7th Mount Apo Sky race slated Nov. 1 to Dec. 1

BY ANTONIO COLINA IV

Nov 18, 2024 02:44 PM 

DAVAO CITY – Filipino and international runners will participate in the 7th Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race 2024 to and from the peak of Mount Apo from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.

Doi Calbes, race director, said that they expect around 140  participants from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, and the Philippines, in the  two-day race, consisting of a 100-kilometer and 50-kilometer categories with new categories for beginners such as 21-kilometer and seven-kilometer.

He said that the male and female champions of the 100-kilometer category would represent the country in the Lantau race in Hong Kong in February. 

Calbes said that the race will commence from Playa de Oboza Beach Resort in Santa Cruz town, Davao del Sur, going to the peak of Mount Apo.

Runners will scale the country’s highest peak via a trail in Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, which Calbes said is the “most unique” because of its scenic view of huge boulders stretching 3.5 kilometers to the summit.

He said that the international race attracted numerous contestants in previous years, benefiting the local tourism industry by keeping businesses thriving while generating livelihoods and jobs for locals.

“Nowadays, sports tourism is thriving. Aside from promoting sports or running community, we also promote our tourism destination in Santa Cruz and Davao region. We help the community and promote flights and transpiration through this event,” he said.

Mount Apo, also a popular eco-tourism destination, was declared a heritage park through the Nov. 29, 1984, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Declaration on Heritage Parks and Reserves.

Mount Apo is among eight landmarks declared heritage parks in the Philippines and one of 38 in the 10-country ASEAN – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
 
The country’s highest peak, a biodiversity hotspot, was proclaimed as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems of 1991.

According to the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, which serves as the secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Program, Mount Apo is the Philippines’ highest mountain at 3,143.6 meters and is known as the last stronghold of the remaining population of the rare and endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi).

The Mount Apo Natural Park has an area of 54,974 hectares (with a buffer zone of 9,078 hectares) covering Kidapawan City and the municipalities of Makilala and Magpet in the province of Cotabato in the South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sarangani, and General Santos City region and municipalities of Bansalan and Santa Cruz and Digos City in Davao del Sur and Davao City in the Davao region.

ASEAN Heritage Parks are defined as “protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN region” and established “to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment, and conservation of ASEAN’s rich natural heritage through a regional network of representative protected areas and to generate collaboration among ASEAN member-states in preserving their shared natural heritage.” 

The mountain is also of “high value” as a major water source for both regions.

PH gov't in talks to send 5 more PH eagles to Mandai Wild Reserve in Singapore

 

BY ANTONIO COLINA IV

  

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DAVAO CITY – The national government is in talks with Singaporea environment officials to send five additional Philippines eagles to the Bird Paradise in Mandai Wild Reserve in Singapore for “conservation breeding” under another loan program, an official of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said.

 

Dr. Jayson Ibañez, PEF director for Research and Conservation, said the foundation has already pre-identified the birds that will be brought to the Singapore zoo once the agreement is finalized.

 

He said, however, that it remains unclear as to when the loaning of additional raptors will happen, but added that negotiations are underway.

 

Ibañez explained that the loan program is going to be part of the efforts to conserve the critically endangered Philippine eagle from extinction. 

 

“Just imagine all our captive birds are in one facility. If a catastrophe happens, all of them will die. That’s what they call ‘all eggs in one basket syndrome. Let’s distribute breeding stocks and spread the risks,” he said.

 

He said a risk assessment would still have to be undertaken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), PEF, and other wildlife experts to identify the potential risks, including the threats and diseases.

 

He said that the five birds are all captive-bred, and that they can “tolerate the breeding conditions.” 

 

The Philippine eagle is a species declared critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 1996. To date, the PEF estimated that there are only 392 pairs of Philippine eagles in the wild.

 

In June 2019, the country sent Philippine Eagles “Geothermica” and “Sambisig” to Jurong Bird Park in Singapore for a 10-year loan program agreement signed by the Philippine government with Wildlife Reserves Singapore to protect the critically endangered raptors from extinction due to calamities and diseases.

 

However, 19-year-old Geothermica died last September from a fungal infection caused by Aspergillus molds.

