Davao City News August 2014

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Davao City - Archived News

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The Seal of Davao City
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Map of Davao City
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Davao City Hall
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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.



Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Davao City Aerial View
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Entrance to Davao City
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Nat'l Hwy Through Davao City
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Davao City Victoria Mall
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Old Davao City Airport
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Mangrove forests are critical for the stability of coastal areas and the sustainability of fish and marine resources which provide food and livelihood to people in more than 800 coastal towns in the Philippines. USAID, through the Philippine Environmental Governance Project, assisted the local government (Davao City) in establishing, through a local ordinance, the mangrove area as a marine protected area.
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USAID, through the Philippine Environmental Governance Project, assisted the local government (Davao City) in establishing, through a local ordinance, the mangrove area as a marine protected area. A crucial part in effective coastal resources management is law enforcement with Bantay Dagat teams playing a crucial role by safeguarding local waters. In Davao City Philippines, Bantay Dagat members protect mangrove areas from illegal cutting, thus conserving areas for fisheries and marine biodiversity habitats.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Canadian Chamber eyes more business in Davao City

(PNA), CTB/LCM/LOVELY A. CARILLO/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug 31 (PNA) -- The Canadian Chamber of Commerce will be opening an office in Davao City before the year ends with the aim of encouraging more investment projects between the Philippines and Canada.

“This will be the first one in Mindanao and our third in the Philippines,” said Canadian Chamber of Commerce president Julian Payne.

Payne said the the other CanCham offices are in Manila and Cebu.

While he does not wish to argue with the Canadian government which issued a travel advisory against travelling to the city and to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), he said the private sector decided to take the lead by opening an office here. The Chamber has however started to accept members in the city three years ago.

“The Davao Canadian Chamber was established to increase the profile of Canada-Philippine business interests in the Davao Region,” said Canadian Chamber of Commerce-Davao City chair Manuel Orig, who is also the first vice president for Mindanao Affairs of Aboitiz Power.

Constant Integrated, a real estate company partly owned by a Canadian, has been doing business in the city for two years now. The company buys lots and builds high-end home with prices ranging from P15 million for expatriates and foreign buyers.

Payne said there is great potential in Davao and in Mindanao in the following areas: Business Process Outsourcing, mining, manufacturing and tourism.

Those who become CanCham members are given an opportunity to promote and project their Canada-Philippines business interests. The names of these businesses will also be posted on the CanCham website.

Memberships are available for corporations and individuals. Among the priority sectors of CanCham are: Agriculture and Renewable Resources, Education and Labor Mobility, Extractive and Non-renewable resources, finance including insurance, health and medical tourism, information and communication technology (ICT), tourism and hospitality, water and sanitation.

Health care, waste management training seminar held

By Kriztja Marae G. Labrador

THE Department of Health (DOH) together with the Kinasang'an Foundation conducted a Health Care Waste Management Training seminar for midwives from birthing centers on Friday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Dr. Vincent Rey Vicente, deputy executive director of Kinasang'an Foundation, said in an interview that they requested the DOH to conduct the said training among their members because it is a part of the requirement in order for them to renew their business permits.

Besides the midwives from the birthing clinics who are members of the well family clinic and well care of the foundation, Vicente said that they also invited other medical workers who are non-members.

"Naay mga uban diri nga dili members sa birthing facilities sa Kinasang'an so gi-invite pud namo sila para makatabang pud ta sa ilaha (There are others who are not members of the birthing facilities of the Kinasang'an so we also invited them so that we can also help them)," Vicente said.

There were more than 30 medical workers who had participated with the said event.

Two Davao City take opener in DACS Women’s cagefest (Sports)

By Lolito T. delos Reyes [(PNA), CTB/LCM/LTDR/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 29 (PNA) -- Host Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) and St. John Paul (SJP) II College of Davao made their presence felt by routing their rivals in the opening of the women’s basketball of the DACS Sportsfest 2014 at the HCDC gym.

The HCDC Lady Crusaders exploded with a 25-9 blast in the first quarter and never looked back to demolish the Ateneo de Davao University, 84-57 in the first game. The Lady Crusaders enjoyed a 12-point lead after the first half, 43-31 then doubled their advantage by 24 points, 63-39 after the third canto.

Kathlene Gaudiano topscored HCDC with 16 points and Junamae Dahay added 11. Alyssa Villamor led the Lady Knights’ losing cause with 12 points.

St. John Paul, on the other hand, survived the San Pedro College Lady Stallions, 65-59 despite a huge crowd support coming from the rival school.

Crowd-favorite guard Jessica Gutierrez scored on a jumpshot to tie the game, 37-all. Then SPC center Sofia Rose Sarda made a quick layup to grab the lead, 39-37 with 2:10 left in the third quarter.

But SJP came back strong in the final quarter with a 7-0 run then came up with more sticky defense that resulted to several steals.

Christine Joy Soldano led SJP with 17 points followed by Jamila de Loyola and Jamaika Pasaol with 13 and 12, respectively. Seventeen-year old Sarda led the Stallions with 17 points.

Tournament director Macky Cabonce said the games will resume on Aug. 30 featuring HCDC against SPC at 3 p.m. and Ateneo versus SJP at 4:30 p.m. at the HCDC gym.

Davao Catholic schools sportsfest kicks off

(PNA), FPV/LCM/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 28 (PNA) -- The annual Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) Sportsfest formally kick off Wednesday with a colorful grand opening at the gymnasium of this year's host Holy Cross of Davao College.

More than 3,000 students and faculty members from the 64 member schools attended the three-hour program that ended up with the vocal solo, folk dance and dance sports competitions.

DACS Executive Director Jimmie-loe dela Vega presented the teams and gave the inspirational message. “Let’s promote peace through sports,” said dela Vega.

This year’s theme is “Waging Peace, Forging Solidarity in Mindanao Through Culture and Sports”.

Sportsfest chairman and HCDC sports director Rudy Salvador declared the opening of the games and hit the gong as a signal of the week-long activity.

Five games in college basketball were scheduled Wednesday at the HCDC gym.

The games will resume on Saturday mostly at the HCDC main campus.

Aside from the host HCDC, the other DACS members are: Davao City -- Anthony and Mark Cavanis Elementary School, Assumption College of Davao, Ateneo de Davao University, Fr. Domenico Masi and Sisters of Mary Immaculate Learning Center, Fr. Justin Rusoolillo School of Davao, Gabriel Taborin College of Davao Foundation, Holy Cross of Agdao, HC of Bunawan, HC of Mintal, HC College of Sasa, Jesus and Mary Thevenet School Foundation, John Paul II College of Davao, Our Lady of Fatima Academy of Davao, Philippine Women’s College of Davao, San Pedro College, St. Francis Xavier College Seminary, St. Joseph College, St. Paul Colege Pasig-Davao Campus, St. Peter’s College of Toril, Stella Maris Academy of Davao, University of the Immaculate Conception, Assumption;

Island Garden City of Samal (Davao del Norte) -- Assumption Academy of Penaplata, HC of Babak;

Digos City (Davao del Sur) –- Cor Jesu College, HC Academy of Digos;

Davao del Sur -- HC of Bansalan College, HC of Caburan, HC of Hagonoy, HC of Kiblawan, HC of Magsaysay, HC of Malalag, HC of Malita, HC of Matanao, HC of Sta. Maria, HC of Sulop, Rogationaist Academy-Davao, St. Mary’s Academy of Sta. Cruz, St. Michael’s School of Padada;

Tagum City (Davao del Norte) -- Assumpta School of Tagum, Letran de Davao, Queen of Apostles College Seminary, St. Mary’s College of Tagum;

Davao del Norte -– Maryknoll High School (MHS) of Asuncion, MHS of Maniki, Maryknoll HS of New Corella, MHS of Panabo, MHS of Sto. Tomas;

Compostela Valley -– Assumption Academy (AA) of Compostela, AA of Monkayo, AA of Mawab, Asssumption College of Nabunturan, Cor Jesu HS of Mabini, Letran de Davao of Maco, Saint Vincent Academy of Maragusan;

Mati City (Davao Oriental) -– Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, MHS of Lambajon, MHS of Lupon, MHS of Manay, MHS of Sigaboy, St. Mary’s Academy of Caraga, St. Mary’s College of Baganga.

