Davao del Sur's Coco-Sugar Business Epitomizes Countryside Development

DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo commended the Lao Integrated Farms Inc. based in Barangay Eman, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, for bringing in improvements at the rural areas in the part of this province, using appropraite technology innovations - as one could learn in an article by carina L. Cayon of the PIA 11.

Montejo said that the inventor and producer of the Donnabelle coconut sugar and syrup products made from coconut sap. epitomizes DOST's countryside development program as an effective and equitable strategy in realizing President Benigno Aquino's goal for an inclusive economic growth.

he explained that the countryside development covers the program of developing appropriate technology, improving existing products to be world-class products and generating jobs around the area. 

He said that the enterprise "clearly exemplifies' this, citing particularly the present employment that the firm has provided for the rural folks in its surroundings.

"We hope that the company would permit to become a model of the program," the dost official said during his visit at the farm recently to see the impact of the DOST-assisted projects under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Prpgram (SETUP). The DOST-SETUP provided the Lao Integrated Farms a financial assistance of 660,000 Pesos with no interest and payable for three years.

During the visit, Lao Integrated Farms owner and chei executive officer Benjamin Lao informed the DOST Secretary of how the business has improved a lot starting ten years ago from a barren land in Barangay Eman.

Lao recalled that he started developing about one-hectare coconut farm and introduced organic farming, until currently its Donnabelle coco sugar and syrup products are being exported to Australia, Germany and Japan. The business  has also expanded to other coco sugar-based products such as ginger tea, moringa, lemon grass and seasoning.

Lao (right) is a national awardee as Outstanding Farmer and Magsasakang Syentista.

First Cruise Ship to Dock in Davao

This city will welcome the first cruise ship to dock on March 30, 2012, carrying 371 French nationals to visit Davao City.

It is the NDS Voyages Princess Danae from France. It will dock after visiting Papua New Guinea. The French nationals as soon as they arrive on the 30th of March will be toured in selected tourist destinations in the city. The Department of Tourism also allotted a budget to show them around. 

Visitors then will be brought to Davao's newest and largest park, the "People's Park, and a personal encounter with the eagles at the Philippine Eagle.

Other areas where the visitors are set to visit are Davao's shopping havens like Aldevinco and the newest mall in the city, Abreeza. Princess Danae passengers are given an entire day to tour around the city. They will also set foot in Cebu and Manila as part of the regular stop overs.

Hopefully. Princess Danae will be the part of more cruise ships to include Davao in their destinations.

USEP Launches Campus Tree Planting Project

A tree planting activity inside the six-hectare campus of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero, Davao City (where I am also teaching since 4 years), kicked off the launch of the university's sustainable campus project last February 14, 2012. The project is in partnership with the international environmental group Greenpeace.

The launch, highlighted by a forum on energy conservation and efficiency, was participated in by the USEP administrators and employees headed by USEP President Dr. Perfecto A. Alibin., and some students led by the Obrero Campus Student Council.

Alibin said that the program is really essential and timely nowadays. He mentioned the recent calamities that happened in different parts of the Philippines as well as the flodding in Davao City, that even didn't spare the USEP Obrero campus.

The administration led by Dr. Alibin signified their commitment to the program by affixing heir signature in the freedom tarp that bears the challenging questions and statement: "Do you love our Mother Earth? What can USEP do? Conserve energy?"

The project bears the Philippine slogan "Simple lang". "Simple lang - unplug!" "Simple lang - switch off!" "Simple lang - light up efficiently!" 

Music For Relaxing Hours: Carl Zeller and Riccardo Zandonai

(Riccardo Zandonai)

(Carl Zeller)

Here is more about them:

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

"Unofficially Yours" - the First Movie Team-Up Cruz/Locsin

Star Cinema's "Unofficial Yours". the first movie teamup of John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin, earned already 18.5 million Pesos on its first day.

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, this movie tells the story of a casual relationship. The opening numbers bode well for the film, especially since "No Other Woman" went on to become the second most successful movie last year with total gross revenue of 282.5 million Pesos for its entire run. 

The success of "Unofficially Yours" also cements Cruz's strong appeal at the box office. 

Relax - and enjoy a movie. Enjoy: "Unofficially Yours".

Young Leaders In ComVal

The First Sangguniang Kabataan Congress was held in ComVal with the theme "Super Kabataan para sa Kalikasan" on February 11 - 12, 2012 at the Lorenzo Sarmiento Sr. National High School.

Almost 1,000 youths from the eleven municipalities had a chance to get together and enhance their leadership skills as the second day event took place. 

The young leaders also launch  "War on Waste Program" and the Search for Most Outstanding SK 2012.

Governor Uy was very thankful for the dynamism and management  the batch of youth showed in his administration. Uy was challenging everyone to serve their constituents honestly with huminity.

Food Safety in The Philippines

Since living in the Philippines for good, I have tried many times food also offered by street vendors. No problems at all!

Since the last study of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST Regional Office XI) and its director Dr. Anthony Sales, street vendors seem to remain unaffected by this study. Several street vendors here in Davao said they are still enjoying the patronage of the locals. 

