Convergence of Palm Oil Industry Cluster Stakeholders in Mindanao

The Philippine Palm Oil Development Council Inc. (PPDCI) will conduct its 12^th annual general assembly this coming February 21, 2014 in Microtel Inn and Suites, Mamay Road, Davao City. This year’s annual general assembly theme is “Global technology Documentation for High Farm Productivity and Farmers Income in Oil Palm”. 

 The activity will have three (3) parts that include (1) annual reports from the council, training support, preparation of   palm oil road map and technology updates, (2) Technology and Products Presentation and (3) General Assembly proper that include presentation of industry policy advocacy and development directions, through resolution and support to House Bill 821 “AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE PALM OIL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO PROMOTE THE PHILIPPINE PALM OIL INDUSTRY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”. The bill was already filed in 2012 and was refilled this current 16^thCongress of the Philippines for enactment. Updates on palm oil tripartite partnership between and among Palm Oil Cooperatives, Land Bank of the Philippines and Agumil Philippines will also be discussed.

The event will also facilitate the presentation, approval of plans and programs of Philippine Palm Oil Development Council for the year 2014. This will be followed by the election and oath taking by the new set of officers.(Federico C. Ealdama –TWG PPDCI)

Convergence of Palm Oil Industry Cluster Stakeholders in Mindanao

Tagum previews Musikahan in the barangays

 TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Feb 19 (PIA) The City Government of Tagum and the Tagum Tourism Council are bringing a simpler but meaningful Musikahan Festival this year, by opening its Barangay Musikahan last weekend. 

Pegged on the theme, "Tagumeno Bisag Asa: Babalik Ka Rin,” the said competition highlights the unique musical artistry and talents of Tagumenos down to barangay level.

The Musikahan sa barangay commenced in February 15 at the New Balamban Brgy. Gym, featuring their barangay-based talents.

The show featured a variety show, showing music, dance and merry making. 

Arnold Alvarez, art director of the Tagum City Tourism Council the Musikaahan will showcase through the Barangay Musikahan what’s best in Tagum that sustained the festival for the past 13 years.

Meanwhile, the formal launching of the Musikahan Festival will be on February 21 and will end on March 7, 2014 in time of the Araw ng Tagum celebration.

This year’s competition will feature the following: Rondal Awit, Tunog Tagum, Himig Handog, Kasikas sa Tagum, Avenida Musika, and Kantahan sa Tagum Grand Finals.

A photo exhibit will be mounted in Rotary Park, with a throwback narrative of Tagum’s journey to development.

The Musikahan sa Tagum Festival, now on its 13th year is part of the three celebrations prepared by the local government, including the Tagumeño Bisag Asa and the 16th Charter Anniversary of Tagum. (Gleiza Delgado of CIO Tagum)

ComVal, 1st Runner-Up to the National Search for Barangay with Best Sanitation Practices

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE, February 18, 2014 (PIA) -----The province has garnered the Top II national award or First Runner-Up to the National Search for Barangay with Best Sanitation Practices (NSBBSP) of the Department of Health (DOH) with Barangay Del Pilar of Mabini as Region XI’s official national entry.

The Awarding Ceremony was held at Traders Hotel Manila, Pasay City on February 12, 2014.  

A provincial recognition was also conducted through a ceremony during the employees’ convocation on February 17, 2014 at the Capitol led by Vice Governor Manuel “Way Kurat” E. Zamora and other officials.

Barangay Del Pilar is the NSBBSP Regional Winner having passed the DOH criteria of gaining the corresponding needed points in the contest.

Being a consistent regional winner for six years in this best sanitation practice program and now a top II national awardee, the province is recognized as a Hall of Famer on Environmental Sanitation.  (grace almedilla, ids-comval)

ComVal athletes shine in DAVRAA, qualifiers to “Palarong Pambansa 2014”

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley, February 19, 2014 (PIA) - Athletes coming from schools divisions of Compostela Valley reaped their respective gold, silver and bronze medals from various events in the recently concluded Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet last Feb. 9 to 12 held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Named the Comval Gold team,  23 athletes, four coaches and chaperones will join the 2014 “Palarong Pambansa” set on May 4-11, 2014 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

In the elementary level, 12 qualifiers for the Softball event include students from Andili Elementary School (ES), Malinawon ES, Mawab Central ES and Panoraon ES, Maco. A student from Assumption Academy of Mawab will also compete for Chess and three students for the swimming event from Kingking ES, Magnaga ES both in Pantukan and Bucana ES in Maco.

