tacloban, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Batangas, and Subic

Home » Sun.Star Davao » Business
Arroyo launches P565-M agri projects in Davao
Tuesday, January 5, 2010


PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived in Davao City Tuesday morning to launch multi-million projects in the city that will boost economic growth in Davao Region.

The two projects, both focused on agriculture, had a combined worth of P565 million.


The P500 million Saba Banana Integrated Development program, which is spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will process fresh Cardava bananas into microwaveable chips, fries, and spring rolls targeted for both domestic and international markets.

Operated by Sagrex Food Incorporated, the company that pioneered microwaveable banana products, the project aims to target over 300 people who will directly benefit from the program.

Another project is the P65 poultry-raising project of Maharlika Agro-Venture Corporation and North Star Asia Holdings Corporation, which seeks to attract investments from overseas Filipino workers.

Arroyo arrived at 10 a.m. and left shortly before noon. She was accompanied by Trade Secretary Peter Favila and Labor Secretary Maraianito Roque.

During the program, the President also handed out 19 Kabuhayan starter kit certificates for the Saba program to nine indigenous farmers and 10 sugar workers, 16 training certificates to the participants of the Trade Department's Training to Enhance Capacities in Harnessing Innovative Entrepreneurs.

Micro Financing Checks were also awarded by the President to micro, small, and medium enterprises. (CPM)

Region 10 Emerging as Mindanao’s Dominant Regional Economy
Posted on January 26, 2010 by damarre

http://cagayandeorodev.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/clockwork6x8-767079.jpg?w=468&h=351



CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Since Iligan City and Lanao del Norte were integrated back into Northern Mindanao (Region 10) in 2002, the resulting region has become Mindanao’s biggest economy. Recent years indicate it is now pulling away to attain a position of dominance among the island’s regional economies.

The economic accounts of the island’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) show that before the realignment of regions in 2002, Region 10 trailed the Davao Region (Region 11) in GRDP. However, since Iligan and Lanao del Norte rejoined Region 10 and some parts of the Davao region were re-aligned to the SOCCSKARGEN region, Davao has trailed Region 10 in current and adjusted GRDP.

SOCCSKARGEN is an acronym that stands for the region’s four provinces and one of its cities – South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City – and its regional center is Koronadal City in South Cotabato.

The gap between the two region’s GRDPs in current prices wavered from P9.8-billion (B) in 2003, dropping to P7.8-B in 2005 before accelerating to P25.1-billion by 2008. However, when the differences are adjusted for 1985 constant prices (to negate the effects of inflation on prices), the figures show that the gap between Regions 10 and 11 has been exponentially increasing from P2.3-B in 2003 to P4.9-B in 2006 and further to 8.7-B in 2008.

Latest available data generated by the Economic and Social Statistics Office of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) from primary and secondary data sources gathered from various data producers in the country shows Region 10 with a 2008 GRDP of P362.4-billion vs. P337.3-B for Region 11 (based on current prices) or P71.7 billion vs. P62.99 billion based on 1985 constant prices, said Linnito Pascual, officer-in-charge and regional division head of the NSCB-10 office.

The emergence of Region 10 as Mindanao’s largest economy has been further but stressed when it became the fastest growing economy in the country in 2008, outperforming even the National Capital Region and the Philippine economy as a whole, official estimates released by the NSCB show.
Figures presented by NSCB-10 show Region 10 grew faster than the national average of 3.8 percent and outstripped all regions from all over the country in terms of growth, although its growth rate was a deceleration from the 7.7 percent it attained as the country’s third fastest growing regional economy in 2007.

The annual estimates for regional economies showed Region 10 growing by 5.3 percent in 2008, thanks to the robust performance of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry (AFF) sector. From 6.3 percent in 2007, AFF accelerated to 10.7 percent in 2008, making up for the so-so performance of the service and industrial sectors.

“The service sector remains the biggest contributor to the region’s economy at 38.5% despite its growth decelerating to 2.3 percent from 8.1% in 2007,” said Pascual. “The industry sector, which accounted for 30.3 percent of the region’s economy, posted a 4.2% growth in 2008, or 4.4 percentage points short of the 8.6% growth recorded in 2007.”