DTI lauds MSMEs as engine of economic development for Mindanao

(PNA), LAP/LCM/LOVELY A. CARILLO/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 27 (PNA) -– The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) lauded the holding of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) summit here as the sector remains the engine for economic growth of Mindanao even the number of MSMEs still below Luzon.

“Mindanao had a share of 18.7 percent while Visayas only had 15.6 percent of the total MSMEs all over the country,” said Zenaida C. Maglaya, Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group of the Department of Trade and Industry at the conclusion of the Summit. Some exhibits are still ongoing at SM Premier at Lanang, Davao City.

She said Luzon’s MSMEs employed the highest number of workers at 71.7 percent which is understandable because of their distribution.

“But while Mindanao had more MSMEs compared to Visayas, the 14 percent employment generated by the island’s MSMEs is almost equivalent to the 14.3 percent generated by the Visayas MSMEs,” she said.

Overall, the country’s MSMEs has generated a total of 1,555,544 new employment generated from 2011 to June 2013 as shown by the Mid-term Evaluation of the 2011-2016 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Plan conducted in June 2013.

The Plan was crafted in 2011 to encourage the sector’s growth and raise its contribution to the country’s gross value added and employment generation. It also intends to improve Business-Enabling Environment, Access to Finance, Access to Markets and Productivity and Efficiency, the same MSME-significant issues tackled during the two-day National MSME Summit held in the city last week.

“The sector is expected to generate at least two million new employment by 2016. The review shows that we have already achieved 75 percent of the target halfway through the Plan. It also aims to increase its contribution to the country’s gross value added from the current 35.72 percent to 40 percent during the same period.

The review was conducted not only to determine the present status of the Plan but also to identify further measures that could be done to achieve the targets.

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) 11 director Ma. Lourdes Lim said Lourdes Lim earlier reported that 926 local government units of the 1,634 LGUs in the country have streamlined their business registration process from 82 in 2010 to only 5 days in June 2013.

The implementation of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act campaign, which paved the way for the Streamlining of Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Reform Project in 2011, is also expected to further bolster the competitiveness of the MSMEs as it will encourage small businesses and even those in the informal economy to register and be covered by legal and institutional protection that comes with registration.

Lim said that as of last year, around 41 cities and municipalities out of 49 have already adopted the BPLS.

She said 53 offices in the region were subjected to the Anti-Red Tape Act-Report Card to evaluate and assess the quality of their frontline services and 37 of the first-timers got acceptable to excellent ratings.

All the LGUs were found compliant with the Full Disclosure Policy when it comes to publicly disclosing their financial documents and transactions.

Chinese artworks exhibit highlights ‘Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival’

(PNA), LAM/LCM/DDBANZON/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 26 (PNA) -- Over 200 traditional Chinese artworks in porcelain plates, teapot set and scrolls will be on display at the Atrium of SM Lanang Premier starting August 30 to September 14.

Mall Press Relation Manager Acey Puno Reyes said the artworks done by 36 artists will be exhibited in Davao City dubbed as “An Exhibit of Chinese Western Paintings” by Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students.

She said this is the third year that Chan Lim will stage an exhibit in partnership with SM Lanang Premier since 2012.

"What makes this upcoming exhibit unique is the display of Chinese paintings on porcelain plates, which measure 10 inches in diameter and are meticulously created for a year - from conceptualization, painting, glazing to baking the artwork," she said.

She said another visual attraction is the delicate set of teapot with six tea cups to be featured at the exhibit.

On August 30 at 2:30 p.m, the Chan Lim exhibit will be launched at the Atrium of SM Lanang Premier with performances of the students from the Davao Chinese schools.

She said the Chan Lim family is one of the few remaining notable Chinese brush painting artists in the country today and has been conducting numerous painting exhibits and seminars, art workshops and on-the-spot painting demonstrations for more than four decades.

Reyes said the exhibit will be accompanied by a free Chinese Painting Workshop on August 30 starting 3:00 p.m. Limited slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register and inquire about the workshop, please contact the organizers, Davao Filipino-Chinese Cultural Foundation/Dynamic Youth, Inc. at 226-3571 or 221-6004.

The exhibit is co-presented by Dynamic Youth, Inc., the Davao Filipino-Chinese Cultural Foundation, Park Inn by Radisson and Air 21.

Cash transfer program for IPs in place

By Kriztja Marae G. Labrador

FOUR years after the implementation of the conditional cash transfer, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Department of Social Welfare and Development has finally designed a program for the indigenous peoples.

The Conditional Cash Transfer–Indigenous Peoples (CCT-IP) program will be targeting a total of 116,000 IP households for its first national implementation.

Sheryll Fernandez, Information Officer for 4Ps of DSWD-Davao, said the CCT-IP program was established last June.

The program was made after the recently concluded Participatory Review of the Experiences of IP under the Conditional Cash Transfer program.

The review showed that the program failed to make adjustments in its operations to harmonize with the socio-cultural-political and geographic setting of IP communities.

According to the CCT-IP program, the beneficiaries will be those who are in vulnerable and disadvantaged areas as identified during social preparations, IP families with 0-18 year old children and/or those beyond 18 years old currently enrolled in Elementary, High School, Alternative Learning System, School of Living Tradition and other indigenous learning systems, IPs living within or outside their ancestral domain and those who are in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

"Ang target for implementation kay September pero dili pa jud siya as in ma-fully operational kay bag-o paman gud kaayo (The target for implementation is September but it cannot still be fully operational because it is still very new)," Fernandez said.

Fernandez said 40n percent of IPs is participating in the 4Ps program.

Sun.Star Davao in September 2011 had come up with an in-depth report about the difficulties the 4Ps program had imposed on IPs, specifically because its implementation did not consider the geographical location and absence of health centers in sitios.

Follow-up reports also showed that 4Ps beneficiaries from North Cotabato had to go all the way to Davao City because they do not have a Land Bank branch near their towns.

As a result, many IPs ended up having debts they did not have a need for before the 4Ps was implemented.

Among others, mothers and children had to travel long distances and incur transport expenses that eat up most of the cash they get from the program.

Also, the release of cash assistance is always held along the highway, requiring pregnant and mothers who have just given birth to walk for several hours bringing their newborns with them.

Davao hospital tops PhilHealth enrollment for poor individuals

(HDT/Sunnex)

DAVAO City-based Southern Philippines Medical Center has the most number of poor beneficiaries of the point-of-care (POC) enrollment program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

According to PhilHealth, the hospital bested 161 participating local government unit-owned and national government-run hospitals.

In just less than a year since the start of the POC program, 6,548 new PhilHealth members have been registered at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

“We are very thankful for the support of the hospitals and LGUs in the successful implementation of the POC,” said PhilHealth president Alexander Padilla.

Nationwide, he said there are already 73,107 new beneficiaries that have been enrolled through the POC program.

“We believe that poor Filipinos are no longer be afraid to seek medical attention knowing that their government and the hospitals are working together to give them the financial help that they need,” said Padilla.