Meanwhile, two students from Nabunturan National Comprehensive High school will compete for the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) and one from Pasian NHS for MAG. An NNCHS student will also be competing for Sepak takraw and Taekwondo from St. Vincent Academy in Maragusan while one Montevista NHS student will join the football team and another NNCHS student for the Futsal event, which is included as a demo sport.

In a simple recognition given to the athletes on February 17, Deped-Comval’s representative Ruben  Reponte in behalf of SDS Nenita Lumaad extends their deep gratitude to the provincial government and all those who have helped. Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and Sports Committee Vice-chairperson Tyron Uy also pledged for continued support as they already set in place various sports activities in tandem with the Provincial Physical Fitness and Sports Development Council (PPFSDC). (fe maestre/ids comval)

1003rd army brigade to deploy peace, dev’t teams to borders of DavNor

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Feb. 19 (PIA) --- The 1003rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army is set to mobilize within the quarter its peace and development teams to far-flung barangays at the borders of the province.

Colonel Harold Cabreros, commander of 1003rd Infantry (Raptor) Brigade revealed the deployment of peace and development teams in “areas frequented by communist rebels and those considered as affected areas.”

He believed the brigade would have sufficient elements to roll out the Peace and Development (PDOP) Program in the peripheral areas with the coming in of additional forces to cover contiguous areas at the borders of Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Compostela Valley Province and Agusan del Sur.

He expected resistance from “the armed groups” but he assured of enough preparation, however, he asked the residents to support efforts of the military to clear the peripheral areas of the adjacent provinces and to make way for government services.

Aside from providing security, the PDOP teams will conduct seminars and needs assessment of the far-flung communities to provide national and local government agencies information on what services to deliver.

The 1003rd wages the PDOP operation parallel with the implementation  of Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) projects under the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Procests (OPAPP). 

The provincial office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that by 2015,  the PAMANA focused towns in Davao del Norte are Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro,  Talaingod and Asuncion.

“With  the PAMANA now, we have endorsed these areas: underdeveloped areas, insurgency-affected areas,  so that developmental projects would come in,” Cabreros said.

Meanwhile, Cabreros sympathized with the pressure that residents of Barangay Gupitan had been experiencing due to presence of armed groups, allegedly NPA members, in their communities.

He had learned that the armed groups were recruiting members of tribal communities and were staying for prolonged period to conduct seminars, causing fear and alarm among tribal folks.

“Kaya asahan nila makakapagbigay tayo ng tulong sa kanila para mawala na yong takot. (Rest assured that we can provide them help to ease their fear.),” he said but he asked them to cooperate and support the military elements sent to conduct PDOP.

Gupitan Brgy Capt. Evangelio Warag, in an earlier interview with PIA, revealed  that the NPA required every sitio to produce recruits and that the group also demanded acres of land to develop a communal area for tree planting.   (PIA 11/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

Local police intensifies operations against cybercrimes

DAVAO CITY, Feb 19 (PIA) The operation which busted an alleged cybersex den at Purok 26, Barangay Bucana, Ecoland, Davao City Monday was a product of a case build-up based on a trash thrown by one of its alleged operators in a mall here.

Chief Inspector Crisle Cainong, chief of the Regional Digital Forensic Laboratory of the Police Regional Office 11 said the trash picked up by one of their operatives four months ago became a subject of intense information gathering leading to the rescue  of seven minors and the arrest of two perpetrators in a raid conducted Monday.

He said operatives secured a warrant issued by Judge Evalyn Arellano-Morales of the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 of the 11th Judicial Region in Davao City and rescued the minors who were on the act of performing lewd acts before a camera.

The raiding team also arrested two perpetrators, both women.

Cainong said the raiding team also seized a laptop, broadband SIM card, mobile phones, headphone, receipts from a local pawn shop, assorted discs, live ammunition of .38 caliber and cash believed to be proceeds from their cyber pornography operations amounting to P1,450.

He said based on initial investigation of the perpetrators, they started their cybersex operation initially using a pesonet computer.

“Consequently, their earnings made them buy a complete set of items for a cybersex den,” Cainong said.

He said the two suspects are now under the custody of ACG-RDFL 11 prior the filing of charges through inquest proceedings.

Cainong said the two respondents face charges for violating the Child Pornography Act, Anti-Human Trafficking, and child abuse.

