^^ wala koy gi sulti oi ako lang human na ang war peace naman diri :D

^^ something fishy gyud... mashadong insulting....

^^ ummm something fishy going on

matud pa ni waway.. "mga talawan wala Peace2x war ta permi" lol.. mag char2x bullets pud ko oi, sya ra diay kabalo..

^^ something fishy gyud... mashadong insulting....

what ??? :D something fishy means theres something's brewing or going on ;) peace bro

basi pasabot niya naay nanimahong isda :P hehe

char char bang bang :D

tanawon lang nato in years to come.... maypa mananom ko ug manga dri sa akong hacienda madato pa ko pohon....

what ??? :D something fishy means theres something's brewing or going on ;) peace bro

tanawon lang nato in years to come.... maypa mananom ko ug manga dri sa akong hacienda madato pa ko pohon....

na man diay kay hinanakit bro unya char char lang ka didto sa davao ;)

di ko oi, palayason palang ko did2 , lol

na man diay kay hinanakit bro unya char char lang ka didto sa davao ;)

kamo, inyo gyud ng asaron si ph_matrix, hala hugs na.

^^ picture sa, kay di ko makig hug ug di gwapa or gwapo....

P373-M DILG-implemented infra projects ongoing in Mindanao


Cagayan de Oro City (1 September) -- As part of the national government's thrust to increase business confidence and economic opportunities in Mindanao, infrastructure facilities worth over P372.815 million are now undergoing construction in several cities and municipalities in the island.

These infrastructures facilities are being constructed under the Mindanao Basic Urban Services Sector Project (MBUSSP), a project implemented by the DILG through the Office of Project Development Services (OPDS) headed by Director Paisal O. Abutazil.

The MBUSSP is a joint project of the DILG, Land Bank of the Philippines, the Asian Development Bank and the Nordic Development Fund.

The infra projects and cost of construction covered by the MBUSSP are: Municipal Building in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, a two-story building worth P23 M; Sports Complex in Tangub City (Misamis Occidental), a 15,000 to 20,000 sitting capacity grandstand that also serves as quarters of athletes – P108 M; Municipal Gymnasium in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte–P19.5 M; New Public Market in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur – P20.186 M; another Municipal Gymnasium in Pilar, Surigao del Norte – P19.372 M; Municipal Water Supply System in Tago, Surigao del Sur – P26.757 M; and a Public Market in Ozamiz City worth P156 M.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, in a press statement, said the different structures undergoing construction are projected to boost the economic development in the region. "The MBUSSP has been successful in the region that the demand for the project in other LGUs of the country has increased. In fact, we are now expanding the project coverage to include LGUs in Luzon and Visayas."

Puno said late last year, three MBUSSP sub-projects were completed and turned over to LGUs, namely: the transport terminal in Kidapawan City worth P70.366 M; two Public Markets in Datu Odin Sinsuat Lugait, Maguindanao and in Mati, Davao, at the cost of P65.370M and P88.436 M respectively.

Meanwhile, for the first quarter of 2007, two more projects were also completed, namely: a P48.337 M Transport Terminal in Panabo City; a P24.442 M Public Market in Makilala, North Cotabato. These projects are now benefiting the residents of these communities.

In region 10, the new Municipal Hall (P33 M) in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte was also completed and inaugurated last year. In 2005, the Naawan, Misamis Oriental Water Supply System (P16 M) was completed and since been operational.

On August 31, 2007, the new municipal hall building in Jasaan will be inaugurated by DILG-MBUSSP and the local government of Jasaan. Guest of Honor is the DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero.

During her State-of-the-Nation Address, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has vowed to spread development away from an inequitable concentration in Metro Manila to the countryside through the Super Regions.

Now, airports, new bridges and roads have been opened in the region that connect provinces and cities to spur growth in the countryside, and build wealth in communities. (DILG-10)

Philippine Information Agency (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p070901.htm&no=38)

NCCC Mall Cinemas..the best in the island :D

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g261/waway625/Ssc125.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g261/waway625/Ssc123-1.jpg

^^ limpyo :D

space odyssey kaayo ang dating ...

;15134157']NCCC Mall Cinemas..the best in the island :D

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g261/waway625/Ssc125.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g261/waway625/Ssc123-1.jpg

Monday, September 03, 2007


INFRASTRUCTURE facilities worth over P372.815 million are now undergoing construction in several cities and municipalities in the island of Mindanao.

In their press statement, the regional Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) in Northern Mindanao said these infrastructures facilities are being constructed under the Mindanao Basic Urban Services Sector Project (MBUSSP), a project implemented by the DILG through the Office of Project Development Services (OPDS) headed by Director Paisal O. Abutazil.

Online memorial for Cebu's Nenita "Inday Nita" Daluz. Post testimonials here.

Updates on the Kagay-an Festival 2007

The MBUSSP is a joint project of the DILG, Land Bank of the Philippines, the Asian Development Bank, and the Nordic Development Fund.

The infra projects and cost of construction covered by the MBUSSP are: Municipal Building in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental , a two-story building worth P23 M; Sports Complex in Tangub City (Misamis Occidental), a 15,000 to 20,000 sitting capacity grandstand that also serves as quarters of athletes - P108 million;

Municipal Gymnasium in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte-P19.5 million; New Public Market in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur - P20.186 million; another Municipal Gymnasium in Pilar, Surigao del Norte - P19.372 M; Municipal Water Supply System in Tago, Surigao del Sur - P26.757 million; and a Public Market in Ozamiz City worth P156 million.

Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, in a press statement, said the different structures undergoing construction are projected to boost the economic development in the region.

"The MBUSSP has been successful in the region that the demand for the project in other LGUs of the country has increased. In fact, we are now expanding the project coverage to include LGUs in Luzon and Visayas."

Puno said late last year, three MBUSSP sub-projects were completed and turned over to LGUs, namely: the transport terminal in Kidapawan City worth P70.366 M; two Public Markets in Datu Odin Sinsuat Lugait, Maguindanao and in Mati, Davao, at the cost of P65.370M and P88.436 M respectively.

Meanwhile, for the first quarter of 2007, two more projects were also completed, namely: a P48.337 milion Transport Terminal in Panabo City; a P24.442 M Public Market in Makilala, North Cotabato. These projects are now benefiting the residents of these communities.

In region 10, the new Municipal Hall (P33 M) in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte was also completed and inaugurated last year.

In 2005, the Naawan, Misamis Oriental Water Supply System (P16 M) was completed and since been operational.

Last Friday, the new municipal hall building in Jasaan was inaugurated by DILG-MBUSSP and the local government of Jasaan.

Guest of Honor is the DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero.

Airports, new bridges and roads have been opened in the region that connect provinces and cities to spur growth in the countryside, and build wealth in communities. :cheers:

Mindanao medical institutions buck hospital holiday

DAVAO CITY — Private hospitals in Mindanao will not join members of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) in its threat to declare a "hospital holiday" this month.

Representatives of private hospitals yesterday said they have not changed their original position in May bucking plans of hospital administrators in the National Capital Region for a limited suspension of operations.

Dr. Dominador Cabrera, Davao Doctors Hospital president, said although the Patient Detention law (Republic Act 9437) has flaws, holding protest actions and sacrificing the interest of patients will not solve the problem. He said loopholes in the law should be brought to the attention of Congress for amendments.

Dr. Jack Stuart of the Brokenshire Hospital supported Mr. Cabrera’s position.

In Cagayan de Oro City, representatives of the three biggest private hospitals, namely, Cagayan de Oro Medical Center, Cagayan de Oro Polymedic General Hospital, Inc., and Cagayan Capitol General Hospital Foundation, Inc. also bucked the hospital holiday.

"There are a lot of patients coming in everyday and we have to accommodate them as long as we can," said an administrative staff of Cagayan de Oro Medical Center.

Nurses at the Cagayan de Oro Polymedic General Hospital said a hospital holiday will sacrifice the lives of patients.

Patients from other provinces in Northern Mindanao would usually avail of consultations and treatments in medical centers in urban centers which are better equipped compared to community hospitals and clinics in their localities.

The city’s hospitals generally have specialized equipment and specialists that patients find comparable with those in other urban centers such as Metro Cebu and Metro Manila.

Signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on April 27, the law bans hospitals from detaining patients with outstanding bills until they are able to pay.

PHAP complained that the law puts at risk the financial viability of private medical institutions.

The group had threatened to declare hospital holidays in May but decided to give in to the government’s request for its assistance in creating the law’s rules and regulations.

The arrangement apparently did not work well and the group said last week hospital holidays will be scheduled this month. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Mindanao to get a third of funds (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/sept/04/yehey/business/20070904bus10.html)


THE Department of Agriculture has assured legislators of buoying farm productivity and profitability in Mindanao through a broad range of programs and projects it will implement.

This is in keeping with the government’s commitment to devote 30 percent of agency program funds to Mindanao, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said in a statement.

He said his department has been meeting and consulting with House members representing the province in the hope of working out individual projects and intervention measures that will meet specific agricultural concerns in their respective congressional districts.

Yap noted that higher public spending on agriculture will keep the sector in Mindanao on a sustained, high growth path, resulting in a profitable venture for small farmers, fisherfolk and other stakeholders.

The agri head issued the statement to address the worries of the Mindanao representatives.
--Chino S. Leyco

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k251/sscdavao/tigsmania/meetigsedencroc018.jpg

Sen. Pia commends Mindanao hospitals for not joining PHAP protest
Tuesday, September 04 2007 @ 04:13 PM BST

MANILA, Sept 4 (PNA) --Two hospitals in Davao City and three from Cagayan de Oro City were commended on Tuesday by Sen. Pia Cayetano for not joining the so-called "hospital holiday" called recently by the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) to protest the Hospital Detention law.

This developed as the PHAP and the Department of Health (DOH) is due to begin crafting on Wednesday the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to the law during a dialogue.

The hospital "have chosen to put the interest of their patients above their own position on the issue," Cayetano, principal author of the law, said.

She named Davao City's Davao Doctors Hospital and Brokenshire Hospital, considered among the biggest medical institutions in Southern Philippines, as well as Cagayan de Oro City's Cagayan de Oro Medical Center, Cagayan de Oro Polymedic General Hospital, Inc and the Cagayan Capitol General Hospital.

The PHAP has called on member-hospitals to schedule "hospital holidays," a few days a month when they would not accept patients unless these are emergency cases.

This came about when a PHAP-DOH dialogue last week crumbled amidst discontent of hospital administrators over alleged DOH "oppressive" stance.

PHAP said it is protesting the idea that patients cannot be allowed to leave hospitals unless their bills are paid.

DOH said hospitals "detaining" patients who are unable to pay are criminally liable.

Cayetano, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has called on other hospitals to reconsider their decision to join the protest and follow the example of the seven Mindanao hospitals.

"A hospital holiday will only aggravate the current conflict and risk the well-being of patients they have sworn to serve," Cayetano said.

Cayetano, who was invited to join the Wednesday dialogue, expressed hope that a breakthrough is achieved.

"I hope the dialogue puts to rest all issues and avert future protests," she added.

At the same time, Cayetano expressed that the law is misconstrued.

"The most common misconception about the law is that it automatically allows patients to pack up and leave the hospital without paying their bills and by just citing poverty or financial incapacity. But this is not the case," she said.

The new law clearly states that charity patients can only be discharged from the hospital upon executing a promissory note on the unpaid bills.

"The promissory note must be secured by a mortgage or by a guarantee of a co-maker, who will be jointly and severally liable with the patient for the unpaid obligation.

This law only applies to charity patients who make up a small minority of the total number of private hospital patients, she clarified.

The law does not cover paying patients or those in private rooms," she pointed out.

Cayetano also acknowledged that the problem of unpaid hospital bills is a symptom of a much bigger crisis in the health sector.

But she said the crisis could be dealt with through comprehensive reforms,including a bigger health budget, approval of the bill lowering drug prices and pursuing universal Philhealth coverage.(PNA)

Hello Mindanao! Goodnight Mindanao!

I took this photo from a travel shop in Brussels early this year.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q260/nestopix/phils_brussel_ad.jpg

P1-B road project finished soon
New infrastructure facilities seen to generate economic activities (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20070908102415.html)
By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO

BUTUAN CITY – An economic boom is predicted in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga Region) with the completion soon of President Arroyo’s P1.1-billion, modern road project, a top regional public works official said the other day.


"Our engineers and workers are woking double time so they can finish the project before the end of the year. Day and night, engineering and construction activities are being done if good weather condition in the area allows it," said Northeastern Mindanao Public Works and Highways Director Romeo S. Momo, who supervises the construction of the second phase of the 37-kilometer San Francisco-Trento road in Agusan del Sur, that connects Compostela Valley to the Davao provinces.

This national road project is being implemented by Daewoo Construction.

Meanwhile, the region’s public works chief said the construction of the P720 million Surigao del Sur-Davao coastal road project will be substantially finished before the end of the year, it was reported.

The P500-million road rehabilitation and construction of Bacuag-Claver road section in Surigao del Norte is also targeted to be completed next year.

"Actually, we are ahead of our schedule," Director Momo said.

In a related development, as part of the national government’s thrust to generate business opportunities in Mindanao, infrastructure facilities costing over P372.815 million are now undergoing construction in several cities and municipalities.

These facilities are being constructed under the Mindanao Basic Urban Services Sector Project (MBUSSP), a project implemented by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Office of Project Development Services (OPDS) headed by Director Paisal O. Abutazil.

The MBUSSP is a joint project of the DILG, Land Bank of the Philippines, the Asian Development Bank, and the Nordic Development Fund.

The infrastructure projects under MBUSSP and their costs are: Municipal building in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, a two-story building costing P23 million; Sports Complex in Tangub City (Misamis Occidental), a 15,000-20,000 sitting capacity grandstand that will also serve as quarters of athletes, P108 million; municipal gymnasium in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, P19.5 million; new public market in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur, P20.186 million; municipal gymnasium in Pilar, Surigao del Norte, P19.372 million; municipal water supply system in Tago, Surigao del Sur, P26.757 M; and a public market in Ozamiz City, P156 million.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, in a statement, said the different structures undergoing construction are projected to boost the economic development in the region.

"The MBUSSP has been so successful in the region that the demand for projects in other LGUs has increased. In fact, we are now expanding the project coverage to include LGUs in Luzon and Visayas," Puno said.

I took this photo from a travel shop in Brussels early this year.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q260/nestopix/phils_brussel_ad.jpg

wow... go philippines... go mindanao...

does the translation mean "Plunge in the Sulu Sea? or Dive in the Sea of Sulu?"

wow... go philippines... go mindanao...

plunge in the sea of sulu...

wait a minute, if there is a travel ban in high risk areas, why are they promoting sulu?:ohno: :ohno:

plunge in the sea of sulu...

wait a minute, if there is a travel ban in high risk areas, why are they promoting sulu?:ohno: :ohno:

ok mn ata ang sulu... ang basilan mn krn ang medyo naa gubot...

^ Most likely sa Tubbataha Reef yan :)

most likely sa Sulu...."Finding Abu Sabaya" sa ilalim ng Sulu Sea....

PIA Press Release
2007/09/11

Mindanao gets biggest share from SM Investment Corp. grant
by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (11 September) -- Mindanao received the biggest share from the P1 M grant from SM Investments Corporation that it extends to deserving beneficiaries throughout the country.

During the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) Manager Marilyn Moncada said some P392,000.00 was shared by Mindanao which will be apportioned to six provinces in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao and Sarangani.

Visayas and Luzon equally got P300,000.00 each for the purchase of educational facilities like computers and others and the rehabilitation of affected areas in the Bicol Region damaged by typhoon Reming.

In Mindanao the fund will be used to address the problem of lack of vaccine containment for immunization campaigns in some of Mindanao's depressed areas.

The SM Investment Corporations turned over cold chain facilities and coolers for communities needing health services.

The SM Cold Chain Facilities for Municipal Health Units (MHUs) is a project that supports health initiative in depressed areas by providing storage for vaccines to be used in the immunization of children in the provinces of ARMM and Sarangani.

Present in yesterday's turnover ceremony were Sarangani Province Governor Miguel A. Dominguez, Mayor Abdulkarim T. Langkuno of the Municipality of Paglas in Maguindanao Province, Rogelio Martinez, Board Member PBSP Mindanao Coordinator and Executive Director, C. Alcantara Foundation, Inc., and Debby A. Go, manager, SM City Mall of Davao.

The project implemented in partnership with the PBSP and local government units hopes to benefit at least 1,400 infants in seven of Mindanao's peace and development areas.

Moncada said infant mortality can be prevented through regular immunization and proper health care, hence the need for proper storage of vaccines and medicines to maintain its potency and effectiveness.

SM Investment Corporations provides 28 brand new refrigerators and 56 coolers to address the health related concern affecting MHUs in the ARMM and Saranganin Province. (PIA XI) [top]

PIA Press Release
2007/09/11

Sarangani gov cites the need for efficient health services
by Prix D Banzon

Alabel, Sarangani (11 September) -- Sarangani Province is introducing support on the health needs of the rural areas otherwise health services will continue to be inefficient.

Governor Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani Province during the turn over of SM Cold Chain Facilities for Mindanao's peace and development areas said efficient health services especially in the rural areas has always been lacking.

"Setting aside 10 percent of the budget for health program is not enough and the government must look at the root cause of the problem", he stressed.

"Government health services is always inefficient at nakakahiya talaga," he added.

He said that because of lack of resources, some officials became blind about it even as he said that those from the grassroot level are the ones most affected.

He said the private sector spent about P100 billion in medicines while only 25 or 30 percent of the said amount is spent by the LGUs. Only six or seven percent is paid by health insurance sector through the PhilHealth.

With partnership with businesses like the SM Investments Corporation, he said the provision of cold chain facilities is a big support to the people at the grassroots.

He said they have to train the health workers not to break the cold chain to retain the needed temperature of the vaccines up to the time that it is administered to the person.

"Even though we are experiencing shortage of medical practitioners we have to provide intervention just to extend the needed health services of our people," he said.

He said they believe that investments have to be with the barangay health workers first who will be implementing the services to the public.

The BHWs are basic in the delivery of services, the hospitals and other infrastructure facilities would come next, he added. (PIA XI) [top]

does the translation mean "Plunge in the Sulu Sea? or Dive in the Sea of Sulu?"

I think the correct translation is the latter. 'Plongee' is dive. 'Mer' is sea or seaside...

I think the correct translation is the latter. 'Plongee' is dive. 'Mer' is sea or seaside...

well they can also add there "fly now and never come back alive" ... :lol:

well they can also add there "fly now and never come back alive" ... :lol:

not a nice way to market sulu or mindanao for that matter:nono: :nono:
sabihin nalang na. "fly now and experience the adventure of a lifetime" :righton:

^^ ...kuya Rajah was not serious of it :okay: it was just a joke...

i see :cheers:

P5-B hydropower project set (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20070911102697.html)

Aboitiz company starts construction of Sibulan plant

By GIL M. ABARICO

DAVAO CITY — Hedcor Sibulan Inc. (HSI), an Aboitiz company, broke ground last Friday for the construction of its R5-billion, 42.5-megawatt Sibulan hydropower project (SHP) in Barangay Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.


Hedcor Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Erramon Aboitiz led the ceremonial groundbreaking and unveiling of the project’s commemorative plaque, together with Hedcor Inc. Senior Vice President Luis Miguel Aboitiz.

They were joined by Mayor Joel Ray Lopez of Sta. Cruz, Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO) Chairman Virgilio Leyretana, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region XI Director Roque Agton.

Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas joined them later.

"We are glad to bring clean energy to Davao and become part of the development of the Sibulan community," said Erramon Aboitiz in his speech during the event.

The SHP is a greenfield project which entails the construction of two cascading hydropower generating facilities tapping the Sibulan and Baroring Rivers.

The facilities can generate some 212 million kilowatt-hours of clean and emission-free energy annually.

"We welcome the entry of Hedcor in our province to provide adequate supply of cheap electricity," said Governor Cagas.

The electricity generated from the plants will be supplied to the third largest privately owned power distribution utility in the country, the Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC), starting August 2009.

HSI, together with Hedcor Inc., Philippine HydroPower Corp. (PHC), and Hedcor Tamugan Inc. won in an open and competitive bidding held last February to supply DLPC 400 million kilowatthours of electicity annually. This is covered by a 12-year power sales agreement signed last March.

Aside from generating energy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, the project also brings a number of benefits to its host communities.

These include rural electrification, some P13 million annual community share on top of government-mandated taxes, and more than 44 kilometers of roads and road improvement costing approximately P250 million

Saving Mindanao
through fruit runs (http://www.malaya.com.ph/sept11/metro2.htm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIX tons of exotic fruits from Jolo, including the smelly durian, were unloaded from an Air Force C-130 cargo plane at Villamor Air Base yesterday to be sold in Manila to benefit small farmers in the war-torn island.

Called "fruits of hope" by Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon, the harvest would be sold in Metro Manila markets to raise seed money to start a cooperative in Jolo and nearby provinces of Basilan and Cotabato.

Representatives of SM Supermarket and Shopwise immediately came over to the military base and bought three tons each of mangosteen and lanzones at P20 per kilo, and durian which commands a higher price. The two supermarkets will repack the fruits and sell them with a markup.

Fruits abound in the three abovementioned provinces but farmers lack the facilities to bring these to the market themselves. Buyers, on the other hand, are wary of going to Jolo and Basilan because of the Abu Sayyaf Group and other bandits.

The idea of using the C-130 to bring the fruits to Manila was born two weeks ago, amid the ongoing military campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and suspected Moro rebels. After unloading troops and ammunition, the C-130 would fly back to Manila without any load. The Red Cross then asked the Air Force for permission to load the C-130’s empty belly with seasonal fruits that grow plentifully in Jolo’s rich soil but cannot be sold for a profit for lack of market.

PAF chief, Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino quickly agreed, saying that it was a waste of money to fly an empty plane that would still cost the Air Force P100 thousand per hour. He said a C-130 could carry 10 tons of fruits.

Gordon, who is spearheading the project, said the seed money, aside from starting a cooperative, would be used to fund other projects like teaching the locals to grow seaweeds and raise other marine products.

He said agricultural experts from Bangkok would be tapped to teach the locals to grow better fruits, while the Department of Science and Technology would advise them on proper packaging.

Already, Nestle Company, has expressed intention to buy all the coffee that Jolo, Basilan and Cotabato could produce, Gordon said.

When the cooperative is established, he said the farmers could use shipping companies like Aboitiz to transport their produce regularly.

North and South Cotabato alone are estimated to produce about P4.5 billion worth of fruits a year, while Solo and Basilan raise fruits valued at P1 billion each, but these are not fully utilized and most of them just go to waste. "When the farmers are regularly earning income, they would no longer be tempted to join the rebels and would mind their farms where a regular source of income could be had," Gordon said.

Tolentino said a C-130 flies to Visayas and Mindanao every week and could be diverted to Jolo to pick up the fruits and other agricultural products until a regular commercial transport could be arranged. – Jay Chua

PIA Press Release
2007/09/12

Mindanao takes in P4.3Bn in investments
by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (12 September) -- The island of Mindanao for the first six months in 2007 raked in P4.3 billion of investments registered at the Board of Investments (BOI) and PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate with Region XI with the biggest investments valued at P2.792 billion.

Mindanao Economic and Development Council senior economic specialist Ever Abasolo in Mindanao the new investments this year yielded jobs of about 2,206.

Abasolo was the guest during the Davao Business Reporters Forum on Tuesday at MediSpa at SM City Davao.

He said there were18 registered projects and the Davao Region cornered eight, followed by Phividec with 4 valued at P1.19 billion and Region XII, 4 at P241.7 million, then Region X, 1 of P57.5 million and Region XIII, 1 with P30 million. No data available yet from Region IX.

He said of the total investments for the first six months 97 percents or P3.340 billion came from local investors.

He said local investment growth for this period posted 168.9 percent increase.

The foreign direct investments according to Abasolo went down by 80 percent from P603.5 million in the first semester last year to P115 million in 2007.

The FDI for the period (January to June 2007) had total value of P114.9 million.

He said majority of these foreign investments came from mainland Chinese investors who are into mineral exploration for chromite ore.

Japanese came next and were into manufacture of activated carbon while the South Koreans have investments in the coco peat industry. (PIA XI) [top]

^^ ...kuya Rajah was not serious of it :okay: it was just a joke...

thanks kuya tj for defending me... :cheers: @bariq... that was a joke ;)

i understand kuya raja :cheers:

Mindanao investments soar to P4.3 billion

DAVAO CITY — Investments in Mindanao soared to P4.3 billion in the first half from P1.8 billion in the same period last year, data from the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) showed.

Ever Abasolo, senior economic specialist of the agency, said the investment figures had been culled from reports of the Board of Investments and the Philippine Veterans Development Corp. (Phividec) in Northern Mindanao.

Mr. Abasolo added that the figures did not include investments from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Based on the figures, the Davao region registered about P2.79 billion, while Northern Mindanao and Phividec posted a total of P1.25 billion.

The investments, with only about P115 million coming from foreign investors, also created about 2,206 jobs, Medco records showed.