On top of this, Northern Mindanao also sustained its status as Mindanao’s biggest regional economy, increasing its share of the island’s economy from 27.9 percent in 2007 to 28.3 percent in 2008. It also accounted for the biggest share of the sectoral pies with 30.6 percent of service, 30.3 percent for industry and 24.5 percent for AFF.Not the least, Region 10 also sustained its growth in per capita GRDP, growing by 3.2 percent in 2008, although this was a slight decrease from its 5.5 percent growth in 2007. It was the only region in Mindanao to record a per capita GRDP rate above the national average, one of only three regional economies to do so in 2008, and ranked third among all regions nationwide.

An analysis of the economic accounts of Mindanao’s two biggest regions reveals similarities as well as contrasts. Although the regional capitals of both regions account for the bulk of the region’s GRDP, there are significant differences in the way the two economies are structured. The bulk of Davao Region’s GRDP comes from the Service Sector based in Davao City and agriculture based both in DC and its surrounding provinces.

On the other hand, Region 10 has a more diversified regional economy with its 2008 GRDP almost evenly distributed among the Service Sector (38.48%), Industry (30.31%) and Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (31.21%) sectors.

Champions of Region 10 in the private and public sectors have often cited the resiliency of the regional economy made possible by this sectoral profile. Because of the even distribution of its GRDP among three sectors, the regional economy has managed to maintain a steady growth rate despite fluctuations in the national and global economy.

This distribution and diversity carries over to the geographical spread of the various sectors. Region 10’s agriculture is concentrated in Bukidnon (pineapple, sugar cane, banana, corn) and Lanao del Norte (rice, coconut) while its industries are mainly found in Misamis Oriental (Phividec Industrial Estate) and Iligan City.

Services which consist mainly of trade (shopping malls), finance (banks), dwellings and real estate (subdivision and commercial business centers), private (BPOs, hotels, schools) and government services (regional government offices) are found mostly in Cagayan de Oro which remains the region’s administrative and trading capital and center of learning and Camiguin, the region’s top tourism destination.
“This well-defined positioning of the provinces also contributes to the complementation of the economic contribution of the various sectors,” noted Eliza Pabillore, Misamis Oriental provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry.

However, the geographical distribution of Region 10’s industrial sectors does not necessarily guarantee it immunity from the effects of external influences which may affect one or more of its industrial sectors. That’s because of the way with which these sectors have become vertically and horizontally integrated over the years, leading to varying degrees of interdependence and autonomy.

For instance, when the National Steel Corporation in Iligan City shut down in November 1999, the service sector in Cagayan de Oro also suffered a downturn as machine shops, transport firms, banks, and other downstream industries serving the giant steel firm were forced to cut down or close shop.

Similarly, many agricultural products produced in Bukidnon are processed in Cagayan de Oro or the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental before they are shipped out abroad or to markets in the Luzon or the Visayas. Changes which adversely affect a specific link in this supply chain would inevitably have repercussions downstream and upstream of the affected portion.

Nevertheless, despite the slowing down of the national and global economies during the past few years, Region 10 continues its steady growth and emergence as Mindanao’s dominant regional economy. (Contributed by Mike Banos)

from http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com

Mga SSC CdeO peepz, @BarPro of Davao and yours truly is starting to build a unified SSC Mindanao. I am sure each one of us wants peace. Please support us with our cause. Be one of us.

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex - pero... hmmm

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao

1. BarPa


I hope madayun ni mga Guys...Nindot jud ni bah..imagine, maski asa ta ad2 sa mindanao, naa tay friends/brothers from SSC? Perte jud ni ang fellowship..sa mga Party People,statesman, concerned citizens ug sa mga walay pakialam...

Maayong Gabii MINDANAO! Yours truly and @BarPa of Davao City have started our campaign of creating SSC MINDANAO. The primary aim of this campaign is to build camaraderie, harmony, and unify all members of Skyscrapercity Mindanao which includes all cities, provinces, and region. I am sure many of you are aware of CVCs especially between CdeO and Davao. We want to end this and transform skyscrapercity as a venue for brotherhood. Will this really work? As long as we have the support of the majority then we will consider this campaign a success. We will then have rules where everybody's voice will be heard. Let us no longer tolerate conflicts. How? Do not reinforce the negative comment posted by one member. Instead, immediately remind him to be tact and calm. Let us immediately kill the fire if we can sense that it's already there.

