Cagayán de Oro City and Misamis Oriental Province [Archive] - Page 22

boju

February 26th, 2007, 05:52 AM

Monday, February 26, 2007
Diaz: Emano's 'birth pains'
By Cris Diaz

IN THE afternoon on February 22, 2007, President Arroyo signed a bill officially dividing the City of Cagayan de Oro into two districts.

The President signed the bill a day after she also signed the bill declaring El Salvador as a new city in Misamis Oriental on February 21, 2007. El Salvador is a coastal town, 30 kilometers west of Cagayan de Oro City.

While the bill dividing the City of Cagayan de Oro was principally sponsored by Congressman Constantino "Tennex" Jaraula, it was City Mayor Vicente "Dongkoy" Emano, who personally made efforts that the Jaraula Bill is carried and approved by the Senate.

He personally made follow ups of the Jaraula Bill from the Lower House (Congress) to the Upper House (Senate).

After succeeding in both houses, Emano made it a personal obsession to see the President signed the legislation that would deliver the final touches of the bill.

No doubt, "Dongkoy" went through the birth pains in making sure that Cagayan de Oro City is divided into two districts during his three-term period.

After all, no one will argue that Cagayan de Oro City, the port capital of North Mindanao, with about 900,000 people, is ready to convert itself into a metropolis.

With two congressional districts, Cagayan de Oro City's economic growth is expected to leap frog in the next 10-year period.

This will translate to higher combined internal revenue allotment (IRA) for both congressional districts.

Thus, the economic competition of both congressional districts in Cagayan de Oro City would spur an unprecedented growth. The City of Cagayan de Oro is the sole beneficiary of the district's cutthroat competition.

At present, Cagayan de Oro City's annual budget is more than P1 Billion a year. With two congressional districts, Cagayan de Oro City's annual budget will certainly reach close or more than P2 billion a year.

"I want to see Cagayan de Oro City divided into two Congressional districts after serving my mayoral terms," Emano was overheard as saying.

Emano is now in his last term as Cagayan de Oro City mayor. "If I have my ways, I would seek one last three-year term so that I could accomplish unfinished projects," Emano said.

Under Philippine election laws, an elective official shall only serve three consecutive terms. Each term has a three-year period. A three consecutive terms mean that the official is first elected to serve the first three-year-term and then re-elected twice terms in a row to complete an uninterrupted nine-year period.

After the nine-year period, the elective official can no longer run the same position in an election following the last three-year term.

The official, however, can run any elective position other than the position lastly occupied. This is the case of Emano.

But, whatever, Emano has left an invaluable legacy in the hearts of the Cagayanons that would rewrite Cagayan de Oro's history.

Cris Diaz is adjudged "Best in Column Writing" by the Rotary Club of Metro Cagayan de Oro in 2000. Email: cris_d1954@yahoo.com.

boju

February 26th, 2007, 05:59 AM

Guys is this true the one highlighted below? So El Salvador now is a City! Bravoooooooooo!!! Then El salvador is the nearest city of Metro CDO more or less 30minutes away westward after Opol Town... Therefore there are three cities in misamis oriental namely Gingoog, CDO and El Salvador. Lastly there are now 9 cities comprising R10! What a good news!!!

Monday, February 26, 2007
Diaz: Emano's 'birth pains'
By Cris Diaz

IN THE afternoon on February 22, 2007, President Arroyo signed a bill officially dividing the City of Cagayan de Oro into two districts.

The President signed the bill a day after she also signed the bill declaring El Salvador as a new city in Misamis Oriental on February 21, 2007. El Salvador is a coastal town, 30 kilometers west of Cagayan de Oro City.

While the bill dividing the City of Cagayan de Oro was principally sponsored by Congressman Constantino "Tennex" Jaraula, it was City Mayor Vicente "Dongkoy" Emano, who personally made efforts that the Jaraula Bill is carried and approved by the Senate.

g0Rs

February 26th, 2007, 07:06 AM

boju

February 26th, 2007, 07:38 AM

Kahit sino kasi ang pwedeng magupload at magedit ng information.

g0Rs

February 26th, 2007, 07:49 AM

^^ korek. may mali kasi na mga data.

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 01:28 PM

MalaBoracay at Puerto Galera din ang mga tao sa kadami.... Maganda sana kung low tide napicturan kasi makikita ang kaluwagan ng beach.

yup.. actually malapad talaga ang sand area nyan..

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 01:31 PM

Progressive din ang Kimwa Compound, para ding Alwana business park! Go, go, east CDO!!!

Jollibee in CDO:

Limketkai
Ororama Mega Center
Gaisano Mall
Gaisano City
Divisoria
Xavier
Cogon
Carmen
SM

Puerto - Roaving store:D

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 01:32 PM

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 02:06 PM

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 02:09 PM

i cant remember how El Salvador looks like..

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 02:15 PM

OT. FYI,

A History Department Bans Citing Wikipedia as a Research Source (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/education/21wikipedia.html?_r=1&em&ex=1172379600&en=ad418204e5130dd2&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin)

Sana limited lang ang editing powers ng mga readers sa Wiki kasi usually pinaka-up-to-date info dun...tampered nga lang minsan:nuts:

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 02:31 PM

hindi kasi reliable IMHO.

Kahit sino kasi ang pwedeng magupload at magedit ng information.

^^ korek. may mali kasi na mga data.

:lol: i even tried editing wiki's info for CDO..ang dami kasing flaw..

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 02:34 PM

i cant remember how El Salvador looks like..

Is it a coastal city like Opol?

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 02:38 PM

yup.. the distance perhaps from downtownCDO to El salvador is the same distance as dowtonCDO to Puerto..:yes:

refer to this map...
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/boju4289/cdo/Slide2.jpg

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 02:46 PM

The Metro area is really big...the orange area there would probably sum-up to over 2,000 sq. kms. By the way is that green area also part of the proposed Metro CDeO?

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 02:48 PM

yup..those green shaded area are Bukidnon component of Metro CDO.

check the first page for the complete details of that metro cdo thingy..including the population..

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 02:49 PM

Wow, that's really huge. To think that others even propose to combine Metro CDeO & Iligan into a giant Metropolitan Sprawl

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 02:54 PM

i hope it(metroCDO) gets its own development authority/council.. So to address what ever has to be addressed on that huge piece of land.. like concreting the hinterland roads, etc..

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 03:00 PM

That's not far from now I think considering the pace of dev't there. After the completion of the LIA, everything is in place for the true economic take-of of CDeO...Hopefully the gov't realizes this potential. I trully believe that the only key to lasting peace in Minda is to have the economic stability & thankfully NorMin is contributing alot to Mindanao's stability

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 03:10 PM

nga pala...makakapasok na rin ako sa Hotel Koresco. Dun kasi kami mag fifield trip anytime soon.. Sana pwede mag take ng pics..GTG, dami ko pang pag aaralan... :nuts:

WawaY[625]

February 26th, 2007, 03:11 PM

^^ but its quite sad and alarming that the rest of mindanao isnt catching up..having 90% of investments concentrated in R10 & R11 doesnt sound good..that would mean the people from other regions arent getting the opportunities..now imagine if this trend continues and Davao and Cdo's development zooms way past the other cities, tayo din ang talo kasi may posibilidad na lumipat sila sa dalawang syudad na ito..meaning more congestion ahead for the two cities...

I wish for a more equitable growth among mindanao cities

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 03:13 PM

peace and order pa rin kasi ang pinag uusapan..

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 03:18 PM

;11913033']^^ but its quite sad and alarming that the rest of mindanao isnt catching up..having 90% of investments concentrated in R10 & R11 doesnt sound good..that would mean the people from other regions arent getting the opportunities..now imagine if this trend continues and Davao and Cdo's development zooms way past the other cities, tayo din ang talo kasi may posibilidad na lumipat sila sa dalawang syudad na ito..meaning more congestion ahead for the two cities...

I wish for a more equitable growth among mindanao cities

Sana nga pero aside from CDeO+Iligan & Davao...Areas like Zamboanga, GenSan & Butuan are also getting substantial dev't so they are also growing economically. All that Mindanao needs is a catalyst to solidify the economy like the long proposed Mindanao Railway project:)

WawaY[625]

February 26th, 2007, 03:22 PM

anong alos?

LordCarnal

February 26th, 2007, 03:28 PM

i wanna relocate to CDO :(

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 03:30 PM

para makahingi lagi sa ninong mo? :jk:

lintek, di ako makaalis sa ssc.. lagi kasing may new reply pag icoclose ko na ang browser...:D

FrancisXavier

February 26th, 2007, 03:34 PM

RTA implements new traffic re-routing scheme
by Sandra B. Tadeo/City Information Office
Date Published: 2007-02-26
The Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) is implementing a temporary road closure and re-routing scheme along some streets in the city affected by on-going road concreting projects.

Engr. Nonito Oclarit, administrative officer-designate of the RTA disclosed that the new traffic re-routing scheme took effect after City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano signed Executive Order No. 015-07 which gave the RTA the authority to implement the said order. Based on the executive order signed by Mayor Emano, some portions of Capistrano and Tiano Borthers Streets are temporarily closed. Such portions included those that are bounded by Echem and Nacalaban Streets, del Pilar and Echem Streets and Pacana and Gomez Streets along Capistrano Street. And Mabini and Makahambus Streets along Tiano Brothers Street. Under the temporary traffic re-routing scheme, public utility jeepneys like the Bayabas-RB, Bonbon-RB, Iponan-RB, Bulua-B2, Centro Iponan and Barra will pass through the existing routes towards Maharlika Bridge, proceed towards Recto Avenue, turn right towards Velez St., right turn towards Akut Street, left turn towards Capistrano Street, left turn towards Yacapin Street, right turn towards Rizal Street, left turn towards Toribio Chaves Street and proceed to the old route. From Cogon Market and upon reaching J.R. Borja Street, westbound routes are to turn left towards Pabayo St., right turn towards Cruz Taal St., left turn towards Capistrano St., proceeding towards their respective destinations. Puerto/Bugo liners are advised to pass through existing route and upon reaching Velez St., turn right towards Tirso Neri St., left turn towards Capistrano St., left turn towards RN Abejuela St., left turn towards Corrales Avenue proceeding towards their destination. For the Gusa/Cugman PUJs, from the origin passing through the existing route and upon reaching Velez St., right turn towards Tirso Neri St., left turn towards Capistrano St., left turn towards Toribio Chaves St., left turn towards Corrales Avenue proceeding towards their destination. Route 2 liners coming from LKKS Center and upon reaching Aguinaldo St. are advised to turn right towards JR Borja St., left turn towards Rizal St., right turn towards Cruz Taal St., left turn towards Capistrano Street and proceed to their destination. NHA-RB liners are also advised to take the route from LKKS Center and upon reaching Yacapin St., left turn towards Rizal Street, right turn towards Cruz Taal St., left turn towards Capistrano St. and proceed to the destination. The same order likewise ordered all motorela for hire to traverse from south to north of the poblacion area passing either Burgos Street and all passable streets provided that the existing one-way traffic scheme are observed.

:ohno: inuna pa tong Gaerlan Street eh mas lubak lubak ang Velez.. Ambot nimo Emano..
:bash:

LordCarnal

February 26th, 2007, 03:41 PM

para makahingi lagi sa ninong mo?

Naah, he's already in Iligan..

;11913033']^^ but its quite sad and alarming that the rest of mindanao isnt catching up..having 90% of investments concentrated in R10 & R11 doesnt sound good..that would mean the people from other regions arent getting the opportunities..now imagine if this trend continues and Davao and Cdo's development zooms way past the other cities, tayo din ang talo kasi may posibilidad na lumipat sila sa dalawang syudad na ito..meaning more congestion ahead for the two cities...

I wish for a more equitable growth among mindanao cities

Both R10 and R11 would serve as a catalyst for the rest of Mindanao. :okay: We could then expect development to pour in to other areas. Migration isn't actually a problem as long as city officials would think long term and plan for the future.:okay:

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 08:20 PM

But the Gov't should also have the initiative to give Mindanao an efficient means of transoprting people and goods through the Mindanao Railway project. I mean kelan pa nila gagawin ang napaka-simpleng railway project kung may Bullet trains na sa buong Luzon?

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 08:42 PM

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Tourism dep't vows to attract more foreign tourists
By Ryan D. Rosauro
Correspondent

TOURISM officials of Northern Mindanao are eyeing an aggressive sell for the region as an "international choice destination," buoyed by high tourist-arrival numbers in 2006.

The stepped up campaign to attract more foreign tourists will be undertaken in addition to its effort "to continually mark itself in the country's tourism map," said Regional Director Catalino E. Chan III of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

According to Chan, the target of gearing up regional tourism promotion to the broader market of international travelers will be made this year.

Based on official statistics, tourist arrivals in northern Mindanao totaled 893,071 in 2006, an increase of 26.17 percent over the 2005 tally of 707,807.

Of the total tourist arrivals, 55,220 are foreigners, although around 16,180 of these are Filipino balikbayans.

Apart from tourists originating from the US and Japan, which traditionally comprise the region's foreign guests, arrivals from Korea have also picked up and are now ranked third among its international visitors.

Other countries of origin of the region's foreign visitors in 2006 include Canada, Australia, China, Germany, United Kingdom, and Netherlands.

Increase hotel occupancy

With more tourists, the rate of hotel occupancy in the region rose from 61.4 percent in 2005 to 68.11 percent in 2006, or an increase of 6.71 percent.

In terms of provincial destination, Misamis Occidental, with the cities of Ozamiz, Oroquieta and Tangub, cornered the most number of visitors at 288,684, or about a third of total tourists in the region.

Misamis Oriental, with the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog, followed with 262,272 visitors; Camiguin at 220,062; Lanao del Norte and Iligan City, 84,426; and Bukidnon, with Malaybalay and Valencia cities, 37,627.

The rise of Misamis Occidental as a destination is notable given that the traditional places of interest in the region have been Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin. This is primarily attributed to the commemoration of the 250th year of Christianity in Misamis and the attraction of the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP).

Set up by the Provincial Government five years ago, MOAP started as a marine conservation area and was further developed into an eco-tourism site. A year ago, it won a Gawad Galing-Pook award for marine conservation.

Chan credits the rising appeal of northern Mindanao as a tourism destination to the sustained peace and order condition in the region.

The large droves of visitors were mostly brought through the increasing number of events staged here like conventions and seminars, which reached 2,594 in 2006, up by 44.70 percent from 1,794 in 2005. Last year, 11 international events were held in the region, which is an improvement from the previous period's nine.

But the staging of regional and national level events has declined in number; the former by 54 percent and the latter by 30 percent. This was compensated by the number of local events, which rose 82.74 percent, from 1,269 to 2,319.

Festivals

Chan stressed the need for continued training for personnel involved in frontline services, and stronger linkages with local governments and private tourism-oriented associations in boosting efforts to make it beyond the national tourism market.

Northern Mindanao has six major cultural festivals, namely, Kaamulan, Lanzones, Kagay-anon, Kasadya, Sagayan, Salo-Tabo and Kaliga that depict the rich and diverse heritage of its people.

In addition to MOAP, more recent attractions are white-water river rafting, river tubing, and canopy walk in Cagayan de Oro.

The rafting adventure here can be enjoyed year-round because of good ecological condition of the watershed that feeds the river.

Sera

February 26th, 2007, 08:43 PM

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
APO Hiking Society: a night of superb music, performance
By Nena Neri Hernandez
R.S.V.P

HOW do I describe watching and listening to the APO Hiking Society? Exciting! Interesting! Fascinating! Most certainly the term crowd drawer is an understatement!

I was very fortunate to get good sits, lucky for me because it was a full house and I was glued to my sit, afraid to move afraid that if I do...I will miss something!

Yes, that was how I felt and I am sure the crowd's feelings! They still are the same APO Hiking that I watched several and I mean several years ago.

The crowd wanted more and more of their songs that were all familiar to us. It was a standing ovation for them, and if I know the crowd in Cagayan, we are music affecionados, very music minded, know what we want in what we listen to, but...sorry to say, very hard to please. Not very demonstrative in what we are getting!

The crowd was different last Friday night! Very, very unusually insistent for an encore, and we got it. At our back with my daughter in law, Inday, who was as excited as I was, were Albino and Francis Lim Ket Kai and son, Atty. Rufus Roriguez, who, years back was selected as one of the most outstanding high school graduate of Xavier University, and I'm sure was also a member of Fr. Cuna's famous Glee Club!

I know because my eldest daughter NATI was also selected as one for Lourdes College, if I remember right, a project of Jaycees, Cagayan de Oro. Because my daughter was selected for this Jaycee project and there were only three selected from Xavier and Lourdes College, my late husband and I were the very proud parents then.

I must mention the two brave young men of IMAGES, who are responsible for bringing to Cagayan de Oro top performers in Manila and from abroad. Vince Abad Santos, who comes from a very prestigious family in Manila, and BOY GUALBERTO, the son of my good friend the late Inday Gualberto.

Yes, they come from the opposite sides of the Philippines, but recently they found out that they have good chemistry. Vince is the producer here in Cagayan de Oro and Boy, the marketing manager.

With the crowd last Friday night, I am sure we will be getting top performers here in Cagayan de Oro. We truly are fortunate that this brave young men Vince and Boy ventured into this business. We travel as far as Manila and Cebu to watch top performers. We were always bypassed! But now, thanks to IMAGES and the young men behind it, we will be getting top performers that we have always longed for!

And don't forget we now have the venue for this kind of entertainment, The Atrium at the Lim Ket Kai Mall and the Rodelsa Hall for classical performers! So at last, we are getting a good music and entertainment!

boju

February 26th, 2007, 11:29 PM

Cagayan de Oro invited to join Philippines Clean Cities Program.