While local investments, which stood at P3.34 billion or 97% of the total investments, went up, foreign direct investments went down by as much as about 80% to P603 million in the first semester.

Mr. Abasolo, however, did not offer any explanation for the drop in foreign direct investments, although business leaders in Mindanao have blamed the negative image of the island for the refusal of foreign investors to come in.

Earlier, Datu Haron Bandila, chairman of the ARMM Business Council, urged media not to exaggerate the news on the island considering the effects of the negative image to its investment opportunities.

"The region, in general, is peaceful. But the image is tarnished because of some pocket battles," Mr. Bandila said.

Mr. Abasolo’s report also pointed out that the biggest investor during the period was Aboitiz Power Corp., which was putting in P2.663 billion for its Hedcor Tamugan hydropower plant here. The company will start the construction of the plant and two others in Suawan and Panigan by 2008. The projects are expected to be completed by 2010. The three plants have a combined capacity of 30.5 megawatts.

Meanwhile, Chinese investors are investing about P333 million in the exploration of chromite ore, sand and concentrate in the municipalities of Loreto and San Jose, Dinagat Island.

The Chinese were the top foreign investors during the period, while the Japanese were the far second with 9% of total foreign direct investments for their investments in activated carbon. The South Koreans came in third at 4% for their investments in coco peat.

Investments in processing of fruits, vegetables and meat stood at P211.7 million during the period, while Philippine Sinter Corp., a company which is into processing of sinter ore, spent P1.15 billion for its power generation system and the construction of processing plant for hydrated lime.

Thursday, September 13, 2007
Mindanao rural dev't program gets $124-million (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2007/09/13/bus/mindanao.rural.dev.t.program.gets.$124.million.html)
By Joy Romares-Sevilla

A TOTAL of $124 million has been earmarked to fund the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) that will be implemented all over the island.

"Out of this figure, US$84 million is the amount we loaned from the World Bank, US$8 million is the share of the national government, while the rest is the counterpart of all local government units where the program is being implemented," Arnel de Mesa, MRDP deputy director, said Wednesday.

Join forum on Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict on Estrada plunder case. Post comments here.

De Mesa said MRDP now is on its second phase. It started this year and will end on 2012.

"The first phase of the project was from 2000 to 2004. World Bank evaluated the project and it turned satisfactory that is why we extended its implementation. Hopefully, the second phase will also be successful so we can start the preparation of MRDP 3," de Mesa said.

He said if MRDP 2 will be successful, the program is expected to get an additional loan from the World Bank.

He said that MRDP 1 covered only five provinces in Mindanao. The program's second phase, on the other hand, covers 27 provinces in Mindanao, including 225 municipalities.

"We are targeting that all municipalities in Mindanao will be covered in MRDP 3," de Mesa said.

The project, de Mesa, said has several components including support to rural infrastructures, livelihood projects, and others.

"This project is community-driven. The communities will propose a project that will be approved by the multi-sectoral committee in each community," he said.

In the second phase of MRDP, the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao are also covered

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PGMA to mining firms: Income from mines must trickle down to host communities

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2007 | MINING


SYDNEY-- - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said on Saturday that the economic progress derived from mining activities must trickle down to the host communities.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said this was the advice of the President to Australian mining giant BHP Biliton and other mining firms operating in the Philippines.

Mining enterprises must “engage the local community more” to avoid problems in their areas of operation, specifically with local groups,” the President said during her meeting with BHP Biliton chief executive officer (CEO) Chip Goodyear at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney.

The President also said mining concerns must “settle their problems with their partners.”

“We welcome mining investments. We welcome mining firms that give due concern to the environment and to the community,” Atienza quoted the President as saying.

“I think the Australian issue is not much about the environment. It’s really more of the community,” the President said, according to Atienza.

BHP Billiton is developing four nickel exploration sites in the Philippines, including a potential $1.8 billion project in the mineral-rich southern island of Mindanao.

The mining firm has been encountering some problems with disgruntled local groups opposed to its nickel mining plans.

Atienza said he came to Sydney with the President to have bilateral meetings with Australian mining companies.

He added that he would be advising local companies on how to deal with mounting opposition to Australian mining projects across the Philippines.

Australian and New Zealand firms are estimated to account for an estimated one-fourth of the investments in the Philippines’s booming mining industry.

The Arroyo administration has identified the minerals industry as one of the engine of growths considering the immense natural endowments of the country.

The Philippines is the fifth mineralized nation in the world, the third richest in gold, fourth in copper, fifth in nickel and sixth in chromite.

The President has always batted for sustainable mining activities in the country, the former Manila mayor said.

Atienza said that this year alone, investments in mining could reach as much as $600 million and $10-$11 billion in 2010-2011.

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can you provide the link miss GearX ..thanks :)

unsa man nang food complex?

kumplikado nga food.

can you provide the link miss GearX ..thanks :)

I got the presentation from NEDA. don't know if they have posted it in their website.

;15338706']unsa man nang food complex?

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

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/roads_bridgesunderMindanaoSuperRegi.gif
recent news update mati - manay section is ongoing. concreting of bridges minor and major all the way davao surigao border been finished

Tuesday, September 18, 2007


Bagsakan centers to sell Mindanao fruits (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/sept/18/yehey/business/20070918bus11.html)


THE Department of Agriculture, aiming to help farmers in the region sell their produce in Metro Manila, will make available fruits from Mindanao in all its Bagsakan Centers.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said that exotic fruits such as durian, mangosteen, rambutan, marang and lanzones will be sold soon in the nine Bagsakan centers at prices much cheaper than in the supermarkets.

“After our successful trial periods in the past few weeks, the agency will formally launch these Mindanao fruits,” Yap said.

He added that the Mindanao Fruit Council members sold 1.4 metric tons of durian on September 15 in just two hours at the Quezon City Circle.

“Because this is part of our market linkage program, a kilo of durian in QC circle was only P80, lower than the supermarket prices of P130 to P150,” Yap said.

The fruits were mainly sourced from Davao City, Kidapawan City and North Cotabato.

“This endeavor will help prevent spoilage of fruits in Mindanao and boost the farmers’ earnings,” Yap said.

The agriculture department also plans to talk with some airfreight companies to ask for special rates for the commodities.

“I hope that our fruits will be included on their priority list because we received some complaints from producers that their products are often bumped off. I’m sure the airline companies will help us on this,” Yap added.

Once these plans take off, Yap said that fruits will be available at Bagsakan centers all year round.

Apart from the Bagsakan centers, the agency has also opened 13 barangay food terminals.

The agency projects that the BFTs it will set up this year all over Metro Manila, other regions and in the country’s economic zones will benefit two million people.

These projects are partly funded by the Japan Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers, which aims to benefit Filipino farmers living below the poverty line.
--Chino S. Leyco

GMA orders Army to take over P1.3-B road project

Directs DPWH to terminate services of project contractors (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20070918103305.html)
By NONOY E. LACSON

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte – President Arroyo ordered yesterday the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to terminate the services of contractors undertaking the R1.3-billion coastal road project in Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon and Baliguian towns (Triple SB), this province, and directed the military to take over the project and complete immediately.


The President’s order came after she received reports that the coastal road project in the third district of this province has run into delays due to peace and order problem in the area.

"I was told that the project in the triple SB is now incurring delays, and this is the reason why I have to ask the DPWH to terminate the services of all the contractors involved in the project and let the military engineering brigade handle it to make sure that the project will be completed soon," the President told journalists during a press conference at the newly inaugurated provincial hospital in this city.

She ordered Army Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, commander of the 1st Tabak Division of the Philippine Army based in Pulakan, Zamboanga del Sur, to tap the Army’s engineering brigade to implement the project.

Arroyo said she wanted to see the people of the three towns connected to the other towns in the province through the coastal road which her office is directly financing.

She said the project will now be handled by the military because most of the contractors had claimed that unttable peace and order condition is causing the delay in the implementation of the project.

"Since most of the contractors undertaking the project blamed the current peace and order condition for the delay, I am now ordering the military to take over the project and complete it in due time," the President told local and provincial government officials.

General Pajarito, in response to the President’s order, said that his engineering brigade is ready to take over the project in the areas at any time.

He said that the military engineering brigade has all the construction equipment needed to undertake the project and it also has the manpower and expertise.

The general denied reports that the area is swarming with rebels and other lawless elements.

The contractor has incurred a negative slippage of 27.51 percent as stated by DPWH project engineer JulArab Kong in a report but this was reduced to negative three percent by the DPWH regional office.

DPWH Region 9 Director Herrera and his assistant, Madzmo Hashim, declined to say what is the basis of their office to reduce the negative slippage of AlRaf Construction from 27.51 to three percent.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/MindanaoSR-2.jpg

i could see most projects are focused on coastal cities and towns

nagsugod na ba ang davao food exchange complex?

how about laguindingan airport?

Wednesday, September 19, 2007
'Fruits of hope' flies to Manila (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2007/09/19/news/.fruits.of.hope.flies.to.manila.html)
By Ben O. Tesiorna

AROUND 12 tons of assorted fruits from North Cotabato were airlifted by the C130 military plane to Metro Manila Tuesday morning from the Davao International Airport.

Dubbed as the "fruits of hope," Philippine National Red Cross chair and Senator Richard Gordon said they hope to change the impression of the public on Mindanao as a war-ravaged island.


By bringing the agriculture products of Mindanao to Metro Manila, Gordon said the Filipinos and the international community will now identify Mindanao as an island where fresh and sweet fruits abound.

"These fruits of hope link everyone's aspiration for peace and prosperity. We hope that by bringing fruits coming from known conflict areas to Metro Manila then there will be a paradigm shift on how people view Mindanao," Gordon said.

Among the fruits that were transported were durian, lanzones, rambutan, mangosteen, and mango.

Escorting the fruits were Gordon, North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan, and Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol.

The plane took off at past 10 a.m. and landed at the Villamor Airbase where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was waiting along with Trade Secretary Peter Favila and Agriculture Secretary Art Yap.

It was learned that SM, Shopwise, Namvesco, and a group of urban poor vendors have already expressed their interest to buy the fruits from North Cotabato.

This is the second "humanitarian flight" by the Philippine Air Force in transporting fruits from conflict-torn areas. The first flight was at Jolo where tons of fruits were transported to Metro Manila for free courtesy of the Philippine National Red Cross headed by Gordon.

Other groups supporting the effort are shipping lines like Sulpicio and Negros Navigation.

With the new market in Metro Manila, North Cotabato officials are hoping to earn P10 billion a year from the agricultural sector alone.

^^ i thought they were doing that since

PIA Press Release
2007/09/20

LGUs support ESI mapping
By Mai Gevera

Davao City (20 September) -- Taken as a helpful policy tool, local governments in the four Davao provinces have given full support to the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Mapping of the Davao Gulf.

Now ending its first phase, LGUs have provided data gatherers with local government comprehensive plans, coastal resources management plans, soil evaluation data, Integrated Development Plan, and other necessary information.

ESI Mapping was launched last year as initiated by the Davao Gulf Management Council (DGMC), World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Hong Kong-Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).

DGMC chair and councilor Leonardo Avila III said that the project which set to run for three years is going to be a big help for the whole Davao region.

"This will determine which areas are good for particular industries,"he said.

He added that the ESI mapping could spur economic growth as results of the study could be used as the basis in deciding which industry could thrive well in a particular area and at the same time identify which particular industry threats could be harmful to the environment.

The mapping employs strategies like satellite, aerial imaging and ground mapping to come up with accurate information about the areas included.

Avila explained that this is very beneficial to the 23 local government units as the project is all funded by the mentioned sponsors and the LGUs can freely and easily make use of the future results of the mapping in their policy directions.

He clarified that the ESI mapping is in no way used by environment advocates to shoo off agricultural industries.

"It is never our goal to threaten them. Instead, this would help them improve agricultural practices, strengthen the government's environmental programs and tighten the network between the government, the community, and the agricultural industries. (PIA XI) [top]

PIA Press Release
2007/09/20

Mindanao fares well in search for entrepreneur of the year
by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (20 September) -- Mindanao had been faring well in the Search for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2007.

This was bared by Alice Lu, partner, SGV & Co. during a media forum who said that she said several businessmen had been nominated to this prestigious search and emerged winners as well.

Lu named Senen C. Bacani, chairman and president of La Frutera, Inc. as Master Entrepreneur for 2006. Bacani's business is into banana plantation in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao which exports the fruit to Japan, Korea, China and the Middle East.

Richie Rivera, president of RD Manufacturing Corporation was named Social Responsible Entrepreneur in 2005. Rivera is into fishing industry in General Santos City where it ship tuna to the markets in the world. Antonio Soriano, president AMS Group of Companies was another winner in 2005 who is engaged in agribusiness.

Lu meanwhile said that Tay Tang Caktiong, president and CEO, Jollibee Fords Corp was named World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004. He won Entrepreneur of the Philippines in 2003 and Master Entrepreneur 2003.

Other winners in the Philippine search were Lance Y. Gokongwei, president and CEO, Master Entrepreneur 2005, Alfredo M. Yap, chairman of Zest-O, 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year, Socorro C. Ramos, founder and general manager National Book Store, 2004 Women Entrepreneur of the Year, president and CEO, GMA Network, 2004 Mater Entrepreneur of the Year.

Lu and other officers of the SGV Foundation, Inc. made the announcement to inform the public that the Search is on and called on all interested persons and groups to submit their nominees for the Search of Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2007.

Last year she said there were 5,000 nominees and a hundred were from Mindanao.

She said they expect an increase in the nominees this year because of the many success stories coming from various entrepreneurs.

But she said the search is not mere cents and dollars that his or her company rakes in. It covers the whole aspect of the individual although the award has several categories namely Master Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur, Industry Specific Entrepreneur, Woman Entrepreneur, and Social Entrepreneur.

Other than prestige, the award could lead to increase in sales as workers would become more productive, give better credibility to the company as well as international impact, she said.

An independent panel of judges coming from government, business and the academe will determine, present and decide the final number of categories of awards.

From among the winners of the five categories will emerge the Entrepreneur of the Philippines who will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monte Carlo, Monao in June 2008.

The Entrepreneur of the Year program was launched in the United States in 1986 and has been held in over 125 cities, spanning over 40 countries and 6 continents. (PIA XI) [top]

US to provide $190M to develop Mindanao



Agence France-Presse
Last updated 06:32pm (Mla time) 09/19/2007


MANILA -- The United States government is to spend $190 million over the next five years on development aid projects in the troubled southern Philippines, the US embassy said Wednesday.

More than three decades of Muslim secessionist violence has left many parts of the southern region of Mindanao among the poorest in the country.

The agreement will be implemented by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in conjunction with the Philippine government, the private sector and non-government organizations.

Using "partner agencies," USAID will help develop infrastructure including roads, bridges, ports but will also help train people in marketing, organizing businesses, livelihood skills and governance.

"We'll be looking to help people who want to invest in Mindanao with this too, make it easier to do, make them aware of what are the possibilities are in Mindanao from everything from call centers to agricultural products to fishing industry," US ambassador Kristie Kenney said in a statement.

US troops are already present in the southern Philippines, training local forces in hunting down the Abu Sayyaf and other extremists.

INQUIRER.net (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=89523)

PIA Press Release
2007/09/20
Mindanao fares well in search for entrepreneur of the year
by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (20 September) -- Mindanao had been faring well in the Search for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2007.

This was bared by Alice Lu, partner, SGV & Co. during a media forum who said that she said several businessmen had been nominated to this prestigious search and emerged winners as well.

Lu named Senen C. Bacani, chairman and president of La Frutera, Inc. as Master Entrepreneur for 2006. Bacani's business is into banana plantation in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao which exports the fruit to Japan, Korea, China and the Middle East.

Richie Rivera, president of RD Manufacturing Corporation was named Social Responsible Entrepreneur in 2005. Rivera is into fishing industry in General Santos City where it ship tuna to the markets in the world. Antonio Soriano, president AMS Group of Companies was another winner in 2005 who is engaged in agribusiness.

Lu meanwhile said that Tay Tang Caktiong, president and CEO, Jollibee Fords Corp was named World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004. He won Entrepreneur of the Philippines in 2003 and Master Entrepreneur 2003.

Other winners in the Philippine search were Lance Y. Gokongwei, president and CEO, Master Entrepreneur 2005, Alfredo M. Yap, chairman of Zest-O, 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year, Socorro C. Ramos, founder and general manager National Book Store, 2004 Women Entrepreneur of the Year, president and CEO, GMA Network, 2004 Mater Entrepreneur of the Year.

Lu and other officers of the SGV Foundation, Inc. made the announcement to inform the public that the Search is on and called on all interested persons and groups to submit their nominees for the Search of Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2007.

Last year she said there were 5,000 nominees and a hundred were from Mindanao.

She said they expect an increase in the nominees this year because of the many success stories coming from various entrepreneurs.

But she said the search is not mere cents and dollars that his or her company rakes in. It covers the whole aspect of the individual although the award has several categories namely Master Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur, Industry Specific Entrepreneur, Woman Entrepreneur, and Social Entrepreneur.

Other than prestige, the award could lead to increase in sales as workers would become more productive, give better credibility to the company as well as international impact, she said.

An independent panel of judges coming from government, business and the academe will determine, present and decide the final number of categories of awards.

From among the winners of the five categories will emerge the Entrepreneur of the Philippines who will represent the country in the World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monte Carlo, Monao in June 2008.

The Entrepreneur of the Year program was launched in the United States in 1986 and has been held in over 125 cities, spanning over 40 countries and 6 continents. (PIA XI) [top]

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

Saudis eyeing Mindanao halal chicken
Wednesday, September 19 2007 @ 04:07 PM BST

Saudi Arabian government officials are arriving in Mindanao in November to ascertain if local poultry qualify under world halal standard.

Poultry raiser Vicente Lao said the visit could open up Saudi Arabia to export of locally-produced halal chicken.

Lao, chairman of the Mindanao Business Council, said several Saudi Arabian companies have already expressed interest in local chicken but their government must certify that local produce qualify as halal undern the guidelines of Muslim religion.

Lao said one of the importers Sheif Fayez Hamid Zainy was in Davao City recently to discuss with him chicken export to Saudi Arabia.

"The Saudi Arabian team would be here for three months to determine if our chicken are halal," said Lao.

He said halal chicken export faces a bright future with the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) already having established a Halal Certification Authority. (PNA)

NEDA approves 3 projects worth P18.6B (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2007092266)
By Ted P. Torres
Sunday, September 23, 2007

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved three projects with a combined cost of P18.6 billion, mainly for Mindanao projects and the extension of the first railway system in the country.

Endorsed for funding and implementation are the P11.592-billion Mindanao Peace and Development (MPAD) program of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCO), the P675-million Sectoral Enhancement for Enterprise Development (SEED) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the P6.323-billion LRT Line 1 North Extension Project of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA).

The MPAD aims to promote economic growth, better governance, peace and security by developing needed economic infrastructure and improvement of governance and social services in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

It will be strengthened by the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and the Philippines signed on May 18, 2005. The program, to be implemented from Oct. 2007 to Sept. 2012, will be funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Meanwhile, the LRT Line 1 North Extension Project, or closing the MRT 3-LRT 1 Loop, aims to complete the interconnection of these two railways by connecting the Monumento station of LRT Line 1 to the North Avenue station of MRT 3.

It involves the design and construction of a 5.71-kilometer elevated line from the Monumento station of LRT Line 1 to North Avenue of MRT 3, two new intermediate stations (Balintawak and Roosevelt), and a terminal station (LRT North Avenue Station).

The Balintawak station will provide modal interchange with bus and jeepney services entering Metro Manila from the north via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

To be funded by a bond flotation of the state-run National Development Co. (NDC) and LRTA’s revenues and budget, the project will be implemented for two years with construction to begin next year until April 2010.

Supported by a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) grant, the SEED on the other hand, aims to increase the competitiveness of key small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) by improving their capacity to mobilize resources; expand market access and increase employment; strengthen government and private sector partnerships and capacity to improve the policy environment for SME development; and improve capacity of organizations to deliver business support services.

Monday, September 24, 2007
‘Broken Dreams’ at WNC Monday night

The Sining Kambayoka Ensemble (SKE), the multi-awarded theater company of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, will present “Broken Dreams” at West Negros College Gym in Bacolod, 7 p.m. Monday night.

SKE was one of the 12 companies selected from eight different countries around the world to take part in Contacting the World (CTW) 2006.

CTW is a unique theater project linking young people’s theater groups from around the world in the spirit of creating theater across boundaries of geography and culture.

All 12 participants collaborated with each other and performed showcases in Manchester.

The project was jointly presented by the Arts Council of England, British Council, and Unesco’s International Fund for the Promotion of Culture.

The event took place from July 17-24, 2006 in Manchester and the SKE and their production “Broken Dreams” was the official representative/entry of the Philippines.

After the very successful turn-out of SKE’s participation in Manchester, the group continued to represent the country in the Liverpool International Street Theater Festival and the Aberdeem International Theater Festival in Aberdeen, Scotland.

In both festivals, SKE received rousing feedbacks from the varied audiences. SKE also performed for the Filipino communities in London and Wales who also gave them “thumbs up” for giving pride and honor to the Filipino culture and the country as well.

This presentation is a project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Outreach and Exchange Program in cooperation with the Negros Cultural Foundation and WNC. (Press release)


^^ Which part of Mindanao is Marawi City,the MSU?Is it in Davao?

Marawi is in Lanao del Sur....there are many MSUs in Mindanao, MSU-Marawi (the first), MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (CHED Center of Excellence in Science and Technology), MSU-General Santos, MSU-Sulu, MSU-Maguindanao, MSU-Naawan, and MSU-Tawi-Tawi. There's no MSU in Davao.

Thank you!:cheers:

I think MissU (MSU in slang) is the 2nd largest state university system in the Philippines, is it right?

I've only been to MSU-Tambler/Gensan. I'm planning to go MSU-Main/Marawi.

Marawi is in Lanao del Sur....there are many MSUs in Mindanao, MSU-Marawi (the first), MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (CHED Center of Excellence in Science and Technology), MSU-General Santos, MSU-Sulu, MSU-Maguindanao, MSU-Naawan, and MSU-Tawi-Tawi. There's no MSU in Davao.


There's no MSU in Davao but we have two state universities such as UP Mindanao and University of SouthEastern Philippines (USeP).

Let's help push a bustling economy in Mindanao - Rep. Garcia
By Rose Palacio


Davao City (26 September) -- Davao City second district representative Vincent Garcia urged Mindanaoans to help push a bustling economy in Mindanao while the government is providing infrastructure support programs to improve law and order, tourism, delivery of basic services to the people, and many others.

Congresssman Garcia also urged the people to support the fiscal reforms being undertaken by the administration to maintain a stable economy as he observed the high mark August surplus.

"A stable economy, continued strength of the peso and stocks should challenge us more in Congress to continue with our hard work," said Congressman Garcia adding that a bustling economy would boost investors' confidence as the international rating has maintained its positive outlook in the country that have encouraged legislators in pursuing the needed reform and revenue measures to benefit the majority of the Filipino people.

Congressman Garcia who has been supporting the administration's fiscal reform program is exerting extra efforts to implement infrastructure projects in his own district. The most vital was the completion of the P24.28-million steel bridge, spanning Lasang river in Baranggay Pañalum, a remote village in Paquibato district.

The completion of the steel bridge was built under the President's Bridge Program or Tulay ng Pangulo with a length of 91.4 meters, constructed through Congressman Garcia's initiative.

Its construction was coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways project management office (DPWH-PMO) and the DPWH Davao District Office.

Congressman Garcia said the construction of bridges in remote areas is very important to improve people's lives in the countryside as envisioned by the President.

"At present, we are constantly looking for better ways to manage resources as the government continues its energy conservation program and austerity measures and address the transition of balanced deficit," he said.

He stressed that it is important to harness the country's own potentials and be able to improve the delivery of essential services to constituents. (PIA)

Philippine Information Agency (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p070926.htm&no=1)

Increasing investment growth in Mindanao noted
by Prix D Banzon


Davao City (25 September) -- New investments in Mindanao have resulted to an increase in investment growth in the island.

Mindanao Economic and Development Council (Medco) chair Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana named the two projects that contributed to the continuing increase of investments in the island as the Philippine Sinter, Limketkai Manufacturing Incorporated and Rubenori Incorporated.

The Philippine Sinter he said has two expansion projects, one involving the construction of a processing plant and the other the development of a power generation plant.

Both investments are registered with the PHIVIDEC making its (PHIVIDEC) total industrial estate's investment value at P1.169 billion or 98 percent.

The Limketkai Manufacturing Corporation is into another expansion project on the development of an agro-industrial complex while Rubenori Incorpoated is a new investor in the industrial estate will put up a facility on the recovery of recyclable materials which investment is pegged at P25 million.

Leyretana is optimistic that the growth will give a positive signal especially to foreign investors to pour in more investment projects in Mindanao.

Meanwhile the Medco report indicated a record high performance of Mindanao investment during the first half of 2007 with 133.8 percent increase buoyed by the power sector.

The report showed that some P4.315 billion worth of investments from 18 investment projects were registered with the Board of Investments and the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate during the first semester.