The POC was launched in November last year and was initially implemented in 85 retained hospitals of the Department of Health (DOH) nationwide.

The program aims to provide an effective mechanism to cover those from the C3 to D segments of the population, who are confined in the government or LGU-owned hospitals but are either non-members or existing members but lacking qualifying contributions.

The program was born after DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said that the government is still in the process of looking for “segments” of the 5.4 million poorest Filipino families entitled to PhilHealth memberships under the so-called “sponsored program”.

Under the POC, the patient needs to pass the medical social worker’s assessment to become a sponsored member, with the hospital shouldering the annual premium contribution of P2,400 to PhilHealth.

The hospital-sponsored member (HSM) is automatically granted PhilHealth coverage starting on the first day of admission up to the end of the year.

The HSM will also be entitled to the “No Balance Billing” policy, wherein he will no longer pay anything on top of his PhilHealth coverage when confined in a ward in government hospitals.

Shell holds chess tilt in Davao

(Tempo)

The Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship braces for another full-packed roster when it holds the last of two Mindanao qualifiers—the Southern Minda-nao leg on Aug. 30 to 31 at SM City in Davao City.

The Northern Mindanao leg was held last August 2 to 3 at SM City in Cagayan de Oro City.

Registration is ongoing for the Southern Mindanao leg although the maximum field of 300 is expected to be filled up early as in past Davao elims.

The longest-running and largest national youth chessfest has traditionally drawn a huge number of entries in the region.

The Southern Mindanao leg serves as the fifth of a six-stage nationwide circuit, with the final elims covering Northern Luzon set on September 13 to 14 at University of St. Louis in Tuguegarao.

The top two finishers and the top female player in each leg will advance to the grand finals on October 11 and 12 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

The Shell Active Chess is open to non-titled children and young adults with two categories on tap—kiddies (aged 7 to 14) and juniors (aged 15 to 20).

What makes this year’s series unique is that the female players are now given the chance to shine against their male counterparts as they are pitted against each other both in the kiddies and juniors sections.

This year’s circuit coincides as well with the centennial anniversary of the energy and gas technology leader Shell in the Philippines.

PCSO turns over P3.4M share for Davao City

(PNA), CTB/LCM/LOVELY A. CARILLO/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 22 (PNA) -- The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) turned over to the city government through Mayor Rodrigo Duterte P3.4 million as the city’s five percent share from Lotto earnings from July to December 2013.

“Pasalamat ko sa inyong tabang (I thank you for your help) it will go a long way,” Duterte told officials of the PCSO in Davao, informing them that the money will go to the city’s social fund and will be used to buy medicines for the poor.

Executive Order No. 357, signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos in 1996, mandates the allocation of five percent as share of the local government units from the PCSO’s Lotto Charity Fund.

The PCSO is not only the principal government agency tasked for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services and charities, but it is also responsible for operating the charity sweepstakes and lottery activities.

PCSO is mandated to set aside 30 percent of its net receipts from lotto operations for the Lotto Charity Fund. Five percent of this should go to local government units.

“Ihatag nako ni kay Assistant City Administrator (Lawyer Jhopee Agustin) para magamit sa Lingap). I will give this to assistant city administrator (Lawyer Jhopee Agustin) to be used for Lingap ,” Duterte said.

The city government’s Lingap Para sa Mahirap Program was initiated by Duterte in 2001 and has continued to provide medical assistance to qualified indigent Davaoeños. The hospitalization assistance is provided mainly at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

The Program also provides funeral, burial, and pharmaceutical assistance including medical support (inpatient hospitalization, medicines, medical supplies, laboratory exams including ultrasound, X-ray and CT-scan), permanent family planning methods (vasectomy and tubal ligation) in outpatient and emergency cases.

Davao City's advisory center to help investors on best location

By Digna D. Banzon [(PNA), LCM/DDB/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 21 (PNA) -- The establishment of an advisory center by the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) will make life easy for prospective investors in this city to know the best place to locate their investment projects.

DCIPC head Ivan Cortez said the center is managed by their office and this is aimed at helping prospective investors and the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in finding the area suited for their businesses.

Cortes said “It has been our objective to bring investments also to other areas of the city, adding that there are still areas here with less business activities and we wanted to bring these new projects there.”

He said that through the advisory center there could be proper distribution of businesses instead of settling in one area with similar products or businesses.

Meanwhile, Cortez said they are in talks with other local government units with regards to entry of investors in Davao.

Cortez said that for investors that could not be accommodated here there is an informal understanding among neighboring lGUs of helping each other with regards to assisting these prospective investors.

He said there is an agreement among the LGUs in the region that entry of new investments must be captured within the region.

"This came about when Mayor Rodrigo Duterte became the chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council of the Davao Region," he said.

He said talks on the side were related to economic activities and discussions like this are tackled by the concerned units of the different LGUs.

That is why for queries and intent of locating, Cortez said it has to be shared among the local government units so that we can best offer to them their needed requirement.

As to attracting investors, he said I do not think there is a competition between us. It is rather helping each other in order to improve economic growth of the entire region, he added.

However, the investors would always want to locate in Davao City because it is the center of commerce and access to ports and airports is easy.


Arnis workshop, tournament for Davao kids set Aug. 23

(PNA), FPV/LCM/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 20 (PNA) -- The Kadayawan sa Dabaw Arnis Workshop and Tournament is set this Saturday, August 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Abreeza Mall activity area.

Organizer Mario Palazuelo of the Kapatiring Doble Olisi Eskrima said the workshop is open to all boys and girls ages 12 years old and above.

“However, the Under 12 kids can still join the workshop except in the sparring session,” said Palazuelo, also regional director of the Arnis Philippines Inc. (ARPI), the solely accredited Arnis arm and association in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

ARPI has the sole right to officially supervise all Arnis affairs in the country as the National Sports Association (NSA).

“Arnis is the Filipino martial art and we want to promote, propagate and preserve it,” Palazuelo said.

Registration for the workshop is free. Participants, however, must only buy their own Arnis sticks at a discounted price. After the workshop, the participants in the 12 and above age category will have its own tournament to select the best students.

“We also want to discover and develop more potential Arnis players here,” Palazuelo said.

This event, which is supported by the City Mayor’s Office-Sports Development Division is also part of the city’s comprehensive sports program called the Duterte Game Plan.

For more inquiry, contact CP No. 0917-7020482 or 09434954297.

Two Davao chess players to qualify for Batang Pinoy Mindanao

(PNA), FPV/LCM/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 19 (PNA) -- Two Davao chess players will lead the qualifiers in the chess event to this year's Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg slated next month in Zamboanga City after topping the 29th Kadayawan Age-Group Chess tournament held August 16 at the NCCC Mall of Davao.

Earl Rhay Mantilla of the Davao Wisdom Academy (DWA) won the boy’s category with a clean 5.0 points. Second was Allen Daven de Asis also of DWA with 4.5 points followed by Jose Maria College’s Bhing Joel Gimony (4.0).

Meanwhile, Dhona Yngayo of Davao Central College of Toril lived up to her billing by posting 4.5 points in the girl’s category. Yngayo won in a tiebreak over JMC’s Honey Grace Buenafe (4.5). Third was Roselle Vienne Guevara (4.0) of Osmeña Elementary School.

“The top 3 winners in the 15 under will represent Davao City to the Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg in September in Zamboanga,” said IA James Infiesto, regional director of the organizing National Chess Federation of the Phils. (NCFP-XI).

On the other hand, Carl Zirex Sato of Panabo City and Janes Hiftield Caingles of Holy Cross of Davao College posted contrasting wins ruling the 20 Under division.