Please support us by putting your city and your name in the list. To all those who have already supported this campaign DAGHANG SALAMAT. To all those who have shown their interest, we truly appreciate your kind gesture. Please support this campaign by putting your city and your name in the list. Thank you and GOD bless us all.

This is the list of our supporters as of January 27, 2010 (20:28).

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao

1. BarPa

^^ why is only BarPa on the list? edit it again ;)

^^^ No prob bai... :)

This is the list of our supporters as of January 27, 2010 (21:41).

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao

1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Abskess

^^^ No prob bai... :)

This is the list of our supporters as of January 27, 2010 (21:41).

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao

1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Abskess


really appreciate the effort MIKE!!

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao

1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao

1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall


AS OUR Org's motto: CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE!!!

PIA Press Release
2010/01/28

Lawmakers ratify MinDA bill

Manila (28 January) -- Lawmakers ratified Tuesday the reconciled version of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Bill which seeks to accelerate growth in Mindanao by setting up a permanent development agency for the entire island.

The bill, which was certified as urgent by President Gloria Macapagal-Arryo was approved by the joint panel of the Senate and House representatives in a bicameral committee meeting last week.

The legislation seeks to strengthen and rename the existing Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), which was formed in March 1992 through Executive Order 512 issued by the late President Corazon C. Aquino.

Both Houses have consolidated Senate Bill 3496 and House Bill 6958 and adopted MinDA bill as the final version in a bicameral meeting held at the Senate last 19 January.

The bicameral meeting was chaired by Senator Edgardo Angara and Cong. Felix Alfelor of Bicol, chairman of the House Committee on Government enterprises.

The meeting was also attended by conferees Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Cong. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro, Cong. Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin, and Cong. Simeon Datumanong of Maguindanao.

"This is truly a landmark measure that will hopefully bring peace and development in Mindanao which has been lagging behind in terms of economic growth and human development in spite of its great contribution to the national economy," said Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author of the bill and one of the key proponents who steered the passage of SB 3496 at the Senate.

The Senate earlier approved SB 3496 last December 15 2009 while Congress approved HB 6958 last 16 November 2009.

"The time for lip service to Mindanao should end and the time for affirmative action for Mindanao has to begin," said Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, noting that the ratification of the bill is a strong recognition of both houses on the long-felt need of Mindanao to be given the resources and powers to exert socio-economic development.

In Congress, the MinDA bill is principally authored by Deputy House Speaker Simeon Datumanong and Sultan Kudarat Representative Datu Pax Mangudadatu and co-authored by 37 congressmen from the Mindanao bloc.

Meanwhile, MEDA Bill sponsors at the Senate include Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Edgardo Angara, Manny Villar, Richard Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada, Ramon Revilla, Loren Legarda and Mar Roxas.

The MinDA Bill has been pushed in view of the need for Mindanao to catch up with the mainstream national development. Previous advocacies for the creation of the first Mindanao Development Authority (MDA) dates back to 1960.

If enacted, MinDA will be established "to address the need for a coordinative and integrative approach for the formulation and implementation of various inter-regional and/or Mindanao-wide development plans, programs and projects."

Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), expressed hope that the bill will be signed into law the soonest, noting that the enactment of MinDA will be President Arroyo's legacy to Mindanao who enunciated earlier in her presidency that "we cannot attain our full national development without coming to terms with the problems in Mindanao."

"The ratification of the bill is indeed a clear manifestation of the commitment of the Senate and Congress to develop Mindanao and push the Mindanao agenda onto the national development priorities," said Leyretana.

The 8th Congress ratified the MEDA bill in 1991, but this was vetoed by Mrs. Aquino, who instead issued Executive Order 512 forming MEDCo, described as a mere ad hoc coordinating agency.