The double-digit growth in Mnidanao investments revealed a boost in local investor confidence with most of the BOI-registered investments come from local investors.

Of the regions in the island, Southern Mindanao posted the biggest investment value at P2.792 billion followed by P1.194 billion worth of investments in the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Northern Mindanao.

Most of the investments during this period came from existing establishments undergoing expansion or rehabilitation of their business operations.

Total investments posted by local investors accounted to P3.340 billion or 97 percent of the total investments registered with BOI registering an increase of 168.9 percent for this period. (PIA XI)

Philippine Information Agency (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p070925.htm&no=7)

Nation
Mindanao investments up 133.8% in first semester (http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Nation&p=49&type=2&sec=28)
By Edith Regalado
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

DAVAO CITY – Mindanao continues to attract investors despite perceived problems on peace and order in certain parts of the island.

The new investments poured in despite the continued military operations against the Abu Sayyaf extremist group and rogue elements of rebel groups on the strife-torn island.

According to the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), Mindanao registered an increase of 133.8 percent in investments during the first semester this year compared to the same period last year.

At least 18 new projects worth P4.315 billion were reportedly registered with the Board of Investments (BOI) in Mindanao during the first semester, most of them in the power sector.

It was noted though that the bulk of the new investments actually comes from local investors, accounting for 97 percent or P3.340 billion of the total investments for the first semester.

Foreign direct investments, however, went down by as much as 80 percent at only P115 million for the first semester, compared to P603.55 million in the same period last year.

Chinese investors ventured into joint projects for chromite and ore exploration in Eastern Mindanao, while Japanese and South Korean investors infused new capital for activated carbon manufacturing and coconut peat processing.

The new projects are expected to generate 2,206 jobs, especially in Southern, Eastern and Northern Mindanao.

The P2.663-billion power generation project of Hedcor Tamugan Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, accounts for 78 percent of the total new investments for the first semester.

Located in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, the project is expected to help boost the power supply in Southern Mindanao.

The Phividec Industrial Estate in Northern Mindanao, meanwhile, attracted P1.194 billion in new investments, while the food, fruit and meat processing sectors got at least three percent of the new capital.

Medco officials said other new investment projects are expected to materialize before the year ends

Mindanao chambers push dev’t agenda

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Business groups in Mindanao have proposed a 12-point policy agenda for the National Government in order to propel economic growth on the island.

Estrellita Juliano-Tamano, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president for Mindanao, disclosed the agenda at the plenary of the recently concluded 16th Mindanao Business Conference here.

"We conducted a Mindanao-wide consultation This agenda was validated by 15 business chambers across Mindanao," she told around 500 domestic and foreign participants.

Ms. Tamano said the agenda will be submitted to the national chamber, before it is forwarded to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The 12-point agenda consists of:


ensure effective, fast implementation of peace and development programs in Mindanao and fast-track a final peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front;
accelerate infrastructure development through increased budgetary allocations and efficient use of resources;
accelerate the establishment of a reliable, sufficient information and communications technology infrastructure;
ensure efficient ports and shipping services;
enhancing competitiveness and sustainability of the tuna industry;
reliable power supply;
pursue a unified private sector-led development agenda for the agriculture, fisheries and food industry;
forge strong private-public sector partnership for tourism;
support human resources development;
accelerate development of an environmentally and socially sustainable mining industry;
support the ratification of the Japan-Philippines Partnership Agreement; and
develop Mindanao’s cable television industry.


Antonio Veneracion, president of this city’s business chamber, stressed the need for Minda-nao to catch up with Luzon and the Visayas in terms of infrastructure if it is to entice investments after a final peace pact is signed. — Romer S. Sarmiento

source (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092707/content.php?id=053)

Banana to hike income of Samal coco farmers

COCONUT farmers in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) hit the opportunity to boost income through banana-coconut intercropping project.

As part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) goal of developing new lands for agribusiness, a package of support is being extended to IGACOS coconut farmers.

The DA-High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) program and the Coconut Industry Investment Fund - Oil Mills Group (CIIF-OMG) are poised to develop coconut areas into farm clusters that will encourage farmers to go into banana intercropping.

Initially the DA has turnover 12,000 tissue-cultured planting banana Cardaba planting materials to be planted in 30 hectares of coconut farms. The CIIF-OMG for its part will provide more planting materials to IGACOS farmers through Plant Now Pay Later (PNPL) scheme and P5, 000 worth of farm inputs to every coconut farmers within a 3,000 hectare farm cluster. The payment will not be in cash but through copra product which the farmer will deliver in accredited oil mills. In Davao del Norte and nearby provinces, they can deliver their copra through the Legaspi Oil, a CIIF-OMG accredited mill in Davao City.

“There is an increasing demand for banana as raw materials for banana chips, one of the country’s top export products,” says DA-High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) Program Director Rodel Maghirang.

Maghirang said DA through its HVCC program is eyeing banana production expansion of at least 35,000 hectares for the country by 2010. To achieve this, Region XI being the country’s top banana producer is targeting an increase of 10-12 percent per year while the rest of the regions are targeting at least seven percent increase in production areas.

Maghirang said DA will provide training and technical assistance for farmers to adopt recommended technologies. DA will also help farmers link up their products with processors and other potential markets.

“We have five components under the CFDP and banana-coconut intercropping is one of them,” says Ariodear Rico of CIIF-OMG. Rico said the other components are: coconut nursery for rehabilitation of coconut farms, improvement of copra quality through provision of copra dryer, coconut fiber production, and information technology.
“The IT component will establish and information kiosk for project monitoring including B2B transaction between farmers and traders,” Rico said.

The banana-coconut intercropping cropping in IGACOS is the first pilot site of the Coconut Farm Development Project. Rico said the same project will be implemented to 100 coconut farm clusters in the country.

Recently the DA reported that products from banana and coconut products are among the country’s top exports. The two commodities can be grown together as banana had been observed as good intercrop of coconut which in turn will boost farmer’s income without sacrificing their traditional crop (coconut). (NTProvido-DAXI)

PIA Press Release
2007/09/28
Davao Correctional Institution for Women now operational
By Rose B. Palacio

Davao City (28 September) -- The Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mindanao, one of its kind outside Metro Manila, now accepts convicted female inmates from all over Mindanao.

Just very recently, CIW had its grand opening spearheaded by Womynet executive director Sis Jo Bacaltos; Womynet founding convenor Judge Adoracion Cruz-Avisado; Convenor Pat Montemayor; Adelina Royo, past district director of Soroptimist Int'l of Davao; Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario; P/Dir. Ricardo Dapat, BuCor Director; Congressman Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo, 2nd Cong'l district, Davao del Norte; Grace Taculin of BJMP; Fr. Bobby Genellia, chaplain, SADPC; and other government officials of Davao del Norte.

Located at Juan Acenas Sub-Colony, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, the CIW-Mindanao is a landmark facility established in response to the advocacy for Gender Responsiveness in all areas of governance, including the Correction and Rehabilitation of prisoners.

The CIW-Mindanao is a testimony that the Filipino people through the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Corrections give utmost priority and concern for fellow citizens, both women and men alike, who, despite having been sentenced for imprisonment, desire that their dignity and self-worth as human beings is upheld and respected.

The CIW-Mindanao is a milestone project, the first facility to be established outside Luzon after 70 years. The major breakthrough of accomplishing this task was achieved through the constant support and unwavering cooperation of the city government of Davao and NGOs as well as the people of Davao region.

The plan to establish a CIW in Mindanao came from the initiative of gender advocacy of the Women Network Group (Womynet) and other women organizations in Davao City. With the desire to alleviate the lives of the female inmates, the group invited partners from the government, NGOs and private sectors to make the project successful.

Active partners of the CIW-Mindanao are the Womynet, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Soroptimist International of Davao and Zonta Club 1 and 2. (Womynet/PIA) [top]

More investments in tourism sought (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20070929104286.html)



BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

DAVAO CITY — Travel and tour operators are pushing for more tourism investments in Mindanao saying the region remains largely untapped despite its strong potential as a tourist destination in the country.


Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) president Jose Clemente III at the association’s general membership meeting in Davao said that meeting was purposely held here to underscore the need to promote Mindanao as an alternative tourist destination.

But Clemente stressed that more tourism investments must go hand in hand with its promotional efforts of repackaging the image of Mindanao as a safe place for tourists.

"The perception in general is that it is a place of conflict. We are holding our GMM here in Davao in support of the region. With support from the national government and some investments from the private sector, this region can become the country’s primary tourist destination," Clemente said.

According to Clemente, the PTAA has the network to push for more tourism in Mindanao.

"Our membership is expected to reach an all time high this year and we want to see some progress in the development of new corridors to decongest traffic in the usual tourist destinations," Clemente said.

Clemente cited Davao City, one of the largest cities in the world, as a model in Mindanao’s progress after having been cited twice by the Asian Institute of Management as the most competitive city in the country.

The PTAA is the leading partner of the government in attracting investors to develop tourism related infrastructure in key areas nationwide.

Established in 1979, the PTAA is the official Philippine representative to the ASEAN Tourism Association, Federation of ASEAN Travel Agencies, and the Universal Federation of Travel Agencies Association.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has adopted a tourism advocacy saying tourism is the country’s sunshine industry.

PCCI president Samie Lim, the organization’s champion for tourism at PCCI, also reported that $ 4.5 billion out of the $ 5 billion targeted investments in the tourism and tourism sector under PCCI advocacy have been poured in by tourism investors.

"We are now on the third year of our five-year plan and $ 4.5 billion have been poured in the tourism sector," he said.

The PCCI advocacy program also targeted 5 million tourist arrivals at the end of the program in 2010. The $ 5 billion investments are expected to generate 5 million jobs.

"Everything depends on setting a goal, without it there is nothing that can be achieved," he said.

Lim has coined Five A’s in the tourism advocacy program of the PCCI, which when addressed could bring in the desired results. The Five A’s are access, accommodation, arrivals, attractions and accommodations.

PIA Press Release
2007/09/29

Mindanao, first to be consulted on 2007-2016 TDP
by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (29 September) -- Mindanao was the first to be consulted on the 2007-2016 Transmission Development Plan (TDP) of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo).

According to Milfrance Capulong, corporate communication officer of TransCo-Sema said Section 9 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIA) of 2001 requires TransCo to conduct a thorough information dissemination and public discussion of planned power transmission projects prior to their integration into the Department of Energy's (DOE) Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) and Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

The Davao league, held September 27, 2007 at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City will be followed by the Visayas customers and stakeholders in Cebu City on October 2 and at TransCo's Office in Quezon City on October 8 for customers from Luzon.

The TPD is a program for expansion. It also includes reinforcement, upgrading and rehabilition of the transmission system that TransCo prepares for integration with the DOE's PEP and PDP.

TransCo prepares and revises a ten-year TPD annually that will reflect significant changes in the power industry landscape and priorities.

She said the TPD currently follows the demand projections and generation capacity set by the DOE.

The consultation tackles latest demand projection and generation capacity being adopted by TransCo as basis to identify future transmission constraints and expansions.

Among others, she said is reporting on the completed and ongoing projects and assess the measures for improvement of the transmission network.

About 285 companies from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao including independent producers, electric cooperatives, power distribution utilities, directly connected industries, local government units, business grouips and non-government organizations will be consulted for this year's formulation of the TPD. (PIA) [top]

PIA Press Release
2007/09/29

Super Region projects covered by adequate funds – Andaya
By Rose Palacio

Davao City (29 September) -- Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said that multi-billion-peso projects under the super region development program which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo spelled out in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) are backed up by adequate funding.

"Yes we can sustain it with the needed financing up to 2010 and beyond", Andaya said, referring to the super region projects.

The DBM launched early last year public expenditure reforms, including the "paper on budget strategy," the costing of ongoing programs in three-year forward estimates (FEs), and adopted the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

The FEs determine the allocable fiscal space, thus resulting in the maximization of funds for priority sectors such as infrastructure, education, health, and social services.

"Through the FEs, we are able not only to determine the allocable fiscal space. Forward estimates also give assurance for sustained funding for approved programs and policies, thus, financial sustainability over the duration of the projects are assured," Andaya said.

He said if the government's strong revenue program and collection efforts are sustained, the total fiscal space based on the Fes would reach P527.2 billion from 2007 to 2010.

Andaya said this amount is more than enough to meet the funding requirements of the projects in the super regions estimated at P369.3 billion for the period 2007 – 2010.

The total investment cost, he added, will be shared by the private sector at P67.7 billion, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), P115.6 billion; local government units (LGUs), P1.3 billion; and the national government, P184.5 billion.

"The fiscal space to fund the SONA projects from 2007 to 2010 is P527.2 billion which is sufficient to cover 100 percent of the total investment cost of P369.3 billion. Given a strong revenue performance from 2007 to 2010, we can say with confidence that the SONA investments requirements can be adequately addressed by the government," Andaya said. (PIA XI) [top]

PIA Press Release
2007/09/29

DOST Secretary sees rise in RP's R&D spending
by RG Alama

Davao City (29 September) -- The country has one of the lowest per capita spending on Research and Development with only.14% of its Gross Domestic Product (based on 2003 figures) spent on R&D.

This according to Dr. Estrella Alabastro, current Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, which she said is very measly since it is a combined spending by the private sector and the Government.

Dr. Alabastro during a press conference of the DOST Mindanao Cluster Review held last Sept. 28 in Royal Manday Hotel, this city, said that 75% of R&D spending came from the Government with a meager 25% coming from the private sector. The DOST Secretary said that the 2008 national budget will give a hefty P1.7 billion increase on the budget of the DOST.

The budget increase will be used to increase funding on R&D and capital outlay for the Department and its agencies and institutions like the PAG-ASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), the PHILVOCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) and the Philippine Science High School.

Dr. Alabastro said that assuming the increase in DOST budget will be matched by a commensurate increase in spending on R&D by the private sector, the R&D spending is estimated to be at.30% of the country's GDP.

In its new program the Department is focusing its R&D on five specific fields namely; alternative fuels, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), environment, biotechnology and health products. (PIA XI) [top]

Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Investments in Mindanao seen to increase by 10%

THE chief of the Board of Investment (BOI) in Mindanao said Tuesday that the BOI is optimistic to catch up with the target of increasing the investments for this year.

Gil Dureza, BOI chief in Mindanao, said during Tuesday's Davao Reporters Business Forum that the investment leads generated in 2006 was placed at P13.95 billion from 41 firms.

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Updates on the Kadayawan Festival 2007

He said from the investment leads generated to date, which is P17.942 billion, BOI sees more than 10 percent increase in investments for 2007.

"As of October 1, 2007, we already have a total of P3,972,000,000 investments from seven firms and projects," Dureza said, adding that these seven firms were identified as the Hedcor power project in Davao City; the Four Seasons Company project in Tagum City; the Woo Hoo Wood Pallet Export firm in Davao City; the ECA Resources Cold Storage in General Santos City; Citra Mina in all over Mindanao; Ten Point Fishing project in General Santos City; and the Yoo Chang Corp, which into coco peat and fiber project in Davao del Sur.

Dureza added that BOI identified nine firms and projects in Davao City, Panabo City, and in General Santos City which are on the process of registration. The total investments were placed at P491,940,000 to date.

Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry-Davao Director Teolulo T. Pasawa said that the number of investments in the Davao Region this year is increasing.

"At the end of September 2007, the number of the registered business names had surpassed with the number recorded in 2006. In 2006, there are a total of 4,530 business names registered with the DTI, while a total of 4,810 business names were registered as of September," Pasawa said.

Pasawa said DTI adopted the industry cluster approach in order to increase investments in the region.

"Recently, we had a meeting with the agencies involved in the industry cluster program, and we got reports from the different agencies. The wood sector reported that a total of P10 million new investments on wood processing plants were identified in Compostela Valley, while the mining sector reported that P449 million investments was monitored for this year," Pasawa said. (JGRS)

Conjoined twins separated by Davao surgeons

By Joselle Badilla
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 07:36pm (Mla time) 10/03/2007

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- A seven-day-old conjoined twins were successfully separated by a team of doctors at the Davao Medical Center (DMC) on Tuesday morning after almost four hours of operation.

Myla and Myka Praile, born in Sandig Hospital in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat by caesarean section, were joined in the lower abdomen and shared a portion of their intestines. They also had an imperforate anus, which meant the anus did not have an opening.

Physician Michael Manalaysay, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, said the twins were admitted at the Davao Medical Center on September 26.

"The next day we had a conference and decided that the twins be operated at the soonest possible time because there are signs of them getting weak," Manalaysay told reporters.

"The doctors here at the Davao Medical Center really are at par with doctors in Manila. Operations such as this can be easily done here in Mindanao and patients need not go to Manila," he said.

Manalaysay, however, said the operation was costly.

"The twins are lucky because the operation was conducted here (in a government hospital). Operation would cost about P200,000 to P300,000," he said.

Manalaysay also called for help for the twins.

"Antibiotics alone costs around P3,000 for each kid. A budget of P10,000 for medicines and for their nutrition is needed," he said.

Myla and Myka are born to Melissa and Eugene Praile, a driver of pedicab, a bicycle with a sidecar, in Tacurong.

Physician Mae Dolendo said the Praile twins were a high risk case.

"We are not out of the woods yet. Yes, the operation is successful but we are monitoring them day by day. We are trying to provide everything, to give the best care for the babies," Dolendo said.

The team of doctors who operated on the Praile twins included surgeons Joselito Cembrano, Michelle Marie Aportadera, Santiago Aquino, Edwin Valencia, Herman Sorongon, Hector Nazareno, Jose Matilac, Neil Alegarbes, Rodel Miguel Flores, Wenelito Clapano; and pediatricians Michael Manalaysay, Joel Gallardo, Jean Tay, Mae Dolendo, Jacqueline Quinolbay; anesthesiologists Helen Gabaton, Marc Gaurino, Christian Martin, Dahlia Arancel, Virgil Miras, Ceasar Sy, Felipe Villarosa Jr., Guiahida Ali-Mañago and Ilma Chavez.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=92318

^^ great news!! :cheers:

Footprints By Tony Vn. Figueroa
The Mindanao bloc (http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/column.php?id=3128)

MANILA - Numbering over 50 lawmakers from both sides of the political fence, the Mindanao bloc, in part strengthened by more idealistic lawmakers whose intentions are not bound by partisan clout, looks like it is heading for a more lucrative direction.

Two of the bloc’s younger stalwarts, both neophytes in legislative work, are Davao’s own prominent sons: successful businessman-executive Anton F. Lagdameo (Davao del Norte) and Harvard-trained Marc Douglas Cagas (Davao del Sur).

Lagdameo (who else but the low-profile hubby of thespian Dawn Zulueta and first grandchild of the illustrious Don Antonio Floirendo) has been lately immersing himself in local initiatives he strongly believes will have far-ranging impact in his district.

Refiled by Lagdameo after the previous Congress failed to adopt it is the declaration of a 500-hectare land in the Island Garden City of Samal into a special economic zone. Former Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., uncle of Anton, first broached the idea in his third congressional term. In fact, Floirendo sired the construction of the road network that would allow the entry of new investments in the island.

While the bill made it through the House and the Senate, both chambers, pressed for time, failed to espouse it. To save it from the archives infinitely, Lagdameo had to refile the bill just as his first term took off months ago.

The young representative, more importantly, has no pretense where he is going by taking on this significant piece of legislation. He is determined to transform the island-city into an eco-tourism and banking hub, and it is not hard to gauge this by the amount of time he uses in getting the support of his colleagues in the Mindanao bloc.

Making Samal into a special economic zone can have far-ranging implication for the island-city. Primarily, this will open the area to investments with immediate impact on the coastal tourism and implemented with the intent to protect the environment.

Lagdameo disclosed that the realization of a special ecozone does not only generate investment as much as it will enhance productivity in Southern Mindanao, but it will also generate the usual employment targets, better economic opportunities for the informal sector, and the rise of Samal as an important banking hub in Mindanao.

These are optimistic goals, Lagdameo admitted, but achieving it first hinges on the adoption of the bill and with its enactment into law the approval of corresponding budget for the development of the special ecozone.

For his part, Marc, now slowly moving on his own away from the impressive shadow of his father, Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Ra. Cagas, the resolve to pursue previous initiatives that focus on public welfare remains a primary objective.

Like his compatriots in the Mindanao bloc, improving the lot of the indigents in his district comes as an indisputable agenda. Livelihood, farm productivity, menial jobs, post-harvest facilities, feeder roads, and health initiatives are just some of the high-profile concerns highlighted in his legislative agenda.

Marc has his own way of seeing problems, and he is making his own assessment on how best to continue the projects his father-predecessor had done for his district. In fact, if there is one thing that makes this young man stand out, it is his energy to go to the barangays and personally consult with the folks.

Still in his months of learning the legislative rope, the young Cagas, already an active participant in the Mindanao clique, keeps his regular, if very friendly, consultation with equally spirited lawmakers in his league. The budget hearing that is set to start next should provide him and other newcomers first-hand appreciation on how the government defends the national appropriation and how this important document is being skewered in the House floor by congressman.

So far, these two young Turks are silently making their mark in a House that is at times rowdy and bossy. The smiles that come easy with often give way to more serious debates when they come to attend committee hearings.

For the duo, legislative work is something that is beyond learning. In fact, it is a tool that spells the difference in improving people’s lives.

Ausaid-funded program to develop Mindanao launched (http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=18167)
By Carmelito Q. Francisco

THE Enterprise Challenge Fund, an Australian government funded program, is a program that might develop projects that will benefit Mindanao and its people.

John Hardin, fund director, said the fund is looking for businesses facing external obstacles that will improve the living standards of the areas that the projects of their businesses will be implemented.

“I will be delighted to see Mindanao companies (accessing the fund),” Hardin told a business briefing on the program at the Marco Polo Hotel here.

In the Philippines, the program will fund projects that will be implemented in Mindanao. Other countries that will compete with Philippines in accessing the program are Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Indonesia.

Under the program, projects of businesses from these countries will compete in accessing the Australia$16 million that will be granted to them. A project grant is between Australia $100,000 to Australia$1.5 million.

Sam Zappia, Australian Agency for International Development (Ausaid) counselor for development cooperation, said his agency chose Mindanao because this is where the poorest of the poor provinces are located.

Another factor considered in choosing Mindanao, Zappia added, is that Mindanao is home to conflict-affected areas. “Experts suggest that implementing business opportunities (in a conflict-affected area) will ease the tension,” he said.

Zappia also pointed out that Mindanao is also largely untapped and that opportunities still abound.

For the project proponent to access the fund, the company should present a “commercially viable project” which can “provide benefits to the poor,” said Hardin, pointing out that the company must not e a startup and must have a sound financial structure.

“The challenge is for these businesses to get the money,” he added, pointing out that the proponent should also shell out 50 percent of the project funding either through internally-generated fund, equipment and even time. However, real estate will not be entertained as component of the fund.

Hardin warned that it will be difficult to access the fund considering that a project proposal will compete with those coming from other countries. “We will look at (the proposals) very, very carefully,” he said.

“This (fund) is not a cash to improve the cash flow, but it is a fund to overcome the obstacle (in the implementation) of a project,” he said.

Jason Magnaye, fund country manager for the Philippines, said he has started discussing the program with business groups around Mindanao in an attempt to spread the message about the program.

He said will somehow address the need of some companies for funding to implement their projects, pointing out that the Mindanao business sector has been complaining about the lack of lending windows for businesses.

“We would like to address the particular niche on project that have very good chances in helping the community but cannot take off because of lack of funding,” said Magnaye, former executive director of the Mindanao Business Council.

Hardin said that in the case of the Philippines, the program will not only fund companies in Mindanao, but will also give funds to those outside Mindanao provided that they implement the project in the island.

Under the program setup, companies are invited to submit their concept note on the project online between now until December 31 through the website of the program (www.enterprisechallengefund.org).

After the submission of the concept data, an assessment panel will assess which among the concept notes will be made into project proposals which the panel again review. If a project proposal is approved, then the program will start implementing it.

Hardin pointed out that a funding for a certain project will be released by tranche, depending on the cycle of its implementation.

Under the program, there will be two bidding cycles in one year. A bidding cycle is between the submission of the concept note until the approval of the project.

Hardin said by the second bidding cycle next year, five more countries will be added and these are Vanuato, Solomon Islands, Cambodia, Lao and East Timor.

Magnaye believes that Mindanao businesses, many of them into agri-business ventures, may have a better chances in their proposals because of their impact in communities in relation to providing jobs and improving the livelihood of their host communities.

“We have a very good potential (in accessing the fund),” he added, pointing out that there are project proposals submitted before the business community which “could fit into the Fund.” “There are a lot of creative projects in Mindanao and a number of them are replicable,” he said.

However, he cautioned that in the first bidding, there might be no local company that will get an approval because of the stiff competition and that this is just the first time for businesses to compete in this kind of business venture.

Mindanao Super Region

The Mindanao Super Region, which is composed of Regions IX, X except Camiguin, XI, XII, Caraga except Siargao, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, has a competitive edge in agribusiness, especially in high value crops, which can be further harnessed by major infrastructure support. Mindanao accounts for over 40% of the country’s food requirements and contributes more than 30% to the national food trade. However, despite its competitive advantage in agribusiness, Mindanao has the poorest regions and provinces in the country. The development strategy for the Super Region therefore shall ensure that efforts to address Mindanao’s development imperatives are accelerated.