“They violated Sec. 4 of Republic Act 9775 or An Act Defining the Crime of Child Pornography in relation to Sec 4 of RA 9208 or the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2003 and Art. III Sec 5, Art. V and VI of RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” he said.

The rescued minors are placed under the care of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of Regional Investigation and Detective Unit and the City Social Services and Development Office.

Cainong urged the need to strengthen family ties and marriages to avoid online sex predators.

“The victims are minors. The offense falls under qualified trafficking. It is a non-bailable offense and if convicted, the suspects face life imprisonment and a fine of Five Million Pesos. The arrested suspects admitted to the crime saying their family is in dire need of money and that they found said illegal activity to be lucrative because they are being paid in dollars,” he said.

Chief Inspector Jed Clamor, spokesperson of the PRO 11 said the police have standing orders to run after perpetrators of sexual abuse and exploitation.

He said the Anti-Cybercrime Group, a new unit of the Philippine National Police is a product of the Anti-Cybercrime Act of 2012 signed by President Benigno Aquino III last September.“Last week, Police Director General Alan Purisima ordered the PNP to intensify the crackdown on all Cybersex Den and the operations against human trafficking victimizing minors brought by organized syndicates as the country faces the 18th National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation,” Clamor said. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Rebels set up community, recruit members in outskirt of a barangay in DavNor

KAPALONG, Davao del Norte, Feb. 17 (PIA)—The chief of the farthest barangay in Kapalong  gets  apprehensive about attempts of the New People’s Army (NPA) to establish communities and to carry out massive recruitment.

 Gupitan Barangay Capt. Evangelio Warag revealed the recruitment activities and modes of the rebels to establish communities in his barangay aside and that he divulged last year’s anniversary celebration of New People’s Army  was held in one of the sitios in his barangay.

 “The NPAs not only require every sitio to produce recruits but they are also enlisting “underage” individuals to join their movement,” Warag said

 “Kung walay mopasakop, murag naa silay balaod nga gikahadlukan sa mga tribal leaders.  (If nobody would like to be recruited, I think they have a policy that  tribal leaders fear of),”  he said.

Warag could not outright tell the policy but said the NPAs lengthened their period of stay to conduct seminars from six days to 12 days in areas where they would find it hard to recruit.

                To take back recruits

Warag revealed holding a conference with tribal leaders and purok leaders who expressed common desire to stay away from insurgency problem and away from the crossfire between the military and the NPA

 “Dili na unta mi hilabtan, (We hope we would be left by ourselves.)” he said.

 Tribal leaders would like to take back tribal community members recruited by NPAs.  They also wanted the military to return the tribe members who have joined the  Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU).

  He admitted having no problem with the military  but Warag had difficulty with NPAs who had various reasons of turning down requests to return their recruits.

“Lisod ang pagbawi sa tribo sa mga misampa sa ilaha, daghan sila alibi.  Boluntaryo man daw nga misulod sa ilaha, (It’s difficult to get back those who joined them; they have a number of alibis. “Why get them back when they voluntarily join us?,” they would say.),  he said referring to NPAs.

He and the tribal council  leaders were thinking of holding a local dialogue with the  NPAs whom they had asked to send a representative. While the NPA has yet to respond to the request, the tribal council still has to find somebody to mediate the talk.

                Anniversary in Gupitan

Meanwhile, Warag revealed reports that about 300-strong NPA troops gathered in sitio Kawayan to celebrate the NPA founding anniversary on December 26 last year.  Warag estimated the area to be about 20 kilometers from the center of Barangay Gupitan.

He feared their continued presence in the sitio where NPAs allegedly demanded that they be given 20 hectares  to set up a communal area to plant trees.

Projecting such  presence to  result in encounters with  the military, Warag was particularly concerned about the elementary and high school students whose classes would consequently be disturbed.

                Gov’t interventions

On the other hand, 1003rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations officer, Capt Marcelino Rafael in a separate interview said the soldiers have laid out security plans, and peace and development interventions for Gupitan to start within first quarter this year.

 Rafael asked tribal community members and leaders to support the peace and development activities that the military will bring to deliver basic services of the government.

The provincial government of Davao del Norte conducted  last year the Convergence for Peace and Development in Gupitan, hauling government services with  the military and the police, aside from implementing road projects.

