Australia-based meat firm hires 30 Tagum LGU-trained butchers

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Apr. 18 – Some 30 butchers trained by the city government of Tagum and who passed the trade test held in Pampanga are set to fly in Australia anytime this month.

Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy presented the new batch of butchers before the city hall employees during the regular Monday flag-raising rites on Monday (April 16, 2012), as the mayor underscored the huge success of the local government unit’s butcher training program.

The Tagum butchers were recently hired by Tey’s Bro Meat Company based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.

The local chief executive emphasized that the preference of Australian meat companies to hire butchers from Tagum is due to the fact that the LGU is serious in equipping committed Tagumeños with the necessary training.

Uy said the LGU’s Community Skills Training Program is more than enough for them (butchers) to be qualified for work in Australia.

Tagumeños who enroll in the program undergo a six-month hands-on training at the Tagum City’s Slaughterhouse in Barangay East.

The training is jointly undertaken by the City Mayor’s Office-Special Operations Unit under Javier Balaba and the City Veterinarian Office headed by Dr. Jesus G. Edullantes.

Uy also shared that the LGU of Tagum is perhaps the only (LGU) in the country that is very serious in training potential butchers free of charge for them to be ready for deployment abroad.

Aside from the actual training, the LGU has partnered with the University of Mindanao-Tagum College to give butchers an additional competitive edge via the (SWEEP) Skilled Workers English Enhancement Program.

SWEEP is where graduates of the city’s various community-based skills training are to undergo module-based lectures on basic English to help improve their listening, speaking and writing abilities before their deployment abroad.

This will later prepare them to hurdle the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, one of the requirements needed to work abroad.

Dedicated to continue this landmark program, Uy challenged all those who are set to work in Australia to “do your job with all dedication, sincerity, honesty and hardwork.”

“So that Australian companies will still hire Tagum-trained butchers in the months ahead,” he added. (CIO-Tagum City/Louie Lapat)

DavNor boxing team sweeps gold in DAVRAA meet

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Apr. 18 – The Davao del Norte Barangay Una Boxers representing Panabo City Division swept the seven available gold wins in the 2012 Palarong Panrehiyon-Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Boxing Competition held in New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province.

Leading the charge was Panabo City Secondary School campaigner Philip John Fuentes who trounced Leonard Bulacan of Davao Oriental in the Light Flyweight Division (49 kgs.) in the DAVRAA meet on April 11-15, 2012.

Both Compostela Valley’s Jaymund Perater and Davao del Norte’s Algeboy Bagasira garnered bronze medals.

In the Pinweight Division (46 kgs.), John Patrick Dinolan of Panabo City defeated Mark Anthony Pequiro of Davao City, while Belly James Sarte of Comval and Aldrin Mira of DavNor won Bronze medals in the Mosquitoweight Division (40 kgs.).

Ferdinand Apat of Panabo City captured the gold in the Mosquitoweight (40 kgs.) defeating Junrey Ebol of Davao City.

Ven Joshua Vanguardia, also of Panabo City won over Junmilardo Ogayre of Davao City in the Light Mosquitoweight Division (38 kgs.).

Paperweight Kim John Samoranos of Panabo City automatically earned gold medal when his opponent backed out.

For the Elementary School Division, it was Panabo City's Criztian Pitt Laurente who grabbed the gold medal over Richard Bulacan of Davao Oriental in the Minimumweight (34 kgs.) category.

Jerald Cantero of Panabo City was victorious over John Alvin Gonzales (Davao City) in the Antweight (32 kgs.) category. The fight completed the Panabo City Division campaigner Barangay Una Boxers mastery of the Boxing competitions in the just concluded DAVRAA meet.

It was learned that after this successful DAVRAA campaign, Barangay Una Boxing Team College boxers Jolan Bonghanoy, Ven Jacob Vanguardia, Jay-ar Inson and Quirino Mellejor will also compete in the upcoming 2012 PRISAA (Private Schools Athletic Association) National College Games  in Cebu City from April 22-28, 2012.

Inson and Mellejor are both gold medalists in the 2012 National Amateur Boxing Championsip held early this year in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The Barangay Una Boxing Team is a grassroots sports development program founded by former Congressman and now ANFLO Conglomerate Vice Chair, Tonyboy Floirendo and backed by Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr.

It provides free education up to college for all of their scholar-boxers. (DavNor 2nd Congressional District/Edwin C. Lagumbay, Jr.)

Banana firm leads planting of 1,500 mahogany seedlings

DAVAO CITY, Apr. 18 – With the company’s thrust to strengthen its corporate social responsibility, the Davao Agricultural Ventures Corporation (DAVCO) planted 1,500 mahogany seedlings in the vicinity of Brgy. Cawayan, Calinan, Davao City.

Dubbed as “Save the Planet, Plant a tree”, the activity joined more than 100 volunteers who worked cooperatively in planting the seedlings first week of April this year.