Sato (4.0) beat Clark Kent Anabieza (4.0) of Jose Maria College and John Gerard Acedo (4.0) of Davao in a tiebreak to rule the boy’s category.

Caingles, on the other hand, beat all her rivals in topping the distaff side with 5.0 points. Mary Jonah Lequin (4.0) and Charmaine Rosatace (3.5) both of Cor Jesu College from Digos City placed second and third, respectively.

The top three winners in the boy’s 10 under are champion Ghian Michael Aleria (5.0) of Panabo, second John Dale Fernandez (4.0) of Matina Central and Mintal’s Wesley Jovan Magbanua (4.0).

Lienane Faith Salajudin (4.0) of Davao won the girls’ 10 under followed by Jan Celsie Mendoza (4.0) and Janna Jane Rose Bautista (4.0).

The event was sponsored by the City Mayor’s Office-Sports Development Division in celebration of the 29th Kadayawan sa Dabaw as part also of the city government’s comprehensive sports program called the Duterte Game Plan.

National MSME Summit in Davao City to tackle ASEAN integration

By Jenny Grace M. Mendoza [(PNA), LAM/LCM/JENNY GRACE M. MENDOZA/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 18 (PNA) -- The ASEAN Economic Community will take center stage in the upcoming National Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Summit at SMC Convention Center on August 20-21 to better prepare the MSME sector for the open market in 2015.

The conference will feature resource speakers, who are experts in their respective fields, are expected to present state of the Philippine MSMEs as well as innovative strategies to address the gaps confronting them. This way, it will help MSMEs prepare to go about with the challenges when they compete with neighboring economies in the ASEAN region.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Regional Operations Zenaida C. Maglaya will be presenting the Updated MSME Development Plan 2014-2016 and the current situation of the MSMEs in the country.

According to the DTI XI, the one-and-a-half-day event will be divided into four sessions, to wit: Moving Up the Value Chain; Finance Operation and Better Financial Management; Fresh and Processed Foods–Strengthening the Philippines as Food Basket; and Furniture and Crafts Galore–Competitiveness thru Creativity, Ingenuity, and Innovation.

For the first session, topics on Priming Industry Clusters for AEC 2015 and Innovative LGU Support to MSMEs will be discussed. For the second session, topics will be on micro-finance programs. Both the third and fourth sessions will focus on the presentation and sharing of business experiences, challenges, and best practices by key experts in the fresh and processed food and furniture industries.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11 Officer-in-Charge Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi said MSMEs must take advantage of this opportunity to gather sound inputs under one venue.

“Our speakers are notable in their respective fields, and it’s a rare opportunity that all of them are gathered in the same venue because of their ever hectic schedules. They are committed in helping our MSMEs, so that they managed to allocate time to share their ideas during the Summit,” she said.

The gathering is being organized by DTI, in partnership with the National MSME Development Council.

Interested participants may contact the DTI office nearest them for additional details about the event. In Davao City, they can reach DTI-Davao City Field Office at (082) 224-0511 local 201 or the Regional Trade and MSME Development Division (TMSMEDD) at (082) 224-0511 local 415, or email at msmesummit2014@gmail.com and/or r11@dti.gov.ph.

Japanese descendants arrive for annual Iresai

By Carina L Cayon (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)

A BIG group of Japanese tourists arrived for the annual Iresai at the Mintal Cemetery. The event this year is timed with the Kadayawan Festival.

Iresai is the ceremony to console the war dead.

Descendants of Japanese who have lived in Davao before the war and were called on to fight the Americans during World War II visit Davao every year for this ceremony.

The group was led by Japanese Consul Koichi Ibara.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has prepared the itinerary for the visitors, which aside from the ceremony at Mintal Cemetery, included tours of farms and the regular menu of visits to the Philippine Eagle, Sul Orchids and Malagos Garden, all in the Calinan area.

The Iresaid was organized by Japanese Consular Office, Barangay Mintal with captain Ramon Bargamento, and Japanese organizations in the city led by the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Inc. of the City led by the Phil. Nikkei Jin Kai Inc.

DOE strengthens advocacy with LGUs vs refilled butane canisters

By Carina L Cayon (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – The Department of Energy has beefed up its advocacy effort with the local government units in the region in strictly enforcing regulations against the selling of refilled butane canisters.

DOE Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada recently sought audience with some LGUs in the region to draw up solution in ensuring that proliferation of refilling stations of butane canisters would stop as this has inherent dangers.

Monsada emphasized that the public must know that butane tin canisters which are usually imported are not refillable.

She bared that the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) being refilled in used butane canisters is mixed with propane which is more dense than butane and has stronger explosion.

She said there have been many reports of accidents involving refilled butane canisters which are being used in cooking at home, in restaurants and in camping because of its low price and portability.

“Merong nag camping, nasabugan. Merong kumain sa restaurants, nasabugan,” she cited.

She added that in Davao City, one of the recent fires that affected 30 houses was caused by refilled butane, which pushed Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to immediately issue Executive Order No. 32.

The Order issued on July 1 this year, mandates the regulation and ensuring the safe practices of persons or entities engaged in LPG business by strictly complying with DOE regulations.

One provision of EO 32 requires the business persons or entities to secure a Standards Compliance Certificate from the DOE before they could be issued business permit by the city government’s Business Permit and Licensing Office.

Being the lead agency mandated to strictly enforce this law, BPLO has been given the directive to revoke business permit and to effect closure of any establishment who fails to comply with the requirement.

EO 32 also authorizes BPLO to confiscate LPG products that are illegally traded, such as the refilled butane in canisters.

BPLO chief Atty. Lawrence Bantiding said that the Order is their basis to issue business permits and to ensure that retailing of refilled butane canisters would stop in Davao City.

Bantiding assured to strictly enforce EO 32 as he warned merchandisers and retailers to only sell brand new butane canisters, and the public not to buy refilled canisters.

Individuals or business entities violating the Order could also be charged up to P6,000 in penalties and could face imprisonment, he said.

Monsada said the LGUs of Tagum City and Island Garden City of Samal have asked to pattern the ordinance of Davao City LGU during the recent meeting in the city which was also attended by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

“It’s only Davao City that has this ordinance on LPG regulations. Magiging modelo na naman ang Davao (in the entire country),” Monsada said as she emphasized the need for LGUs to strongly enforce DOE regulations to prevent untoward incidents in the use of LPG products.

“Kasi kung sa Davao lang, lalabas lang sila (illegal traders) ng konti, makakapag benta pa rin sila,” the DOE official stated.

She clarified that brand new butane canisters are allowed to be sold as long as the business entities and retailers have complied with the DOE regulations and LGU ordinance.

She said the public could easily distinguish a brand new canister from the refilled one by its price, noting that a brand new costs P60 while a refilled canister is only worth P30 to P35.

17,614 guests at Museo Dabawenyo

By Kriztja Marae G. Labrador

MUSEO Dabawenyo recorded a total of 17, 614 foot arrivals for the first half of 2014.

Data showed that 51 percent of visitors were from the walk-in tourist category, mostly coming from other places in the country.

The 34 percent of visitors came from institutional visits category while 15 percent were from the lakbay-aral category.

For walk-in foreign visitors, Museo Dabawenyo had recorded 3,552 number of visits.

Museo Dabawenyo director Orly Escarilla told Sun.Star Davao that they are expecting more walk-in tourists this week during the Kadayawan Festival celebration.

He also added that in line with the celebration, they will be open on Saturday and Sunday to cater to visitors who wish to take a tour at the museum.