By Mike Baños

The Philippines Clean Cities Program (CCP) is considering this capital city of Northern Mindanao as its next pilot area under the Sustainable Energy Development Program (SEDP) for Alternative Fuels development assistance project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Samuel Abrenilla, Council of Philippine Clean Cities Coalition, officially extended the invitation in behalf of the program during a Go! Biofuels Public Forum held at a local restaurant Sunday, February 11, following a Biofuels Caravan around the city earlier in the morning.

"The program brings together all stakeholders who want cleaner air for a cleaner environment," Mr. Abrenilla said during his presentation in the forum attended by officers and members of the Transport Federation of Cagayan de Oro (Trafeco), the largest alliance of transport groups in the city and other sectors like the local government, academe, and media.

Abrenilla said the SEDP was created in January, 2004 to promote the search for cleaner energy in the transport sector, help attain energy supply security by reducing dependence on imported fuel oil, help mitigate global warming and other threats to the environment posed by fossil fuels, improve air quality in polluted cities and industrialized zones all over the country, and promote the use of indigenous fuels through the Clean Cities Program by creating public-private partnerships. It is supported by the USAID and the United States Dept. of Energy (USDOE).

In an earlier presentation, Andy Ulgado, Dept. of Energy (DOE) senior science research specialist, cited DOE figures showing that imported oil still accounts for 37% of the country's energy supply, 83% of which is used by the transport (58%) and industry (25%) sectors.

Abrenilla said the SEDP was started in Baguio City February 23, 2005 with the creation of the Clean Cities Baguio Coalition (CCBC).

"CCBC conducted bio-diesel (coco methyl ester or CME) pilot tests and perception surveys on alternative fuels," Abrenilla said. "It also passed a resolution urging all government offices and public utility vehicles to use CME, and another urging all petroleum gas stations to make available high quality bottled CME."

Local government support followed with the declaration of the first week of October as Fuels 4 Life (F4L) Movement Week and the CCBC participated in the Clean Cities International Annual Conference in Palm Springs, USA.

Other members of the PCCP are Makati, Marikina, Iloilo in the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao.

Virgilio Valmoria, Trafeco president, said the federation supports the Biofuel Caravan to enable its members to test for themselves the performance of Seaoil's Biodiesel.

"We have over 6,000 members and 2,000 public utility motor vehicles, 90% of which are powered by diesel engines, so we'd like them to have a first hand experience with the performance of bio-diesel," Valmoria said.

Under the roadmap established by Clean Cities International (CCI), Abrenilla said the proposed Clean Cities Cagayan de Oro Coalition (C4) would first have to form a coalition to bring together potential stakeholders from the public and private sectors and conduct scoping missions, focus group discussions and a stakeholders meeting.

"After which they have to elect coordinators (or committee officers) and establish goals, objectives and stakeholder commitments," he added. "A long-term program work plan will have to be developed to guide C4 in assessing the current alternative fuels market situation, decide on a table of organization, collate baseline data on the use of alternative fuels (to include pilot testing of CME on vehicles and perception survey on alternative fuels), how C4 would work with alternative fuel suppliers and with CCI to reduce local and global emissions."

The Biofuels caravan started in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and will end of Davao City with another public forum Monday, February 12, 2007. It is an initiative of the Philippine Fuel Ethanol Alliance with Seaoil, Flying V, and the USAID SEDP.

ww.kagay-an.com

boju

February 26th, 2007, 11:59 PM

El Salvador is one town away from CDO..

Is it a coastal city like Opol?

El Salvador is 18.31 kilometers west from Cagayan de Oro city. Comprises of Land Area of 136.70 square kilometers. With the population of 34,650 as of 2000 Census.

El Salvador is home of several huge industries as it is being programmed to be developed as El Salvador Special Economic Zone.

Other facts of El Salvador:
Misamis Oriental New Battleground for RP's "Liquor War"
Mike Banos

The "Liquor War" for control of the country's alcohol market has found a new battleground in the province of Misamis Oriental.

Bitter corporate rivals Tanduay Distillers Inc. (Tanduay) and Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) are both putting up new plants in this Northern Mindanao province to consolidate their forces for control of the lucrative hard liquor market in the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as nearby markets in Asean.

GSMI drew first blood when it took an option for 30 hectares of the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental on August 27, 2004.

Company sources said a P1.4-billion alcohol distillery with a capacity of 75,000 liters of hard liquor a day will be built on what will eventually be a 100-hectare property. SMC said production from the distillery will primarily be used to support its export operations. GSMI is 79.6-percent owned by food and beverage conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. (GSMI) is a diversified alcohol-based beverage company owned by San Miguel Corporation . Originally known as La TondeÅˆa Distilleries, Inc., it was founded by the late Carlos Palanca, its main products are basically hard liquor.

It claims to be the largest producer and distributor of alcoholic beverages in the Philippines. In each of its product categories, Ginebra San Miguel is the market leader, with over 70% share of the gin market.

The company supports these brands through a nationwide distribution network that includes 500 beer distributors owned by San Miguel Corporation, a leading multinational in Asia that is the largest food and beverage producer in the Philippines.(orchidasia.com)

GSMI said its net income fell 40 percent to P331.9 million in the first half, from P552.8 million in the same period last year.

But Tanduay now appears to have taken the initiative from GSMI when taipan Lucio Tan announced Saturday at the 15th Mindanao Business Conference in Zamboanga City that the wholly-owned subsidiary of Tanduay Holdings, Inc. had already started construction for a P1-billion Tanduay factory besides Asia Brewery Inc.'s existing brewery in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental.

"Seeing the great potential in Mindanao as a growth area, we are expanding our presence here by investing P1 billion for Tanduay's facility beside Asia Brewery's plant and another P250-million for a soft drinks facility also in Cagayan de Oro," Tan said.

The tycoon said the liquor facility would be one of his company's biggest investments in Mindanao. "Our group's (Lucio Tan Group of Companies) biggest exposure in Mindanao is the state-of-the-art brewing facility of Asia Brewery, Inc. (ABI) in Cagayan de Oro, and it is the first brewery to invest in Mindanao," he said.

What Tan was referring to was actually the ABI brewery in the town of El Salvador, some 20 kilometers west of Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental and the first ever brewery in Mindanao.

Rated to produce approximately 2 million hectoliters of beer per annum, the brewery boasts of fully computerized state-of-the-art brewing facilities and fills ABI's need to supply the growing demand for its products in Mindanao and the Visayas.

The new Tanduay plant will produce 400,000 cases of rum a month, which together with its other plants in Manila, Laguna and Bacolod , would give Tanduay a combined monthly output of 1.3 million cases.

The new facility will be constructed on a two hectares lot within the ABI complex in El Salvador and would include a warehouse, packing facility, distillery and aging plant. It will be built in a year with mostly internally generated funds.

Sources from the ABI plant in El Salvador conform construction has already been going on for two months on the Tanduay plant as well as an adjacent factory for ABI's Absolute Pure Distilled Drinking Water.

Absolute goes through state-of-the-art distillation process employing vapor compression and ozonation and is the first bottled water company to receive NSF certification.

However, there is still no company information available on when construction would start for a P250-million soft drinks factory (also announced by Tan) which will reportedly manufacture the branded Virgin Cola within the same ABI complex.

Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno welcomed the entry of the two rival liquor companies in the province and believes the intense competition between the two firms would serve as a catalyst for further growth and development in the region.

"We would like to stress laissez faire or free enterprise in Misamis Oriental, and allow the investor to go about his businessman with a minimum of interference but maximum support from local government," Moreno said.

Besides the ABI brewery and the upcoming Tanduay, Absolute, Virgin Cola and GSMI plants, Misamis Oriental also hosts other fruit and other beverage plants in Cagayan de Oro City like Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, Nature's Spring and Del Monte.

Sera

February 27th, 2007, 02:13 AM

LordCarnal

February 27th, 2007, 05:16 AM

Flickr.com Photos

SM City Cagayan de Oro

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/19/93831595_19477edded.jpg

White sand beach

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/221879138_5e77d2a865.jpg?v=0

Clean city streets near City Hall

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/327949380_102a1d2598.jpg?v=0

Busy Port

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/327949384_edaaba9826.jpg?v=0

boju

February 27th, 2007, 05:23 AM

nice pics... specially the wihte island:)

boju

February 27th, 2007, 05:41 AM

WawaY[625]

February 27th, 2007, 05:59 AM

upon entering SM CdeO

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/19/93831595_19477edded.jpg

pizza hut to the right..chowking to the left..

very SM davao

gaya gaya!!! hehe :jk:

boju

February 27th, 2007, 08:09 AM

:| :| :| :| ayaw mo lang makapareha, tanungin mo sa tatay Henry ko ba't naman pareha yung division ng mall kaya tuloy pati pwesto ng mga tenants parehang-pareha.

WawaY[625]

February 27th, 2007, 08:28 AM

Lols..ewan ko ba sa kanila, eh same naman ang fee na babayaran nila sa architect (di naman yun porket same design eh isang bayaran lang) sana nag demand na lang sila na gawing unique bawat mall

FrancisXavier

February 27th, 2007, 08:55 AM

syempre mas malaki cguro ang fee kung totally iba ibang designs.. yung sa DVO,CDO,BATS, at PAMPANGA, parepareho halos pero may slight modifications bawat isa..

WawaY[625]

February 27th, 2007, 08:57 AM

actually basta may modification..kahit isang metro lang o isang room..ibang fee dapat yun :D

FrancisXavier

February 27th, 2007, 09:02 AM

kaya nga..eh how much more kung totally iba iba tong apat na 'to?

WawaY[625]

February 27th, 2007, 09:05 AM

:bash: ano ka ba?

same nga lang gastos nila sa fee (basta may modifications....good as new design yun)

example

pagawa ka ng 2 bahay na magkamukha pero yung isa may porch, ang ibabayad mo na fee sa architect ay same sa kung yung 2 bahay eh totally magkaiba ang design..

:P

Ady001

February 27th, 2007, 09:33 AM

;11924693']upon entering SM CdeO

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/19/93831595_19477edded.jpg

pizza hut to the right..chowking to the left..

very SM davao

gaya gaya!!! hehe :jk:

bitaw no? I find it nearly indistinguishable sa SM diri sa Davao. And the fun rides, kuhang kuha pod!

g0Rs

February 27th, 2007, 10:33 AM

Nearly 1M na ang visitors ng R10 kaya lang 55K lang ang foreigners sana triple this year as they aggressively sell the region as an "international choice destination".

So there are 7 major festivals in R10 very promising.

Kaamulan - Bukidnon;
Lanzones - Camiguin
Kagay-anon - CDO
Kasadya - Iligan
Sagayan - ?
Salo-Tabo - ?
and Kaliga - ?

Help me to know where the other 3 festivals belong.:)

Diyandi Festival dapat ang sa Iligan. Kasadya is just the street dancing and merrymaking.

TONZI

February 27th, 2007, 11:18 AM

true iligan city's fiesta is the DIYANDI FESTIVAL, it is a dance ritual of the lumad iliganons for the patron ST. MICHAEL the Archangel...while the streetdancing is the KASADYA...

FrancisXavier

February 27th, 2007, 12:53 PM

;11925906']:bash: ano ka ba?

same nga lang gastos nila sa fee (basta may modifications....good as new design yun)

example

pagawa ka ng 2 bahay na magkamukha pero yung isa may porch, ang ibabayad mo na fee sa architect ay same sa kung yung 2 bahay eh totally magkaiba ang design..

:P

huh? ganun ba? ang alam ko kaya nag susulputan ang mga twin towers ngayon eh to cut cost..kasi para parehong design lang gagamitin..na discuss na 'to sa Projects On The Rise dati..:yes: pero ewan, di PA naman ako arki eh..mutaktak ko ba...:D

cheersmate

February 27th, 2007, 01:28 PM

http://www.davaosale.com/main7895157/files/web5_441.jpg

an awesome dog!! very brave:cheers:

Sera

February 27th, 2007, 01:37 PM

^^I salute that Dog :banana:

dinabaw

February 27th, 2007, 03:20 PM

@sera you don't salute the dog when your making a banana :jk: :D

WawaY[625]

February 27th, 2007, 03:28 PM

sera :banana:

dinabaw

February 27th, 2007, 03:40 PM

sabi pala ni Rez Cortez kanina...... ASO.... Angara -Sotto- Oreta :D

LordCarnal

February 27th, 2007, 05:35 PM

^^

what's with that dog photo? :D

WawaY[625]

February 27th, 2007, 05:37 PM

hero-dog..saved his master from a cobra but got bit while doing it and died

FrancisXavier

February 27th, 2007, 05:42 PM

uhum.. the name of the dog is "chief".. san kaya nilibing yun.. baka sa Pryce Gardens..:D

FrancisXavier

February 27th, 2007, 05:58 PM

Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Madrigal Singers' concert for a cause in Oro slated Wednesday

AS THE celebration of the National Arts Month with the theme "Ani ng Sining Yaman ng Lahi" comes to an end, Kagay-anons are in for a rare treat of full concert of light choral music for everyone's amusement and entertainment from the world renowned Phil. Madrigal Singers, the grand prize winner in the Florilege Vocal de Tours in France last year, where they bested 14 other choirs from all over the world.

Catch the Phil. Madrigal Singers on February 28 at 7 p.m. at the Grand Caprice Ballroom, Limketkai Center. This fund raising project, which shall benefit the House of Hope, is proudly presented by the Rotary Club of CDO East Urban and Capitol University in cooperation with Pag-Ibig.

Major sponsors are Dynasty Court Hotel, Mags, Amazingly Trendy, he and sons, Bettina Green Farm, PP Sarah Borja, PP/PAG Inday Uy, MITIMCO, Henry & Ophe Cabanes, Bigby's Café & Restaurant, Dianne's and Gold Star Daily.

Minor sponsors include PNB, Tri-Star Paints Center, Workarea, Mindanao Polytehcnic State College, Phil. Postal Corp., La Ilongga, Palomares Seafoods, Arcillas Seafoods, Tamonan Seafoods, Star Gold Pawnshop, Malasag Water Resort, Wild FM and Parasat Cable TV.

Tickets are available at Dynasty Court Hotel, Bigby's and Dianne's Jewelry at P500, P300 and P150.00.

Don't miss this rare chance! Tara Na! Madzitawanan Na!

FrancisXavier

February 27th, 2007, 06:03 PM

Giant data firms in US, Europe to settle in Oro soon
by Sandra B. Tadeo/City Information Office
Date Published: 2007-02-27
CIO (http://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/index.php?page=news&id=363)

America’s largest survey research data collection company is finally relocating here in Cagayan de Oro in March this year.

City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano disclosed this latest development in the city’s continuing investment promotions after he receive a call from a key official of the Western Wats, America’s largest survey research data collection company. The official from Western Wats had informed Mayor Emano that they are finally pushing through with the establishment of its branch here in Cagayan de Oro sometime in March, this year. Aside from Western Wats, the city mayor also received a call from Austria’s largest medical call center-- TMA, expressing the company’s intention to establish a branch here in the city next month. With these developments, Mayor Emano is optimistic that the entry of two giant companies in the field of ICT investment will translate to more job opportunities and better economic condition for the city residents who will be given priority in the hiring of personnel. Mayor Emano said that Western Wats will employ around 1,700 persons but will initially hire 700 as it starts its operations while the TMA will initially hire 30 persons. The Utah-based Western Wats provides services to more than 200 clients worldwide which include Wats Live Interviewing, Wats Online Web Surveys, Wats IVR Surveys (automated voice messaging), and Wats Data Express Online Data Analysis and Custom Real-Time Reporting while TMA Medical provides a large spectrum of telemedicine solutions in telecardiology, medical call center, R&D support. Western Wats is currently operating globally throughout its offices located in the United States, Canada and the Philippines in Cebu. Mayor Emano pointed out that the presence of Western Wats and TMA boosts Cagayan de Oro’s reputation as a fast-rising ICT investment destination in the country.

______________________
Link2Support - Synnex
Arriba Telecontact
TradeTel
Paramedix
CU Medical Transcription
Syntactics

soon:
Western Wats
TMA

FrancisXavier

February 27th, 2007, 06:14 PM

Philippines' Cagayan De ORO Attracts Investment In Property

Yahoo News (http://au.news.yahoo.com/061002/3/10r78.html)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct 2 Asia Pulse - The Philippines' Cagayan de Oro is now a leading property investment destination in the country, with four major investors in real estate development setting their sights on the city and the lucrative potential it offers for the housing market.

Real estate giants like the Ayala Group of Companies, A. Brown Corporation, Robinson's Land Corporation and Sta. Lucia Realty and Development, Inc. have already identified the sites where they will establish their respective residential projects in the city.
ADVERTISEMENT

City Mayor Vicente Emano disclosed these clearly indicate the city's growing reputation as an ideal place to stay whether for business or pleasure.

"As anyone may have noticed, four of the country's giant real estate developers have placed their multi-million investments here and this speaks volumes in as far as the trust and confidence they have for the economic potentials of the city," Emano pointed out.

"For one, we have the most stable peace and order condition in Mindanao if not for the entire country, and we have put in place investor-friendly incentives and policies that will make it easier for investors to do business here," the city chief executive added.

Already, the A. Brown Corporation has pledged to finance starting next month, the concreting of a road network from the highway to the site of its subdivision project in the highlands of barangay (community village) Agusan.

The residential project in barangay Agusan, estimated to cost some P250 million (US$5 million) is touted to be the biggest and the most luxurious residential estate in the whole of Mindanao.

The Ayala Group of Companies, which was already set to establish a 50-hectare residential estate in Barangay Indahag, has just confirmed that it will instead expand its housing project to cover a 90-hectare residential estate.

Robinsons Land Corporation has also made the initial works for the establishment of a nine-hectare subdivision in barangay Camaman-an while the Sta. Lucia Realty and Development, Inc. is taking over the development of the Fil-Estate-owned Mountain Meadows Subdivision in the highlands of barangay Gusa.
_______________________________

post ko lang...published last year pa..

