Dabawenyos bring recyclables @ SM

With SM City Davao initiating the waste market or the "Trash to Cash" project, the people of Davao City have a place to bring unused but recyclable materials and earn some cash from it each month. SM City Davao's bid of increasing environmental awareness and Earth campaigns has inspired a lot of individuals and supported the campaign. SM City Davao responded to the planet’s cry for help and made conscious efforts of reducing the company’s carbon footprint and also encourage employees and costumers alike to be more discerning in their actions and choices with partiality to the planet’s welfare. The Trash to Cash promotes recycling as a way of fighting global warming. It corrects the common misconception that recycling is expensive as mall goers are able to sell their recycleables (paper, cartons, plastics, metals, batteries, etc.) to DENR-accredited scrap buyers during the fair ensuring them of proper disposal and earning them cash at the same time! In less than 2 years, the SM City Davao has organized 22 waste market fairs. The paper collection alone, reaching to almost 63,000 kilograms is estimated to have saved 1,258 trees, 188.75 cubic yards of landfill space, 125.83 barrels of oil- enough to fuel an average car for 79,274.88 miles, 257,957.93 kilowatts of energy- enough to power an average household for 31 years, and 3,774.99 lbs less air pollution! The next Trash to Cash is scheduled on February 6 and 7 at SM City Davao’s Parking C. So start collecting your trash and turn them into cash only at SM!

Agri-based economy remains strong in Mindanao

A leader in rural banking sees agri-products to remain strong in the agri-based economy of Mindanao this year despite the global crisis.

One Network Bank (ONB) president Alex Buenaventura said the strong agri-based economy and liquid environment support the high deposit generation targets of the bank's branches especially in the countryside.

Given such upbeat outlook, he said they project a 19-percent increase of their targets this year of P288 million as against their actual Net Income After Tax (NIAT) in 2008 of only 242 million.

ONB's deposit liabilities are raised by 30 percent increase or P7.8 billion as against the 2008's actual of P6.0 billion.

He said they also increased their target for loans at 36 percent or about P8.0 billion as against the P5.9 billion actual loans in 2008.

Buenaventura said although there will be many challenges this year, rural banking in Mindanao will continue to experience growth.

He attributed this to the good prospects in agriculture particularly banana, pineapple, coconut, rubber and palm oil.

Buenaventura also said their banking operation remains strong due to Department of Education salary loans and the One Banana Program growers' loans.

Meanwhile, he said the rural banks play a niche in service of small depositors and borrowers in the countryside.

He said as they continue to improve on their services they are also able to bring their clients to economic opportunities in the financial mainstream.

He said they have given small accounts access to projects with solid fundamentals and services which they thought can only be possible in urban centers.

With 72 ONB branches, he said they have given more Mindanaoans the means to improve their lives.

Davao sees more demand for fresh bananas this year

Many investors are looking for farm lands around Mindanao with the increasing demand of fresh bananas especially in Japan.

Gil Dureza, Board of Investment (BOI) head for Regions IX, XI and XII said the demand of foreigners on (Cavendish) bananas is a great advantage to us.

He cited for instance that with the "morning banana diet" that is popular in Japan, there is an indication that demand for the bananas would increase even as he said that many people now are getting conscious of their health and shifted to eating more bananas.

"Investors for banana production continue to come and this has been going on for years now," he said.In fact he said a new investor for banana production is the biggest among this year's investment leads.

The investor would need some 3,400 hectares either in Davao Oriental or Davao del Sur.

Meanwhile Dureza said that In 2007 banana production was also among the registered investments as Upland Banana Corporation opened new areas in Davao, Cotabato and South Cotabato and was able to employ 10,000 workers.

Data from the Department of Agricultre showed that in 2007 the production area was at 436,783 hectares with volume of production of 7,484,074 MT. The Davao Region attained the highest production area and volume of the same year of 78,647 hectares and 3,180,331 MT.

