NEDA-XI bats for creation of Davao International Airport Authority

DAVAO CITY, June 18 (PIA) – The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA-XI) has recommended support for the immediate passage of House Bill 6693, an Act creating the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA) to administer and operate the F. Bangoy International Airport (FBIA).

NEDA-XI, secretariat to the Regional Development Council (RDC-XI), said establishing the DIAA would affect to a more efficient and competitive administration and management of the Davao International Airport (DIA).

Strengthening the role of DIA as the transportation and logistics hub in Mindanao has also been espoused in the current development and physical framework plans of the Davao Region, said acting RDC-XI secretary Miguel Herrera.

Herrera raised the recommendation after presenting some specific and general comments gathered from member-agencies of RDC-XI, relative to the provisions in HB 6693 authored by Davao City 2nd district Congresswoman Mylene Garcia-Albano at the 15th Congress.

The comments and recommendations were laid down before members of the RDC-XI’s Development Administration Committee XI during the 2nd quarter meeting on June 11, 2013 at the NEDA-XI regional office.

RDC-XI vice chair and NEDA-XI regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said they will ask Congresswoman Garcia-Albano to convene with the RDC-XI to discuss the recommendations, emphasizing that the Bill has to be refined before the opening of the 16th Congress.

On the same meeting, DAC-RDC XI member Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) representing the private sector, presented a rejoinder reiterating the need to fast track the proposed establishment of DIAA.

The call was part of DCCCII official statement released on June 5, 2013, following the June 2 Davao runway mishap caused by one of Cebu Pacific aircrafts, which according to DCCCII “resulted to loss of million peso economic opportunity for Davao City and its adjacent provinces and cities, being the gateway of Mindanao.”

DCCCII suggested that DIAA should have its own charter and budget, with the mandate to ensure that the airport meets international standards, and that revenues generated by its operations should first and foremost be used for its upkeep and upgrade.

Herrera said RDC-XI has passed various resolutions last year to address observed poor services and facilities at the FBIA which includes the request to the President through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary to establish the Davao International Airport Authority (Res. No. 66, series of 2012).

Herrera said that the primary concern of the Council is on the improvement of the facilities and services of the FBIA, noting CAAP’s report that most of the equipment are old and need to be replaced, and that facilities need upgrading to internationally acceptable standards.

Another RDC XI resolution (Res. No. 69, series of 2012) recommended to DOTC-Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the retention of at least 50% of the annual income generated by the FBIA for its regular operations and maintenance, as well as for capital investment.

According to CAAP-XI report, FBIA had earned gross income for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 which amounted to P373M, P395M, P466M and P513M from toll and terminal fees.

“This shows that the airport is really earning,” Herrera commented.

Aside from the income of the FBIA, he said other factors must also be considered in the creation of DIAA such as the frequency/number of daily flights, number of airlines, airport maintenance and operations and compliance with standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Presently, there are about 64 flights daily (inbound and outbound) at FBIA by seven airlines namely: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Zest Air, Sea Air, Air Asia and Silk Air – international flights to Singapore (4 times daily), according to CAAP-XI. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

Troops pursues rebels behind Paquibato abduction

MAWAB, Compostela Valley, June 19 (PIA) The military has launched a pursuit operation against a group of rebels who held five soldiers in a roadblock at Sitio Lubas, Barangay Paquibato Proper in Davao City  4:30 p.m. Monday.

Lt. Colonel Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division said the soldiers were not engaged in combat operation when the incident happened.

He called the incident a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Paniza said the soldiers were unarmed when the incident happened.

“It is sad that the rebels no longer respect the CAHRIHL which their leaders forged with the government on the proper behaviour on the field,” Paniza said. 

Captain Raul Villegas, public affairs officer of the 10th Infantry Division said their primary concern now is the safety of the six soldiers who were held at gunpoint after they failed to notice the roadblock set up by the rebels clad in military uniform.

He identified the captives as Corporal Emmanuel Quezon, Privates First Class Ronald Gura, Bernie Padilla, and Donato Estandia and Private Marteniano Pasiagas, Jr., all members of the peace and development team under the  60th Infantry Battalion.