Meanwhile Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said banning in any parts of the city is not an option. Of course, go slow on street food, experts said after tests show germ traces. Authorities here cautioned the public against consuming street food in te wake of the results. People were told to wait until efforts to make street safe have been completed.

Already on January 12, 2012 food safety practitioners gathered for the multi-stakeholders forum of Promoting Food Industry Competitiveness Training  Program held at the Mariott Hotel in Pasay City.

During the forum, DOST XI Regional Director Dr. Anthony C. Sales was given the opportunity to discuss food safety initiatives in the region. Dr. Sales emphasized that there are three steps that must be pursued in dealing with food safety :

1. To have a Good Manufacturing Practices. The main issue here is that quality must be built in to a product not just tested in a product.

2. To conduct Hazard Analysis Critical Control points. This step deals with the safety of each product.

3. To have a food Safety Management System. This step is creating a food safety culture. 

After the forum Dr. Sales was optimistic, that the inputs of the stakeholders would be o great help in harmonizing initiatives towards achieving food safety in the whole Philippines. 

Dr. Sales also said, DOST would also lobby for the passage of an ordinance that would require vendors to submit samples of their food products before there are sold. He said a draft ordinance had been crafted with Davao councilor Pilar Praga, chair of the city's council's committee on trade, commerce and industry.]

Vendors, Sales said, should also be provided carts to keep their food safe. Each cart would cost from 10,000 till 20,000 Pesos and would be part of the DOST's assistancew program for street vendors.

German Consul Klaus Muller Visits DOST Regional Office XI

First Secretary and Consul Mr. Klaus Muller  from the German Embassy in Manila visited again Davao City during the  annual  German Consulars Day, held again in the University of Southeastern Philippines.

Consul Klaus Muller (Photo above extreme left) followed also an invitation of DOST (Department of Science and Technology) Regional Office XI Director Dr. Sales (second from right) together with Benjamin V.D. Estrelladao, Jr., Metrology and Metals Testing Lab-in-Charge and this writer.

"Certificate of Appreciation" (in this photo together with Ms. Elsie Mae A. Solidum, Assistant Regional Director Technical Services Division).

Bad Weather in The Philippines

A friend of mine, living in the U.S., emailed me this morning and asked, if it is true, that Mindanao is expecting another taifun.

An active low pressure area will bring widespread rains over Visayas and Eastern Mindanao, according to the Philippine Atmosphere, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). And, I must confess, while writing this piece, it's starting again raining here in Davao City.

PAGASA, in its weather synopsis, said that the ALPA was estimated based on satellite and surfaced data at 350 kilometers east of Southern Mindanao. The APLA is now diminishing its chances to become a tropical cyclone as it approaches land. 

For its wind and sea alert, the weather bureau said moderate to strong winds blowing from the east  will prevail over Luzon and coming from the east to northeast over Visayas and Mindanao. 

Guys, where ever you are located, please be safe.

Philippine Film Industry in Decline

As one could learn from AFP, the number of films produced in the Philippine movie industry has halved over the past decade in the face or privacy and Hollywood competition, a government study showed.

Only the rise of independent film-makers has saved the industry from declining further, with "Indie" movies now accounting for more than the half the total made in the Philippines.

"There are many factors causing the fall. There is piracy and competition from foreign movies. Local movies are also not given as much support from the oublic", said government statistical  coordination officer Gerald Clarino.

No wonder, the top-grossing movies in the Philippines were typically US-made films with multi-million-dollar  budgets that the local movie industry could not afford.

Filipino "indie" directors, such as Brillante Mendoza (check out here http://www.germaninthephilippines.tropicalpenpals.com) and others, have won awards at prestigious foreign film festivals.

Infancy

Re-post of Editorial "Mindanao Daily Mirror" from February 15, 2012 with friendly permission by publisher and editor-in-chief Marietta Siongco.

"In ten days the country will celebrate the 26th anniversary of the first People Power uprising in EDSA, the one that booted out a dictator and restored democracy to a people deprived of freedom for two decades. The Marcos administration ha been characterized by corruption and brutality, and by the time the conjugal dictatorship was toppled it had brought the country nearly to its knees. It was from this humiliating position that the Philippines has had to rise up, and it has been a slow ascent - and in many ways it has not even been achieved yet.

For here we are, more than a quarter of a century and five presidents later, and we are still marked by bad government. One would think that 26 years wold have been enough for the country to recover; after all, it took less time for us to rise up from the ashes  of World War II to become a force to reckon with in Asia. But what we see all around us are evidences of failure on the part of the government  and the people to capitalize on the gains of People Power; instead, we are still struggling to get by, and our government is still marked by corruption. Just look at who is being fried at the Senate now: our very own Supreme Court chief justice, accused of various acts that allegedly disqualify him from further serving in his post.

One could say, however, that the impeachment process is proof that things are changing under the current administration, that at last something is being done to correct a bad system. We truly want to believe that, but forgive usfor not holding our breath. We must remember that we went through an impeachment once before, one which the senator-judges failed to bring to completion but was  preempted by a second People Power uprising. It is as we. as a people, are not willing to respect our own system and therefore take matters into our own heads.

