Its all about Mindanao. Post here any related articles and pics of Mindanao. This is not to compete other threads like Davao, CDO & Surigao threads but will give a bigger picture on the totality of Mindanao and its agenda.

http://www.mindanao.org/mindanao/images/seamap.jpg

Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country, with Luzon and Visayas being the other two. The region first came to contact with Spain in the late 16th to early 17th century by Spanish soldiers and friars who colonized it in 1622.

These days the region is home to the country's Muslim or Moro populations, comprising of many ethnic groups such as the Maranaos and the Tausugs. Contrary to the common belief, not all parts of Mindanao have been conquered by the Muslims. In fact, most of northern Mindanao people, especially the people of Butuan, were animistic before they were converted to Christianity.

A bitter independence struggle has been waged by various Muslim factions for five centuries against successive occupiers. Spanish, U.S., Japanese and Filipino government forces failed to quell their desire to separate from the largely Christian nation. Due to decades-long land-grab schemes and the subsequent influx of emigrants to the region, the majority of Mindanao's population is now predominantly Christian, a regional issue that fuels the anger of poor and displaced Mindanaoan Muslims and the separatist movements that had been fighting for hundreds of years.

In recent years, the area has come under scrutiny with the rise of Islamic terrorist organizations tied to the Middle East conflict. Mindanao is a staging ground for such terrorist groups as Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah that undermine the more moderate and nationalistic aspirations of independence seekers like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

As an island in the southern part of the country, Mindanao is the second largest at 94,630 square kilometers, only about 10,000 km² smaller than Luzon. The island is mountainous, and is home to Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the country. To the west of Mindanao island is the Sulu Sea, to the east is the Philippine Sea, and to the south is the Celebes Sea.

The island group of Mindanao encompasses Mindanao island itself, plus the Sulu Archipelago to the southwest. The island group is divided into six regions, which are further subdivided into 25 provinces.

The southernmost region of the Republic of the Philippines, located in the heart of the Asia-Pacific region, Mindanao has become a "gateway to opportunity" for Philippine and international investors eyeing opportunities in agribusiness, industry, and tourism.

Competitive Edge

Economic Resources
* Mindanao's rich soil and abundant, evenly-spaced rainfall enable it to produce a wide variety of food and industrial crops year-round. Historically, it accounts for one-third of the Philippines' total agricultural output, and is home to many successful national and multinational agribusiness firms.
* Its mountain ranges are rich in both metallic and non-metallic mineral resources, including gold, nickel, lead, limestone, and manganese.
* Its long coastline, brought about by many islets in the northeast and southwest, harbor rich marine resources.
* The island boasts of numerous ports for serving international shipping needs, as well as a score of city/municipal and fish ports for domestic commerce.
* Its vastly-improved road infrastructure and transport services have not only interlinked its cities, they have also linked the island to major centers of commerce around the country, reducing transport costs and travel time significantly.

Location Advantages
Mindanao's location in the center of the East Asean region is the perfect setting for this emerging agro-industrial and manufacturing center. The island's seven growth zones host a wide variety of economic activities.

Deep Human Resources Pool
With a population of over 16 million people, Mindanao is home to a quarter of the Philippines' total population. Two-thirds of the population is of working age, and Mindanao's labor force is well-educated, trainable, highly-skilled, and conversant in English.

Modern Infrastructure
* Mindanao has initiated a massive infrastructure program focusing physical integration and on the upgrading and expansion of telecommunications throughout the island. A modern telecommunications network, incorporating IDD-NDD, cellular, fax, telegram, and Internet access, already services all major cities and is now being expanded to cover rural areas.
* An arterial road network connecting all major population centers is complete. All segments are either paved or in the process of being paved.
* Air and sea links to Mindanao's southern neighbors have been established.
* Many of the island's primary air and sea ports have been upgraded to international standards.

Abundant Natural Resources
* Mindanao is blessed with abundant year-round rainfall, while sheltered from typhoons. This combination supports year-round production of a wide variety of food and commercial crops. Mindanao leads the country in the production and export of banana, pineapple, corn, coffee, coconut, durian, raw rubber, palm oil, cotton, cutflowers, seaweed, and high-value tuna.
* The island is also a major producer of livestock, mango, and crabs.
* Mindanao is rich in metallic resources, including gold, nickel, lead, zinc, and manganese.

Mindanao, a gateway for regional groupings of Asean
September 23rd, 2005

http://www.indonesia.org.ph/mindanao-2.gif

By Rose Palacio

Davao City (24 September) — Mindanao Affairs secretary Jesus Dureza said Mindanao would become the gateway to the sub-regional groupings of Asean countries such as the BIMP-EAGA- the Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia group, and the Greater Mekong area.

A clustering of tourism package would also promote sub-regional groupings with the ASEAN, he said during a radio forum “Kombate” aired over DXGO Aksyon Radyo and anchored by Kagawad Mar Masanguid and Edgar Banzon.

“One of the important things that ASEAN countries can do now is to promote sub-regional groupings because ASEAN has become much bigger now. These sub-regional groupings can be promoted by the ASEAN that will give it new life”, he said.

According to secretary Dureza, there are initiatives being undertaken to promote sub-regional groupings and that if they can maintain the peace and security in the regional groupings, there’ll be bright prospect next year.

Secretary Dureza said he will ask BIMP-EAGA investors to come and invests in Mindanao which ultimately will provide employment to the people in the island.

The employment, he said, will also create a “multiplier effect” in the service sector in Mindanao, taking advantage of the entrepreneurship skills of Mindanaoans

“Only by staying together can se be considered a big market so BIMP-EAGA must stay together”, he said. (PIA)

some pics of mindanao...

Agusan Marsh
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/agusansur/marshdaybreak-P6070336.jpg
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/agusansur/marsh-housefogs-P6070364.jpg

source:
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/agusansur/0ads-index.html

Zamboanga's Vinta

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/zambosur/regatta6-V0000088.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/zambosur/regatta4-V0000058.jpg

interesting........ you know, Cebu is now known 'The International Capital of Southern Philippines' , because there are now direct flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Hong Kong to Cebu. So Cebu is basically the gateway of tourism of Mindanao.

^^ Very true, Cebu is currently Southern Philippines' gateway. But Cebu is not part of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia & Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Kay ang Cebu developed na and already established its name to the rest of the world.

archived article:

Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)
Updated: 15 September 2003

The Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA initiative was launched by the four governments in 1994. The objective was to hasten, through regional cooperation, the development of the economy of Brunei and subregions of the three other countries.

BIMP-EAGA consists of

* Brunei Darussalam
* Central Kalimantan
* North Sulawesi
* South Sulawesi
* Maluku
* Sabah and Sarawak states and the Federal Territory of Labuan in Malaysia
* East and West Kalimantan
* South Kalimantan
* Central Sulawesi
* Southeast Sulawesi
* Irian Jaya in Indonesia
* Island of Mindanao and Palawan Province in the Philippines

BIMP-EAGA is eyed as a major location in ASEAN of high value added agro-industry, natural resource- based manufacturing, and high-grade tourism as well as nonresource-based industries.

Lanao del Sur
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaosur/mosque02-1098.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaosur/mosque01-P7263225.jpg

Maguindanao

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/maguindanao/mosque02-PB110002.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/maguindanao/shariff1-PICT5085.jpg

Sarangani

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/sarangani/capitol1-P8224664.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/sarangani/parilla-matutum-PB120058.jpg

Camiguin

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/camiguin/cam-9906-cemetery.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/camiguin/cam-9908-island-with-boat.jpg

Saturday, September 24, 2005
Exports remain key to Mindanao economic growth

UNITED States Agency for International Development (Usaid) Mission Director Jon Lindborg said opportunities still abound in the island to ship top-rated agri and aqua products in both fresh and processed forms.

Through the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM), Usaid is also assisting producers to market their products to the vast and growing China market.

He said they are looking for ways to link small growers to companies that have the experience and capacity to reach export markets.

There are strategies that they had developed and one of the trade promotion strategies is on business support organization that can represent the multiple interests of the industries.

Lindborg cited the extraordinary growth of the tuna industry in General Santos City where it can be attributed to the activism, investment, and accomplishment of the fishing federation in the city.

As funding donor, it will work continuously with business groups in Mindanao that have positive economic vision and the courage and commitment to pursue it.

Earlier, Lindborg said Usaid would continue to pour in projects to Mindanao where 60 percent of the $9 million annual assistance given to the Philippines goes to Mindanao.

He said that a great return of investments had been realized in terms of economy and business activities when they invest on peace and development programs even as he said that economic enterprise is very much alive in Mindanao.

Lanao del Sur
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaosur/mosque02-1098.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaosur/mosque01-P7263225.jpg
Maguindanao

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/maguindanao/mosque02-PB110002.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/maguindanao/shariff1-PICT5085.jpg
wow ... Coming from a heavily catholicized province like Iloilo, it just blows my mind seeing mosques existing in the Philippines.

SHOW THE UNITED RAILWAY, MY FELLOW MINDANAO, BE GOING IN DAVAO IN SEPtember NEZYER :lol:

SHOW THE UNITED RAILWAY, MY FELLOW MINDANAO, BE GOING IN DAVAO IN JULY NEZYER :lol:

wow another celebrity will visit davao. :) we'll roll out the red carpet (with durian).

galing galing. ang ganda.

Thanks for bringing up this thread. Haven't seen these Mindanao pics before. :)

:eek2: :eek2: wow!!! :eek2: :eek2:

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111623529.jpg

This bridge has become one of the icons symbolising Butuan's inroads to urbanization.

It forms the vital link to agriculture rich Agusan and Davao provinces.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111864955.jpg

Nasipit, a town 15 kilometers west of the city proper hosts the regional baseport.

A new baseport is being built along Butuan's coastal barangay of Masao to complement the existing port.

^^ Butuan is the capital of Caraga region, am i right?
do you have a pic of Montilla Blvd & Urios?

http://www.glendale-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/faculty_pages/ind_arts_web/bridgeweb/Graphics/cable%20stayed%20bridge.jpg

Architect's rendition of the Butuan 2nd Magsaysay Bridge now on full swing construction in San Vicente, Butuan City.

Being built by Japanese contractors, Nippon Steel and Towa Construction Corp., along also with its 11 meter wide 13 kilometer roadway; once completed expectedly on 2008, this bridge will be first in the world to have the longest roadway connecting the existing Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Butuan hi-way in the west to Butuan-Agusan-Surigao-Davao highway in the east.

Butuan City, Agusan del Norte

Provincial Capitol
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/agusannorte/capitol-IMG_5461.jpg

Rizal Park
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/agusannorte/rizalpark-IMG_5408.jpg

Sto Nino Shrine
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/agusannorte/ninochurch-IMG_5385.jpg

http://www.glendale-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/faculty_pages/ind_arts_web/bridgeweb/Graphics/cable%20stayed%20bridge.jpg



looks good! similar to marcelo fernan bridge in cebu.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111622955.jpg

hello Sleepwalker, yes Butuan City is the regional seat of government of the administrative region of Caraga, or better known as Northeastern Mindanao; comprising the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

The region was created in 1995, borne from the increasing need by its residents for consolidative development being once a backwater of Region 10.

This youngest region in Mindanao now hosts several huge ongoing projects that would expectedly jetison the region to a robust economic development.

looks good! similar to marcelo fernan bridge in cebu.

yes! Really very similar...

thanks boyblue! good news indeed for caraga and the rest of mindanao.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111622955.jpg


i believe this is one of the oldest artifact found in butuan. before spanish came, i think butuan was once a culturally-rich city.

Sleepwalker:

Yes Marcelo Fernan Bridge is of the same type, CABLE-STAYED.
This Butuan bridge will complement the planned Mindanao Railway Project.

The huge agro-industrial output of Davao and Agusan areas will be much hastened as this will act as a conduit to the fast growing commercial market economy of Visayas especially Metro Cebu.

Sleepwalker:

Yes Marcelo Fernan Bridge is of the same type, CABLE-STAYED.
This Butuan bridge will complement the planned Mindanao Railway Project.

Do you have updates on Mindanao Railway Project?
I think the first phase will Iligan-CDO-Butuan.


The huge agro-industrial output of Davao and Agusan areas will be much hastened as this will act as a conduit to the fast growing commercial market economy of Visayas especially Metro Cebu.

esp the palm oil.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111624281.jpg

One of Butuan's main thoroughfares, a six-lane wide concrete boulevard connecting the city's southern and northern barangays. It will be linked in the future to the planned Butuan-Malaybalay,Bukidnon highway.

Re, the Mindanao Railway Project; there are now several countries being tapped as sources of fund for the first phase (Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Gingoog line); but the national government has to come up with a counterpart fund also for the project to start.

Mindanao traders urged to boost business, change commercial perception about island

DAVAO CITY (PNA) — A minister from Australia has urged businessmen here to boost the trade potentials of Mindanao and change the perception that business is difficult to prosper in the island.

Chief Minister Clare Martin of Northern Territory, Australia told traders during the Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizon) here last week it was a sad fact that the Philippines, particularly Mindanao, was perceived as a difficult place to do business.

"Perceptions are everything but we must change these. Instead of dwelling on the things that are wrong, focus must be geared on what needs to be done to put things right," Martin said.

Behind the negative perceptions, Martin said Mindanao, like Australia, had similar minerals endowment.

He said mining was a major contributor to the wealth of Australia and according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economic, the value of exports from the mining sector in 2003-04 amounted to AU$ 52.2 billion (38 billion U.S. dollars) or more than two trillion in Philippine peso per year.

Accordingly, mining accounts for around 5.6 percent of Australia’s gross domestic product and mineral and metals (including coal) make the single largest contribution to exports at around 29 percent.

Meanwhile, services and manufacturing contribute 21 percent each while oil and gas share around eight percent.

With similar resources, Martin expressed confidence that Mindanao could also succeed as 70 percent of the total mineral wealth of the Philippines was found in the island.

"Mindanao also has the potential to become the food basket of Asia because of organized support groups like the Mindanao Business Council and the Mindanao Economic and Development Council," he said.

However, Martin said there were areas that need to be done, as foreign investors are looking for comfort. These are peace and order, active government support, freedom from corruption.

He said investors want security in terms of a peaceful environment and that goalposts would not be shifted unfairly during the lifetime of their investment, while there were much confusion and downright misinformation about mining among the LGUs.

Corruption, he said, was a major inhibitor to levels of foreign investment in the country. The Philippines, he said, still lagged behind almost every other Asian country in attracting overseas investment.

The Philippines government, with the help of the private sector, should address the issues to ensure the continued progress of Mindanao as a result of greater confidence from foreign investors, Martin said.





Social worker says DNA test on Ecleo’s son will ‘harm him’
SBMA officials welcomed as rain soaks Subic rites
Mindanao traders urged to boost business, change commercial perception about island
EC grants farming tools to war-displaced people
Duterte welcomes NBI probe on vigilante killings in Davao
2 picnicking students drown in Lake Sebu

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111622955.jpg


indian ari

http://www.glendale-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/faculty_pages/ind_arts_web/bridgeweb/Graphics/cable%20stayed%20bridge.jpg

Architect's rendition of the Butuan 2nd Magsaysay Bridge now on full swing construction in San Vicente, Butuan City.

Being built by Japanese contractors, Nippon Steel and Towa Construction Corp., along also with its 11 meter wide 13 kilometer roadway; once completed expectedly on 2008, this bridge will be first in the world to have the longest roadway connecting the existing Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Butuan hi-way in the west to Butuan-Agusan-Surigao-Davao highway in the east.

Sweet! I love Cable-Stayed bridges! I think this will be the country's first (Cebu's Fernan bridge doesnt count). When will it be completed?

^^ probably 2008. i hope the planned mindanao railway project will also push through.

SHOW THE UNITED RAILWAY, MY FELLOW MINDANAO, BE GOING IN DAVAO IN JULY NEZYER :lol:

oi tigs, in the brig ka pala. matatagalan pa yata ang tren.

http://www.philcom.ph/gov/butuan/images/h1.jpg http://www.philcom.ph/gov/butuan/images/h2.jpg http://www.philcom.ph/gov/butuan/images/h3.jpg http://www.philcom.ph/gov/butuan/images/h4.jpg

^^ so it means butuan is the oldest state in the phil

perhaps. after the discovery of balanghay.

Gen Santos City

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/eastasia1-PA250007.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/tunacapital-PA290013.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/londonbeach1-PA260009.jpg

Tuna Festival

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/tunaparade1-PICT0055.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/tunaparade2-PICT0143.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/tuna-st-dancing-boy-PICT005.jpg

Kalilangan Festival

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/kali3-P2270101.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/kali2-P2270096.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/kali1-P2270086.jpg

http://www.glendale-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/faculty_pages/ind_arts_web/bridgeweb/Graphics/cable%20stayed%20bridge.jpg

Architect's rendition of the Butuan 2nd Magsaysay Bridge now on full swing construction in San Vicente, Butuan City.

Being built by Japanese contractors, Nippon Steel and Towa Construction Corp., along also with its 11 meter wide 13 kilometer roadway; once completed expectedly on 2008, this bridge will be first in the world to have the longest roadway connecting the existing Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Butuan hi-way in the west to Butuan-Agusan-Surigao-Davao highway in the east.

nice! similar to the Penang bridge in Malaysia :D but it has a toll fee. any idea if Butuan bridge will have a toll plaza?

rusty:

there will be no toll plaza as far as the plan is concerned.
the added feautures of this future bridge however includes a viaduct (now simultaneously ongoing construction along Baan) which will connect it to the present Magsaysay Bridge located 3 kilometers apart in the city center. The elevated viaduct shall glide along the Agusan River bank as it merges to the new bridge's eastern approach.

the new bridge is expected to decongest the primary highway that currently runs through the Butuan CBD; and in the process open new and wide areas for commercial, residential, industrial, or mixed-use developments for the citys continuing expansion towards its southern corridor.

thanks for the info! hehe, i'm a bit surprised developments are everywhere :okay: wow philippines :)

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111864075.jpg

Butuan's latest addition in hotel and convention facilities.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111623457.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tj_brewed/DAVAO/Cebu/davao.jpg

old news but anyway...

CASURRA DELIVERS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
Transparent and Accountable Governance: A Continuing Vision


A continuing vision for transparent and accountable governance lays the theme of the State of the City Address (SOCA) of the Hon. City Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra of the City of Surigao. Delivered last March 17, 2005 at the city gymnasium before a jam-packed crowd composed of city and provincial officials, local community representatives, and invited foreign guests, the speech highlighted the city’s accomplishments for the past term and also outlined his administration’s development priorities for 2005-2007.

Mayor Casurra in his speech stressed the city’s continuing commitment to transparent and accountable governance (TAG) as his administration’s framework of good governance and development. The City of Surigao is among the seven (7) pilot cities in Mindanao implementing the Asia Foundation and USAID-funded TAG project beginning in 2002.

Under the TAG Program of the city government, initiatives have gained headway in implementing reforms in the local procurement system, particularly the key provisions of R.A. 9184. Training modules in public service excellence, ethics and accountability for all key service departments in the LGU have also been implemented with the assistance of the Ateneo Resource Center for Local Governance.

These interventions Mayor Casurra stressed resulted to increased service efficiency like the reduced 2-hour one-stop processing time of business permits renewal and the 10-day prescribed payment period for procurement of goods and services. As a result, the local community has expressed its support and commitment to the TAG Program with the establishment of the city’s anti-corruption networks, namely: the City Coalition for TAG led by the private sector particularly the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Civil Society TAG Network led by the non-government organization REACH Foundation.

The city mayor also mentioned the Kaagapay Seal of Excellence in Local Governance Award received late last year by the City of Surigao. This according to him is a recognition brought about by the city’s on-going efforts to promote good governance. It may be recalled that aside from the Kaagapay award, the City of Surigao has been recognized as one of Asia’s most livable cities, one of the most peaceful in the world, and a consistent national finalist in the Clean & Green and Child-Friendly Cities Program.

Other highlights of the SOCA points to the continuing efforts of promoting quality education, especially the upgrading of public school facilities and most notably tertiary level and post-graduate institutions. The DepEd Surigao City Division was cited for having consistently achieved the Top 3 spot in the National Achievement Test for the last three (3) years and even landing Second in the latest results.

Improved production support facilities and farm technologies were also noted in the agricultural sector bannered by the P80-million Surigao River Irrigation Project and the 77% income increase of the new state-of-the-art city slaughterhouse. Still, advocacy efforts are underway for the realization of the long-delayed JBIC Fishing Port project.

Other social services, particularly health, welfare, housing, youth and sports were also given impetus in the SOCA. Tie-up with non-government organizations saw the advancement of basic health care delivery. These also resulted to securing donations for the completion of new barangay health centers via the Culion Foundation and acquisition of equipment, i.e. dialysis machine from the Fruitful Harvest Mission. The Gawad Kalinga Project of the Couples for Christ and the Habitat for Humanity also contributed largely to the completion of the Surigao City Resettlement Project accommodating 240 households.

308 infrastructure projects costing P52.5 million were implemented in 2004 representing an increase of 33% from the previous year. Aside from these, the 3-storey new government center was also completed boosting further service efficiency for the local tax payers.

Mayor Casurra was also proud to report of the closure of the city’s former open dump and the present operation of the new temporary controlled dumping site. Such is in initial compliance with the provisions of R. A. 9003. With the acquisition of a financial grant from the Swedish government, the city also completed last year the P17-million Feasibility Study of Solid Waste Management System and Sanitary Landfill. Another P30 million grant for the detailed engineering design phase of the project was also secured for this year.

Among the major prospects announced for this year and beyond are the on-going efforts to secure foreign direct investments for the Nonoc Island Nickel Refinery Project. The city government together with the private sector and the national government are eyeing renewed investor interests on the project from mainland China.

^^ btw, that investment mentioned in the last paragraph amounts to an eye-popping US$1 Billion!

areas of investment in Surigao City...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/investment.jpg

US$1B? nice. thanks coke.

yes, you read it -- $1,000,000,000. it will generate thousands of jobs (at least 5,000).