Villegas said the perpetrators were believed to be under the Pulang Bagani Command 1 of the New People’s Army.

 He said members of the peace and development team in civilian attire were going to the market to buy food supplies for their scheduled feeding program when they were held by the rebels who were manning the roadblock.

Villegas   said only 1Lt. Neven Canitan, the officer of the group eluded captivity after he jumped off the motorcycle unto a ravine, when he noticed the unusual behaviour of the armed group manning the barricade.

“It is very unfortunate that the rebels dressed in military camouflage uniform and acted like they were military personnel to deceive commuters,” he said. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Hardships and hopelessness drives two rebels to surrender

CAMP MANUEL YAN, Mawab, Compostela Valley, June 19 (PIA) Two rebels surrendered to the authorities on the day their comrades abducted five members of a peace and development Team under the 60th Infantry Battalion in Paquibato District, Davao City last Monday.

Lt. Colonel Llewelyn Binasoy, commanding officer of the 60th IB based in Asuncion, Davao del Norte  identified the latest surrenderees as Dante Galang and Jormie Andoy of the Pulang Bagani Command 4 of the sub-regional guerrilla unit of the Southern Mindanao Region Committee.

He said Galang and Jormie decided to surrender, realizing the hardships and lack of future in the armed struggle.

Binasoy said the latest surrenderees learned the lies in promises of their leaders to change the society and detested the occasions when they inflicted sufferings to innocent civilians instead of helping the community. 

“I am happy to receive them in our camp.  They made the right decision.  Their return to the folds of the law only reflects that the communist ideology is a dead ideology with its members already demoralized,” he said.

Binasoy assured that the surrenderees will be treated well and will undergo evaluation before putting them under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP), a mechanism set up by government to assist former rebels who want to have the chance to avail livelihood opportunities and live a normal life in peace with their families. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines) 

DavNor to level up tourism industry

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, June 19 (PIA):  Davao del Norte gears up to cock tourism industry to a higher level at the opening of the 46th Araw ng Davao del Norte  which banners the theme-“ Kulturang Dabaonon: Paghinumdum,  Paghanduraw, Pagtahod.”

            

Davao del Norte Tourism Office will float  the theme “Kilalanin ang Sariling Atin” (KASA) in line the national tourism strategic direction of  identifying and promoting local tourist destinations, Provincial Tourism Officer Noel Daquiaog said.

            

In an interview, Daquiaog revealed a showcase of Davao del Norte that will be unfolded on Monday at   the opening of 46th Araw ng Davao del Norte during which the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte through the Provincial Tourism Office  together with the Provincial Tourism Council will launch the “Tour DavNor”.

            

An audio-video presentation will roll to  show  not only the choice tourist destinations of Davao del Norte but also the its culture  through which people is equally given emphasis, making up what the province is all about,  Daquiaog explained.

            

Meanwhile, Davao del Norte Tourism Council Chairperson Araceli Ayuste  revealed that  the Davao Association of Tour Operators with Tagum Tour Association is up and ready to sell a one-day Samal Tour and a half-day Tagum Tour.

            

While in the Island Garden City of Samal, tourists will be offered delightful experiences at the beach and inland resorts of their choice. Should they choose to visit Tagum City after exploring Davao City, they can pass by Panabo City Museum to know some historical facts about Davao del Norte especially about  Ising Peace Shrine which tells about the valor of Dabaonon World War II veterans.

            

Moving their way to Tagum City, they can drop by in the municipality of Carmen, Davao del Norte to actually see the Ising Peace Shrine located in Barangay Ising at the juncture of the national highway and the road leading to the municipality of Sto. Tomas.

            

Ayuste, however, explained that the tourism council spreads equal tourism opportunities  to all towns and cities of Davao del Norte  while she encouraged local government units to seek technical assistance to showcase choice destinations.