Leyretana said about 18 ad hoc bodies had been overseeing Mindanao development through the years, meaning they were replaced, absorbed by other agencies, or abolished altogether with a change in national leadership.

Various stakeholders from the business, religious, academe, youth sectors as well as industry leaders in Mindanao have long been rallying a strong call for a permanent mechanism that would ensure a strong voice for Mindanao in the national agenda.

These include the Mindanao Business Council, Bishops-Ulama Conference, League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP), Regional Development Councils of Caraga, IX and XII, Mindanao Studies Consortium Inc., Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD), SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc (SFFAI), Southern Philippine Deep Sea Fishing Association (SoPhil), Ulama League of the Philippines-Region XI; Sarangani-General Santos Local CIQS Coordinating Council (LQCC) among others. (MEDCO) [top]

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao

1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall

SSC Mindanao supporter from Zamboanga

1. zoroethgenre_003

As of January 28, 2010 (third day of the campaign)


SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy


SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin

As of January 28, 2010 (third day of the campaign)


SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy


SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin

NIce one....daghan na!

GO GO GO!

As of January 28, 2010 (third day of the campaign)


SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. kira_45

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy


SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin

dili pwede ala ako name dri..hehehe..anyay,goodluck sa atong tanan...MABUHAY SSC MINDANAO nba tawag ani..

as of 10:07pm

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy


SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin

as of 10:07pm

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy


SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin

^^ It should have my name too. I'm from Gensan by the way.. :lol::lol: :D

as of 10:07pm

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy


SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin

^^ako din.. sali nyo ako... taga gensan din me...:banana::banana:

^^ako din.. sali nyo ako... taga gensan din me...:banana::banana:

^^Me join din from Zamboanga Foruner....count me in guys....one MINDANAO:banana:

bros kindly copy and paste the list and put in your name under corresponding cities... thanks :)

Ako nalang tom! Salamat sa inyong suporta! Nagkadaghan na gyud!

January 29, 2010 as of 9:57PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz

^^ i say we must make a group of this...para mas permanent...

January 29, 2010 as of 9:57PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz




^^count me in for zambo

nice... one mindanao... :)

AYOS Mindanaoans!!!
count me on that group!
:cheers1:

^^count me in for zambo

AYOS Mindanaoans!!!
count me on that group!
:cheers1:


Daghang salamat sa inyong suporta! You're already counted! :)

January 30, 2010 as of 9:05PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa ang akong tiil


SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady

January 30, 2010 as of 9:10PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university


SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady

I am truly amazed with the number of supporters of SSC Mindanao campaign. Wow! With this number, siguro naman successful na ang campaign. Daghang salamat sa inyong tanan! I already started sending private messages to all supporters. Please bear with me if you haven't received my PM yet. Daghang salamat! We owe to you all the success of this campaign!

January 30, 2010 as of 9:50PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university


SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady

^^ i say we must make a group of this...para mas permanent...

Yep, this will be included in our future activities. Discussion of guidelines and our group's name as well. We might have our SAMAHAN thread. :)

Yep, this will be included in our future activities. Discussion of guidelines and our group's name as well. We might have our SAMAHAN thread. :)

^^yey,, ganahan ko ani.. :banana::banana:

Go Go Go! We are looking forward for this to materialize! :banana:

January 30, 2010 as of 9:50PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. King City

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university


SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady



That's all for today. Daghang salamat!

......................

:okay:

January 31, 2010 as of 8:50PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. KingCity

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona
3. avensis92

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university


SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady

January 31, 2010 as of 8:50PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex
10. cyrusal

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. KingCity

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona
3. avensis92

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university


SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady

February 1, 2010 as of 12:56AM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex
10. cyrusal

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. KingCity

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy
2. g0Rs

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona
3. avensis92

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady

aw! join ta ani! go mindanao republic! aw hehehe! go mindanao group!

Pwede rin maging organization 'to SOON! SANA! wat do you think guyz?

February 1, 2010 as of 12:56AM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex
10. cyrusal

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. KingCity

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy
2. g0Rs

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona
3. avensis92

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady



count me in! :okay:

Pwede rin maging organization 'to SOON! SANA! wat do you think guyz?