Roads. The major road projects in Mindanao are mainly intended to bring farm produce to the market faster and at least cost and to cut travel time for travelers. These projects, which will be constructed until 2010, are being built for a total cost of P12.868 billion.


The Dakak-Dapitan Road Project involves the widening of 10 kilometers of road in Dapitan City leading to Dakak. This P210-million project will provide a more reliable, efficient, and safer transport infrastructure, which will further enhance the tourism potentials of Dapitan City and Dakak. It is expected to be completed by August 2009.

The Dinagat Island Road Network involves the improvement and rehabilitation of 15 kilometers of road that shall connect the municipalities of Cagdianao and Loreto, Dinagat, San Jose, Basilisa, Libjo, and Tubajon in the newly created province of Dinagat Island. At a cost of P100 million, the project is divided into nine (9) sections. Construction started in April 2007 and the project shall be completed by January 2008.

The P90-million Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan Barangay Road involves the opening and upgrading of 35.8 kilometers of barangay roads in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. The project proposal has been endorsed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for funding.

The Lebak-Maguindanao Road, costing P1.952 billion and also known as the Awang-Upi-Lebak Road, is an 88-km project that traverses the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. It shall provide access to the centers of agricultural, industrial, fishing, commercial and tourism activities in Mindanao. Pre-qualification for the three contract packages of the project are under preparation. The whole project will be completed by October 2009.

The Sibuco-Siraway-Siocon-Baliguian-Gutalac Coastal Road in Zamboanga del Norte will serve as a backbone link connecting seven (7) coastal towns and two (2) major cities in Region IX, the Zambaoanga Peninsula—Zamboanga City in the south and Dipolog City in the north. The project shall be completed in October 2009 at a cost of P1.326 billion. Construction works in the Siraway-Siocon and Sibuco-Siraway sections are ongoing, while detailed engineering for the Siocon-Jct.Baliguian and Jct.Baliguian-Gutalac sections are ongoing.

The Surigao-Davao Road Project involves the rehabilitation and improvement of 448 kilometers of road at a cost of P6.52 billion. Straddling the provinces of Surigao Del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental, it is divided into five (5) Sections: a) Bacuag-Claver, b) Marihatag-Hinatuan-Bislig, c) Manay-Mati, d) Cortez-Tandang-Marihatag, and e) Bislig-Manay. Currently, the Manay-Mati Section in Davao Oriental is three-fourths complete. The rest of the other sections are under different stages of project implementation. The project is expected to be completed by May 2010.
The Panguil Bay Bridge is a 2.36-km bridge linking Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental. This project will facilitate the unimpeded flow of goods and services between Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental. A total of P121 million out of its total cost of P2.67 billion is being allocated in the FY 2007 budget. The implementation arrangement of the project is being finalized with the assistance of the World Bank-International Finance Corporation. DPWH is considering the proposal to include the LGUs in the implementation of the project.


Airports. The seven (7) airport projects in Mindanao, aside from providing a faster mode of transport of people, are also meant to provide an efficient means of transporting produce from Mindanao to the Luzon Urban Beltway. These seven airports cost a total of P6.24 million.


The Butuan Airport in Agusan del Norte is a P250-million project involving the extension of the runway and improvement of the air navigation system. Runway extension was bid out on 29 May 2007 while detailed engineering (DE) for the improvement of the air navigation system is still ongoing. The airport shall be completed in May 2008.

The rehabilitation of the Cotabato Airport is expected to be completed in 2007, at a cost of P85 million. The asphalt overlay of a portion of the runway is almost complete. Procurement is on-going for the continuation of the asphalt overlay.

The Dipolog Airport in Zamboanga del Norte involves shore protection, asphalt overlay, and widening of the runway at a cost of P115 million. Shore protection covering 132 meters out of its 2,146-meter length is complete and 13 more meters are expected to be completed on 21 August 2007. Asphalt overlay and widening of the runway is 100% complete while the continuation of runway widening and shore protection of the balance of 2,001 meters is in the bidding stage.

The P5.39-billion Laguindingan Airport Project involves the construction of a new airport in Misamis Oriental, including new runway, taxiway, apron and other airside facilities; new buildings such as passenger terminal building (PTB), cargo facilities; supply and installation of air navigation and support facilities and other airport equipment and vehicles. Procurement of contractor for the construction of the airport is currently ongoing. The airport is expected to be completed by May 2011. Construction of the access road started on 11 July 2007 and will be completed by April 2008.

The Ozamis Airport Project involves the rehabilitation of the terminal building, vehicle parking area, and expansion of apron at a total cost of P86 million. Civil works for the runway markings and obstruction removal is in the procurement stage but construction of riverbank protection and concreting of runway is almost 40% complete.

The Pagadian Airport in Zamboanga del Sur is a P515.76-million project divided into two phases. For Phase I, the initial asphalt overlay of the runway is 95.40% complete while bidding for the asphalt overlay of the rest of the runway was held on 14 June 2007. Civil works for Phase II is expected to start in June 2008 and end in September 2009.

The P257-million rehabilitation of Zamboanga Airport in Zamboanga del Sur will enhance the operations of the Zamboanga Airport and make travel safer and more comfortable. The initial asphalt overlay of the runway is 100% complete, while the rest of the immediate improvement, such as the construction of elevated water tank and powerhouse, and rehabilitation of the passenger terminal building (PTB), is 99.5% complete.


Ports. There are two major (2) port projects in Mindanao, costing P970.32 million, that are expected to contribute to the enhancement of the Super Region’s competitive edge in agribusiness.


The P574.23-million Port of Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental involves the upgrading and rehabilitation of the existing back-up area and the construction of a back-up area for the newly constructed wharf. The upgrading and rehabilitation of the existing back-up area is 95.93% complete while the construction of a back-up area for the newly constructed wharf is 40.10% complete. The port shall be completed in January 2009.

The Davao Port in Sasa, Davao City is under rehabilitation and port expansion at a cost of P396.09 million. The rehabilitation of the quay was completed on 16 April 2007 while port expansion is 48% complete. The port expansion is expected to be finished in March 2008.


Energy Reliability. The completion of the 210-MW Mindanao Coal-Fired power plant by the National Power Corporation in 2006 increased the aggregate dependable capacity to about 1,706 MW, resulting in adequate power in Mindanao until 2008. However, by 2009, Mindanao shall need an additional capacity (demand plus reserves) of 100 MW to ensure sufficient supply of power. In 2010, another 100-MW baseload plant will be needed and from 2011 to 2013, a 150-MW baseload plant shall be needed each year. In 2014, a 200-MW baseload plant shall be required. The total required capacity from 2009 to 2014 is 850 MW. To address these power gaps, the government has outlined the following programs:

On Generation


Optimization of Agus II Hydroelectric Power Plant by 60 MW in 2008;
Completion of the 70-MW Run-of-River Hydro in 2009;
50-MW Mt. Apo 3 Geothermal Power Project; and
100-MW potential expansion of Mindanao Coal.


On Transmission


By 2009, the P8-billion Abaga-Kirahon-Maramag-Bunawon Transmission Project will establish the backbone transmission system from Northern Mindanao, where majority of the cheap and environment-friendly hydro plants are located, to Southern Mindanao, where bulk of the major industrial and commercial customers are located.


Environment Protection. The government shall ensure that while Mindanao develops its ecosystem shall be protected.


Since 2006, the DENR has reforested a total of 48,460 has. in Mindanao. Most of these reforested areas are in the Davao and CARAGA Regions. For 2007, the government will be planting an additional 11.17 million seedlings, including fruit trees.

Since 2001, six (6) Protected Areas with an aggregate area of 53,944 has. were added to the Mindanao Super Region’s 25 Protected Areas, bringing the total to 31 and increasing the area for protection by 5.6%, or 1 million has. The new Protected Areas are the Mt. Malindang Natural Park, Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape, Timpoong and Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mati Protected Landscape.

The DENR monitors the water quality (levels of coliform) in 10 major beaches in Mindanao, including Dakak, La Vista, Samal Island, and Cabadbaran. The DENR informs the local governments and the resort owners of the results of its monitoring so they can improve their waste disposal system and water quality to attract more tourists.

The DENR has mapped and identified landslide-prone areas in 42% of the Mindanao Super Region or 122 out of the 293 cities and municipalities. In particular, it has completed the geo-hazard mapping of Davao Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and the provinces in the eastern seaboard of Mindanao while 75% of CARAGA and 50% of Region XI have been mapped. The DENR expects to complete the geo-hazard mapping of the whole Mindanao by 2010.

To promote alternative fuels that are good for the environment, the DENR will create a biofuels corridor along the Pagadian-Zamboanga Road where it can grow varied feedstocks like cassava, sweet sorghum and Jatropha.


source (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/sona2007-execsummary.htm#Ports.3)

wow! :applause: very detailed gearX!

Mindanao Super Region

The Mindanao Super Region, which is composed of Regions IX, X except Camiguin, XI, XII, Caraga except Siargao, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, has a competitive edge in agribusiness, especially in high value crops, which can be further harnessed by major infrastructure support. Mindanao accounts for over 40% of the country’s food requirements and contributes more than 30% to the national food trade. However, despite its competitive advantage in agribusiness, Mindanao has the poorest regions and provinces in the country. The development strategy for the Super Region therefore shall ensure that efforts to address Mindanao’s development imperatives are accelerated.

Roads. The major road projects in Mindanao are mainly intended to bring farm produce to the market faster and at least cost and to cut travel time for travelers. These projects, which will be constructed until 2010, are being built for a total cost of P12.868 billion.


The Dakak-Dapitan Road Project involves the widening of 10 kilometers of road in Dapitan City leading to Dakak. This P210-million project will provide a more reliable, efficient, and safer transport infrastructure, which will further enhance the tourism potentials of Dapitan City and Dakak. It is expected to be completed by August 2009.

The Dinagat Island Road Network involves the improvement and rehabilitation of 15 kilometers of road that shall connect the municipalities of Cagdianao and Loreto, Dinagat, San Jose, Basilisa, Libjo, and Tubajon in the newly created province of Dinagat Island. At a cost of P100 million, the project is divided into nine (9) sections. Construction started in April 2007 and the project shall be completed by January 2008.

The P90-million Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan Barangay Road involves the opening and upgrading of 35.8 kilometers of barangay roads in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. The project proposal has been endorsed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for funding.

The Lebak-Maguindanao Road, costing P1.952 billion and also known as the Awang-Upi-Lebak Road, is an 88-km project that traverses the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. It shall provide access to the centers of agricultural, industrial, fishing, commercial and tourism activities in Mindanao. Pre-qualification for the three contract packages of the project are under preparation. The whole project will be completed by October 2009.

The Sibuco-Siraway-Siocon-Baliguian-Gutalac Coastal Road in Zamboanga del Norte will serve as a backbone link connecting seven (7) coastal towns and two (2) major cities in Region IX, the Zambaoanga Peninsula—Zamboanga City in the south and Dipolog City in the north. The project shall be completed in October 2009 at a cost of P1.326 billion. Construction works in the Siraway-Siocon and Sibuco-Siraway sections are ongoing, while detailed engineering for the Siocon-Jct.Baliguian and Jct.Baliguian-Gutalac sections are ongoing.

The Surigao-Davao Road Project involves the rehabilitation and improvement of 448 kilometers of road at a cost of P6.52 billion. Straddling the provinces of Surigao Del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental, it is divided into five (5) Sections: a) Bacuag-Claver, b) Marihatag-Hinatuan-Bislig, c) Manay-Mati, d) Cortez-Tandang-Marihatag, and e) Bislig-Manay. Currently, the Manay-Mati Section in Davao Oriental is three-fourths complete. The rest of the other sections are under different stages of project implementation. The project is expected to be completed by May 2010.
The Panguil Bay Bridge is a 2.36-km bridge linking Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental. This project will facilitate the unimpeded flow of goods and services between Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental. A total of P121 million out of its total cost of P2.67 billion is being allocated in the FY 2007 budget. The implementation arrangement of the project is being finalized with the assistance of the World Bank-International Finance Corporation. DPWH is considering the proposal to include the LGUs in the implementation of the project.


Airports. The seven (7) airport projects in Mindanao, aside from providing a faster mode of transport of people, are also meant to provide an efficient means of transporting produce from Mindanao to the Luzon Urban Beltway. These seven airports cost a total of P6.24 million.


The Butuan Airport in Agusan del Norte is a P250-million project involving the extension of the runway and improvement of the air navigation system. Runway extension was bid out on 29 May 2007 while detailed engineering (DE) for the improvement of the air navigation system is still ongoing. The airport shall be completed in May 2008.

The rehabilitation of the Cotabato Airport is expected to be completed in 2007, at a cost of P85 million. The asphalt overlay of a portion of the runway is almost complete. Procurement is on-going for the continuation of the asphalt overlay.

The Dipolog Airport in Zamboanga del Norte involves shore protection, asphalt overlay, and widening of the runway at a cost of P115 million. Shore protection covering 132 meters out of its 2,146-meter length is complete and 13 more meters are expected to be completed on 21 August 2007. Asphalt overlay and widening of the runway is 100% complete while the continuation of runway widening and shore protection of the balance of 2,001 meters is in the bidding stage.

The P5.39-billion Laguindingan Airport Project involves the construction of a new airport in Misamis Oriental, including new runway, taxiway, apron and other airside facilities; new buildings such as passenger terminal building (PTB), cargo facilities; supply and installation of air navigation and support facilities and other airport equipment and vehicles. Procurement of contractor for the construction of the airport is currently ongoing. The airport is expected to be completed by May 2011. Construction of the access road started on 11 July 2007 and will be completed by April 2008.

The Ozamis Airport Project involves the rehabilitation of the terminal building, vehicle parking area, and expansion of apron at a total cost of P86 million. Civil works for the runway markings and obstruction removal is in the procurement stage but construction of riverbank protection and concreting of runway is almost 40% complete.

The Pagadian Airport in Zamboanga del Sur is a P515.76-million project divided into two phases. For Phase I, the initial asphalt overlay of the runway is 95.40% complete while bidding for the asphalt overlay of the rest of the runway was held on 14 June 2007. Civil works for Phase II is expected to start in June 2008 and end in September 2009.

The P257-million rehabilitation of Zamboanga Airport in Zamboanga del Sur will enhance the operations of the Zamboanga Airport and make travel safer and more comfortable. The initial asphalt overlay of the runway is 100% complete, while the rest of the immediate improvement, such as the construction of elevated water tank and powerhouse, and rehabilitation of the passenger terminal building (PTB), is 99.5% complete.


Ports. There are two major (2) port projects in Mindanao, costing P970.32 million, that are expected to contribute to the enhancement of the Super Region’s competitive edge in agribusiness.


The P574.23-million Port of Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental involves the upgrading and rehabilitation of the existing back-up area and the construction of a back-up area for the newly constructed wharf. The upgrading and rehabilitation of the existing back-up area is 95.93% complete while the construction of a back-up area for the newly constructed wharf is 40.10% complete. The port shall be completed in January 2009.

The Davao Port in Sasa, Davao City is under rehabilitation and port expansion at a cost of P396.09 million. The rehabilitation of the quay was completed on 16 April 2007 while port expansion is 48% complete. The port expansion is expected to be finished in March 2008.


Energy Reliability. The completion of the 210-MW Mindanao Coal-Fired power plant by the National Power Corporation in 2006 increased the aggregate dependable capacity to about 1,706 MW, resulting in adequate power in Mindanao until 2008. However, by 2009, Mindanao shall need an additional capacity (demand plus reserves) of 100 MW to ensure sufficient supply of power. In 2010, another 100-MW baseload plant will be needed and from 2011 to 2013, a 150-MW baseload plant shall be needed each year. In 2014, a 200-MW baseload plant shall be required. The total required capacity from 2009 to 2014 is 850 MW. To address these power gaps, the government has outlined the following programs:

On Generation


Optimization of Agus II Hydroelectric Power Plant by 60 MW in 2008;
Completion of the 70-MW Run-of-River Hydro in 2009;
50-MW Mt. Apo 3 Geothermal Power Project; and
100-MW potential expansion of Mindanao Coal.


On Transmission


By 2009, the P8-billion Abaga-Kirahon-Maramag-Bunawon Transmission Project will establish the backbone transmission system from Northern Mindanao, where majority of the cheap and environment-friendly hydro plants are located, to Southern Mindanao, where bulk of the major industrial and commercial customers are located.


Environment Protection. The government shall ensure that while Mindanao develops its ecosystem shall be protected.


Since 2006, the DENR has reforested a total of 48,460 has. in Mindanao. Most of these reforested areas are in the Davao and CARAGA Regions. For 2007, the government will be planting an additional 11.17 million seedlings, including fruit trees.

Since 2001, six (6) Protected Areas with an aggregate area of 53,944 has. were added to the Mindanao Super Region’s 25 Protected Areas, bringing the total to 31 and increasing the area for protection by 5.6%, or 1 million has. The new Protected Areas are the Mt. Malindang Natural Park, Initao-Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape, Timpoong and Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mati Protected Landscape.

The DENR monitors the water quality (levels of coliform) in 10 major beaches in Mindanao, including Dakak, La Vista, Samal Island, and Cabadbaran. The DENR informs the local governments and the resort owners of the results of its monitoring so they can improve their waste disposal system and water quality to attract more tourists.

The DENR has mapped and identified landslide-prone areas in 42% of the Mindanao Super Region or 122 out of the 293 cities and municipalities. In particular, it has completed the geo-hazard mapping of Davao Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and the provinces in the eastern seaboard of Mindanao while 75% of CARAGA and 50% of Region XI have been mapped. The DENR expects to complete the geo-hazard mapping of the whole Mindanao by 2010.

To promote alternative fuels that are good for the environment, the DENR will create a biofuels corridor along the Pagadian-Zamboanga Road where it can grow varied feedstocks like cassava, sweet sorghum and Jatropha.


source (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/sona2007-execsummary.htm#Ports.3)

:okay:

Luzon losing out to Visayas and Mindanao on huge cold chain investment

MEMBERS of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) are shying away from investing heavily in Luzon due to the spiraling cost of power, said CCAP president Anthony Dizon.

In an interview at the sidelines of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines last week, Dizon said current Luzon power rates have forced majority of CCAP members to seek business expansion in Visayas and Mindanao where power rates are much cheaper.

He said the Luzon rate of P8 to P10 per kilowatt hour is way beyond the CCAP forecast of P4 to P5 per kilowatt hour in 2000.

Dizon said association members are in the meantime not qualified to tap the Time-of-Use energy-pricing program of the Manila Electric Company. Under the program, industrial and non-industrial users during off-peak hours, usually during Sundays and at night, pay up to 50% less than during peak hours.

The entire cold chain system, however, does not use up the needed wattage to qualify for the program, Dizon said.

"Unless power rates in Luzon drastically go down, cold chain investments will be concentrated in the Visayas and Mindanao where power is much cheaper and where there is a huge market potential particularly in General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Davao," Dizon stressed.

For the last 12 months, power rates have increased by approximately 30%. Cold chain players have not jacked up their rates by as much for fear of losing clients.

Three cold chain facilities worth P600 million were recently built in Mindanao — one in General Santos for pork processing related to the ‘pork-in-a-box’ program of the Department of Agriculture, one in Cagayan de Oro catering to the combined marine and chicken market of the region, and another in Davao for fruit and vegetable exports.

source (http://www.portcalls.com/html/news/news20070917.html)

Saturday, October 06, 2007
Mindanao culinary fest opens at NCCC
By Joy Romares-Sevilla

THE 7th Mindanao Culinary Festival, being held back-to-back with the 4th International Hotel and Restaurant and Home Expo, opened Friday at the Convention Center of the NCCC Mall of Davao.

The three-day event, which carries the theme: "Flavors and Spices of Mindanao," gathered professional chefs, students, government officials, and other experts on food and beverages.

Davao Tourism Association (Data) president Angel Puentespina said this year's event features the mango pavilion of the Davao Region Mango Contractors Association Inc. (Daremca).

"This is the first time that we will have the mango pavilion. It is a special feature of the event, ngayon lang nagkaroon ng mango pavilion maybe because the mango industry realized there's a need to promote mango not just as a fruit and commodity, but as a food," Puentespina said.

Puentespina also said participants in this year's culinary festival increased with the participation of more schools from as far as General Santos City and Kabacan.

"There is a reduction in the number of participants from the professionals, but there's a big increase in the number of students who are participating in he festival. The number of students now, I can say is even higher than the total number of participants last year," Puentespina said.

He said Data sees a long-term effect with the staging of the culinary festival.

"Through this event, we can somehow lead the attention of our people to something which is near to everybody's stomach. This time, this is not about politics, and natural resources, we can show na maraming pwedeng ipagmayabang ang Davao at ang Mindanao in terms of food," he said.

Puentespina described the event as a venue where people can enhance their skills and learn, thus indirectly creating a more competitive food service and building Davao as a big tourism destination.

The 7th Mindanao Culinary Festival is the biggest and the most prestigious culinary event in Mindanao. It is a project by the Davao Tourism Association and was organized by the Konkordans, a destination and management company in Davao City.

The event offers free cooking and baking demos, free seminar and lectures, and free food sampling and taste tests. It runs until October 7.

JOBIT DELI'S

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FOR MORE INFOS / ORDERS: PLS CONTACT R.A. CORBITA 09185887741 - 09167783324

New Australian fund set for Mindanao enterprises

By Manuel T. Cayon
Reporter

DAVAO CITY—Australia put up a new fund for enterprises in Mindanao to help increase economic activity in a region where Australia has also actively helped the Philippine government contain its security threat.

Australia has allotted A$16 million (P634.24 million) to the Enterprise Challenge Fund (ECF) that would be granted to any enterprise based on or operating in Mindanao.

John Hardin, the fund director for the ECF’s Pacific and Southeast Asia, said similar fund provision would be operated in other countries in the Pacific Rim which needed financial assistance from developed countries like Australia.

Fund assistance would be in the form of a grant, but Hardin said that the ECF would be looking at the performance of the grantee, releasing the grant in installment to ensure the proper management of the business.

There would be no discrimination as to the grantee, said Jason Magnaye, the ECF country director. The grantee would be determined by the viability of the project as contained in the project proposal or a project feasibility study.

Although the ECF was also intended to help put up economic and social opportunity in areas affected by the armed conflict, Magnaye said that business applications for funding would neither carry advantage of being in an area of conflict.

An ECF panel would determine the approval of a grant of a business enterprise and would likely be evaluated on the impact of the project to the community.

“There would be projects that need a bigger amount and there would be projects that need little fund, but if a particular project that needs little fund would benefit a lot of people, I think that would be likely considered,” Hardin said.

As a new fund, the ECF has eyed the private sector as its client “because it is our belief that for the economy to progress, it needs to have economic growth”.

“Where there is growth, there would be economic stability and the private sector should be the engine of the economy in its growth direction,” said Mofe Ogisi, project manager of the Coffey International Development Pty. Ltd., which manages the ECF program for the Australian government. The agency is a specialist in developing communities worldwide.

Sam Zappia, counselor for development cooperation of the Australian Assistance for International Development (AusAid), said the ECF was part of the Australian government commitment to the call of the United Nations to the economically advance countries to give more than to their usual level of international financial assistance to the poor nations.

He said that Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, made the commitment last year that it would double its aid to developing countries by the fiscal year 2010-2011. Australia would see its aid kitty to reach A$4 billion, from the current level of A$2 billion.

“The Philippines would be one of the countries that would benefit from the increased assistance,” Zappia said.

With assistance at already A$72 million, he said it would reach A$102 million by 2007-2008.

“The level of assistance would still reach as much as A$150 million by 2010-2011,” he added.

The bulk of the assistance would still go the basic education thrust of the Department of Education, along with its own project of Basic Education Assistance in Mindanao (Beam).

The other funding would be funneled to the Philippine government programs on infrastructure support to rural development and other public infrastructure spending.

“We would go around the provinces to talk to the provincial governors on what infrastructure are needed in their locality,” Zappia said, and disclosed that the projects would likely go to constructing secondary and access roads.

“These are roads that would link the other areas of the province to the national highway,” he said, citing the limitation of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to constructing only the national highways.

source (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/10082007/economy02.html)

10-seat contact centers emerging in RP
By Ronnel Domingo
Inquirer
Last updated 08:43pm (Mla time) 10/07/2007

MANILA, Philippines--THE CALL center industry is already making its presence felt in the Philippines, but the best is yet to come, according to Davao-based businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian.

The call center industry has been touted as the country's sunrise industry, and Bian says new facets of the business process outsourcing sector are still emerging, such as the small to medium-sized centers.

"Small- and medium-scale call centers (SMCCs) are flourishing and they can prove to be as strong a support sector as the big operators we are cheering today," she said.

Bian explains that SMCCs are those that operate with a capacity of 200 seats or less, and preferably at least 10 seats to ensure viability.

"The CICT [Commission on Information and Communication Technology] refer to these as Smites or small- and medium-scale IT enterprises," Bian says.