            

She set the target to  complete  plans of organizing local tourism councils in all towns and cities before the year ends and that she planned to even bring the concept of private and public partnership through the tourism council, at the barangay level.   (PIA XI/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)

NNC nanghatag Cash Assistance ug Logistics Support sa Comval BNS

Tungod apil sad sila ug ang ilang tagsa-tagsa ka pamilya sa kapin 140,000 pamilyang Typhoon Pablo Victims sa probinsiya sa Compostela Valley, mihatag sad ang National Nutrition Council (NNC) ug Cash Assistance ug uban pang Logistics support ngadto sa Brgy. Nutrition Scholars (BNS), ug maoy unang nakabenepisyo niini ang mga BNS diha sa mga lungsod sa New Bataan, Compostela, Montevista, Monkayo, sa Laak, ug sa Maragusan.

Niadtong Hunyo 17, 2013 dunay 195 ka BNS ang gihatagan sa Cash Assistance nga P10,000.00 ang kada usa, ug mismong si Region XI Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Maria Teresa Ungson maoy mitunol niini ngadto kanila ug sa unom ka Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs) ug sa unom sad ka Municipal Nutrition Coordinators (MNCs) diha sa gipanghatagang mga lungsod.

Gawas sa gitunol nga cash assistance niadtong adlawa, ang kada usa kanila gihatagan sad ug bag nga dunay sulod nga t-shirt ug Office Supplies aron mahulipan kadtong daan nilang Office Supplies nga nangdaot gumikan sa milabay’ng Bagyong Pablo.

Sa iyang paghatag ug mensahe gipasabot ni Dr. Ungson nga nasayran sa National Nutrition Council ang kahimtang sa mga BNS sa Comval, nga diin bisan pa man nga sila usab apil sa mga natalang biktima sa bagyo apan padayon gihapon sila nga nagalihok diha sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka mga baranggay aron makaabot sa mga katawhan ang gikinahanglang serbisyo sa panglawas nga libreng gitunol sa gobyerno.

Giklaro usab ni Dr. Ungson nga bisan pa man kun nag-atubang karon ang probinsiya ug dakong hulga sa problema sa panglawas, padayon gihapon ang ComVal nga nag-una sa Nutrition Program sa Region XI tungod sa gibansay’ng best Practices sa Provincial Nutrition Council nga gidumala ni Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy nga maoy Chairman niini.

Matud usab ni Dr. Ungson nga maoy nag-unang tumong sa gihatag nilang P10,000.00 Financial Assistance ang paggamit niining kwartaha sa mga BNS aron mahulipan ang ilang nagasto sa pagpaayo sa nadaot nilang mga balay.  (gilbert m. Cabahug, ids-comval)

USAID gisugdan na ang Construction sa 8 GEM Program Infra-Projects nga gihatag sa Comval

Compostela Valley Province-----Gisugdan na karon sa United States Agency for International Cooperation (USAID) ang construction sa ilang 8 ka Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program Infrastructure Projects nga gitunol sa probinsiya sa Compostela Valley, ug mismong sila si Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy, USAID-Philippines  Mission Director Gloria Steele ug mga dagkong opisyal sa USAID maoy nanguna sa gihimong ceremonial ground breaking sa tukoron nilang Trading Center diha sa Poblacion Compostela niadtong Hunyo 14, 2013.

Apan sa wala pa ang ground-breaking ceremony sa Compostela nangadto usa sila sa Cabinuangan Elementary School sa New Bataan aron sa pag turn-over sa gipanghatag nilang armchairs, teacher’s tables and chairs, ug sa  liboang school bags nga gisudlan sa lain-laing school supplies sama sa notebooks, lapis, krayola, mga papel, ug uban pa ngadto sa mga kabataan.

Ilang kauban ang Chief of Staff sa DepEd Central Office nga si Asisstant Secretary Reynaldo Antonio Laguda sa pagturn-over niini ngadto sa mga kabataan, sa mga magtutudlo, ug sa ilang School Principal nga si Mr. Marcelino Delos Reyes.

Human sa malampusong turn-over ceremony sa New Bataan sila milahos sa Poblacion Compostela, ug sa ilang pag-abot didto gisugdan dayon ang ceremonial ground breaking alang sa pagatukurong Trading Center sa lungsod.  Maoy ilang kauban nga nangulo niini ang magtiayong Mayor Elect Lima Bolo ug Mayor Jessie Bolo.