^^Sana nga para mas masaya One Mindanao na tlga....Kudos to the one who initiates it

aw! join ta ani! go mindanao republic! aw hehehe! go mindanao group!

Hi rodincouch? You're already in. Medyo confused lang ko kung asa na city gyud ka na belong? As of now, I placed your name under Davao City. Just edit it lang.

count me in! :okay:

You're in! Daghang salamat! :)

February 1, 2010 as of 4:43 PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex
10. cyrusal

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. KingCity
9. rodincouch

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy
2. g0Rs

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona
3. avensis92

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady
5. marlowe_cano

Yours truly and @BarPa of Davao are still thinking for our guideline. We will post it here as soon as we're done with it. All of us will edit the guideline. Everybody is encouraged to participate.

Starting today, you can already post your suggestion for the OFFICIAL GROUP NAME of Skyscrapercity Mindanao. The best name will be selected through your votes. But voting will start as soon as we have the list of names. Padayon sa pag uswag Mindanao! :)

http://www.ormocanon.org/assets/Map_mindanao1.jpg

One Mindanao Tayo.....Go....

I just want to remind everybody that we're already accepting suggestions for our group name. :)

^^ Batang Mindanao (BM).

February 1, 2010 as of 4:43 PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex
10. cyrusal

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. KingCity
9. rodincouch
10. kira_45

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy
2. g0Rs

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona
3. avensis92

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady
5. marlowe_cano


WoW!!!!hehehehehe!!!!NIce one Mike...Nawala lng ko kdali, tpos ingani nah?:banana::banana:

I just want to remind everybody that we're already accepting suggestions for our group name. :)

- New Mindanao Movement
- Mindanao Vision
- Mindanao Union :D

^^maybe... United Mindanao Forumers Association... :D

^^ Batang Mindanao (BM).

Batang Mindanao has been known to be a group of criminals. Okay kaya 'to?

Partial List of Suggested Group Name of SSC Mindanao Chapter

1. Batang Mindanao
2. New Mindanao Movement
3. Mindanao Union
4. United Mindanao Forumers Association

Count me in...

February 1, 2010 as of 4:43 PM

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex
10. cyrusal
11. boju2

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. KingCity
9. rodincouch

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy
2. g0Rs

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona
3. avensis92

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady
5. marlowe_cano

me too...

Posted on 09:30 PM, February 03, 2010
Henry J. Schumacher
Business World

Transmission line upgrade under way in Mindanao regions

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A new sub-station in Maramag, Bukidnon was energized yesterday as part of the Maramag-Bunawan (Davao City) backbone transmission upgrade project of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

Project manager Gualberto L. Geonzon said in an interview that NGCP has also been increasing the capacity of lines linking Northern Mindanao and Davao Region to 230 kilovolts from the current 138kV.


The boosting of the Maramag-Bunawan line is the third phase in the backbone transmission project.

Phases I and II, which cover the lines from Abaga in Lanao del Norte to Maramag in Bukidnon, are in the pre-construction stage.

The entire line will run from Iligan City in Lanao del Norte to Bunawan District in Davao City.

The entire project has been targeted for completion this June. -- LGD

PIA Press Release
2010/02/03

15th Inter-Agency Meeting on Mindanao Super Region to convene in Puerto Princesa City


Puerto Princesa City (3 February) -- The Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) will convene tomorrow the 15th Inter-Agency Meeting on the Mindanao Super Region.


The inter-agency meeting held every two months serves as an avenue for the discussion of the status of Mindanao super region projects and presentation of implementation issues and concerns.

The multi-billion infrastructure support to Mindanao is composed of thirty-six (36) projects on major roads and bridges, seaports, airports, irrigation, power and electrification and hospitals in which 11 are already completed including the Magsaysay Bridge in Butuan, Photovoltaic Power Plant in Cagayan de Oro City, and the 210 megawatts Clean Coal-fired power plant in Phividec, Misamis Oriental among others.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo unveiled the concept of the "super regions" in her 2006 State of the Nation Address (SONA), noting the importance of grouping selected regions and provinces by their economic strengths to stimulate economic growth and development.