FrancisXavier

February 27th, 2007, 06:31 PM

MCT validates free market, open competition for Mindanao ports hub system

By Mike Baños

Kagay-an.com (http://kagay-an.com/)

The Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental was originally conceptualized to maximize Northern Mindanao's potential as the Philippines' gateway to the Land of Promise (and vice versa), catalyzing Northern Mindanao's role as domestic food basket and agri-industrial exporter. The MCT has been identified as a Mindanao flagship project, one of the key infrastructure envisioned to jump start the island's potential to reality.

For Mindanao to fully realize its full potential as the country's food basket, the cost of transporting agricultural inputs coming in and agro-industrial products going out of Northern Mindanao had to be reduced. Originally, the MCT was designed to complement the Philippine Ports Authority's (PPA) Cagayan de Oro Base Port in realizing this objective. It was constructed as a key infrastructure component of the Northern Mindanao Medium-Term Regional Development Plan, 2001-2004 and is now operated by the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PIA). The Cagayan de Oro Base Port (Macabalan) is the busiest and the most congested of the Mindanao's principal ports, having reached 100% berth occupancy rate as early as 1996. PPA statistics show the average annual growth rate from 1995-2002 for cargo, passenger and ship calls are 3.4%, 3.7% and 0.07%, respectively.

As the entry and exit point for the most traded commodities of the four main regions of Mindanao, the Macabalan port was already straining its limits in infrastructure and wanting key ancillary facilities such as quay side gantry cranes, rubber tired gantry cranes, bulk storage and handling facilities, among others, to efficiently meet the rising demand.

Vessel turnaround, especially critical for those transporting grain and fresh produce, was affected. Expansion would have been the logical answer but for key constraints like traffic congestion in the access road, displacement of occupants in expansion areas, and a truck ban by the LGU. But even at its planning stage, the PPA already opposed the construction of the MCT Phase 1 project, most of which was to be funded by a US$ 85.34 million (PhP 3.24 Billion) soft loan under the Special Yen Loan Package from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The Japanese Embassy wanted the lines between the roles of the MCT and Macabalan Port clearly delineated before it approved the facility. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Cabinet-level Infrastructure Committee (Infracom) pressed PPA to agree to its proposed roles and responsibilities between the two ports : all passenger ships with containerized and/or bulk/grains cargo would be handled by PPA at Macabalan port, while ships with purely containerized and/or bulk/grain cargo would be handled by PIA at the MCT.

But PPA demurred. On 18 December 2002, then PPA General Manager Alfonso Cusi informed PIA it could not enter into MOA because it would constrain further growth and competitiveness of the Macabalan port.

Cusi said it was inappropriate for PPA and PIA to delineate their respective roles and functions which are already explicitly defined in the charters of both government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Moreover, it would be the shipper or cargo owner who would ultimately decide which port to use based on their respective market considerations.
As a GOCC, PPA infrastructure investments are financed by its operations and not the General Appropriation Act (GAA) so NEDA cannot tell it what to do, even if NEDA had a seat in the PPA Board.

As things are turning out, PPA was right all along in adopting this stance, correctly pointing out that port users make the choice on which of the Macabalan or MCT to use based on their actual requirements. The PIA which manages the MCT says they are now receiving regular port calls from three shipping lines: Maersk-Filipinas, NMC Container Lines and Hamburg-Sud with Lorenzo Container Shipping Corporation soon to join them.

The MCT was conceived to fill the supply gap for an efficient cargo handling facility with its state of the art facilities and cargo handling equipment, It has been designed to be exclusively operated for fully-containerized and semi-containerized domestic and foreign vessels with an annual capacity of 270,000 twenty equivalent units (TEUs) for its Phase 1.

For the nine-month period covering January 1 to September 30, 2006, containerized cargo throughput at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) totaled 24,949.33 TEUs. Taken together, the net throughput of Cagayan de Oro (Macabalan) base port and MCT shows a 5.7% rise in total TEUs of 8,535.33 despite the 11.03% drop (-16,414 TEUs) in containerized cargo at the Macabalan base port.

Domestic and foreign containerized cargo throughputs at both ports likewise reflects this trend: total domestic (inbound/outbound) in Macabalan dropped 10,381.5 TEUs (-7.7%) with foreign (import/export) likewise dipping 6,032.78 TEUs (-42.4%). However, in both instances, the decreased throughput in Macabalan port was made up for by the MCT: domestic cargo rose to 18,537.32 TEU's resulting to a net gain (less decrease in Macabalan port) of 8.535.33 TEUs (+5.7%) and foreign cargo showing similar gains with 6,412 TEUs resulting to a net gain (less decrease in Macabalan port) of 379.25 TEUs (+2.7%).

Participants to the 3rd Quarter Quarterly Regional Economic Situationer (QRES) hosted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 10 office earlier this month noted foreign ship calls and trade in the government-owned base ports of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Ozamiz have decreased mainly due to Maersk Lines transfer to the MCT and the significant drop in imported dairy products used as raw materials in Nestle Phils. Inc. Cagayan de Oro plant.
A major reason for the transfer of containerized vessels to MCT has been its capability to unload a container van in about 2.5 minutes compared to 10 minutes for an ordinary port. With Oroport's refurbished gantry crane still inoperable almost two years after delivery, this translates to an actual 24 to 9 edge in container handling throughput for MCT. Although wharfage fees in MCT are higher than CDO Port, the almost 3:1 edge in cargo handling throughput directly translates to a faster turnaround time and significant savings in overall berthing costs.

Engr. Manuel Jamonir, Infrastructure Specialist with the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program, reiterated GEM's advocacy for three hub ports in Mindanao : North (MCT), South (either Davao or Gensan) and West (Zamboanga) in the light of this trend.

"Many share this advocacy," Jamonir said. "We can reduce the cost of shipping through economies of scale. We need the volume that would necessitate the deployment of bigger vessels since consolidation and inter-modal transport are among our key strategies."

For the MCT to get a bigger slice of that pie, Jamonir said PIA has to present the comparative cost in doing inter-modal from various origins in Mindanao.

If volumes from the south (i.e., Davao and Gensan, especially domestic) and from the east (Caraga) are transported to MCT, the total cost of domestic shipping would definitely come down, Jamonir added.

"This strategy could make Mindanao products very competitive in the domestic market especially in Metro Manila," he said.

Jamonir notes several foreign ships are still docking in the Port of Manila since Mindanao's volume for other foreign destinations is still limited. "We may not be able to avoid trans-shipment to Manila, but with the hub system, we can definitely lower the cost of the domestic component."

Sera

February 27th, 2007, 08:19 PM

boju

February 27th, 2007, 11:41 PM

Abangan....

Note: the 7 storey Koresco Condotel, the first ever in Mindanao isnow in full swing construction. Paging FrancisX, don't forget the pics when you having enter the Koresco complex as per your scheduled trip there. :) More thanks.

[COLOR="Cyan"][B]Prospects for 2007:

Northern Mindanao’s positioning as the ‘Trade and Service Center of Mindanao’ is expected to continue drawing new investments and expansion projects. With its strategic location, the region is a competitive and cost-efficient transit point between Mindanao to the rest of the Philippines and to major foreign markets like USA, Japan and Europe.

With a reliable and steady supply of power assured in the medium term with the expected start of commercial operations of the STEAG State Power Inc. 210 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental this coming January 8, 2007, Region X is expected to continue attracting investments in the energy sector (power projects), metals, manufacturing sector (shipbuilding, brewery, processed food) and infrastructure and services (ecozone development).

Among these are the completion of a new P1-billion Tanduay bottling plant and Absolute mineral water bottling facility in the Asia Brewery, Inc. (ABI) plant complex of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies (LTGP) in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental. A P250 Million soft drink facility for Virgin Cola is also expected to be constructed soon by the same group in this same location.

The organization of the regional ICT Council will rationalize the regional initiatives of all industry stakeholders and push for a common regional ICT agenda.

Link2Support, the pioneer call center operator in Cagayan de Oro is making the city its base for the Visayas and Mindanao areas, and hiring an additional 1,000 personnel for its expansion. SM Cagayan de Oro’s car park is expected to be declared an ICT building with a 4,000 sq.m. lot including the mall and car park. Hotel Koresco Cagayan de Oro is also constructing a seven-story condotel for the Korean active retirees market in Pueblo de Oro Township next to its flagship hotel.

Over the long-term, the city government of Cagayan de Oro is strongly lobbying for the transfer of a Korean silicon smelter originally planned for Vietnam to the Phividec Industrial Estate. Mayor Vicente Emano has also invited principals of the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction which has already set up a US$1-B shipyard in Redondo, Subic to consider Cagayan de Oro.

Environmental activists have called for complete transparency in evaluating the impact of the two heavy industries in the region’s air space already burdened by the emissions of many ‘smokestack industries’ in Iligan City and the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental.

Abangan....

boju

February 28th, 2007, 12:38 AM

Link2Support - Synnex
Arriba Telecontact
TradeTel
Paramedix
CU Medical Transcription
Syntactics

soon:
Western Wats
TMA

Great News, Western Watts opening there this March was sooner than I expected! :banana:

In that light L2K and Western Watts will be the biggest call centers in CDeO with over 1 thousand employees. I also heard that Robinsons & Sykes are planning to build callcenters there:)

Can we claim now that we are the leading call center haven in this part of Southern Philippines? m)) Sorry, I'm just amazed!:)

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 02:42 AM

Sera

February 28th, 2007, 04:04 AM

Can we claim now that we are the leading call center haven in this part of Southern Philippines? m)) Sorry, I'm just amazed!:)

In Mindanao of course...CDeO is definitely leading and with the addition of around 1700 more seats with the coming of Western Watts, the 1000 seat expansion of Link2Support and the initial 30 seats for TMA, CDeO will have more Callcenter openings & employment opportunities. :banana:

Since BPO/ICT is the future of business & Cagayan de Oro is definitely the Biggest ICT Hub in Mindanao today...I can confidently say that Metro CDeO is on its way to be Mindanao's No.1 Business Hub:banana:

By the way supportado ko talaga ICT industry kasi dyan ang full-time occupation ngayon :lol:

junax

February 28th, 2007, 04:28 AM

^^ how about the neighboring davao city, you got the figures too? :)

boju

February 28th, 2007, 04:51 AM

Northern Mindanao attracting more tourists
By Ryan Rosauro
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 06:51pm (Mla time) 02/27/2007

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines -- At least 55,220 foreign tourists visited Northern Mindanao last year, prompting officials to consider an aggressive sell for the region as an "international choice of destination."

Full story @ Inquirer. (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=51941)

boju

February 28th, 2007, 05:11 AM

This the bill creating El Salvador as a component city.

House Bill No. 2034, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF EL SALVADOR INTO A COMPONENT CITY OF THE PROVINCE OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF EL SALVADOR”
By Representative Baculio

boju

February 28th, 2007, 05:19 AM

@Sera, may pm ako sayo.:)

WawaY[625]

February 28th, 2007, 06:53 AM

In Mindanao of course...CDeO is definitely leading and with the addition of around 1700 more seats with the coming of Western Watts, the 1000 seat expansion of Link2Support and the initial 30 seats for TMA, CDeO will have more Callcenter openings & employment opportunities. :banana:

Since BPO/ICT is the future of business & Cagayan de Oro is definitely the Biggest ICT Hub in Mindanao today...I can confidently say that Metro CDeO is on its way to be Mindanao's No.1 Business Hub:banana:

By the way supportado ko talaga ICT industry kasi dyan ang full-time occupation ngayon :lol:

where did you get the figures re: Cdeo being the biggest IT hub in Mindanao? do you have figures for other cities as well? im interested how the IT industry as in other cities esp. GenSan and Zamboanga..

TONZI

February 28th, 2007, 08:21 AM

;11941166']where did you get the figures re: Cdeo being the biggest IT hub in Mindanao? do you have figures for other cities as well? im interested how the IT industry as in other cities esp. GenSan and Zamboanga..
i dont think other cities in mindanao has IT/BPO apart from CDO and DAVAO...

WawaY[625]

February 28th, 2007, 08:31 AM

sa gensan thread, ive read na magkaka IT park na sila..i think Zambo has BPO centers too :)

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 09:25 AM

Abangan....

Note: the 7 storey Koresco Condotel, the first ever in Mindanao isnow in full swing construction. Paging FrancisX, don't forget the pics when you having enter the Koresco complex as per your scheduled trip there. :) More thanks.

Abangan....

LOLS^^ ang engot ko! So yung kinoconstruct sa likod ng Koresco w/c is nasa 6th level na, yun pala yung Condotel.. :lol: di ko naisip yun ah..kala ko extension lang ng Koresco Annex Building..:D

anyway, it's nearing its completion.. I'll take pics soon, pag punta namin..:yes:

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 09:26 AM

;11941807']sa gensan thread, ive read na magkaka IT park na sila..i think Zambo has BPO centers too :)

sa Zambo parang may locator na IT park nila..pero GES wala pa ata..^^

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 09:30 AM

Great News, Western Watts opening there this March was sooner than I expected! :banana:

In that light L2K and Western Watts will be the biggest call centers in CDeO with over 1 thousand employees. I also heard that Robinsons & Sykes are planning to build callcenters there:)

yup..may nabasa akong news paper article dati stating that Sykes will be putting up a branch in CDO w/c would need around 1500 agents initially.. Pero sa nabasa ko sa BW kanina, Cebu lang ang nabanggit.. but most probably, CDO will be their next target, after Cebu..:)

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 10:11 AM

Prospects for 2007:

SM Cagayan de Oro’s car park is expected to be declared an ICT building with a 4,000 sq.m. lot including the mall and car park.

ngayon ko lang din napansin to..so most probably, sa CarPark Building ilalagay ang Western Wats..Since sabi ni djLex, sa Pueblo de Oro rin daw, eh wala naman new building na kino-construct dun..:yes:

bongskie09

February 28th, 2007, 11:45 AM

ngayon ko lang din napansin to..so most probably, sa CarPark Building ilalagay ang Western Wats..Since sabi ni djLex, sa Pueblo de Oro rin daw, eh wala naman new building na kino-construct dun..:yes:

baka hindi rin sa SM Carpark bldg kung talagang sa March magsstart ang Western Watts. My previous company's (C-cube/HTMT) present site was formerly a warehouse, and it took five months for the renovation and installation of equipment and IT-related facilities before we were able to transfer to the existing site.

So baka in the other part of the city magiging site ng WW or, baka by March pa sila magco-construct sa Pueblo.

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 12:37 PM

we dont know.. baka they've been working on it since last year pa pala.. the first press release regarding WW was last october pa, posted in vizmin.com.. according to djLex, the operation will start this coming may, not march..

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 01:11 PM

By MICHAEL D. BAÑOS, Correspondent

Bit torrent in Cagayan de Oro’s white water rafting

http://www.bworldonline.com/Weekender022307/photos/travel.jpg

Cagayan de Oro City — There’s a bit of torrent coming up in the booming white-water rafting industry in this city and its name is cutthroat competition. Started over 12 years ago by members of the Northern Mindanao Mountaineering Society, it is the Philippines’ first and only year-round river-rafting course a mere 40-minute jeepney ride from downtown Plaza Divisoria.

"Although we were all into mountaineering, our members were also into other ’extreme’ sports like scuba diving, mountain biking and white-water rafting," said Rupert Domingo, who started the first group. "Each of us chipped in P1,500 to buy two Zebylor rafts at the Subic [Olongapo] duty-free shop," Mr. Domingo recalls. "We bought paddles for P20 each from fishermen in Bayabas but they proved too small for the job and we eventually had to design our own."

By 1994, the pioneers upgraded their flotilla with four Riken boats through a friend from the US. The used boats were not much better than their original ones but were designed for river rafting, so the group plunged in, keeping the rattletrap boats together with Pinoy ingenuity like sticking sticks lashed with rubber bands in holes which the boats inevitably got from the battering of the raw amateurs who were learning how to tame the river wild as they went along.

"We started by rafting down- river from Taguanao," Mr. Domingo recalled, referring to an upland part of the river. "When we had mastered that stretch, we started further upriver from Bayanga, and when we had mastered the longer route, we again started further upriver from Mambuaya [where the amateur or beginner’s course now starts] thence to Ugiaban [where the expert/advanced course now begins]."

With no safety equipment like helmets or life vests which are now mandatory for all rafters, they persevered, driven by the adrenaline kick inherent in white- water rafting, until they eventually reached Talubun in Talakag, Bukidnon, which they are planning to develop as an advanced expert course.

However, they still were not into commercial operations, charging only P50 per person to defray the cost of hiring a jeepney to ferry them to their "put-in" and pick them up later at their "put-out" sites. But when the traffic of friends and "friends-of-their-friends" began to get out of control, they decided to go into commercial operations to sustain what had by now become an obsession.

"We bought four more used Riken boats for $200 each from my friend in the US, which we waterproofed by swishing paint around their interiors to plug the pinholes," Mr. Domingo said.

In 2001, the group organized themselves into the Cagayan de Oro Whitewater Rafting Adventure, Inc. which became the first commercial white-water rafting operator in the Philippines.

Today, the company has 18 Korean-made 13’ x 5’ Zebec boats they purchased online for $800 each, but due to the wear and tear inherent in white-water rafting, only nine are now available. A three-hour run from Kabula to Taguanao with 10 rapids costs P800 per head, minimum of four persons; Mambuaya to Kabula three hours, 14 rapids, is P1,200 per head; while the advanced/expert course which runs six hours from Ugiuaban to Kabula will set you back P2,000 and has 25 rapids.