"Whatever they may be called, they are becoming a strong presence in the coming years," she adds. "In fact, they are dispersed in the regions unlike the big call centers, and the average SMCC has 10 seats."

Bian herself owns the nascent Six Eleven Inc. which has two sites--one in Davao City with 158 seats and another in Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City with 174 seats.

Six Eleven started in Davao last May 2006, mainly offering outbound sales services such as marketing travel plans.

Business was so promising that the firm opened the second site in Quezon City last August and would start operations on Sept. 28.

"But despite the evident strong potential of SMCCs, they face greater odds compared with the big players," Bian says. "With less resources, it is hard for us to launch campaigns and promote ourselves to clients because most SMCCs rely on brokers who may turn out to be unreliable."

For this reason, Bian's firm joined forces with similarly situated SMCCs and formed the Philippine Call Center Alliance Inc. or PhilCall in October 2006.

So far, PhilCall has 25 members--with an average of 40 seats each--including 999 Inc., Synergia Cybercare Inc., VirCommServe Inc., Right Technicomm Inc., Sysgen Outsource Inc., Tech1 Internet and Farmout Central Intouch Inc.

Bian, who is PhilCall interim president, explains that the association was meant to advance SMCCs interest mainly by curbing the problem of dealing with brokers.

"At this early, PhilCall has been able to undertake initial efforts in representing members when making campaigns," she says. "This move saves our members from the prospect of not getting paid by clients because of unreliable brokers."

To strengthen PhilCall and make it more effective, the group has also embarked on a campaign to enlist more members with the goal of being able to represent a total of 10,000 seats.

"Our aim is also to professionalize SMCC operation so that we can establish a good reputation that is based on high standards of services as well as of ethics," Bian says. "We want to flesh out SMCCs from the underground, so to speak."

She adds that aside from the current 25 members, there was "a larger number" of SMCCs that have registered with PhilCall for eventual membership.

She says SMCC are spread across the country's so-called regional IT hubs like the cities of Cebu, Davao, Dagupan, Naga, Baguio, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro.

A large majority of SMCCs are involved in outbound sales calls, but Bian said opportunities were vast because technical support, data management, accounting, banking transactions and "anything under the sun" could be outsourced.

Moreover, SMCCs do not have to struggle to compete with the big players for clients. "Big clients naturally go for big players, so SMCCs have small clients that are emerging in parallel."

According to PhilCall's profile, it also accepts associate members for companies whose business activities support those of the regular members--VoIP and software providers, training and recruitment centers, etc.

"Small and medium home grown contact centers nationwide have come into play serving as conduits for ICT growth in the locality as it creates a ripple effect in the local economy with its increasing demand for technology, infrastructure and manpower," the profile says.

Link:http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=93074

Ombudsman : Mindanao Least Corrupt Region in the Philippines
Mike Banos

Link: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=11128

If the state of graft and corruption in the country was gauged by the number of cases filed with the Ombudsman, Mindanao would be the "least corrupt" region in the entire Philippines.

"When I started my term seven years ago, we had 1,500 pending cases," said Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Antonio E. Valenzuela. "By the end of 2005, we only had 330 cases remaining in various stages of investigation, from fact-finding to preliminary investigation. Although this has again risen to about 580, it still represents a significant decrease over the years."

Valenzuela joined Tanodbayan Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez and other officials from the Ombudsman for a two day visit to Cagayan de Oro June 19-20 to address a seminar for barangay officials and officially inaugurate the Ombudsman's first regional office in Mindanao.

"When I started my term, we used to receive over 300 complaints a month," he added. "This is now down to some 80 monthly."

Valuenzuela, 66, will retire on July 2 after his seven year term expires. He attributes the decreasing number of graft and corruption filed with the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao in Davao City to the successful implementation of the pro-active preventive programs of the Ombudsman.

"In fact, I can tell you barangay officials are not corrupt," Tanodbayan Gutierrez told 160 barangay officials in her keynote address during the one-day seminar on "Integrity Development and Public Accountability" hosted by the city June 19. She said the complaints filed against barangay officials show that "the acts committed involved more alleged abuse of authority than dishonesty. Medyo yumayabang."

Guiterrez said the Office of the Ombudsman has committed itself to "shepherd a convergence process that would lead to the formation of a comprehensive National Anti-Corruption Program of Action (NACPA) that would involve many sectors, as well as LGUs and barangays, in a focused effort to fight head-on the scourge of corruption."

Acting Assistant Ombudsman Evelyn A. Baliton attributed the success of the Ombudsman in curbing the number of graft and corruption being investigated by their office not only in Mindanao but nationwide (from 12,000 to 10,000) to the two-pronged holistic approach of the "pro-active/reactive" strategy espoused by the Tanodbayan.

This includes increasing awareness of the extent of the problem by society in partnership with the media, values formation of government officials through initiatives like the Ehem! Aha! Anti-corruption cultural seminar being implemented with the help of the Society of Jesus, Integrity Development Review which aims to study "systems-based corruption prevention" in critical government agencies like the BIR, Bureau of Customs, PNP, LTO and DPWH; institutionalizing reform through the establishment of "integrity committees" with a champion in each agency, the resident ombudsman and stakeholders; and by strengthening the system of "Resident Ombudsman" by promoting integrity through the association of regional officials and repositioning their roles from policemen or spies to a group of men and women complementing the anti-corruption and prevention programs in their respective agencies.

Gutierrez admitted in her talk at the inauguration of the Cagayan de Oro regional office her inclination for a "pro-active, reactive" strategy for the Ombudsman since she took over the agency six months ago.

"Although I favor the pro-active stance over the reactive, for now the two will have to be combined, much like a pincer attack on the enemy from two directions…one strengthens the other," she added.

Valenzuela admitted to the success of the two-pronged strategy in curbing the number of pending cases in Mindanao.

"It is very difficult to recover stolen money," the retiring Deputy Ombudsman said. "Better to prevent and discourage graft and corruption by encouraging honesty and integrity."

- INDNJC-

[COLOR=YellowGreen][SIZE=6]JOBIT DELI'S

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FOR MORE INFOS / ORDERS: PLS CONTACT R.A. CORBITA 09185887741 - 09167783324

@rean wala bang patikim?? nag laway ko sa siomai ug longganisa...

JOBIT DELI'S
[CENTER]
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naa pud bay tuna pie?:lol:

naa pud bay tuna pie?:lol:

how about TINA PIE?:lol:

@rean naay order ani sa Sison??

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12,000 houses in south finally have electricity
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Link:http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Nation&p=49&type=2&sec=28&aid=2007100965

COTABATO CITY – Some 12,000 families in seven southern provinces simultaneously switched on the lights in their homes the other night.

The symbolic event coincided with the Islamic feast of Lailatul Qadr, meaning “night of power,” which precedes the last 10 days of the Ramadan fasting season.

The ceremonial switch-on of the lights in 12,000 houses in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Shariff Kabunsuan, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and parts of the Zamboanga peninsula was jointly led by Techie Cruz-Capellan of the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan.

Cruz-Capellan said the event show*cased the continuing electrification thrusts of AMORE and its foreign benefactors, the United States and Dutch governments.

In a taped message aired by Catholic radio station dxMS here, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said 400 remote villages in the ARMM have been energized since AMORE started putting up solar and mini-hydro power facilities in the region.

“We hope to add light to a hundred more barangays. As light ushers enlightenment and blessings during Lailatul Qadr, the American people will continue to work with you to bring light to remote communities, to assure peace and development,” she said. – John Unson

how about TINA PIE?:lol:

ayder op da tu wel du.:lol:

Super mega regions to propel economic growth
By janice on Oct 11, 2007 in News

Davao City — The Arroyo Administration in its economic plans has included the establishment of super mega regions in the country for the government to deliver the socio-economic goods to the people right on their doorsteps.

Building the economics of super regions in the country would give the citizenry a preview on how it is to live under the regime of political equity, said Presidential Spokesperson & Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.

The tourism industry is one of the top dollar earners of the country as The President has identified Mindanao’s tourist spots in the island that would provide more jobs for the unemployed.

The more tourists there are, the bigger the chance they will visit Mindanao. This is because there are lots of potentials Mindanao can offer.

President Arroyo said she envisions the Philippines to be in the world class level. To do this, the Arroyo administration will invest in five comprehensive strategies for global competitiveness: 1) make food plentiful and affordable to keep our labor cost globally competitive; 2) reduce the cost of electricity to make our factories regionally competitive; 3) modernize infrastructure at least cost to efficiently transport goods and people; 4) mobilize, upgrade, and disseminate technologies for productivity; and 5) reduce red tapes in all agencies.

In a recent Bishop-Ulama conference-AFP-PNP peace forum held in Malacañang, the President called on “leaders in public and private positions of responsibility, in civilian and military life to join to continue joining, to continue to chart a course of investment in our people and economic growth.”

We are now entering a new era where the vast majority wants a predictable future, a steady job and a calm political climate. We are moving as a nation. The people are concerned about maintaining peace, order and stability. We have been through many upheavals. The people deserve a stable government and economic progress. That is what they are getting now, the President said. (PIA XI)By Rose Palacio


http://mindanao.wowphilippines.com/davao/2007/10/11/super-mega-regions-to-propel-economic-growth/


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naku nagsasawa na ako sa mga ganitong articles "super region" kuno eh yung lang generoso bridge di ma umpisahan kahit nag promise si gloring kay digong sinabi sana nila kasi puede naman umpisahan ng city government hindi yung pangakong napapako :ohno: :ohno: :ohno:

Thursday, October 11, 2007
Mindanao Culinary Festival on its 7th year!

THIS year marks another milestone in the culinary industry in the fruitful city of Davao! Now on their 7th successful year, the Davao Tourism Association (DATA) has staged the biggest and most prestigious culinary event in Mindanao, the Mindanao Culinary Festival back to back with the 4th International, Hotel, Restaurant and Home Expo last October 5-7, 2007 at the NCCC Convention Center.

Some of the participants included (Professionals): Apo View Hotel, Casa Leticia, DMMA Culinary School, Garden Oases, Grand Regal Hotel (Over-all Champion, Professional Category), Merco Quality Cakes, NCCC Foods, Royal Mandaya Hotel, The Venue, Villa Margarita, Waterfront Insular Hotel, etc. (Students): Assumption College od Davao, Bronkenshire College, Davao Doctors' College, Davao Merchant Marine Academy, Gabriel Taborin Technical School, Goldenstae College, MATS College of Technology, Mindanao Polytechnic College, Notre Dame Of Midasayap, Philippine Womens' College (over-all Champion, Students Division), Polytechnic College of Digos, Samson Institute of Technology, St. Joseph Technical Academy, St. Mary's College-Tagum, University of the Immaculate Conception, University of Mindanao, University of Mindanao-Tagum and others.

For the Professional Category, there were eighteen (18) competitions, namely: Nestle Foodservices Market Basket, Unilever Food Solutions Market Basket, Table Setting, Coca-cola Bartending, Nestea Mocktails, Flavors of Mindanao Espresso Challenge by Monin, Wedding Cake Decoration, Centerpiece Arrangement, Cold Dessert Platter, 3-Plated Cold Appetizers, Tuna Platter, Unilever Food Solutions 3-S, Waiters' Relay, Fruit and Vegetable Carving, URC Globe Flour Artistic Bread Display, URC Globe Flour Durian Bake-off and Pastry Showpiece. As for the Student Category there were thirteen (13) contests such as: Nestle Foodservices Market Basket, Tanduay Bartending, Coca-cola Mocktails, Nestle Ice Cream Desserts, Table Skirting, Table Setting, Goldilocks Cake Decoration, URC Globe Flour Durian Bake-Off, Centerpiece Arrangement, Napkin Folding, Waiters' Relay, Fruit and Vegetable Carving, and Unilever Food Solutions 3-S Competition.

A great number of visiting chefs acted as judges for the competitions. The judges are respected chefs known in their own culinary field from Manila, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu namely: Andreas Katzer (Le Souffle), Anson Ng (Malacañang), Dorothy Ferreria, (Dorothy Cooking School), Ed Tuazon (The Marco Polo Hotel), Gene & Gino Gonzalez (Center for Asian Culinary Studies), J Gamboa (Cirkulo and Milkyway Restaurants & Director, Les Toques Blanches Philippines), Joanne Limoanco (Unilever Food Solutions), Lawrence Erfe (Center for Asian Culinary Studies), Norbert Gandler (Director for Culinary Arts, ISCHAM), Norma Chikiamco (Editor, Food Magazine), Paul Tee (Café Breizh), Penk Tan (Pastry Bin), Ritchie Mearns (Boyds Pizza House), Thomas Wenger (Mandarin Oriental), Wilfredo Quilatan (Philippine Airlines), Paddy Lascano (The Venue/Holoiday Spa), Marissa Te-Eng Fo (Columnist), Gatchi Gathcalian (Bluegre), Arlene Puentespina (Puentespina Farms), and many, many others. It was also a humbling experience serving as a judge together with some fellow Cagaya-anons like Ingrid Agudo & Eileen San Juan.

Several culinary demonstrations were also held in the demo room. I personally did a "Chocolate Candy making using CK Molds" for PSG Corp., a company based in Manila that also sells Oneida quality products. The attendees also had their share of the finished products which we have prepared ahead of time. Because a group of students failed to attend my demo, I had to do it again in the afternoon at the PSG booth to the delight not only the students, but also the other participants as well.

Several booths showcased their products ranging from processed foods to dry goods. The Indigenous Food Pavilion and the Mango Pavilion by DAREMCA are specially featured. The Indigenous Food Pavilion showcased specialty cuisines of the different cultural communities while the Mango Pavilion displayed all sorts of mango products from fresh produce to processed food and beverages.

I would personally like to thank the organizers, the whole group of DATA for inviting me and for the warm hospitality. To Ms. Baby Montemayor, Councilors Susabel Reta, Gene Bangayan, Susan Palad & Art Boncato and also their secretary, Ruby. As usual, I made a lot of new friends in Davao. Many thanks also goes to PSG Corp for the beautiful Oneida cutlery they gave me. Till next year! Congratulations for a job well done!

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2007/10/11/life/mindanao.culinary.festival.on.its.7th.year!.html

New wage rates in Central Mindanao take effect

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Central Mindanao has announced that the latest wage increase in the region, ranging from P3 to P5, is now officially in effect.

Joel Gonzales, regional wage board secretary, said that Regional Wage Order 14 was implemented starting last Monday.

"The necessary processes, such as consultations, have been completed in coming up with the additional daily cost of living allowance (CoLA). The approved wage order was published in a local newspaper," he said in an interview.

Wage Order 14 raises to P229.50 the daily minimum wage for private workers in the non-agriculture sector; and in the agriculture sector: P212 for plantation workers and P209 for non-plantation workers.

For those in retail/service establishments, the daily minimum wage is now P215 in enterprises with more than 10 workers and P209 for those with less than 10 workers, the order added.

Mr. Gonzales defended the meager daily wage increase from continued opposition from organized labor, who has been pressing for a P125 across-the-board legislated wage hike. "It’s their right to voice their sentiments, but the wage board has observed the necessary process required by law," he pointed out.

Last week, militant workers picketed the office of the regional wage board in nearby Koronadal City to condemn the wage adjustment, throwing rotten eggs at the facility. Edward Flores, Anakpawis local spokesman, said they are calling for the abolition of the regional wage board, alleging that it does not meet workers’ needs. "The latest adjustment is not even enough to buy a pack of noodle or a piece [sic] of egg," he said.

Mr. Flores said the new CoLA adjustment will not help workers in the private sector cope with the rising cost of living.

He noted that while gross regional domestic product increased by 6% last year, private sector workers did not get increases in their daily minimum wage that were commensurate to their contribution to that growth in economic production.

Central Mindanao covers the provinces of South and North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, as well as the cities of Koronadal, General Santos, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. — Romer S. Sarmiento


http://www.bworldonline.com/BW101107/content.php?id=053

Alsons to setup Ethanol and Biodiesel refineries in Mindanao
Posted in Biodiesel, Bioethanol | Wednesday, September 26th, 2007 | Trackback



Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc, a member of the Alcantara Group of Companies, has announced plans to construct two ethanol distilleries in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines and also possibly a biodiesel refinery.

The first facility will be put up in Cagayan De Oro and will have an initial capacity of 100,000 li/day. The second facility will be located in Sarangani province in Southern Mindanao.

The plant in CDO is expected to be finished in 2009. The biodiesel refinery will also have a capacity of 100,000li/day and is expected to be finished by 2011.

The Alcantara Group of Companies has a long history of running corporate Agricultural farms in Mindanao and undoubtedly will have no trouble running the accompanying feedstock farms for distillery and biorefinery.

This is great news for the Philippine Biofuel industry and Earth-Lovers in the Philippines. This could mean that the Philippines are safely on track to fulfill the requirements of the Philippine Biofuel Law which mandates mixing of biofuel in fuel sold at the pumps.

Add these projects to the list of biofuel companies in the Philippines. Yeah!

Alsons to setup Ethanol and Biodiesel refineries in Mindanao
Posted in Biodiesel, Bioethanol | Wednesday, September 26th, 2007 | Trackback



Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc, a member of the Alcantara Group of Companies, has announced plans to construct two ethanol distilleries in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines and also possibly a biodiesel refinery.

The first facility will be put up in Cagayan De Oro and will have an initial capacity of 100,000 li/day. The second facility will be located in Sarangani province in Southern Mindanao.

The plant in CDO is expected to be finished in 2009. The biodiesel refinery will also have a capacity of 100,000li/day and is expected to be finished by 2011.

The Alcantara Group of Companies has a long history of running corporate Agricultural farms in Mindanao and undoubtedly will have no trouble running the accompanying feedstock farms for distillery and biorefinery.

This is great news for the Philippine Biofuel industry and Earth-Lovers in the Philippines. This could mean that the Philippines are safely on track to fulfill the requirements of the Philippine Biofuel Law which mandates mixing of biofuel in fuel sold at the pumps.

Add these projects to the list of biofuel companies in the Philippines. Yeah!

:okay: good news indeed.

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You're absolutely right! Thanks a lot @davaoeagle!

^^

The more spread this unpleasant news became since you posted it in this international forum... :ohno:

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^^

You're welcome Farirah...:)

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PIA Press Release
2007/10/16

Land Bank forges agreement with Saudi Bank
by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (16 October) -- The Land Bank of the Philippines with its desire to widen its services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has forged an agreement with Al Rajhi Bank in Saudi Arabia.

The LANDBANK entered a remittance tie-up program with the Al Rajhi Bank to address the fund transfer needs of some one million OFWs as well as Filipino expatriates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In a press statement, the Land Bank said that 10 percent of them (OFWs and Filipino expatriates) including their beneficiaries have LANDBANK on-line peso savings accounts in the Philippines.

The Al Rajhi is the largest Islamic bank in the Arab world with 400 branches for men, 100 branches for ladies, and 1,600 ATMs all over the Kingdom.

The Tahweel Al Rajhi is the remittance wind of Al Rajhi Bank with 120 remittance centers scattered around Saudi Arabia an with head office in Riyahd.

Tahweel Al Rajhi has some 50 Filipino staff that assists OFWs in their remittance transactions.

LANDBANK has designated Richmond Lagrito as the overseas representative officer for Saudi Arabia; Lagrito holds a desk office in Riyadh.

The recent launching of LANDBANK's OFW Cash Card and the eventual incorporation with the remittance agreement with Al Rajhi Bank will further benefit the OFWs and their beneficiaries through faster delivery and credit of incoming funds to their LBP savings accounts.

The Landbank-Al Rajhi Bank MOA signing was held at LBP's main office in Malate, Manila with the Saudi based bank officers present namely Abdulazziz M. Al Sedeas, head of Tahweel Al Rajhi and Iqbal Ahmed, relationship manager for Asia and the Far East. The LandBank officials present were Alfonso B. Cruz, Jr., SEVP for Institutional Banking and Subsidiaries Sector, Cecilia C. Borromeo, SVP for Account Management and Glocal Banking, Carolyn I. Olfindo, Overseas Support Unit head and Thelma S. Bentulan, Middle East local desk officer.

Meanwhile the LANDBANK is also finalizing a similar partnership with Al Rajhi Bank in Malaysia. (PIA XI) [top]

Monday, October 15, 2007
Editorial: Beauty contest fiasco

ONE would think that with the critical panning that this year's Miss Kagay-an 2007 pageant received from the public that there won't be any repeat of a beauty pageant fiasco for this year with Christmas fast approaching and the money bags now busy counting the payroll for the year end bonuses of their employees and next year's operational budgets.

Sad to say however that's not the case this year since the Hiyas ng Mindanao pageant competed in by contestants from most parts of Mindanao and won by last year's Miss Cagayan de Oro pageant winner Katrina Manansala didn't come out well, with Manansala failing to claim most of the prize money that she was promised by the pageant holders said to be the Sigma Beta Incorporated.

Join forum on Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict on Estrada plunder case. Post comments here.

Updates on the Kagay-an Festival 2007

According to the pageant organizers, they failed to draw in the promises for cash assistance by the sponsors, a lot of whom are politicians running in last May's elections.

While one cannot trust the promises of politicians, the organizers did manage to wrangle the funds from other sponsors and received some assistance from the pageant's franchise holder, Kagay-an Foundation Incorporated.

Still the funds weren't enough and so the pageant organizers were forced to scrimp and find more funds to award the other winners from Davao who needed the money to go on.

Mind you this event was held before last May yet and so it would be unrealistic to expect anything from politicians, majority of whose funds for campaigning are spent feeding the masses and being monitored by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Thus Manansala had to wait for months and when she complained about this to the organizers, the latter could only issue her postdated checks that later bounced.

To top it off, the organizers had to endure the spectacle of being interviewed on radio and explain their predicament and how to resolve their situation as well as Manansala's problem.

While one can say that this is just one unfortunate incident, it does raise questions on whether organizers of such events could expect to draw the funds from outside sources days before the event.

It wouldn't pose a problem if the contestants were from Cagayan de Oro but the girls came from all over Mindanao and thus expect to be taken cared of by the organizers.

While the City Council is expected to investigate this, the monitoring and supervision of these contests should be regulated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its local offices if only to ensure that the contestants are protected and spoken for, their well-being not left at the hands of organizers whose job it is to take care of them.

Smart acquires Mindanao company

By Lenie Lectura
Reporter

SMART Broadband Inc. (SBI), the wireless broadband unit of Smart Communications Inc., is acquiring some assets of Mindano-based Cruz Telephone Co. Inc. (Cruztelco).

Besides allowing the company to expand its services in Mindanao, the acquisition will enable the wireless broadband provider to offer wireless Internet to customers, Smart spokesman Ramon Isberto said.

Undertaken last month, the conditional sale agreement will enable Cruztelco to transfer its physical plant, equipment and facilities in the Philippines’ second-largest island. The transaction, worth P371.30 million, also includes the transfer of Cruztelco’s corresponding local exchange carrier (LEC) permits to SBI.

Once finalized, SBI, which is authorized to operate data-leased channel network service, international leased line service and other value-added services, will operate in Surigao City; Butuan City, Cabadbaran and Nasipit in Agusan del Norte; Tagum City in Davao del Norte; Bayugan, Prosperidad and San Francisco in Agusan del Sur; Cagayan de Oro, Medina and Balingasag in Misamis Oriental.

The agreement—a copy of which was obtained by BusinessMirror—was signed September 6, 2007 by Smart president Napoleon Nazareno, SBI president Roland Peña and Cruztelco president Julio Cruz and his spouse Priscila.

However, the agreement will be formalized only after it secures the green light from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), as indicated in a provision under the Public Service Act.

Early this month, SBI and Cruztelco asked the telecommunications regulator to approve the sale and transfer of the properties of Cruztelco in the Cluster 3 areas to SBI.

“Petitioners pray that the Commission issue an order granting approval for Cruztelco to sell and transfer to SBI, and for SBI to acquire and assume from Cruztelco, all the rights, privileges, including the authority of Cruztelco to operate LEC services in the Cluster 3, and accordingly, for the transfer from Cruztelco to SBI of the certificate of public conveniences and necessities and provisional authorities (PAs), which evidence Cruztelco’s authority to operate the said LEC services in the Cluster 3 areas,” the petition to the NTC said.

Under the September agreement, once the NTC approves the sale and transfer of the LEC service of Cruztelco in the Cluster 3 areas to SBI, the parties will execute the definitive agreements that will pave the way for the implementation of the conditional sale deal.

In an interview, Cruztelco vice president for operations and marketing Enrico de los Reyes said the proceeds will be partly used to finance the company’s investments in the next generation network (NGN).

“Our goal is to be NGN ready by 2010. We will comply with the government’s mandate,” de los Reyes said, adding that Cruztelco may pour in P70 million in initial investments to roll out the NGN.

Negotiations with SBI to sell Cruztelco’s assets in Cluster 3 started early this year, according to de los Reyes.

“It was a business decision on the part of Cruztelco why the company entered into an agreement with SBI. Most likely the proceeds will go to Cruztelco because the owners of Cruztelco have other businesses,” added the official.