Gitug-an ni GEM Program Projects Coordinator Florentino G. Go, Jr. nga karong tuiga adunay walo ka Infrastructure Projects ang USAID sa ComVal ilalom sa ilang Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, ug maoy gusto sa USAID nga mahuman ang Construction niining mga proyektoha sa dila pa matapos ang Agosto 2013.

Tulo matud pa niining mga proyektoha diha sa Monkayo, ug kini mao ang Sitio Mahayahay Brgy. Bridge Repair sa Brgy. Baylo; ang Purok Duranta Brgy. Bridge Repair sa Brgy. Union; ug ang  Sitio Santol Brgy. Bridge Repair sa Brgy. Salvacion. Duna sad silay duha ka mga proyekto diha sa Compostela nga mao ang Overflow (Spillway) Structure Rehabilitation sa Brgy. Ngan ug ang gisugdan na nilang Trading Center sa Brgy. Poblacion.

Ang laing tulo mao ang Trading Center diha sa Brgy. Aguinaldo, Laak;   ang himoong Brgy. Bridge Construction diha sa Brgy. Panag, New Bataan; ug ang Construction sa Lebanon-San Jose Bridge diha sa Montevista. (gilbert m. cabahug, ids-comval)

Mga bato sa New Bataan gilantaw ang dakong potential sa livelihood. Comvaleño Artist tudloan sa Stone Craft

Compostela Valley Province–----Gilantaw karon sa liderato sa probinsiya ang dakong potential sa  talagsaong klase sa mga bato nga makita diha sa lungsod sa New Bataan nga mamahimong usa sa mga mahinungdanong tinubdan sa livelihood kon panginabuhian sa mga katawhang Comvaleño labi na ang Typhoon Pablo victims.

Ilalom sa maong katuyoan ang probinsiya mohatag karon ug libreng training sa Stone Craft  ngadto sa mailang  potential artists nga mga Comvaleño, ug sa himoong pagtunol sa libreng Training maoy partner sa probinsiya ang DTI, DOST, ug ang Mediatrix Foundation diha sa New Bataan.

Sa unang batch paapilon sa himoong mga pagbansay ang mga sakop sa Mary Mediatrix Foundation nga gidumala ni Fr. Edgar Tuling aron nga ang ilang talagsaong abilidad ug kahanas sa Woodcraft mapalapad ngadto sa stone craft kay mas dali silang makakat-on niini nga sa ingon sulod lang sa pipila ka adlaw’ng libreng training makahimo dayon sila ug stone craft products nga halinon ug himalitan diha sa merkado.

Sa Report ni Provincial Tourism Officer Cristine  Dompor nga gibasa ni Mr. Jimmy Abayon sa Provincial Tourism Office niadtong Hunyo 11 panahon sa 2nd Quarterly Regular Meeting sa Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (PSMED), iyang gisulti nga ang umaabot nga libreng Training sa Stone Craft   pagahimoon karong Hunyo 15-22, 2013 diha sa New Bataan. Ang ilang Meeting diha  himoa sa Sanitary Hall sa Pob. Nabunturan, ug kini gidumala  ni PSMED Chair Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy pinaagi ni Executive Assistant IV Isabelo Melendres.

Segun sa gipagulang report, maoy mag-train sa mga partisipante ang usa ka International Sculptor nga si Mr. Gilbert “Bergano” Alberto sa probinsiya sa Ifugao nga mipadayag sa iyang commitment sa pagbansay sa Comvaleño Artists sa “Riverstones and Driftwood Sculptures”. Siya nagagikan sa iladong woodcarvers nga pamilya sa Hapao, Hungduan, Ifugao ang dapit nga nahimutanagan sa iladong “Banaue Rice Terraces”.

13 anyos pa lang nagsugod siya sa wood carving apan sa paglabay sa panahon nag-shift siya sa “riverstone and driftwood sculptures” tungod iyang nakita ang kaabunda sa mga materyales niini diha sa “driftworld”. Matud pa niya nga ang mga materyales gikan niini pwedeng makuha nga libre kon walay bayad. Pero human sa mga artisitkong paglilok kini mamahimong mobili ug labaw pa sa mga dayan-dayan  nga hinimo gikan sa mahalong mga butang.  (gilbert m. cabahug, ids-comval)