 

“I don’t think there were lapses because Singapore zoo is one of the best facilities… Although it’s sad, we think it should not stop us from exploring cooperative breeding with the help of international partners because we cannot do it alone. There are successful partnerships or models that we can follow,” he said.

 

Of the five raptors, Ibañez said that four belong to two pairs, and the one male raptor would be paired with Sambisig.

 

He added that cooperative breeding saved critically endangered birds California condor and bearded vultures from going extinct.

5 dead, 2 hurt as steel bridge collapses in Davao City

BY ANTONIO COLINA IV

Jul 25, 2023 01:48 PM

  

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DAVAO CITY – At least five workers died and two others were injured after a steel bridge  under construction collapsed in Sitio Kibakak, Barangay Malamba, Marilog District, Davao City at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, July 24, an official of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said on Tuesday, July 25.

Police Capt. Hazel Tuazon, DCPO spokesperson,  identified the casualties as Cris Napao, 44, a mason; Jimboy Liga, 28, a boom truck operator; Elmer Sayson, 44, a foreman; Jay Bangonan, 22, a mason; and Rolando Abing, 40, married, a laborer. 

Injured were identified as Meljay Bero, 29, a laborer, and Jonathan Dispo, 38, a mason. 

They were taken to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) here for treatment.

Tuazon said that based on initial investigation, the bridge suddenly collapsed for “unknown reason” and plunged 60 feet into the river.

Seven workers of the contractor, Bojus Sun Builders and Supply Corp., were trapped under a pile of debris.

Tuazon said they were working on the side panel using a boom truck directly below the bridge when it gave in.

Personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office were dispatched to retrieve the bodies.

P18.2-M worth of shabu seized from two drug pushers in Davao City checkpoint

BY ANTONIO COLINA IV

Jun 26, 2023 05:03 PM

  

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DAVAO CITY – Police reported the arrest of two drug pushers and the seizure of 1.140-kilograms of shabu with an estimated value of P18.2 million around 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, in a joint checkpoint of the police and Task Force Davao in Barangay Sirawan, Toril District, here.

In a text message on Monday, June 26, Davao City Police Office spokesperson Capt. Hazel Tuazon identified the two suspects as Cresil Jay Alvarez Lacia, 29, and Antonio Abes Pelacios Jr., 30, residents of Purok 5 Poblacion, New Corella, Davao del Norte.

Tuazon said the two suspects, who were on board a black SUV, came from Midsayap, Cotabato.

During the inspection, Tuazon said security officers noticed a small brown envelope with an exposed transparent plastic sachet and two transparent plastic bags containing 19 small brown envelopes containing shabu in plastic sachets.

She said the suspects are facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The seized drugs were turned over to Davao City Forensic Unit for examination and safekeeping, Tuazon said.

DPWH’s drainage improvement project in Davao destroying trees – environmental group

BY ANTONIO COLINA IV

  

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DAVAO CITY – An environmental group lambasted the Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao region, calling its drainage improvement project on Dacudao Ave. in this city a “waste of time, funds, and resources.”

THE Department of Public Works and Highways' drainage improvement project is destroying the trees on Dacudao Ave. in Davao City. (Keith Bacongco)

The Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) said in a statement that the DPWH’s project which consisted of fully paving the easements, including the root spaces, is destroying the trees on Dacudao Ave.

The group said the project, implemented in 2020 to "strengthen waterway embankment," has left a significant impact on the trees.

The IDIS said that about 67 trees have already deteriorated as a result of the project.

The environment group is urging the government to prioritize the “preservation and sustainable maintenance” of the remaining trees on Dacudao Ave.

“Considering the increasing urban heat index, Davao City needs to uphold utmost commitment to safeguard its remaining urban green-sheds, such as Dacudao's tree-line Ave.,” it said.

Although the city government of Davao instructed the DPWH “to break the concrete choking the trunk and roots of the trees,” the IDIS said it might not do much to ensure long-term health of the trees.

“While this step demonstrates a positive response, it alone is insufficient to ensure the long-term health of the trees since the concrete had damaged the root systems underneath, disallowing water and nutrient collection as well weakened tolerance to termite infestation,” it said.