Cruztelco is a member of the Philippine Association of Private Telephone Companies (Paptelco), a group which, along with other phone giants Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Globe Telecom, Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc., Bayan Telecommunications Inc., promised to help the government in building a broadband network.

SBI’s wireless broadband service, branded SmartBro, meanwhile is an integrated part of the PLDT Group’s strategy to be at the forefront of “broadbanding” the country.

SmartBro is a fixed wireless solution to provide broadband Internet access. It rides on the nationwide cellular network of Smart to wirelessly deliver broadband Internet service to a subscriber’s personal computer, eliminating the need for a phone line.

SmartBro has grown its wireless broadband subscriber base to about 210,000 at the end of June 2007, adding 88,000 new subscribers in the first six months of the year. Revenues from wireless broadband grew 211 percent, from P300 million in the first half of 2006 to about P930 million in the first half of 2007.

Smart now has over 2,610 wireless broadband-enabled base stations providing high-speed internet access to over 500 cities and municipalities all over the country.

link (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/10172007/companies05.html)

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source: About the Department Of Tourism/Tourism Statistics

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missing data of misamis oriental?
was wondering there was no entry data of oveseas filos from tagum city and davao del norte and compostela valley prov

missing data of misamis oriental?
was wondering there was no entry data of oveseas filos from tagum city and davao del norte and compostela valley prov

missed the deadline perhaps....:cheers:

missed the deadline perhaps....:cheers:
why you think misamis occ attracted domestic travellers. that big amount of visitors?

why you think misamis occ attracted domestic travellers. that big amount of visitors?

One of the reasons could be the opening of the Western Nautical Highway (Dumaguete-Dapitan) which the National Government through the DOT and DOTC promoted. The route originates from Batangas-Mindoro-Aklan-Negros(Dumaguete)-Dapitan. From Dapitan, they would go to MisOcc then ride to barge to Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte then Iligan-CDO. It was widely promoted last year in print and in TV.

Second would be the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), a major tourist destination again widely promoted last year by DOT;

Third would be the expansion of the Ozamiz Port to almost 3 times its original capacity. Most passengers from Visayas and Luzon going to Zamboanga del Sur would rather land in Ozamiz then take land route to their respective destinations in Zambo Sur (the roads are now well-developed), rather than take the circuitous route around the Zambo peninsula to Pagadian City. It also saves time. :cheers:

As per MSN Encarta, modern architecture can be associated to the buildings and building practices of the late 19th and the 20th centuries. The history of modern architecture encompasses the architects who designed those buildings, stylistic movements, and the technology and materials that made the new architecture possible. Modern architecture originated in the United States and Europe and spread from there to the rest of the world.

So zooming back here in Mindanao, do share your city's modern architecture. Include the history, news, or any related info regarding these buildings. There's no restriction with the buildings height, it could be midrise, highrise, or lowrise. But take note, it should be an existing infrastructure.As long as you think that it's architecture is unique and modern, then flaunt it! :okay:

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Humberto's Pension House, Davao City

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An exterior shot of the Malay architecture-inspired Davao International Airport new terminal building.

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San Pedro Cathedral, Davao City

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from flickr.com

The Parola, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7711/old20davao20airport20byvo5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Remnants of the glory days of the city's old domestic airport in Sasa are reflected in the puddle, as the building stands alone and abandoned today. The vicinity is calm and quiet, putting to rest the past turmoils and pain it has experienced during the bombing incident years ago. (SunStar Davao/Jojie Alcantara)

One of the reasons could be the opening of the Western Nautical Highway (Dumaguete-Dapitan) which the National Government through the DOT and DOTC promoted. The route originates from Batangas-Mindoro-Aklan-Negros(Dumaguete)-Dapitan. From Dapitan, they would go to MisOcc then ride to barge to Kolambugan in Lanao del Norte then Iligan-CDO. It was widely promoted last year in print and in TV.

Second would be the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), a major tourist destination again widely promoted last year by DOT;

Third would be the expansion of the Ozamiz Port to almost 3 times its original capacity. Most passengers from Visayas and Luzon going to Zamboanga del Sur would rather land in Ozamiz then take land route to their respective destinations in Zambo Sur (the roads are now well-developed), rather than take the circuitous route around the Zambo peninsula to Pagadian City. It also saves time. :cheers:
i see. did it also mean transit travellers paasing through ozamiz port en route to other provinces added to the total figures

Whoa, di ko naisip na ganun pala kalaki ang agwat ng Davao sa 2nd place city :)

http://www.forumspile.com/Misc-Applause.gif

^^ understandable, may International airport eh. :cheers:

well di lang naman sa international arrivals ang malaking discrepancy..pati naman sa domestic arrivals..so di lang yan dahil sa airport, dahil din yan sa mas kaakit akit nga nga naman ang davao sa mga turista..;)

oo nga no, pero i noticed na base by region, concentrated lahat sa dvo city yong numbers, unlike r10 na med u even sa lahat ng lugar. :cheers:

davao city kasi ang urban center ng davao region :) yung iba, support provinces
well planned kumbaga, bawat lugar may kanya kanyang role at di yung labo2x ;)

like yung figures for northen mindanao, most probably karamihan sa taong pumunta sa camiguin, galing ng Cagayan de Oro (since ito ang gateway) kaya di ganun ka accurate kung per region natin titignan kasi yung ibang numbers redundant na :)

tsaka yung sa ozamis di naman dapat ganun kataas yun kasi karamihan nga dun diba is ginamit lang ang ozamis/mis occ as entry point?

pero grabe yung domestic discrepancy noh?

394,411
-
176, 218
---------

218,193

i like those malay inspired buildings very much... too bad theyre few and far in between...

bakit kase gusto nila boxy design... :ohno:

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6783/photo236gy8.jpg


Microtel Hotel Davao, with its unique Victorian Architecture.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/davaotrade.jpg
Davao Convention and Trade Center, Davao City - I like its design...simple lang...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/technotrade.jpg

Techno Trade, Davao City - unique din ang design nito....

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/day33.jpg
Ateneo De Davao University, CM Recto side, Davao City

Royal Mandaya Hotel and its Neo-Islamic Architecture


http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/10162007674.jpg



http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/10162007669.jpg


photos courtesy of Exile

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/nytdavaoday1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/nytdavaoday2.jpg

Times Square, IlustreSt., Davao City.

Royal Mandaya Hotel and its Neo-Islamic Architecture


http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/10162007674.jpg



http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/10162007669.jpg


photos courtesy of Exile

^^ I like that design.....cool :okay: anyway, can we consider the photo below as neo islamic or mix -islamic design?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/streets5.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/firstday4.jpg

^^ The Durian Dome, Davao City

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/klutz1030/DSC04441.jpg

^^ I like that design.....cool :okay: anyway, can we consider the photo below as neo islamic or mix -islamic design?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/streets5.jpg


Hmmmm.... I do not have an idea if it is neo or mix. Basta Islamic, oks na! Hehehe.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/klutz1030/DSC04441.jpg

^^ I like this design too....here's another angle of the Casa...


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/streets-1.jpg
^^ Casa Leticia and a Japanese Restobar, Davao City

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/klutz1030/DSC04441.jpg

Another one of those Victorian-style architecture. Nice!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/technotrade.jpg

Techno Trade, Davao City - unique din ang design nito....

This is one of the unique designs i've seen in Davao...to date. :)

I hope we can posts other designs/architectures from other cities too. :okay:

Another one of those Victorian-style architecture. Nice!

Can the pic below be considered as Victorian too?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/nytlyf10.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/nytdavaoday1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/nytdavaoday2.jpg

Times Square, IlustreSt., Davao City.


Hanggang ngayon naiinis ako sa letter "M"

:bash:

Can the pic below be considered as Victorian too?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/nytlyf10.jpg

Hmmmm... Ask natin si Architect Waway.

Actually, mababaw lang yung criterion ko in saying na Victorian. I just normally base it sa roof. Yung may mga patulis tulis... Ahehehehehe

Hanggang ngayon naiinis ako sa letter "M"

:bash:
baka part ng design yan...ahihihihihihihihi

^^
Hahaha! Baka nga kuya! Hahahaha!

Those figures will definitely change in the years to come. :)

i see. did it also mean transit travellers paasing through ozamiz port en route to other provinces added to the total figures

better ask DOT :cheers:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/klutz1030/DSC00154.jpg

circa 40's New England Architecture

Davao Chinese Baptist Church

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4849/churchhi0.png (http://imageshack.us)

Old SSS building Muslim architecture

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5950/image262kl8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


trivia: this bldg. was built as a mansion , bought by the gov't.. expanded and occupied by SSS . the concierge was shaped and designed into a muslim gong .

another Malayan inspired bldg. it was a car dealership{?} bldg. before .

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8527/image222vp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I hope they can preserved this bldg.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5628/img4943ob6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol
This is the beautiful Capitol Building of Sultan Kudarat, in Isulan.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2100/img3915jf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Plaza Pershing, Zamboanga City
Here is an entry to Plaza Pershing, in Zamboanga City, Mindanao, Philippines. Plaza Pershing is named for General Blackjack Pershing, an American General who once Commanded this area, around the turn of the 20th Century.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9654/img3906ob5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Zamboanga City Hall
This is the City Hall of Zamboanga City. Notice the very Spanish influence on the Architecture? That's why Zamboanga is known as "Asia's Latin City

Fort Pilar, Zamboanga City
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/1283845574_ec353cecb3.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1184/1284018258_4386ff6498.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/1491682429_a882394c40.jpg?v=0

Basing on the data fact sheets, all Northern Mindanaoan cities and provinces are all attractive to tourists; that's why there is an even distribution when it comes to tourists' arrival, unlike Region 11 where the distribution isn't even since only Davao City herself mostly dominates.

Therefore Region 10 is still the Region 10 of 2006. :booze:

another Malayan inspired bldg. it was a car dealership{?} bldg. before .

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8527/image222vp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I hope they can preserved this bldg.

amo man ning simbahan sauna katong bata pa ko... ;) Heritage Baptist Church

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9654/img3906ob5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Zamboanga City Hall
This is the City Hall of Zamboanga City. Notice the very Spanish influence on the Architecture? That's why Zamboanga is known as "Asia's Latin City

Parang nasa Vigan! :)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/psps2.jpg

^^ Malay inspired museum in Davao. Tapos na to aight? Can anyone post its pic?

^^ yup tapos na yan, bai TJ...

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2736/wap1010161oi9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This Indigenous People’s Education Center is being built near Marfori Heights Subdivision in Davao City.

eto patapos na

Basing on the data fact sheets, all Northern Mindanaoan cities and provinces are all attractive to tourists; that's why there is an even distribution when it comes to tourists' arrival, unlike Region 11 where the distribution isn't even since only Davao City herself mostly dominates.

Therefore Region 10 is still the Region 10 of 2006. :booze:
your analyses fell short of sound logic. davao is the premier destination in mindanao. when one think of mt apo climb, hes got in mind davao city. wqhen one thinks of pearl farm and samal beach resorts, one thinks of davao city. when one thinks of compostela valley waterfalls, hot springs, spelunking the caves in the outback, one think of davao city. it showed davao city does not have the monopoly of tourist attractions, the figures reflected showed by reason it is the main doorway as it is accessible by air land and sea through a effective realiable reasonably utilised infrastructure support facilities. and as a show window of the island is simply a plus.

region 10 figures showed cdo have to work hard bec it is competing with other destinations in its own region. misamis occ is catching up and camiguin can survive without standing in the shadow of cdo. it just showed to me these 2 provinces can lure tourists and survive on their own. misamis occ has the infrastructure capabitly and camiguin is a spoke destination of central visayas in the north. and imo, theyre a threat to the potential of enhancing passenger traffic to your airport and seaport as figure reflected, theyre visitor drawers too at same level of cdo.

better ask DOT :cheers:
it doesnt matter with or without answer:D i was only following your reasons which gave an impression you have the ideas ought to be shared

it doesnt matter with or without answer:D i was only following your reasons which gave an impression you have the ideas ought to be shared

Well, following my reasoning, the only way DOT could get the data is through the DOTC's statistics on number of persons (travellers) entering the ports of entry (Ozamiz Port, Ozamiz Airport, Kolambugan Port & Dapitan Port), unless of course DOT contracted a consultant to conduct a separate survey in determining the data. DOTC's Ozamiz Port stats are from manifests submitted to the PPA Office by the different sea vessels docking at the port:cheers:

Basing on the data fact sheets, all Northern Mindanaoan cities and provinces are all attractive to tourists; that's why there is an even distribution when it comes to tourists' arrival, unlike Region 11 where the distribution isn't even since only Davao City herself mostly dominates.

Therefore Region 10 is still the Region 10 of 2006. :booze:

i think, based on the data, most travellers to the davao region limit themselves to davao city, sa Region 10 naman nag t-transfer from one province to the other (therefore bigger numbers ang dating but in reality, redundant number na)

say 1 person wants to go to camiguin, so enter siya via CDO..so pag pasok nya ng CDO counted as 1 arrival na, tapos pagpunta ng camiguin 1 arrival na naman...so 1 person, counted as 2 :cheers:

so i think, if di counted ang arrivals from the cities/provinces of the same region, lower pa ang actual numbers :cheers:

^^ is that so? :D

Well, following my reasoning, the only way DOT could get the data is through the DOTC's statistics on number of persons (travellers) entering the ports of entry (Ozamiz Port, Ozamiz Airport, Kolambugan Port & Dapitan Port), unless of course DOT contracted a consultant to conduct a separate survey in determining the data. DOTC's Ozamiz Port stats are from manifests submitted to the PPA Office by the different sea vessels docking at the port:cheers:
passenger manifest i suppose does not determine which ones are visitors and locals to the province. so probably these are datas collated by tourism office from hotels and other accommodations, and tousm related establisblishments, and convention attendees, etc

;15957578']i think, based on the data, most travellers to the davao region limit themselves to davao city, sa Region 10 naman nag t-transfer from one province to the other (therefore bigger numbers ang dating but in reality, redundant number na)

say 1 person wants to go to camiguin, so enter siya via CDO..so pag pasok nya ng CDO counted as 1 arrival na, tapos pagpunta ng camiguin 1 arrival na naman...so 1 person, counted as 2 :cheers:

so i think, if di counted ang arrivals from the cities/provinces of the same region, lower pa ang actual numbers :cheers:

I think redundancy is out of the question. IMO, (as in my previous post) the data come from the ports of entry of each province and/or by tour packages registered with DOT. FYI, there are also direct flights (smaller aircrafts) from Cebu-Camiguin. You can also travel to Camiguin via Butuan.

Yung pabalik-balik na traveller is a POSITIVE SIGN for tourism. So, would you rather have a higher number of travellers but just travelled once or lower number of travellers but keep on coming back? The last column would say the growth of the numbers. :cheers:

passenger manifest i suppose does not determine which ones are visitors and locals to the province. so probably these are datas collated by tourism office from hotels and other accommodations, and tousm related establisblishments, and convention attendees, etc

That could also be one of the inputs aside from data from the ports/airports. There are many other data which one could collate to arrive at the stats. That's why the Title of the Statistics is "Travellers"....:cheers: which could include tourists, businessmen, etc...among others :cheers: I think they have a separate data on resorts and hotels. :cheers:

That could also be one of the inputs aside from data from the ports/airports. There are many other data which one could collate to arrive at the stats. That's why the Title of the Statistics is "Travellers"....:cheers: which could include tourists, businessmen, etc...among others :cheers: I think they have a separate data on resorts and hotels. :cheers:
thats right:cheers:

;15957578']i think, based on the data, most travellers to the davao region limit themselves to davao city, sa Region 10 naman nag t-transfer from one province to the other (therefore bigger numbers ang dating but in reality, redundant number na)

say 1 person wants to go to camiguin, so enter siya via CDO..so pag pasok nya ng CDO counted as 1 arrival na, tapos pagpunta ng camiguin 1 arrival na naman...so 1 person, counted as 2 :cheers:

so i think, if di counted ang arrivals from the cities/provinces of the same region, lower pa ang actual numbers :cheers:


Yun nga eh mas malaki ang davao city compared to other cities and provinces in region 11 since davao city's international and domestic airport and passenger seaport have been served by travelers who want to visit Davao Region.
Anyway, may passenger seaport ba ang Tagum? Meron ba sa ibang cities and provinces sa Region 11? Sa pagkaalam ko lang sa Region 11, Davao City lang ang may airport and seaport, unlike in Region 10 cities and provinces.
Kaya nga ang mga traveler na gusto pumunta sa ibang cities and provinces sa Region 11 ay pumapass-by muna sa Davao City, kaya marami ang visitors niyo compare to other cities and provinces of Region 11.
And since you love to compare your Davao City to CDO, well marami ang visitors niyo kc kayo lang naman ang may airport and passenger seaport eh if I'm not mistaken. :applause:

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2736/wap1010161oi9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This Indigenous People’s Education Center is being built near Marfori Heights Subdivision in Davao City.

eto patapos na

tapos n rin ata ito bai...

those buildings dont look very victorian but theyre good though :D

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5628/img4943ob6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol
This is the beautiful Capitol Building of Sultan Kudarat, in Isulan.

Maganda pero mula sa malayo ang panget ng view kasi sinisira ng mga spaghetti wires :ohno:

Those figures will definitely change in the years to come. :)

And lets just wait and see for those years to come. There's no need to speculate!

;15957578']i think, based on the data, most travellers to the davao region limit themselves to davao city, sa Region 10 naman nag t-transfer from one province to the other (therefore bigger numbers ang dating but in reality, redundant number na)

say 1 person wants to go to camiguin, so enter siya via CDO..so pag pasok nya ng CDO counted as 1 arrival na, tapos pagpunta ng camiguin 1 arrival na naman...so 1 person, counted as 2 :cheers:

so i think, if di counted ang arrivals from the cities/provinces of the same region, lower pa ang actual numbers :cheers:

True, but those numbers still contribute to the development of the area since tourists are expected to spend, spend and spend!

I think redundancy is out of the question. IMO, (as in my previous post) the data come from the ports of entry of each province and/or by tour packages registered with DOT. FYI, there are also direct flights (smaller aircrafts) from Cebu-Camiguin. You can also travel to Camiguin via Butuan.

Yung pabalik-balik na traveller is a POSITIVE SIGN for tourism. So, would you rather have a higher number of travellers but just travelled once or lower number of travellers but keep on coming back? The last column would say the growth of the numbers. :cheers:

True, walang value ang redundancy kasi kahit pabalik-balik pa ang mga tao, they are expected to spend.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/tourism-1.gif
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/tour-3.gif

hmmmmm...not bad figures for Butuan :)^^

very promising...

oh my.. another cw, let's stop comparing city to city .. dyan nag start lahat ang gulo, months ago we wrote it down in our eye lids not to do that "comparing cdo-dvo" but who started it now, in my own opinion that was davao's achievements it should be posted in davao thread not mindanao thread.

posting a portion of the entire sheet just to show the diff is clearly to have a motive.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/tour1.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/r12.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/bxu.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/zam.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/cdo.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/dvo.jpg

source: About the Department Of Tourism/Tourism Statistics

oh my.. another cw, let's stop comparing city to city .. dyan nag start lahat ang gulo, months ago we wrote it down in our eye lids not to do that "comparing cdo-dvo" but who started it now, in my own opinion that was davao's achievements it should be posted in davao thread not mindanao thread.

posting a portion of the entire sheet just to show the diff is clearly to have a motive.
it wasnt posted because it was for davao. you noticed all regional capitals represented. if you give meaning to it, please dont pass it on if not welcoming. what would make difference if whole worksheet was posted, it would not alter the figures. i wouldnt.

it wasnt posted because it was for davao. you noticed all regional capitals represented. if you give meaning to it, please dont pass it on if not welcoming. what would make difference if whole worksheet was posted, it would not alter the figures. i wouldnt.

I clearly believe Mt. Apo's good intentions...

I think its also a matter of perception too that would lead some to chaos...and not only intentions

My perception is impartial..

thanks for this data Apo..visit Butuan thread,miss your posts there :)

^^ Well i just hope I was wrong.. :cheers: kasi ang kulit ng ibang mga scc's sa place mo @mt.apo di talaga mapigilan ma generalized sometimes.

I clearly believe Mt. Apo's good intentions...

I think its also a matter of perception too that would lead some to chaos...and not only intentions

My perception is impartial..

thanks for this data Apo..visit Butuan thread,miss your posts there :)
i feel safe when inside the thread:D its one of major cities in philippines i like to visit. i got good words from some people(oz volunteers) who had been to the place. and they hade nice experiences

I think redundancy is out of the question. IMO, (as in my previous post) the data come from the ports of entry of each province and/or by tour packages registered with DOT. FYI, there are also direct flights (smaller aircrafts) from Cebu-Camiguin. You can also travel to Camiguin via Butuan.

Yung pabalik-balik na traveller is a POSITIVE SIGN for tourism. So, would you rather have a higher number of travellers but just travelled once or lower number of travellers but keep on coming back? The last column would say the growth of the numbers. :cheers:

hindi ko naman sinabi na pabalik-balik but yun bang nag 2 in 1 trip (one trip, 2 destinations counted as 2 tourists)

as to which is better between

1. 1 city lang ang binisita ng tourist
or

2. 2 or more cities ang binisita ng tourist

depende na yun sa length of stay and how much he actually spent :)

i see the situation though as the situation in mindanao in general, as a region, Region X slightly edges the Davao Region (at times) but as a City, Davao lords it over other mindanao cities :banana:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/tour1.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/r12.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/bxu.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/zam.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/cdo.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/davao_world/mintourstat/dvo.jpg

source: About the Department Of Tourism/Tourism Statistics

Ola Zamboanga!... with 27% growth rate

;15964237']Davao lords it over other mindanao cities :banana:

Does it really have to be "I am the best"? :ohno:

it wasnt posted because it was for davao. you noticed all regional capitals represented. if you give meaning to it, please dont pass it on if not welcoming. what would make difference if whole worksheet was posted, it would not alter the figures. i wouldnt.

Maybe not really but this link (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=15943153&postcount=321) clearly manifest cvc.

;15964237']hindi ko naman sinabi na pabalik-balik but yun bang nag 2 in 1 trip (one trip, 2 destinations counted as 2 tourists)

as to which is better between

1. 1 city lang ang binisita ng tourist
or

2. 2 or more cities ang binisita ng tourist

depende na yun sa length of stay and how much he actually spent :)

i see the situation though as the situation in mindanao in general, as a region, Region X slightly edges the Davao Region (at times) but as a City, Davao lords it over other mindanao cities :banana:

ang gulo naman, wala na yung depende depende, basta turista ka, counted kana.:)

Does it really have to be "I am the best"? :ohno:


To answer Waway's speculation, let's refer to Bob Martin's best answer:

#

jimmy | Aug 31, 2007 | Reply

Hi bob, just want your opinion. Uhmm what can u say about CDO’s progress nowadays? I’m from Manila, and I find out that CDO is the most progressive now in Mindanao. Anuways, Is CDO’s progress threat Davao City now?

#

Bob | Aug 31, 2007 | Reply

Hi Jimmy - I don’t think that CdO is progressing faster than Davao. I think that in some things CdO is ahead of Davao, and on other things Davao is ahead of CdO. I live in Davao, but I visit CdO fairly often, so I think I can judge accurately.


Source: http://www.mindanao.com/blog/?p=1882#comment-36790

True. Natives shouldn't be the judges since they would most probably lift their own chairs. Neutral, unbiased outsiders who've visited the places being compared would be the best judges.

But in the end, City versus City is a no-no in SkyscraperCity Philippines. :D

If you want City vs City, you could go HERE (http://cityvscity.co.nr)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/firstday1.jpg

for a small inn, well i kinda like its design too.... :okay: Sampaguita Inn, Davao City

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/firstday.jpg

^^ Davao Doctors Medical Tower, Davao City :okay: imo, modern din yung design ng hospital

Mindanao road show indicates many local governments unaware of ICT potential
By Manuel T. Cayon
Reporter

DAVAO CITY—A consultation and road show of products and potentials of information and communication technology (ICT) across Mindanao have revealed what many leaders of the industry have complained about for the slow growth of the ICT.

The four-city road show and consultation showed that many local governments were unaware or did not appreciate the contribution and potential of getting their areas electronically connected, the Mindanao Business Council cluster on ICT sector indicated.

“Results from the Mindanao-wide road shows and consultations [ahead of] the 6th Mindanao ICT Congress-1st BIMP-Eaga ICT Conference] revealed that the ICT industry [could] not flourish [due to the lack of] strong support from the local government units,” MinBC vice chairman Teresita Sebastian said in a statement released by the group.

The statement was sent to news organizations on Wednesday and the MinBC said that the road show was conducted in the cities of Butuan in northeastern Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro in northern Mindanao, Zamboanga City in western Mindanao, and General Santos City in south-central Mindanao.

A team from the ICT sector of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI) and MinBC, which conducted the road show, said there was almost common absence of a long-term plan by the government, wherein the ICT program would have been reflected.

That means, they said, that aside from an unclear fate of the ICT in these localities, there were also “lack of support programs for education, human- resource development and vendor support for ICT development.”

“These are some of the issues preventing the ICT industry from sustaining its development momentum and fully contributing to the socio-economic development in Mindanao,” the two business groups said.