Their first competitor didn’t appear until five years later when Cagayan de Oro River Tours Corp., or The Red Rafts, started operations. Then, like the proverbial white water on which the industry literally rides on, competitors seemed to come in torrents, until, by the end of 2006, there were six players crowding the Cagayan de Oro River’s white waters.

"This shouldn’t have been a problem until some players started dropping their prices from the standard P1,200 per person per run to as low as P500," said Rex Tapungot, operations manager of The Red Rafts. "Competition is healthy, but when you have to pay P1,200 for the round trip on a jeepney alone, it puts the long- term sustainability of our industry at risk."

The Red Rafts started operations June 2006 with six Korean-made rafts. Each raft holds a maximum of six passengers and two guides. Mr. Tapungot said the six companies now serving the white- water rafting industry of Cagayan de Oro can deploy up to 56 rafts which can carry up to 336 passengers per run, or 672 daily for two runs. He claims they have served close to 1,000 visitors as of January 2007.

However, the project had a long gestation period. Conceptualized in 2003, it was only in 2005 when Mr. Tapungot managed to convince investors of its viability and invested an initial P1.4 million for the rafts and other equipment.

Rafters are provided with safety and protection equipment including a certified rafting helmet, life vest certified for white- water sports, paddle which can also serve as a safety tool in emergencies, and throw bags with ropes with which a dunked passenger can be hauled in from up to 10 meters away by rescuers.

Additional safety measures include the deployment of a rescue raft manned by two experienced river guides with every run, first aid kit, and emergency rescue vehicle which can bring any accident victim to the nearest hospital in 20-25 minutes.

"Our guides are professionals, some are nurses, still others are volunteer trainors of the Philippine National Red Cross for First Aid, Basic Life Support and Water Safety," Mr. Tapungot said. Rafters are advised to wear comfortable close-fitting shirts, preferably quick-dry; short pants preferably light and quick drying, and strap-on sandals or aqua shoes. Other mandatory stuff experienced rafters bring along are extra clothes and undergarments, towel, swimsuit and sunscreen.

One of the Johnny-come-latelies is Great White Water Tours which, like the Red Rafts, also uses six Zebec rafts from Korea. Bimbo Uy, who put up an initial P1 million with his partners, said they are charging P1,200 for the basic beginners half-day tour but would not drop their prices just to match their competitors.

"We offer the longest tours and our passengers have seven more rapids to cross," said the young entrepreneur.

"Our passengers also get more value added, especially the extreme sports aficionados who sometimes request us for controlled flipping," he added. "Most operators consider flipping dangerous, but some people find it fun, and we can do it safely under controlled conditions with our trained river guides."

Great White Water Tours claims it uses river guides who are residents of the barangays through which the white-water river runs. "They are farmers and fishermen when they are not with us, so they know the river very well and that’s our added safety and fun advantage," Mr. Uy said.

At the moment, both young entrepreneurs are in the forefront to organize all operators into the Cagayan de Oro River Outfitters Association with the blessings of the City Tourism Office. The proposed association would standardize safety and security measures and, perhaps equally important, standardize rates and services among the players.

Source (http://www.bworldonline.com/Weekender022307/main.php?id=travel1)
_______________________

hindi ko pa to nababasa, haba eh.. kapoi..:D

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 01:50 PM

“East meets West” art exhibit opens at Tourism Showhouse
by Rubelyn B. Yap/City Information Office
Date Published: 2007-02-28
CIO (http://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/index.php?page=news&id=364)

The city’s commemoration of the National Arts Month celebration takes its closing salvo today, Feb. 28, with a visual arts exhibit featuring the art works of a true-blooded Filipino artist and an English sculptor who married a Cagayanon.

Imma Rae D. Gatuslao, acting city tourism officer disclosed that the art exhibit, aptly dubbed as “East Meets West”, features the sculptural creations of England-born but Cagayan de Oro-based artist Gary Spiers and the soil paintings of Cagayanon Rhyan Casiño. Gatuslao said that the art creations of the two artists are now displayed at the City Tourism Showhouse in Divisoria and can be viewed by the public for free. A total of 13 sculpted pieces with varying subjects on life and nature were done by naturalist Gary Spiers while the 10 ethnic-inspired soil paintings were created by Rhyan Casino. Spiers is an English-born zoologist who started sculpting at the age of seven and entered into professional sculpting in 1997. He had sculpted giant Christmas symbols in the malls of England while Casiño is a true-blooded Cagayanon who is actively promoting ethnic music. Gatuslao said that Spiers uses Bulua clay from Manolo Glema as his medium while Casiño uses soil and charcoal on native banig. The formal opening of the exhibit will be on Wednesday, March 7, where the artists will be formally introduced to the public. All works on display are for sale. Gatuslao pointed out that this affair is the city’s contribution to the month-long celebration of the National Arts Month which will end today. Though it will be launched next week to the public, the event is a simple-yet- noble presentation of the rich culture and resources of Mindanao and the Philippines in general. The tourism officer is inviting all the art enthusiasts to visit the tourism showhouse and see for themselves the precious works of art made by the two gifted individuals.

Sera

February 28th, 2007, 02:15 PM

ngayon ko lang din napansin to..so most probably, sa CarPark Building ilalagay ang Western Wats..Since sabi ni djLex, sa Pueblo de Oro rin daw, eh wala naman new building na kino-construct dun..:yes:

logical nga na un tinutukaoy na BPO facility sa SM Carpark eh para sa Western Watts kasi by March na daw sila mag-eemploy ng 700 at still wala silang tinutukoy na site operations facility:)

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:23 PM

logical nga na un tinutukaoy na BPO facility sa SM Carpark eh para sa Western Watts kasi by March na daw sila mag-eemploy ng 700 at still wala silang tinutukoy na site operations facility:)

baka dun na rin mag locate yung aussie firm... Malaki kasi yung available BPO space ng SM Carpark.. Or pwede rin sa LKK, tas sana mag construct sila ng own building nila..:D malabo though, kasi 30 lang initially i-eemploy nila..:)

Sera

February 28th, 2007, 02:26 PM

baka dun na rin mag locate yung aussie firm... Malaki kasi yung available BPO space ng SM Carpark.. Or pwede rin sa LKK, tas sana mag construct sila ng own building nila..:D malabo though, kasi 30 lang initially i-eemploy nila..:)

Magaganda yung mga Aussie callcenters kasi usually regular working hours ang pasok ng employees dun. Mostly Australians kasi customers dun at halos pareho lang timezone ng Australia at Philippines...Wala nga lang Night-diff yung employees sa Aussie callcenters:lol:

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:27 PM

mas okey yata sa tingin ko ang graveyard...:D

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 02:34 PM

Hello Cagayan Good Evening...Miss U na po!heehehehhe

Mao ra... :)

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:35 PM

tura imong last post pikas page...:D

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 02:36 PM

Kinsa man? Akoa?

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:37 PM

oo...:D wa diay ka gets ang kagwang da..:jk:

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 02:39 PM

Haha aw!!:lol: abi nakog dili ako...paspas man gud kaau ka nakareply... :D

Sera

February 28th, 2007, 02:40 PM

mas okey yata sa tingin ko ang graveyard...:D

Tama ka, mas gusto ko na nga yung Graveyard shift ngayon na sa callcenter ako pero pag dating ko sa bahay sobrang knock-out ako sa antok:lol:

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:43 PM

Haha aw!!:lol: abi nakog dili ako...paspas man gud kaau ka nakareply... :D

ako pa..hulat ra kog naay mu post diri aron akong replyan...hehe:lol:

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:45 PM

Tama ka, mas gusto ko na nga yung Graveyard shift ngayon na sa callcenter ako pero pag dating ko sa bahay sobrang knock-out ako sa antok:lol:

:yes: mas okey yung gising sa gabi, tulog sa umaga..:lol::banana:

actually, for final interview na ako bukas sa Arriba Telecontact..pero di ko pa nasasabi kina mama na nag aaply ako..:D sana payagan if ever ma hire ako.. pero parang nakikinikinita ko na sasabihin ni papa..:lol:

g0Rs

February 28th, 2007, 02:48 PM

^^ how are you going to do that? pagsabayin ba ang work and studies mo at the same time.

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:49 PM

^^ how are you going to do that? pagsabayin ba ang work and studies mo at the same time.

siguro..:D ah ewan..saka ko na iisipin yun pag pasok na ako at pag pumayag na ang parents ko..:D

Sera

February 28th, 2007, 02:50 PM

:yes: mas okey yung gising sa gabi, tulog sa umaga..:lol::banana:

actually, for final interview na ako bukas sa Arriba Telecontact..pero di ko pa nasasabi kina mama na nag aaply ako..:D sana payagan if ever ma hire ako.. pero parang nakikinikinita ko na sasabihin ni papa..:lol:

Good for you...pwede mo rin hintayin yung sa Western Watts kasi mas malapit yun sa inyo if ever sa SM carpark nga sila mag-operate:)

g0Rs

February 28th, 2007, 02:51 PM

:nuts: weird ka talaga @lew.

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:53 PM

Good for you...pwede mo rin hintayin yung sa Western Watts kasi mas malapit yun sa inyo if ever sa SM carpark nga sila mag-operate:)

pwede...pero like link2, tagal pa nun..nakakaasar nga eh.. kasi sa April3 pa ako pinag eexam ng link2..tagal huh! kaya inuna ko na yung mas maaga..:D

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 02:55 PM

:nuts: weird ka talaga @lew.

naku! pag nakita mo ako sa personal, napaka understatement nyan...:D

Sera

February 28th, 2007, 02:55 PM

Tama ka FX kung sa Ariba ka pwede mo pa kaming i-update every now and then about LKK :banana:

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:00 PM

Tama ka FX kung sa Ariba ka pwede mo pa kaming i-update every now and then about LKK :banana:

hehe, pwede ko naman kayo i update lagi about our "dream becoming a reality" :D kahit wala ako sa Arriba..andun kasi kami halos araw araw..nag vivideo-oke..:lol:lols

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 03:00 PM

^^ pag makapasa ka..ako ang magtatrabaho ha?? concentrate ka muna sa pag-aaral mo... :D

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:01 PM

^^ pag makapasa ka..ako ang magtatrabaho ha?? concentrate ka muna sa pag-aaral mo... :D

kaya lang baka hindi madawat sa kol sinter akong ininglisan...:D

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 03:02 PM

^^ pagchur oi!! hawod man gani ka sa Enenglisay lang!! slang pa jud!! :D

Unsa ng LKK??@ Sera Looy Kaau Ka??

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:03 PM

^^ pagchur oi!! hawod man gani ka sa Enenglisay lang!! slang pa jud!! :D

Unsa ng LKK??@ Sera Looy Kaau Ka??

:lol:

LimKetKai bah...:D

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 03:04 PM

:lol:

LimKetKai bah...:D

aw!! abi man nakog ang katong LKK nga kanta ni Emil Loseñada :lol:

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:06 PM

LOLS, unsa man pud na..

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 03:07 PM

mao lagi to ang meaning sa kanta ni EMil... Looy Kaau Ka.. :D

pag post ug new pix sa cagayan be kang eryal syat ha?? @ lew

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 03:08 PM

edit

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:11 PM

mao lagi to ang meaning sa kanta ni EMil... Looy Kaau Ka.. :D

pag post ug new pix sa cagayan be kang eryal syat ha?? @ lew

palit sa kog helecopter..:banana:

naa sa "Areal of the Philippines" thread.. i posted 2 pics there, just recently..

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:12 PM

l Cagayan de Oro l
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/boju4289/cdo02view2-1.jpg

http://k47.pbase.com/v3/43/389743/2/50728389.CagayandeOro.jpg

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 03:15 PM

aw diara! lamatz :)

LordCarnal

February 28th, 2007, 03:15 PM

^^

Nice one bro.. Are there river cruises/tours in that river? It would surely be a hit among tourists.. :okay:

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:20 PM

^^

Nice one bro.. Are there river cruises/tours in that river? It would surely be a hit among tourists.. :okay:

yup..there are 3 or 4 river taxis plying the downtown stretch of CDO river.. cruise even up to the sea.. plus two river restaurants.. one is Floating Restaurant, the other is River Cruise Restaurant..

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:25 PM

Here, that one on the right is the Reyna del Rio Floating Restaurant.. Although it cruises occasionally, most of the time it's docked. Those white thingy on the left are just 2 of several river taxis..

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o157/francisxavier9501/000_3182.jpg

there are also "dragon boats" available for a fee..

g0Rs

February 28th, 2007, 03:28 PM

^^ halos di ko na makita ang river taxis

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:29 PM

yung white na blue-roofed something..

______________________
This loboc-like floating resto on the left is CDO's River cruise Restaurant. It reaches the sea.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o157/francisxavier9501/CB.jpg

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 03:45 PM

Pearl of the Orient
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8586/cagayanua7.jpg

FrancisXavier

February 28th, 2007, 03:50 PM

kato untang isa imong gi gamit..para challenging..:D

lols, imo man hinuon gi tapakan akong skwelahan...:lol:

Narjz

February 28th, 2007, 03:53 PM

:lol:

lisod kaau tong isa editon woi!!

libat man gani kog edit edit ani, kay gagmay kaau :lol:

Sera

February 28th, 2007, 08:26 PM

Pearl of the Orient
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8586/cagayanua7.jpg

Nice photoshop...I can see that hapening in 10-20 years:banana:

boju

February 28th, 2007, 11:37 PM

Pearl of the Orient
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8586/cagayanua7.jpg

Nice one @Narjz!!!

boju

February 28th, 2007, 11:39 PM

Thursday, March 01, 2007
Book on arts development launched
By Danilo V. Adorador III

A BOOK that offers deep insights on the country's cultural progression was launched Tuesday at the Capitol University (CU).

"Lakbay Sining: Readings on cultural development in the Philippines" is a book written by artists, cultural workers, critics and reviewers, and arts scholars that provides a peek at their colorful experiences in the Philippine arts scene.

While providing a glimpse on the development of the arts in their respective milieu, the book writers discusses the humorous and even dangerous encounters as they pursue their crafts.

The book is nationwide in scope, giving readers a picture of the arts development in the country's three major islands, an even the nook and cranny of isolated but culturally rich countryside areas.

Five of the book's celebrated authors hail from Mindanao, making it a must-read for local artists, connoisseurs, scholars, historians, students and everyone who wishes to raise their consciousness in arts.

But be warned: the book doesn't only delve in things deemed aesthetically serious--it also contains humorous stories and the lighter side of the Philippine arts environment.

As noted by Palanca-awardee Amita Suarez Taguchi, the book's critic and reviewer, "Lakbay Sining" doesn't only inform--it entertains and make you laugh."

Taguchi highly recommended the book, as she praised its cultural and social value.

The book is now available at all National Bookstore outlets, selling at P620 (bookprint) and 295.00 (newsprint).

Sunstar

Narjz

March 1st, 2007, 03:20 AM

Tanx @Sera & boju :)

Sera

March 1st, 2007, 04:15 AM

^^Ganda kasi ng photoshop pero mas maganda kung nilagyan mo rin ng bagong Sports stadium ang CDeO in place of the Pelaez Sports Stadium :banana:

Narjz

March 1st, 2007, 04:36 AM

ndi ko ata kaya...paint lng kc ginamit ko dyan :D

TONZI

March 1st, 2007, 06:15 AM

i think kulang pa yan gawa nyo kasi cdo is at a fast pace of development...i see cdo more like cebu in 10 years

FrancisXavier

March 1st, 2007, 03:05 PM

Nice photoshop...I can see that hapening in 10-20 years:banana:

but not in that area IMO.. somewhere in Limketkai area or Pueblo Business Park. That area should remain as it is..

Sera

March 1st, 2007, 03:15 PM

i think kulang pa yan gawa nyo kasi cdo is at a fast pace of development...i see cdo more like cebu in 10 years

May Tama ka...CDeO is also experiencing the same Economic Boom that Cebu experienced in the 1980's-early 90's. :cheers:

FrancisXavier

March 1st, 2007, 10:54 PM

Friday, March 02, 2007
N. Mindanao contributes 27% to VisMin total output

NORTHERN Mindanao remains to be the biggest regional economy in Mindanao contributing 27 percent to the island's total output in 2006.

This is contained in the State of the Region Report (SRR) delivered by Governor Leo Loreto S. Ocampos of Misamis Occidental, chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Northern Mindanao, during its 74th full council meeting on February 27 in Cagayan de Oro City.

"Last year, we laid down in our Medium Term Regional Development Plan (MTRDP), the macroeconomic targets of sustained economic growth and poverty reduction by pursuing job creation and economic growth, social development and direct anti-poverty measures, among others," Ocampos said.

Again for 2006, Northern Mindanao had the 6th largest economy among the 17 regions of the country with a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of P58 billion at constant 1985 prices.

With a per capita GRDP of P14,820, we outranked the regions in the Visayas and Mindanao and occupied the 3rd spot trailing only the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), he said.

"At constant prices" means the valuation of transactions, wherein the influence of price changes from the base year to the current year have been removed while GRPD means the aggregate of the gross value added or income from each industry or economic activity of the regional economy.

Ocampos said Northern Mindanao's GRDP grew at an average of 3.8 percent in 2005, although lower than the 7.2 percent growth realized in 2004. The relatively slower growth was due mainly to the dry spell during the period, which affected our agricultural production.

Change in prices

Changes in prices of basic goods and services remained within the single digit level. The 6.4 percent average inflation rate registered 1.3 percentage points lower than that of 2005 and the decrease was brought about by the continued easing of prices in most commodities especially in the prices of fuel, light and water, he said.

Meanwhile, Ocampos said efforts to increase the government's ability to finance critical programs and projects also paid off as the region's tax collections went up by 12 percent, from P3.6 billion in 2005 to P4 billion in 2006, most of which came from income taxes that contributed 63 percent while 26 percent were generated from the Value Added Taxes (VAT). This was also augmented by the collection of customs duties, which reached P1.75 billion.

