Opening of SM Davao offers 10,000 jobs

DAVAO CITY,Sept. 29 (PNA) -- Some 10,000 new jobs are up for grabs following the opening of the SM Lanang Premier and the Radisson Hotel here on Friday.

SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy said "we have been very aggressive in Mindanao because we saw the potential in the island. What we are doing in China is also what we are doing here," he said.

Sy led the opening of SM Lanang Premier on Sept. 28 and had the new landmark inaugurated on Sept. 27 along with the first IMAX threatre, the first Forever 21 store in the region, an SMX Convention Center.

"It will also feature the Science Discovery Center. The Radisson Hotel will open in February 2013," he said.

The Park, an outdoor event venue was, simultaneously opened to the public. It has a breathtaking 122 meters musical fountain and a Skygarden with greens, water features, and restaurants.

Sy said the purchasing power in Mindanao is strong and this can be seen in the study they made per transaction basis.

"I'm giving them reason to spend by offering new market to make the economy rolling," he said.
Sy said next year they will have two projects in Mindanao where another mall will be built in Cagayan de Oro City and in Butuan City with a capital expense each at P2 billion.

"The Cagayan mall will be similar to that in Olongapo City with 1.7 hectares area of multi-level type while Butuan will have an area of 90,000 square meters," he said.

"What we are doing is to invest back the cash we generated in the 46 malls and not just borrow funding for reason of expansion," he said.

Sy also emphasized that all their projects come with sustainability even as he said that features of water collection and recycling is one major component in all the malls that they operate both here and abroad.

Davao City vice mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said "the opening of SM Premier mall showed to the world that our city is the right investment area and a peaceful city to do business."(PNA) ghg/Prix Digna D. Banzon/ldp/utb

We need to protect Mother Nature ... the Indigenous Peoples here need all the help to keep the trees growing in their ancestral domain, the place they consider so sacred to them ... here's an article I write about a tree planting activity here ...


Davao Sur tribes thank hydropower firm for reforesting Mt. Apo Natural Park

STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur (PNA)-– The Bagobo-Tagabawa communities in Sibulan, Sta. Cruz here expressed gratitude for the Hedcor, Inc. and Hedcor Sibulan, Inc. reforestation program implemented in the areas at the foot of the Mt. Apo, the country’s highest mountain.

Datu Rudy Agtad, a 50-year-old Bagobo-Tagabawa chieftain, and one of the community members of Barangay Sibulan, who recently trekked the Mt. Apo Natural Park joined the team in planting 2,000 narra seedlings at Sitio Lower Pogpog, Barangay Sibulan.

“We were not wrong when we accepted the (Sibulan hydropower) project in our lands,” relates Agtad. Adding “we are thankful Hedcor commits and takes its responsibility to protect and preserve our environment and the watershed.”

Hedcor has already planted more than 100,000 trees in the 1,000 hectares of the Mt. Apo Natural Park adopted by the company as part of its Watershed Management Plan (WMP).

The planted trees are constantly monitored by the company’s environmental department, representatives from the Province of Davao del Sur and Municipality of Sta. Cruz and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Barangay Sibulan is host to the first hydropower project registered under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project, the Hedcor’s 42.5 mega watts (MW) run-of-river hydropower plant.

The tree planting activity was also part of the second simultaneous tree planting nationwide of the Aboitiz group companies. The first was organized after AboitizPower did a pioneering carbon emission inventory that showed there is a need to plant one million trees over time to offset carbon emissions. (PNA)
LOR/Prix Digna D. Banzon/lvp

Surfing is becoming popular in Davao and an emerging sports that many enthusiasts explore the waters here.  International sports stores, Roxy and Quicksilver, started organizing events here to activate surfing. With Davao as very strong in adventure tourism, the sports tourism is also growing.  


Int'l sports brand manager promotes surfing in Davao (Sports)‏

DAVAO CITY (PNA) -- An international sports store brand manager here is promoting surfing as growing sports in the Davao Region.

Dino Gilladoga, brand manager for Roxy, Quicksilver and Delsey, said there are many surfing enthusiasts here and it is high time this was developed.

The internationally known stores are under the PRIMER Group of Companies

.

Primer is a consortium mainly engaged in the retail and distribution of the world's top consumer brands and products where its retail authority has grown to over 80 premium brands, 100 free-standing concept stores and over 600 consignment doors in the Asian region.

Gilladoga said with Davao as very strong in adventure tourism, they also wanted to be part of the growing sports tourism industry here.

“They want to activate surfing which is our main goal," he said.

He said there is growth for expansion as well because the Davao market is big.