Sebastian said, “The people need to be exposed to simpler mechanisms for familiarity and appreciation” and suggested that “an actual industry awareness campaign be conducted.”

Aside from lack of local government awareness and support, Lizabel Holganza, owner of the medical transcription school MTC Academy, said that ICT firms in the different areas they visited should also band together, similar to what they did here where they formed the Transcription Alliance of Davao Inc. Internet cafés here also formed the Internet Café Association of Davao City.

“There is also an increasing call for the ICT players in the different cities to organize themselves and be an active advocacy body,” said Holganza, who would serve as director of the two jointly held ICT congresses next week.

She said that the formed organizations would “advance ICT issues and concerns and shall complement the efforts of the local government.”

These formations would be actually encouraged from now on, according to Andre Fournier, trustee of the DCCCI and the chairman of the chamber’s ICT committee.

Fournier was quoted in the MinBC statement as saying that he and the other industry organizers would support “any initiative of the local chambers in the formation of their own ICT cluster to increase the level of awareness and appreciation on the importance of ICT, as well as boost the industry in the region.”

The road shows, a precursor to the 6th Mindanao ICT Congress and 1st BIMP-Eaga ICT Conference to be held at the NCCC Mall Convention Center on October 23 and 24, were held to promote the joint 6th MICT-BIMP-Eaga confab, as well as to identify ICT issues in each region.

The ICT stakeholders in the various cities presented updates on ICT initiatives in their region and the actions to be done. Some also presented their ICT scorecards, a method initiated by the Commission on ICT (CICT) during the previous year.

ICT scorecards showed that lack of awareness on the part of the LGUs on the potentials of the ICT industry is one of the topmost concerns of the industry players.

While some regions have available power and infrastructure support and work-force potential, there remains a need to increase ICT awareness and appreciation, especially among LGUs and local government officials.

The 6th MICT Congress-1st BIMP-Eaga ICT Conference Road Show team was composed of representatives from ICT Davao, DCCCII, Mindanao Economic Development Council and the MinBC.

High-ranking regional officials from the National Telecommunications Commission, Telecommunications Office, National Computer Center, Department of Trade and Industry also expressed their support “and signified their interest to participate in the two-day congress,” the MinBC statement said.

Local industry players attended the road shows, including representatives from the local chambers of commerce, telephone and mobile-phone service providers, academe, ICT organizations, software developers, computer retailers and internet café owners.

link (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/1019&202007/economy03.html)

Front Article
Mindanao mining firms try to arrest brain drain

MINING companies in the different parts of Mindanao are upgrading the salary and incentive packages in an attempt to arrest the brain drain of geologists and engineers who are going abroad.

Engr. Edilberto Arreza, Mines and Geosciences Bureau officer-in-charge, said the rise in the demand of these professions boomed following the opening up of exploration activities in mineral-rich areas.

Arreza, also the member of Mining Association of Mining Engineers, Inc, (MAEM) said local mining companies are now matching the entry-level salary of $3,000 for the supervisory post of mining engineers and geologists.

Fresh graduates, he said, could also receive as high as P50,000.

Arreza said the big rates are the leading motivation for geologists and mining engineers from the government to move to private mining companies here and abroad.

Engr. Lucio Castillo, MAEM president, said out of the 4,000 licensed mining engineers in the country, about half have relocated abroad while about 1,000 are considered to be in the “retirable age.”

“The mining companies have in fact rehired the old reliable mining engineers. Some are in their 70s,” he said.

Engr. Alex Baligod, board member of the association, added that about 30 percent of the 230-member MAEM moved to better-paying companies abroad.

“The mining profession is becoming extinct,” he said.

Castillo said that companies also feel the shortage of other skilled workers saying that about 10 percent of the Filipinos poses the capability that are required in the field.

“There are groups which train people. The mining companies also mechanize some of their operation. We need operators for drillers and trucks and loaders,” he said.

The engineers could not, however, give an exact picture on the manpower need of the whole minpower need of the whole mining industry.

Arreza said the lack of technical manpower for the mining industry is based upon its erratic nature. He said when the prices of metals in the world market increase vast job opportunities are opened but when the value of mineral dwindles, the job openings diminish.

“Many also don’t want to work underground or they don’t have any knowledge on mining engineering courses because most are offered in Manila and Cebu City,” he said.

Arreza said the promotion of the courses in the local level will be strengthened after the

University of Southeastern Philippines opened up its Bachelor of Science in Geology which now has 60 students.

He said the university will also start next year its Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering.

Castillo said the demand for more manpower is rising as the industry is booming.

He said with the industrialization of foreign countries, the mining of minerals are more in demand.

“It is especially true with the industrialization of China which is bigger than America,” he said.

Minerals like chrome and nickel, which are raw materials for stainless steel, are very much in demand in the market. Gold is now used in computer while titanium is used for rockets and planes.

Awash in mineral deposits

Arreza said two of the biggest mining deposits in the country are in Mindanao. One is located in Buyongan, Surigao del Norte, which was discovered by Anglo American Corporation Exploration Pty. Ltd. although the property is owned by Philix Mining.

Arreza said the company has so far mined 300 million tons of copper and gold. The copper is measured to be .6 percent while gold is one gram per ton.

“They are even looking for additional resources to be explored,” he said.

The copper-gold deposit in Tampakan, South Cotabato by Sagittarius Mines, Inc. is even bigger according to Arreza. He said the deposit is 700 metric tons with copper measured to be at .81 percent copper and gold at .32 per gram per ton.

Sagittarius Mines listed Swiss mining giant Xstrata as its number one investor.

He said the gold deposit in Mt. Diwalwal, which has been marred with violence for years, remains to be a projection. “It is not properly drilled. It should be further studied and explored,” he said.

Arreza said while environmentalists groups are also protesting against mining, he said the mining companies are “adopting sustainable development” stating that any exploration would mean economic opportunities, environmentally sustainable and participatory.

Oppositions to Mining Act of 1995

While mining activities have multiplied, non-government organizations along with other sectors formed an initiative against Republic Act 7942 or the Mining Act of 1995.

The Dapitan Initiative launched last October 11, 2002 at the Hose Rizal Shrine, Dapitan City “aims to raise public awareness on mining” with the participation of the community.

The movement is initially composed of 24 advocates from the different sector of the society.

One of its members, the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Incorporated-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth-Philippines has been actively advocating for the cancellation of the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement granted to BHP-Billiton Mining Company.

The company is exploring nickel along with six other mining companies in the Protected Areas of Pujada Bay Seascape and Landscape and the Mt. Hamiguitan Range, a protected area that hosts the Philippine Eagle and the Dumagooc watershed.

Arreza said the MPSA for the said exploration was approved before the areas were declared as protected.

“The company voluntarily excised and reduced their areas (so that they will not encroach the protected area),” he said adding that the company has also provided the funds for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to survey and place buffer zone in the area.

He said from 4,000 hectares, the exploration of the seven companies was reduced to 2,000 hectares. “Once it is protected, no more mining exploration will be allowed there,” he said.

The MGB in partnership with MAEM will spearhead the 16th Annual Mining Syposium today at the Grand Regal Hotel with the theme: Leading the Country towards Sustained Economic Progress.

During the symposium, Arreza said the issues and concerns of the mining company will be discussed including the delay in the approval of mining permits, the availability of areas of investment and business matching opportunities for local mining investors.
http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=18308

Muslim/Malayan inspired Zamboanga International Airport
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/Chrisvenz/ZamboTerminal-1.jpg

^^ wow....nice design! :okay:

Muslim/Malayan inspired Zamboanga International Airport
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/Chrisvenz/ZamboTerminal-1.jpg

Really nice. But I heard that the inside isn't as pleasant as the outside. :dunno:

Mining engineers call for responsible mining
Written by Walter I. Balane / MindaNews
Friday, 19 October 2007 10 54 56
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/18 Oct) – The Mindanao Association of Mining Engineers is pushing for responsible mining in the island amidst the displacement of indigenous people from their ancestral domains because of the industry’s boom.

Members of the association, though, admitted they have been benefiting from the mining boom in Mindanao, but said they will support only mining firms committed to responsible mining.

Lucio Castillo, association president, said they had been pushing for the revival of the mining industry in the past decade.

"But now that it has been revived and growing, we would like that mining will be done responsibly, taking into consideration all concerns of the stakeholders," he said.

He said mining operations should not be allowed to go on if there are concerns that need to be addressed.

He said the mining engineers are going through symposia and other engagements to study sustainable and responsible mining as they gather for the 16th annual mining symposia this week.

The pronouncement came in the heels of the deadline set by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (UN CERD) on the government to respond to accusations of failure to uphold and protect the rights of the Subanon and other indigenous peoples.

The IPs charged that the government's biased support for mining development has caused the violations. The UN body focused on issues arising from TVI Pacific's gold mining operations in Mount Canatuan in Siocon, Zamboanga del Sur but also highlighted indigenous concern regarding serious shortcomings in the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.

The government was imposed to respond on the charges on or before Dec. 31, 2007

Castillo said a mining operation should consider the welfare of all stakeholders, including those of the indigenous peoples who live in communities where mining explorations and operations are eyed.

He told MindaNews mining businesses should have no other way but to strive for sustainable and responsible mining.

"If there are irresponsible practices, it will only cause further delays in operations as it will create more gaps," he said.

He cited the issues raised by the indigenous peoples around Mindanao on the entry of mining firms into their communities.

"If issues of any stakeholder are not addressed, it will hamper operations and even result in mine closures with demands for rehabilitation," Castillo said.

He pointed out that the mining industry plays a crucial role in industrialization because minerals are used in key industries.

Castillo and other officials of the group told reporters at the Kapihan sa PIA Thursday there is a shortage of engineers and skilled workers for mining operations in the Philippines.

"[This] profession is becoming extinct as some schools closed their mining engineering courses," he said.

The group noted that even government technocrats have been lured into the high-paying jobs offered by mining firms. A fresh mining engineering graduate is usually paid P50,000, more than double the department head of a local office of the government's mines bureau at P22,000 per month.

He said no member of the group is unemployed at the moment.

Edilberto Arreza, OIC regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said they will continue to discuss the “how tos” of sustainable mining during the group's 16th mining conference this week.

Arreza said the boom in the mining industry is brought by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and other interventions. The government went in an international road show to promote the local mining industry.

He said the situation now is that there are big mining investors who could not enter because most of the mining sites have been occupied.

But he said one problem, however, is the delay in the approval of mining applications, which is through the environment secretary. But

He clarified that the approval of mining permits, through the environment secretary, is usually subject to delay, partly due to the frequent change in the DENR administration.

He said, too, that the mining firms lack the legwork in complying with requirements for the permit. He also pointed out the expensive process of going through a free and prior informed consent from indigenous people’s communities.

http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3379&Itemid=50

Grand Caprice Restaurant and Convention center
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/boju4289/grandcapricerestandconv.jpg


Rodelsa Hall
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/8283/rodelsahallnew6ih.jpg
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/1324/rodelsahallfrominsidethecampus.jpg


Xavier Estate Country Club and Convention Center
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/1593/xaviersportscountryclub2jo.jpg

St. Augustine Cathedral
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/6963/imgp21888rl.jpg

Mindanao has richest mineral deposits (http://http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/20/yehey/prov/20071020pro5.html)


DAVAO CITY: Two of the three mining areas with the largest high-grade mineral deposits in the country are found in Mindanao, reports the Philippine News Agency quoting a statement by a ranking official of the Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Davao.

MGB regional director engineer Edilberto Arreza said Buyungan, Tubod in Surigao del Norte, Tampakan in South Cotabao and Mangkayan in Benguet Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are the Philippines’ three largest areas rich in world-class mineral deposits.

Tampakan, South Cotabato has the largest undeveloped copper and gold reserve in Southeast Asia and is host to the multinational mining giant Sagittarius Mines, Inc.-Xstrata, which is spearheading the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project.

Arreza said Tampakan has the largest high grade mineral deposit at 700 million tons with .81 percent of copper and .32 grams of gold per ton.

In Buyungan, the Anglo American Mining Company is currently in its second year of mining exploration activities. The mining property is owned by Philex Mines.

The explorations led the company to believe the area has 300 million tons of mineral reserves, with .6 percent of copper and 1 gram of gold per ton.

The companies are optimistic of finding additional reserves within the area in the four more years of exploration as provided in the Mining Act.

Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation and Philex Mines are currently exploring Mangkayan.

Arreza said the mining companies have a major discovery of copper and gold in the area at 163 million tons with .81 percent copper and 1.76 gram gold per ton.

Arreza said mining companies are given a period of six years to conduct exploration in the potential mining areas, two years for pre-feasibility study, and another two years for the final feasibility study or a total of 10 years.

They are then allowed to start actual development of the areas.

Really nice. But I heard that the inside isn't as pleasant as the outside. :dunno:

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/Chrisvenz/ZamboTerminal-1.jpg

WOW!!!

is this in CDO sir @Boju???

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/8283/rodelsahallnew6ih.jpg

^^Yes, sa CDO. Nasa compaund yan ng Leceo de Cagayan university:)

^^Yes, sa CDO. Nasa compaund yan ng Leceo de Cagayan university:)

aw Thanks @Boju. katuod ko ana, diba carmen man na nga school?

durian dome of davao park would it qualify?

Sacred Heart Church by the PME Brothers, Bo. Obrero, Davao City

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/davaoeagle/sh.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/davaoeagle/WAD2-1.jpg

^^ i remember that church was still on construction late 60s i think. took them awhile to finish it. siguro it was done late 80s or early 90s.

Really nice. But I heard that the inside isn't as pleasant as the outside. :dunno:

The inside is alright. I like it. It doesnt have air conditioning, but the way its designed makes it nice and airy inside, so it saves money and electricity.

The inside is alright. I like it. It doesnt have air conditioning, but the way its designed makes it nice and airy inside, so it saves money and electricity.

correct, very evident of malayan architecture.

Monday, October 22, 2007
SM turns over cold chain facilities for Mindanao's peace, dev't areas (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2007/10/22/bus/sm.turns.over.cold.chain.facilities.for.mindanao.s.peace.dev.t.areas.html)

ADDRESSING problem such as lack of vaccine containment for immunization campaigns in some of Mindanao's depressed areas, SM Investment Corporation responded by turning over cold chain facilities and coolers for these health-services needing communities on October 24, 3PM at The Event Center, SM City Cagayan de Oro.


SM's Cold Chain Facilities for Municipal Health Units (MHUs) is a project that supports health initiative in depressed areas by providing storage for vaccines to be used in the immunization of children in the provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) and Sarangani.

Post your comments on the explosion at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City.

Proper handling and storage of vaccines and medicines play a crucial role during immunization campaigns and medical missions. Based on the Field Health Information System (FHIS) of the National Epidemiology Center, Marawi City registered very low in immunization coverage followed by Basilan, Sulu, Sarangani and Lanao del Sur.

Infant mortality can be prevented through regular immunization and proper health care thus the need for proper storage of vaccines and medicines to maintain its potency and effectiveness.

SM Investments Corporation provides brand-new refrigerators and coolers to address this particular health-related concern affecting MHUs in the ARMM and Sarangani Province.

The project implemented in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and local government units (LGUs), hopes to benefit at least 1,400 infants in seven of Mindanao's peace and development areas.

Governor Miguel Dominguez of Sarangani and Mayor Abdulkarim Langkuno of Paglat, Maguindanao will receive the facilities.

A holding company of the SM Group, SM Investment Corporation is now one of the Philippines' biggest conglomerates occupying dominant position in most line of business namely: shopping malls, retail merchandising, banking & finance, and property development. SM Investment Corporation is a member company of PBSP since 2004.

PBSP is a private and non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting business sector commitment to social development. It was organized in 1970 by 50 of the country's prominent business leaders, and has grown to become the nation's largest business-led social development foundation.(Press Release)

aw Thanks @Boju. katuod ko ana, diba carmen man na nga school?

Yes, nasa Carmen na sya...

BIMP-EAGA 15th SOM-12th MM gets full force delegation

DAVAO CITY - Key officials and ministers from East Asean Growth Area (EAGA) countries such as Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are all set to converge here at the Marco Polo Hotel next week to discuss strategic directions for this regional cooperation.

On 24 to 26 October 2007, signing ministers, senior officials, private sector representatives and dialogue partners in Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) organizations such as the BIMP-EAGA Business Council, BIMP-Facilitation Center, BIM National Secretariat and the ASEAN Central Secretariat are expected to meet for the BIMP-EAGA 15th Senior Officials Meeting and 12th Ministerial Meeting.

An annual event, the SOM/MM is hosted by the member countries on a rotation basis. With the Philippine's turn to host the event this year, the SOM/MM will also highlight the turn-over of its chairmanship from Malaysia to the Philippines.

This year's SOM/MM aims to assess the status of the development of the directives from the 3rd BIMP-EAGA Leaders' Summit, held in Cebu City early this year and address any related issues and concerns in the implementation of the various cluster flagship programs and projects.

It will also discuss current undertakings and implementation of other joint cooperation with EAGA's development partners like ADB, GTZ, NT, and China; as well as preparations for the forthcoming 4th BIMP-EAGA Leaders' Summit in Singapore next month.

As of yesterday, MEDCo has registered more than 200 confirmed participants. These include EAGA Cluster Heads for Transport, Infrastructure and ICT Development; EAGA Government officials for air, sea, infrastructure, Agro-industry, fisheries, environment/forestry, energy, tourism, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Cluster, Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Security (CIQS), Economic Affairs and Planning Offices.

Also expected are chairpersons of the local CIQS Consultative Councils (LCCCS) and Philippine-EAGA CIQS Agencies as well as key representatives from the Department of Foregn Affairs, the CONFED, and the Palawan LGU.

Other participants from the local private sector in the Philippines, include the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), the BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council, ARMM Business Council, and the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) Secretariat, who also serves as the key organizer of this event.

"The participation of these various representatives from the government and private sector from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines is very reflective of the essence of the growth area, which is that of forged partnerships for development in these four member-countries," said Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chairperson of MEDCo, the Philippine Coordinating Office for BIMP-EAGA.

"Next week, all BIMP-EAGA roads certainly lead to Mindanao, and we here in Davao are certainly honoured to welcome all of them to this year's SOM/MM. I certainly look forward to the agreements that will be forged, as well as the trade and tourism opportunities that come with having visitors from the rest of the EAGA to visit us," added Leyretana.

Aside from the SOM/MM, other related BIMP-EAGA events which will take place next week include the BIMP-EAGA Investment Conference (BIMP-iCON), at the Marco Polo Hotel on 22-23 October; the 2nd BIMP-EAGA Chief Ministers, Governors and Heads of Local Governments Forum in Koronadal City on 23-24 October; the BIMP-EAGA ICT Congress, which will be held at the NCCC Exhibition Center on 23-24 October; the BIMP-EAGA Media Roundtable Discussion (RTD) at the Marco Polo Hotel on 25 October 2007; the Davao Trade Expo and BIMP-EAGA Trade Exhibit (DATE) at the NCCC Mall, on 25-28 October 2007.

source (http://www.medco.gov.ph/medcoweb/newsfeatl.asp?NewsMode=20&NewsDetailID=1193)

Grand Caprice Restaurant and Convention center
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/boju4289/grandcapricerestandconv.jpg

the oriental touch of roof made an impact. looks great in fact, imo

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/boju4289/grandcapricerestandconv.jpg
the oriental touch of roof made an impact. looks great in fact, imo

is this the one in Ket-Kai? I had attended a wedding reception there sometime ago. it was my first time din nakatikim ng pansit na dry where you still have to put the sauce yourself, na ignoi ko kadali, pero may prior info na ako na may chinese dish na ganon ang serving. (parang 9 courses yun) hehehehe :bash: :bash: :bash:

Wendy’s RP franchisee to go to VisMin if San Miguel provides raw materials

http://www.bworld.com.ph/BW102407/content.php?id=045

TACLOBAN CITY — Wenphil Corp., the Philippine franchisee of Wendy’s International, wants to expand to the Visayas and Mindanao, but needs San Miguel Corp. to put up a processing plant that would supply fresh meat products and vegetables to outlets in the south.

Elizabeth Pardo-Orbeta, Wenphil president, said logistics has been a problem in the Visayas and Mindanao.

A Wendy’s outlet located in a mall in Cebu shut down a few years back because of the prohibitive transport costs from Manila to Cebu.

"We can’t establish stores in the Visayas and Mindanao unless San Miguel will put up a plant for us outside Luzon. It is hard for us to put up stores far from Manila since we have fresh products that should be delivered everyday," Ms. Orbeta said on the sidelines of the Leyte Business Month celebration.

San Miguel supplies fresh meat and vegetables to all 46 Wendy’s outlets in Luzon.

The fastfood chain’s outlet in Pampanga is the farthest the franchisee has gone up north while its branch in Batangas is its farthest down south.

Ms. Orbeta said negotiations with San Miguel on possible expansion in the Visayas and Mindanao has not started, but said that the firms have been working closely with each other.

"Our company requires a certain distance that we can distribute freshly-prepared products. We consider the ability of our suppliers to deliver the products," Ms. Orbeta added.

The first Wendy’s Hamburger Restaurant in the country opened on Dec. 8, 1983 at Parksquare 1 in Makati City. Wendy’s is one of the leading fastfood chains in the country. — Sarwell Q. Meniano

The Mindanao business agenda (http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=18353)
By Ms. Joji Ilagan Bian

THE business sector is one of the main components in the development of an area considering its gargantuan role of providing capital and human resources.

In Mindanao, most often than not, the business sector is a key partner of government in providing policy directions in order to achieve not just peace but also economic stability which people of Mindanao have been dreaming about.

During the 16th Mindanao Business Conference, the business sector and the chambers of commerce submitted to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry the Mindanao Business Agenda which will be submitted to Pres. Gloria Arroyo during this year’s Philippine Business Conference.

PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

In that 12-point resolution, the top priority still is how to achieve peace. The business sector said there must be a mechanism to “ensure effective and rapid implementation of peace and development programs in Mindanao and fast track the final resolution of peace agreement between the Phil. Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF).

It aptly pointed out that government, “in coordination with the private sector, must expedite and ensure effective implementation of peace and development programs in predominantly Muslim and poor areas.”

It also urged the government to continue its strategies in bringing peace and development to “strategic areas” by persuading business leaders to match them with possible investors who are willing to pour their capital in these areas.

The business sector also pushed for more public investments in areas hounded by conflicts, particularly in restoring damaged infrastructure facilities and continuing the setting of other vital infrastructure facilities in Mindanao.

MORE FUNDS FOR MINDANAO

The second point is for government to “accelerate infrastructure development through increased budgetary allocations and efficient use of resources.” The business sector wants that key government agencies like the Departments of Transportation and Communications, Public Works and Highway, and Agriculture should “ensure a 30 percent allocation of their annual appropriations from 2008 to 2010 as legacy infrastructure investment of the Arroyo Administration to Mindanao.”

It lamented however, that the DOTC “has only allotted Php0.94 billion for Mindanao in the proposed 2008 budget, which is equivalent to five percent only of the total DOTC budget in 2008.”

The appeal for more budget for Mindanao has continued to fall on deaf ears despite attempts both by Mindanao leaders and some top national government leaders for the national government to set aside funds that is equitably the share of Mindanao in the national budget pie.

I hope that at this time, the national government will realize how important investing in Mindanao is to the general development picture of the country. These key government offices should realize that no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who assured Mindanao that it will get at least 30 percent of the national budget during her state-of-the-nation address in July.

STRENGTHENING

ICT CAPITAL

The third top point in the agenda is for both government and the private to join hands in accelerating “the establishment of a reliable and sufficient Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure for Mindanao.”

It pointed out that the national government must cancel its controversial agreement with China on the setting up of the National BroadBand Network and instead replace this with the build-operate-transfer projects with the government preparing the pre-feasibility study and select a private entity that will implement it.

The business sector also wants that the Commission on Information and Communications Technology should persuade the telecommunications companies to reduce cost of broadband in key Mindanao cities and for local government units in these cities to fast-track the approval of the establishment of information technology parks.

These local government units should also partner with their respective chambers of commerce in promoting investments in the industry by providing sound incentives to would-be investors to persuade them to invest.

(Joji Ilagan Bian is a strong and respected advocate for the development of the island. She is Chair of Joji Ilagan Foundation , Phil. Call Centers Alliance, Mindanao Tech Voc Schools Association; Mindanao Rep, Export Development Council. Email comments jojibian2@yahoo.com)

Creation of ICT dep’t pushed (http://http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/story.php?id=18358)
By Carmelito Q. Francisco

THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry has joined the call for the creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology that will map out plans for the industry.

Andre Fournier, trustee of the chamber of commerce, yesterday said the department is important in promoting the country as investment area for the industry, adding that this will be one of the resolutions that will be submitted to the national government.

“That is our biggest problem. We do not have a department whose sole attention is to give focus to the industry,” said Fournier after Commissioner Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua called on the business sector in the city to support the proposal.

In his speech during the opening of the Mindanao Information and Communications Technology at the New City Commercial Center Mall, Roxas said the department is very important in drafting a plan for the industry.