Investments

New investments amounting to P23.8 billion were noted in the region, which represented 24 percent increase compared to the P19.2 billion in 2005 with Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City leading the growth at 44 percent and contributed 67 percent to the region's total.

About P19.12 million of sales was generated by 619 exhibitors due to their participation in 50 domestic fairs while another P10 million worth of sales was generated by 11 exhibitors for their participation in four international fairs.

The region's One Town One Product Program (OTOP) also generated P107 million investments and created 4,108 jobs while its domestic sales amounted to P60 million and its exports sales US$355,000.

There were 101 Small and Medium Enterprises developed and 201 SME's assisted in the areas of product development, access to credit, marketing and promotions.

"With all these good things happening in our region, let us continue to build on the gains by sustaining our stable peace and order to ensure the continuing growth of our strategic initiatives and big investments," Ocampos further said. (Trends)
SunStarCDO (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2007/03/02/bus/n..mindanao.contributes.27.to.vismin.total.output.html)

FrancisXavier

March 1st, 2007, 11:25 PM

28 - Giant US and European firms relocating to Cagayan de Oro

Wednesday, February 28 2007 @ 12:08 PM GMT

America's largest survey research data collection company is finally relocating to this gateway city next month.

At the same time, City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano disclosed that TMA, Austria's largest call center, has also signified its intentions to establish a local branch here also this March.

Emano made the disclosures on this latest development in the city's continuing investment promotions after he received a call from key officials of the Western Wats, a Utah-based research and data collection firm.

With these developments, Emano is optimistic that the entry of two giant companies in the field of ICT investment will translate to more job opportunities and briskier economic activities for city residents who will be given priority in the hiring of personnel.

Emano said that Western Wats will employ around 1,700 people but will initially hire 700 as it starts its operations while the TMA will initially hire 30 personnel.

In announcing its intention to relocate to this so-called "city of golden friendship," Western Wats did not indicate if it is going to maintain its unit in Cebu City or would it be transferring everything they've got to this locality.

The Utah-based company provides services to more than 200 clients worldwide which include Wats Live Interviewing, Wats Online Web Surveys, Wats IVR Surveys (automated voice messaging), and Wats Data Express Online Data Analysis and Custom Real-Time Reporting.

On the other hand, TMA Medical provides a large spectrum of tele-medicine solutions in tele-cardiology, medical call center and R&D support.

Western Wats is currently operating globally through its offices located in the United States, Canada and the Philippines.

Emano pointed out that the presence of Western Wats and TMA boosts Cagayan de Oro's reputation as a fast-rising ICT investment destination in the country. (PNA)
Kagay-an.com (http://news.balita.ph/html/article.php/20070228120814391)

boju

March 1st, 2007, 11:40 PM

:badnews:
May mga kilos ng League of Cities of the Phils. na ipa-veto sa Pangulo ang pagprclaimed ng 13 new cities kasama na dito ang El Salvador. Sa kadahilanang hindi pumasa sa required income of being a city. But most of all, makaltasan ng ilang porsyento ang IRA ng mga cities ngayon dahil marami na ang maghatihati kasama na dito ang bagong 13 new cities.

Ano sa palagay nyo?

Ako, yun na nga ang sinasabi ko noon na ayaw akng magdagdag ng ibang cities at hahatiin ang mga malalaking cities sa kadahilanang dagdag gastos yan ng gobyerno. Parang magsubsidize ang government sa mga cities na kunti lang naman ang output.

But for the case of El Salvador, this might be different story. El Salvador is industrialized zone and I think her income is above on what required by the law. I'm failed to search the annual income of El Salvador since their website isn't available this time.

I support for El Salvador to remain as a newly city of the Philippines. Please sir Mayor Jerry Treñas of Ilio-ilo city the LCP president, accept our El Salvador to belong on the family of cities of the philippines. :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:
:angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:
:angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:

FrancisXavier

March 1st, 2007, 11:48 PM

Beer na Beer, Quickchow, Zest-o, to name a few, have plants in El Salvador.. Isnt the income generated from these big companies enough? And please, Big cities should be less reliable on IRA!

boju

March 1st, 2007, 11:57 PM

And the upcoming 1billion peso investment of Lucio Tan in El Salvador!

FrancisXavier

March 2nd, 2007, 12:07 AM

yup.. that's a brewering company..
This league of cities should stop manipulating things.. They are just afraid of their IRA being reduced..And Emano is also guilty of that. He admitedly said on TV that more cities would mean reduced IRA for CDO..So what, CDO is a grown up enough to be highly dependent on it still.. Let's give these new cities a chance..

boju

March 2nd, 2007, 12:17 AM

Correct! The cityhood of El Salvador is beneficial also to CDO since it adds to the purchasing power as we all know CDO is the center of commerce of the region.

boju

March 2nd, 2007, 12:53 AM

Nestlé Philippines announces P1.3-B expansion

Inquirer (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=52439)
Last updated 03:51am (Mla time) 03/02/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Nestlé Philippines Inc. announced Thursday that it would invest P1.3 billion this year in its four plants to increase production capacity to meet demand.

The 2007 capital expenditures -- on new equipment and support infrastructure such as laboratories and automated process control systems -- will bring Nestle's Philippine investments since 2003 to about P10 billion, company chairman and chief executive Nandu Nandkishore said in a news briefing.

These are "aimed at improving the performance, quality and competitiveness of the company,” he said.

Nestlé’s factories are in Cabuyao town, outside Manila, which makes products for infant and adult nutrition, and milk; in Lipa City in Batangas province, for breakfast cereals and beverages; in Cagayan de Oro City, for filled milk powder and coffee; and in Quezon City in Metro Manila, for ice cream and chilled products.

They produce the brands Nido, Bear Brand, Nesvita, Cerelac, Milo, Chuckie, Nestea and Nescafe.

The plants in Cabuyao, Cagayan de Oro and Lipa also serve as the Nestlé group’s supply centers in Southeast Asia for infant nutrition, filled milk power and breakfast cereals, respectively, Nandkishore said.

“The designation of supply center recognizes a factory’s world-class quality standards and efficiency levels,” he explained.

The company recorded 2006 sales of P69.1 billion, with P6.4 billion, or nine percent, from exports, Nandkishore said.

Sales growth was six percent, “in line with the growth of the country’s gross domestic product,” he said.

Nandkishore said Nestlé Philippines would raise capacity for growing-up milk for the local and Southeast Asian markets.

He added, “The demand for Milo continues to grow and investments are being made to address demand.”

Production capacities for breakfast cereals and coffee "are being upgraded to maximize output and increase productivity,” he added.

The company maintains programs for improving the farming methods of coffee growers, such as the Nestlé Experimental and Demonstration Farm in Tagum City, in the southern province of Davao del Norte, Nandkishore also said.

He said that through efforts like the Coffee-Based Sustainable Farming System, which encourages farmers to plant coffee as a main crop along with secondary ones like peanuts, cabbage and "ampalaya" [bitter gourd], Nestlé Philippines buys 80 percent of local coffee beans at prevailing world prices. Ronnel W. Domingo, with INQUIRER.net (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view_article.php?article_id=52439)

FrancisXavier

March 2nd, 2007, 12:56 AM

That's cool:okay:.. just last year, nestle's garbage treatment facility in CDO was completed.

Narjz

March 2nd, 2007, 03:36 AM

saang banda ung El Salavador?? malapit lng ba yan sa CDO City??

Sera

March 2nd, 2007, 03:41 AM

^^Malapit lang, katabi lang ng Opol Town

Sera

March 2nd, 2007, 03:48 AM

N. Mindanao contributes 27% to Mindanao total output

NORTHERN Mindanao remains to be the biggest regional economy in Mindanao contributing 27 percent to the island's total output in 2006.

This is contained in the State of the Region Report (SRR) delivered by Governor Leo Loreto S. Ocampos of Misamis Occidental, chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Northern Mindanao, during its 74th full council meeting on February 27 in Cagayan de Oro City.

"Last year, we laid down in our Medium Term Regional Development Plan (MTRDP), the macroeconomic targets of sustained economic growth and poverty reduction by pursuing job creation and economic growth, social development and direct anti-poverty measures, among others," Ocampos said.

Again for 2006, Northern Mindanao had the 6th largest economy among the 17 regions of the country with a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of P58 billion at constant 1985 prices.

With a per capita GRDP of P14,820, we outranked the regions in the Visayas and Mindanao and occupied the 3rd spot trailing only the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), he said.

"At constant prices" means the valuation of transactions, wherein the influence of price changes from the base year to the current year have been removed while GRPD means the aggregate of the gross value added or income from each industry or economic activity of the regional economy.

Ocampos said Northern Mindanao's GRDP grew at an average of 3.8 percent in 2005, although lower than the 7.2 percent growth realized in 2004. The relatively slower growth was due mainly to the dry spell during the period, which affected our agricultural production.

Change in prices

Changes in prices of basic goods and services remained within the single digit level. The 6.4 percent average inflation rate registered 1.3 percentage points lower than that of 2005 and the decrease was brought about by the continued easing of prices in most commodities especially in the prices of fuel, light and water, he said.

Meanwhile, Ocampos said efforts to increase the government's ability to finance critical programs and projects also paid off as the region's tax collections went up by 12 percent, from P3.6 billion in 2005 to P4 billion in 2006, most of which came from income taxes that contributed 63 percent while 26 percent were generated from the Value Added Taxes (VAT). This was also augmented by the collection of customs duties, which reached P1.75 billion.

Investments

New investments amounting to P23.8 billion were noted in the region, which represented 24 percent increase compared to the P19.2 billion in 2005 with Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City leading the growth at 44 percent and contributed 67 percent to the region's total.

About P19.12 million of sales was generated by 619 exhibitors due to their participation in 50 domestic fairs while another P10 million worth of sales was generated by 11 exhibitors for their participation in four international fairs.

The region's One Town One Product Program (OTOP) also generated P107 million investments and created 4,108 jobs while its domestic sales amounted to P60 million and its exports sales US$355,000.

There were 101 Small and Medium Enterprises developed and 201 SME's assisted in the areas of product development, access to credit, marketing and promotions.

"With all these good things happening in our region, let us continue to build on the gains by sustaining our stable peace and order to ensure the continuing growth of our strategic initiatives and big investments," Ocampos further said. (Trends)

Narjz

March 2nd, 2007, 04:37 AM

^^ok tanx @Sera

boju

March 2nd, 2007, 08:20 AM

Pueblo de Oro Golf Course

http://www.pueblodeoro.com/images/main1.jpghttp://www.pueblodeoro.com/images/main2.jpghttp://www.pueblodeoro.com/images/main3.jpg

http://www.pueblodeoro.com/images/leftpic_golffiretrees.jpg

http://www.pueblodeoro.com/images/pogcc_1.jpg

http://www.pueblodeoro.com/images/seehong2.jpg

http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/Pueblo_de_Oro_Golf_Area2_small.JPG

http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/Pueblo_de_Oro_Golfers2_small.JPG

http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/Pueblo_de_Oro_Golf_Area3_small.JPG

http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/Pueblo_de_Oro_Golf_Area8_small.JPG

http://www.freewebs.com/visitcdo/pueblogolfcourse1.jpg

Narjz

March 2nd, 2007, 11:02 AM

byutipul!!

any pix from El Salavador??

FrancisXavier

March 2nd, 2007, 03:58 PM

na curious ka ata sa El Salvador ah...hehehe..

FrancisXavier

March 2nd, 2007, 04:28 PM

Ayala project to commence anytime soon
by Rubelyn B. Yap/City Information Office
Date Published: 2007-03-02

The Ayala Land Corporation, developer of the country’s high-end subdivisions will start anytime soon the development of its 350 hectares property in the mountains of Camaman-an and Indahag, this city.

City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano disclosed this after he approved the locational clearance of Ayala Land which is a pre-requisite to the granting of a development certificate. Mayor Emano said that after the Ayala Land Corporation shall have processed its development certificate, the company can already start to implement its development plan. Ayala is set to pour an initial investment of P4 billion to develop 80 hectares of the entire property and will continue to develop the remaining 270 hectares in the succeeding years. The company’s technical team is now in the city to hasten the processing of all necessary permits so construction can immediately begin. Ayala Land will develop in their property several villages that include residential units, sports facility, pocket park, watershed treatment facility, chapel, ravine orchards, promontory point, canyon trails and a central park. Mayor Emano said that Ayala Land’s presence in the city will certainly boost the city’s economy and will help employ thousands of Cagayanons who will be given priority in the hiring of employees in all investments that will be established here.

CIO (http://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/index.php?page=news&id=366)

FrancisXavier

March 2nd, 2007, 04:37 PM

Region 10 investments in 2006 hit P23.8-Billion, up 24% over 2005

By Mike Baños

Agribusiness continues to be the motive force for Northern

Mindanao’s economy in 2006, driving investments in the region up 24% over the

previous year to P23.8-billion.

The Chemical-based Sector paced all sectors with 55% of the region’s total. Other major investment sectors were agri-based, services, trading, infrastructure and services, mining and metallurgy, and forest based.

Over half (56%) of the region’s total investments for 2006 was accounted for by ecozones like Pilipinas Kao, Inc., Tagoloan Agri-Milling Corp. and AAA Wood Processor. Business name registrations rose 17% to P 4.16 B, another indicator of new investments.

As usual, Misamis Oriental with the regional capital of Cagayan de Oro City had the biggest share of investments with 67% or P 15.99-billion, most of it from the P13-B Pilipinas Kao plant expansion in Luz Banzon, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

PKI's expansion project started last year and increased its production capacity for coconut-based oleochemicals (used for raw materials of soap and detergent) from 41,000 metric tons (MT) to 100,000MT annually. Industry sources say this expansion project was cued by the fast-track completion of STEAG State Power Inc.'s 210 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Investments in the trading sector were also significant and included the expansion projects of Robinson’s Big R Supercenter in Limketkai Center, Nissan Gallery, Citra Mina Seafood Market’s two new branches and appliance centers, drug store operations, general enterprises and agri- supply distribution centers.

Investments in the service sector include new and expansion projects of non-bank financing facilities, construction builders and services, shipping services, trucking and automotive services, travel-assistance services, resort and restaurant facilities like the new Basamanggas Resort and Restaurant in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

Bukidnon contributed P5.08 Billion or 21% of total regional investments and 91% of the total agri-based investments of the region. These included expansion projects of Crystal Sugar Milling Corp. in Maramag and banana growers like Dole South Skyland, JIKKA Fruits Corp. and Pangantucan Banana Growers. New and expansion projects for biscuits, banana, cassava, oil palm, raw sugar, financing institutions and fresh pineapples plantations also contributed to the province’s total.

Lanao del Norte contributed seven percent of the region total, with major investments in the mining and metallurgical, trade and service sectors. Investments for agri-based ventures include the expansion of seaweed and banana production in the area. The P350-million Gaisano Mall in Iligan City slated to be completed in another two years comprises the bulk of its infra and services activities.

Misamis Occidental got a 4% (P 858.53 M) share with the bulk of investments from the servicing sector which made up 70% of province’s total investments. Construction and expansion projects of commercial firms constitute the bulk of their investments. A 9.251-million water system and livelihood assistance program from the Phil-Australia Community Assistance Program was also recorded.

Camiguin’s P179-million investments were mostly bank-financed agricultural, tourism and reforestation projects.

Northern Mindanao's positioning as the 'Trade and Service Center of Mindanao' is expected to continue drawing new investments and expansion projects. With its strategic location, the region is a competitive and cost-efficient transit point between Mindanao to the rest of the Philippines and to major foreign markets like USA, Japan and Europe.

With a reliable and steady supply of power assured in the medium term with the full commercial operations of the STEAG State Power Inc. 210-MW coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental, Region 10 is expected to continue attracting investments in the energy sector (power projects), metals, manufacturing sector (shipbuilding, brewery, processed food) and infrastructure and services (ecozone development).

Among those already under construction are the P1-billion Tanduay bottling plant and Absolute mineral water bottling facility in the Asia Brewery, Inc. plant complex of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental. A P250 Million soft drink bottling facility for Virgin Cola is also expected to be constructed soon by the same group in this same location. A US$ 500-M ship-building project or steel company is now negotiating for a site in the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate.

The activation of the regional ICT Council which aims to rationalize regional initiatives of all industry stakeholders and push for a common regional ICT agenda is also expected to continue drawing investors in this sunrise industry.

Last week, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano disclosed that Western Wats, a Utah-based research and data collection firm is opening a new facility in the city while

TMA, Austria's largest call center, has signified its interest to establish a local branch.
Mr. Emano said Western Wats will employ around 1,700 people but will initially hire 700 as it starts its operations while the TMA will initially hire 30 personnel.

The Utah-based company provides services to over 200 clients worldwide through its Wats Live Interviewing, Wats Online Web Surveys, Wats IVR Surveys (automated voice messaging), and Wats Data Express Online Data Analysis and Custom Real-Time Reporting. TMA Medical provides a large spectrum of tele-medicine solutions in tele-cardiology, medical call center and R&D support.

Link2Support, the pioneer call center operator in Cagayan de Oro has made the city its base for the Visayas and Mindanao areas, hiring an additional 1,000 personnel since last year SM Cagayan de Oro's car park has been declared an ICT building with a 4,000 sq.m. lot including the mall and car park. Hotel Koresco Cagayan de Oro is also constructing a seven-story condotel for the Korean active retirees market in Pueblo de Oro Township next to its flagship hotel.

Meantime, the local government of Camiguin has prioritized telecommunications, power and a fast ferry for its short term investments. It is now negotiating with the National Transmission Corp. for an additional P510M 69 KVA submarine cable from Aplaya, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental. Prospects for wind generated power are also being studied.