There are already groups which had been doings sports event like this he said but not that wide and they wanted Davao on top of their list.

He said they are coordinating with the Philippine Surfing Federation and part of their long term planning is to make the sports big in areas like Davao, Luzon, Siargao, La Union and Samar and in other areas that have potentials for surfing.

"We are looking at the waters of Davao Oriental for this project and in other potential areas here," he said. (PNA) hbc/PrixDignaDBanzon/ldp/utb

Southern MIndanao is known also for its agri products and banana is the No. 1 export products of this area.

Major market of this exportable banana is China but this market imposed stringent policies that caught the producers by surprise making it hard for them to enter the (China) market.

In the meantime that this sector is still on the process of meeting the new market requirements, banana trees continue to produce fruits and yet no available market where to ship the products. 

The producers then started looking for options and instead of the fruit going to waste, the banana growers started promoting Cavandish bananas in the local market and sometimes they supply public elementary schools with ripe bananas to school children for free in support of the school's feeding program.  Here's a story I write about the status of  the banana industry here ...   


Davao small banana growers group promotes cavendish bananas in the local market

DAVAO CITY, July 6 (PNA) -- The Federation of Cooperatives (Fedco) in Mindanao, which is composed of small banana farm growers in the island, is considering the local market after their export of cavendish bananas to China remains unstable.

Fedco president Rene Dalayon said with their plan of exploring the local market, they will be assisted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the Department's livelihood program for new businesses.

Dalayon was interviewed during the company's 13th anniversary activity at SIR Elementary School and Bucana Elementary School where they delivered truck loads of ripe bananas and distributed the fruit to over 2,000 pupils in both schools.

Dalayon said the activity was to promote fresh cavendish bananas in the local market especially to kids even as he said that they would like to encourage consumers to patronize the fruit.

"This is also one of the steps that we would like to do to help the small banana growers," he said.He said in their talk with DOLE XI, they proposed for the establishment of a ripening room that will make the shelf life of bananas longer than by just using Ethrel that is being practiced in the market here for ripening of fruits and other agri products but with shorter shelf life.

"But when the bananas are placed in the ripening room, it will prolong the shelf life for up to 40 days," he said.

Fedco is composed of 15 cooperatives and in Davao Region it operates in Davao City, Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley Province. The total area in the island consisted of 4,000 hectares.

Its biggest market is China where they deliver some 1.2 million boxes every week.

Fedco is among the active members under the Davao Region's Banana Industry Cluster where it earned the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Program.

JICA supported Fedco with establishing export markets that paved the way for small banana farm growers to directly export their bananas.

Fedco used to sell their produce to big companies but they leveled up as direct exporters in 1999 in Japan. 

The Japan market is still ongoing but with very limited volume for highland bananas, and a few in the Middle East, making China as their primary market.

Dalayon said although other exporters had resumed entry to China, still the number is limited.He even said that others resorted to chopping the trees while some are forced to sell the box at a very low cost compared to the export price of 5 dollars per box. 

Per box weighs 13.5 kilos of 80 fingers. Meanwhile, Dalayon said they have started renegotiating with their Middle East market and hopefully would resume business by first week of September.

But he said they cannot go full shipment of their produce there because they have to compete with other exporters as well considering that big banana companies export their bananas to the Middle East.

"We can get a share perhaps and ship about 50 percent of our volume of production," he said.Just like what President Aquino has been saying, he said they are also exploring other markets like the US.(PNA)FPV/PrixDDBanzon/ldp/utb

We are almost in the last quarter of the year ... let's see how My City did well 

this year ... we'll check this out on what year-ender stories will gonna be tackled.  

This year I wrote this story when the year started based on the projection of a  

Feng Shui expert ....and I'm sharing you this ...

Feng Shui expert says 2012 good year for DC

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA)  -- The Year of the Water Dragon 

for 2012 is a good year for the island Mindanao and the City 

of Davao.

Feng Shui expert Master Richard Yu, who flew in this city on 

Monday courtesy of SM Davao to conduct forum about the classic 

school of thoughts on Feng Shui and the Chinese Lunar New Year, 

said "lots of good things will happen in Mindanao area and there 

will be less disaster here".

But he said there are lots of work to be done especially pertaining 
to issues of attaining justice and peace.

And because of hard work that Davao City will be doing this year, 
a lot will happen more next year.

He said things will start here especially in Davao City because in 
this city will be the start off point with many good things that will be realized in the southern part of the country this year.

"And next year you will reap the fruit because of your hard work this year," he said.