 It also recently held Oplan ANDAM (Advocacy on Natural Disaster Awareness and Mitigation) in Gupitan to  drum community awareness on the need to prepare for disaster due to  presence of geological hazards and due to adverse effects of climate change.

The municipal government also pushes funding for projects intended for Gupitan which it highly recommends under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program of the Office of the Presidential Assistance on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

                Location

Lying at the frontier of Agusan del Sur (in  CARAGA Region), Bukidnon (in Northern Mindanao), Compostela Valley Province (adjacent province of Davao del Norte), Barangay Gupitan covers a land area of about 65,000 hectares, Warag said.

 Among the tribes living in the area are Manobo,  Dibabawon, Umayamnon and Mandaya but Warag said Bukidnon tribes he called as “Tigwahon” have found their way to Gupitan.

Warag said the barangay has 36 registered puroks but 27 other sitios are located at the peripheral areas which, he said, are hard-to-reach.  (PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

Davao City Host Lions Club and Davao City Filipino Chinese Communities hand in 460 units of water filtration container to ComVal

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE, February 18, 2014 (PIA) -----Officials and members of the Davao City Host Lions Club and the Davao City Filipino Chinese communities came to the Capitol in February 17 and handed over 460 units of water filtration container as their assistance to the continuous rebuilding program of ComVal.

The team led by Jose Cua shared that such intervention was due to the effort of  Governor Arturo T. Uy who continue looking for some means of support for the province’s rebuilding efforts.

The water containers were happily received by the provincial government in a turn-over ceremony before the presence of the officials, department heads, and employees led by Vice Governor Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, Board members Tyron Uy, and Macario Humol.

The said water filtration containers cleanse and remove impurities from water, making it safer for drinking.  Each imported container is good for 20 liters of water.  (grace almedilla, ids-comval)

Compostela Valley holds Regional School Press Conference

Compostela Valley Province, February 18, 2014 (PIA) ----- The province hosted the Regional School Press Conference  which opened officially in February 13, at the Assumption College of Nabunturan (ACN) Gym.

Gracing the occasion were Governor Arturo Uy and Mayor Romeo Clarin with the officials of the Department of Education namely Nenita Lumaad, Division School Superintendent of Compostela Valley, Gloria Benigno, regional director of DepEd 11 and other local government officials.

The activity was anchored  on the theme, “Campus Journalism and Transformational Leadership.”

Highlighting the program was the ceremonial turn-over of the RSPC 2014 banner represented by . Ma. Ines C.

Asuncion, Ed.D. School Division Superintendent of the Division of Panabo City the previous host of the said event in the year 2013 to the Division of Compostela Valley which was received by  Nenita E. Lumaad and Ruben G. Reponte..

The RSPC is composed of the different DepEd Division Offices under Region-XI or the Davao Region.

 These are Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao City, Panabo City, Tagum City, Digos City, Mati City and Island Garden City of Samal. 

Governor Uy was amazed with the attendance of the RSPC, and thanked the DepEd for making Compostela Valley as the venue for the RSPC.

"Being there and being accurate are how journalistic credibility is brought to the social media sphere. While it is necessary that there will always be a need for reliable verification, what must be better understood is how people seek out news and information and how they learn through their use of social media. The question worth asking is where journalism fits this fast emerging and ever changing social media and digital system," he said.

Uy said that with the RSPC, the students are trained in journalism and are provided with an avenue to practice the truth, fairness, and balance, which he thinks, are values taught better by experience and supplemented by the classroom.

After his message he rendered a love song dedicated to the participants and the different delegations in time for Valentine’s Day. (Rey M. Antibo/IDS ComVal)

Davao del Norte offers to host the Palarong Pambansa 2015

Davao del Norte, February 18 (PIA) – Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said the province has all the qualities for a perfect venue of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa. like world-class sports facilities, relative peace and order condition, adequate billeting accommodations, quality hotels and reliable communication services, etc.

“You name it and Davao del Norte has it. We have what it takes to run a Palarong Pambansa,” the governor told the media after the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex last Wednesday.

The Department of Education said the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa is determined by bidding and guided by the principle of rotation that follows the “Visayas-Luzon-Mindanao-Luzon" cycle.

It is Mindanao’s turn next year since the 2015 national games is slated in Sta. Cruz, Laguna this May.

Considering that Region XI has never hosted the Palaro event yet, Del Rosario contends the region should be given the opportunity to showcase its capacity to host the country's premier national sporting event. 