PIA Press Release
09/29/2005
Export-oriented, development-focused Mindanao business seen

by RG Alama

Davao City (29 September) -- Mindanao Businesses are now focusing on exporting their goods and produce. Said Mindanao Business Council Chairman Antonio Santos.

Santos speaking before members of the Davao media during the Club 888 media forum yesterday said that exports involved value-added and dollar-generating industries and that many businessmen now are focusing on export-industries.

Santos also bared that before the end of the year Mindanao will be exporting Halal Chicken in partnership with Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. "We will be using the Halal-certification of Brunei," said Santos

Santos also said that many local and foreign investors are eyeing Mindanao. Many of these investors are interested in Mindanao's mining resources. The MBC chair said Canadian, British, American, Japanese and Australian investors have been asking for relevant data on mineral resources in the island.

Mindanao has about 70% of the Mineral resources of the Philippines this according to Santos.

Meanwhile Santos also said that Mindanao Business focus is on development particularly on the Moslem communities in the Island. He said that economically developed Communities in Moslem Mindanao would help fast-tracked the peace process.

"We encourage the businessmen no matter how small to create activities that will help create employment particularly in the countryside" Santos appealed to many of his fellow businessmen.

With these developments, we will have a more peaceful Mindanao, which will in turn attract more investments. Said the MBC chairman. (PIA)

heres one from davao forum, i'll share this to mindanao... :)

Mindanao Republic bid gaining ground: Alvarez
By Ben O. Tesiorna

MOVES to establish a separate Mindanao Republic, bereft of political and economic woes the country is facing now, have been gaining ground as time goes by, said Pantaleon Alvarez, organizer of One People Mindanao (OPM), a movement lobbying for a separate Mindanao Republic.

In an interview, Alvarez said he had been doing the rounds in key areas in Mindanao the past months and he has yet to encounter one individual who does not
support his bid for a separate Mindanao Republic.

Alvarez said that on October 6, a consultation on Mindanao Republic will be sponsored by the parish church of Valencia in Bukidnon led by Fr. Dodge Tabios.

He said this only shows that Mindanaoans are open to his proposal and that they are seriously considering it.

Asked how soon does he think for his dream to be realized, Alvarez said they have a two-year timetable and that by 2007 they hope Mindanaoans will rally in unity for a plebiscite instead of an election in Mindanao.

Aside from Valencia, a consultation is also scheduled this October 1 in Zamboanga City. Alvarez had been to many cities and provinces in Mindanao urging the people to demand a separate Mindanao republic as soon as possible.

Alvarez said only a separate Mindanao Republic can help solve the problems the island is facing, adding that a Charter change would not solve our woes considering the present crisis the national government is facing right now.

hay... nakakalungkot... bakit ba lahat gustong humiwalay???

mejo matagal na yang plano. ngayon lang lumabas ng pina-impeach si GMA. meron na nga silang pinakitang mindanao flag & pinatugtog nila ang national anthem.

bahala na.

Moving forward: The Mindanao Action Agenda
By Antonio R. Santos Sr.
MBC Updates

LAST year, the 13th Mindanao Business Conference presented a fresh approach to presenting recommendations for government action on the vital issues of the Mindanao economy.

Dubbed as the Mindanao Action Agenda, it offered a set of recommended public sector commitments that was patterned after the ten-point agenda of the President.

The coverage of the action agenda is from 2004 to 2010.

During the recently concluded 14th Mindanao Business Conference, we revisited the first year of the action agenda for us to review which recommendations for government action were addressed.

Likewise, this helped in identifying the gaps from the previous recommendations, which would be carried over as the priorities for 2005-2006.

The Mindanao private sector is very much pleased that the government addressed a significant number of our points for advocacy.

Primary of which is our call for the shift to a federal system of government. The President, in her 25 July 2005 State of the Nation Address, announced that Charter Change is one of the topmost priorities of her administration's agenda.

The review of the Constitution shall include the possible change in the form of government to Federal or Parliamentary or a combination of both.

We have also gained grounds in our advocacy for the power sector as the Department of Finance and the Department of Energy has restored Transco's proposed $850 million Capex Program, which would pave the way for the completion of the Maramag-Bunawan and Kirahon-Maramag transmission projects.

This would greatly augment the power supply in the Southern Mindanao area and allay our concerns on the looming Mindanao power crisis.

On our advocacy for the revitalization of the Mindanao minerals industry, in a landmark decision, the Supreme Court "decided for the greater good of the greatest number" and upheld the constitutionality of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

On last year's call for The Judiciary to expedite the resolution of the Mindanao Container Terminal Port (MCTP) debacle, the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro City nullified an RTC injunction to stop MCTP operations.

The 14th MinBizCon Action Agenda: Priorities for 2005-2006 particularly focuses on the immediate goals that need to be prioritized within the near term.

It continues to present the commitments of the private sector as a proactive mover of change especially in helping create an atmosphere that is conducive to investments.

This year's priorities aptly complement the theme "Mindanao: Delivering the Promises" as a testament to the Mindanao business community's thrusts to provide continuity to its advocacies.

During the turnover of the Mindanao Action Agenda: Priorities for 2005-2006 to Secretary Jesus Dureza, he made it a point in his response that the Medco shall lead in the creation of a Technical Working Group that is tasked to pursue our recommendations as well as monitor the progress of our advocacies.

While we are euphoric over the success of our advocacies, more than anything else, we are challenged with the task of ensuring that our call for a massive support to Mindanao would be heeded.

hay... nakakalungkot... bakit ba lahat gustong humiwalay???
I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. Lot's of talk lang iyan pag pinagbayad mo ang proportional utang nila sila pa unang mauuna mawala.

I guess tactic yan para ma-push ang chacha. yeepee! :)

Booming Business Confidence in Butuan


by Robert E. Roperos, Abner M. Caga

Butuan City -- "The risk of doing business may be applicable only in Manila with the political crisis confronting the country at present".

This is the reaction of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga Regional Director Carmencita Cochingco in an interview with PIA-Caraga on the result of the study conducted by Asian Development Bank (ADB) on issue of the high risks of doing business in the Philippines leading to a sharp drop in foreign direct investment in the Southeast Asian country in recent years.

Cochingco added that since Manila is not the Philippines, the cause of the risk is not really felt here in the region because of the stable local governments who see to it that peace and order security is very stable.

"I believe that the donor community here in Caraga is very confident to implement projects. Foreign donors are also coming in as well as the World Bank expanding its assistance in our rural roads", Cochingco further said.

Cochingco also said that new constructions, business establishments and a lot of economic activities are already existing and expanding here. From the economic point of view, she added that additional investments must be given priority such as the formation of the capital goods that include plants and factories, instead of the consumer goods, "...but at the same time, it's also an indication that there is enough business confidence since a lot of businessmen are already putting up business", Cochingco said.

Meanwhile, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said that the Philippines is determined to stamp out the risks of doing business by strong fiscal measures, macroeconomic stability and strategic political reforms. Bunye added that our government's revenue program is on tracking and holding up confidence.

"We are building infrastructure systems that would further attract investors to create more jobs and sustain the improving employment rate. As we cross the threshold of the second phase of our economic reform agenda, we are bringing into line the much-needed reforms in our political system that will reduce perennial political turmoil, further empower the people and enliven enterprise", Bunye said.

Bunye further stressed that we are at the verge of economic takeoff driven by an emerging sense of national unity behind change and reform. (PIA-Caraga)

any new gensan pics?

can someone post pictures of Mindanao Malls? :D
I'd like to collect pics of them for my collage.. hehe

visualize that in the next 5-10 years, an expressway will be built to connect all the major cities in mindanao, will that be possible?

any new gensan pics?

i'll try to find. :)

heres Makar Wharf in Gen Santos City:

http://www.ictsi.com/www1/cgi-bin/photogallery/pics/high/Berth%2008SCIPSI.jpg

http://www.ictsi.com/www1/cgi-bin/photogallery/pics/high/Aerial%20View1SCIPSI.jpg

http://www.ictsi.com/www1/cgi-bin/photogallery/pics/high/p22SCIPSI.jpg

heres a link to GenSan Fishport in Brgy Tambler, GSC.

http://www.gensantos.gov.ph/fishing/fishport.php

General Santos International Airport:

http://www.ato.gov.ph/Airports/APPICS/gensanterm.jpg

http://www.ato.gov.ph/Airports/APPICS/gensanrwy.jpg

http://www.ato.gov.ph/Airports/APPICS/gensanrwy3.jpg

http://www.ato.gov.ph/Airports/APPICS/gensanrwy2.jpg

Runway Designation: 17/35
Strength and Surface of Runway: 363,000kgs
RWY: Concrete; SWY: Macadam
Dimension of Runway: 3,221m x 45m
Stopway Dimensions: RWY17-300m RWY35-300m
Slope of Runway-Stopway: 0.315%
CWY Dimensions: RWY17-300m RWY35-300m
Apron Strength: 70 RBXU
Taxiway Surface and Width: Concrete; 23m

great pics sleepwalker. i remember years back we had a safari in gensan and the airport authority gave us access to shoot. the airport was huge and great.

also, socsargen highways are of international standards. we used to travel to kiamba... the asphalt roads are neat and with 40 years warranty funded by usaid.

Saturday, October 08, 2005
Business council to develop competitive workforce

WHILE both opposition and pro-administration officials are squabbling in Manila, businessmen in Mindanao have been busy discussing how to improve the economy by forging stronger partnerships and providing assistance to the communities.

One form of assistance that is seen to create the greatest impact is in the area of education.

Slowly but surely, the business sector is realizing the importance of developing a globally competitive workforce by providing impoverished but deserving youth in the region with opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge.

Datu Haron Bandila, chair of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Business Council (ABC), said businessmen in the region now share with the rest of the community the responsibility of improving education.

"We realized that we can do something to develop the future of the Armm by allowing more students to gain the right skills and knowledge needed by the industry. With these, they will have better employment prospects. If there is food to eat on each table, everybody will be happy and there will be no conflicts," Bandila said.

The council has recently launched its scholarship assistance program, which aims to develop productive and highly employable skills among the youth in Armm.

Dubbed as "Tulong sa Kabataan at Kaunlaran Project," which aims to assist up to 10 underprivileged students from Maguindanao, Lanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces as well in Marawi City.

ABC has also partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), the Commission on Higher Education (Ched)-Armm, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Armm for this initiative.

ABC would offer scholarships to high school graduates who, because of poverty are not capable of pursuing a college degree or cannot enroll in a technical course leading to gainful employment, according to ABC executive director Jose Mario Gana.

An initial amount has been awarded to finance five students enrolled in Computer Engineering, Computer Programming, Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM), and Carpentry, he added.

Besides tapping prominent businessmen in Armm, the Council has also linked with members of the Saudi Arabia Chamber of Commerce for a possible partnership, Gana said.

A total of P1 million is being raised to establish a fund to pay for the scholarship program.

The succeeding batches would be chosen by the members of the ABC scholarship committee.

Each of the ABC-affiliated business chambers would be tasked to recommend qualified students in their respective provinces or cities.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2005/10/08/bus/business.council.to.develop.competitive.workforce.html

Monday, October 10, 2005
Organization okays econ roadmap for 2006-2010

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM -- A more cohesive and integrated Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) is hoped to emerge over the next five years as envisioned in the recently adopted Bimp-Eaga Roadmap to Development 2006-2010.

Senior officials, signing ministers, government and private sector stakeholders of the four country grouping at the 13th Bimp-Eaga Senior Officials Meeting and 10th Ministerial Meeting held here last September 17-22, have formally endorsed the five-year, broad based economic roadmap that aims to guide the sub-region's future economic growth direction.

The Bimp-Eaga roadmap's ultimate goal over the next five years is to "narrow the development gaps across and within the Eaga member countries as well as across the Asean-6 countries."

This, as Bimp-Eaga, after suffering a backlash from the 1997 financial crisis, is currently gearing towards broadening economic links not just within the sub-region but also to external markets in Asean.

Within the five-year period, Bimp-Eaga stakeholders are hoping to achieve 10 percent increase in intra-trade and investments among Eaga focus areas and 20 percent increase in tourism movement within the sub-region by 2010.

The roadmap aims to achieve these targets by promoting intra and extra Eaga trade, investments and tourism in all priority sectors and coordinating the planning and implementation of infrastructure support to economic integration.

Coordinating the management of natural resources for sustainable development of the sub-region as well as strengthening the Bimp-Eaga institutional structures and mechanisms for effective implementation of the Eaga roadmap and action plan would also be pursued to realize the sub-regional targets.

Also included in the roadmap are specific sub-regional cooperation measures on improving trade and investment facilitation, enhancing private sector participation and strengthening intra-Eaga institutional coordination.

"Hopes are high for Bimp-Eaga to accelerate growth over the next medium term through the guidance of a development roadmap that provides a clear path and direction in our concerted effort for sub-regional development," Secretary Jesus Dureza, chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council and Philippine Senior Official to Bimp-Eaga said.

The roadmap is set to fully implement in 2006. In support to the roadmap, Bimp-Eaga clusters are also crafting action plans on the implementation of their respective flagship programs and projects.

Action plans are expected to be final preferably before the Bimp-Eaga Leaders Summit slated December 11 in Malaysia.

The 13th SOM and 11th MM concluded here recently with over 80 delegates in attendance consisting of Bimp-Eaga senior officials and signing ministers, government and private sector leaders from the four-member countries, including representatives from the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Governments of Northern Territory in Australia, Bimp-Eaga Business Council, Asian Development Bank and Asean secretariat.

Created in 1994, Bimp-Eaga is a four-country grouping collectively pursuing sub-regional economic growth.

With an estimated 50 million people spread out across 1.5 million square kilometers of land in four countries, the Bimp-Eaga is Asia's largest sub-regional cooperation.

http://www.caragatravelguide.com/images/feature_hotel.jpg

Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Opening of more sea links to boost Mindanao economy

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has expressed optimism that investments and trade ties among the member-countries of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga) will become more vigorous as the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) plans to open regular shipping activities in the 15 existing sea links from Mindanao to the rest of the sub-region the soonest possible time.

The 15 existing sea links are the following: Cotabato-Labuan, Malaysia; Cagayan-Labuan, Malaysia; Cagayan-Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Cagayan-Sandakan, Malaysia; Cagayan-Lahad Datu, Malaysia; Cagayan-Miri, Malaysia; Cagayan-Bintulo, Indonesia; Cagayan-Tanjang Manis; Davao-Bitung, Indonesia; Davao-Muara, Brunei Darussalam; General Santos-Bitung, Indonesia; Zamboanga-Bitung, Indonesia; Zamboanga-Labuan, Malaysia; Zamboanga-Manado, Indonesia; and Zamboanga-Sandakan, Malaysia.

Of these sea links, only Aleson Shipping Lines' MV Lady Mary Joy is serving the Zamboanga-Sandakan Malaysia route regularly.

Marina said that the recent frequency of ship call in the sub-region, which is every 10 days, would increase once the other 14 sea connections have regular traffic.

Data obtained from Marina showed that inbound and outbound passengers in the region had posted an average growth rate of about 19 percent and 25 percent respectively, from 1995 to 2000.

Inbound cargoes, on the other hand, had improved by 29 percent in 2002 and 2003.

DTI 11 regional director Merly M. Cruz said that in the wake of this development, the business sector of Mindanao and Palawan, being the focus areas of BIMP-Eaga in the Philippines, should take advantage of the vast opportunities that the additional sea links could bring about especially that movement of goods and services would become more efficient and faster.

"Once the plan of Marina pushes through, there's no doubt that the present economic activities within the Bimp-Eaga region will even become more vibrant. It only means that various business opportunities will be opening up for Mindanao and Palawan with the help of this development," Cruz said.

Mindanao cities initially eyed for Blugré franchises

THE franchising of Blugré Coffee Shop will be initially limited to areas in Mindanao as its owners wanted it to be known as a business started in the island.

Renato Gatchalian, who with wife Larcy put up the coffee shop, said he has received several applications for franchising, but he and his wife have not decided yet which of these applications will be granted.

“Some of the applications are from Manila investors. But I want to position Blugré as a Mindanao brand, so we are evaluating first applications coming from Mindanao cities,” Gatchalian told the Mindanao Times.

Gatchalian said his first consideration in granting the franchise application is the location.

“So most probably, those that will be granted will be those in primary cities in Mindanao like Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and General Santos,” he said.

Instead of getting threatened by the entry to the city of bigtime names in coffee shops from Manila, Gatchalian said this is good for the market because this will efducate the public about the “beauty” of drinking coffee.

“Remember that we are positioning ourselves as alternative to bar. So the more, the merrier,” he said.

Lately, a Manila-based coffee shop opened a branch here, while another big name is said to open next year.

Blugré, he said, will continue to stand out because it has “its own set of loyal clients.”

The coffee shop is known to formulate different new concoctions, one of them was the Durian Cappuccino and other similar mixtures that could not be found even in Manila-based or international coffee shops.

Gatchalian said his coffee shop, to compete with more established name in the industry, will continue to look for new products that would suit the taste buds of the people in the city.

“We need new formulations so that our clients will have something new to look forward to. In this business, one must always be creative,” he said.

However, he said the coffee shop has continued to import coffee beans, although it has sourced some of its raw materials from coffee-producing provinces in the country.

Based on the record of the National Coffee Development Board, the consumption of coffee started rising up in 1995, prompting industry players to import from Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia.

Because of this, the Department of Agriculture has started eyed about 140,000 hectares of new areas for coffee production.

At present, based on government data, the country consumes about 45,000 metric tons of coffee every year.

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

what are these manila-based coffee-shops ba? ano name? may starbucks, seat's best or gloria jeans na ba sa dvo? sana mag open din sila ng blugre franchise sa cebu

Brunei, Mindanao Ties To Be Boosted By Shipping Links
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - More investments are expected to come to Brunei from the southern Philippines following intensified shipping activities in the existing 15 sea links between Mindanao and the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Of the identified routes, only the Zamboanga-Sandakan link is being served regularly by the Philippines Aleson Shipping Lines.

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) of the Philippines said that the frequency of ship calls in the BIMP-EAGA will increase once the 14 other sea connections have regular traffic. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

PIA Press Release
10/12/2005
Mindanao business groups favor shift to Federal system



Quezon City (12 October) -- Business groups from Mindanao said a shift to a federal system of government would give them a free hand in instituting their own reforms.

"Mindanao is rich. The problem is that everything emanates from the central government," Mindanao Business Council (MBC) chair Antonio Santos told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday.

"With a federal form of government, we'll be having the chance to decide on our own fate. There are things we can do without having to ask permission from national government," he added.

The MBC is among those invited to present their inputs on Charter change before the Consultative Commission, now on its third workweek.

"There would be less corruption with a federal form of government. We'll be able to control output ng pera and local government units will be strong and progressive," he said.

When asked if the council is in favor of lifting the "protectionist" provisions in the Constitution that bar foreigners from owning land and limit the amount of capital they could infuse in certain businesses, Santos said: "We are in favor in lifting of restrictions in some areas but not all."

He did not elaborate.

On Monday, ConCom Commissioner and committee vice-chair Rene Azurin cited the need to lift all "protectionist" provisions in the 1987 Constitution which denies foreign equity in enterprises such as mass media, engineering, medicine, criminology, utilization of marine resources, and small-scale mining, among others.

On the other hand, a 40 percent restriction on foreign equity is imposed in the ownership of private lands, educational institutions, and the construction of defense-related structures, among others.

Business groups have been batting for the deregulation of many industries to ensure that market forces dictate pricing. (PNA ConCom News Service)

General Santos International Airport:

http://www.ato.gov.ph/Airports/APPICS/gensanterm.jpg

http://www.ato.gov.ph/Airports/APPICS/gensanrwy.jpg

http://www.ato.gov.ph/Airports/APPICS/gensanrwy3.jpg

http://www.ato.gov.ph/Airports/APPICS/gensanrwy2.jpg

Runway Designation: 17/35
Strength and Surface of Runway: 363,000kgs
RWY: Concrete; SWY: Macadam
Dimension of Runway: 3,221m x 45m
Stopway Dimensions: RWY17-300m RWY35-300m
Slope of Runway-Stopway: 0.315%
CWY Dimensions: RWY17-300m RWY35-300m
Apron Strength: 70 RBXU
Taxiway Surface and Width: Concrete; 23m


hi sleepwalker,
can you post these photos at the airlines and airplanes thread please. i´m sure many of us have no idea about the dimensions of this airport. it was actually built this big for military purposes. the US air force wanted to set up an air base here, but did not for some reason....

^GENSEN

http://www.glendale-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/faculty_pages/ind_arts_web/bridgeweb/Graphics/cable%20stayed%20bridge.jpg

Architect's rendition of the Butuan 2nd Magsaysay Bridge now on full swing construction in San Vicente, Butuan City.

Being built by Japanese contractors, Nippon Steel and Towa Construction Corp., along also with its 11 meter wide 13 kilometer roadway; once completed expectedly on 2008, this bridge will be first in the world to have the longest roadway connecting the existing Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Butuan hi-way in the west to Butuan-Agusan-Surigao-Davao highway in the east.

i don´t get it : what will be the longest ? and what is the first of what please ?

are there any photos of the construction site of this bridge yet ? can anyone post an aerial (satellite view of the location with circle of where the bridge will be) ?

Lanao del Sur
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaosur/mosque02-1098.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaosur/mosque01-P7263225.jpg

absolutely wonderful photography ! did you shoot these and the next photos sleepwalker ? grand work, keep showing us more ! are you from mindanao ? you seem to have a lot of excellent photos from this island posted.

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111622955.jpg

hello Sleepwalker, yes Butuan City is the regional seat of government of the administrative region of Caraga, or better known as Northeastern Mindanao; comprising the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

The region was created in 1995, borne from the increasing need by its residents for consolidative development being once a backwater of Region 10.