DAVCO, a producer and exporter of pineapple in the global market, continuously delivers activities beyond the sphere of its main business to contribute to the development of the locality and help uplift the lives of the people.

Consequently, tree planting is just one of these activities that the company earnestly fulfills especially for the benefit of its host communities.

Congruent to this, DAVCO has already planted more than 4,500 trees of different classes early this year.

These trees planted and nurtured by DAVCO will complement the 10,000 forest and fruit bearing trees the company has targeted to plant this year.

The tree planting activity gained the support and participation of the Don Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Foundation, volunteers from Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Bayer CropScience, City Agriculture Office, and Guardians Brotherhood. (DAVCO/Cyrielle P. Naig)

Segovia now heads Eastmincom

DAVAO CITY, Apr. 18 – Lt. Gen. Jorge V. Segovia is now the new commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) after Lt. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero relinquished his post in yesterday’s change of command at Camp Felix Apolinario parade ground in Panacan, Davao City. 

Lt. Gen. Segovia, a two-time division chief who headed the 2nd Infantry Division and 10th Infantry Division, is now a three-star general replacing Lt. Gen. Tabaquero who retired at age 56 after 34 years of selfless service.

During his command as the 10th Division Chief, Lt. Gen. Segovia changed Davao Region’s infamous identity as most NPA-infested area into a haven of peace and development.

He started it by transferring its base from Panacan to Brgy. Tuburan, Mawab, Compostela Valley Province on February 2011 where the existence of insurgency has been the prime concern.

This was followed by the opening of the headquarters to the public dubbed as the Eco-Military Tourism Park, an eco-park within an army camp.

He also established a strong bond with the youth through the launching of Youth Leadership Summit which was behind the fruition of now’s Youth for Peace Movement.

In his message, he encouraged the navy, air force and the PNP to join him in peace and development outreach.

“Let us fuse our efforts into one direction. We will clear a brighter, more peaceful path for those looking for solutions to their hardship,” he said.

He vowed to fight insurgency in his area of responsibility, to include regions 10, 11, 12, Caraga and some areas of ARMM, by continuing peace efforts thru peace and development outreach programs.

“Our doors are open to those who would also see themselves as stakeholders”, he said.

He also promoted the importance of cooperation, understanding, and the recognition of each other’s worth in attaining genuine peace. (10thID)

DOTC set to upgrade Ph airports

DAVAO CITY, April 18 (PIA) – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) intends to upgrade the capability of airports in the country based on volume of air traffic demands, DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla said today.

Lotilla told Davao media practitioners in an interview that the upgrading of airports is anchored on “economic realities” which basically depends on the volume of passenger flight demands of an area to a specific destination.

He did not, however, reveal the budget for such upgrading project.

DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas said DOTC is improving the terminal facilities of the Davao International Airport, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the Visayas and Puerto Princesa in Palawan, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Roxas bared this in his speech read by Usec Lotilla during the 1st Equator Asia Air Access Forum and Airlines CEO Summit held in the city today (April 18) attended by some 100 summit delegates from Brunei-Darrusalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). 

“We are enhancing facilities in our major gateways to help realize our goal of 10 million foreign visitors and 30 million domestic travelers by 2016,” Roxas stated.

Lotila also revealed that DOTC has allotted about P500 million for the installation of additional security screening equipment in all 45 airports nationwide with commercial flights.

Early this year, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III approved the P1.16 billion allocation to improve NAIA 1 so it would suit with world-class airport standards.

NAIA 1 now handles 7.3 million annual count of passengers, which go beyond its 4.5 million designed annual passenger capacity.

DOTC also allocated P500 million for the architectural, engineering and interior design to improve the internal facilities of NAIA 1, and P300 million for the construction of a rapid exit taxiway to address its runway congestion.

Another P20 million was also allocated for the complete rehabilitation of its 72 toilets.

On the other hand, Lotilla said the construction of a new airport worth P4.46 billion in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, in anticipation of increased tourist influx now that the 8.2-kilometer long Underground Subterranean River has been listed in the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Lotilla took note of other major airport projects foreseen to enhance the country’s capacity to handle international and domestic air traffic. 

Among which is the P7.85 billion Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental and that the workplan for the P5 billion Bohol Airport “is also in the process of being finalized.”

He said  the Laguindingan  Airport construction is “95 percent” way to completion.

DOTC website reveals that it has lined up  among its major projects, the New Legaspi (Daraga) Airport Development with funding allocation of P3.075 billion, due for implementation starting this year until 2015.

Lotilla conveyed commitments of DOTC under the helm of Sec. Roxas, to liberalize air transport policies, upgrading airports outside Metro Manila and eventually linking them with international destinations “including countries in Equator Asia”.

Equator Asia refers to the ASEAN sub-region  Brunei-Darussalam, Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East Asean Growth Area.

DOTC viewed this move as in line with Executive Order No. 29 signed by President Benigno Aquino last year, setting the  ‘Open Skies” policy  of the Aquino administration, and giving foreign carriers access to international airports all over the country.