And since only Davao del Norte has a world-class, state-of-the-art sports facility in the region makes it the most eligible province to be awarded the venue of the Palaro.

“Kailangan tayo ang manalo,” he said.

The governor also reiterated his intention to complete all the ongoing facilities of the spanking sports complex, in order to bolster the province's chances of winning the bid. 

Davao del Norte’s spanking facility boasts of a 3,000-capacity main grand stand, rubberized track oval, Olympic-sized pool with warm-up pool, 1,000-seat bleacher and clubhouse, football field, two lawn tennis courts, air-conditioned basketball gymnasium and a perimeter professional lighting system for night events.

Another football field and a baseball field are on the pipeline to further boost the facility’s capability to handle big-ticket sporting events. (Noel Baguio-PIO DavNor)

Davao del Norte offers to host the Palarong Pambansa 2015

Davao del Norte, February 18 (PIA) – Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said the province has all the qualities for a perfect venue of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa. like world-class sports facilities, relative peace and order condition, adequate billeting accommodations, quality hotels and reliable communication services, etc.

“You name it and Davao del Norte has it. We have what it takes to run a Palarong Pambansa,” the governor told the media after the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex last Wednesday.

The Department of Education said the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa is determined by bidding and guided by the principle of rotation that follows the “Visayas-Luzon-Mindanao-Luzon" cycle.

It is Mindanao’s turn next year since the 2015 national games is slated in Sta. Cruz, Laguna this May.

Considering that Region XI has never hosted the Palaro event yet, Del Rosario contends the region should be given the opportunity to showcase its capacity to host the country's premier national sporting event. 

And since only Davao del Norte has a world-class, state-of-the-art sports facility in the region makes it the most eligible province to be awarded the venue of the Palaro.

“Kailangan tayo ang manalo,” he said.

The governor also reiterated his intention to complete all the ongoing facilities of the spanking sports complex, in order to bolster the province's chances of winning the bid. 

Davao del Norte’s spanking facility boasts of a 3,000-capacity main grand stand, rubberized track oval, Olympic-sized pool with warm-up pool, 1,000-seat bleacher and clubhouse, football field, two lawn tennis courts, air-conditioned basketball gymnasium and a perimeter professional lighting system for night events.

Another football field and a baseball field are on the pipeline to further boost the facility’s capability to handle big-ticket sporting events. (Noel Baguio-PIO DavNor)Davao del Norte offers to host the Palarong Pambansa 2015

Davao del Norte, February 18 (PIA) – Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said the province has all the qualities for a perfect venue of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa. like world-class sports facilities, relative peace and order condition, adequate billeting accommodations, quality hotels and reliable communication services, etc.

“You name it and Davao del Norte has it. We have what it takes to run a Palarong Pambansa,” the governor told the media after the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex last Wednesday.

The Department of Education said the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa is determined by bidding and guided by the principle of rotation that follows the “Visayas-Luzon-Mindanao-Luzon" cycle.

It is Mindanao’s turn next year since the 2015 national games is slated in Sta. Cruz, Laguna this May.

Considering that Region XI has never hosted the Palaro event yet, Del Rosario contends the region should be given the opportunity to showcase its capacity to host the country's premier national sporting event. 

And since only Davao del Norte has a world-class, state-of-the-art sports facility in the region makes it the most eligible province to be awarded the venue of the Palaro.

“Kailangan tayo ang manalo,” he said.

The governor also reiterated his intention to complete all the ongoing facilities of the spanking sports complex, in order to bolster the province's chances of winning the bid. 

Davao del Norte’s spanking facility boasts of a 3,000-capacity main grand stand, rubberized track oval, Olympic-sized pool with warm-up pool, 1,000-seat bleacher and clubhouse, football field, two lawn tennis courts, air-conditioned basketball gymnasium and a perimeter professional lighting system for night events.

Another football field and a baseball field are on the pipeline to further boost the facility’s capability to handle big-ticket sporting events. (Noel Baguio-PIO DavNor)

Tagum Premiere leaps from 9th to 2nd place in 2014 DAVRAA Meet

CITY OF TAGUM, Davao del Norte, Feb. 17----QUANTUM LEAP was how local and DepEd officials described the movement in ranking of the Tagum City Delegation in this year’s Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet held last week in the city.