The IDIS recommended the removal of concrete pavement on the sidewalk and root spaces and replacing it with permeable pavement such as turfs, blocks, or bricks to allow the roots to grow and spread.

It also called for the immediate replacement of dead trees with native tree species that are appropriate to its environment and regular monitoring and checking of the tree's health and condition.

The group also suggested the DPWH adopt low-impact designs such as permeable pavement and soft-scaping to prevent the deterioration of trees.

Governor welcomes bill expanding power utility firm to 8 additional areas in Davao del Norte

by Antonio Colina IV, MB

DAVAO CITY – The filing of House Bill 6740 seeking to expand the franchise area of Aboitiz-owned Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) to eight additional areas is a necessary piece of legislation.

No less than Davao del Norte governor Edwin Jubahib issued the statement, saying this new effort to file the bill in Congress would lead to a more sustainable and productive environment, drive economic growth and development in the province.

He said residents in the province continue to suffer from perennial problems of power supply and exorbitant power rates. 

“HB 6740, if enacted into law, is a major milestone for the province of Davao del Norte as the expansion of the energy services provided by Davao Light will bring about a positive change to the lives of our constituents, providing them with reliable and efficient power supply,” he said.

The bill, authored by Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist representative Margarita Ignacia B. Nograles, was filed in January or just six months after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed HB 10554, which sought to amend Republic Act 11515, extending for another 25 years the franchise granted to DLPC.

HB 10554 would have placed Tagum City, Island Garden City of Samal, and the municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, and Talaingod under the franchise area of DLPC.

These areas are being serviced by the North Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. (NORDECO), which has an existing franchise for the mainland until 2028 and Samal until 2033.

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In her explanatory note, Nograles said HB 6740 seeks to expand the franchise of DLPC by including those same areas mentioned in the vetoed bill, and the municipality of Maco in the Davao de Oro in the jurisdiction of DLPC.

DLPC currently services Davao City, Panabo City, and the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte.

“Over the years, NORDECO has suffered from losses and conflicting factions within the cooperative which have led to inadequate infrastructure, piling debts to service providers including power suppliers, cancelled power supply contracts, excessive systems losses, and failure to energize parts of its franchise area even up to this time,” she said.

She said NORDECO failed to address the problems and improve services within its franchise, resulting in ‘frequent power outages, thereby impeding economic development.’

“The local officials acted on their constituents’ expressed desire to be liberated from NORDECO’s long-standing poor and unreliable electric service,” she said.

Nograles believed that expanding the DLPC’s franchise ‘will redound to the greater good of the residents’ and ensure a ‘stable and reliable supply, and, ultimately, economic progress.’ 

Jubahib added that expansion of the energy services provided by DLPC will address the power supply problem of the province.

Marcos, in his veto message, cited some constitutional and legal challenges that led him to reject HB 10554.

He said that the bill would run counter to the provisions of Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), mandating that ‘all existing franchises shall be allowed to their full term.’

He said that the resulting repeal of NORDECO’s franchise over expanded franchise area is violative of the non-impairment clause under Section 10 of Article III of the 1987 Constitution.

 

6.1 quake hits parts of Mindanao

Published February 1, 2023, 8:21 PM

by Antonio Colina IV

DAVAO CITY — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook parts of Mindanao at 6:46 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Based on information released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the epicenter of the earthquake was noted at 14 kilometers north east of New Bataan, Davao de Oro.

The quake, which was tectonic in origin, had a depth of 11 kilometers. 

Intensity III was felt in Davao City.

Varying instrumental intensities were reported in others parts: Intensity V in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Intensity III in Kidapawan City, Cotabato; Alabel, Sarangani; Tupi, South Cotabato; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Intensity II in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Libona and Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Don Marcelino in Davao Occidental, Abuyog in Leyte, Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental, Malapatan, Glan, and Kiamba in Sarangani, Norala, General Santos City, Koronadal City and Tampakan in South Cotabato, and Tandag, Surigao del Sur; and Intensity I in Alamada in Cotabato, Baybay and Dulag in Leyte, Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental, Maitum in Sarangani, Suralla, Santo Nino, T’Boli, and Tantangan in South Cotabato, and Saint Bernard in Southern Leyte, Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, and Surigao City in Surigao Del Norte.

Aftershocks and damages are expected.