MinDA, PBSP sees partnership to improve poor communities in Mindanao

(PNA), LAM/LCM/DDBANZON/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 14 (PNA) -– The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) will forge an agreement to strategically direct investments to impoverish areas in Mindanao, thereby improve their economic condition.

Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, Director for Investment Promotions and Public Affairs of MinDA, said that PBSP board vice-chair Paul Dominguez and MinDA Chair Secretary Luwalhati Antonino have discussed details of the partnership agreement and set the signing of the agreement on September 8.

Montenegro said the agreement will be presented to President Benigno S. Aquino III, who is the guest of honor during the formal launch when the details of responsibilities by each party will be expounded.

According to Montenegro, the PBSP is tapped by corporations and companies to undertake their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), will undertake the programs and projects beyond their CSR.

This is not mere extending help to communities, for instance, in the form of school building, feeding program and others but this is bringing to the areas where these corporations could expand their businesses and tap members of the community for possible jobs, Montenegro said.

He however, stressed that some considerations are noted on the basis of the companies required mandate.

The collaboration with MinDa is purposely to also enable PBSP link with local government units.

Montenegro said MinDA's role is to identify the areas for the expansion projects of the companies and PBSP to get corporate members to invest in highly impoverished areas which are targeted to benefit the economic mainstream of the total supply chain.

MinDA, he said is working with other government agencies and local government units for the harmonization of policies making sure that these companies get the support or assistance, for example, in permit and clearances requirements.

Montenegro said there are already identified existing areas for possible expansion but the listing and documentation are still ongoing because the project areas must meet the companies’ needs and criteria.

He cited that there are companies looking for areas between 10,000 to 30,000 hectares or more for coffee, cacao, rubber and oil palm.

The infrastructure requirement is also one of the considerations, that is why the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is allocating 30 percent of its budget in 2015 to Mindanao.

Over 200 IPs join Kadayawan tribal games competition

(PNA), LAM/LCM/DDBANZON/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 13 (PNA) –- For the first time in years, about 250 members of Indigenous People (IP) communities from far-flung barangays of Davao City will converged in the city to compete in the Lumadnong Dula (tribal sports) competition at the People’s Park on August 14.

IP representative in the City Council Councilor Berino L. Mambo-o announced that the IPs will compete in the indigenous games that they play in the mountains using props like bamboos and other traditional materials. They will also be wearing their tribal attire.

He said their purpose of bringing the events to the city is for the public to better understand the IPs, their culture and tradition.

"We also want the people to know this and understand us in order to avoid discrimination," Mambo-o said.

Mambo-o said "we hope this will open up people's interest as we showcase our culture and tradition and help Davao City to be known more".

The next day, August 15, the city will also host the Indigenous Peoples' celebration or Kadayawan sa Kagikan. It will start with Subang Sinugdanan at Davao River where a celebratory restaging of the first Davao settlement with the participation of 11 cultural communities in the city.

The participants will parade on board small boats showcasing the bounty of harvest, art and culture and bring to the fore the importance of conserving this river.

The 11 cultural communities of Davao are the Tagabawa, Klata, Ovu Manuvu, Ata Manuvu, Matigsalog, Maranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, Sama, Kagan and Iranun, all will celebrate unity through an indigenous experience of each other's diversities of distinct songs and dances.

Dubbed: Panagtagbo or Tribal Confluence Celebration, it is a symbolic ritual that affirms their solidarity in protecting the environment and upholding the integrity of creation. It will be held on the same day at 9:00 A.M. at the Tionko Field.

In the evening is the Search for Kadayawan Festival Gem at the Almendras Gym starting at 7:30 P.M. The Kadayawan Gem, who will be selected from among the recognized eleven ethno-linguistic groups of the city, will serve as their model, official spokesperson and strong advocate of their concern and solidarity.

Davao City expects rise in visitor arrival this August

(PNA), FPV/LCM/DIGNA D. BANZON/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 12 (PNA) -- The city government of Davao is expecting an increase of visitors for the month of August when people from nearby and outside the region flock to this city for the Kadayawan Festival.

City Tourism Officer Lisette Marquez said they expect 14 percent increase in visitor arrival this month with 180,000 guests compared to last year’s record of 150,000 visitors.

Aside from the festival, Marquez said the city is also host to several national conventions this month. In fact, the city is already seeing a rise in the number of people coming in.

"Several of our hotels are experiencing high occupancy rate during this period," Marquez said after guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex.

Benjie Banzon, general manager of The Royal Mandaya Hotel said the hotel industry is doing good with either high occupancy rate or fully booked status. He said August is among the months of the year when visitors come in time for the Kadayawan festival.

He also attributed this to the efforts extended by the Department of Tourism in promoting the city's destinations and its corresponding "a must visit" events.

Banzon said their guests are both foreign and local, as they expect a 25 percent increase in occupancy this month especially during the Kadayawan week.

Meanwhile, Marquez said they are all set for the celebration. One of the confirmed guests is Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Francis Tolentino.

There will be several other personalities coming during the highlight of the festivities on August 15, 16 and 17, she said.

Kadayawan will cap with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s free concert at the Rizal Park featuring the rock band Aegis.

Marquez said each year, the Kadayawan Festival offers new and exciting features such as this year’s holding of Indigenous Peoples(IPs) Game competition where participating IPs will compete in their respective costumes.

Among the accredited events are the International Day of the World's Indigenous Photo Exhibit--photo exhibit, Mindanao Trade Expo, International Day of the Worlds's Indigenous People's Cultural Night, The 2014 Kadayawan Hot August Races, Great Kadayawan Trade Fair and Bazaar, Kadayawan Festival--Skylife Dance Showdown, OPM Hitmen in Davao--A Kadayawan Special, Globe Astigfest, Coca-Cola Share A Coke Concert, National MSME Summit.

Marquez also said that the regular features are the Agro-Trade Fair, the Indak-indak sa Dalan (Street Dancing), Floral Float Parade and Hiyas ng Kadayawan.

Davao City police director Vicente Danao Jr. said they have augmented police personnel to secure public places where the people converge to ensure safety and security of the visitors and the Dabawenyos.

He said they are ready for the Kadayawan festivities even as he said that they have instituted measures to carry out for the safety of everybody.

Ramon Magsaysay awardee to expand greening program with IPs

By Digna D. Banzon [(PNA), LAM/LCM/DIGNA D. BANZON/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, Aug 11 (PNA) -- Teacher Randy Halasan, the first Ramon Magsaysay awardee of Davao, will lead a group from the Matigsalog tribe to embark on the greening project as another livelihood opportunity in order to improve their living condition starting October in Sitio Pegalongan, Barangay Malamba, Marilog District, this city.

Halasan in an interview said about a hundred hectares will be enrolled by the IPs in line with the government's National Greening Program (NGP).

He said they already have an existing 20 hectares for the program which they initially started last year with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"With the difficulty in transporting the crops to the market it is not worth the half day trekking through the mountainous terrain plus the high cost of transportation with "habal habal" motorcycle ride to deliver rice or corn to the center at P7.00 a kilo," he said.

He said they plant corn in between the 5,000 cacao trees that they planted.

Halasan however, said the community still needs to be educated first on planting high value crops “so that when the right time for the crops to mature for harvesting, they can earn more considering that the cost of cacao beans is high”.

Halasan recalled that when he first stepped into Pegalongan as substitute teacher in 2008, it was not that easy plus the feeling of anxiety when he was joikingly told by other teachers that "you only need P50 fare to reach heaven".

It is really a remote sitio and very difficult to reach the place on foot and we need to cross two rivers, he said.

However, the challenged him upon seeing the place, talking to the people and interacting with the children. At that time, the Pegalongan Elementary School only has two classrooms, he said.