FrancisXavier

March 2nd, 2007, 04:40 PM

BTW, Western Wats will be setting up their center at 3rd level Ororama MegaCenter..

Sera

March 2nd, 2007, 08:56 PM

boju

March 3rd, 2007, 03:02 AM

BTW, Western Wats will be setting up their center at 3rd level Ororama MegaCenter..

Wow, it's a big hit of Ororama Megacenter. Surely it will boost sales of thier tenants specially those in fastfood chain outlets.

Lahat na ata ng mall dito may call center maliban sa Gasiano. Kasi ang SM kahit wala pang locator ei call center ready na, hanep...

boju

March 3rd, 2007, 03:05 AM

That's good news that there are now concrete projects proposed for the initial 80 hectares. Hopefully the succeding 270 hectare dev't will include an Ayala Center and Business Park :banana:

Grabeehhh....... initial investment of 4B in 80 hectares then the rest for further developments. It means wala nang humpay ang Ayala investement dito mula ngayon.... :banana: :banana: :banana: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Narjz

March 3rd, 2007, 03:32 AM

Whew! a big round of :applause:

Calling the attention of Mr. El Salvador...plz show ur pix now! :D

Narjz

March 3rd, 2007, 04:35 AM

Pueblo de Oro GC

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6995/cagayanjx2.jpg

boju

March 3rd, 2007, 07:19 AM

Misamis Oriental Landmark

http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/misamisoriental/images/stories/misor.jpg

boju

March 3rd, 2007, 07:24 AM

El Salvador

@Narjz, ito muna o...

Asia Brewery
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articlePics/article13147.jpg

Map
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/7/7f/Ph_locator_misamis_oriental_el_salvador.png

Narjz

March 3rd, 2007, 10:45 AM

Nice intro... :) tnx @boju

Ex!lE

March 3rd, 2007, 01:15 PM

old CCC hospital
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007357.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007362.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007361.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007360.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007356.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007354.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007355.jpg

Ady001

March 3rd, 2007, 03:02 PM

pwede...pero like link2, tagal pa nun..nakakaasar nga eh.. kasi sa April3 pa ako pinag eexam ng link2..tagal huh! kaya inuna ko na yung mas maaga..:D

Sus lew... Dapat mo-study sa ka before ka mag undertake sa mga ing-ana nga butang. Unsa na diay ka karon? Graduating?

As for me... I'm not staying in my city that long. I have to see other places as well... If I get lucky.

Another side question, ang Sykes diay? How about their CDeO plans?

dinabaw

March 3rd, 2007, 04:00 PM

Malasag Eco- Tourism Village

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/700/img0024ym4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Narjz

March 4th, 2007, 02:03 AM

Good Morning ppl...hay kalaayz walay tawo.. :(

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 02:37 AM

Sus lew... Dapat mo-study sa ka before ka mag undertake sa mga ing-ana nga butang. Unsa na diay ka karon? Graduating?

As for me... I'm not staying in my city that long. I have to see other places as well... If I get lucky.

Another side question, ang Sykes diay? How about their CDeO plans?

nah! no further news regarding sykes' plan.. but a friend workin in Convergies got this news regarding the company considering cdo for its next expansion plan..:yes:

btw, im starting this monday night..hehe

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 07:44 AM

Malasag Eco- Tourism Village

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/700/img0024ym4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

it has been so long since i last visited this place.. So the pool undergone renovation? this used to have those rock tiles..

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 07:45 AM

Wow, it's a big hit of Ororama Megacenter. Surely it will boost sales of thier tenants specially those in fastfood chain outlets.

Lahat na ata ng mall dito may call center maliban sa Gasiano. Kasi ang SM kahit wala pang locator ei call center ready na, hanep...

i'd rather them settle in LKK Center or Pueblo or SM..:D For ambiance reason..:colgate:

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 07:50 AM

Grabeehhh....... initial investment of 4B in 80 hectares then the rest for further developments. It means wala nang humpay ang Ayala investement dito mula ngayon.... :banana: :banana: :banana: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

i guess that's another flaw we have to be critical about.. the 4bln should be for the entire project and not for their initial works w/c involve several housing projects.. Unless they're building a "Forbes Park" in there..:colgate:

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 07:53 AM

Whew! a big round of :applause:

Calling the attention of Mr. El Salvador...plz show ur pix now! :D

kulit mo ah...eto na nga...

El Salvador City...:colgate:
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6995/cagayanjx2.jpg

old CCC hospital
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007357.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007362.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007361.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007360.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007356.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007354.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007355.jpg

nice pics @Exile.. Thanks for sharing them with us here..

Narjz

March 4th, 2007, 07:58 AM

^^ ^^ 1 Million x WOW! :lol:

lapit na pala matapos ang Hospital mo @ :Lew:

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 08:01 AM

:colgate: :colgate: :colgate:

wud that be good enough? :D

Narjz

March 4th, 2007, 08:18 AM

5xve...................................................................................ry good

too much :colgate:

boju

March 4th, 2007, 10:34 AM

Common scene in any public market area during early in the morning and late afternoon.

http://www.cipotato.org/urbanharvest/images/C%20DE%20ORO1.jpg

boju

March 4th, 2007, 10:36 AM

Wild waters

http://streetlife.blogspirit.com/album/wild_waters_in_cagayan_de_oro/rafting_5.3.jpg

http://streetlife.blogspirit.com/album/wild_waters_in_cagayan_de_oro/rafting_3.3.jpg

boju

March 4th, 2007, 10:48 AM

Canopy Walk at Claveria, misamis Oriental

http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/misamisoriental/images/stories/canopywalk.jpg

Flight 387 Memorial Shrine at the foot of Mt. Sumagaya, Claveria, Misamis Oriental. Also in the area is the unique wild flower park. Showcasing the rare and exotic wild flowers and plants of Northern Mindanao.
http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/misamisoriental/images/stories/wildflower.jpg

boju

March 4th, 2007, 10:50 AM

Gardens of Malasag Eco-Village

http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/misamisoriental/images/stories/ecovillage.jpg

boju

March 4th, 2007, 11:15 AM

Maayong gabii CDO!!! (Good evening)

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 01:45 PM

boju, cant see some of the pics..^^

Ady001

March 4th, 2007, 02:44 PM

@lew... that's a good opportunity. But nagastudy ba ka? MAgsasabay ka ba ng studies at aral mo now?

At least CDeO's getting a lot of the BPO chunk. thankfully, americans are seeing Mindanao as an area of vast potential.

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 04:46 PM

@lew... that's a good opportunity. But nagastudy ba ka? MAgsasabay ka ba ng studies at aral mo now?

yup.. im still schoolin. i know this is gonna be tough.. especially on tuesdays and wednesdays, when i have to be up for 38 hours straight, that's from call center to school.. anyhow, this is still a training, who knows, they might dump me out after a week of training..:D

At least CDeO's getting a lot of the BPO chunk. thankfully, americans are seeing Mindanao as an area of vast potential.

not only americans, but also australians,hehe.. Hope to see more internationally-based call center here, now that cdo is having 3 soon.

Ady001

March 4th, 2007, 05:31 PM

^^ Kaya man na lew. But that depends though. If you have a child to rear and several commitments, it can be tough.

Wala pa man ko, but then...

FrancisXavier

March 4th, 2007, 05:35 PM

yup..that's what the HR actually told me.. They dont tolerate students kuno, but i insisted. Why not? i passed everything, from exams to all those interviews. i guess i deserve to try my fate here..

Well, im still far from the reality. hehe.. 3 more steps to take..:)

boju

March 4th, 2007, 11:29 PM

boju, cant see some of the pics..^^

Whats wrong, me, still see the pics. how 'bout this day?

So youre in Arriba Telecontact later, as of this time how many call center agents Arriba have? What are their clients?

boju

March 4th, 2007, 11:38 PM

Wild Waters from @Iliganon Boy

share ko lang sa nyo.. some of my macahambus adventure

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p64/iliganon_boy/raftingtrip058.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p64/iliganon_boy/raftingtrip021.jpg

What a fresh... and wild!

FrancisXavier

March 5th, 2007, 01:30 AM

Whats wrong, me, still see the pics. how 'bout this day?

So youre in Arriba Telecontact later, as of this time how many call center agents Arriba have? What are their clients?

it got 60-100 agents for outbound.

boju

March 5th, 2007, 05:38 AM

So they're expanding. What I know lately they'd only have 30 agents.

Sera

March 5th, 2007, 06:52 AM

it got 60-100 agents for outbound.

That's already a mid-sized callcenter there. Hopefully the company expands as there are still room for it to expand in LKK:banana:

Sera

March 5th, 2007, 07:06 AM

nah! no further news regarding sykes' plan.. but a friend workin in Convergies got this news regarding the company considering cdo for its next expansion plan..:yes:

btw, im starting this monday night..hehe

Congrats:banana:
Enjoy the night-life sa callcenter:lol:

Sera

March 5th, 2007, 08:06 AM

boju

March 6th, 2007, 12:16 AM

CDO FORUMERS WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THIS ARTICLE?
======================================================================
Overload: An Inconvenient Truth About the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor

By Mike Baños

Things are looking up for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor. According to Hizzoner, a technical team from Korea's largest steel company has just completed evaluation of a possible site for its nickel smelting plant at the Phividec Industrial Estate here.

Should Posco choose to pursue the project, the so-called Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor would host steel plants owned by the world's two largest sheet steelmakers, Posco and Arcelor Mittal.

The Pohang Iron and Steel Company (Posco) based in Pohang , South Korea is the world's third-largest steelmaker after Arcelor Mittal and Japan 's Nippon Steel Corp.

Arcelor Mittal is the world's number one steel company, with 330,000 employees in more than 60 countries. The company, which will be incorporated in 2007 following the successful tender offer, brings together the world's leading steel companies, Mittal Steel Co. NV and Arcelor SA. The Arcelor-Mittal merger has focused attention on consolidation and building cooperative relationships within the global steel industry.

Mittal Steel is the operator of the defunct National Steel Corporation steel mill in Iligan City which it has renamed the Global Steel Works, Inc.

Arcelor Mittal Pro-forma revenue in 2005 showed combined revenues of 62.2bn euro (77.5bn$) and approximate production capacity of 113 million tons, which represents about 10% of the world's crude steel output.

Now, the two giant companies are in talks for possible joint undertakings. An executive of Arcelor Mittal and the head of Posco met in Seoul last month to discuss cooperating, a spokeswoman for the Korean firm said recently. Posco spokeswoman Ko Min-Jun said Roland Junck, a top executive of Arcelor Mittal, met with Posco's Chief Executive Officer Lee Ku-Taek, to discuss possible areas for cooperation.

The CIC's positioning at this point in time of possible joint ventures between Posco and Arcelor Mittal augers well for Northern Mindanao. That is, on paper.

I'm not so sure about what Global Steel's rolling mill in Iligan and the Posco's nickel smelter at the Phividec could poduce together, but I think I have a fairly good idea of the sort of dilemma the presence of these two steel factories in such proximity can pose from people who share their living spaces.

I've previously mentioned a possible power crisis mega projects such as this one can pose for the precarious power supply situation in the Mindanao grid. But the magnitude of that problem would seem like peanuts when compared against the environmental impact of an increasing number of heavy "smokestack" industries like the Posco smelter.

I find it incongruous why our LGUs continue to invite heavy power users with little local value added and employment when the emerging thrusts of developments in the global mileu points to more knowledge oriented, high employment and low impact environmental projects such as Business Process Outsourcing.

Just compare how many people a relatively modest call center like Link2Support can employ compared to a gigantic project like the Posco smelter: capital is smaller, employment is high, and value added is definitely higher per unit revenue of production.

This is what I've been advocating for as a road map for development not only for Cagayan de Oro but Northern Mindanao as well. By all means, please let's do cost-benefit analysis naman and stop selling the heritage of future generations in grandiose undertakings which pollute our environment and add little value to the future of Northern Mindanao.

And one way we can do that is by voting responsible, environmentally and socially sensitive government officials who have the vision for long-term sustainability not only for a particular project but the environment and people who sustain it as well.
__________________

Nice article, it makes me think twice, a challenge to ponder deeply.

Heavy industries, "smokestack" industries and the like are not new to us and its long been used to industrial countries that's why they are now today stand "GIANT".

There's no question on preserving energy, nature in short the mother earth. Those PRO-Environment caused group is higly commendable.

Our world move fast in each single day, technologies, global warming, pollutions and other changes some good and some other worst as before.

But can we afford to STOP. Stop innovating technologies, stop in building houses, buildings, bridges, cars, chips, and stop using electricity.

Even if we in the Philippines will strictly banned heavy smoke industries just to protect mother earth CAN'T spare US on global warming. Because even America can't pass the law to banned smokestack industries.

We are all using glass, wires, gadgets, cars, appliances and so on and all of these came from raw materials that were once go on the process to make its fine by smelting, and other processes that produces waste.

Why we will not grab this opportunity? Put up this heavy industries are not bad at all or we live in a shanty and eat raw foods. If this plant will put in our land, this is only fair practices. What would you want to be happen? We will just receive and receive? Receiving goods, materials, and so as pollutants?

I believe there's way to handle "smokestack" industries. Even there's a saying "there's no safe, clean coal" but at least we can manage the effect of waste pollutants. Like what STEAG Coal Power plant do to its Sink Hole Project, a thousand of hectares of land in MAPAWA nature park and in Tagoloan just to plant trees to absorb the waste emitted by the coal plant and other "smokestack" industries.

Just believing GOD who will endow us knowledge to find ways of comfortable living, we can avoid damaging mother earth without terminating our way of living today.

Call center, BPO and other ICT related businesses are much more welcome.

boju

March 6th, 2007, 12:56 AM

Tuesday, March 06, 2007
N. Mindanao's Ms. Philippines-Earth '07 pageant slated in Oro

THE Northern Mindanao pageant of the 2007 Ms. Philippines-Earth will be held at the Atrium of Limketkai Center on April 01, 2007.

The pageant is proudly presented by Macajalar Lodge No. 184 of the Free and Accepted Mazons of the Philippines in cooperation with Carousel Productions.

Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007

According to Worshipful Master Fernando M. Simon, The Miss Philipines and Miss Earth Beauty Pageants are two beauty events whose raison d'etre is to have their candidates and winners actively promote and get involved in the preservation of the environment and the protection of Mother Earth.

Project Chairman Brother John del Bando added, The Miss Philippines-Earth has always been known for its unprecedented nationwide search for a true Filipina who cares for and helps in the preservation of the environment. In addition to its annual tradition of selecting candidates from regions all over the Philippines, the Miss Philippines-Earth, now on its 7th year continues to expand its coverage area to Filipino communities abroad, such as Australia, Canada, Germany Norway, New Zealand and the United States of America to name a few.

The Miss Philippines winner eventually competes in the Manila-based Miss Earth Pageant participated in by over 80 countries around the globe.

Tickets (P250) are available 24 hours a day at The Park Cafe and other select hotels, restaurants, and establishments around the city.

For inquiries please call the ticket hotlines 854.8888, 71.8888, or 0917718.9888.

Sunstar

Sera

March 6th, 2007, 11:27 AM

I can only hope that as technology evolves scientists can develop new ways of handling "smokestack" industries. I believe that even these heavy industries are vital for a country's dev't. Heavy industry was used by Britain in the 1800s to be a world power & today industry is continually used in the world to foster economic gain.

The key to sustainable dev't is balance & at present Greater Cagayan de Oro's economy has balanced dev't in various fields:
1. BPO (Pueblo de Oro IT Park, Western Watts etc...),
2. Food Production (Del Monte Phils., Dole Phils, Nestleetc...)
3. Heavy Industry (Phividec industrial estate, Alwana Business Park)
4. Commercial (Limketkai, SM, Robinsons, Gaisano, etc...)
5. Eco-Tourism (Malsasag Eco-village, White-water rafting etc...)
:banana:

Sera

March 6th, 2007, 11:35 AM

Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Guv eyes ODA aid for Mindanao
By Ryan Rosauro
Ozamiz Correspondent

A RANKING development policy official in Northern Mindanao is eyeing to tap greater official development assistance (ODA) funds to bankroll vital programs and projects in the region.

While most of the region's priority projects especially big-ticket infrastructure are "already identified and approved by the President and her Cabinet," Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos cited the "need to work harder to see to it that these projects get funded and implemented."

The region has been recipient of large-scale development assistance packages like the Philippines-Australia Local Sustainability (PALS) program in Misamis Occidental, which has a P400 million facility for livelihood support to the 202 barangays of the province.

Lately, a European Union-supported project is being mulled for pilot testing in Lanao del Norte. The Mindanao Health Sector Policy Support Project is estimated to cost around 12 million Euros.

But Ocampos said the region could fare better if it expands its share of ODA funds flow.

Ocampos, chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-Northern Mindanao, said it is imperative that more activities geared at increasing the region's access to ODA resources must be undertaken.

He cited the Laguindingan Airport Development Project (LADP) and the Panguil Bay Bridge as requiring focused attention due to the two projects' potentials in fostering further development in the region.

The Laguindingan international airport is expected to be the region and Mindanao's platform to the international markets, while the Panguil Bay bridge will enhance regional physical integration through an improved land transportation network.

Funded by the Korean Export-Import Bank (Korean EXIMBank), civil works on the LADP is expected to start soon following approval of its bidding pre-qualification documents last January.

After passing the Cabinet-level investment coordinating committee, the Panguil Bay Bridge project "is expected to get the nod of the Neda (National Economic and Development Authority) Board," said Ocampos.

In addition, Ocampos also pointed to the need "to continue to support the establishment of more power generating facilities" in the region.

At present, Northern Mindanao hosts around two-thirds of the electric power source in the island, mostly generated through the Agus hydropower complex in Lanao del Norte.

This was boosted by the commissioning late last year of the German-funded Mindanao Coal-Fired Thermal plant in Tagoloan town of Misamis Oriental.