Other top producing regions include SOCCKSARGEN with 935,565 MT, Northern Mindanao 933,114 MT, Cagayan Valley 386,929 MT and the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) 372,676 MT.

On the other hand, banana remained as the leading export commidity where in 2008 it showed an increase of 13.49 percent as against 2007 figure.

The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics comparative data for the last three years from 2006 to 2008 on production volume for the period January to September showed that banana export in 2006 accounted to only 2,197,894 MT, 2007 had 2,377,424 while in 2008 it registered some 2,698,255 MT.

peaceful transfer of power

In my Central Park residence in the Philippines (Davao City) and glued on television @ CNN, I watched the inaugural ceremony of the transfer of power peacefully from President George W. Bush to now US President Barack Obama up to the time that the former President took the helicopter that ferried him and former First Lady Lara Bush to Andrew Airport for their trip home til past 1:00 am of Wednesday (Philippine time) .

Out there in Washington, DC and also through the other networks BBC, ANC, GMA, I saw how the people in America received the new President with throngs of them who came for the inauguration. Chanting and high in spirit waving banners amidst the cold weather, I viewed them as one with hope and willing to share in the tough job ahead. With the President were First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia Anne and Natasha "Sasha".

The President in his inaugural speech urged them that they begin the work of Remaking America !

He started his speech by thanking President Bush for his generosity and cooperation. He continued on saying that he is humbled by his task and grateful for that.

As he went on, he said they have to remain faithful to the ideals of their forefathers.

He underscored the indicators of crisis citing among others the collective failures to make choices .... and when these indicators are present, crisis will be next.

"But we chose hope over failure".

"Greatness is never a gift, it must be earned".

"In America, all are equal, all are free and all are given the chance to pursue their own happiness".

"We extend opportunity to every willing heart."

"America is a friend of each nation".

The President also said that people will judge them "on what you build and not on what you destroy".

He said the world has changed and they must change with it.

"All this we can do, all this we will do," he said.

When I saw the jampacked National Mall, it reminded me of the Philippine People Power and whatever aspirations that brought people to this historic activity I hoe it will remain vibrant and that will not only be in America but in the Philippines as well and in any place around the globe so that there will be opportunities for everyone especially to those who haven't had any chance yet of grabbing one.

Wahington DC

At the Capitol and the grounds of the White House I saw by myself squirrels and it reminded me I was not home but in faraway America. Tourists can view the White House from a distance and take pictures too.

From New York City for a week's stay in a downtown Manhattan hotel and walking distance to Central Park, we traveled by bus to Washington, DC for a day tour.

It was indeed educational, my husband who loves geography and history included in our trip the Washington, DC tour.

From the skyscraper NYC, we found Washington, DC a peaceful yet exciting place with the many historical events that unfolded in this city where the seat of the US government is.

The tour guide explained to us everything including the inaugural ceremonies that took place in Pennsylvania Street and she (tour guide) even told us that lamp posts are movable to give way to the holding of the inauguration of the New President.

With President Barack Obama to take his seat on January 20 at the White House, I personally am excited because I had been to Washington DC, where on Tuesday (American time and Wednesday in the Philippines), will be packed with millions of people. I could view it together with millions of people around the world on television.

My experience in Washington DC was enlightening and exciting. I saw the buildings of different government offices including the Lincoln Memorial (the pencil), the Pentagon, White House, Capitol, the Union Station, the different museums and others, everything that a tourist must see.

The cherry blossoms were in bloom when we went there and it was a different feeling seeing all the trees covered with pinkish and white flowers. Tulips of different colors adorned the streets and made the landscape very beautiful.

Travel really gives us a different experience. Anyway with the new US President, everybody including myself wish a new thing to happen. But President Obama can not do any magic for the crisis that hit hard the US but prayers and cooperation could bring people to where the action must be focused inorder to ease the impact of the global crisis. The Philippines is not spared of this but we know that Filipinos, can make a difference because we (Filipinos) are used to hardship and difficulties. As what the business sector had been advocating, everybody must go back to the basics. In doing so, people could cut on cost as well as prioritize spending.