The President is optimistic that by enhancing the competitive advantage of the super regions which are North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines, Agribusiness Mindanao and Cyber Services Corridor, the country will be able to achieve unprecedented economic growth and boost national development.

MEDCO serves as the oversight agency in the implementation of the Mindanao Super Region projects.

Expected to attend the meeting are DPWH Secretary Victor A. Domingo and other representatives from Dept. of Budget and Management, Dept. of Agriculture, NEDA, Dept. of Transpsortation and Communications, Dept. of Health, Phil. Ports Authority, Dept. of Energy, National Irrigation Administration, Dept. of Agraian Reform, and the Presidential Management Staff. (PIA) [top]

Partial List of Suggested Group Name of SSC Mindanao Chapter

1. Batang Mindanao
2. New Mindanao Movement
3. Mindanao Union
4. United Mindanao Forumers Association

how about Mindanao Forumers' Propagation Center?

Or Cyber Mindanao Forumers' Association

better yet how about One Mindanao Forumer's Group (OMFG)

how about BUENAS MINDANAO

me too...

Asa man ka na city zukichiro so that we can include you na in the list.

February 4, 2010 as of 10 PM, one member added (Boju)

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective
5. Cribs88
6.Long Mane
7. mottymot_007
8.naz_rox2005
9. donnex
10. cyrusal
11. boju

SSC Mindanao supporters from Butuan
1. Bob-bxu
2. regjeex
3. Franz-bxu
4. msbunny-bxu
5. Lemzy
6. Dangas
7. Jsl-bxu
8. Jameslab
9. Bxu-GCP
10. gregbelar
11. johnbusaducay
12. anglelC-bxu

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao
1. BarPa
2. Noize_320
3. Xzibit31 aka capo di tutti capi
4. juniordiscovery
5. Abskess
6. Rall
7. Bagani
8. KingCity
9. rodincouch

SSC Mindanao supporters from General Santos
1. Fahdingding
2. nj_than
3. earlat

SSC Mindanao supporters from Iligan City
1. Iliganon boy
2. g0Rs

SSC Mindanao supporters from Pagadian
1. Qwert_guy
2. hans_leona
3. avensis92

SSC Mindanao supporters from Surigao
1. Charlo_Paredes
2. The_Villager

SSC Mindanao supporters from Tagum City
1. Dakpa_ang_akong_tiil

SSC Mindanao supporters from Western Visayas
1. Duke_university

SSC Mindanao supporters from Zamboanga
1. zoroethgenre_003
2. dashalvin
3. buenos-Diaz
4. windlady
5. marlowe_cano
_________________

Partial List of Suggested Group Name of SSC Mindanao Chapter

1. Batang Mindanao
2. New Mindanao Movement
3. Mindanao Union
4. United Mindanao Forumers Association
5. Mindanao Forumers' Propagation Center
6. Cyber Mindanao Forumers' Association
7. One Mindanao Forumer's Group (OMFG)
8. BUENAS MINDANAO

Partial List of Suggested Group Name of SSC Mindanao Chapter

1. Batang Mindanao
2. New Mindanao Movement
3. Mindanao Union
4. United Mindanao Forumers Association
5. Mindanao Forumers' Propagation Center
6. Cyber Mindanao Forumers' Association
7. One Mindanao Forumer's Group (OMFG)
8. BUENAS MINDANAO

pwde rin ata eto.... EL Liga Forumer's de Minadanao

Partial List of Suggested Group Name of SSC Mindanao Chapter

1. Batang Mindanao
2. New Mindanao Movement
3. Mindanao Union
4. United Mindanao Forumers Association
5. Mindanao Forumers' Propagation Center
6. Cyber Mindanao Forumers' Association
7. One Mindanao Forumer's Group (OMFG)
8. BUENAS MINDANAO


Pwede Batang Mindanao 29 or BM 29? LOL

Anyway, go Mike!