What it all boils down to is this: 26 years after the first EDSA revolt, we are still in our infancy, unable and unwilling to follow the legal processes and insisting on taking shortcuts. And when we stop and think about it, that tis the definition of corruption."

Aquino to Inaugurate Lufthansa Technik Facility

President Benigno Aquino will lead the inauguration  of the Lufthansa Technik, Philippines' new maintenance hangar for Airbus aircraft in Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

The maintenance hangar, located at Macro Asia Special Economic Zone inside the Villamar Airbase, is intended for Airbus 380 aircraft.

Upon his arrival at the venue, the President will simulate operating an Airbus  A 380 aircraft. He will then pull the throttle that will signal the opening of the new maintenance hangar.

After his speech, the President will tour  the existing hangar servicing the Airbus A 380 aircraft. The inauguration of Lufthansa Technik Philippines is considered a milestone in the Philippine aviation industry, making it one of the world's nine locations capable of maintaining, repairing and overhauling the Airbus A 380, the biggest air craft in the world today.

For more than a decade, Lufthansa Technik Philippines, a German-Philippine joint venture, has placed the Philippines in the global aviation map by having German technology, precision, and innovation in addition to Filipino crafts-manship.

Lufthansa Technik Philippines' million new investment, as one could learn from a Philippine News Agency report, is expected to expand the company's capacity, create more local jobs and contribute to nation building.

Philhealth to Increase Members' Contribution from 1,200 to 2,400 Pesos

I am an expat in the Philippines since 1999 and also a member of PhilHealth.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is looking at increasing contribution of its members from 1,200 to 2,400 Pesos (from 20 to 40 EUROS) per year. effective July 1, 2012. One could learn this from Dr. Eduardo Banzon, president and chief executive officer. Banzon said the increase on contribution is based on Circular 22 approved already last December. Under this circular, members can avail of the old rate by paying their contribution before June 30. They can also avail if they pay their 2012 contribution before the deadline.

By July 1, members, including those newly - registered will have to pay the annual contribution of 2,400 Pesos. Self-employed professionals earning an average monthly income of more than 25,000 Pesos will continue to pay their annual premium contribution of 3,600 Pesos. 

PhilHealth also implemented already the "No Balance Billing Policy to provide financial protection to its members, including indigent families. This means the patient does not need to shell out money for other fees or expenses. All government hospitals are reminded not refuse admissions to PhilHealth members, Banzon said.

Earthquakes Occuring Everyday in The Philippines

 

While writing this piece I received some messages from good friends in Cebu City telling me, that this area has been hit by another strong earthquake just an hour ago. Tsunami warning has been given out.

Saturday, another quake initially measuring 6.0 in magnitude struck Samar Island. The quake hit at 9 p.m. at a depth of 60 kilometres north of the city of Guiuan. The epicenter was around 600 km away east of Manila. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that low-magnitude earthquakes occur daily based on its intensity Scale. Honestly, I experienced this since living in the Philippines for good.

Looking back, last Wednesday two minor earthquakes have occurred. The latest was a magnitude 3.5 of tectonic origin hitting 25 kilometres north of San Julian, Eastern Samar with a 16 km depth of focus. The other hit 30 km south-east of Sta. Ana, Cagayan also of tectonic origin with a magnitude 3.2 having a 12 km depth of focus. 

Imagine, last Tuesday six minor tremors occurred in Bolinao, Pangasinan; Borongan, Samar; Infanta; Pangasinan; Vigan, Ilocos Sur and Burgos, Surigao del Norte.

 

License Plates in The Philippines

 Sometimes Filipinos are strange people. Expat friend Jan tells you why he thinks so:

license plates in the Philippines, follow-up

Hungarian Classical Music by Zoltan Kodaly

Zoltan Kodaly:

a classical composer, pedagogue, linguist and philosopher. An amazing person:

Here is more about him:

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com

Or tune in to 104.3 FM "The Edge Radio Davao" every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. (Philippine standard time) to my radio show Classics with Klaus Doring or via live stream www.davao.theedge.ph.

Immigration Resumes Employment Generation Program

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday resumed the implementation of an employment generation program that grants foreign businessmen employing at least 10 Filipino workers the privilege to stay indefinitely in the country.

Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. made the announcement after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima approved memorandum circular No. RADJR-11-007, dated December 14, 2011, prescribing the revised rules for implementing the Special Visa for Employment Generation (SVEG), which was first introduced in 2009 pursuant to Executive Order No. 758.

However, the visa is still subject to restrictions imposed by the Constitution and existing laws on foreign investments, according to Associate Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

"The applicant must prove that his investment are substantial and that the business employs at least 10 Filipinos occupying managerial, executive, professional, technical, skilled or unskilled positions," Mison said in a statement.

He further said that the SVEG holders are considered special non-immigrants with multiply entry privileges and conditional extended stay, without need of prior departure from the Philippines.