Going back to Washington, it is really a distinct city that I could not forget its being it. From there we proceeded to Orlando, Florida and let our bodies got tired of the huge and beautiful theme parks of Disneyworld.... again another superb experience.

Davao Med ICT school expands offering for legal transcriptionists/transcribers

A Davao-based Medical Transcription School after noting high demand for legal transcriptionists/transcribers has expanded its offering for Legal Transcription Program of eight weeks course.

Wit Holganza, president of MTC Academy said the demand for qualified individuals task of writing accurate and grammatically correct legal records has been growing.

She said these legal transcribers take some of the workload from lawyers and paralegals needing to keep accurate records but do not have the time to construct them.

She said this profession is rising in importance as the need for accurate documentation and organized legal system increases. Data capture and transcriptions in the legal world is critical as it affects the speed by which justice is served.

"Just like medical and business transcriptions, legal transcription uses the latest technology to convert legal dictations such as oral arguments, trial cases, court hearings and proceedings and legal interviews from voice to text thus creating official documents," she said.

The Legal Transcription program at MTC Academy is an eight (8) week program with a pre-requisite course of 1- 4 weeks depending on the student-applicants' entry-level skill set. The program covers the essentials of legal terminology, types of legal documentation, professional ethics in legal transcription and common rules in legal documentation.

Using the revolving curriculum for most of its programs allowing classes to start every month, MTC Academy has also restructured its program costs thus enhancing the value for money for all of its courses with low down payment and easy monthly installments extended to all qualified applicants.

She said the MTC Academy is supplying more than 50% of Davao City's manpower requirement to its corporate partners even as it provides free job placement assistance for its transcription graduates to companies here in Davao and as far as Manila and Cebu.

Davao City sees new businesses for 2009

An increase in new businesses in Davao City is expected this year to about 10 percent higher than the total businesses registered last year.

Business bureau chief Atty. Johpee Agustin said they were able to served about 32,000 businesses in 2008 both for new registrants and renewal of business permits and they expect new businesses coming in.

She said they are optimistic of the business trend in the city even as she said that they will continue to come up with new strategies so Davao City would generate more revenues.

She noted that on the first week of January this year they already received 14,739 applications for renewal and about 170 for new registration.

On a daily basis she said they receive some 2,000 to 5,000 applications and inorder to fast track the issuance of permits they came up with a scheme where the applicants after complying basic requirements are given temporary authority to operate (TAO). But this will not apply to those businesses that needs detailed requirements like detailed permits, etc.

She said once the TAO is issued the investor can proceed and they still have to comply the other steps as required by other regulatory bodies.

She said the strategy enticed other busnesses to come to the city and with proper education and awareness they also noticed that businesses are religiously complying with the requirements compared to their previous years operation.

Meanwhile Agustin said that with their successful implementation of collecting occupational permit fee (OPF) where it gave Davao City some P6 million in revenues last year, they will be implementing the Special Mayor's Permit Fee (SMPF) this year.

The OPF in 2007 only had a collection of P3 million while P1.9 million in 2006, she said.

For the SMPF she said they will start to collect fees on all activities that will be conducted in the city.

She said this scheme is also provided in the Local Government Code and they will be implementing such inorder to make use of whatever is allowed by law for the benefit of the people of Davao City.

Meanwhile Davao City Treasurer Rodrigo Riola said their target income this year is pegged at P548 million and 60 percent of this will be taken from business taxes.

He said based on their experienced 60 percent of this collection will be realized by the first quarter of the year and of the fees the real property tax contributes about 60 percent of the total revenue generated.

He said most of the real property owners pay their taxes on the first quarter of the year because of the 20 percent discount.

Riola also said that Manila-based companies or those from other areas that operate businesses in Davao City are already paying their taxes here.

He said consultation and dialogue with these businesses made them understand that they need to share their income to Davao City considering that they engage business here. (Digna D. Banzon)

Davao City got highest in new registered corporation/partnership for 2008

Davao City raked in the highest number of new registered corporations and partnership that were served by the Securities and Exchange Commission Davao extension office in 2008.

SEC Davao head Atty. Javey Francisco said the city cornered 314 new businesses of the 464 corporations that registered with their office last year around Mindanao.

General Santos City followed next with 36 then Tagum City with 18. Fourth in the row were Mati City, Koronadal City and South Cotabato with nine new registered corporations each. Cotabato City ranked fifth with eignt while Davao del Norte on the seventh with six. Panabo City and Digos City came next with six new registered corporations and partnerships. Davaod del Sur had five while Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur and Mati City with four each and Agusan del Sur, 3. The Compostela Valley Province and the cities of Malaybalay, Bislig and Butuan had two each. Only one new corporations registered in the Island Garden City of Samal, North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Surigao City, Midsayap and Cagayan de Oro City.

Francisco said the 464 corporations had a paid-up capital of P215.4 million which came lower by 38 percent or P134 million compared to the P349.8 million in 2007.

He said of the new corporations last year, Davao City's businesses for paid-up capital accounted to P124.6 million while General Santos City at P27.4 million and Tagum City, P21.5 million.

Meanwhile Francisco said with regards to foreign direct investments (FDI) of 80 new businesses with paid up capital of P15.177 million, Davao City still got high with 67 corporation and paid up capital of P11.4 million.

General Santos City had 3 of P1.1 million, Davao Oriental, 2, P1.036 million, Koronadal City, 2, P1.250 million.

He said according to nationalities, the Chinese top the list followed by Korean and Dutch.

Med Express to expand to other Mindanao areas

A Manila-based medicine distributor will expand its operations in Mindanao after it hit a 12,000 clients in Davao last year.

The Med Express which delivers nedicines and milk formulas right at the clients doorstep is putting up new stores in Davao City and other parts of Mindanao.

Med Express business development manager Carlo Lorenzana said with one store servicing their clients in the city, they are putting up two more offices that will be servicing those in the northern and southern areas of Davao City.

He said they will open branches within the first quarter this year in the cities of Butuan and Cagayan de Oro.

Med Express already has over 200 stores all over the country servicing 200,000 clients. It has three franchise stores in Jakarta, Indonesia, he said.

Lorenzana said they are optimistic of the business in 2009 even as he said that they noted a 40 percent growth in 2008 as against their performance in 2007.

Davao bakeshop to open new branches

Panaderia, a local bakeshop in Davao City, is bent on opening new branches in other Mindanao areas this year to be able to achieve a profitable operation.

Samuel M. Abrenilla, owner of CokTek Manufacturing and Panaderia Bakeshop said having multiple outlets means higher revenue.

He said they are looking at the cities of General Santos, Valencia and Cagayan de Oro.

Although he said they would not want to do aggressive steps this year, the additional outlets of at least three to their existing 13 branches would give them better income. This is competitive enough, he said.

"We need to have bigger revenue source to come up with profitable operation," he said.

But Abrenilla admitted that their operation has been affected by the economic downtrend. Their operation already suffered in 2008 getting an income very much lower compared in 2007.

He said the bakeshop operation is highly dependent on imported products and prices of these commodities have gone high.

But he said they would not compromise the ingredients because they have to maintain the quality of their products.

Despite the current financial crisis, Abrenilla said they will not sacrifice the quality of their products.

Panaderia's signature product "hot pandesal" will still be available as early as 5:00 am. even as he said that they will still maintain the same ingredients to any of their products.

Abrenilla put up Panaderia Bakeshop after he invented the Coktek Oven where it is known for its distinct feature of equal heat inside the chamber.

With this feature, he said they were able to save substantially on LPG gas of about 20 to 50 percent.

The industrial oven that Abrenilla invented has a capacity of 12 baking pans costing P50,000.

He said his invention is comparable to the product made in Korea and Taiwan of about P150,000.