Among the out-side Metro Manila airports which DOTC eyes to open up for international air traffic include Davao,  Zamboanga and Palawan  as these are “strategically close to destinations in BIMP-EAGA,” Lotilla said. (PIA-11/ Jean D. Abangan)

DTI-DN highlights EPP accomplishments in Feb

DAVAO CITY, Apr. 18 – The Department of Trade and Industry in Davao del Norte (DTI-DN) has underscored the February 2012 performance of the Export Pathways Program (EPP) in the province.

Citing the office’s report, DTI-DN officer-in-charge Engr. Vedastito C. Galvez said DTI-DN was able to corner a number of good business prospects for the period covered as a result of its EPP interventions.

The EPP is an initiative started in 2006 which is aimed at providing the necessary and tailor-fit interventions to the would-be exporters and exporting local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

With the program’s success in the region, it has already been adopted by all DTI regional offices throughout the country.

As of February 2012, DTI-DN has 56 EPP-enrolled SMEs.

Galvez said one of the program’s major accomplishments is the granting of PUM Netherlands the amount of P240,000 (Euro4,000) to the Chokolate de San Isidro, Inc. for the various improvements in its factory which will include the roasting equipment, transformer (for power stability), and some other necessary machines for product improvement.

This is through the initiative of the office.

CSI is also expecting a loan of US$120,000 from its European client for its fermentation facilities.

This development, Galvez said, will surely give a boost to the group’s sales as this will mean additional production capacity that will enable them to meet their clients’ volume requirements.

Further, this will also mean improved products (chocolate tablets).

Aside from this development, the EPP has likewise encouraged the Davao del Norte provincial government, through its Investment and Promotion Center, to allocate a budget of P735,000 for the establishment of the provincial pasalubong center (souvenir shop) in Tagum City.

Meanwhile, two cooperatives from the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) were able to avail of the coco coir twining machines from Regwill Industries, the trainer of the basic skills training on coco coir twining under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of DTI-DN.

Further, a marketing agreement with Regwill Industries was made during the training. Such agreement has enabled the cooperative to sell their coco coir to the company at an agreed price.

“This is just the initial major accomplishments for the first two month of this year. We can expect that more will be done and achieved in the coming months,” Galvez said. (DTI-11/JenMendoza)

ARENA-XI ‘Serbisyo Caravan’ goes to DavSur

By Carina L. Cayon

DAVAO CITY, Apr. 18 (PIA) – The Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies Region XI (ARENA XI) is set to bring its banner project “Serbisyo Caravan,” a one-stop-shop delivery of government services to the province of Davao del Sur this month.  

The ARENA-XI Serbisyo Caravan will have its first stop in the municipality of Sta. Cruz on April 20 where about 30 national government agencies (NGAs) are expected to provide their respective programs and services to the constituents.

The caravan will also be brought to Malita town of said province on April 27.

In Sta. Cruz, the general assembly of beneficiaries and the general public will be gathered at the municipal gym, while the various services from the different NGAs will be provided at the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall.

Among the NGAs that would render its services to its beneficiaries is the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which is slated to put up three consultation desks for its Beneficiary Update System, Compliance Verification System and Grievance Redress System.

DSWD will also conduct Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) registration and membership.

The Department of Health will assist rural health units in the distribution of

medicines worth P25,000 and information, education and communication (IEC)  materials.

Consultation, check-up and blood pressure screening will be given by the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples to its IP beneficiaries.

The National Food Authority will distribute rice through rolling stores, and will hold advocacy campaign on NFA Programs, while the Department of Science and Technology will offer demo on candle making and consultancy services on food processing.

The Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Environment and Natural Resources will have its distribution of land titles during the caravan, while the Department of Agriculture will handle technical cliniquing on its different banner programs.

The Department of Transportation and Communications, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, and Land Transportation Office will conduct lectures.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) will also be distributed by the Department of Energy.

The education offices will deliver its programs at Sta. Cruz National High School.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to provide information and dissemination drive on the K+12 program to the Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs), and distribute school supplies and bags to the Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners and Badjao elementary pupils of Apo Beach.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will also tender information and dissemination campaign, skills demonstration and awarding of scholarship grants.

Consultations, dialogues and information drive with their beneficiaries and the general public will be conducted by agencies like Department of Budget and Management, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, Government Service Insurance System, and Professional Regulation Commission, among others.  

“Our Serbisyo Caravan is a novel approach to public service,” stated ARENA-XI president and DBM Director Achilles Gerard C. Bravo.

Bravo said the caravan aims to bring the national government programs closer to the people, especially to the vulnerable sector of the communities.

“Let us make this work. Let us join hands and labor together in providing direct services to our various stakeholders,” he urged the NGAs in the region.

The Serbisyo Caravan in Davao del Sur will be the third leg of the one-stop-shop delivery of government services in Davao Region.

ARENA-XI’s banner project was launched in August last year in Davao Oriental as the first province recipient, followed by Compostela Valley Province in November. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)