From 9th place last year, the Tagum City athletes moved to 2nd place this year, as pump-primed with it’s yielding of 36 gold, 62 silver and 59 bronze medals during the whole-week sporting conclave sponsored by the Department of Education.

Mayor Allan Rellon shared the joy of Tagumeños in stealing the second place ranking next to Davao City, citing that this was made possible with proper training and preparation of the athletes to compete in the annual sports conclave.

Two weeks prior to the kick-off of the competitions, all Tagumeño athletes were billeted in Don Ricardo Briz Central Elementary School where they were subjected to a rigorous training to prepare them for their respective events.

The said training was financed under the Special Education Fund of the local government, said DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Cristy C. Epe.

In the secondary level, Tagum ranked second placer where athletes hauled 24 gold medals, 33 silver medals and 34 bronze medals.

Elementary athletes garnered 12 gold medals, 29 silver medals and 25 bronze medals.

As a way of the local government’s incentive to them for bringing pride and honor to Tagum, Mayor Rellon awarded cash incentives to all winners. Gold medalists were given 1,000 pesos, 500 pesos for silver medalists and 300 pesos for bronze medalists. All non-winning athletes were also given movie passes courtesy of Gaisano Mall of Tagum cinemas. (Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum)

Davao City's Speed Limit law yields more than two thousand violators

DAVAO CITY, Feb 17 (PIA) An official of the Land Transportation Office in Davao Region reported the apprehension of 2,217 drivers in the city for violating Executive Order No. 39, an order setting the speed limit of all vehicles within the territory of Davao City.

Speaking at the Kapehansa SM City,  Macario Gonzaga, assistant regional director of the LTO 11 said these drivers were held for over speeding and were cited for reckless driving.

He observed the implementation of the local order limiting the speed of vehicles led to the reduction of vehicular accidents in the city in the past three months.

“This only shows that stringent local measures in the law enforcement can be effective tools to advance the objective of peaceful and safe communities,” Gonzaga said.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that Executive Order No. 39, the local government policy tempering the speed of all land transportation within the city must stay since it is generally for public safety.

He said the speed limit has benefitted more the pedestrians from fast running vehicles.

Duterte was unperturbed with the complaint that the speed limit has caused tardiness among workers in reporting for work and the reduction of income among taxi drivers.

“The speed limit will stay to save lives,” he pointed out.

Duterte said vehicles running at a slow speed will surely stop once the brakes are applied.

He said accidents that make lives cheap is no longer acceptable.   

The Traffic Group of the Davao City Police Office attributed the reduction of vehicular accidents in the city at nine to ten percent following the implementation of the speed limit order.

Superintendent RhodelioPoliaquit, chief of the Traffic Group said three deaths per month due to vehicular accidents were reported several months before the speed limit implementation.

He said the Traffic Group apprehended initially a total of 200 motorists for violating the speed limit order since November.

Poliquit said traffic enforcers were armed with the corresponding speed guns to ensure the basis in apprehending violators. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

LPA-hit areas receives food, farm assistance

DAVAO ORIENTAL, Feb. 17— While communities in the east coast towns are still convalescing from the massive devastation brought about by the heavy flooding and landslides that hit the province last month, food assistance and rice seeds were turned over to them Monday, February 10.

About 25,285 affected families in the towns of Cateel and Baganga who were reached by the relief distribution say they were thankful for the food assistance that came. “The disaster had paralyzed our income making it difficult for us to buy food,” said one resident in Brgy. San Alfonso in Cateel town.

While serving as a temporary measure to aid them in the short-term, residents says they are grateful to the government who understands their plight and doing the best it can to alleviate their suffering.

Provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), each food pack contained five kilos of rice, 4 cans meat loaf, 10 pieces noodles and coffee.

Meanwhile, an initial 250 farmers in the coastal towns of Caraga, Baganga, Cateel, and Boston, each received one sack of rice seeds provided by the Department of Agriculture RFU XI. These rice seeds are intended to help farmers who are desperate to replant after vast rice swathes have been destroyed by the heavy floods.

“It is our first time to experience such huge flood here in our village. The fields were covered in mud and even our livestocks drowned in the flood,” said farmer Gregorio Laurente of BarangayTaytayan, Cateel.

Based on initial reports from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRI), damage on rice plantations alone was valued at 11.4 million pesos covering a total of 2,324 hectares. The large portion of which is in the east coast towns that covered a total of 2,265 hectares.