This youngest region in Mindanao now hosts several huge ongoing projects that would expectedly jetison the region to a robust economic development.

please what are the huge ongoing projects besides the big new bridge ?

http://www.glendale-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/faculty_pages/ind_arts_web/bridgeweb/Graphics/cable%20stayed%20bridge.jpg

Architect's rendition of the Butuan 2nd Magsaysay Bridge now on full swing construction in San Vicente, Butuan City.

Being built by Japanese contractors, Nippon Steel and Towa Construction Corp., along also with its 11 meter wide 13 kilometer roadway; once completed expectedly on 2008, this bridge will be first in the world to have the longest roadway connecting the existing Iligan-Cagayan de Oro-Butuan hi-way in the west to Butuan-Agusan-Surigao-Davao highway in the east.

this kind of bridge would be great to connect the islands of cebu with negros and panay, and on the other side from mactan to bohol, as there are plans to do so one day.....

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/4010615/8325506/111864955.jpg

Nasipit, a town 15 kilometers west of the city proper hosts the regional baseport.

A new baseport is being built along Butuan's coastal barangay of Masao to complement the existing port.

any renderings or plans of how the port will look like ?

i´ve heard of a new international container port that was built/finished, i think close to cotabato, and it is not being used ´cause some local government stopped the approval for implementation due to a landslide loss of the existing port facilities. does anyone know and have pics of that idle port ?

i found something and some pics here of that port in cagayan de oro (not cotabato). but i don´t know if it is open for traffic or still closed due to that political noise....

http://cagayan.************/infra.html
sorry,
forgot to name the address for the link to the port

Richard:

There are now a number of projects that are being implemented aside from the 2 Billion-peso 2nd Butuan Bridge and Diversion Highway Projects.

The biggest of them is the multi billion peso LADP or the Lower Agusan Basin Development Project, a multi-phase project funded by JICA. It involves construction of levees, dikes, diversion channels, and dredging works of the lower Agusan area where Butuan City is located.

http://www.neda.gov.ph/OPM/LoanData.asp?ProjectVar=LADP%20SI%20PII

The other vital component of LADP involves the 2.2 Billion Peso Irrigation Component, where water from Agusan River are chaneled to huge agricultural flatlands (7, 922 hectares) of southern Butuan.

http://www.da.gov.ph/programs/faps/ladp.html

These multi-billion projects are part of the a huge plan that shall convert the whole Agusan Valley area into the Philipines Food Basket where huge agricultural to agro-industrial potentials of the region will be finally be utilized to its maximum.

http://www.asiandevbank.org/Documents/TARs/PHI/tar-phi-36540.pdf#search='lower%20agusan%20flood%20control%20project'

Other ongoing projects include the Philippine-Japan Highway Butuan-Agusan Section Project. Once completed, this shall extend and strengthen further Butuan City's economic influence areas to as far as Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte., and the Pacific coast province of Surigao del Sur.

http://www.neda.gov.ph/opm/LoanData.asp?ProjectVar=PJFH%20Mindanao%20I

With these developments, it is projected that there will be huge efflux and influx of both agricultural and agro-industrial products coming from Agusan and Mindanao's southern interior, going and passing thru Butuan to other Visayan destinations. Such projection is expected to strain the current port facilities in the Region.

The Nasipit International Baseport, which currently handles both domestic and international ship calls shall have a counterpart in Masao, Butuan City with the Masao Port Development Project. The Philipine Ports Authority has bidded out the project this 2nd quarter of the year.

http://www.ppa.gov.ph/bidding/head%20office/2005-05Butuan.htm

Other planned ports up for funding is the Butuan Riverine-Inland Port, a multi-million project that seeks to develop the Butuan urban river front by constructing a riverside boulevard and an inter-Butuan domestic port facility.

While most of these projects are being fast tracked, soon to be implemented projects include the expansion and modernization of the Butuan Airport thru Southern Philippines Airport Development Project ; which now serves as Northeastern Mindanao's regional trunkline airport.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/050314/3/p/thrl.html

Other projects in the planning stage are the
1) expansion of Nasipit Port
2) Butuan-Malaybalay,Bukidnon Highway
3) Butuan Circumferential Road Project
4) Mindanao Railway Project, Butuan section

absolutely wonderful photography ! did you shoot these and the next photos sleepwalker ? grand work, keep showing us more ! are you from mindanao ? you seem to have a lot of excellent photos from this island posted.

no, i didnt take those pics. i found them here: www.thelandofpromise.com
i am from mindanao... specifically, davao city.

thanks for your answers and informative ifrastructure plans boybleauXx.
ok sleepwalker_uno salamat po too !

no, i didnt take those pics. i found them here: www.thelandofpromise.com
i am from mindanao... specifically, davao city.

those are photos taken by bobby timonera, a photojournalist.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005
P215M new investments to be set up in Mindanao



SOME P215 million worth of new investments would soon be established in Mindanao, said Board of Investments (BOI) head Gil Dureza.

This developed as the government is pushing for the creation of more jobs by promoting a business climate that is conducive to investors.

Dureza said this is in line with the 10-point agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to create millions of job in the country.

The new projects, Dureza said, include Western Feedmill and Amoy Development corporation in Davao; Jerka Calamansi Extract in Tagum City; MD Midland Asparagus in Polomolok, Sout Cotabato; CG Bioblend and Livestock, Safeyard, Prawn Processing in General Santos City.

BOI is targeting at least 12 projects every year based on its projections of total investments.

Dureza said the bulk of investments were poured in Davao and Cotabato last year.

New entries of business are mostly expansion or opening up of branches in Mindanao.

Total investments in 2003 amounted to about P2.5 billion composed of 21 projects.

BOI registered enterprises could avail among others of the following incentives: income tax holidays from six to four years, additional deduction on labor expense for five years, tax credit on portion of domestic breeding stocks and general materials, tax credit on raw materials, employment of foreign nationals, exemption from taxes and duties of imported spare parts and others.

Saturday, October 22, 2005
Pag-Ibig Fund in Mindanao tops housing services

FOR the second time, the Pag-Ibig Fund Mindanao Group was chosen as the Best in Housing Services for its 2004 operations from among the Fund's operating units nationwide.

According to executive vice president and deputy chief executive officer Jaime A. Fabiana, of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-Ibig Fund who also chairs HDMF Praise Committee, the Mindanao Group for two consecutive years was adjudged as the best in housing operations all over the country.

Under the Fund's Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (Praise), the Mindanao group was voted as the top performer from among the Luzon, Bicol, and Visayas and two other operating units in the National Capital Region.

Mindanao vice president Jose W. Banzon, Jr. said the Mindanao team would lead the rest of the awardees in a recognition ceremony on October 28, 2005 at the Pag-Ibig Fund Corporate Headquarters in Makati City.

Also voted as the top performer was the General Santos Provincial Branch as first placer under the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Award of Excellence and the Best Sub-Regional Office nationwide.

Pag-Ibig Fund Mindanao operates in the areas of Zamboanga headed by lawyer Ofelia Gaspar, Cagayan de Oro under Ophelia dela Cerna, Butuan Sub-Regional Office, Juliano Banghal, General Santos sub-regional office Manolito Olegario, Cotabato Office, Ibrahim Lajarato, Pagabian sub-regional office Fermin Sta. Teresa, Davao housing operation, Elizabeth Tinagan, Iligan sub-regional office Amor Bajarla and Davao provident office, Rodrigo Suemith.

The Mindanao Pag-IBIG Fund offices cater to housing and provident services to some 700,078 HDMF members.

Banzon said that in 2003 Mindanao was adjudged best in the country both for provident and housing services.

He said the team's consistency of aiming for high collection efficiency and opening up of more housing projects could be a factor why they were voted again as the Fund's overall best.

"The team and their respective staff really work hard for giving what is best to their clients that is anchored on the Fund's core values of putting the member's satisfaction as of utmost priority," Banzon said.

Pag-IBIG Fund president and chief executive officer lawyer Romero Quimbo earlier assured the public that the Fund would make every effort to ensure a continued up trend of the institution's corporate performance as well as it financial standing with the Fund's committed officers and employees.

The Civil Service Commission launched praise in 2001 as mechanism for recognition among offices of national and local government units and universities including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charter.

It is a system designed to encourage creativity, innovativeness, efficiency, integrity, and productivity in the public service by recognizing and rewarding officials and employees, individually or in groups.

The award would look into the awardees suggestions, innovations, superior accomplishments and other personal efforts, which contribute to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement in government operations, or for other extraordinary tasks or service in the interest of the public.

http://cagayan.************/infra.html
sorry,
forgot to name the address for the link to the port

Thanks for the link. I bookmarked it for future reference.

I have finally visited Cagayan de Oro back in 2003 after leaving the Philippines 20 years ago. I am planning to visit every year with my wife (who is a Cebuana).

Thanks in advance for any pix of Cagayan or better yet, Bukidnon/Damilag/Philips. :)

Thanks for the link. I bookmarked it for future reference.

I have finally visited Cagayan de Oro back in 2003 after leaving the Philippines 20 years ago. I am planning to visit every year with my wife (who is a Cebuana).

Thanks in advance for any pix of Cagayan or better yet, Bukidnon/Damilag/Philips. :)

camp philips is very nice, cool and very picturesque. we had a photo safari once, and i had a grand time shooting.

Mati makes history as 1st town with Philippine Eagle sanctuary
MindaNews / 25 October 2005

DAVAO CITY -- Mati, the capital town of Davao Oriental, made history Monday as the first municipality to declare a 7,000-hectare sanctuary for the endangered national bird, the Philippine Eagle.

Mati Mayor Francisco G. Rabat issued the declaration for the protection of a family of Philippine Eagles found in Barangay Cabuaya, 60 nautical miles from the center of Mati, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said in a press release issued Tuesday.

The PEF dispatched a team to search for and study eagles in Mati last March and found the nest there holding a very young eagle chick and its parents. Barangay officials named the chick Cabuaya, and its parents, Cabu (father) and Aya (mother.)

But the Cabuaya eagle family is not the first in the area. Since 1987, PEF had been sighting, receiving reports, and retrieving eagles from Cabuaya and other parts of Mati.

The declaration of the sanctuary was made during the Sambuokan Festival last Monday. The Mati government also forged an agreement with the PEF and six other organizations for the protection of the forests. The other organizations include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Tourism, the Philippine National Police, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and the local government unit of Barangay Cabuaya.

Theresa Mundita Lim, director of the DENR’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, lauded the efforts of the Mati government to protect its forests, saying it will not benefit Mati alone but the rest of the country.

The PEF noted that Mati is part of the Eastern Mindanao Corridor, one of the last remaining large forest blocks in the country.

The protection of the species-rich corridor “is the focus of many conservation efforts by the PEF and its partner organization, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund,” the PEF said.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005
P1 billion water projects in Mindanao underway

SINDANGAN, Zamboanga del Norte -- Some 12,000 residents of this town now enjoy safe and potable drinking water with the completion, through the financial and technical assistance of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), of the P12 million expansion and upgrading project of the Sindangan Water District (SWD).

LWUA Administrator Lorenzo H. Jamora joined local officials led by Mayor Bert S. Macias and Gov. Rolando Yebes in the inauguration and blessing of the modernized SWD water supply system which also included a new office building. The modernization also includes computerized billing and water treatment.

Jamora said the SWD expansion and upgrading project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) through LWUA included the construction of an aeration tower in Barangay Upper Dapaon and a new water reservoir in Barangay Binuangan this town.

The LWUA chief commended SWD general manager Raul T. Escabarte and his 14-man staff for the on-time completion of the project. He said this project is just one of some 98 waterworks projects being undertaken by the national government in Mindanao with a combined cost of close to Pl Billion. As of the end of August this year LWUA has already completed P448-million worth of modern water systems in Mindanao, Jamora reported.

Earlier, Jamora also led the groundbreaking of a P22-million water resource improvement project in barangay Oyan in the City of Dapitan, also this province, which is supported by the KFW, the financing institution of the Federal Republic of Germany.

DCWD acting general manager Rayle Andag said the project also involves an eight kilometer pipe-Iaying.work covering nine barangays with service connections. At present, the water district only serves 11 barangays with service connections of 3,500 households with estimated beneficiaries totaling 22,000 residents.

Engr. Andag said the DCWD started in 1982 with only a little over 200 connectors. "We expect our service connections to reach 5,000 by the end of next year," he added.

For his part, Jamora assured local officials of the continuous support of the national government for waterworks projects in the countryside. He appealed to them to focus on the delivery of basic public services instead of engaging in too much politicking like the Manila-based politicians. (LWUA)

Mindanao mangos can enter Australian market if…
By Bong Garcia Jr. MindaNews 6 November 2005

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Mindanao mango producers have good chances of entering the Australian market where only mangos from Guimaras Island, Ilo-ilo are accepted.

They just have to prove to the Australian government that there are no mango weevils in any part of Mindanao.

Weevils are destructive pests that attack agricultural crops. They feed entirely on plants.

Philippine Agriculture Attaché to Australia Maria Araceli Albarece last week informed Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban that the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has approved the funding for a mango weevil survey in Mindanao.

Albarece told Panganiban in a letter that the project cost is A$250,000 for one year with provision for a 2-year extension and an additional funding of A$500,000.

A Record of Understanding was signed recently between the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, the proponent of the project.

The AusAID project implementation was set to begin end-October.

“This survey is critical for the expansion of the source of Philippine mangoes for export to Australia,” Panganiban said in a statement.

“Should this survey prove that mango weevil is not present in the island [of Mindanao], it would serve as a vehicle for mango plantations in Mindanao to access the Australian market,” she added.

At present, only mangoes from Guimaras Island can be marketed to Australia.

South Cotabato, situated in Region-12, is one of the major mango-producing provinces in the country.

In terms of areas planted, Western Mindanao or Region-9 ranks number six nationwide. It has increased its area from 9,419 hectares in 2000 to 11,131 hectares in 2004.

In 2004, Western Mindanao registered a mango production of 45,642.47 metric tons with Zamboanga City having the highest yields at 18,532.80 metric tons.

Next to Zamboanga City is Zamboanga del Sur with 14,957.01 metric tons, Zamboanga del Norte, 8,529.55 and Zamboanga Sibugay with 3,623.11 metric tons.

The figures represent an increase of 70 percent from the period 2000 to 2004.

The agriculture department learned that the 200,000 Filipinos all over Australia are craving for the "Philippine super mango" variety which is considered one of the best in the world.

Its honeyed smell, firm texture and golden color, which is likened to the brightness of the sun when it ripens, has gained worldwide acceptance, making it an important fruit export of the country, according to Panganiban.

In 2003, the area planted to mango nationwide reached 155,235 hectares producing roughly 1,005,000 metric tons.

The volume of production placed the Philippines 6th among the top mango producing countries with a share of 3.48 percent of the world's production.

Its contribution to the Philippine economy is significant with about P41.6 billion share to the domestic market.

About 2.5 million farmers are dependent on the industry. It also contributes 38 percent to the Gross Value Added in agriculture worth P12.5 billion, higher than pineapple and next to bananas.

PIA Press Release
11/08/2005
Cotabato City to host Mindanao media summit



by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (8 November) -- The Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center (MNICC) recently announced the conduct of the 3rd Mindanao Media Summit that will take place on November 13-15, 2005 in Cotabato City.

The Mindanao Media Summit is an annual gathering of Mindanao's media decision makers composed of editors in chief of community newspapers in Mindanao, the station managers and news editors in Mindanao's radio and television industry. The activity is in line with the ten-point agenda of the Arroyo administration in promoting peace and order in the country.

This year, panel of speakers were invited to tackle peace building in Mindanao. Among those include the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process who was the keynote speaker in last year's summit. He will present updates on the peace process and its other peace undertakings, particularly in Mindanao, as this is a run-up to the Mindanao Week of Peace a month later.

Meanwhile, Father Jonathan Domingo, one of the convenors of the forum and a chief of a foundation that takes charge of both the radio stations in Jolo, Sulu and Bongao, Tawi-tawi and completed a bridging leadership course at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati will present the journalist-as-bridging-leaders after the participants' reflections on his/her role in the peace process in Mindanao.

Through the process of good convening, engagement, and trusting dialogue, the participants will be able to bring together the Mindanao/ARMM Divides or issues and concerns for open discussions, debate and negotiation through a forum with the ARMM Regional Governor candidates and other stakeholders that include the Civil Society Organizations, Business, and Religious Leaders towards building a common commitment for collaborative action.

The theme for this year's Summit is "Bridging Mindanao Divides" with focus on Journalists as Bridging Leaders.

Details and inquiries may be made by calling the MNICC through telephone number 064-421-9554, mobile numbers 0919-2957660; 09276268751 or email at mindanaomediasummit3@yahoo.com.

Mindanao has a lot to offer, as usual. Lots of culture and a lot of agriculture. Has anyone ever opened up a durian?

Mindanao has a lot to offer, as usual. Lots of culture and a lot of agriculture. Has anyone ever opened up a durian?

it may look hard but its actually easy to open durian even a knife would do. just follow the lines at the bottom part up to the sides.

===============================================

Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Sagrex banana fries soon available in world market

AS THERE are many ways to enjoy bananas, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 11, together with Sagrex Corp. and Record Foundation, implemented the strategy for Single Commodity Input Multiple Product Output for dessert banana.

On October 27, Sagrex launched its frozen ready to cook banana fries and microwaveable banana to the local market and soon it would ready for the world market particularly Korea, Middle East, and US markets.

Bananas have never been so exciting as it is now, with these two novel banana products in the market.

Presently, DOST is still working on the standardization of the recently launched two export quality banana products and would continue to develop other banana based products both for local and export markets.

Meanwhile, a project on the "Development of Appropriate and Innovative Packaging for Banana Products" is already on its implementation stage and spearheaded by the Packaging R&D Center of DOST-ITDI.

This is to help create new markets for various Philippine banana products, primarily by developing appropriate and innovative packaging system and participating in international fairs.

i just hope and pray that (president gloria) wont sign a peace treaty with the milf that would divide mindanao. giving the milf thier own state to rule. that would be a sad day for the philippines and will just create more problems in the future.

Ma Cristina in Iligan
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaonorte/cristina3-P7041908.jpg

Tinago in Iligan
http://www.aenet.org/photos/falls3m.jpg

Tudaya in Davao Sur
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/sleepwalker_uno/Tudaya02copy.gif

Aliwagwag in Davao Oriental
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/sleepwalker_uno/dc/aliwagwagcaragapbasemillie.jpg

Tinuy-an in Surigao del Sur
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/chimp_rex/tinuy-an.jpg
http://www.thelandofpromise.com/surigaosur/tinuyan-closeup-0202.jpg
http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/bisligcity/image/TINUY.JPG

Katibawasan in Camiguin
http://www.tomcockrem.com/library/asia/philippines/camiguinisland/images/katibawasan%20falls.jpg
http://www.statiknet.de/cyc1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/sleepie_uno/camiguin/camiguin060.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/sleepie_uno/camiguin/camiguin2034.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/sleepie_uno/camiguin/camiguin013.jpg

These are prestigious and ideal locations for tourist shows, movie filmings, photography. :)

GORGEOUS !!

Saturday, November 12, 2005
Bigger inflow of tourists in Mindanao projected

TOURISM officials with the holding of the Association of South East Asian Nation (Asean) Tourism forum in Davao City on January 2006 are optimistic that more foreign tourists would visit Mindanao next year.

Davao Tourism Association (Data) President Art Boncato said Korea, China, Taiwan, and HongKong are becoming increasingly interested about Mindanao, particularly Davao.

"We are getting mounting calls from foreign tourists, particularly Koreans, asking about Davao and what we can offer them," Boncato said.

Foreign investors according to Boncato are also opening charter flights to new destinations in the four identified countries, which would further boost tourist arrivals in the region.

"The increase in markets will definitely change tourism in Davao City," Boncato noted.

Boncato said several airline companies in Korea are already thinking of opening more flights to Mindanao due to the increasing demand they get from Korean tourists.

"The level of interest has gone to certain meetings and possible contract signing," he said adding that there has been a noted increase in flights to Davao within the past three years.

Tourists from Korea grow 100 percent annually, surpassing the arrival of Japanese, the Philippines' major tourism market.

"Mindanao and Davao have products that make them very happy. We have a lot of resorts and golf courses that are very popular with golf enthusiasts and honeymooners from Korea," Boncato pointed out.

The ATF 2006 is expected to gather over 3,000 foreign tourism ministers, buyers, and sellers from the ten Asean-member countries.

http://www.postcardman.net/27581.jpg
Malabang (Mindanao) : Moro Exchange

http://www.postcardman.net/37642.jpg
On the road to Camp Keithley, Mindanao

Sarangani: "A diamond on the rough waiting to be polished"
By By Russtum Pelima Monday, November 14, 2005

ALABEL, Sarangani -- They have all to say about this province. "A diamond on the rough, waiting to be polished," said Manila visitor Trina Draynos.

Draynos, an executive assistant from the Department of Tourism, went on a tour here with her six-person team last September.

From ancient finds to endangered wildlife, from rugged coasts to mythical caves, Sarangani has it all, they were told.

Draynos' team leisurely motored across Sarangani from its eastern hidden coves to its western coast where endangered mammals live in just two days.

"Seeing all these is quite a revelation. Sarangani is a fantastic destination. It has vast potentials," she said.

A favorite destination was Gumasa cove, a 10-minute drive from Poblacion Glan.

It boasts of a six-kilometer shore of pinkish white and fine, powder sand.

"Why do you always attach your name to Boracay with what you have here?" Beni Gomez, media representative of Hong Kong-based Action Asia magazine, asked while having a day dip at Gumasa during her summer break and first visit to the province.

Spanish national Maria Fernandez, on the other hand, was amazed by how local folk in Glan bear Spanish influences and antiquities, or Hispanic touch like its century-old houses in Poblacion.

Fernandez, a writer from Madrid, and photojournalist Jordi Llorens from Barcelona were the most recent to visit Sarangani. They stayed for three days here last month.

"What's remarkable in Sarangani is the smile of the people," said Llorens.

"Next to it is the landscapes. These have made this place special for me," Llorens added.

The Philippines, he disclosed, was his 97th country-destination.

"We are here to promote Philippine tourism in Spain," Llorens said. They spent their last night in a T'boli community in Maitum town.

Maitum is 107 kilometers west of General Santos City.

According to dive enthusiast Giuseppe Chew, one of Maitum's offshore reefs is home to weird and unusually huge cardinal fish unobserved in other parts of the Philippines.

"The other reef harbors the solitary grey black tip reef sharks. For more denizens of the deep, there's Barracuda Highway where hundreds of this fish can be found in constant patrol," he said

For travel writer Toby Martin, Sarangani is the right destination for adventurers and backpackers.

"It's ripe for adventure sports," Martin noted.

A marketing communications consultant and former sports editor, Martin writes for Philippine Airlines' Mabuhay Magazine.

A trekker himself, Martin would rather like to see Sarangani's natural environment untouched by too much development.

"Rough-rocky roads are not to the adventurers' disadvantage. Instead, it complements the thrill," he said

Martin experienced the fun and excitement of the 1.6 kilometer Pinoy tubing at Pangi River in Barangay New La Union in Maitum, an Ilocano and T'boli enclave.

Pinoy tubing or the use of inner tire tubes (salbabida) to ride the rapids, is now an adventure craze taken by locals and foreigners.

The site has been visited by tourists from Japan, Zambia, USA and Sarangani's neighboring provinces. Tourists from General Santos City take family picnics at the riverside.

Also in Maitum's Barangay Pinol, thousands of the world's largest bat could be seen in their sunset flight.

To top it all, the people of Maitum take pride of Pinol Cave, origin of the National Museum's anthropomorphic potteries, made circa 5 B.C. to 225 A.D.

The rest of Southeast Asia has nothing of this type of archaeological find. It could suggest the backbone of Maguindanao prehistory and the Filipino people as a whole, according to tourism officials here.

PIA Press Release
11/22/2005
Filmmaking and peace tackled in 1st Mindanao Filmfest

by RG Alama

Davao City (22 November) -- "Mindanao has always been a favorite setting for many of our war action movies, if you've watched a Filipino action movie chances are many of these slam-bang war films are set in Mindanao." Said Dax Cañedo, organizer of the Mindanao Film Festival slated to be held here in Davao City this coming Dec. 4-11.

Cañedo, also rued the fact that many of the films are stereotypical action movies. "A Moslem is portrayed either as a member of a rebel group either of the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) or of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) or worse he is just a plain bandit, a ruthless villain to our movie hero. Oftentimes the stories are not well researched, just shallowly rehashed cliché-filled stories."

"Pare-pareho lang naman kasi ang istorya! Kaya siguro sa tingin ko hindi na pinapanood ang mga tagalog action movies ngayon, paulit-ulit lang ang kuwento, yung iba set pa sa Mindanao, ano na lang tingin ng tao dito. Na puro tayo giyera." (The plots are all the same, that' why I think no one watches Tagalog action movies anymore, same old stories, some of them are set in Mindanao, what will people think of us here, that we are always fighting.) Said the 25-year old businessman/filmmaker.

"This coming Film festival we will be able to discuss how filmmaking can be an instrument in communicating peace and unity here in this island," Said Cañedo.

"Films in Mindanao should not be always about wars, gunfights and killings. It could talk about so many things, about love, life, culture, personal experiences and relationships other than killings and violence," said Cañedo.

In the Mindanao Film Congress one of the highlights of the Festival, topics to be discussed is the role how filmmaking plays in communicating peace in Mindanao.

Panelists include Teng Mangansakan, a Cultural Center of the Philippines awardee for his documentary films about his native culture in Maguindanao and Roland Tolentino, Director of the University of the Philippines Film Institute.

"Filipinos are a movie-going people, we used to produced the most number of movies next only to United States and India, that is why movies are the best communicators. That is why the best way to show the real Mindanao is to make movies about the real Mindanao," said Cañedo.

Cañedo the proprietor of Alchemy of Vision and Light, a Television and Film Production Company based here in Davao City has been laying the groundwork for a vibrant filmmaking scene in this city. Through his Guerilla Filmmaking workshops which is now in its third year, independent filmmakers using digital technology has been churning out films that depicts the place in the whole new light.

The current Guerilla Filmmaking festival, which has been named as the Mindanao Film Festival, is designed to gather different Mindanao-based filmmakers, enthusiasts and supporters and discuss their visions and plans for a sustained Mindanao Film scene, which would someday evolve into a lucrative Film Industry. Mr. Cañedo is hoping for the realization of a united island-wide film industry that would reflect the hopes and aspirations of many Mindanaoans.

"The Mindanao Film Festival is a first step, towards the realization of this dream," Canedo said.

The public is invited to the 1st Mindanao Film Festival scheduled this Dec. 4-11. Highlights of the Festival includes the theatrical exhibition of five Guerilla Filmmaking workshop films, the four open short film category and the five visiting Cinemalaya short films, The 1st Mindanao Film Congress and the festive Awards Night. (PIA)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/sleepie_uno/camiguin/camiguin2034.jpg

This one is interesting. Anymore information about why its in the middle of the sea?

^^ my guess is the tide is high thats why. but if its not, it sits on dry land..

yup..its the Sunken Cementery in camiguin..... only that cross is visible when its high tide..when its low tide, you could witness a graveyard.

yup..its the Sunken Cementery in camiguin..... only that cross is visible when its high tide..when its low tide, you could witness a graveyard.

That's so freaky. Anyone wanna try to go swimming?! :jk:

i would..
if someone is going to pay me million bucks for it...hihihihihi

that's aactually beautiful.... I feel proud of my mother's homeland.....

Hope Mindanao would be peacful and rebel-free so that the whole Philippines in general would have a good image for investors and tourists.

Fogs in Quezon
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/8021765.jpg

Plaza in Dangcagan
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/8021769.jpg

The Monastery of Transfguration Chapel in Malaybalay
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/8021772.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/26014916.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/26014912.jpg

photos courtesy of Pbase

Beautiful images of Mindanao, Dave.:)

^^hey, do u have any pics of manolo fortich? im missing bukidnon so much.

Fogs in Quezon
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/ssc/8021765.jpg

photos courtesy of Pbase

I didn't know that there's QUEZON in Bukidnon. Is it a town, district or municipality?

I didn't know that there's QUEZON in Bukidnon. Is it a town, district or municipality?

Quezon is a municipality in Bukidnon near Davao City.

@Lili: thanks. pag bumisita ka sa CDO, pasyal ka sa Bukidnon kase malapit lang & diretso ka na rin sa Davao.

@dreamboat: heto Manolo Fortich:
http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/manolofortich-buk/images/stories/manolo_spots/aerial9.jpg

http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/manolofortich-buk/images/stories/manolo_spots/c1.jpg

http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/manolofortich-buk/images/stories/aerial35.jpg

http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/manolofortich-buk/images/stories/manolo_spots/soagolf.jpg

Haha. Quezon is common name for a town/place all over the Philippines. So is Rizal and of course the many 'santos' of which i think "San Miguel" is the most common.
Anywhere there's San Miguel, town or beer. :)

Haha. Quezon is common name for a town/place all over the Philippines. So is Rizal and of course the many 'santos' of which i think "San Miguel" is the most common.
Anywhere there's San Miguel, town or beer. :)

Theres a town in Compostela Valley named San Vicente, they change their name back to its original & native name "Laak" kase every league's meeting nalilito sila pag tinatawag ang San Vicente, maraming tumatayo na mga representatives.

Mindanao hi-way of peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=sL4Sq5tuziw&search=mindanao

SAUDI MONARCH RECEIVES JDV, SUPPORTS PEACE IN MINDANAO
By Delon Porcalla December 7, 2005

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (STAR) -- King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz al-Saud, the new Saudi monarch, has vowed to help the Philippine government forge a peace settlement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He received a small Philippine delegation led by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., who was invited by the king to visit Saudi Arabia and this scenic city by the Red Sea.

De Venecia said the new monarch "expressed support for the emerging peace settlement" between the government and the MILF, the last major secessionist group in Mindanao.

He expressed confidence that a final peace pact would be reached in mid-2006, which could pave the way for the entry of more investment to the region, like mass housing for both Muslims and Christians and an oil refinery that would be second to that of Limay in Bataan. The move could spur economic development in Mindanao, he stressed.

"Your Majesty, President Arroyo and we in the House of Representatives are conceptualizing an affirmative action program for Mindanao, Sulu and the offshore islands — to compensate our Islamic communities for their historical neglect by successive Philippine governments for the last 300 years," De Venecia told the King.

The MILF has been fighting a decades-long insurgency to establish a separate Muslim homeland in Mindanao. The Moro National Liberation Front signed a peace deal with the government in 1996. The MILF was formed by former MNLF leaders in the 1970s after a disagreement over objectives.

De Venecia led a small delegation of House members in his meeting with the Saudi monarch where the Speaker became the first foreign leader to present King Abdullah with a national decoration, the Congressional Medal of Achievement, given by the House of Representatives to exceptional leaders.

He was accompanied by some Muslim congressmen, among them Reps. Hussin Amin and Munir Arbison, both of Sulu, Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Sur and Belma Cabilao of Zamboanga Sibugay, during his one-hour dialogue with the King. A Christian lawmaker, Rep. Lorna Silverio of Bulacan, was also included in the delegation.

De Venecia, who arrived here on Dec. 2, met King Abdullah as the culmination of his four-day official visit.

He also sought Saudi support for the Philippine bid for observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference as well as for a proposed refinery of Petron-Aramco in Mindanao and expansion and modernization of its existing refinery in Bataan.

In giving the Saudi monarch the congressional decoration, De Venecia expressed Philippine appreciation for the Saudi government’s "offers of economic assistance in many forms to Muslim Mindanao, Sulu and the offshore islands" and the Kingdom’s employment of more than a million Filipino migrant workers.

The economic action plan De Venecia presented to the Saudi government is aimed at developing the southern Philippines and strengthening peace prospects in the region.

Projects include a new railway from Iligan City to Cagayan de Oro, mass housing for the Muslim community and a micro-lending program to stimulate the growth of small enterprises.

De Venecia said an investment program to bolster agriculture and industry is vital to unlocking Mindanao’s wealth of natural resources in its land, subsoil and surrounding seas. He described the audience with King Abdullah as "constructive," capping a series of engagements with political leaders and royalty.

De Venecia said the monarch praised the one-million-strong Filipino overseas community in Saudi Arabia, calling them extremely hardworking, disciplined and highly skilled.

Since the late 1970s, skilled Filipino nurses, skilled technicians, service providers, doctors and health-care givers have been flocking to the kingdom and comprise the biggest Filipino community outside the United States.

Annual remittances from Filipinos overseas under the dollar-remittance program which De Venecia conceived and implemented in the late 1960s have topped $10 billion annually and have cumulatively brought to the country almost $110 billion since the program began.

Before his audience with King Abdullah, De Venecia and the Philippine delegation were received by Crown Prince Sultan, also in Jeddah.

Earlier in Riyadh, where De Venecia opened his visit Saturday, the Philippine Speaker met with Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, the speaker of the Majlis Ash Shura (Saudi Arabia’s parliament) and 12 Shura chairmen.

He also had an hour-long discussion with Dr. Ibrahem Albassam, chairman of the Saudi Development Fund, to seek Saudi support for the Philippine government’s economic agenda for Mindanao.

I didn't know that there's QUEZON in Bukidnon. Is it a town, district or municipality?

i think it's the first municipality you'll pass after crossing the davao-bukidnon boundary.

Beautiful images of Mindanao, Dave.:)

hey i have some 35mm slides of bukidnon with me that i'll scan over the weekend.

Mindanao tapped as the leading tourism package in ATF
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

A virtually "new Mindanao" would be unveiled when Davao City hosts the 2006 Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) next month, the Philippines tourism official said in a statement.

Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab, the Philippines Department of Tourism's National Coordinator for the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), said the national government has tapped Mindanao as the country's lead tourism package in the ATF.

The 2006 ATF, considered as the biggest tourism gathering in the Asean region, is scheduled to take place from January 13 to 21.

"We're preparing a new package for Mindanao, which we are developing as the next banner tourism destination in the BIMP-EAGA and the Asean region," he said.

Palabyab said they will specifically showcase various tourism attractions, products and the ongoing tourism development efforts in the island's six regions.

Mindanao comprises the Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Western Mindanao (Region 9) Davao Region (Region 11), Soccsksargen (Region 12), Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Palabyab pointed out that the government is seriously developing Mindanao's tourism industry to complement the resurging economic and development activities in the area.

He said Mindanao and Palawan, which are key components of the BIMP-EAGA, have "the best untapped natural attractions in the region."

He cited the world-class dive spots, eco-tourism sites and other natural attractions in the area.

"We actually have the best tourism sites in the BIMP-EAGA. All we have to do is develop and market them," Palabyab said.

Palabyab said they are hoping to jumpstart the full development of the island's tourism industry through the ATF.

"We're aiming to finally detach Mindanao from its usual tag as a problematic area through tourism," he said.

Meantime, Palabyab said at least 10 countries in Asia have already confirmed their participation in the ATF. Among those expected to attend are delegates from China, Japan and India as well as members of Asean countries.

"We have also potential buyers coming in from as far as Europe and Africa," he said.

Palabyab added that the event has also got the attention of various international media outfits such as the Cable News Network and the British Broadcasting Corp. - Borneo Bulletin

PIA Press Release
12/09/2005
1st Mindanao Film Congress slated Dec. 10



Davao City (9 December) -- One of the highlights of the 1st Mindanao Film Festival; the Mindanao Film Congress is slated to be held this coming Dec. 10, Saturday at Cinema 5, Gaisano Mall of Davao.

The whole-day congress tackles various subjects that delves into the establishment of a Mindanao independent filmmaking industry; the potentials and challenges, issues and concerns that goes into tapping a filmmaking frontier.

Respected film resource persons like, movie director Maryo J. de Los Reyes, Professor Ed Lejano of the University of the Philippines Film Institute, Maguindanaoan award-winning filmmaker Gutierez Mangansakan II will grace the event that aims to gather various filmmakers and film enthusiasts in Mindanao.

"Actually the original plan was that the film Congress was to be held next year, however I think It is the right time to do it., the groundwork for a Mindanao filmmaking industry must be started right now." Said Lou Rafael Cañedo the organizer of the film congress said.

Various topics to be discussed in the one-day congress includes; "Filmmaking as a means of communicating peace and development", "Role of the LGU in encouraging filmmaking", "Going Digital: New trends in Independent Filmmaking"," Producing Independent Films" and the "Evolving Philippine Cinema."

"The topics aims to open and guide the participants into the potential and the role of an independent filmmaking industry in the island and correlates it with the state of the current Filipino cinema." said Cañedo.

Interested participants may register at the reception area located at the foyer area of the Gaisano Mall Cinema. Registration fee inclusive of snacks is pegged at P500 for professionals and P200 for students. (PIA/RG Alama)

I have a question? is Mindanao the Land of Promise or Davao?

Mindanao. since Davao is in Mindanao, so both.

Mindanao is lucky as it hardly ever gets any typhoons - am I correct? Not too many strong earthquakes either...

Not the whole of Mindanao, just the western and southern Mindanao coz the northeastern part of Mindanao is very prone to typhoons like Surigao. But those islands that are in the typhoon alleys are blessed with beautiful white sandy beaches

surigao del norte is the only province in mindanao thats prone to typhoons. its a blessing theyre now popular as the surfing mecca of the philippines. thanks to the typhoons that make perfect waves.

surigao del norte is the only province in mindanao thats prone to typhoons. its a blessing theyre now popular as the surfing mecca of the philippines. thanks to the typhoons that make perfect waves.

mao bitaw no? plas op kors da wayt sand bits.

Not the whole of Mindanao, just the western and southern Mindanao coz the northeastern part of Mindanao is very prone to typhoons like Surigao. But those islands that are in the typhoon alleys are blessed with beautiful white sandy beaches

oh i see...thanks for the infor Slerz and Sleepwalker!

^^walang anuman, doc...

=============================================================
in the news...


Davao ready with localized
version of export dev’t plan
By ABE P. BELENA



MAKATI CITY (December 10, 2005) – Even before Mindanaoans hold the Mindanao Export Congress on December 15, the region around Davao City has crafted a localized version of the Philippine Export Development Plan called Davao Export Pathway.

Presented during a localization conference on the new export plan, Davao Export Pathway focused on eight priority clusters namely: Banana, mango, coconut, seaweed, wood, eco-tourism, mining and information and communications technology (ICT).

A Mindanao-wide plan is expected to be hammered out this week when export leaders from all over Mindanao will hold their export congress.

The localized plan targets the development of 250 new export enterprises in the next five years; expand markets in Asia, Middle East, China, the United States, and the European Union; and achieve a 10 percent growth in exports every year.

Marketing was identified as a key area of focus. Intervention activities by support agencies of government and industry groups will include trade shows and exhibits, trade missions, establishing virtual trade missions, business introductions, export clinics, export pathway programs, mentoring and financial assistance to exporters.

Strategic government agencies made specific commitments to support the plan. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority lined up technical training programs for the priority industries while the Philippine Ports Authority in Southern Mindanao pledged the modernization of the Sasa Port in Davao as the center port for the BIMP-EAGA growth area, and the Makar Wharf in General Santos City.

Other government agencies charged with acting on specific issues like the use of banned pesticides in mango and other farm products, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the logging ban and the ban in the harvest of plantation trees were asked to act on the issues raised by the business sector in the area. – PHILEXPORT NEWS AND FEATURES

oh i see...thanks for the infor Slerz and Sleepwalker!

anytime:) But a typhoon experience is an experience everyone shouldn't miss. Imagine you're inside the greatest force nature can excert and you can personally see those impossible things possibly like I personally witness a truck lifted and thrown several meters away like a toy car last STy Ruping here in Cebu. whala! I never knew it can happen, I thought only in movies.

^^ buti pa kayo nakaranas na ng bagyo.

surigao del norte is the only province in mindanao thats prone to typhoons. its a blessing theyre now popular as the surfing mecca of the philippines. thanks to the typhoons that make perfect waves.

it used to be very prone to typhoons... but now that typhoons have shifted to the north, surigao hasn't been hit by a typhoon for a long time now. but indeed, it's the only place in mindanao where a typhoon can possibly pass by.

so, mindanao is now typhoon-free.

btw, i'll repost this here....
Street Scenes of Surigao City

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/greenwich1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/charter4.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions46.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions49.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions50.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/jollibee2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/impressions7.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jafhoy/jollibee1.jpg

related to sugbuanon's post in davao thread:

Monday, December 12, 2005
Minda's newest oil company competes with fuel giants

A NEOPHYTE company like Phoenix looks so small when its stands beside the giants Shell, Caltex, and Petron. What makes it stand huge despite the lack of experience and credibility is it's being brave to compete.

This was the battle cry of the bigwigs of the newest gasoline company, which is owned by a Davaoeno.

A small yet aggressive newcomer, Phoenix simply dreams big.

When asked how it could compete with the famous three giants in the gasoline industry, Edgar Alerta, general manager in the Fuels Department of Phoenix, answered: "The people behind this company is composed of the experts that had experiences with the three giant companies."

With five existing stations spread all over Southeastern Mindanao, Phoenix recently opened doors for interested dealers in Mindanao.

"We are just starting here in Mindanao. We are doing our best to strengthen the business here before we move to Luzon and Visayas," Alerta continued.

He explained that the owner wanted to serve Mindanao first to be able to contribute in strengthening the flow of business activities in Mindanao.

Likened to a Phoenix bird, this company is determined to find a niche in the very tight gasoline competition and to sustain a long-term service delivery to its target market.

In less than five months since it started operation, the company was able to establish five growing stations and expects to double and even triple the number given the positive response of the public for dealership.

This early, the company was able to get the nod of 10 independent clients like Weena bus company, Holiday and Maligaya Taxis, and even the fuel requirement of Cebu Pacific are being supplied by Phoenix.

Alerta explains that the biggest edge of Phoenix over big gasoline companies is the product's affordability.

"There is a difference of at least P1 as compared to the other products," added Alerta.

The said company also takes pride of its supplier, which is said to be the number one in Asia.

Oil supply, according to Alerta, comes from Singapore and is stored in Subic.

This early, Phoenix is targeting a 10 per cent share in the market.

so, mindanao is now typhoon-free.



here's typhoons that crossed the Philippines since 1947

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9596/typhoonpaths6rt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

i was referring to fhoy's post that ..."surigao hasnt by a typhoon for a long time".

wow so general santos, cotabato and zamboanga cities have never been hit.
the whole Bangsamoro (ARMM) is totally typhoon-free. lol what does that mean?

i-photoshop ko yung mapa para ni isa walang bagyo sa davao. hehe.

i was referring to fhoy's post that ..."surigao hasnt by a typhoon for a long time".

Pareho din dito sa Cebu, kase kapag ang Bagyo tatama sa Surigao ang susunod na tamaan ay ang Cebu (notice sa pinost ko sa map) coz parang usual path na ng Bagyo ang Surigao.
Yup, it's almost 2 years na na ang Surigao as well as Cebu na hindi tinamaan ng Bagyo but it doesn't mean that they are already typhoon free coz it's a routine.
Matagal na ring hindi tinamaan ng bagyo ang Surigao so it means the risk is getting higher again coz malapit na kung baga ang torno nya. Kagaya sa Amerika, matagal tagal ring panahon na walang malalakas na bagyo na tumama sa kanila but this time 2005 it's their turn to have those strong storms...

Aramco lauded for putting up Mindanao refinery

MANILA (PNA) - A lawmaker lauded the initiative of the Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Aramco) to commission a feasibility study on the possible set-ting up of a new Philippine crude oil refinery.

Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago said the decision of Aramco, which controls 40 percent of local oil refiner Petron Corp., augurs well for the country.

“In the United States, on top of the global surge in crude oil prices, severe domestic refining capacity constraints have contri-buted in a big way to steep gas prices at the pump. It is thus imperative that we build up our refining capacity to avoid a similar problem,” Santiago said.

“Government has to induce Aramco to put up a new refinery here. The national interest requires us to reinforce our capacity to process crude oil,” he added.

Santiago previously urged government to lure China’s state-run China Petroleum and Chemical Co. (Sinopec) to establish an oil refinery in the Philippines to ensure that the country’s future de-mand for finished petro-leum products is ade-quately covered.

This was after Pili-pinas Shell Petroleum Corp. bared plans to shut down its refinery in Tabangao, Batangas by 2008 due to low margins. This means the country would be left with Petron’s refinery in Limay, Bataan.

Should Shell close down its facility, the country would have to import 53 percent of its daily need for refined petroleum products, not counting future demand increases as the economy expands.

Petron and Shell refine 180,000 and 110,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), respectively. Their combined output of 290,000 BOPD of refined petroleum products covers 78 percent of the country’s requirement of 376,000 BOPD. Importers satisfy the remaining 22 percent of local demand.

Earlier, Aramco said it would conduct a study on a possible second refinery, in Mindanao. Apart from supplying Philippine demand for finished petroleum products, the world’s largest oil producer said the new refinery could supply the requirements of East Asia and the US Pacific coast.

Aramco, which supplies more than 10 percent of global oil demand, issued the statement during Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr.’s visit to Dhahran.

Santiago expressed confidence that Aramco would find a second Philippine refinery commercially viable.

“Besides, Aramco has never had it so good in the Philippines. Petron has been making money, partly from domestic sales and partly from exports, and paying dividends,” he pointed out.

He noted that in the last nine years and three quarters — from January 1996 to September 2005 — Petron amassed P22.3 billion in after-tax profits.

“Out of these profits, Petron paid P15.3 billion in cash and stock dividends to shareholders. And P6.16 billion or 40 percent of the dividends went to Aramco,” he added.

Santiago said Mindanao would be an excellent site for the new refinery.

Thursday, December 15, 2005
Busy air traffic in Mindanao noted

BUSINESS upswing and stable peace and order condition in Mindanao have remarkably brought in a bustling aircraft movement and air passenger traffic at the island-region's airports during the first half of the year.

Year-on-year data processed by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) showed that Mindanao airports hit a total of 1.69 million air passengers and 18,809 flights during the first semester this year, which translates to an increase of 1.84 percent and 3.42 percent respectively over the same period last year.

Midyear figures of air traffic and volume in Mindanao are normally being generated and processed towards the end of the year.

Davao City International Airport registered the busiest air passenger traffic with a total of 874,825 passengers served in the first six months, which accounts for over 52 percent share of the total air passenger volume during the period.

Cagayan de Oro City Airport follows Davao City International Airport with a total of 266,370 passengers (15.73 percent), Zamboanga City International Airport with 189,375 passengers (11 percent), General Santos City Airport with 149,785 passengers (9 percent) and Butuan City Airport with 62,149 passengers (4 percent).

In terms of growth rate in passenger traffic, Surigao Airport registered the highest at 457.32 percent, marking a dramatic rose from just 3,393 passengers in the first semester of 2004 to 18,910 this year due to the increasing tourist arrivals in Surigao, particularly in the surfing capital of Siargao Island.

Data also showed that both Surigao and Siargao airports manifested a significant growth in aircraft movement, attributed mainly to the increased flight frequency of small airlines in Surigao City and Siargao.

Mindanao's aircraft movement this year is buoyed by small airline companies such as Asian Spirit, South Phoenix and South East Asian (Seair) airlines, which were notably linking areas not served by other national carriers.

These areas include Tandag, Dipolog, Cagayan de Oro, Siargao, Camiguin, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi as well as Malaysia and Indonesia for some seasonal routes.

Meanwhile, a hectic air cargo movement in Mindanao was also seen during the first semester when total volume of cargoes passing through the island's airports climbed 7.82 percent or 33,761 metric tons from 31,311 metric tons last year.

Davao City International Airport consistently captured the biggest bulk of cargoes with 60 percent of the total share, followed by Cagayan de Oro Airport and General Santos City International Airport with a twin share of 13 percent.

"The bustling traffic of passengers and cargo in the skies of Mindanao is indicative of Mindanao's bullish economy that is reeling towards greater, accelerated economic growth. It is worth noting that these are some of the gains out of the intense advocacy effort and collaborative work by the government and private sector to enhance air linkages in the remote areas of Mindanao as a means to fully integrate development in the island-region," Secretary Jesus Dureza, chair of the Medco, said.

He added that such growth might be attributed to the fast growing visitor arrivals in several areas of Mindanao, which have been regarded as business and tourist destinations in the country.

Mindanao’s foreign investments pull up

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) pulled up the investment performance of Mindanao during the first six months this year, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said.

The value of FDIs this year increased 68 times, hitting P892 billion compared to last year’s P13 million, MEDCo said.

MEDCo also said Japan accounted for the highest share of foreign equity investments at 39 percent, which includes the P520 million Philippine Sinter Corporation, a sintered iron ore manufacturing project that stands as one of the largest overseas expansions of Kawasaki Steel Corporation in the Philippines. The corporation is located at the Phividec Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Another top FDI this year is the Canadian-owned mining firm TVI Resources Development Philippines, Inc., valued at P225 million. Located in Zamboanga City, the project is expected to generate 425 direct and indirect jobs upon full operation, MEDCo said.

Other FDIs this year include the South Korean-owned Dv Esplus Company Limited, manufacturer of automobile oil filters with P37 million worth of investments; the German-owned Biofaser Fibers Incorporated, a manufacturer of coco products with P15 million worth of investments; and the Taiwanese-owned Chenshin Corporation, producer of smoked fish with P10 million worth of investments.

MEDCo said for the first time since 2001, FDIs dominated the total investments, getting higher share than local investments.

Source: JUDY QUIROS-MERQUITA/THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR

Ambassadors from Sweden and Netherlands visit Jolo
By Bong Garcia / MindaNews / 15 December 2005

ZAMBOANGA CITY *– Ambassadors of Sweden and The Netherlands on Thursday visited Jolo, the capital town of Sulu, to get a first-hand information on the area.

Sweden Ambassador Annika Markovic and Netherlands Ambassador Robert Vornis proceeded to Jolo early morning Thursday under tight security.

Col. Domingo Tutaan, Jr., spokesperson of the Armed Forces Southern Command, said Markovic and Vornis were scheduled to meet Sulu Gov. Benjamin Loong and other local government officials.

Tutaan said Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, Joint Task Force Comet (JTFC) chief, briefed the two ambassadors on the peace and order situation of the province.

He said the JTFC, comprising Marine and Army brigades, has reportedly been pursuing the Abu Sayyaf since November 11 even as the Concerned Citizens of Sulu claimed the military actually went after the provincial chief of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Since November 11, six soldiers have been killed while 47 have been wounded in the fighting. An infant died when she fell off from the arms of her terrified mother while an elderly woman died of heart failure.

On Wednesday, Markovic and Vornis said they were visiting to get a first hand information about the prevailing peace and order situation and to find means to support the peace process.

12/14/2005
Koronadal City cited most business friendly city in Mindanao


by Hazal Libanan

Koronadal City (14 December) -- Another feather was added on this city's cap when it was adjudged as the "Most Business Friendly City in Mindanao" for 2005 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mayor Fernando Q. Miguel received the award last October 13, 2005 at the Manila Hotel given by no less than Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

"This achievement is a toast to all people of the city of Koronadal who should be proud of this accomplishment. Like any recognition this fete should be continued with greater determination to do even better. This should foster unity and harmony among the different sectors of the community," the mayor stated.

The mayor proudly proclaimed that Koronadal is one beautiful and peaceful place to live in. He urged the residents to make it a haven for peace loving people and be proud of being so. (CIO/PIA 12) [top]

Saturday, December 17, 2005
Kidapawan's mangosteen available in US market

KORONADAL CITY -- Processed mangosteen products from Kidapawan City have gained acceptance in US market, according to the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in North Cotabato.

Upon his return from the "North Cotabato Fair and Fruit Festival" at SM Megatrade Hall 3 in Mandaluyong City, Anthony Bravo, DTI provincial director, said Nutri-Prime Farms, owned by Dr. Alfredo S. Villarico is now processing the mangosteen fruit into jam, tea, and powder in capsule.

The company participated in Los Angeles Expo in California, USA during the last week of August and at the same time made the maiden shipment of mangosteen tea and capsules with Mark Dela and Eric Johnson representing the partner company in marketing the products to the US.

Nutri-Prime Farms is a major producer of fresh mangosteen fruits and true to any agricultural product, price decreases considerably during peak harvest season.

This coupled with the apparently increasing demand, convinced Villarico to venture into processing.

The products are partially processed in Kidapawan City and transported to Metro Manila for toll-processing and packaging prior to its shipment to the US.

Presently, the processed products are not available in the local market since production is exclusively for the export market.

Mangosteen is gaining wide acceptance not only in its fresh form but also its processed products.

Recent studies revealed that the rind contains the active therapeutic compound named "xanthones" that is believed to have anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-tumor, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties.

Awareness of these somehow influenced the growing demand for the products.

Caraga Region now ready for mining

SURIGAO CITY, Dec. 9 (PNA) - Caraga Region, the prime mining destination in Mindanao is now ready for sustainable and responsible mining, thus concludes the first ever held Mining Community Congress and 4th Caraga Mining Summit held at this "mining capital” city of Surigao on Wednesday.

The activity with a theme “Key to Sustainable Development and Social Acceptability” was also attended by two top local government executives, Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers and Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra.

More than 350 participants coming from local government units (LGUs), indigenous people’s group and active mining stakeholders from all over the region gathered here for one day to “reinvigorate” the once dormant mining industry, which could provide employment for thousands of jobless workers.

According to the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB), the Philippines ranked number three in the world in mineral deposits and Caraga Region has been the prime mining destination in Mindanao with about 17 large and small-scale mining operators and 18 exploration activities.

DENR Assistant Secretary and concurrent MGB Director Engr. Jeremias L. Dolino explained the national government efforts in resolving the delay of the remittances of the share of LGUs it collected as revenues from mining companies operating in their respective localities.

Deinrado Simon D. Dimalibot, DENR Undersecretary for Mining and Legal Affairs, clarified that unlike previous mining operations in the country, the present Mining Act of 1995 provides all necessary framework for Mineral Lands Administration and Regulations.

The present law requires mining companies to deposit certain amount within three years from the start of their operations for rehabilitation and restoration of mining areas left by mining companies after expiration of mining operations to enable communities to start on their own after the pull out.

On the other hand, MGB OIC Regional Director for Caraga Region, Engr. Alilio Ensomo told participants that community concerned on issues on environment is best addressed by the agency through creation of community-based Technical Working Groups for the implementation of Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), which also provides livelihood opportunities among communities.

Ensomo said that indeed Caraga Region after years of social preparations for community acceptability is indeed ready for mining.

Apart from being groomed by the government as the country’s timber corridor because of its vast forest resources, Caraga Region is also rich with gold, nickel, chromite, manganese, coal and other mineral deposits which has been the object for investments by foreign mining companies eager to invest in Caraga. (PNA)

Mangosteen hitting the US market is good news but I only hope it wont be extremely expensive like what happened to the Guimaras mangoes which alot of people just skipped. I recall seeing alot of rotten Guimaras mangoes because most people just bought the cheaper Manila Mexican mangoes instead. What does mangosteen taste like anyway? Ive read somewhere that it was a favorite of Queen Victoria.

Mangosteen hitting the US market is good news but I only hope it wont be extremely expensive like what happened to the Guimaras mangoes which alot of people just skipped. I recall seeing alot of rotten Guimaras mangoes because most people just bought the cheaper Manila Mexican mangoes instead. What does mangosteen taste like anyway? Ive read somewhere that it was a favorite of Queen Victoria.

mangosteen can stay fresh for weeks. mangoes cant last for days.
mangosteen tastes like santol but less sour and is sweeter.

http://www.genericvitamins.com/images/mangosteen%20xanthones.jpg

http://www.mekongmart.com/ImagesThailand/Fruit/Mangosteen.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/4/8274363_ebfcf4300c_o.jpg

@ coke, thanks for the article but i'm suspicious of all mining projects. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Anything that involves money and the environment concerns me.

@ sleepwalker, thanks for the mangosteen updates. So is it the white juicy inside that's beneficial for the health or is it the hard outer shell????

Mindanao’s air transportation performance posts modest hike
Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Mindanao’s air transport performance experienced a moderate increase in number of passengers and aircraft movement during the fist semester this year, the data from the Mindanao Economic Development Economic Council (MEDCo) showed.
MEDCo reported that total number of passengers increased by 1.84 percent with 1.69 million passengers during the first semester of 2005 compared to the 1.66 million passengers in same period last year.

Davao International Airport (DIA) was identified as the busiest airport in Mindanao serving 874,825 passengers which account for over 52 percent share of Mindanao’s total passengers during the first semester this year. Cagayan de Oro City Airport followed at 15.73 percent share or 266,370 passengers. General Santos City Airport contributed 9 percent share or 149,785 passengers and Butuan City Airport at 4 percent share or 62,149 passengers.

However in terms of growth rate, Surigao Airport registered the highest in terms of the number of passengers posted this semester. The increase is consistent with the almost two-fold increase in the number of flights served by Asian Spirit Airlines. The growth can be attributed to the number of tourists flooding Surigao to visit the island’;s beaches, MEDCo said.

Aircraft movement in Mindanao increased moderately at 3.42 percent.

The increase in the aircraft movement according to MEDCo was based in the airports of Surigao City and Siargao, which posted a growth of 187 percent and 179 percent respectively. Increase in the frequency of flights fielded by the Asian Spirit in Surigao and the South East Asian (Seair) Airlines in Siargao triggered growth in the aircraft movement.

Small airlines such as the Asian Spirit, Seair and Phoenix have contributed in linking areas not served by other national carriers, MEDCo further said.

wow so general santos, cotabato and zamboanga cities have never been hit.
the whole Bangsamoro (ARMM) is totally typhoon-free. lol what does that mean?

If not totally, then maybe almost, as in once in a blue moon....
btw I also read that General Santos is the driest city in the country - in that case, how can pineapples thrive there?

I think not coz their fishports are very clean....

Ive never seen mangosteen in my entire whole life no neither durian, i only tasted the candy. they said somehow that it resemblance the jack fruit o langka but softer, is this true

Ive never seen mangosteen in my entire whole life no neither durian, i only tasted the candy. they said somehow that it resemblance the jack fruit o langka but softer, is this true

Not entirely. It is soft, because of the yellow thing (see picture) and somewhat sticky than the jack fruit.

http://www.durianss2.com/durians_files/D88_small.jpg

yup and also jackfruit smells much nicer! :)

Mindanawons top nurses’ board
By Jowel F. Canuday/MindaNews/ 20 December 2005

DAVAO CITY -- Mindanawon students swept six of the top ten spots of the two-day nursing board examination held last December 3 and 4.

Yvette Pauline Sales Paragua of the Ateneo de Davao University and Bernard Ian Baldonado Sotelo of Cotabato Medical Foundation College in Midsyap, North Cotabato tied for number one among the BS Nursing examinees, with a score of 85.20% each.

Charissa Joy Bueno Estrada of Brokenshire College in Davao City led the pack of examinees with degrees other than nursing or what is commonly referred to as “second coursers,” scoring 85.80% Jacqueline Amon Nuere, also of Brokenshire College landed on the sixth spot under the same category with 84.60%.

The third, fourth, eight, ninth and tenth placers of examinees with regular nursing degrees graduated from the San Pedro College (SPC) which had four students in the top ten, Misamis University in Ozamis City and Capitol University (Cagayan Capitol Colleges).

Maria Angeles Aves Daub of San Pedro College and Mary Ann Fara-on Engracia of Misamis University-Ozamiz City placed third with 84.40 % while Angelica June Pascual Cruz also of SPC and Sarah Jane Emata Lagamon of Capitol University placed fourth with 84.20%

The list of Mindanawon topnotchers was culled from the Manila Bulletin’s December 18 listing of topnotchers. The newspaper, which based its report from the Professional Regulation Commission’s (PRC) December 17 announcement, however, included only the first to sixth placers for the regular nursing program and the first to eight placers for the “second coursers.”

The PRC has not posted on its website the list of topnotchers and the December 17 announcement. But examinees can check the website if they passed the board.

MindaNews, however, learned that another Mindanawon, Marco Antonio Raagas Bondoc, a graduate of the Urios College in Butuan City, is an eighth placer.

MindaNews learned from the SPC in Davao City that Julie Christie Inutan Carballo placed ninth, with 83.20% and Mariberth Serrano Lerin placed tenth with 83%.

Dr. Patria Manalaysay, dean of the Ateneo de Davao College of Nursing, said Paragua’s topping of the exam came as a “blessing” for their five year old nursing school as she belong to the school’s first batch of graduates. Ateneo achieved a 92 percent passing mark for 103 of their students who took the exams in early December.

A total of 24,287 took the licensure exam but only 13,108 passed.

Manalaysay said Paragua is a scholar of USA Davaeonos Today, a group of Filipinos from Davao who are now based in the US. Manalaysay said the group’s president will be talking to Paragua about her plans, possibly including an option of whether or not she will work abroad.

Most of the topnotchers, however, have already set their sights on working abroad.

Elsie Tee, dean of the School of Nursing of San Pedro College, said one of their students who made it to the top ten of the regular nursing board examiners’ category is a United States immigrant and is due to return to there within six months. Tee said the student is set to join her father who is now a US citizen.

Tee, however, said she advised the other topnotchers and students who passed the nursing board to stay on and gain enough experience as they serve in the community for a year or two before moving abroad.

Tee noted that even as the rapid flight of nurses for overseas work is affecting the quality of health system in the country, she can not prevent their students from leaving because of economic realities.

She said local hospitals and nursing institutions can never compete with the salaries offered by their counterparts abroad. In addition, she said, the economic situation in the country is pushing the nurses to work abroad.

Tee said the situation apparently cannot be reversed until the country’s top leadership shows the “political will” in addressing the country’s economic situation.

“So if they (students) want to fly and spread their wings, we let them,” Tee said.

@ sleepwalker, thanks for the mangosteen updates. So is it the white juicy inside that's beneficial for the health or is it the hard outer shell????

Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Mangosteen tea and food supplement
By Rene B. Lumawag

DR. ALFRED'S Mangosteen Tea and Xanthone Capsules (food supplement) was launched at Lotus Court, Marco Polo Davao on December 7 with Dr. Alfredo S. Villarico, a medical doctor and mangosteen farmer in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.

Dr. Villarico, founder of Philippine Nutri-Prime Products Inc., presented the 100 percent pure--no additive, no preservative--health products to invited guests and media practitioners of which free samples were given to everyone. Dr. Villarico explains that the mangosteen leaves make up the tea while the food supplement (500mg capsules) is from mangosteen pericarp (rind).

Years of research spurred on by the indigenous healing practices of Manobos on the Mt. Apo foothills who just boil mangosteen leaves to rid themselves of various maladies, led to the development of an all-natural mangosteen tea and food supplement.

On August, the products first harvested dollar money after initial shipment of 120,000 capsules and 120,000 tea bags when product samples passed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards of California and Ohio, USA (prior to the approval by the Philippine Bureau of Food and Drugs). The products are now both registered with FDA and the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration (BFAD).

Dr. Villarica does not claim therapeutic effects. However, xanthones is the battlecry of his mangosteen products. Xanthones are natural compounds (phytonutrients) that act as anti-oxidants.

A mangosteen fruit contains 40 of the 200 xanthones discovered and classified by scientists and researchers. Antioxidants prevent cell damage caused by unstable cells called free radicals, cells that have lost an electron and wreak havoc to the healthy cells by stealing electrons from them. Cigarette smoking and radiation are some of the causes of the formation of free radicals.

Anti-oxidants protect the healthy cells of our bodies from these electron thieves by lending their own electrons to the radicals and thus stabilizing them.

The mangosteen health products are manufactured by a homegrown corporation, Philippine Nutri-Prime Products, Inc. and are now available nationwide.

Mangosteen Tea and Mangosteen Supplement (and the new Mangosteen Jam) are distributed by Lots for Less Warehouse Sale, Lanang, Davao City.

wow dave, resertser na diay ka?

scientist ko. usahay astronaut. panagsa psychic pud. unsa gani spelling ato?

^Interesting article there Mr. Scientist.

mangosteen can stay fresh for weeks. mangoes cant last for days.
mangosteen tastes like santol but less sour and is sweeter.

http://www.genericvitamins.com/images/mangosteen%20xanthones.jpg

http://www.mekongmart.com/ImagesThailand/Fruit/Mangosteen.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/4/8274363_ebfcf4300c_o.jpg

I really like mangosteen... it's faaaaaaaaaaar better than santol. and it's sweet.

i like the last picture...

Sulu Free Port And Economic Zone to Open in the Philippines
JOLO, Sulu, Dec 28 Asia Pulse - The Sulu Free Port and Economic Zone

(SFPEZ) will be operational by the first quarter of 2006.
Engr. Abdel Jalani, the newly-appointed Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial-in-charge for Sulu made this announcement to local officials over the weekend.Jalani, who just came back from a seminar of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)-DTI heads of offices in Cotabato City, said Sulu Governor Benjamin T. Loong gave the assurance during the said seminar that the Sulu Free Port and Economic Zone will be operational any time during the first three months of 2006.The Sulu Free Port and Economic Zone site is situated at the shoreline of Barangay Buansa in Indanan, Sulu which has been undergoing preparatory infra-works in the last quarter of 2005.With the globalization of trade and commerce initiated by the World Trade Organization, Sulu can now trade with other countries in the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and bring in imported goods into the Sulu Free Port and Economic Zone (SFPEZ) tax-free.Corresponding taxes will only be imposed upon release of the imported goods from the SFPEZ. The Philippines is signatory to the World Trade Organization Globalization of Trade and Commerce, also adopted by the ASEAN Trade Organization.