Halasan said he could feel poverty among them and just mere teaching the pupils will not directly help them address their poor living condition.

He feel a daunting task to help. He then talked to the community, the parents, the leaders of the tribal group. The talks became a regular activity until they reached the time when he started organizing them and formed the Pegalongan Farmers Association headed by Camilo Cadia. Sitio Pegalongan has about 70 families where they subsist on producing cash crops within their ancestral domain lands.

Halasan said after the community was organized he talked to concerned government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry where the community became a recipient of a rice and corn mill.

The association manages the operation of the rice mill. The IPs are learning the process because when they bring their rice or corn seeds for milling comes a corresponding cost. They can, however, pay in kind (of rice or corn grains) in case they do not have the money to pay for the milling.

He said this has become an activity unlike before when they were idle. After tilling their lands they just wait for weeks or months and they go back to their farms only when the crops are ready for harvesting.

Halasan said they will start building their seed banks by October and when the seedlings are ready, planting will commence early next year.

"We need to prepare 10,000 seedlings each crop of coffee, cacao and rubber to be planted in the 100 hectares that we allocated for planting under the government's greening program," he said.

Halasan said they need to understand that they also must do their share other than just expect what the government will do for them.

"What is good with this group is that they have accepted the challenge and they are willing to work together in order to improve the quality of their lives," he said.

On the other hand, Halasan said the group of IPs through their association will be recipient of four types of equipment namely, the corn sheller, abaca stripping machine, coffee grinder and rice thresher.

Meanwhile, Halasan said the cash reward he will get from Ramon Magsaysay must be complemented with project proposals. He is proposing the establishment of a Tribal Hall and the implementation of sanitation project in the village.

As to the education aspect of the school children in Pegalongan, he said the high school level will have its first graduates in 2017. It opened in 2012 with 50 students and the first set of high school graduates will be on 2017. The elementary level has a total of 175 of mixed ages including adults.


NCCA offers P300M in funds for projects on culture and arts

By Lilian C. Mellejor [(PNA), CTB/LCM/LDP]

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 10 (PNA) -– The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is now accepting project proposals for the 2015 Competitive Grants Program with P300 million in funds available for cultural and art groups, academic institutions, local arts organizations, and non-government organizations involved in arts and culture.

NCCA will accept proposals until August 31, 2014. The projects must capture the aspiration of the arts and culture community under the NCCA’s 21st century vision: “Filipino culture as the wellspring of national and global well-being." Projects must also establish culture as pillar of sustainable development, advance creativity and diversity of artistic expression and promote a strong sense of nationhood and pride in being Filipino through culture and the arts.

NCCCA Head of Public Affairs, Renee Napenas, disclosed that P95 million in grants is also available through the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA) as a support to the individuals and organizations in fields that are aligned with the Philippine culture and the arts.

Napenas said NCCA provides funds to individuals and organizations advancing the Philippine arts and culture.

Last year, NCCA funded 18 projects from its P248 million competitive program funds. One of the projects is the Schools of Living Traditions, publication of a book, an oral narratives book publication of Tagakaulo, among others.

Napenas said the 2015 projects have been defined by the 19 national committees under the four subcommissions. Among these are on Architecture and Allied Arts, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic arts, Literary Arts, Music Visual Arts, Archives, Art Galleries, Libraries and Information Services, Monuments and Sites, Museums, Cultural Education, Communication and Language and Translation.

Renee Talavera, the head of the Subcommission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts, said Davao’s cultural workers and artists have been very active on the NCCA program. According to her, the community-based Schools of Living Tradition is a Davao project with a P3 million fund support.

Talavera also cited NCCA’s assistance to “cultural masters”, who are not formally trained to teach but were given opportunities to become teachers on cultural education.

Nora Fe Alajar, NCCA vice head of the Committee on Libraries and Information Services, said the committee has been visiting libraries and reading centers to assess how NCCA can help in the collection of materials on culture especially of the IPs.

Alajar said the committee is trying to help develop books by doing historical research. “We believe that each locality has its own history,” she said, adding that reading centers in areas the committee has visited lacked materials on culture and arts.

She also said that the committee is partnering with other groups like Beyond Access, which is actively helping communities establish reading centers.

Alajar said there is available money to support projects under the committee on Library and Information Services.

Any one interested to avail of the NCCA assistance may submit their project proposals under the NCCA Competitive Grants, or file a request under the Institutional Programs namely NCCA Outreach Program, Experts and Resource Persons Bureau and Technical Assistance Program.

Accomplished proposals may be submitted to Marichu Tellano, Chief of Policy, Plan Formulation and Programming Division, 5th Floor, NCCA, 633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila or email: info@ncca.gov.ph and pmd@ncca.gov.ph.

13th in efficiency, 1st in transparency

By Arianne Caryl N. Casas

DAVAO City placed 13th in the government efficiency of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) 2014 of the National Competitiveness Council, having low scores in schools, health, security, and economic governance score in Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS).

Under the same pillar, the city ranked first in transparency score in Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), investment promotion, and compliance to national directives for LGUs.

It also placed high in the ration of LGU collected tax to LGU revenues, LGUS competitions related awards, and business registration efficiency.

The CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development.

The rankings are based on data collected and submitted by the RCCs. The cities and municipalities are ranked on their competitiveness based on an overall competitiveness score.

Government efficiency is among the three main pillars of the overall competitiveness score. The other two pillars are the economic dynamism and infrastructure.

“Scores are determined by the values of the actual data, as well as the completeness of the submitted data. The higher the score of a city or municipality, the more competitive it is,” it reads.

The city ranked as the fourth most competitive city in the Philippines. Makati City placed first, second is Cagayan de Oro City and Naga City ranked third.

Marikina City placed fifth next to Davao City, sixth is Iloilo City, Cebu City seventh, Manila City eighth, Valenzuela City ninth, and Paranaque City ranked 10th.

Davao City also placed first in infrastructure, with high scores in sub-indicators that include Department of Tourism (DOT) accredited accommodations, health infrastructure, education infrastructure, annual investments in infrastructure, number of automated teller machines available, and number of public transportations.

Meanwhile, Daet town in Camarines Norte is tagged as the most competitive municipality nationwide.

Zumba for-a-Cause set at Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City

(PNA), LAM/LCM/LTREYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 8 (PNA) -- A Zumba For-A-Cause will be held on September 6 at The Royal Mandaya Hotel (TRMH) here in celebration of its 16th anniversary.

“It’s Fun! It’s fitness! It’s Zumba for-a-cause,” said TRMH marketing officer Guada Gamboa. It will be held at the Lantawan Hall at 7 p.m. Registration starts at 5 p.m. Registration fee is P300 with free cocktail and drinks, raffle and freebies.

“Come in your best colorful get up,” said Gamboa.

Special awards will also be given away. Proceeds will go to the outreach program of TRMH.

"We will be conducting free medical clinic to our native Obu-Manuvu tribe," Gambosa said.

The top Zumba instructors in Davao City will spearhead the event including the city’s first certified Zumba instructor Vicky Javier of Beefit Gym and Aerobics.

Abreeza holding Kadayawan Open volleyball tourney

(PNA), LAM/LCM/LTREYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 7 (PNA) -- Top collegiate and former varsity players are seeing action in the first Abreeza Kadayawan Open Volleyball Tournament which opens August 9 at the parking lot in Bajada, this city.

The games will be played every weekends only featuring teams, both men and women from the Ateneo de Davao University, Cor Jesu College of Digos City, Holy Cross of Davao College, University of Mindanao, DMMA College of Southern Philippines, Jose Maria College, Philippine Women’s College of Davao, RCUBE Construction, Philippine National Police, Davao Optima and Mega Testing Center-DGL.

“It is this passion for volleyball and our advocacy to inspire and teach the younger generations to get into active sports that made us pursue our plans of holding this event on all weekends of August,” said organizer Abet Bernan at the SCOOP Session of The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Tuesday.

The teams are divided into two pools in a single round-robin per pool. Only the top two teams per pool shall qualify to the cross-over semifinals. It will be knockout match in the semifinals. The games will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Saturday and Sundays of August and during Holidays (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.).

The champion will pocket P10,000 while the second P8,000, third P6,000 and fourth P3,000. A consolation prize of P4,000 will each be given to the other four teams.The league will be handled by the Baliboliste de Dabaw composed of officials from the Philippine Volleyball Federation Licensed National Referees and members.

All-girl Davao singing group wins awards in international competition

By Jesse Pizarro Boga (MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/06 August) — The love for singing is what brought seven young girls together.

The common ground where Alexea, Rica, Adrianna, Dianne, Christina, Trixia, and Meryll met has woven a tight friendship among them, and will be bringing them to places, proudly waving the Philippine flag along the way.

The Voices, a Davao City-based vocal ensemble comprised of the girls, represented the country in an international choral competition last July.

The girls went head to head with other singing groups hailing from Asia and Europe in the seventh edition of Orientale Concentus held at the School of the Arts in Singapore.

“We have been rehearsing since January this year,” said Meryll Clarisse Salape, 16-year-old Ateneo de Davao engineering freshman, the eldest in the group.

The group competed in two categories: the ensemble category and the folksongs category—and they won gold awards in both!

The Voices showcased three songs per category; all of these songs (except for one) were their renditions of the musical works of Filipino composers/arrangers Sidney Marquez Boquiren and Joy Nilo. There were four Filipino songs of different dialects that highlighted the repertoire of The Voices.

The group has been singing together since 2010 in children’s choirs: in Holy Child Children’s Choir and in Voices of the South Children’s Choir. Since then, the girls in The Voices have won awards from competitions here and abroad.

The Voices was a finalist in the National Music Competition for Young Artists in 2010, and won awards in the Manila Broadcasting Company choral competitions in 2011. In 2012, the group bagged awards in the Musikahan sa Tagum National Choral Competition, and won as champions in several competitions in the region. Last year, The Voices won gold and silver medals in the folklore and children’s choir categories of the 6th Grand Prix Pattaya International Choir Competition in Thailand.06choir

Sisterhood

The Voices is composed of sopranos Aika Abando, Trixia Ebita, Rica Penano, and Meryll Salape; and altos Dianne Capuno, Adrianna Salape, and Abby Salape.

“We come from different schools but we are bonded together because of our friendship and love for singing,” said Trixia, a mass communication freshman in Ateneo de Davao.

The girls look at their rehearsals as episodes of self-discovery–chances to know and understand each other deeper. “We try to understand each other and we always talk,” said Meryll. “Our parents would let us understand that we have different personalities and we should always value our friendship.”

Even at such young ages, the girls are also keen at learning more about their craft and life in general. “We learned that success is achieved not only because of our passion in music but also because of discipline, hard work and patience,” said Dianne, Grade 9 at San Pedro College.

“We also learned the importance of time management–that we should know how to balance our time because we still put priority on our studies,” added Rica, Grade 9 at Precious International School of Davao.

Their dedication for their craft has long made them ready for competition here and abroad.

They eyed high prizes in Orientale Concentus and they made their vision become a reality—they became one of the six finalists for the Grand Prix Competition and showed the world what they got.

They competed against 28 international choral groups from across Asia and they took home honor for their country and a deeper love for singing.

Follow The Voices in Facebook.com/TheVoicesOFFICIAL.

Bikers pedal for renewable energy on August 7

(PNA), FPV/LCM/DIGNA D. BANZON/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 5 (PNA)-- A group of bikers will bring the message around Davao City to encourage the public to support alternative source of power like renewable energy under the project dubbed: “Pedal Power bike-for-renewable source of energy” which will kick-off on August 7 in three groups converging at separate venues ending at the Rizal Park.

Albert Lozada, one of the convenors for Pedal Power said this is their way of supporting the bigger cause of protecting the environment.

"Our advocacy is to push for alternative sources of power," said Lozada, adding that a small group of 50 bikers already committed to join the bikefest supported by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and Greenpeace. There will also be groups marching and skateboarding who will be joining the activity.

Lozada said the Pedal Power is a continuing advocacy which started in 2005. He said they are pushing for renewable energy and the bikefest is a culminating event of a three-day conference on renewable energy at the Ateneo de Davao University whichopened on Monday at the Ateneo de Davao University where stakeholders convened focusing on the topic “Reclaim Power! National People's Conference on Coal and Renewable Energy”.

The conference gathers representatives of affected communities, local organizations, sub-national formations and national organizations resisting coal mining and power plant projects, while advancing alternative renewable energy systems in the country.

It also aims to educate affected communities, advocates and campaigners on laws governing the coal industry, their legal rights and enrich their knowledge on the impacts of coal projects including climate issues (capacity building).

It also considers building consensus on the overall situations and current state of affairs regarding the energy/power and coal industry, and the overall framework of the campaign.

It will also launch a national campaign on energy, rooted in existing resistance efforts on the ground, while aiming for policy changes that will shift the country away from coal and fossil fuels and push for alternative energy systems in the country.

12 events up in Kadayawan's Davao Tribal Games for Peace

By Lolito T. delos Reyes

DAVAO CITY, Aug 4 (PNA) -- Twelve indigenous games will be played by the different tribes of Davao City in the first Davao Tribal Games for Peace set on August 14 at the People’s Park.

This was finalized during a meeting by the five tribes coming from Ata, Tagabawa, Obu-Manuvu, Klata and Matigsalog and representatives of the City Mayor’s Office-Sports Development Division (CMO-SDD).

These are the Pana (bow and arrow), Sisibow (spear throw), Kakasing (topspin), Dagan (running), Sosakoro (water fetching), Bibinayo, Totaringki/Paning (fire making contest), Solopot (blow gun), Siklot (wood sticks), Bubuntug (bamboo spear), Aakow/Karang (wooden stilts), and Tug-of-War.

“They were chosen out of the 17 indigenous games submitted by the tribes,” said CMO-SDD officer-in-charge William Ramirez.

Each tribe will be represented by 50 players both boys and girls aged 18 years old and above, in the one-day historic event held in celebration of the annual 29th Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.

The Tribal Games was also organized to commemorate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples held every August 9 by the United Nations.

“This Tribal Games is also part of the administration’s comprehensive sports program under the Duterte Game Plan which will bring together all the tribes and play their games,” said Ramirez.

The over-all champion will win P50,000 while the first and second runners-up will get P40,000 and P30,000, respectively. The third and fourth runners-up will each bring home P15,000. Trophies will also be given away to the teams while medals will be awarded to the individual winners.

City Councilor Berino Mambo-o Sr., a representative of the Indigenous Peoples in the City Council will be the head umpire and chief referee.

“The activity will show our solidarity, athletic skills and preserve our much treasured cultural sports of which we can be proud of as Dabawenyos,” said Mambo-o during his privileged speech in last Friday’s special session at the council.

Rudy Mande is the Tribal Games coordinator while the coordinators of the different tribes are Michael Mandayunan (Ata), Ceferino Salazar (Tagabawa), Rosalindo Palmero (Obu-Manuvu), Marvin Domingo (Klata) and Arnel Mansabid (Matigsalog). The event staff are Datu Jonathan Awing (Tagabawa), Esteban Isod (Ata), Susan Ramos (Obu-Manuvu), Evelyn Salinas (Klata) and Merlie Anib (Matigsalog).