Yu has been conducting fora and consultancy for the past 9 years. 
He worked formerly at the National Statistics Office, Manila with his educational background in Engineering, but decided to come up 
with his own and landed in Feng Shui analyses, which he had been exposed to when he was a kid where he said his father also practices 
the craft.

Meanwhile, he said for as long as gambling will not be tolerated 
here like what is going on in Las Vegas and Macau where gambling 
is legalized, then peace is going to happen in your city.

“Just pay particular attention to symbols 1, 6, 8 and 4 with 1 which 
stands for the start that is going to happen this year in Davao City, 
6 stands for wealth where many could be found in Manila and 
Davao is very near to that source and 8 symbolizes tremendous 
wealth happening in China, an area very near our country and 4 representing investments which Davao City 
is going to corner this year,” Yu said.

He said for as long as the people work for it and believe in it, then something positive is going to happen and because of change peace 
will be achieved here.

Davao, which is an agriculture base area, he said is perfect in the 
Year of the Water Dragon because of the combination of water, 
earth and wood.

He said more food production will be achieved here as against other 
areas in the country like Luzon which will be threatened with lack 
of supply.

Yu, who follows and studies symbols, culture and tradition that 
was passed on from the olden Chinese, said his analyses of the 
Feng Shui are computed based on Science and Math.

He also said this year is also good on anything cultural as well as 
on education.

But prayer he said complete one's luck as luck has three parts, 
the God Luck that could be achieved through prayers, Man Luck 
through interaction with other people and Nature Luck that is 
brought about by plants.

On the other hand, Davao City celebrated the Chinese New Year 
with rituals, prayers and the countdown which celebration happened 
at Magsaysay Park until midnight of January 23.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who led the Chinoy in the celebration here, took the opportunity for thanking the Chinese 
community for the unceasing support to the people of Davao 
most especially during calamities and disaster.

The activity at the Park was capped with the release of 290 Chinese lanterns where the Mayor, who took part in the lighting and releasing 
of her lantern, accompanied it with her wish for prosperity and 
peace in Davao City.

The releasing of the Chinese lanterns last night was for the first time 
held in Davao City. (PNA) rsv/Prix Digna D. Banzon/ldp 

Chinese lantern photos courtesy of Bing Gonzales ... thanks !

 (Included in my articles about My City) 

I'm sharing this article I wrote about a project of a student of the Philippine Eagle ...

Davao student wins international award  on determining sex of Phil Eagles

Completing a research project while still in high school about determining the sex of Philipine Eagles, this 16 year old boy from Davao City competed in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and won in the competition.

Jovani Tomale traveled to Reno, Nevada in May to present a computer program that detemine the sex of a Philippine Eagle and took home 2nd Special Award from the American Statistical Association (ASA).

Tomale, now an SM Foundaion scholar and studying accountancy freshman of the Ateneo de Davao University, formulated the computer software during his senior year at Davao City National High School with the supervision of Aristoniel Cabonilas, research consultant and Vladimer Jobayashi of the University of the Philippines-Mindanao.

He said he learned during one of their field trips at the conservation breeding facility in Davao that the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) had a problem determining the sex of Philippine Eagles.

 He designed a computer program  which systematically determines the sex of a Philippine Eagle using the eagle’s weight, height, age, etc. using the data from the PEF as basis for the program.

PEF research coordinator Jayson Ibanez said data from eagles whose sex are already determined were entered into a software and the results were promising as it did not return a single incorrect finding.

Tomale’s software competed against the works of more than 1,500 exceptional high school students from more than 50 countries.

He said he hopes that his study helps the Philippine Eagle Foundation on increasing the dwindling number of Philippine Eagles.

The software is yet to be adopted by PEF and has not been tested on a newly hatched eaglet even as Ibanez said that Tomale’s work is a welcome addition to the PEF’s variety of tools on its conservation work.

PEF biologist Ana Mae Sumaya said the tool is really a big help in their conservation considering that they just estimate whether the eaglet is male or female but failed on many occasions.  The other method is for them to wait for the eagles to reach sexual maturity which is at five years for female and seven for males by then the sex of the eales is easily detemined by observing breeding behavior through males mount while females ift their tail feathers to allow copulation.

Right now there are 35 eagles at the PEF conservation site with 17 females and 18 males.

PEF communications manager Tatit Quiblat on the other hand said one Philippine Eagle occupies 7,000 hectares of forest but with the status of our forest now there is not enough for everyone because based on data they gathered the country is losing about 270,000 hectares of forest and this is an alarming figure.

She also said the Philippine Eagle is in the global list of endangered species and PEF’s aims to get the bird delisted.

“This is our indicator for success and we want to increase the population of the eagles,” she said.

She said they embark an Adoption Program and right now they have 17 benefactors even as she said that the eagles in the wild also need to be monitored.

To adopt an eagle would cost a benefactor P100,000 each year whether in captivity or in the wild saying that they need to monitor also eagle’s nest and put protective measures as well like supporting forest guards and others.

She urge the public to help in saving the eagle and the forest as well by reducing the threats in the environment.

(Prix B. Banzon) (Included in the stories I write about Environment)

Growing plants and loving them ...

At home I grow flowers, palms and other ornamental plants. I just love growing these plants.  If there is such a green thumb, then you can count me in.

Anything that I plant, the next day it is "up and about". I know this is a gift. I thank God for giving me such because in my small way I could help the environment by continuously growing plants and keeping the surroundings green.

Right in my home I could enjoy the beauty of nature and because of the plants and the trees here, birds come and visit us every day. Butterflies also come. And my mornings include among others, listening to chirping birds that rest on branches of trees and bushes around the house. 

At home while I'm writing birds keep me company just like this birdie that dropped by as if checking on me what I was busy with. Resting in a branch I took this photo upclose. This birdie so smart as if the birdie was ready for the pictorial !

Nature really is something different that one has to sincerely appreciate and it must come from the heart. My place is not that big but I just planted different plants.

I also appreciate the new technology and with my camera, my tablet and sometimes my mobile phone I see to it that I took photos of the flowers that show up from time to time in my garden and many others which caught my attention and interest, those which I can view from my bedroom window or in the veranda perhaps the rainbow, the clouds, rain, the sun, the moon. Oh so beautiful , I tell you.

Sharing you some photos so you'll have an idea what's in my garden ...

What a wonderful world we have and I'm so endlessly grateful !

Thanks for the visit  ...

D Farm is a blessing to us ...

After the Sunday morning Mass today, we did a quick visit to D Farm and talk to Nong Iko, our farm man, and his wife, Manang.

The couple help us in the farm, they tend the plants and watch over hired workers during harvest time.

Life in the farm is simple and they are happy.

D Farm is very near our residence in downtown Davao City. It can be reached by car in 30 minutes.

We got to know of the property when I was preggy with our first born.  And it was love at first sight that we decided to acquire the land.

However, we were busy that time with our respective jobs and had not given it full attention.

We just leave it that way and good that we have Nong Iko and Manang to help us in D Farm.

Hubby talking to Nong Iko

I was talking to Manang here. 

But there is something in D Farm that we are happy about.

We are blessed to have acquired this.

We are blessed to have found this.

Why ? because we are able to share this blessing to others.

D Farm is in a community in Mahayahay in Tugbok, Davao City.

There are water pumping stations in this sitio and the neighboring areas that the Davao City Water District had established.  The water that is brought down to residences, business establishments, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, in downtown areas.

But the community was left waterless despite the source of the water in their place. There were negotiations with the city water district that the residents of this community tap water connections with DCWD.

The nego took some time.  It went for years. It was difficult for them because they fetch water in pails when the source is within their area and yet could not be provided connections.

If I'm not mistaken it was after 20 years that the DCWD opened a project and they considered the barangay to put up another pumping station.

The water district was scouting for an area but none of the residents agreed to have in their property a pumping station. The price was too low and yes it was too low indeed ... with a 100 pesos rate per sq. meter, as if it was just a runaway price ... it was a giveaway price.

We didn't know about this.  It took awhile but when we learned about it, without hesitation we agreed ... because what was in our mind was the opportunity that we could share to others ... this source ... that nature continue to give us. We wanted to help ... we cannot afford to leave our neighbors and the people not sharing what we have ... so this pumping station in our property.

Water pumping station

It was a happy feeling talking to people in the community and they still remember our gesture of letting DCWD put up a pumping station in the property that we own.

I forgot about it already, but this morning, an old lady brought back to us that time that they were all happy having water right in their homes, in the kitchen, in the bathrooms.

Our next step is to maximize the production of D Farm.  Projects are being planned and for implementation within the next four months.  We wanted to give jobs to people, so also we can help them. And with God's grace, we are grateful as we count our blessings each day !

Road to D Farm

Many BPOs are looking at the provinces at this time that these companies are aiming for expansion. Real properties here are also being readied as most of these companies want to come and start the business thus their required of "plug and play".  Big malls had allocated spaces for these investors and in fact these two US-run BPOs already picked an area that would satisfy their requirements.  These are some of the new developments here even as many are excited of their coming as it would mean job opportunities, economic growth and vibrant business climate. Here's a story of Davao City opening doors to new investors ...

Two US-run BPOs locating in Davao City‏

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 14 (PNA) -- Two U.S.-run Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) companies are locating in Davao City, according to an Ayala Land executive.

Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Land head of Operations and Support Services Commercial Business Group, confirmed that the two BPOs are locating at Abreeza Mall along J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, this city.

But Tomeldan did not give details and the identities of the companies but said the investors are locating either end of 2012 or first quarter of 2013.

Abreeza Mall has available BPO office space of 9,000 square meters, she said.

Tomeldan said the nature of their development is mix use that is why Abreeza goes with a Mall, BPO, a condominium, a hotel and a lot more.

She said Ayala Land's objective of locating here is to "bring the best in Davao and give the best to Dabawenyos".

"We are misinterpreted as high-end market," she said but clarified that they offer a good mix of affordable and premium products to consumers.

Tomeldan said they use research and study to achieve their goal and know their market even as they provide opportunities to Manila-based investors and make available the property to local home-grown entrepreneurs as well.

"And we want them to grow with us," she said.

She said these home-grown traders could be anchors for tourists or foreign shoppers in promoting the products of Davao and the crafts, culture and tradition of the locals.

Alongside with the BPO, she announced the opening of their 180-room hotel, the Kukon, on the first quarter of 2013.

She said they want Abreeza to be a landmark in Davao and the second home to Dabawenyos.

Meanwhile, she said their Centrio in Cagayan de Oro City will open in October, another project in partnership with Anflocor.

Tomeldan said the Mindanao market continues to grow and there is always room for growth and possible expansion in the future.

To date, she said Ayala Land has a total of 22 new development projects across the country. (PNA) LAM/DDB/ldp/utb

This article I write focuses on the involvement of indigenous peoples on coffee production. It's interesting to know their participation and the industry sector's interests and plans of propagating the production of coffee. I am a coffee addict and drinks coffee be it brewed, latte, cappuccino ... it's a happy feeling when sipping a hot cup while writing.  Take a look at this article about Davao's coffee farm expansion project under private and public partnership. 

Davao Lumads to benefit from DA’s coffee farm expansion

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Davao’s target of some 1,200-hectare expansion of coffee farms will benefit mostly indigenous peoples (IPs) or Lumads in the region to be planted for both the Robusta and Arabica varieties.

Melanie Provido, head of DA Davao high value crops development program, said DA has a three-year program for Robusta coffee variety where the expansion program covers about 700 hectares.

On the other hand, Provido said the Arabica variety will be propagated to some 500 hectares in Davao City by Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee Company. The identified areas are in barangays Carmen, Calinan, Cebulan, Toril and in Salaysay, Tamayong and Marilog.

She said these are convergence areas of DA, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the provincial government headed by Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and the local government units (LGUs).

The area, she said is also in support to the program of the provincial LGUs to develop areas of indigenous people's (IPs) as well as support them (IPs) on their livelihood. Todate, about 500 hectares are now planted into this variety in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte.

Provido said included in the three-year program is also the setting up of common service area (CSA) where it provides post harvest facilities like dryer, coffee roaster and dehaulers which can serve areas of about 10 hectares. The CSA is facilitated through people's organization or farmers' association so that each farmer can have access the facilities.

The Robusta program is also in collaboration with Nestle Philippines as the company aside from marketing support where they put up a buying station in Tagum City also provides training to farmers on new technologies and other related concerns.

Provido said of the 100 percent requirement of the company, it only gets 27 to 30 percent from here and the 70 percent is imported from countries including Vietnam.

She said the company realized that instead of supporting farmers abroad as they buy their beans from them, they have partnered with DA and LGU for the propagation and developing of more coffee farms in the region.

Buying price of Robusta coffee is at P90 to P120 per kilo of the Class A type.

However, Provido said the reason coffee farms here cannot meet the demand is because of low production yield where on the average a hectare is supposed to yield at one ton, farmers' produce per hectare is only pegged at 600 kilos per hectare per year.

She said 70 percent of the coffee trees need rejuvenation as majority of these are about 35 to 40 years old. Poor production management and adaptation of new technologies are reasons that contribute to low production.

Meanwhile, the Arabica project is now being finalized with Rocky Mountain as they intend to develop some 100 hectares of coffee farms.

The DA, she said will match the coverage of the company by also targeting also the number of hectares that Rocky Mountain will develop.

Provido said Rocky Mountain will put in investments as well as processing facilities even as she said aside from providing the market with supply of raw materials, they also have plans of exporting the beans.

She said the company specified that it wants to invest in areas covered by IPs as they also would want to support the livelihood of farmers. (PNA)

LAP/Digna D. Banzon/ldp