Partial List of Suggested Group Name of SSC Mindanao Chapter

1. Batang Mindanao
2. New Mindanao Movement
3. Mindanao Union
4. United Mindanao Forumers Association
5. Mindanao Forumers' Propagation Center
6. Cyber Mindanao Forumers' Association
7. One Mindanao Forumer's Group (OMFG)
8. BUENAS MINDANAO

How about SSC ONE MINDANAO?:yes:

How about SSC ONE MINDANAO?:yes:

^^nice name ONE Mindanao:cheers:

Partial List of Suggested Group Name of SSC Mindanao Chapter

1. Batang Mindanao
2. New Mindanao Movement
3. Mindanao Union
4. United Mindanao Forumers Association
5. Mindanao Forumers' Propagation Center
6. Cyber Mindanao Forumers' Association
7. One Mindanao Forumer's Group (OMFG)
8. BUENAS MINDANAO
9. EL Liga Forumer's de Mindanao
10. SSC One Mindanao
11. SSC One MindaNOW

Ako ang nag suggest anang SSC One MindaNOW. :)

^^ kelan ang deadline sa name contest? (para gawing poll ito...)

^^^ I will talk to @BarPa. Ikaw @Noize_320, when do you think is the best date for the deadline? SSC Mindanao will count all your suggestions. IMO okay na siguro na we will have the deadline on February 14 so that by Feb 15 we will have the poll na. What do you think?

^^^ I will talk to @BarPa. Ikaw @Noize_320, when do you think is the best date for the deadline? SSC Mindanao will count all your suggestions. IMO okay na siguro na we will have the deadline on February 14 so that by Feb 15 we will have the poll na. What do you think?

sounds good...or i-limit natin ang number of names to choose from...not sure still :banana:

^^^Yep, I have those in mind too. Let's think muna. :)

I like #7

Additional Power Plants (http://themindanaocurrent.blogspot.com/2010/02/additional-power-plants.html)

“Build additional power plants, use renewable fuel”


Mindanaonon solon Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, who is a member of the 14th Congress' Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC)-Oversight Committee and Committee on Energy, said the looming power crisis in Mindanao can be addressed by building additional power plants.

This is in response to a projection of Mindanao Business Council chair Vicente Lao, in a two-day power summit in Cagayan de Oro City, that there would be a power crisis in Mindanao five years from now. Lao said that this crisis will subsequently affect Mindanao economy.

"Clearly, a power crisis looms in the south," Lao told power sector leaders, utilities, distributors and key industry players who attended the summit.

For his part, Guingona proposed, during a JCPC meeting recently, for national government to not only privatize the power industry but also to aggressively consider building additional power plants.

"While we are privatizing power plants that are already producing, national government should put up more power plants. This is a stop gap measure to arrest another crisis in the power sector," he said.

Guingona proposed that to further maximize the building of power plants, he added that government should consider investing in using biomass to fuel these plants.
"Aside from it (biomass) being a renewable and eco-friendly fuel to the power plants, it would also mean an additional income for our farmers in countrysides," Guingona opined.

May I suggest.

I Heart MINDANAO :d

Power to the Masa! Panalunin natin ang karapat-dapat!


http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz52/fmdear/1-65.jpg

Umaariba talaga ang yaman ni Paul Jake

Born to the family who owns International Pharmaceutical Inc.

Paul Jake had it going so good in life

He doesn’t need to win this one

Yeah, yeah – sasabihin nyong all is fair in love and war

And that Paul Jake fought the good fight

Fine!

But does he need this?

Hindi.

Ibigay natin sa nararapat manalo

Isa kina Melai, Jason, Johan at Tibo ang dapat na maging Big Winner

Sila ang mas nangangailangan

At hindi ang mayamang si Paul Jake

If Paul Jake losses, his life will go on

He’ll just go on a vacation at the Bahamas, ayos na!

Kaya ngayon, nananawagan ako sa kapwa kong masa

Power to the masa!

Botohin natin ang karapat-dapat

Melai.

Jason.

Johan.

Tibo

I leave it up to you.

But I am voting for Melai.

I am going to type

BBS MELAI

And I’m going to send it to 231

Kasi Smart user ako.

Otherwise sa 2331 ko isi-send.

Inuulit ko – Paul Jake doesn’t need this win.

Yun lang.[/QUOTE]