Mindanawon public school teacher is Ramon Magsaysay awardee

(MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/03 August) – A 31-year old Mindanawon public school teacher from Davao City is the lone Filipino out of five Asians who will receive on August 31 the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize.

Randy Halasan, who will receive the award for Emergent Leadership, is being recognized for “his purposeful dedication in nurturing his Matigsalug students and their community to transform their lives through quality education and sustainable livelihoods, doing so in ways that respect their uniqueness and preserve their integrity as indigenous peoples in a modernizing Philippines.”

Halasan is a teacher at the Pegalongan Elementary School in the hinterlands of Marilog District in Davao City – a seven-hour travel from his family’s home in the city – two hours by bus, an hour by habal-habal motorcycle and four hours of walking and crossing two treacherous rivers. When he first arrived there in 2007, his first thought was to immediately seek reassignment. Halasan has been head teacher since 2010 and has also helped set up a high school, among others. (see profile)

The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced on July 31 that five individuals, including Halasan, and one organization from Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines will receive the prestigious award.

Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honor and is widely regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

The Award celebrates the memory and leadership example of the President who died in a plane crash. It is given “every year to individuals or organizations in Asia who manifest the same selfless service that ruled the life of the late and beloved Filipino leader,” the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) website said.

It quoted RMAF President Carmencita Abella, as saying this year’s winners are “truly beacons of progress in Asia” in that all of them are “creating bold solutions to deeply-rooted social problems in their respective societies, problems which are most damaging to the lives of those trapped in poverty, ignorance, and unjust systems.”

“Their inspiring and path-breaking leadership addresses very diverse areas — education for the poor and marginalized, environmental justice for pollution victims, increased transparency and accountability in corporate and public governance, and the restoration of cultural pride – and yet it is clear that each of this year’s Magsaysay awardees is building more hopeful lives among their people — one smart, responsible, and persistent step at a time,” said Abella.

She said the solutions offered by the winners are “distinctively their own” but they share one thing in common: “a greatness of spirit that infuses their leadership for change.”

Abella said the winners “are all unafraid to take on large causes; they all refuse to give up, despite meager resources, daunting adversity and strong opposition. They are all deeply anchored in hope. We have much to learn from them, and much to celebrate about their greatness of spirit.”

A total of 301 winners have been conferred the Magsaysay Award as of 2013.

The winners will each receive a certificate, a medallion bearing the likeness of the late President, and a cash prize. They will be formally conferred the Magsaysay Award during formal Presentation Ceremonies on August 31 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Aside from Halasan, the other winners are Hu Shuli and Wang Canfa from China, Saur Marlina Manurung from Indonesia, Omara Khan Masoudi from Afghanistan, and The Citizens Foundation from Pakistan.

Shuli is being awarded for her “unrelenting commitment to truthful, relevant, and unassailable journalism, her fearless promotion of transparency and accountability in business and public governance, and her leadership in blazing the way for more professional and independent-minded media practices in China.”

Manurung is being recognized for her “ennobling passion to protect and improve the lives of Indonesia’s forest people, and her energizing leadership of volunteers in SOKOLA’s customized education program that is sensitive to the lifeways of indigenous communities and the unique development challenges they face.”

Masoudi is being recognized for his “courage, labor, and leadership in protecting Afghan cultural heritage, rebuilding an institution vital for Afghanistan’s future, and reminding his countrymen and peoples everywhere that in recognizing humanity’s shared patrimony, we can be inspired to stand together in peace.”

Canfa is being recognized for his “discerning and forceful leadership—through scholarly work, disciplined advocacy, and pro bono public interest litigation—in ensuring that the enlightened and competent practice of environmental law in China effectively protects the rights and lives of victims of environmental abuse, especially the poor and the powerless.”

The Citizens Foundation in Pakistan is being recognized for “the social vision and high-level professionalism of its founders and those who run its schools, in successfully pursuing their conviction that, with sustained civic responsiveness, quality education made available to all—irrespective of religion, gender, or economic status—is the key to Pakistan’s brighter future.”

Industry sector spurs region's econ growth

By Reuel John F. Lumawag

DAVAO Region's industry sector posted a growth of 16.2 percent in 2013, surpassing by many folds its target of 4.8 percent last year, an economic study said.

In a presentation during the 2013 Economic Performance of the Davao Region at the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 11, Philippine Statistics Authority-Regional Statistical Coordination Unit (PSA-RSCU) 11 officer-in-charge Rosendo M. Aya-ay said the highest growth is noted also in the industry sector among other sectors, surpassing even the region's major economic driver agriculture which stood the lowest at -8 percent.

The industries in the region are comprised of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and electricity, gas, and water supply, all of these pushed the sector to attain its double digit growth for 2013.

The mining and quarrying sector grew by 17.9 percent to P1.96 billion in 2013 as compared to P1.67 billion in 2012. Manufacturing sector went up by 14.8 percent to P52.04 billion from P45.32 billion; the construction sector increased by 18.9 percent to P25.17 billion from P21.17 billion, and electricity, gas, and water supply increased by 16.4 percent to P2.84 billion from P2.44 billion.

National Economic Development Authority (Neda)-Davao regional director Maria Lourdes D. Lim said manufacturing contributed the biggest share at 20.1 percent despite having the lowest growth among the subsectors of the industry sector.

"This is due to the strong performance of processing industries, such as cement, food and beverages, fertilizers, and minerals," she said.

Lim said the construction sector, having the highest growth, was vigorous, as the government pursued key infrastructure projects in the region particularly in the Pablo-affected areas.

"Private building construction surged by 70 percent reaching P22 billion, which included projects for non-residential or commercial purposes. The number of new residential building construction, however, contracted by 5 percent during the year," she said.

Lim said mining and quarrying has rebounded from its negative growth of -59.8 percent in 2012 to 17.9 percent last year.

"Electricity, gas, and water supply improved by 16.4 percent due to further expansion of water utilities and increase in output of the energy sector," she said.

The industry sector contributed 32 percent to the region's gross domestic regional product (GRDP) for 2013. Service sector contributed 53 percent while the agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing sector posted 15 percent contribution.

First Davao City Open Weapons Kata, board breaking contest set Aug 10

(PNA), LAM/LCM/LTREYES/LDP

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 1 (PNA) – The first Davao City Open Weapons Kata and Board Breaking competition is set on August 10 during the Mindanao Martial Arts (MMA) Expo at the Garden Oases in Barrio Obrero, this city.

“This is open to all martial arts style by group or individual,” said organizer Nell John Astudillo of the King’s Sword Martial Arts and American Bushido Kai Karate Association.

There will be separate categories for the kids, teens and adults in the Beginners and Advance.

“The weapons allowed for the competition can be a sword, bo, sai, arnis etc.,” said Astudillo.

For board breaking, a contestant can do power breaks, multiple speed break and trick/flying break. They will have to break the 1.5 inches Lawaan wood.

“They will break it with hand techniques and those who can break the most number of pieces wins,” Astudillo said.

The judges are blackbelts or instructors from different martial arts. The criteria in weapons include the form, power, execution and difficulty of the forms while in the board breaking are the difficulty, execution and preparedness.

“The judges’ decision is final,” he said.

The champions and runners-up in each category will receive medals made in the USA. Certificates will also be awarded to the top three winners while all participants will receive a certificate of participation.

The organizers have set a registration fee at P350. Participants can bring their own weapon while boards will be provided by the organizer. For more inquiry, contact Nell Jone Astudillo at 0925-5239261.