“(I)ndustry-related institutions must be transformed into a focused, `lean and mean,’ effective organization,” said Roxas in his presentation, pointing out that this can be achieved if the present commission can be turned into a department.

“We really need the department,” said Fournier as he called on the legislative department to pass immediately a law that will create the department.

Fournier said at present, the commission does not have enough authority in pushing for the development of the industry.

He said a big body, like the department, is necessary in drafting a program for the industry, focusing on its authority to craft incentives for the possible investors. “Right now, investors run to the different agencies like the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, the Board of Investments just so they could obtain incentives. We need a single body that will have the authority to focus on issues concerning the industry,” he said.

Just last week, Joji Ilagan-Bian, president of the JIB e-Academy, said locators want to have a body that to run to so they can obtain incentives.

Bian pointed out the need for more investments in the creation of Philippine Economic Zone Authority-accredited zones where industry investments can be put up, like the one established by the Damosa Land Inc.

Bian said this is very important in luring investors to pour in their capital, because these companies wanted to have better incentive packages so they can reduce their operational expenses at the same time increase their profitability.

“This will also reduce the risks they are facing when the start their businesses,” she told BusinessWorld, taking note that some key investors have not considered Davao City in particular as investment area even when it has everything necessary for industry investments.

durian dome of davao park would it qualify?


I posted it na po sa first page :okay:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/kadayawanvisit2oo7/firstday4.jpg

^^ The Durian Dome, Davao City

Grand Caprice Restaurant and Convention center

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The name speaks for itself...it looks so grand.....nice design! :okay:

Rodelsa Hall

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/8283/rodelsahallnew6ih.jpg


^^ Rodelsa Hall @ CDO.... :okay: nice design!

^ Looks like a church

IBM eyes 20% revenue growth in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — IBM Philippines’ Mindanao business is eyeing a 20% increase in revenues by the end of this year.

James Velasquez, IBM country general manager, said Mindanao has become an attractive market both for the company and its competitors.

"I am excited about Mindanao," he said adding that IBM would concentrate on its software solutions and services in the island after partnering with China’s Lenovo in the personal computer and laptop business.

The company’s revenue growth in Mindanao for the three quarters ending in September was "good," he said.

He also said that a 20% full-year revenue growth would be higher than the industry growth of 11% to 12%.

In March, the company set up its hub in the city to assist eight partners and 17 authorized service centers.

Although Mindanao is not as big as Metro Manila, the island is slowly developing into a "significant market," said Mr. Velasquez.

Because Mindanao is considered a critical engine in the Philippine economy, Mr. Velasquez said the island would be increasing its contribution to the company within the next five years as the region continues to mature as a market for technology.

He noted that small and medium enterprises have slowly automated operations to compete in the global market, a marked difference from several years ago, when leaders of the information and communications technology sector lamented that small businesses were so slow in adapting to technology.

In his speech at the 6th Mindanao Information and Communications Technology Congress on Wednesday, Mr. Velasquez said that innovation was important in relation to the global integrated enterprise.

"The timing is perfect as the country is increasingly being recognized by the global market as a pool for highly competent talents" in the information and communications technology sector, he said, adding that Mindanao "will certainly play a major role in this transformation," he said. — CQF

source (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW102507/content.php?id=043)

Breaking News / Regions


Mindanao railway concept revived


By Judy Quiros
Inquirer
Last updated 02:20pm (Mla time) 10/24/2007


DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- The idea to put up a railway system from Mindanao has been revived anew with a foreign company expressing interest to pour in funds to help finance the project.

The Mindanao railway system has long been a dream among the southern island’s officials but the idea has thus far failed to take off even with the aggressive support of then senator Santanina Rasul.

But on Tuesday, during the continuation of the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) Investment Conference here, London-based MCC Capital Projects, Ltd. Expressed interest in starting a feasibility study on the Mindanao railway system.

The EAGA is an economic grouping that counts Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Antonio Santos, BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) chairman, said in his report to the group’s 15th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) that opened Tuesday here that the idea of a railway system had already been discussed by him and Faisal Kasim, MCC chief executive officer.

Santos said Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) chair Vicente Lao was also present during the discussion that centered in the mechanisms of the proposal.

Santos said Lao proposed that the project be undertaken under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme but Kasim preferred a joint-venture agreement with concerned local government units (LGUs) instead.

Under Kasim's proposal, LGUs would put up 60 percent of the funds needed for the construction of the railway system and his company will take charge of the remaining 40 percent.

Santos said Kasim also suggested that to make things easier, LGUs could form some sort of a corporation.

While the LGUs have yet to commit, Santos said MCC was expecting to conduct a study of the project by November.

Aside from the railway project, Santos also reported that at least 20 possible partnerships between EAGA members have been discussed.

These include property development -- including housing development projects -- joint ventures in mining projects, biodiesel and seafood processing.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=96465

dahil ba stained glass? mas gusto ko sana na mas elaborate pa sana ang stained glass na may story... gaya ng sa XU chapel. guys kuha kayo ng pics ng stained glass dun! kakaiba ang art style :D

ganda talaga ng mindanao.....i sure hope....i will be able to visit it again...nde lang davao at zamboanga at tawi tawi.....sana ma visit ko ....lahat ng province dyan....

Mindanao high-value crops top RP exports
(http://http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20071026106876.html)
By GIL M. ABARICO

DAVAO CITY — Mindanao’s high-value crops are among the country’s top dollar-earning exports, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported recently.


The DA said high-value crops such as coconuts and pineapples emerged as the country’s top agricultural export products, which grew to R14.8 million or by 1.23 percent during the first seven months of 2007.

DA Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, who was here last week, said the top performers in terms of growth were desiccated coconuts, which increased by 15.2 percent, and copra meal/cake, 44.5 percent.

Canned pineapple grew by 29.86 percent; pineapple juice, by 75.8, and pineapple concentrates, by 16.14 percent.

For fisheries exports, the top gainer was tuna, which grew by 42 percent. Seaweeds and carageenan, on the other hand, increased by 68.2 percent.

On the other hand, the export of abaca fibers increased by 18.36 percent, while unmanufactured tobacco exports increased by 36 percent, she added.

"The export growth figure should be even higher if included are export products that are under the DA but not included by NSO as agro-based products, such as meat exports, which include pork, poultry and beef and dairy products," Romulo-Puyat said.

"In fact, for the first half of the year, meat exports rose by as much as 221.33 percent, and dairy products increased by 35.94 percent," she said.

To sustain the growth of other export winners such as bananas and mangoes, Romulo-Puyat said the DA is undertaking a series of intervention measures to meet supply demands for these products.

To meet the export demand for fresh bananas, the undersecretary said the DA office for High Value Commodity Crops (HVCC) is eyeing increased saba production in Cagayan Valley; the Cavite-Batangas-Laguna-Rizal-Quezon growth corridor; the MIMAROPA provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, and Western Visayas .

Romulo-Puyat said the DA will also provide tissue-culture planting materials to banana growers to help increase production.

Tissue-culture plant laboratories in Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas will also be rehabilitated through funding from the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), while raising cardaba production will be pursued through the provision of 2,000 hectares for planting in Samal Island as well as the expansion of plantations in Mindanao, she said.

To improve the quality of mango exports, she said the DA is promoting the practice of bagging this tropical fruit product to prevent diseases, and the use of plastic crates instead of bayongs or kaings to reduce postharvest losses arising from bruises and compaction.

She noted that bagging has been shown to increase the proportion of exportable mangoes by as much as 90 percent.

"Subsidies for bagging materials in Luzon, where the practice is not widely utilized, are used to promote the practice."

In bid to revive Eaga, businesses turn to foreign donors

Email · Share · Digg · Print
By Germelina A. Lacorte
Davao Today

DAVAO CITY — Three foreign donors are interested in financing business projects in the East Asean Growth Area (Eaga) in the areas of tourism, transport, infrastructure, natural resources, communications and small-meduim enterprises (SME), assistant trade Secretary Merly Cruz said this week.

Cruz said millions of US dollars in funding are now being earmarked by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the German Technical cooperation (GTZ) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), as governments from the four Eaga countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines try to revive interest in the economic subregion by encouraging businesses to take off.

Top BIMP officials are set to gather here this month for the 15th Senior Officials and 12th Ministers Meeting, which will feature an investment forum to drumbeat business interest in the Eaga.

She said the matching of venture projects from the region with international funding agencies scheduled during the investment forum is a big opportunity for the private sector in the four countries.

“We have all the plans and programs set up and ready to go, but we still have to see the private sector take full advantage of so many opportunities for new projects they can put up in the Eaga,” Cruz said in a statement announcing the gathering slated on October 22 to 23 at the Marco Polo Hotel-Davao.

Cruz said the success of BIMP-Eaga depends on how much these traders and investors are attracted to opportunities being opened for them “and whether or not they will take full advantage of all these opportunities”

http://davaotoday.com/2007/10/16/in-bid-to-revive-eaga-businesses-turn-to-foreign-donors/

BIMP-EAGA ministers to update dev’t road map

DAVAO CITY — Ministers from the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) have agreed to review next year the sub-region’s road map to development.

In a joint statement released at the ministerial meeting at the Marco Polo Hotel yesterday, the ministers noted the 2006-2010 plan will be reviewed "to ensure that the priority projects continue to be relevant."

The signatories were Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, second minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei; Tan Sri Da’i Bachtiar, special envoy for EAGA of the Republic of Indonesia; Senator Dato’ Haji Abdul Raman bin Suliman, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s department of Malaysia; presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza; and Antonio Santos, chairman of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council, the private sector representative.

BIMP-EAGA is an economic subgroup of the larger 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The ministers commended the action of the transport, infrastructure and information and communications committees for enhancing transport connectivity, particularly on the implementation of the fifth freedom rights that allows airlines to land in another airport and pick up passengers along the way to other destinations.

The ministers also supported initiatives of harmonizing policies on Customs, immigration, quarantine and security procedures, and "improving border formalities" in the pilot ports that cover General Santos City-Bitung, Indonesia; Zamboanga City-Sandakan, Malaysia; Muara, Brunei-Labuan, Malaysia; and Entikong, Indonesia-Tebedu, Malaysia.

"These transport initiatives will promote the rapid development of a multi-modal transport system in EAGA and facilitate the freer movement of people, goods and services across borders in the sub-region," the joint statement said.

The ministers said they have called on their senior officials "to strengthen coordination with relevant national and local government institutions so that prompt action can be taken on the recommendations by the clusters and the private sector, and to undertake necessary policy improvements wherever relevant."

Formed in 1994, the sub-region was first conceptualized to increase intra-trading and preserving the cultures of the areas identified with it.

But the four countries failed to harmonize their policies, which is a necessary factor in enhancing intra-trade.

In 1997 as Asia felt the initial effects of the global financial crisis, prime movers of the sub-region, including former senator Vicente Paterno who headed the private sector, proposed that instead of intra-trade, the sub-region should look for a bigger market by promoting common products.

Harmonizing policies and standards remains a ticklish issue to this day, but Antonio Santos, chairman of the business council, said recent developments in air linkages and other modes of cooperation are expected to push the consolidation attempt to take off. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

source (http://www.bworldonline.com/BW102707/content.php?id=002)

Alwana Business Park Sports and Fitness Center, Cugman, CDO

Main Entrance
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Indoor Badminton Courts
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Nasobrahan ata sa pagpalaki @GearX sobrang blurred:)

except for the warehouse-like ceilings, i'd say that it's a really great place to shape-up in

Nasobrahan ata sa pagpalaki @GearX sobrang blurred:)

yeah...tinamad nako ipaliit...upload ko na lang agad :cheers:

nice pix of alwana! kinuhanan mo sana ang rockwall :D

Surigao City

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Surigao Provincial Convention Center

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Under Construction:

Redevelopment of Surigao Sports Complex

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OUR LADY OF SACRED HEART

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Mindanao Bob graces the 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit held at NCCC Mall, Davao City today.

I’m posting this photo while Bob is still busy delivering his speech just so to share with the rest of the world what’s going on here in Davao City

Surigao City



http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/jafhoy3/112_1680.jpg



^^ nice :okay:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g138/jafhoy3/112_1680.jpg

buti nalang yellow ang motorcab hindi green..hehehe

Sunday, 28 October 2007
Gov't flaunts five "high interest" mining sites in Mindanao (http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3156&Itemid=160)
Walter I. Balane / MindaNews
Sunday, 28 October 2007 06:35


DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/27 October) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources this week flaunted to investors from the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) five potential "high interest" mining areas in Mindanao.

Edilberto Arreza, OIC regional director of the DENR's Mines and Geociences Bureau (MGB) in Southeastern Mindanao identified the areas as North Central Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Southern Mindanao, and Palawan, and Samar-Eastern Mindanao.

The five districts are included in the twelve "mineral districts" the government identified in its international roadshow for investors.

Arreza said the Samar-Eastern Mindanao area has been noted for its gold, copper, iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, platinum and manganese; North Central Mindanao for its chromite, copper and gold; Zamboanga peninsula for its gold, copper, chromite and iron; Southeastern Mindanao for its gold, copper, chromite and iron) and Palawan for its chromite, nickel, cobalt, platinum and gold.

The North Central Mindanao list includes potential mining grounds in Bukidnon, Arreza said.

He said they based the potentials on the extent of gold panning activities in the Pantaron mountain range dubbed as "Mindanao’s Central Cordillera."

Matigsalug communities living in San Fernando, Bukidnon, where part of the mountain range is located, came to Davao last month to protest the inclusion of the area as a future mining site amid their claim to native title in the area.

Arreza told MindaNews the potential is there but it was difficult to further veirify as the area is guarded by armed people he did not identify.

"It could hold possibly, if fully explored, another world class mineral deposit," Arreza said in his presentation last Firday, a copy of which he gave to MindaNews.

The Mindanao Business Council had announced on October 23 that mining sector was the central interest of investors at the first ever private-led investment conference in the EAGA on October 22 and 23.

Arreza also noted that a close up view of Mindanao would show clearly its mineral potentials. The Surigao gold district, he said, holds promise for porphyry copper mineralization.

But he noted that Diwalwal – Masara in Compostela Valley Province calls for rational exploration due to unsystematic operations of small-scale gold miners.

Arreza also cited the TVI operation in Zamboanga del Norte, even as protests against the continued operations of the mining firm have not stopped, particularly from the displaced Subanons, the indigenous people there.

"The mining operation of TVI in Canatuan, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte has put the entire peninsula as an emerging mineral district," Arreza said.

He also cited the Sagittarius Mines in South Cotabato, recently paralyzed by workers who padlocked the home office in Tampakan town and set up roadblocks two weeks ago.

"The discovery of the world class copper deposit in Tampakan, South Cotabato has put into the limelight Southern Mindanao," he said in his presentation which he read both in the EAGA investment conference on Monday and in another business forum at the Davao Trade Exhibit later this week.

Arreza said Mindanao's mining potentials are not only on-shore. He cited "very promising mineral deposits located off-shore within our 2.2 Million Square Kilometers Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ.” He did not specify the area.

He said reconnaissance marine geological survey of the government showed occurrences of placer minerals such as gold, chromite, magnetite (a major iron ore mineral) and the abundance of silica, which is a major component in glass making.

Arreza also said two out of three major mining discoveries in the country in the last two decades are in Mindanao.

He cited the copper-gold mining wonders in Tampakan, South Cotabato and in Tubod, Surigao del Norte .

He also named eight companies doing exploration work in Mindanao and Palawan namel; Surigao Copper of Climax Mining, Siana Gold of RED 5 Mining, Surigao Gold of Oxiana Mining, and Mabuhay Gold of Pelican Mining all in Surigao del Norte. He also cited the Pujada Nickel of Asiaticus Management Corporation in Davao Oriental; New Bataan Gold of Sur American Mining in Compostela Valley Province; Bayug Gold of ZMC – Zamboanga del Sur; and Libona Gold of Great Horizon Mining in Bukidnon.

Arreza said there are three mining projects in the pipeline and already operational, namely; Palawan HPP Project, a nickel refinery; Canatuan Gold Project of TVI , which is in first phase of their gold mining operation; and the Diwalwal Direct State Development Project for gold.

The presentation also gave possible investors a briefing on the legal framework, the different types of mining rights and permits and a review of the country's Mineral Action Plan.

It also covered taxes and fees to be shared by national and local government in the operations.

But the presentation was silent on the issues and problems raised by indigenous communities, one of the biggest opposition to the entry of mining in Mindanao. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

By John Unson
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The Philippine Star

COTABATO CITY – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) appreciates the introduction of a House bill on mandatory teaching in schools of “Moro history,” but is apprehensive of possible distortion of the subject to advance a “hidden agenda.”

House Bill 1805, introduced recently by Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman, an ethnic Yakan from Basilan, provides for the mandatory study of Moro history in all levels of schools in the Philippines.

The MILF’s website, www.luwaran.com, said the front’s committee on education suggests that books on Moro history should be written according to proper context and real chronology of historical events that led to the birth of the so-called Bangsamoro homeland.

The MILF said historians should not “retouch” Moro history to further an unwise agenda and to marginalize the existence of the Moro people in the south since the coming to Mindanao of foreign missionaries who introduced Islam to the local folk some 700 years ago.

The MILF has recommended the initial review of three books, “Muslim in the Philippines” by Cesar Adib Majul; “The Swish of the Kris” by Victor Hurley, and “Nation Under Endless Tyranny” by Salah Jubair, as possible references for the writing of Moro history books to be used in schools if House Bill 1805 is enacted into law.

Majul was a Syrian Christian but later converted to Islam and became dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of the Philippines.

Hurley, on the other hand, was an American who wrote extensively about the Moros, while Jubair is a nom de guerre of a guerrilla propagandist who has authored and distributed more than a dozen books on the Mindanao Moro uprising to selected readers, among them local journalists.

For the MILF, the Moro people were once an independent nation that had trade and political ties with the sultanates in what are now Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, China and the Middle East even before the coming of the Spaniards in the 16th century.

There are Malaysian and Indonesian history books that refer to Mindanao as Mandanawi Darusallam, meaning “abode of peace in Mindanao” as homeland of ancient Muslim people led by sultans and datus.

Jun Mantawil, chief secretariat of the MILF’s peace panel, said it is wrong to label them as “secessionists” if the correct history of the so-called Bangsamoro homeland is to be studied.

Mantawil said the Bangsamoro people have never been conquered either by the Spaniards, the Americans or the Japanese during World War II, but were merely annexed as a component of the Philippine territory first by Spain and, subsequently, by the United States in the early 1900s.

“For us to secede is nonsense. We were the ones annexed and the most logical step now is to let us go or decolonize us,” he said.

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20071027141

Monday, 29 October 2007
Mindanawon photojournalists granted full scholarship at Asian Center for Journailsm
MindaNews
Monday, 29 October 2007 00:27


DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/28 October) – A veteran Mindanawon photojournalist from this city and another veteran journalist based in General Santos City have been granted full scholarships for a Diploma in Photojournalism at the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ) at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Photojournalist Rene Lumawag of Sun.Star Davao and Philippine News Agency General Santos City bureau chief Rommel Rebollido, were awarded full scholarship for their “commitment to photojournalism, strong motivation for professional growth and leadership potentials.”

Lumawag and Rebollido belong to the third batch of Mindanawon journalists granted full scholarships. Cagayan de Oro City’s Froilan Gallardo of MindaNews and Zamboanga City-based Charlie Saceda of Philippine Star were among the scholars in the first batch.

The Mindanawon scholars in the second batch are Keith Kristoffer Bacongco of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, formerly of MindaNews and now of the campaigns paralegal staff of the Legal and Natural Resources Center and Jose Aurelio “Toto” Lozano of Koronadal City, a freelance video editor and mentor/motivator for Oxfam and International Youth Partnerships.

Gallardo and Saceda graduated in May this year.

Classes for the batch of Lumawag and Rebollido will begin November 12 this year and will end on October 4 next year. The batch will have two on-campus sessions while other subjects will be offered partly or entirely online.

The ACFJ “pursues its mission through a scholarship and financial assistance program that supports the advanced studies of outstanding photojournalists who are making valuable contributions to the promotion and growth of photojournalism in their communities.”

“Recognizing that other fields and sectors in society influence the work of a photojournalist, the program also supports the photojournalism studies of outstanding professionals in allied fields whose work impact on the practice of good journalism. The scholarship program is a key facet of the ACFJ Photojournalism Program developed with the World Press Photo Foundation,” the ACFJ brochure said.

Dr. Violet Valdez, Executive Director of the ACFJ said in her letter to the fellows that she hopes “you will do well in the program and will take full advantage of this chance to hone your skills and talent in photojournalism to enhance your career and enable you to contribute more to your newsroom and community.”

The ACFJ also offers an MA Journalism program specifically designed for working journalists.

Among those granted full scholarship for MA Journalism is MindaNews editor Carolyn O. Arguillas who obtained her degree in March this year. (MindaNews)

Eastern, Chinese firm tie up for ethanol facility (http://http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/29/yehey/business/20071029bus6.html)

By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter

EASTERN Petroleum Corp. is set to tie up with a Chinese firm for the construction of its first ethanol processing plant in Mindanao.

The proposed plant will cost about $30 million and can produce 200,000 liters of ethanol per day. This is expected to meet the anticipated growth in demand for the biofuel with the passage of the Biofuels Law early this year.

Fernando L. Martinez, Eastern Petroleum chairman, said that the facility, which will be built by the last quarter of next year, will be the first in a series of ethanol plants to be put up by the company and Guanxi Estate Farm. The first facility is expected to come online by late 2009.

In line with this, Eastern Petroleum will soon sign a five-year $350-million deal with its Chinese partner to develop 10,000 hectares of land for ethanol production.

”All the proposed ethanol plants are happening. A series of ethanol plants have been approved and Eastern Petroleum has signed up with Guanxi. I’m going to China to sign a joint venture agreement for our first $30 million plant,” Martinez said.

Under the Biofuels Law, all engine fuels are required to have a minimum blend of biofuels to be derived from local feedstock. For its plant, Eastern Petroleum will source its ethanol from cassava.

”Based on our study, compared to sorghum, sugar cane and corn—cassava is the most effective feedstock as proven in China and Thailand,” Martinez said.
Under the agreement, Guanxi Estate will introduce “superior stock” that will almost double current cassava yields, making plantations more viable for local farmers.

Besides a 2,000-hectare plantation in Saranggani province, Eastern Petroleum may also source its feedstock from other countries belonging to the East Asia Growth Area, particularly Indonesia and Cambodia, Martinez said.

He said the plant will produce about 60 million liters of ethanol in late 2009 to early 2010, but by that time the country will already need 300 million liters of the fuel. Besides Eastern Petroleum’s proposed plant, two other ethanol plants are under construction with a combined capacity of 75 million liters per year. The San Carlos and the First Bukidnon facilities will run on sugarcane and are expected to start commercial operations next year and by 2009, respectively.

Alwana Business Park Sports and Fitness Center, Cugman, CDO

Main Entrance
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Indoor Badminton Courts
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WOW! galing naman...nice place

Really nice. But I heard that the inside isn't as pleasant as the outside. :dunno:

inayus na nila sa loob so both outside and the inside are already good for the eye^^:lol:

http://photos.friendster.com/photos/23/24/10284232/1_649364369l.jpg

eto bago mall ng zamboanga city 10story ^^^^

DENR inaugurates P1.2-billion septage facility in Sarangani
(http://http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20071030107229.html)


By LLALYN B. DE VERA

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently inaugurated a septage treatment facility (STF) in Sarangani province for the protection of the coastal waters of Sarangani Bay, under the P1.2 billion Southern Mindanao Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (SMICZMP) of the government.


The Alabel’s septage facility in Alabel town, Sarangani province is one of the seven waste-water treatment facilities constructed under the DENR project, which is expected to provide desludging services to households in Alabel and General Santos City, one of the highly-urbanized cities in Southern Mindanao.

Sarangani Bay is part of the Sulu-Sulawesi Eco-Region and is one of the few areas where endangered marine mammals like "dugong’’ or sea cow and whales are found.

Other coastal municipalities that will benefit from the STFs are Glan, Kiamba, Maasim, Maitum, and Malapatan along Sarangani Bay, and in the municipality of Malalag along Malalag Bay in Davao Del Sur, which translates to around 241,539 beneficiaries.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. said the construction of facilities ensure the continuous supply of clean water to the residents in the province.

He explained that with the construction of a septage facility, pollution load that is directly dislodged in the bay will be reduced.

The treatment facilities are expected to reduce water pollution in Sarangani Bay at an estimated biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) load reduction of 3,389 kilograms per day or 47 percent of the estimated daily pollution load by the six coastal municipalities.

The DENR chief said the STFs are projected to generate an annual income of around R20 million from fees and health and sanitation benefits.

"The project will also continuously provide employment to local residents," Atienza said.

"It will also improve the aquatic environment including water quality of Sarangani and Malalag Bays to enhance the economic productivity and potentials in fishery and marine life, specifically tuna fish," he added.

The project is launched to enhance the strategic integration of the management of the coastal and watershed ecosystems.

This includes Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape in South Cotabato and Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Balasiao Watershed and Malalag Bay in Davao del Sur.

great pix!:)