The PAGRI Office said that the initial handover of farm inputs was part of the 8.3 million pesos initial rehab assistance requested by the Provincial Government from the DA. This aid includes provision of ‘palay’ seeds, organic fertilizer, BLB stopper, and insecticides.

Grateful over the granted farm inputs, farmers said these would definitely help them to start planting again.  

Long-term efforts

Apart from the stopgap aid, the provincial government is also embarking on interventions meant to benefit people in the long-term. These include industry development such as the oil palm production that promises prolific venture. With the already established market tie-ups with multi-national companies, the industry is poised to induce economic boost for the province.

Meanwhile, in terms of shelter provision, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon met recently with local officials, directing them to fast track scouting for resettlement sites. During the meeting, she underscored that housing funds will only be allocated to homes that will be built on ‘safe zones’. “The government will not shell out funds for building houses on danger areas, otherwise, it will just be a total waste of resources,” she said.

In terms of accessibility, Governor Malanyaon said that the government is doing the best it can to expedite the repairs of the collapsed Lumao Bridge in Cateel, which left the town isolated from the capital for nearly a month.

“The continuous heavy downpour made the repairs of the bridge more difficult,” she said. “However, the Presidential Bridge Task Force together with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),

 assured that they will commence the construction of the temporary bailey bridge this week to ease access,” she added.

She also assured the people the restoration of roads to far-flung villages through the ‘Operation Kalsada’ wherein sets of equipment are being deployed by the province to facilitate simultaneous repair of barangay roads.

She urged the barangay officials to prioritize the best interest of the people who needs the government’s genuine services, especially in this time of crisis. (By Karen Lou Deloso/ Photo by Eden JhanLicayan)

People’s Park hosts PAG-IBIG Fund mass wedding

DAVAO CITY- Under the lush canopies of People’s Park Tulip Trees about 596 couples said their “I dos” at a mass wedding initiated by the Pag-IBIG Fund held last Feb. 14.

This is the first time a wedding was held at the People’s Park, which was built in 2008 in an erstwhile dilapidated sports complex. Previously the park hosted concerts, performance events, government flag-raising ceremonies and fitness activities.

The wedding was officiated by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and graced by the presence of Atty Leo Braceros the local Civil Registrar, Fermin Sta. Teresa, Vice-President Mindanao Operations of the Pag-IBIG Fund.

 The 596 couples are Pag-IBIG members and the activity which is also simultaneously held in six other tourism destinations across the country is Pag-IBIG Fund’s three-year old “I do, I do” project which is a membership awareness campaign by helping unwed couples receive matrimonial and civil rights.

The 596 Davao wedding couples are part of the 4,500 couples taking part in Pag-IBIG mass wedding.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in his message urged the couples to consider responsible parenthood particularly on planning the right size  and proper spacing of having children since raising children and sending them to school is a big responsibility.

A house and lot package and a kabuhayan (livelihood) package worth P25,000 and minor prizes like domestic appliances were raffled off during that afternoon. (PIA/RG Alama)

https://www.facebook.com/notes/pia-davao/peoples-park-hosts-pag-ibig-fund-mass-wedding/281184658702793

People’s Park hosts PAG-IBIG Fund mass wedding

DAVAO CITY- Under the lush canopies of People’s Park Tulip Trees about 596 couples said their “I dos” at a mass wedding initiated by the Pag-IBIG Fund held last Feb. 14.

This is the first time a wedding was held at the People’s Park, which was built in 2008 in an erstwhile dilapidated sports complex. Previously the park hosted concerts, performance events, government flag-raising ceremonies and fitness activities.

The wedding was officiated by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and graced by the presence of Atty Leo Braceros the local Civil Registrar, Fermin Sta. Teresa, Vice-President Mindanao Operations of the Pag-IBIG Fund.

 The 596 couples are Pag-IBIG members and the activity which is also simultaneously held in six other tourism destinations across the country is Pag-IBIG Fund’s three-year old “I do, I do” project which is a membership awareness campaign by helping unwed couples receive matrimonial and civil rights.

The 596 Davao wedding couples are part of the 4,500 couples taking part in Pag-IBIG mass wedding.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in his message urged the couples to consider responsible parenthood particularly on planning the right size  and proper spacing of having children since raising children and sending them to school is a big responsibility.

A house and lot package and a kabuhayan (livelihood) package worth P25,000 and minor prizes like domestic appliances were raffled off during that afternoon. (PIA/RG Alama)