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/051228/4/2d2m4.html

PIA Press Release
01/25/2006
German envoy, energy officials lead boiler rites for Mindanao coal-fired power plant


Cagayan de Oro City (25 January) -- GERMAN Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Axel Weishaupt led national and foreign dignitaries during the boiler pressure test ceremony of the 210-MW (net) Mindanao Coal-Fired Power Plant Project held at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental recently.

Marking a significant milestone in the construction of Mindanao’s first-ever coal-fired power plant, the ceremony is, by way of tradition, a historic event in construction of thermal power plants. It is a special celebration peculiar to coal and gas-fired boilers of power plants for passing the officially witnessed and certified hydrostatic pressure test.

During the test, the highest allowable force is applied to prove the mechanical strength of the water/steam tubes and pipes of the steam generator, in this case 270 bar or 27Mpa.

Authorized agencies for acceptance and certification of this test are the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers or ASME inasmuch as the boilers were designed, manufactured and erected in accordance with the standards set by these entities.

The boiler is the power plant’s biggest component unit and generates pressurized and super heated steam to be used in the energy conversion process in the steam turbine which finally leads to electricity generation by the connected generator.

The boiler ceremony was highlighted by the hammering of the assigned eight-digit serial numbers to the data plates of the two boiler units led by Philippine and German government dignitaries, officials of the project company STEAG State Power Inc. (SPI) and its majority shareholder, the Germany-based power company STEAG Aktiengesellschaft and local shareholder, State Investment Trust, Inc. Some 300 local and foreign guests witnessed the affair.


Biggest investment

The 210-MW Mindanao Coal-Fired Power Plant Project is considered as Northern Mindanao’s biggest single foreign direct investment in 10 years with a staggering cost of US$305 million.

Aside from providing employment to some 3,000 local workers mostly coming from host communities, the project has and will continue to improve the regional economic performance as well as boosted the region’s image as one of the preferred investment destinations in Mindanao.


Increased revenue collections

Meanwhile, local customs revenue collections also increased during the first 10 months of 2005 primarily due to in-bound shipments of equipment installed at the power plant project.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) District Collector Roberto Sacramento said actual collection from January to October 2005 amounted to about P2.1 billion, higher by P1.047 billion compared to the same period last year.

“The unprecedented increase of about 95% in our revenue was primarily attributed to the in-bound shipments of equipment for the power plant project at PHIVIDEC and the strengthening of the local currency” Sacramento added.


Adding power to the Mindanao grid

Under the Philippine Energy Plan 2005-2014, existing power producers in Mindanao will not be able to meet the fast-growing electricity demand for the island.

The 210-MW (net) Mindanao Coal-Fired Power Plant project is set to meet the challenge of attaining stability in the supply of electricity in the region and avert a potential power shortage in the island.

Once fully operational by the end of 2006, the power plant will supply additional electricity to the Mindanao grid, representing about 15% of the island’s total power demand.


Social responsibility

Mindful of its strong commitment to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development, SPI has established environmental protection and social development programs, in coordination with local government units and other organizations.

Since construction began in December 2003, more than P15 million worth of social development and environmental protection programs have been implemented in the host communities of Villanueva and Tagoloan.

SPI President Andreas Rubin said the company will continue these initiatives as part of its continuing commitment to ensure environmental protection as well improve quality of lives of the people living within the vicinity of the power plant project.

“We are not only here to provide reliable, efficient and environmentally compatible power supply to Mindanao, but also to help ensure a brighter future for the local people,” Rubin concluded. (SPI via PIA-10)


Cyber City recruits call center agents in Zambo
By Bong Garcia Jr./ MindaNews / 27 January 2006

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Cyber City Teleservices Limited (CCTL), the country's largest call center and outsourcing firm has began hiring applicants here for its expansion program in the Philippines.

About 20 applicants were accepted, from a target of 50, and the processing of the applications last week was the city’s first for a call center job search.

Public Employment Service Officer (PESO) Francisco Barredo on Thursday said those who were hired left for Davao City to undergo the first stage of the required training. They would
proceed to Pampanga for the last stage of training.

After completing the trainings, they would be sent to work either in the CCTL’s call centers in Davao or Pampanga.

“Actually, some of the 50 applicants failed to attend the interview because they are working in some of the department stores downtown,” he said.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said that the CCTL representatives planned to return to this city in February and March to recruit more call center agents.

“This is an indication of the expanding call center industry in the country,” she said.


CCTL is a leading provider of customer relationship management (CRM) services and solutions including inbound and outbound offshore call center and business process outsourcing (BPO) services based in New Jersey and California, United States of America (USA).

CCTL is the largest CRM call center in the Philippines employing almost 5,000 agents for its operations at Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and its affiliate G-Com Limited in Davao City.

Sto. Tomas said that amidst the ongoing political noise, Philippines remained a favorite destination of many American call center and outsourcing firms due to the Filipinos' affinity with the American English language and culture.

A study in 2004 said that Philippines ranked sixth in offshore location attractiveness index and the fourth choice location in Asia preceded by India, China, and Malaysia.

Sto. Tomas said that currently, there are more than 50 contact center outsourcing providers in the country.

She said more call center and BPO firms are projected to set up operations in the country due to its cost-efficient, flexible, and trainable manpower.

almost all major cities in mindanao have good infra.

davao = airport, flyovers, fishport
gensan = airport, fishport, good highways
CDO = seaport, airport, bridge
butuan = bridge, intl port, airport

what happened to other regional centers... zamboanga & cotabato?

Mindanao is indeed growing fast..:)

Mindanao is indeed growing fast..:)

cyrusal

is there an Iligan thread....if you can invite somebody in Iligan...since sila ang duol kaayo sa CDO...to make one...para bibo ta Mindanao forumers.....

the more the merrier...

TSADA gyud di ba? :)

currently there is no Iligan thread.. Davao, Butuan, CDO and Zamboanga pa lang ata..

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/7483/newsbanner5qr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Alabel unveils P89 million mega market

ALABEL, Sarangani -- The town of Alabel unveiled Tuesday the construction of its P89-million mega public market that could cater to more than 300 stall owners.

The mega market would have cold storage and water treatment facilities and a parking lot that accommodates 190 vehicles.

Construction is divided into four phases, which should be completed within five years, according to municipal officials.

But Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez wants faster development especially in the province's capital town.

"For the next two and a half years, tapusin natin 'to," Dominguez told local officials during the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday.

"Rest assured that our resource mobilization will continue hanggang matapos ang proyekto natin," he added.

Meanwhile, Mayor Narciso Grafilo Jr. said that they have been longing for this development.

Grafilo added the project would also serve as a "come on" not only for Alabel businesses but also its adjacent towns Malapatan and Malita.

Phase I of the mega market has a budget of P12 million, with P10 million funded by the Municipal Government and P2 million from the Provincial Government.

Vice Governor Bridget Chiongbian-Huang disclosed that an P8-million fund would also come from the congressional office.

"This is one of the public markets that we can be very proud of in the region," Huang said.

Her father, Representative Erwin Chiongbian, has released P3 million from his community development fund for the project.

Senators Francisco Pangilinan and Mar Roxas, and the party list Bayan Muna, have pledged a total of P7.5-M for the project.

Davao City, Philippines.
G-Mall of Davao, the underrated but definitely kick a** mall!
6 level mall area w/ basement, 7 level car park w/ basement, 2 service glass elevators, 22 service escalators. (Building divisions: Main Atrium, 2nd Atrium, 3rd Atrium, Main Mall, 3 Level Dep't Stores, Basement Grocery, 6 Cinemas and Cinema Parks, (Malls inside the mall: Spazio and Fashion Walk malls), Starwalk Foodcourt, Sonic Boom Game Area, Playhouses, Bingo Hall, Boutiques, Banks, Offices, Bars and Food Stations all over)
(Please bear with the cellphone cam pictures)

Main Atrium taken from the Cinema Park...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium1.jpg

Main Atrium taken beside the elevators
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium4.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium10.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium11.jpg
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Main Atrium taken from the Spazio mall area...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium12.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium3.jpg

Main Atrium taken from the ground floor dep't store entrance...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium13.jpg

Main Elevators taken from the main mall area...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/atrium2.jpg

cinema parks...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/cinemapark1.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/cinemapark2.jpg

Second Atrium taken from the 2nd level dep't store...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium_B1.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium_B2.jpg

Spazio mall back entrance..
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/spazio1.jpg
main entrance...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/spazio2.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/spazio3.jpg

Third Atrium taken from the Spazio mall entrance...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium_C1.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/Atrium_C7.jpg

Fashion Walk mall...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/fashionwalk1.jpg
main entrance...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/fashionwalk2.jpg
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/mcdo2.jpg

Main Entrance taken from the 2nd Atrium (basement is below the stairs)...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/entrance3.jpg

in case of fire, no worry...
http://www.imagebulk.com/images/junaxbaby/mcdo1.jpg

here's the mall in it's entirety... Click the gallery...
http://www.imagebulk.com/gallery.php?u=junaxbaby&g=Gaisano-Mall-of-Davao

:)

currently there is no Iligan thread.. Davao, Butuan, CDO and Zamboanga pa lang ata..

and Surigao :D

Richer copper deposits found in another ComVal mountain
By Manuel T. Cayon / MindaNews / 06 February 2006

DAVAO CITY -- A Canadian-backed local mining firm which earlier reported probable rich copper and gold deposits in its Compostela Valley concession, today said sample ore taken from an adjacent mountain has yielded solid copper deposits.

Melanio Andresan, president of the Philippine Company (Philco) Mining said the company will proceed with test drilling operations in Tagpura mountain in Barangay Camanglangan, Nabunturan town, where the higher grade copper was found. But test drilling will continue in the adjacent Batoto mountain where Philco has been conducting exploratory drillings since 2003.

“Tagpura has yielded high-grade copper deposits, based on the latest trenching and geological sampling made by a British geologist,” Andresan said. Philco Mining has since tied up with Canadian-based Sur American Gold Corp, which acquired 40 percent of Philco’s stocks.

The copper deposit could be so rich, he said, as to surprise our engineers who found that when they crushed a stone ore, they found a solid copper material. “They found most of the stones and other ores already glowing with the yellow color. And these are found in the shallow near-surface level when they conducted a person-deep trenching to sample the area for minerals.”

“We believe that a very rich deposit of copper lies in that Tagpura mountain,” he said, adding that drilling operations would be conducted within the next two to three months.

Batoto mountain has yielded copper and gold porphyry, a type of hard dark red or purple rock containing the crystals of these two minerals.

Andresan said Batoto has more gold deposits with a higher grade at the surface level while copper was extracted at the deeper portion of the exploration drill.

Andresan said its Canadian counterpart is expected to shell out more capital to mine the more capital-intensive copper extraction operation. “Copper mining is much more expensive than gold mining, and with a mix of gold and copper, the operation would be much more expensive.”

“If a company would invest about $100 million in gold mining, it would require not less than $300 million to mine copper,” he said.

The drillings in Batoto were undertaken by the Batoto Resources Corp, a Filipino owned mining company of which Philco owns 30%. Philco is the legal affiliate of Sur American Gold Corp. which financed the exploration operation in Batoto.

Andresan said the two Camanglangan mountains are near the gold and timber-rich Mt. Diwata Range where small and medium-scale miners have been extracting gold in Diwalwal since 1983.

The Camanglangan mountains and Mt. Diwata Range form part of the so-called Golden Belt, starting with southern Surigao del Sur down to the Compostela Valley towns of Monkayo, Nabunturan, Pantukan and Maco.

Edilberto Arreza, director of the Davao Region of the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau, said t Compostela Valley also forms part of the underexplored Eastern Mindanao Mineral Belt.

Sayang wala nay nipadayun ani nga thread

Sayang wala nay nipadayun ani nga thread

up up up!!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/badith/COLLAGE2.jpg

Japan BIMP-EAGA mission considers investment opportunities in Mindanao


Cagayan de Oro City (4 March) -- As part of the BIMP-EAGA Mission from Japan, a business cooperation meeting among the delegates from Japan, MinBC and DCCCII officials, and Mindanao private sector representatives was held last February 27, 2006 at the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MedCo) Conference Room.

A group of Japanese delegates coming from the government and the private sector headed by Mr. Tohru Kuramata, Regional Coordinator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Second Southeast Asia Division, comprised the BIMP-EAGA Mission from Japan. In line with the mission's aim to support BIMP-EAGA, the delegates representing the government sector focused on possible government-to-government cooperation while those from the private sector were interested on possible investments in Mindanao.

A brief presentation of the investment opportunities in Mindanao was given by the Mindanao Business Council. After which, delegates from both Japan and Philippines were given an opportunity to ask direct questions to the other party. The JICA Corporation, Japanese-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Marubeni Co. all expressed interest in strengthening their partnership and cooperation with the Mindanao Business Council. The representatives were also keen on intensifying trade in Mindanao particularly agri-products. Furthermore, they signified interest in strengthening ties with the IT, Agribusiness, and Health and Tourism sectors in Mindanao.

The delegates were divided into four groups representing the four sectors - Health and Tourism, IQF and Trading, IT, and Plantation of Trees - that were identified as priority sectors. Small group discussions were conducted among the participants.

Sec. Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process, in his parting words emphasized the need to strengthen the business cooperation between the Philippines and Japan.

The Japan mission is a prelude to the forthcoming BIMP-EAGA Week on March 13 to 17. Several activities are lined up to commemorate the 12 years of BIMP-EAGA. The celebration will highlight the hand-over ceremony of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC), the private sector organization of BIMP-EAGA. MinBC Chair Romeo J. Serra will be inducted into office as the Chairman of the BEBC. Top government officials and businessmen from the BIM countries are coming to Davao to witness the hand-over ceremony and at the same time, express their full support to the new officers of BEBC.

The BIMP-EAGA Week celebration is a partnership of the MinBC, MEDCo, DTI and the DA. (MinBC)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/angeleslew/111.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/angeleslew/222.jpg
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Tuesday, March 07, 2006
By Danilo V. Adorador III

MINDANAO leaders are taking their cue from Proclamation 1017 in renewing calls for the establishment of a separate republic for the Southern Philippine island, Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano said Monday.

Emano, in a radio interview, said he would join Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in a meeting slated this week to discuss "peaceful and legal means" to achieving a separate and independent country for Mindanao. Other local leaders would also be invited in the same meeting.

Duterte, known for his iron-fisted rule, reportedly expressed dismay over the constant bickering of politicians in the county's capital, said Emano.

He quoted the Davao City mayor as having said that the recently lifted state of national emergency only serves as clear example why a status quo works against Mindanao's development.

"Mayor Duterte said that with the current situation, Mindanao leaders are getting hopeless and this I can attest," Emano said.

He added that the island could only avoid the "seemingly endless political squabble" if it breaks away from the mother country.

Emano reiterated that the country's centralized form of governance and the present weak political system hindered Mindanao's growth in the last decades.

Emano said that from the planned meeting this week, rounds of consultations would take-off in other Mindanao cities, in which all sectors, even from the police and military would be invited.

The initial meetings among various leaders would be held closed-door, Emano said, noting that last year's Mindanao Summit, which focused on issues of federalism did not bear any fruit "because everybody was competing to get media mileage." He said Cagayan de Oro would likely be a host in the second meeting after Davao City.

ADB to lend P1b for Mindanao airports
By Nuhman Aljani

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has earmarked up to P1 billion in loans for the improvement of airports located in different cities in Mindanao, an official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) said yesterday.

Antonio Mariano, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional director and undersecretary of the DoTC, said the national government with the loans from the ADB approved the modernization proposal of the airports in Cotabato City, Butuan City, Puerto Princesa City and Sanga-Sanga provincial airport in Tawi-Tawi.

“Cotabato airport already received an initial P600,000 funding last month for its modernization. This was after we received the request and complaint of the different airline owners to improve our airport,” Mariano revealed.

Mariano added that anytime this year, “we expect another P45 million for the full development of Cotabato City airport. This was after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the proposal jointly made by ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong.”

Some P1 million was also allocated for the long-range modernization of the Zamboanga City International Airport (ZCIA) but it was canceled by the ADB purportedly because the project had “no economic viability.”

Celso Bayabos, manager of the CZIA, said the cancelation of the funding was a “shocking and devastating blow” to the local airport.

He said the development was unexpected, considering that in the ADB study, ZCIA comes out as their top priority for rehabilitation and improvement.

In his statement, Bayabos said they were surprised by the ADB cancelation because, he said, Zamboanga is more economically stable than cities like Butuan and Cotabato.

He added that the poor condition of the ZCIA and its defective runway even endangers the safety of the landing and take-off of aircraft, especially since the airport accepts 40 flights everyday.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Spanish government chose the Philippines as its top priority among other countries in Asia and earmarked up to 40,000,000 euro (about P2.5 billion) in grants-in-aid to be used in different developmental programs over the next four years, the Spanish envoy to the Philippines said over the weekend.

Ambassador Don Ignacio Sagaz said on Saturday Spain has decided to upgrade its cooperation with the Philippines in terms of fighting poverty in the regions of Bicol, Caraga and Zamboanga City and Basilan in Western Mindanao.

“In the next four years, we have contemplated 40,000,000 euro or an average of 10,000,000 euro per year as a grant to the Philippines,” Sagaz said, adding that the funds will be used to support President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 10-point agenda of governance and in support for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

For Zamboanga City alone, the Spanish government, through its Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional (AECI) and the Spanish nongovernment organization (NGO) Manos Unidas, granted more than P80,000,000 to the community-building programs of Katilingban Para Sa Kalambuan Inc. (KKI), a local urban poor coalition in this city headed by Claretian priest, Fr. Angel Calvo.

Sagaz was the guest speaker during the joint blessing, inauguration and turnover ceremony of the Kalinaw Housing Project, the second phase of the three-phase AECI funded KKI housing program situated in the interior of Barangay Sinunuc, this city.

The first phase is called Katilingban Housing Project, which was started in 2001 and serves as the home of 200 urban poor. Phase 2 will benefit 98 families. The biggest phase called the Kalambuan Housing Project will have its groundbreaking in April. Phase 3 is bigger than the first two phases together and is estimated to benefit at least another 300 urban poor families.

“We are committed to give help to the people here and as you know, we are already starting with the Phase 3 of this project. It is very encouraging for us to see the people having already their own houses,” Sagaz said.

“This Phase 3 will be in Barangay Caragasan and even bigger than the first two together. We are expecting this project could hold over 300 families and we have allocated of over €80,000,” Sagaz revealed.

“Aside from Zamboanga City, AECI already gave grants and assistance to the agricultural projects in Caraga region, housing, health care, gender and equality programs in Ilocos, Tarlac and Pampanga,” Sagaz revealed.

Sagaz was also the guest of honor during Zamboanga’s 69th charter day celebration yesterday.

KKI chairman Fr. Calvo said the NGO’s housing program intends to develop communities with livelihood enterprises for its residents.

“Aside from the residential houses, KKI housing program also housed a livelihood production center. It is run by the Katilingban Working Women Association, whose members come from different marginalized communities in the city. The women are trained in various production skills, and have started making herbal medicine soaps, noodles, dresses and other sewn items, preserved foodstuffs and other products,” Calvo added.

“This is to finally lift the local residents out of poverty,” Calvo said, adding that the road to economic emancipation begins by eliminating poverty in attitudes and values of the people. Nuhman Aljani

Sitangkai, Tawi-tawi

http://www.wtisbury.mv.k12.ma.us/projects/ForTasmania/replies/philippine_photos/canal.jpg

http://www.wtisbury.mv.k12.ma.us/projects/ForTasmania/replies/philippine_photos/house.jpg

Reminds me of the song, Baleleng:
Sitangkai, Baleleng, sa Sibutu...

Does anyone have the complete lyrics of "Baleleng." Its a great Mindanao folk song. Would luv to know the lyrics.

^^ I cant find the original version. I think its a Muslim song. Anyway, heres the Max Surban version:

Bisaya Baleleng
by: Max Surban

[[

Mutya ka Baleling sa katahum
Timgas pa sa puti nga baybayon
Sa kasingkasing ka panganduyon
Perlas ka nga angay gyud angkonon


Tila na Baleling layo-layo
Si Tangkay Baleling pasibuto
Bangkaw-banal Baleling matayo
Utol kaw Baleling pamalayo


Narration:

Mutya ka Baleling sa katahum
Timgas sa puti nga baybayon
Sa kasingkasing ka panganduyon
Perlas ka nga angay gyud angkonon


Kon ikaw Baleling ang mawala
Kon ikaw Baleling di ko makita
Gugma ko Baleling magahulat
Taliwala ning lawod sa mga luha...

^^ o god what a song :cry:

Camiguin's White Island

http://mk29.image.pbase.com/u41/cmanaginged/upload/33274488.Dscf0280.jpg

i like this picture..excellent!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/sleepie_uno/camiguin/camiguin013.jpg

I like this picture..excellent!

GENSAN

http://static.flickr.com/44/156584808_55ddf718c1.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/77/156584795_d6a1d86550.jpg

T'boli sits on tons of gold
Written by MindaNews
Saturday, 03 June 2006

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/02 June) – This sleepy but scenic interior town of South Cotabato sits on tons and tons of gold that have remained untapped, a government geologist announced.

The deposit is estimated at four million metric tons but “much of the gold deposits in T’boli is waiting to be excavated despite the rush of small scale miners in the area for a long time now,” said Jaime Flores, chief of the geosciences division of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of Region 12 (Southwestern Mindanao).

Flores said tunnel mining employed for years by small-scale operators have not exhausted the bulk of the gold deposits.

“Only big companies can fully extract these deposits and not small scale operators because for one, it needs huge financial requirements,” he said.

Tribal Mining Corp. (TMC) is presently exploring the town to identify the viable strategic locations of the deposits.

Dibu Tuan, TMC board member, said the firm wants to explore the area to help ease the poverty incidence of tribal residents within the affected area.

“We also hope the venture will improve the overall economic situation of the town,” he said.

Last year, TMC, backed by Canadian firm Sur American Gold Corp., applied for expansion of exploration site in T’boli.

The targeted exploration area lies near the site where TMC has also been exploring for several years now, under a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement 090-97-XI, covering 84.98 hectares in Barangay Kematu.

Barangay Kematu in T’boli town has been a gold rush site since the early 1980s, attracting small-scale miners from the Davao region and elsewhere in Mindanao in a bid for better lives.

Flores warned, however, that because these small-scale miners have been using primitive or unsafe mining methods, disaster may not be far-fetched from hitting the town still reeling in poverty despite its rich mineral deposits that also include silver.

Recently, the provincial government banned small-scale tunnel mining activities in Kematu but later lifted it after reportedly putting in place stricter regulations.

But Flores chided the order on small miners saying that it affected thousands of families in the town. He said the situation “is a social problem and that if you stop these people from their activities, they should be provided with alternative livelihood”.

Two methods are being employed in the town—tunnel and sluice mining. The latter is considered a destructive mining method where miners spray with water the mountain so that its soil would loosen for easier extraction of the gold particles. Miners would then move the soil and pour large volumes of water to it until it washes down small to box-type diggings on the ground or the river which they call the sluice boxes. These sluice boxes have screens that are used to separate the fine gold particles from the soil and small stones. The miners would then gather the accumulated gold particles, place them in a container and pan them using mercury.

A portion of a mountain in Kematu had been destroyed allegedly by the activities of small-scale miners.

Despite the stoppage order, particularly on banlas or sluice mining activities since February last year, several government officials have admitted that such method of mining remains unabated especially at night or when security forces are not watching the area.

source: MindaNews (http://mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=50)

MARAWI CITY -- The French government is seeking more involvement in the development of Mindanao, according to France Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Chesnel.

Chesnel was in Iligan City Thursday with Yves Caldihon, French Commercial Counselor, and their respective spouses. French corporation La Farge is operating at least two cement plants -- Iligan Cement Corporation and Mindanao Portland Cement Corp. -- in Iligan.

La Farge has at least four other cement plants operating in Luzon, namely Fortune-Continental Cement Plant, Fortune-Batangas Cement Plant, FR Cement Corp., and Republic Cement.

Chesnel talked with local leaders led by Iligan Vice Mayor Henry Dy about the business potentials in the city.

He was given a briefing by local La Farge officers led by Iligan Cement Corporation President Renato Sunico.

Chesnel also cited the prevailing stable peace and order situation in Mindanao.

He told local leaders that France is very much involved in the development of Mindanao, apart from its business investments and through the European Community (EC) where, he said, France has as much as 12 percent contribution to the EC fund that is allocated for assistance and development programs in Mindanao.

"We support the efforts of the European Community and we are now seeking more involvement in the development in Mindanao" Chesnel said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, who accompanied Chesnel, said, "It is not an ordinary occurrence that an ambassador goes out of his way to travel in Mindanao amid recent travel advisories from different countries to avoid Mindanao in their itineraries because of security risks."

"Mindanao is slowly shedding its negative image as a dangerous place," Dureza added.

Amid heavy rains, Chesnel proceeded to Marawi City and met with local leaders led by Marawi City Mayor Omar Solitario Ali and Municipal Mayors' League of Lanao del Sur president, Balindong town mayor Benjie Bagul.

Chesnel also visited the biggest orphanage in Marawi City, which is housing some two hundred orphaned boys, some victims of the armed conflict in the past between moro rebels and government troops.

He made a visit to the famed Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City before proceeding to Cagayan de Oro City for an overnight stay.

Chesnel proceeded to Bukidnon province Friday morning to visit some French business ventures in the area.

SOME P600 million will be spent to install new cold chain facilities in the southern cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos, an industry official said Friday.

"We are happy to announce that in the next 12 months, new investments will be placed in strategic areas that will serve the emerging industries in Mindanao," said Anthony Dizon, president of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines.

Dizon said the expansion would serve the livestock sector in Cagayan de Oro, fruits and vegetables industries in Davao and the aquaculture industries in General Santos.

He cited a study by the United States Agency for International Development that said that with proper post-harvest facilities, producers in Mindanao could compete in the export markets for fruits, vegetables and fish products.

The cold chain business includes refrigerated transport, fast-food chains, food processors, food importers, food distribution and logistics companies, retail and food service entrepreneurs and research organizations in food science.

To deal with the increasing prices of fuel, the cold chain industry is looking at adopting a new technology from Europe that will minimize use of refrigeration equipment in delivery vehicles. With INQ7.net

VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental -- Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Yohoshua Sagi cited the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental (PIE-MO) as one of the ideal destinations for local and foreign investments in Mindanao.

"I am impressed and amazed by the modern facilities and industries located here, and the vast opportunities available for businessmen and investors," Sagi remarked during his recent side trip to PIE-MO to attend the First Visayas-Mindanao Forum organized by Shalom Club Philippines (SCP) Inc. in Cagayan de Oro City.

Sagi pointed out the vast opportunities the estate could offer to investors, foremost of which is the availability of land and the presence of modern support facilities.

These include the Mindanao International Container Terminal (MICT), telecommunication systems, competent labor force, and the projected opening of the Mindanao coal plant this year.

PIE-MO straddles the municipalities of Tagoloan and Villanueva with more than 3,000 hectares of land, making it the largest industrial estate in the Philippines.

The estate is host to some of the biggest industrial and manufacturing firms that have significantly contributed to the region's robust economic growth.

Data from the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) revealed that Region 10 accounts for more than 27% of the entire Gross Regional Development Product (GRDP) of Mindanao making it the biggest contributor to the island's total economic output.

Regional Director Myra Balandra of the Neda 10 said they are optimistic that the region will continue to gain headways in economic performance.

"This with an anticipated upsurge in investment confidence in the area owing to its numerous advantages ranging from rich natural resources and the right mix of facilities conducive in doing business" she said.

Balandra said the MICT among others, have certainly contributed to a brighter business outlook for the region," Balandra concluded. (Trends)

THE Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) has lauded the government's renewed support to the mining industry.

The council remains bullish on the prospects of a revitalized minerals industry helping uplift the socio-economic conditions of the country, most importantly in Mindanao.

The affirmation of support was declared by Director General Romulo Neri, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, who said the growth of the mining industry is vital for economic development.

The MinBC has vigorously pursued the revitalization of the industry for being a potential growth driver both in investments and in job generation.

Considering the past performance of the industry and the renewed interest in mining activities, it is expected that mining can generate roughly $5-7 billion in foreign exchange yearly and could provide 240,000 jobs for the next six years.

The Neda chief added that there should be strict environmental and social compliance of mining companies through the consultations and mutual sharing of benefit with the local stakeholders.

MinBC chair Romeo Serra has earlier disclosed plans to organize a tripartite minerals council that will monitor the strict compliance of mining companies to environmental and social laws.

He further stressed that MinBC remains firm in the practice of corporate social responsibility.

The MinBC is now embarking into a comprehensive series of mining information, education and communication (IEC) initiatives to come up with a common understanding and consensus on mining issues among government, industry and communities.

The IEC campaign is envisaged to lead to the creation of the industry association of mining in Mindanao, dubbed as Mindanao Minerals and Metals Council.

For phase 1 of the IEC program, MinBC will conduct workshops for constituency building in Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City, and will be co-convened by the Mindanao Economic Development Council and the Bishops-Businessmen's Conference for Human Development.

The program will then proceed to hold regional industry stakeholders forum in key cities in Mindanao.

The activities lined up are scheduled next month. :eek2:

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Sitangkai, Tawi-tawi

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como Venezzia!!!! (i can see the rialto bridge on the background :) )

heres South Cotabato pics (from flickr)

Polomolok
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Tacurong
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Koronadal (aka Marbel)
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Banga
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como Venezzia!!!! (i can see the rialto bridge on the background )

ya, venice of the philippines. mura pud og floating market sa bangkok.

heres South Cotabato pics (from flickr)

Polomolok

ya, venice of the philippines. mura pud og floating market sa bangkok.

mao dyud...unta mahimo na syang tourist attraction... :)

AN AGREEMENT for the establishment of a Mindanao Backbone Transmission Project costing P8 billion will be signed Friday between the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) and tribal groups.

TransCo-Mindanao department manager Emmanuel Abellanosa and corporate communications officer Raffy Magbanua said their company and the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) will sign the memorandum of agreement as part of the requirements for the above multi-billion project.

Magbanua said the agreement is a pre-requisite to the National Commission for Indigenous People's issuance of a Certification Precondition as required under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.

"It will be a momentous gathering as this memorandum of agreement will now allow Mindanao's biggest power transmission project, the 334-kilometer Abaga-Kirahon-Maramag-Bunawan 230 Kv Transmission Line, to traverse ancestral domain areas," he said.

Magbanua said Friday's ceremony at Pryce Plaza Hotel will also include the signing of an agreement between the Federation of Matigsalog-Manobo Tribal Councils.

He said their councils are at the borders of Davao and Bukidnon provinces, Palalan Higaonon Tribal Council of Tablon, Cagayan de Oro and Pualas Higaonon Tribal Council of Baungon, Bukidnon.

"Upon the signing of the agreement, the three tribal councils will give their full consent to TransCo to manage, administer, regulate and undertake the construction and operation and maintenance of the multi-billion transmission line project," he said.

He added that among the salient provisions of the agreement include the granting of financial assistance to the affected tribal communities and granting of security services contracts, among others.

Magbanua said the construction of the Mindanao Backbone Transmission Project, a flagship project of TransCo under the Mindanao Transmission Augmentation Program or MINTA will start October 2006 and expected to be completed on June 2009.

He said the project is aimed at enhancing TransCo's transmission capability and security to ensure stable and reliable power delivery generated from the Agus Hydro Electric Power Complex.

Also by the Pulangui Hydro Electric Plant and the soon to-be-completed 200 Megawatt Mindanao Coal-Fired Power Plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental that will soon start operations this January 2007.

Magbanua said the signing ceremony will be attended by TransCo officials led by president and chief executive officer Dr. Alan T. Ortiz, vice president for project management Dominador S. Geonzon and North Central Mindanao area manager Emmanuel D. Abellanosa.

He said tribal communities will be represented by Datu Roelito Gawilan, Datu Danilo "Macapanton" Narido, and Datu Tumanod Alfredo Mozal Sr.

Also on hand are NCIP Regional Director Datu Tommie J. Labaon and Lawyer Joy Marie Badal Pamisa, he said.

He added that invited to grace the occasion are Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/916/cdowwraanimation31pq.gif

Try to visit this link:
CdO River Tours Corporation (http://www.raftingcdo.com/)

Lanao del Sur

MSU Golf Course
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Lake Lanao
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Sarangani

Maasim
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Glan
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Alabel
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http://www.thelandofpromise.com/sarangani/parilla-inside-PA270132.jpg

Provincial Capitol at Alabel
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MANILA – A high official of the Japanese Embassy here has revealed that her own government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be conducting low-profile but important visits to Mindanao for the entire month of June as part of Japan’s commitment to contribute to the Philippine government’s efforts to build peace in the southern regions and help improve the lives of the Moro people.

Minister Taeko Takahashi of the Japanese Embassy’s Political Section earlier disclosed that the JICA’s Mindanao missions this month would benefit conflict-affected areas and non-government organizations (NGOs) primarily those within the jurisdiction and coverage respectively of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).

“There will be small but very powerful missions to Mindanao benefiting BDA-affiliated local NGOs,” Ms. Takahashi said during the recent signing at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) conference room of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the OPAPP-JICA Capability-Building Program for First-Line Peace and Development Facilitators of the BDA.

She also stressed that “finally, finally, finally,” the Japanese government has started its first steps in helping facilitate the signing of the final peace accord between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“The final agreement would bring peace in Mindanao,” she added after the MoA signing, which included JICA-Philippines Resident Representative Shozo Matsuura, Minister-Counselor Akira Sugiyama of the Embassy of Japan Economic Section, BDA chair Dr. Abas Candao, and Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Jesus Dureza.

For his part, Matsuura revealed that confidence-building measures specifically in the Bangsamoro areas are a significant aspect of Japan’s efforts, adding that although the volume and scale of his country’s contributions are not as large as others in the foreign donor community, their implementation does not lag far behind.

“JICA is very grateful for this new opportunity to take part in collaborative efforts for peace and development in Mindanao,” the agency’s resident representative said, adding that working in the Southern Philippines has long been JICA’s main activities within the territory of its Asia-Pacific neighbor.

Secretary Dureza said he even considered the MoA signing between OPAPP and JICA as an “important historic event” as it would signal the formalization of the partnership “that is going to happen and that is happening already” among the national government, the BDA, and JICA and the Japanese government.

He said Japan’s contribution to the Philippine government’s peace-building efforts would specifically help the Bangsamoro people attain their own “dividends of peace,” especially since the Land of the Rising Sun has been the biggest contributor of Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects benefiting Filipinos.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg, but the bigger iceberg is there,” Secretary Dureza said. “Peace building is one work of a lifetime.”

OPAPP, through its Peace Institutions Development Office (PIDO), and JICA will spearhead the capability-building activities for the BDA’s peace and development facilitators which include trainings as well as orientation workshops and “writeshops” on community organizing.

PIDO Director Rolly Asuncion revealed that among the initial areas to be tapped as training grounds by mid-June include the premier Mindanao cities of Cotabato, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. (MRConfesor/OPAPP)

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uhmmm impresssive pa rin sa davao kahit lower ang poverty index ng CDO and TAgum, you see..we managed to get a the 3rd lowest poverty incidence even with our 1.2million ( and growing) population :) :) :) :) :)

BTW, ilan population ng CDO and TAGUM?

a net find...
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Cagayan de Oro City (15 June) -- Around 500 bicycle enthusiasts led by Senator Pia S. Cayetano will pedal 100 kilometers through several towns in Misamis Oriental to promote environmental awareness and the importance of a healthy lifestyle in the 5th “Bike for Hope” on June 17.

The advocacy ride kicks off in Cagayan de Oro City at 6:00 am and travel through Tagoloan, Villanueva, Jasaan, Balingasag and Lagonglong before returning to the provincial capitol compound where a culminating program will be held.

The bikers are expected to complete the course in four hours at a relaxed pace of 25 kilometers per hour.

Bike for hope is not a race and is open to all cyclists, including occasional bikers. “It is our advocacy to champion and raise awareness on issues such as the environment, health and women,” according to Cayetano, a member of the Philippine National Duathlon Training Pool.

To usher in the event, Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, will pay a visit to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) on June 16 to promote breastfeeding.

Bike for Hope community seminars will be held from June 15-16 to tackle topics like solid waste management, prevention of violence against women and breastfeeding. Participating towns include Balingasag, Villanueva, Jasaan, Lagonglong, Salay, Balingoan, Tagoloan, Binuangan, Sugbongcogon and Talisayan.

A fitness clinic will also be conducted for female students in Jasaan and Talisayan to be led by Asian duathlon championship ruler Ryan “Bad Boy” Mendoza, national women’s triathlon champion Ani de Leon and three-time national triathlon champion George Vilog. The fitness clinic seeks to empower women by teaching young girls about running and fitness activities.

On June 18, Cayetano, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, will be in Bukidnon province to lead the ceremonial marking of the boundaries of the Mt. Kitanglad Protected Area. She will also join a cleanup climb to the famed mountain, a declared national park which is home to the Philippine Eagle.

The 5th Bike for Hope is a project of the Compañero Rene Cayetano Foundation in cooperation with Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno and the League of Municipalities led by Tagoloan Mayor Yevgeny “Bambi” Emano.

Bike for Hope was started three years ago in honor of the late Senator Compañero Rene Cayetano. It will be the first time for Mindanao to host the bike event that was previously staged in Baguio (December 2003 and January 2005), Cebu (June 2005) and the Ilocos Region (January 2006).

The event is sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Coca Cola Foundation, Nestlé Philippines, Pilipinas Shell, Cebu Pacific, Universal Robina Corp., Pryce Pharmaceuticals, Promax, Endurox and Accelerade.

Proceeds will be used to support various health projects of the Foundation, which is aiming to put up the country’s first national liver center. (Office of Sen. Cayetano)

uhmmm impresssive pa rin sa davao kahit lower ang poverty index ng CDO and TAgum, you see..we managed to get a the 3rd lowest poverty incidence even with our 1.2million ( and growing) population :) :) :) :) :)

BTW, ilan population ng CDO and TAGUM?

another surprising angle too is that Butuan has a lower poverty incidence in comparison to equally higly urbanized General Santos, one of the growth zones in Southern Philippines; Butuan with lower incidence/percenage compared with industrial lligan and Butuan with also a lower poverty incidence as compared with that of Zamboanga

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What is in the Y Axis? Number or percentage? I think it represents the % of people living below the poverty line and not the actual number of people who are poor... Notice that in the rightmost portion of the graph is the poverty figure for the Philippines... According to the graph, about 30% of the population in the country live below the poverty line... Among Mindanao Cities, only Marawi has a higher percentage of people living below the poverty level compared to the country's average... Tagum and Cagayan de Oro both have about 6% of their population who are poor... Cotobato and Davao both have about 10% of their population who are less fortunate...
GO MINDANAO!!!

By Ted Torres And Aurea Calica
The Philippine Star 06/16/2006

Spain has extended a grant of 28.5 million euros (roughly P1.8 billion) over a three-year period to the Philippines, with the bulk of the proceeds to pay for social services including education, health, potable water, agriculture and food security, good governance for local governments and the environment.

"A country cannot have real development if its people are without access to health services," said Leire Pajin Iraola, Spain’s Secretary of State for International Cooperation, in a press briefing yesterday.

She said a unique feature of the grant is that it requires the recipient country to raise matching counterpart funds.

The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) will directly manage the projects.

"We want to fund the project designs of the country. We want to be part of it until the project is completed. We want to bind the bonding of two nations," she said.

The 28.5-million euro grant under the Fifth Joint Commission is valid from 2006 to 2008 with an annual cash disbursement of 9.5 million euros. Since 1995, the Philippines has received 78.22 million euros (roughly P5.2 billion) from the Spanish government in the form of grants.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is the coordinating agency for the Fifth Joint Commission. It will also be responsible for capacity-building activities, technical services and approval and monitoring of micro projects.

The Spanish government also pledged yesterday to continue pouring development assistance into Mindanao to help the Philippines eradicate poverty and promote peace in the region.

"It’s a very poor region that has serious problems. We have seen that it has an enormous potential which Spain wants to support, enhance and help," said Iraola in an interview.

Last Wednesday, Iraola personally inaugurated and inspected some Spanish-assisted projects in the south, which were all aimed at helping the communities become self-sustaining in the near future.

Iraola said every project approved for Mindanao was guaranteed to help the communities progress on their own at the barangay, municipal and regional level.

"Behind these structures that we have helped build is a civil society that decides what they want. We just help," she told The STAR. "This is the identity mark of the Spanish cooperation, we support the processes that are decided by the communities, by the people, by the government."

She cited the health center and water supply system they built in Mindanao, which are being sustained by the people through small fees. Spanish authorities make sure that the network they create will correspond with the needs of the citizens, she added.

Iraola acknowledged that the problems in Mindanao could not be solved overnight but said there are good prospects for development.

In February, the Spanish government announced that it has chosen the Philippines as its top priority among other countries in Asia and has earmarked up to 40 million euros or about P2.5 billion in grants-in-aid to be used in different developmental programs over the next four years.

Spanish Ambassador Don Ignacio Sagaz said Spain has decided to upgrade its cooperation with the Philippines in fighting poverty in other areas of the country as well like Bicol, Caraga, Zamboanga City and Basilan and Western Mindanao.

Good relations

Meanwhile, the Spanish government is now preparing for the official visit of President Arroyo to Madrid late this month.

"Today, we can say that we have unprecedented good relations between the two countries, not only at the level of government but at the level of the people. The President’s visit will make this relationship even closer," Iraola said.

Spain has actually declared 2006 as the year for the Philippines to develop mutual knowledge of both countries.

Iraola said the Spanish government would be ready to strengthen cooperation on tourism, counterterrorism and other areas.

Specifically, she said Spain would want to make Filipinos more aware and proud of their Spanish heritage. The Philippines and Spain, she added, should not only focus on their past but on the present and future.

Spanish institutions like the Instituto Cervantes has been very aggressive in promoting Spain’s language and culture among Filipinos.

The Spanish diplomat expressed hope that the Spanish language would be revived in Philippine universities as learning Spanish could open a lot of opportunities for Filipinos in Spanish-speaking countries.

On counterterrorism, Iraola said they want to extend cooperation on intelligence and the fight against terrorism. "Counterterrorism is a priority in our foreign policy and internal policy that is shared by the Philippines," she said.

The Spanish government heavily emphasized respect for human rights, though, saying the Philippines must always uphold such rights.

Asked whether the Spanish government was concerned over reports of alleged human rights abuses in the Philippines, including killings of activists and media practitioners, Iraola said it would want Manila to ensure that the rights of its citizens were always defended.

But Spain welcomed the news on the impending abolition of the death penalty, especially as one of their nationals is currently on death row.

She was referring to Francisco Juan "Paco" Larrañaga, who, along with six others, received the death sentence for the killing of sisters Jacqueline and Marijoy Chiong in Cebu in 1997.

"I want to seize this opportunity to congratulate the President for this measure of the abolition of the death penalty that reflects her courage and her commitment (to end capital punishment) even before," she said.

The President is expected to sign the bill abolishing the death penalty next week. Other countries, including the Vatican, have also lauded the Philippines for scrapping the death penalty.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200606160402.htm

BIMP EAGA countries studying the feasibility of designating two or more ports



Davao City (16 June) -- Four countries in the East Asean Growth Area (EAGA) are studying the feasibility of designating two or more ports in Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia and the Philipines to allow BIMP EAGA shipping operation.

Romeo Serra, chair of the BIMP EAGA Business Council (BEBC) said that the study will focus on the feasibility of allowing BIMP EAGA shipping operators to carry cargoes and passengers between the two designated ports on a reciprocal basis.

He also said that under the sea transport linkages they will look into establishing cruise-line servicing EAGA points, including the Celebes Cruise Line and Borneo Cruise Line.

The sea transport concern was among the series of concerns discussed during First BIMP EAGA Transport Ministers Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawa, Brunei Darussalam on June 5, 2006.

The ministers also agreed to endorse priority projects for implementation, namely, Muara (Brunei Darussalam) - Mnumbok (Malaysia) Ro-Ro/Passenger Ferry; Labuan (Malaysia) - Muara (Brunei Darussalam) Ro-Ro/Passenger Ferry; Brooke's Point (Philippines) - Kudat (Malaysia) Sea Linkages; Pontianak (Indonesia) - Kuching (Malaysia) Sea Linkages; Pare-Pare (Indonesia) - Tarakan (Indonesia) - Numukan (Indonesia) - Tawau (Malaysia) - Sandakan (Malaysia) Sea Linkages; Makassar (Indonesia) - Bitung (Indonesia) - General Santos (Philippines) Sea Linkages; and Port of Glan (Philippines) - Tahuna (Indonesia) - Bitung (Indonesia) Sea Linkages.

With regards to the land transport linkages, they agreed to adopt a sub-regional multilateral or bilateral inter-state transport and transit transport agreement in order to facilitate cross-border movement of people and goods.

They also agreed to endorse priority projects for implementation like the establishment of a consortium company of Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia in the field of land transportation inorder to also facilitate cross-border movement of people and goods, setting up of inland clearance depot for trade and transshipment at EAGA borders, and establishing of inter-city bus express service in EAGA.

As far as air linkages are concerned, the group agreed to adopt sub-regional multilateral agreement on common airport tariffs to be studied by a technical group under the Transport, Infrastructure and ICT Development cluster.

The cooperation among BIMP EAGA airlines are encouraged to implement co-terminalization with own stopover and code-sharing arrangements, as well as the cooperation among small airlines to link areas which are not served by the national carriers.

Among the priority projects endorsed for implementation are the establishment or air routes between Davao City (Philippines) - Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) - Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei Darussalam), and the establishment of air routes between Pontianak (Indonesia) - Kuching (Malaysia) - Bandar Seri Bengawan (Brunei Darussalam).

Serra said the member countries agreed to request the Asian Developmetn Bank (ADB) and German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) to provide technical and financial assistance packages in order to support the transport development of the sub-region.

The member countries respective transport agencies also agreed to interface and work closely with their respective trade, tourism and natural resources agencies on the development and sustainable transport services in BIMP-EAGA, Serra added. (PIA/pdbanzon)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060616.htm&no=04

http://static.flickr.com/30/51002862_96fb05755d.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/29/51002860_e4d80219f6.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/29/51002861_2948307824.jpg?v=0

Rio Grande de Mindanao is one the busiest river in the southern Philippines

HOVERING AT APPROX 20,000 + FEET, MINDANAO'S MAJOR CITIES SHINING THRU

BUTUAN
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/boybleauxx/bxu.jpg

CAGAYAN de ORO
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/boybleauxx/cdo1.jpg

ILIGAN
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/boybleauxx/ign.jpg

DAVAO
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/boybleauxx/dvo.jpg

ZAMBOANGA
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/boybleauxx/zam.jpg

GENERAL SANTOS
(no Google Earth Hi Res Photo yet....hopefully soon :))

What is in the Y Axis? Number or percentage? I think it represents the % of people living below the poverty line and not the actual number of people who are poor... Notice that in the rightmost portion of the graph is the poverty figure for the Philippines... According to the graph, about 30% of the population in the country live below the poverty line... Among Mindanao Cities, only Marawi has a higher percentage of people living below the poverty level compared to the country's average... Tagum and Cagayan de Oro both have about 6% of their population who are poor... Cotobato and Davao both have about 10% of their population who are less fortunate...
GO MINDANAO!!!

Here is the Figures of Poverty Incidence on selected areas. Figures based on year 2000 census.

CITY...............TOTAL POPULATION...............PERCENTAGE OF POVERTY ..............POVERTY POPULATION

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY................ 461,877................. 6%..................... 27,713
CITY OF TAGUM..................... 179,531..................6%....................10,772
DAVAO CITY................. 1,147,116......................... 10%....................... 114,712
COTABATO CITY ........................... 150,450.......................... 10%........................... 15,045
MARAWI CITY ........................... 131,090....................... 43%.......................... 56,369
PHILIPPINES.............................. 76,498,735................... 30%.......................... 22,949,621

Mt Matutum

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/matutum2-PA270010.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/matutum1-P8234817.jpg

Lake Sebu

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/sebu1-PICT2209.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/sebu2-PICT2228.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/sebu4-PICT2273.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/kulaskusgan/mindanao/sebu5-PICT2315.jpg

Here is the Figures of Poverty Incidence on selected areas. Figures based on year 2000 census.

CITY...............TOTAL POPULATION...............PERCENTAGE OF POVERTY ..............POVERTY POPULATION

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY................ 461,877................. 6%..................... 27,713
CITY OF TAGUM..................... 179,531..................6%....................10,772
DAVAO CITY................. 1,147,116......................... 10%....................... 114,712
COTABATO CITY ........................... 150,450.......................... 10%........................... 15,045
MARAWI CITY ........................... 131,090....................... 43%.......................... 56,369
PHILIPPINES.............................. 76,498,735................... 30%.......................... 22,949,621

WOW, Cagayan de Oro has the second least number of people below poverty yet has the 2nd biggest population. :runaway:

correction please :

Zamboanga is the second largest in population among cities in Mindanao. 2nd to Davao.

However it has a higher poverty incidence.

^^ good morning mindanao!

i'll feature tagum city, davao del norte this time...

THE 30.6 hectares ENERGY PARK located at Apokon, Tagum City...
(sorry kay blurred na sad, ako cell panahon pa ni maotsetung)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/kododoy/energypark.jpg

ground works already started... 2010 is the target date. wow tagum city! wow metro davao!






:)

correction please :

Zamboanga is the second largest in population among cities in Mindanao. 2nd to Davao.

However it has a higher poverty incidence.

wait a second... kaya pala walang malls doon or kaunti lang?

^^ marami din malls dun sa Zamboanga... ;)

^^ marami din malls dun sa Zamboanga... ;)

I agree, & I think SM has plans to build a mall there too

^^but those were just speculations

compilation of gravy_addict's pictures of bajada, davao city.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/kododoy/metro.jpg



:)

scenic roxas avenue, davao city.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/kododoy/metro2.jpg

salamat sa mga picture owners... google.

:)

By Rose B. Palacio

Davao City (8 July) -- The Spanish government has announced that it has chosen the Philippines as top priority among other countries in Asia and has earmarked up to 40-million euros or about P2.5-billion in grants-in-aid to be used in different development programs over the next four years.

Spanish Ambassador Don Ignacio Sagaz said Spain has decided to upgrade its cooperation with the Philippines in fighting poverty in other areas of the country as well as Zamboanga City, Caraga, Basilan, Western Mindanao and Bicol.

The Spanish government pledged to pour development assistance into Mindanao to help the Philippines eradicate poverty and promote peace in the region.

The bulk of the proceeds which will go to pay for social services include education, health, potable water, agriculture and food security, good governance and the environment, said Leire Pajin Iraola, Spain's Secretary of State for International Cooperation.

The unique feature of the grant is that it requires the recipient country to raise matching counterpart funds. The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation will directly manage the projects.

The 28.5-million euro grant under the Fifth Joint Commission is valid from 2006 until 2008 with an annual cash disbursement of 9.5-million euros. Since 1995, the Philippines has received 78.22-million euros (roughly P5.2-billion) from the Spanish government in the form of grants.

Iraola said every project approved for Mindanao was guaranteed to help the communities progress on their own at the barangay, municipal and regional level. This is the identity mark of the Spanish cooperation and the Philippines and we support the processes that are decided by the communities, by the people, by the government, Iraola said.

Iraola acknowledged that the problems in Mindanao could not be solved overnight but said there are good prospects for development. The Spanish government wants to support, enhance and help poor regions in Mindanao and become self-sustaining in the future, Iraola added. (PIA) [top]

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060708.htm&no=1

Whahahahahaha!!!! NAHIDLAW NA KO SA MINDANAO!!!! Ano man!
Miss SouthCentral Mindanao! (Soccsksargen-Davao) :cry:

(di yata ako makalagay ng pix d2)

NEDA okays P7-B Mindanao rural development program
By Ted P. Torres
The Philippine Star 07/09/2006

The Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved the $135.12-million (roughly P7.026 billion) rural development program in Mindanao.

The Mindanao Rural Development Program 2 (MRDP 2) is a continuation of a 1999 program by the World Bank’s Adaptable Program Loan (APL) facility. It aims to reduce poverty among the rural poor, women, indigenous peoples and local communities. The program is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Of the total project cost of $135.12 million, $90 million will be loaned from the World Bank.

The remaining $14.9 million (P770 million) and $30.22 million (P1.57 billion) will be funded by the National Government (NG) and the local government units (LGUs), respectively.

A supplemental grant of $7 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) will also be provided to support community-based natural resource management.

The approval, however, is subject to a number of conditions including the submission of a budget strategy certified by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the mechanics of the provision of the additional 20 percent grant under the project, as well as a revised economic and financial analysis reflecting changes in costs and beneficiaries.

The current government policy on NG-LGU cost-sharing provides for a maximum NG grant of 50 percent to LGUs.

However, an additional 20 percent NG grant can be provided to LGUs that will enroll in an LGU reform program and meet performance targets.

"The MRDP 2 program aims to institutionalize and decentralize services delivery to enhance productivity, transparency, accountability, and community participation, improve access to viable livelihood opportunities for targeted communities, and develop sound natural resources management practices," NEDA said.

The Mindanao program will cover around 200 municipalities. It will be implemented for five years, as the first phase of the project in 1999-2004 covered 32 municipalities located in five provinces in Mindanao.

MRDP 2 will implement four distinct but interdependent components. These are rural infrastructure, community fund for agricultural development (CFAD) sub-projects, natural resources management (NRM), and institutional strengthening and capacity building for decentralized services (ISCBDS).

The rural infrastructure component will make funds available to local communities for the construction or rehabilitation of local roads, irrigation, potable water supply systems, and other critical agriculture and fisheries-related support services infrastructure.

The CFAD component will fund skills development and sub-projects with inputs from relevant government agencies. The NRM component will support activities to protect the environment and alternative forms of income-generating projects for communities in environmentally-critical areas.

The ISCBDS component will assist government personnel at the regional and local levels who will make up the agricultural extension program for Mindanao of the DA.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200607090702.htm

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/General%20Nostalgia/PaxUnidas_Davao.jpg

Monday, July 10, 2006


Spanish firms set sights on rail projects

By Niel V. Mugas, Reporter

A NUMBER of Spanish firms have expressed interest in the construction of major railway projects in the Philippines, including the extension of the country’s first overhead railway, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Their interest was expressed during the recent visit of Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila to Spain.

The firms include Isoluz-Corsan, Pro-Intec and Dime*tronics, which the DTI said, are eyeing the proposed extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 from Baclaran to Cavite.

Pro-Intec, for one, is said to have committed securing from the Spanish government some 800,000 euros (approximately $1.025 million) for a technical grant for the LRT I and LRT Line 2 expansion projects.

Dimetronics is said to be interested in the supply contracts for signaling equipment for the same two projects, while Spain’s national railway operator Red Nacional de los Ferro-carriles Españoles (RENFE), expressed interest in the Iligan-Cagayan de Oro railway pro-ject, for which it is ready to spend 100,000 euros for the feasibility study alone.

RENFE is also interested in the NorthRail project.

Soluziona is eyeing the NorthRail project, and is exploring a partnership with the SM Group of Companies for an integrated property development complex.

Spanish railroad construction firm Construccion Y Auxilliar De Ferrocarles (CAF), meantime, is looking at 33 million euros worth of funds for the Philippines’ railway systems.

Pro-Intec is also interested in build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects, such as the Laguindingan Airport and Mindanao Airport Development Project in Cagayan de Oro. The Spanish firm will provide a technical study grant for an agricultural and industrial project in the Cagayan Export Zone Authority. It is also proposing a technical study grant for the fabrication of oil drilling equipment in Subic.

Burgundy Global Asset Management Corp., meantime, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Spain’s second-largest bank, for a 250 million euro credit line for BOT projects it is planning in the Philippines such as hotels and resort development projects, and the development of Port Irene in Cagayan.

The company also has oil and gas interests in the Northeast and Southeast Palawan. It also participated in the bidding for the Camago-Malampaya Oil Leg.

Lastly, Winace Holdings Philippines Inc. signed a joint declaration with BBVA for the conclusion of an agreement for a credit line of 280 million euros for infrastructure and energy projects.

di ko makita yung zamboanga thread e'
si Animo ayaw mag comment sa bayan nya masyado :lol:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/zamboanga/zamboanga1860.jpg
Zamboanga 1860

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/zamboanga/zamboanga1944.jpg
Zamboanga 1944

c/o UTexas

di ko makita yung zamboanga thread e'
si Animo ayaw mag comment sa bayan nya masyado :lol:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/zamboanga/zamboanga1860.jpg
Zamboanga 1860

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/zamboanga/zamboanga1944.jpg
Zamboanga 1944

c/o UTexas

Nice find tigs.. :okay:

We have the thread directory: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=354255

And the Zamboanga thread:
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=295499

^ah K thanks SInj, ill use that next time :)

di ko makita yung zamboanga thread e'
si Animo ayaw mag comment sa bayan nya masyado :lol:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/zamboanga/zamboanga1860.jpg
Zamboanga 1860



Nice old German map of Zambo. :)

Translation:

Massstab unbekannt (Ger.) = Scale unknown

Kuestenwacht (Ger.) = Coast guard

Landungsplatz (Ger.) = Area for disembarkation

Kirche (Ger.) = Church

1 nautische Meile = 1 nautical mile

Minadanao is really catching-up with the rest of the country. If Mindanao progresses then the Philippines will also be able to catch up with our neighbors.

hehehehe.... wellp, thats only if we divide luz, vi, min.. into federal states.. then maybe we can eradicate the problem of being too entralised. XD

^^^ an the second class province most non mindanaoans tag to mindanao :(

again, I see with much trepidation of a Federal Mindanao......if its going to happen, how can we be assured that Mindanao will not become a microcosm Philippines with developmental pie going mostly to its traditional areas of development ?

I strongly believe that autonomic regionalization with equitable attention to the regions should be the bulwark of pursuing developmental goals to the countrysides and not on the traditional myopic metrocentric approach to development that leaves 'far flung' areas nothing but only trickles.

GENSAN

http://static.flickr.com/44/156584808_55ddf718c1.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/77/156584795_d6a1d86550.jpg

Gracious goodness! If only somebody would start a forums for Gensan. :runaway: :runaway: :runaway: :runaway:

I guess that picture was taken along Acharon Blvd.??

Im fond of taking stats from the paper using my cam...so here's another one. Sorry for the quality.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/angeleslew/Picture003.jpg


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/angeleslew/Picture002-1.jpg


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d190/angeleslew/Picture004-1.jpg


It says: PER CAPITA INCOME IN SELECTED REGIONS ATCURRENT PRICES,2005.
Northern Mindanao(X) and Davao Region(XI) toped after NCR and CAR in terms of Per Capita income. But in the darker side, Most of Mindanao's region are on the bottom list.

GENSAN

http://static.flickr.com/44/156584808_55ddf718c1.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/77/156584795_d6a1d86550.jpg

Pioneer Avenue General Santos City.

Waaaaahhh!!!! Gusto ko nang bumalik ng Mindanao!

abi nako pobre tang mga taga mindanao? maski good news bitaw to (or nice stats..) murag mali man gud..arent those from the visayas and central luzon better off?

abi nako pobre tang mga taga mindanao? maski good news bitaw to (or nice stats..) murag mali man gud..arent those from the visayas and central luzon better off?
well, Regions 10 and 11 are just part of huge mindanao w/c suffer greater poverty.

Per capita income of selected regions at current prices, 2005

NCR 184,758
CAR 75,556
NORTHERN MINDANAO 62,850
DAVAO REGION 59,971
CALABARZON 59,320
CENTRAL VISAYAS 59,272
WESTERN VISAYAS 51,872
SOCCSKARGEN 47,826
CENTRAL LUZON 45,789
MIMAROPA 43,406
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA 38,386
ILOCOS REGION 33,405
EASTERN VISAYAS 31,223
CAGAYAN VALLEY REGION 30,369
CARAGA 28,194
BICOL 26,316
ARMM 15,161
PHILIPPINES 63,556


so sad that ARMM remains at the very bottom having a huge margin with the rest of the regions.

Indi guid ko ya magpati nga ka-imol sang Mindanao! Kalu-oy lang sa mga wa'ay pa kakadto pero gina-judge na nila ang Mindanao for being a poor, backward and terrorist haven kay they haven't seen half of the Philippine's most vibrant culture.

Anyway, any forumers from the Ilonggo cities of Koronadal (Marbel) and Tacurong?

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/General%20Nostalgia/BernieMack1.jpg (Upper Koronadal Valley as viewed from NFA Silo, Tacurong City)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/General%20Nostalgia/BernieMack7.jpg (Cotabato Plains - viewing towards the north east towards the direction of Kidapawan and Mt.Apo)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/General%20Nostalgia/MarbelRoundball.jpg Marbel Roundball

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/General%20Nostalgia/DubaiTacurong.jpg "Dust storm in Tacurong - A prelude to a very strong rainstorm."

by JMD Abangan

SAN ISIDRO, Davao del Norte (14 July) -- This two-year old fifth class municipality wants its cacao industry to make it big in the local and international markets.

"We dream of having a chocolate factory in San Isidro," Mayor Tomas Abelita once said during the ASEAN Tourism Forum held in Davao early this year.

He brushed arms with ATF delegates in a dinner hosted by the provincial government of Davao del Norte. He offered visitors a cup of hot choco hoping to lure investors' interest to buy his town's cacao bean or its chocolate chunks locally known as "tablea."

His dream is coming true.

Municipal Investment Promotion Officer Sonio Sanchez recently bared that local cacao traders, farmers and entrepreneurs together with a few well-meaning investors from Davao City are putting up a business they want to get officially registered as Chocolate' de San Isidro (CSI), Inc.

"With the help of the Department of Trade and Industry, CSI,Inc. is due to get a registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission this month, Sanchez said.

With an initial capital of P1.3 million, CSI, Inc. will put up in this town, a factory capable of processing 250 kilos of cacao beans a day into about 12,500 dozens of chocolate chunks or tablea.

More than making profit, CSI, Inc. aims to help farmers get better price of their cacao beans. "CSI would be buying cacao beans at P75 per kilo. So even when the market price go down, our farmers get a better price at P75 a kilo," Sanchez said.

Traders get cacao beans here at P65 to P68 per kilo and sell them in Cebu, Leyte, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro City to name a few places where cacao beans locally produced in San Isidro are being processed into chocolate chunks.

"So why don't we produce tablea from the major source of cacao beans?" Sanchez said.

In a press conference during this town's second founding anniversary on June 27, Sanchez disclosed himself as one of the local investors of CSI, Inc.

He envisions CSI, Inc. to grow under the management of local investors who have sympathy for local cacao farmers. "After all, ang mga small farmers ang ugat ng industriya, so tutulungan natin sila," he said. "We don't want to be succumbed by multi-national companies," he added.

The small cacao farms of San Isidro make up this towns 3,600-hectare cacao industry, yielding an estimated 3,600 metric tons of cacao beans per hectare every year.

The local government of San Isidro is encouraging farmers to expand their cacao farms so it distributed seedlings especially in areas covered by the European funded project, Upland Development program (UDP).

Sanchez said UDP is helping San Isidro farmers organically grow cacao. "That would make our Chocolate' de San Isidro of premium taste. Pure and organic," he said.

Sanchez cited the birth of CSI, Inc. as one great accomplishment of the people of San Isidro and its local government as this surely sustains the local cacao industry, "thereby moving forward our municipality's economy.

"With its declaration as a new municipality on June 27, 2004, San Isidro positioned itself as the "Chocolate Hub" of Davao del Norte aside from being a cavers' paradise having been naturally endowed with spectacular caves.

It has also identified cacao as its competitive product, to the One-Town One-Product (OTOP) program designed to promote local entrepreneurial venture and jobs creation.

San Isidro featured during its first founding anniversary the largest tablea of 2.5 meters in diameter, weighing 500 kilos. This year, the town served the public with various delicacies and drinks made of tablea.

Hello...just checking... :scouserd:

I just remembered when I went to Prosperidad about the dusty Tacurong picture...

Its for the whole Zamboanga Peninsula. Lets see if we can find one online. :)

Here:

http://static.flickr.com/50/124305521_24572f099d.jpg?v=0
Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur

http://static.flickr.com/78/189383738_3e16bb8c7b.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/45/189383736_bdc134131a.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/53/189383737_4247f333f8.jpg?v=0

Thank you for choosing Pagadian Express. The tricycle is bound for Dao and will have a travel time of about 15minutes. Please be advised that there will be stops along the way. We advise our passengers to please fasten your seatbelts, especially first time riders. For passengers on the rear end, please cover your ears to prevent deafness.

(I like the trikes in Pagadian! Unique!)