Fund for P2-B waste-to-energy project in Davao City still available

by Antonio Colina IV

DAVAO CITY – The 5.013-billion yen or P2.052-billion donation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2018 for the construction of a waste-to-energy project in Davao City is still available, First District Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo said.

In an interview, Ocampo said that the local government is just waiting for the National Economic Development Authority to approve the project because it requires a counterpart fund of at least P3.486 billion from the national government.

The local government plans to build a WTE project in a 10-hectare property in Biao Escuela, Tugbok District. 

Ocampo said he is hoping that NEDA will approve the WTE project within the year.

He believed the project would push through despite the strong opposition from different environmental advocates in the city.

“I will support the completion of the project because we are already in the implementing stage. The 19th Council approved the project, and it’s now in implementing stage. We are only waiting for updates from NEDA for the budget requirements,” he said.

He said that representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Energy expressed support for the proposed project when they visited this city in December. 

Ocampo said the WTE would generate a capacity of 11 megawatts. Of this total, 30 percent will be utilized to run the facility.

Various groups are wary of the establishment of WTE facility due to its potential hazards to the health of the local residents and Davao’s rich biodiversity, particularly the fragile watersheds.

Environmental advocates pointed out that the wastes generated in the city are 50 percent organic, which cannot be utilized to fuel a WTE technology.

This city generates around 600 to 700 tons of waste daily, according to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

Ocampo added that segregation will still be practiced even after the WTE project is established.

He also allayed fears that the project would have detrimental effects on the health of the public and the environment. 

Ocampo claimed that studies from countries utilizing the technology have shown that those facilities neither pose health risks nor threaten the environment.

“To be honest with you, the council has already approved the project, and we are now on implementing stage… We are asking the national government to allocate the budget so that we can push through the project,” he said.

Atty. Mark Peñalver, executive director of the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), said that a WTE facility is a “dangerous way” of generating power as it is not a renewable energy source and produces more greenhouse gasses than coal.

He said the incinerator, which emits highly toxic and carcinogenic substance, will affect residents of 20 barangays here – Mintal, Santo Niño, Catalunan Grande, Langub, Waan, Callawa, Riverside, Balengaeng, Tacunan, Biao Guianga, Angalan, Los Amigos, Talandang, New Valencia, New Carmen, Matina Biao, Tagakpan, Ula, Tugbok, and Biao Escuela.

The project site of the proposed WTE facility is located 2.2 kilometers away from Biao Escuela Elementary School, and 550 meters from a relocation site of displaced families in Catalunan Grande, according to Peñalver.

3-day Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race in Davao del Sur set

by Antonio Colina IV 

IMAGE from DOT-Davao region FB

DAVAO CITY – The municipality of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur will host the Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race from Dec. 16 to 18 where around 300 runners from 20 countries are expected to scale the country’s highest peak.

Municipal tourism officer Julius Paner said that this would be the first international race in the municipality since the pandemic started in 2020.

He said the three-day Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race is co-organized by the Asia Trail Master, an international trail running organization, which tapped the municipality to host the culmination and championship final of the international Asia Trail Master race.

“They gave the manifestation to hold it in the Philippines for the first time. They have been doing it throughout but not yet here in the Philippines,” Paner said. 

He said racers will compete in three categories: 75 kilometers, 100 kilometers, and 50 kilometers.

Romualdo Cabales, race director of Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race, said champions would be hailed as the fastest in Asia.

He said winners of the 100-km category will represent the country in an international race in April.

Paner said hosting an international race is a good mechanism to regain travelers’ confidence, most especially that the municipality is positioning itself as an eco-adventure destination.

“It’s a good signal that Davao region is tourist-ready in terms of international arrivals. We are trying to position Davao del Sur to be an eco-adventure destination. For the longest time, that’s how we brand our locality because that’s the strength of Davao del Sur. Mount Apo is the highest peak and there are attractions within the foothills,” he said.

Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao director Tanya Rabat-Tan said that the region is excited to hold the event because it would give them the opportunity to showcase the region to international delegates, particularly Mount Apo as an “icon of Davao.”  “It’s an opportunity for us to make them feel that we are ready. We want to promote Davao as a safe destination for our tourists,” she said.