FrancisXavier

March 6th, 2007, 12:07 PM

So they're expanding. What I know lately they'd only have 30 agents.
nah! it had 60 at least when it started in 2005.. and yup, they will be expanding even more.. they're doing recruitments everyday..

Congrats:banana:
Enjoy the night-life sa callcenter:lol:

my first shift(training) was boring.. nothing but blah blah blah.. and oh, this has been a whole day head ache.. GTG for now.. Time to prepare for my next hell shift. :hi: hi to all..

LordCarnal

March 6th, 2007, 12:12 PM

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/02262007355.jpg

Very modern and big. :okay:

Where in CDO is this? What's the nearest landmark?

..

Sera

March 6th, 2007, 12:12 PM

^^Enjoy the training FX while it lasts
...anyway, depende rin yung iba sinasabi nila mas enjoy pag training pero para sakin mas nag-eenjoy ako nung nasa floor na ako :banana:

FrancisXavier

March 6th, 2007, 12:13 PM

that's somewhere in Gusa.. East of the downtown..

Sera

March 6th, 2007, 12:21 PM

Very modern and big. :okay:

Where in CDO is this? What's the nearest landmark?

..

Yes...I also like the fact that the building finishings look very classy:)

boju

March 6th, 2007, 11:46 PM

Very modern and big. :okay:

Where in CDO is this? What's the nearest landmark?

..

1 to 2 kms. east of Ororama Megacenter

boju

March 6th, 2007, 11:48 PM

Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Biz council wants limits on Oro port expansion
By Danilo V. Adorador III

CARGO traffic and port calls are increasing at the Cagayan de Oro Port, but the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) wants to limit the ongoing expansion at the city's lone commercial harbor.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is currently undertaking the Cagayan de Oro Port Development Project, a development framework geared toward infrastructure expansion, which is now on its nascent stage.

Medco, however, wants the PPA to only pursue the port's "rehabilitation" and "limit the interventions" already programmed in the existing project.

In a letter to PPA General Manager Oscar M. Sevilla early this year, Medco head Virgilio Leyretana Sr. said the move aims to comply with a Malacañang directive, prioritizing major port projects "supportive of the Mindanao Super Regions."

Specifically, the move to curtail Cagayan de Oro port's development was aimed "to avoid competition with the port being operated by Phividec" in Misamis Oriental, Leyretana said in an attached letter to Department of Transportation (DOTC).

"The Super Region Strategy as a mechanism to coordinate the inter-regional planning, investment and programming and project implementation among the regions, has become a necessity to hasten the national development process," Leyretana's letter to the PPA reads.

The move to sideline other projects -- such as the city's port developments -- and prioritize others would ensure that all priority projects in Mindanao "are completed on schedule and at lowest cost to the government."

However, local officials and port stakeholders -- citing economic drawbacks from Medco's plan -- voiced apprehensions.

Efren B. Bollozos, PPA general manager in Cagayan de Oro Port, said the move could "stall" the port's "development or expansion that might adversely affect transportation cost" and the city's effort to attract foreign investment.

Growing an annual rate of seven to nine percent, the port's cargo traffic is rising at a rate that the port's existing infrastructure can no longer handle in the coming years, said Noel Tan, an official of Oroport, which handles the port's cargo-handling services.

Situated within the immediate business zones, the city's port is more preferred by shippers "because it's cost-efficient and productivity level is higher, Bollozos said, comparing Cagayan de Oro Port to Phividec.

boju

March 6th, 2007, 11:51 PM

Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Arroyo to grace agri-food confab

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be the keynote speaker of the Mindanao Agri and Food Convention (Mafcon 2007) to be held from April 23 to 25, 2007, at Grand Caprice Restaurant, Lim Ket Kai Complex, Cagayan de Oro City.

"The Mafcon comes at a very opportune time in the light of the President's heightened focus on Mindanao as the Agribusiness Super Region of the South," said Engineer Edwin B. Andot, convention chairperson and president of the Chamber of Agriculture, fisheries & Food Industries of Northern Mindanao (Caffinormin).

Caffinormin said it has taken charge of the challenge of bringing to the fore the pressing concerns and providing a continuing platform for exchange of action points and combined action by the Mindanao agribusiness community.

Focused on the theme, "Mindanao Agribusiness for the Philippine and the World Market," one of the action points that will be taken up during the three-day convention is that on Biofuels, which is expected to answer the need for Mindanao's alternate energy.

Andot said the government is working towards the development of stable power for Mindanao and the plan is to expand the field of alternative sources of energy and push the cause of the environment.

"Working proactively on solutions to avert power shortages and assure its long term supply has always been a top priority of Caffinormin along with those of vegetables, fruits, feeds and grains, livestock, poultry, fisheries, processed foods and biofuels," he said.

Andot said he believes the government has a deep and broad blueprint to meet the challenge of boosting the energy supply of Mindanao, which is looming as the front door of investment owing to the advent of peace and the improving security situation of the island.

Meanwhile, he said, they received commitments from the Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Councils (RAFCS) and the Regional Development Councils (RDC's) from all over Mindanao and the Visayas for the event.

Caffinormin said it expects about 600 to 700 leaders of producer and agri-business organizations representing the millions of farmers, farming household, food processors and agri-entrepreneurs or 54 percent of Mindanao's total labor force who depend on Mindanao agriculture for their daily sustenance and overall economic future.

Included in the topics of MAFCON 2007 are: Realizing Mindanao's Agribusiness Aquaculture/Mariculture Potentials, Organic Agriculture, Effective Marketing Strategies for Mindanao Agribusiness, Professionalizing Agri Manpower and Information Communication Technology (ICT) for Agricultural Development.

Food as a Vital Ingredient for Mindanao Tourism, Local Government Unit (LGU) as Partners for Agricultural Development and Foreign Donor Assistance in Support of Agribusiness by the Growth Equity in Mindanao-United States Agency for International Development (GEM-USAID); Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), USDA and GTZ.

An exhibit of agri products from the Agribusiness Mindanao Super Region champions and booths for inputs of suppliers, service and technology providers, support organizations and agri and food processors and the conduct of business matching sessions for buyers and agri and food producers, suppliers and users of farm equipments, inputs, machineries and others will be among the highlights of the convention.

Other sponsors of Mafcon 2007 are the Department of Agriculture, Mindanao Economic Development Council, the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, RDC-Northern Mindanao and Office of the Presidential Assistant for Northern Mindanao. (Trends)

Sunstar

boju

March 7th, 2007, 12:34 AM

Mayor Emano approves P31.4 Million projects anew
by Sandra B. Tadeo/City Information Office

City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano approved Friday last week a total of P31,405,887 worth of infrastructure projects in various barangays in the city.

These covered 22 infrastructure projects which are funded under the city’s 20% Development Fund and the Local School Board. Among the barangay projects approved very recently by Mayor Emano last Friday are the concreting of NHA Phase I main road in Kauswagan amounting to P6,784,450; concrete paving with drainage of 26th Street and 21st Street in Nazareth worth P1,700,000; and the construction of a 2-storey building at the Tumpagon National High School.

Other barangay projects approved for implementation this week are the construction of a new building for the Tahanan ng Kabataan in Lumbia worth P2,000,000; concrete paving of road shoulder with concrete sidewalk and improvement of drainage in Brgy. 32 worth P900,000; concreting of villa Cristo Rey Road in Bonbon worth P1.2 Million; concrete paving of Camacawan Road with drainage worth P1.5 Million; concreting of Gaston Park Peripheral Road in Brgy 01 worth P1.2 Million;

Concrete paving of Gorgonio Street and the drainage cover at Lower Zone 2 in Patag worth P854,700; road concreting of Capistrano-M.H. Del Pilar Streets in Brgy 16 worth P900,000; concreting of Tierra del Puerto road with drainage in Camaman-an worth P1.2 Million; concreting of Manuel Vega Street in Consolacion worth P1.5 Million; P1 Million infrastructure project in Brgy 13;

Road concreting from the junction of Pamalihi Road to Hillside in Pagatpat worth P1.2 Million; concrete paving of Bulua Seashore Road worth P1.5 Million; road concreting from Dansolihon Elementary School to Purok 3 in Dansolihon worth P1.5 Million; construction of public stage in Mambuaya worth P350,000; construction of a multi-purpose concrete pavement in Brgy 23 worth P119,289.37 and the development of a high school site in Bayanga.

Mayor Emano said that the said projects will be implemented before his last term of office will end in June, this year.

Sera

March 7th, 2007, 02:32 AM

erictimon

March 7th, 2007, 02:59 AM

boju

March 7th, 2007, 03:57 AM

Hi erictimon, welcome here!

Btw, here are some few contacts/links for WHITE WATER RAFTING IN CDO:

http://www.raftingcdo.com/
http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/AttractionsWhiteWater.htm
http://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/index.php?page=tourism&cat=3

Ex!lE

March 7th, 2007, 05:04 AM

Erap lawyer to lead opposition slate in Cagayan de OroBy Perseus Echeminada
The Philippine Star 03/07/2007

The lawyer and spokesman of detained former President Joseph Estrada will lead the opposition slate in Cagayan de Oro in the May 14 elections.

Former Immigration Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez will run a candidate in the newly created second congressional district in Cagayan de Oro City, the capital city of Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao.

Rodriguez confirmed to The STAR in phone interview that he would join the Genuine Opposition (GO) and seek a congressional seat in his political bailiwick in Mindanao.

"I will lead the opposition line up in Cagayan de Oro City," Rodriguez said, adding that the local opposition in the city is still finalizing their line up from the congressional candidates down to city councilors.

Cagayan De Oro City used to have a lone congressional district represented by Rep. Contantino Jaraula, the chairman of the House committee on Constitutional reforms. But with the passage of a new law dividing the city into two districts, a congressional seat is up for grabs in the second district, which covered the historic Carmer River up to the boundary of El Salvador town, starting this elections.

Rodriguez, who placed 17th in the 1981 bar exam, was a former vice governor and senior board member of Misamis Oriental and was the youngest Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration.

He was dean of the San Sebastian College of Law before he joined the legal team of Estrada, the late Fernando Poe Jr. and former Sen. Loren Legarda.

Ray Roquero, Lakas-CMD executive director, welcomed the entry of Rodriguez in the political arena, saying that they will be field a strong candidate for the opposition lead by the returning Misamis political leader.

Narjz

March 7th, 2007, 07:00 AM

HeyLo!

Ex!lE

March 7th, 2007, 01:23 PM

Sera

March 7th, 2007, 02:31 PM

^^Blurred picture but nevertheless a budding modern skyline :banana:

Ex!lE

March 7th, 2007, 03:10 PM

^^ cellphone lang kasi ang ginamit ko.

erictimon

March 7th, 2007, 06:40 PM

thank you for the links. keep up what youre doing. you may not know it, this sure is a great help.

Sera

March 7th, 2007, 09:01 PM

Thursday, March 08, 2007
Oro dads warn of losses in wake of port limits
By Danilo V. Adorador III

CAGAYAN de Oro City is running the risk of losing billions in potential investments if the plan to limit the port's development moves forward, port and local officials warned.

Two councilors, Ian Mark Nacaya and Simeon Licayan, registered their opposition Wednesday to the plan -- a measure that comprised Malacañang's initiatives to create "Super Regions" in Mindanao.

Backed by the Davao-based Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), the Super Region Strategy calls for the prioritized developments of major transport hubs in Mindanao, including the Laguindingan International Airport and the Mindanao Container Port inside the Phividec industrial zone.

So as not to compete with Phividec Port, however, the strategy also calls for a limited "interventions" on the current Cagayan de Oro Port Development Project, and reducing the expansion works to "rehabilitation."

Councilors Nacaya and Licayan, heads of the public utility and transportation committees, warned that the move could be detrimental to the city's economy and will only create rather than solve problems.

While enhancing the Phividec port, Licayan said, limiting or halting Cagayan de Oro port's development works will exacerbate the harbor's current woes -- brought about by increasing port calls and growing cargo traffic.

"Cagayan de Oro Port is already on its first stage of congestion -- at 72 percent berth occupancy rate, which is way above the 65 percent threshold of the international standards," said Isidro Butaslac, assistant port manager.

Expansion and construction of new berthing spaces can be curtailed under Medco's plan, said Butaslac, adding other developments such as the working yard expansion and improvement of storage facilities can also be affected.

Noel Tan, an official of Oroport handling its cargo-handling services, pointed out that the port's existing 180 meter berthing space has only increased by 200 meters since 1986 -- accommodating only six vessels at a time.

Tan said the port currently has difficulty in accommodating bigger vessels, in addition to the increasing calls year.

But the biggest loss with an underdeveloped Cagayan de Oro Port would come from the huge shipping companies already located within the periphery of the port, said Efren B. Bollozos, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager in Cagayan de Oro.

Sluggish port activity means slower economic activity, and this would discourage shipping companies who are already eyeing to invest around the port area, Bollozos said.

Nacaya, for his part, said that if the bulk of the ports shipping businesses relocate to the Phividec port, the accompanying additional transport cost and other productivity losses would be passed on to the public.

Nacaya and Licayan said they will elevate the issue to the City Council to build consensus against the plans.

Sera

March 7th, 2007, 09:20 PM

Thursday, March 08, 2007
Oroport faces 2 strike notices
By Lizanilla J. Amarga

THERE are now two labor strike notices looming at the Oroport Cargo Handling Services, Inc. (Oroport) -- the exclusive cargo handling firm operating in Cagayan de Oro City's billionaire port.

Mayor Vicente Emano and Councilor Benjamin Jose Benaldo earlier voiced fears that any labor strike at the Macabalan port could just turn into a bloodbath and affect the economy.

Association of Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) Northern Mindanao vice president Nicandro Borja said their affiliate Phase II Port Workers Union (PPWU-ALU-TUCP) filed another notice of strike against Oroport last February 28.

He said this time the strike notice is based on how the negotiations for the forging of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between Oroport management and PPWU-ALU-TUCP reached a "deadlock" last January 27 this year.

This as PPWU-ALU-TUCP contends that Oroport management is "twisting" the Labor Code provisions to bar union members from proposing new terms such as salary hikes, more days for sick and vacation leaves, and other new economic and non-economic conditions in the CBA.

"So, there are now two labor strike notices against Oroport filed in the same month of Febuary," he said. The first was filed by PPWU-ALU-TUCP at the regional office of the National Conciliation Mediation Board (NCMB)-Northern Mindanao last February 2 this year.

Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro failed to contact Oroport management representatives as of Wednesday for comment.

Meanwhile, the first strike notice was based on four unfair labor practices allegedly committed by Oroport management against PPWU-ALU-TUCP leaders and members.

Borja said the mediation hearings for this first strike notice was put to a "close" by NCMB-Northern Mindanao "but without prejudice to the re-filing" of the same in due time.

"Our remedy there was to file charges at the NLRC (National Labor and Reconciliation Commission)," he said.

Meanwhile, this second strike notice filed at the NCMB-Northern Mindanao by PPWU-ALU-TUCP president Arturo Climaco specified how Oroport management is "perceived to be negotiating in bad faith."

Borja explained that Oroport management does not want their union to introduce new proposals to be included as terms and conditions in their CBA.

"We are objecting to this because this is a renewal of the whole expired CBA," he said.

Borja contended that Oroport management is "deliberately misinterpreting" Article 253-A of the Labor Code as to renegotiating the terms of an expired CBA.

He said Oroport management is arguing that the union is "only allowed to renegotiate the old and expired CBA benefits not later than three years."

Borja elaborated on how Oroport management wants to interpret the law to mean that there will be no new CBA terms and provisions, whether economic or non-economic, introduced in the five-year CBA that it will be signing with and PPWU-ALU-TUCP to take effect on 2008-2012.

They still have "not later than three years" or before the start of 2011 to renegotiate the terms for the new CBA.

"What Oroport management somehow wants us to do is concede to the same provisions of the old and expired CBA but this time just with a different effectivity period and signatories as they believe that there is still three years to renegotiate," he said.

Borja said ALU-TUCP, PPWU-ALU-TUCP, and even NCMB-Northern Mindanao officials were all "very shocked" with the above interpretation being pushed by Oroport management.

"Even the NCMB told Oroport management that it is the only one in the entire Philippines that has such an interpretation of the same provision of the Labor Code," he said.

Borja said the above provision by law and practice is interpreted to mean that when the period of effectivity of a certain CBA lapses, there is renegotiation and signing of a new CBA that has a lifespan of five years.

He said the terms of this new CBA containing renegotiated terms should be fully implemented within three years and will see renegotiations in the fourth and fifth year.

"Oroport management is twisting the interpretation of the law to suit them. This is why we perceive them to be negotiating in bad faith," he said.

"With its (Oroport management) interpretation, it would bar our labor union from proposing any new term in the CBA but would have to be forced to stick to the terms in the old and expired CBA," said Borja.

Ady001

March 7th, 2007, 10:53 PM

^^ Now that's no good news.

I mean Mindanao's cargos are highly dependent for CDeO terminals right? They should patch things very well.

Sera

March 8th, 2007, 01:23 AM

^^Exactly, the CDO Port links Mindanao to most of the goods from the Visayas and Luzon so problems like these should be addressed as early as now.

In relation to another issue on curtailing the CDO expansion in favor of the MICT. I think that the CDO port should be given main priority by the Gov't being the Primary facility in Mindanao. The MICT should only act as an auxilliary facility & complement to the CDO port and not the focus for the Minadanao Super-Region.

boju

March 8th, 2007, 06:31 AM

CDO skyline

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/03062007400.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/03062007401.jpg http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/Exile_NDC/03062007402.jpg

Kahit blurred pero ganda ng angle ng pictures.

CDO port looks modern talaga lalo na pagmatuloy ang expansion. Lalawak yung makikitanating mga crane towers.

Gaisano Citymall looks so wide and huge.

The last photo, Maxandrea hotel towering the skyline with beautiful Pryce Plaza hotel at the background.

boju

March 8th, 2007, 06:49 AM

8 PROVINCIAL VENUES PLAY HOST IN THE FIESTA CONFERENCE
San Miguel – Coke tiff in Lanao kicks off out-of-town sorties

Continuing its efforts to bring its games closer to the fans, the PBA has lined up eight out-of-town sorties to spice up the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference that starts on Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

"The out-of-town sorties are in line with the PBA's vision of bringing the league closer to the fans, especially those in the provinces," said commisioner Noli Eala.

He also noted the continued increase in both live attendance and TV ratings during games held in the provinces since the league intensified its regional trust four years ago.

"This is also our way of giving back something to our faithful fans," he added.
San Miguel and Coca-Cola kick off the league's series of provincial games this conference whey they take on each other in Tubod, Lanao del Norte on March 17.

A week later (March 24), it's off to Cabanatuan City as Talk N Text battles Welcoat, before
Cagayan de Oro takes its turn hosting Asia's first play-for-pay league with the encounter pitting Alaska against Purefoods on March 31.

The PBA's road trip then takes a three-week respite as the league heads to the Middle East for its first ever out-of-the-country sojourn this conference, featuring reigning Philippine Cup champion Barangay Ginebra against Purefoods at the Al-Ahli Sports Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The provincial slate resumes on April 21 in Tacloban City where San Miguel clashes with Sta. Lucia Realty. After the All-Star break, the PBA goes to Urdaneta for the Ginebra-Air21 tussle on May 5.

Basketball hotbed Cebu City is the site of the possible explosive match up between San Miguel and Red Bull on May 12, before the PBA shifts to Naga City to stage the Ginebra -TNT match.

Alaska and Red Bull play in the tournament's final provincial outing in Bacolod on May 26.

PBA (http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1455/59/)

Sera

March 8th, 2007, 02:24 PM

Kahit blurred pero ganda ng angle ng pictures.

CDO port looks modern talaga lalo na pagmatuloy ang expansion. Lalawak yung makikitanating mga crane towers.

Gaisano Citymall looks so wide and huge.

The last photo, Maxandrea hotel towering the skyline with beautiful Pryce Plaza hotel at the background.

kaya sana talaga wag nag i-delay yung expansion ng CDO port para lalo pang mag-tiwala ang mga investors mamuhunan di lang sa CDO kundi sa buong Northern Mindanao:bash:

Narjz

March 8th, 2007, 02:42 PM

korek!! sana nga!

Sera

March 8th, 2007, 04:53 PM

N. Mindanao pushes power, energy investments

NEGOTIATIONS are currently undergoing to resolve the power shortage in Camiguin prompting the local government to coordinate with the stakeholders of a 69KVA submarine power cable lines from Aplaya in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

This, while prospects of a wind-generated power and improvement in telecommunications infrastructure to include direct transportation to the island are also being explored, Regional Director Alicia V. Euseña of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Northern Mindanao said.

"Stable power in Mindanao is a permanent agenda of the Administration and the government is meeting the challenge of boosting energy supply in the entire island to welcome investors not only by rehabilitating old power plants and construction of new ones but by expanding the field of alternative sources of energy," Euseña said.

Meanwhile, she said regional investments (TRI) of P23.78 billion have been poured into Northern Mindanao in 2006, noting a 24 percent increase compared to P19.22 billion in 2005.

Investments from the chemical-based sector out-paced all others with P13 billion or 55 percent of the TRI, followed by the Agri-Based Sector with P3.8 billion or 16 percent, Services Sector, P2 billion or 9 percent and Trading Sector, P1.6 billion or 7 percent.

Next was the Infrastructure Sector with P724 million or 3 percent, Mining and Metallurgical Sector, P503 million or 2 percent, Forest-Based Sector, P266 million or 1 percent, Consumer-Manufacturer Sector, P83 million or 0.35 percent, Metal Sector, P5.8 million or 0.2 percent and other sources not elsewhere classified, P1.67 billion or 7 percent.

Euseña said by sources of investments, P13.29 billion or 56 percent of the TRI came from the economic zones, such as the Phivedec Industrial Estate- Misamis Oriental (PIE-MO) where Pilipinas Kao, Inc. (PKI), Tagoloan Agri-Milling Corp., and the AAA Wood Processor are located.

This was followed by Business Name Registrations (BNR), an indicator for new investments with P4.16 billion or 17 percent, Banks, P1.26 billion or 5 percent, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) cluster projects, P219 million or 1 percent, Local Government Unit (LGU) initiatives, P57 million or 0.24 percent, Bank Financing, P1.46 million or .006 percent and from other multi-sources, P4.7 billion or 20 percent.

Meanwhile, Euseña said among the region's five provinces, Misamis Oriental got the biggest TRI share of P15.992 billion or 67 percent, derived mostly from the chemical-based sector representing 81 percent of its total provincial investments (TPI) that included the expansion and purchase of new equipments worth P13 billion of PKI.

On the other hand, Bukidnon with a share of P5.08 billion or 21 percent of the TRI accounted for 91 percent of the region's total agri-based investments while 20 percent of its TPI came from financing institutions, 10 percent from the BNR and the rest from the establishments and expansion projects for biscuits, banana, cassava, palm oil, raw sugar and fresh pineapple plantations.

Likewise, Lanao del Norte's TRI share of P1.67 billion or 7 percent also came from the: Mining and Metallurgical Sector, 28 percent, for the expansion of a steel company while the bulk of its infrastructure investments included the construction of Gaisano Mall in Iligan City, which is targeted for completion after 2 years Trade and Services Sectors, 19 percent and 10 percent, respectively, from the BNR of agri-based ventures, such as, seaweeds and banana production, among others, in the area.

Misamis Occidental had a P858.53 million or 4 percent share of the TRI but 70 percent of its TPI came from the Services Sector derived mostly from BNR, as well as construction and expansion of commercial firms, real estate, restaurants and appliance distribution centers while its Trading and Agri-Based Sectors posed positive growth from general merchandise, fishing and poultry farms, water system and livelihood assistance program from the Phil- Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP).

Camiguin's P179 million or 1 percent share in the RTI accounted for agri-based investments comprising of bank releases, as well as tourism-based and reforestation projects. (Trends)

boju

March 9th, 2007, 12:44 AM

Good Mowning CDO:)

http://elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/misamisoriental/images/stories/rafting.jpg

bustero

March 9th, 2007, 07:42 AM

Gentlemen, Please support this thread in the World Aviation Subforum of SSC. Please post new and relevant articles and pictures with your new airport to show off the best of the Pinas!
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=449658
Para lang di tayo mukhang dehado sa ibang bansa!
Specially kayo, your airport is new (well u/c at least!)

Sera

March 9th, 2007, 02:21 PM

Okay, pero hindi pa sure kung anong design ang susundin sa airport since horizontal & groundworks palang ng site ang sisimulan this year :)

FrancisXavier

March 9th, 2007, 06:13 PM

Goodmorning ssc... im back after a while..:hi:

boju

March 9th, 2007, 11:35 PM

Saturday, March 10, 2007
Misamis Oriental farmers urged to raise sheep, goats

FARMERS can now integrate the raising of goats and sheep in their farms to augment their income.

Department of Agriculture (DA) 10 Director Constancio Maghanoy Jr. said this during this week's "Talakayan sa PIA" media forum in Cagayan de Oro City.

He explained that farmers can raise goats and sheep in their own backyards and also in coco-farms, especially under the coconut trees.

Farmers don't have to feed goats and sheep with commercial foods because they just eat grass in the surroundings, he added.

He said with the integration of sheep and goat in farmlands, farmers can save as much as 70% from the cost of labor and maintenance of plantation crops because sheep and goats will thrive on grasses and plants in the area.

Maghanoy also reported that DA 10 is hosting the 3rd National Goat and Sheep Congress, in coordination with the Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers and Associations of the Philippines (FGASPAPI), on March 21-23, at the Lim Ket Kai Center in Cagayan de Oro.

Themed "Asenso ka sa Kambing at Tupa," goat and sheep raisers-farmers and product and service providers will be updated on the various issues affecting the industry and will open up challenges towards development and economic equity.

Meanwhile, Provincial Veterinarian Alfonso Ramosa of Misamis Oriental said, "there is a need for more production of goat and sheep."

Goats and sheep are not only in demand in the country for local consumption but are also being sought in other countries, especially in the Middle East.
He said the demand of goat is 3.2% compared to our production of only 1.5 %.

Ramosa said the raisers of goats and sheep are classified into: backyard raisers or those that rely on grasses only for feeding, and commercial raisers or those that mix feeds in their feeding so as to cope up with the production needs.

He also reported that the provincial government of Misamis Oriental has allocated funds for the purchase of upgraded male goats to be used as breeders.

During the same forum, Dr. Elvito D. Tac-an, DA-10 livestock division chief, said Middle East countries need 10,000 heads of goat per month, which the Philippines cannot produce at the moment.

This is a challenge to commercial raisers so that they would raise more goats to answer the high demand of goat's meat and goat's milk in the country and in the international market, he said.

Tac-an clarified that the goat's meat to be exported should be halal-produced, halal-processed and halal-packed, a pre-requisite before it could be accepted in the Middle East countries.

Halal means that the production, processing and packaging aspect is free from contamination of pig's oil, hog waste, and other organic matter of pigs that will come in contact with goats, he explained.

He also said there is a ritual where only qualified abattoir or slaughter house personnel are allowed to slaughter goats whose meat are to be exported to the Middle East countries. (Press release)

Sunstar

boju

March 9th, 2007, 11:40 PM

Goodmorning ssc... im back after a while..:hi:

Oh, how's life now?

boju

March 10th, 2007, 12:00 AM

Good Morning CDO!

http://visitcagayandeoro.com/templates/sample/images/head_image.jpg
(http://www.visitcagayandeoro.com/)

boju

March 10th, 2007, 12:05 AM

Giga Go, CDO!

CAGAYAN DE ORO =>>>

Gateway to Northern Mindanao
ICT Goldmine of the Philippines
City of White Water Rafting & River Trekking
A City in Bloom, in Blossom, and in BOOM!
Welcome to the City Of Golden Friendship!

http://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/images/cdo_landmark.jpg (http://www.cagayandeoro.gov.ph/)

Narjz

March 10th, 2007, 04:17 AM

MAAYONG BUNTAG CUIDAD SA MABULAWANONG PANAGHIGALAAY!

FrancisXavier

March 10th, 2007, 12:20 PM

Oh, how's life now?

life pa rin...:colgate:

im still adjusting to this new life though.. btw, did you guys recieve the PM regarding the URBANITY convention organized by XU Agriculture dept? Im thinking about joining..

Sera

March 10th, 2007, 02:33 PM

^^Ganyan din ako noon nung nagsisimula sa career ko sa ICT. Tapos nung medyo nasanay na balic sa SSC ako :banana:

bariQ

March 10th, 2007, 02:49 PM

hehehe mingaw kau dri sa CDO thread w/o FX (it is peaceful here in CDO thread w/o FX) sakto bah??? hehehe!

Sera

March 10th, 2007, 02:52 PM

It's safe to say "he's the resident CDO forumer" :banana:

FrancisXavier

March 10th, 2007, 04:21 PM

g0Rs

March 10th, 2007, 04:22 PM

OT: @lew glad you're still alive

FrancisXavier

March 10th, 2007, 04:29 PM

LOLS, i was almost dead last night...:colgate:

Sera

March 10th, 2007, 06:08 PM

LOLS. Boju is also the resident CDO Forumer, i bow to him for posting SunStar/CDOofclWeb/Kagay-an.com 's article every morning..:master:

.. Before, it was Cyrusal though...I wonder where he is right now...:dunno:

As a matter of fact, I also try my best to give the freshest updates on Sunstar if I get the chance to do so:banana:
Ang maganda pa dyan laging Booming ang Business News sa Sunstar kung tungkol sa NorMin kaya makikitang pinaka-vibrant ang growth ng NorMin sa Mindanao:)

Narjz

March 11th, 2007, 03:54 AM

Dis-a man d i ka gikan @LeW?

Sera

March 11th, 2007, 04:01 AM

Any new pics of these projects?

1.The Koresco Condotel, 2.Limketkai Center Skybridge, 3.CDO Convention Center

Sera

March 11th, 2007, 04:04 AM

Jobs growth not the only winner from BPO in The Philippines

The property sector in the Philippines is rising from the doldrums thanks to the booming business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Aside from boosting the country's labor, another clear beneficiary of the boom in the BPO industry is the property sector.

BPO is an emerging industry in the Philippines. The industry itself was regarded as one of the fastest growing industry in the world. The phenomenal BPO boom is led by demand for offshore call centers. It is estimated that over 112,000 people were working in call centers in the Philippines in 2005, bringing in revenues of US$1.12 billion for the year. This is in sharp contrast to 2000 when Filipino call centers employed 2400 people and earned US$24 million.

This emerging industry is fueled by front office customer care and back office processes including finance/accounting, human resources, and information technology services. Though customer care contact centers form the largest part of the BPO boom locally, the Philippines' English language proficiency, information technology, human resources, and available finance/accounting professionals are significant contributing factors as well.

In fact the Philippines has the largest number of accredited accountants in Asia, with the number growing yearly. Filipino accountants are also renowned for their flexibility in working with multiple accounting standards.

The Philippines' Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) report for 2004 cited the Philippines as among the top 10 choices for offshore operations. Major companies that already operate in the Philippines include AIG, AOL, Barnes & Noble, Chevron, Citigroup, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, JPMorgan Chase, Motorola, Procter & Gamble, and Trend Micro.

Land Values Rocket
While the 1997 Asian financial crisis may have caused the property sector to hit rock bottom, the services industry is breathing new life into once vacant assets. Land values in the major central business districts in Metro Manila have increased because of the demand for more office space. The main underlying demand is coming from BPO growth.

In 2005, research from property group Colliers International estimated that land values in the Manila central business districts should post a 15% year-on-year increase. Prices of prime sites in Makati are expected to hit US$4,192 per square meter, while development plots in Ortigas could reach up to around US$1,893, the consultancy firm said. Anything from warehouses, shopping malls to upscale office spaces are currently up for grabs as the BPO industry has seen demand outstripping supply.

Some of the countries top property developers are earmarking sites to cater to the BPO demand. Recently, Ayala Land, Inc, a large property developer, said it is setting up two BPO campuses in Metro Manila and Luzon. Ms. Victoria Añonuevo, Ayala corporate business group head, said these two projects are the company's answer to the exponential growth of the BPO business in the country. "In the last year, BPO buildings have gone from zero of our total office gross leasable area to about 34 percent of our overall office portfolio, Ms. Añonuevo was quoted as saying.

Ayala Land is offering a unique built-to-suit model targeted mainly to address the demand for office space. Last year, it transferred its first built-to-suit building to a major BPO player. Ayala Land's built-to-suit model involves a prospective tenant who submits its specific requirements to the property firm who in turn will build the property according to the tenant's specifications. This model assures Ayala Land has a guaranteed tenant for the property. Last year, Ayala Land said it had earmarked nearly 36,000 sqm of leasable office space for construction of BPO buildings.

Not to be outdone by realtors, shopping mall developer SM Prime Holdings last February opened its doors to Dell Inc. who established a call center in one of SM's biggest malls to date, the Mall of Asia. The services sector is also coming to the rescue of "traditional" sectors such as manufacturing. While the manufacturing sector is still recovering from weak output last year, the services sector is attempting to fill in the void. "Some firms are buying warehouses because of the lack of office space," Director-General Romulo Neri of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

Even prior to the use of warehouses for BPO, once vacant condominium units have been rented by many companies. One board member of a Makati condominium building said that the number of tenants increased from 60 percent to 90 percent because of BPO companies. The lack of viable supply has resulted in the emergence of alternative sites such as Filinvest Alabang, the Bay Area reclamation, the site of the Mall of Asia, Fort Bonifacio, McKinley Hill and Robinsons Pioneer area.

Incentives Widely Available
One of the major developments in the government's incentive-giving policy is the recognition that commercial spaces, no matter how small or big, can be entitled to incentives. Developers of these real estate properties apply for and get incentives from the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). Once proclaimed by government that office sites are IT investment sites, the property developers and locators in the sites were entitled to incentives. Incentives range from tax holidays to duty-free importation of equipment. Prior to this recognition, only large industrial tracts of lands were entitled to incentives. These large tracts of lands are those suited for traditional businesses, such as manufacturing sites.

Cities Not The Only Beneficiaries
Metro cities outside the capital of Manila are also cashing in on the BPO boom. Among these metro cities, Metro Cebu in Visayas, is the next preferred site for IT investments, including back office services. In fact, Cebu City is positioning itself as an alternative ICT hub in southern Philippines. Cebu currently hosts 12 call centers.

Not to be outdone, the province of Davao has also opened its doors to BPO investors. Merly Cruz, the trade department's director for Region XI, said two BPO companies engaged in the outsourcing of architecture and graphical services have already set up operations.

Nakayama Technological Corp., one of the biggest BPOs in Mindanao, operates in Digos, Davao del Sur while Menogaya Co. runs it's daily services in Davao city. "The information communications technology has been added to the priority industry in Davao," Cruz said. The incentives offered to investors are a sales tax holiday for four years and free processing of local government taxes and fees such as building and mayor's permits.

To prove that companies in Luzon have taken serious note of the skills of the residents in Mindanao, G-Com Asia Pacific Phil., which is a branch of the Cyber City in Clark, had established call center operations in Davao. "It will also start its legal research outsourcing within the year," Cruz said. Cagayan de Oro, another city in Mindanao is home to Link2Support which recently reported that it would develop an additional 800 square meters. floor area for a total of 500 seats.:banana: