Davao City to outsource durian

By Richy Nalagon

The government of Davao City, through the City Agriculturist's Office (Cagro), said it will deliver its commitment to have an abundant supply of durian during the Kadayawan season by outsourcing the "smelly but inviting" fruit from neighboring regions.

The unusual weather patterns caused by climate change have affected the cyclic production of durian in the city, resulting in a supply deficit.

Typically, the annual volume of durian that Davao City produces can reach over 12,000 metric tons (MT).

Davao City recorded 15,485 MT of durian in 2019, over 17,000 MT in 2020 and 12,930 MT in 2021. However, only over 3,000 MT of durian were harvested for the first half of this year.

During the I-Speak media forum on Thursday, Cagro head Edgardo Haspe said that because of the unusual weather patterns felt in the city's highlands early this year, a significant number of durian trees did not bear fruit in time for the Kadayawan season.

He said in order to respond to the high demand for the fruit during Kadayawan season, the Cagro is currently in talks with durian consolidators from other regions to import durian into the city.

"We are now discussing with the Durian Industry Council Association of Davao City, if, based on their monitoring, there is available supply from neighboring provinces and regions, just like North Cotabato, Kidapawan, Makilala, to supply the need for durian during that period," Haspe said.

Although there is still durian left to be harvested from the city's highlands, this will still not be enough to supply the market and the estimated 50,000 tourists who are expected to come during the Kadayawan season.

"As we have observed based on our monitoring, naa pa'y nabilin na portion in Toril, Sibulan, Catigan, portions of Marilog and Baguio, Calinan. Siguro dili na ni kaabot og 5,000 tons (As we have observed based on our monitoring, there are still some left in some parts of Toril, portions of Marilog and Baguio, Calinan. Maybe that will no longer reach 5,000 tons)," Haspe added.

Although Haspe admitted that this Kadayawan season's durian harvest in the city is proving to be underwhelming, he said the industry remains lucrative.

He added that more and more farmers are engaged in durian production due to its favorable prices in the global market.

In 2019, the total land area for durian farming in Davao City was recorded at 3,222 hectares.

This had since increased to 3,389 hectares in 2021. Haspe said the city's durian processors have also been increasing in number.

"Our durian processors here in the city are increasing.

There is one in Calinan, here in Tibungco; they come to our office to ask where they can find supply," Haspe said.

On top of this, Davao City is also eyeing building a direct link to the Chinese market.

The Cagro head said that the city's durian usually has to go through consolidators in other countries, such as Thailand, before ending up in mainland China.

He said exporting directly to China will increase the profit margin of Davao City's durian farmers as well as the city's visibility in the global market.

Davao eyes higher rice and corn yields

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By Ruth Palo, Manila Times

Davao rice farmers show their harvest in this file photo taken in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur from the Department of Agriculture Region 11 office. 

THE Davao City Agriculturist's Office (Cagro) is gearing up its plans and programs to increase the production of crops such as rice and corn to deliver the promise of food security to the people of the city.

Cagro Head Edgardo Haspe said that the programs and projects of his office are geared toward food production and are currently given a boost because of a looming food deficit.

"The national government is anticipating a deficit in the food supply in the next two quarters. So there will be a shortage. The challenge for us since we are in charge of the crops so this is really a challenge for how to increase the production of rice and corn," he said.

He also said that their budget allocation for food production programs will also be increased to improve the city's food sufficiency and help residents brace for the looming food crisis and reduce the city's dependency on food imports.

"Because here in Davao City, we need 10,000 bags of rice to feed the entire population. And our buffer for the whole year, based on current production from less than 1,000 rice areas in the city, is only 14 days. So, the rest of that we outsource from other provinces and, at the same time, on imported rice," Haspe added.

Cagro is planning to expand the city's rice areas in the highlands to boost rice production.

The production of corn is also promising because of the significant number of farmers who shifted to corn farming as the price of the product increased.

Aside from increasing staple food production, the Cagro has accelerated other ongoing agriculture programs geared toward food security.

These include the quarterly distribution of fish fingerlings to fish farmers in the highlands and the distribution of seeds and seedlings.

FAO asked to keep food markets open

He said the city is now regularly producing seedlings to be distributed to Dabawenyo farmers. Over 1,000 sacks of fertilizer assistance had also been distributed to vegetable farmers since April this year.

Fertilizers and seeds have more than tripled in market prices since January, in conjunction with the rising fuel prices.

"Most of our programs provide support for our farmers most especially on fertilizers and seeds, plus or seedlings; we improved these programs for this year. We are producing seedlings and procuring seeds. At the same time, we are also producing fingerlings for our fish farmers," the official said.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte earlier vowed to ensure food security in the city amid an impending global food crisis.

Citizen Duterte flies home to Davao City

LAST SALUTE AS PRESIDENT President Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on June 30, 2022. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By Catherine S. Valente, Manila Times

AFTER six years as the country's president, Rodrigo Duterte returned to his hometown as a private citizen.

After departure ceremonies in Malacañang on Thursday, Duterte flew to Davao City.

"Mag-commercial flight siya (He will take a commercial flight)," outgoing National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said in an interview on the sidelines of the event in Malacañang.

Duterte capped his presidency on Thursday by welcoming Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. at the Palace before Marcos' inauguration at the National Museum.

Marcos arrived at Malacañang Palace past 10 a.m. and was greeted by Duterte at the top of the grand staircase.

He signed the guestbook before spending a few more moments with Duterte.

Duterte skipped the traditional car ride that would have brought him and Marcos to the National Museum.

The country's first president from Mindanao had contemplated seeking another electoral post after his term.

He initially accepted the nomination of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party to become its candidate for vice president, only to change his mind and announce his retirement from politics in October last year.

A month later, Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy for senator but backed out of the Senate race in December.

In a public address earlier this month, he urged Filipinos to "come to terms with reality" and support the country's new leaders.

Duterte had said the country's next leader should be "compassionate and decisive."

"President-elect Marcos would need the cooperation and help of everybody. We must give it to him," he said.

Chikungunya confirmed in Davao

By Ruth Palo, Manila Times

THE Davao City Health office has confirmed two cases of chikungunya in Barangay Ilang after test results arrived from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Metro Manila.

Ernie Cequiña, a nurse at the City Health Office (CHO) Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit, in a report from the City Information Office, said 16 more suspected cases of chikungunya were also recorded in the barangay (village).

Cequiña, however, added that the suspected 28 cases earlier reported in Barangay Panacan are still being verified.

The CHO Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit has intensified intervention efforts to control the Aedes mosquito species, the same species that carries dengue, in the area after the city confirmed its first case of chikungunya in Barangay Ilang on June 8, 2022.

Cequiña said the CHO responded with critical mosquito control measures, such as an awareness drive in the villages, Aedes aegypti larvae surveillance and fogging, and later conducted misting or indoor residual spraying.

Chikungunya symptoms are particularly difficult to determine as the patients usually manifest symptoms similar to those of dengue (fever, nausea, pain behind the eyes) but with more severe joint pains and early onset of skin rashes, he added.

According to Cequiña, the city remains steadfast in monitoring these cases and conducting intervention measures.

He, however, said protective measures, such as maintaining cleanliness of surroundings, remain the best method of preventing an outbreak.

Cequiña reminded Davaoeños to practice the 4S procedure; which stands for "Search and destroy" mosquito breeding grounds, practice "Self-protection" from mosquito bites, "Seek early medical consultation" and "Say yes" to community prevention and intervention measures.

Closed season seen to increase prices of fish in Davao Region

by Antonio Colina IV, Manila Bulletin

DAVAO CITY – Prices of fish in the Davao Region will likely increase due to the implementation of the three-month closed fishing season at Davao Gulf, an official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Davao said.BFAR-Davao Region Director Raul Millana said that the prohibited fishing activities would affect the local supply of fish that would result in higher prices.

He added that aquaculture might help cushion the inflationary effect of the fishing ban, prompting the agency to support small fisherfolk in setting up marine fish cages, including even the inland waters.

Millana said production of fresh water fish, including tilapia and catfish, would help abate the increase in the prices of fish.

The implementation of the ban, which is now in its ninth year, must be enforced to allow pelagic fish to reproduce since the period from June 1 to August 31 has been established as their spawning season, according to Millana.

The Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Interior and Local Government (DILG)-issued Joint Administrative Circular No. 2 in 2014 established a three-month closed fishing season in the Davao Gulf to “conserve marine resources, to secure the spawning period of pelagic fishes in the Gulf, and continuously implement measures to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.”

The order bans small-scale to large-scale commercial fishing vessels from 3.1 to 150 gross tons and the use of bag nets and ring nets in the Gulf, which the BFAR identified as a spawning ground for tuna and other fish species and one of the 10 major fishing grounds in the Philippines. The protected species include big-eyed scad, mackerel, and moonfish.

He said the ban gives small pelagic fish time to regrow its population, emphasizing that extractive fishing activities would have long-term effect on the supply of fish.

Davao villages monitored for chikungunya virus

By Ruth Palo, Manila Times

THE Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit (TDPCU) of the Davao City Health Office is closely monitoring the signs and symptoms of the chikungunya virus in two villages in the city.

Chikungunya virus is caused by Aedes mosquitoes, the same mosquito family spreading dengue fever.

Melodina Babante, pest control worker at TDPCU, said Davaoeños should not only be cautioned about the dengue virus-carrying mosquitoes since Aedes mosquitoes can also spread the chikungunya virus.

Babante said these villages include Panacan and Ilang.

"We need to explain the diseases caused by Aedes mosquitoes. It has not been confirmed yet but in Panacan and Ilang, our team found signs and symptoms that are still being confirmed if it's chikungunya," she said.

The public must be aware that chikungunya is unlike dengue that you would only have a fever.

"With chikungunya, aside from fever, you would experience joint pains and rashes. Rashes that seem like measles. If you have symptoms such as these, report immediately to your health centers," she said.

She said that Barangay Ilang experienced a chikungunya outbreak before. This is why confirmatory tests are currently being done to determine the new symptoms found in the barangay (village), as well as in Panacan, to properly address the problem.

Babante underscored the need for Davaoeños to observe the 4S campaign, which stands for "search and destroy" mosquito breeding places, "secure self-protection" from a mosquito bite, "seek early consultation" when signs and symptoms of dengue occur, and "say yes to fogging" as a last resort when there is an impending outbreak.

Dengue cases rise in CAR

Virus-carrying mosquitoes, according to her, have a peak biting time from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., that's why she urged parents not to let their children leave the house at this time without protection.

"Don't let them wear shorts but let them wear pajamas or long pants. They should wear long sleeves. Apply mosquito repellent. Don't let them wear dark colors like black which is attractive to mosquitoes," she said.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection.

Authorities to enforce ‘multi-layered security plan' for Sara's oath-taking on June 19

by Antonio Colina IV

DAVAO CITY – Security forces here will enforce a ‘multi-layered security plan’ for the oath-taking of presumptive Vice President Duterte tentatively set for June 19 at the San Pedro Street in this city.

Vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (Lakas-CMD Media)

PMaj. Ma. Teresita P. Gaspan, spokesperson of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said in an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Tuesday that the historic event is expected to draw around 20,000 attendees from different parts of the country.

She said the security cluster will enforce stricter security measures to ensure the safety of the crowd.

She said the venue will be open to the public.

She added that no perimeter fence and pavilion will be mounted at the venue to make it more convenient for the public to witness Duterte’s oath-taking but added that this will make it particularly challenging for authorities to control the crowd.

But Gaspan assured the security forces are ready to secure the venue, with DCPO receiving augmentation from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao to maintain order during the event.

She said the local authorities have yet to meet for creation of a multi-layered security plan, securing the “inner, middle, and outer layers” of the venue.

She said the city’s Public Safety Security Command Center will be at the helm of drafting the security plan together with other members of the security clusters during the coordinating conference.

She said backpacks, jackets, and bladed weapons will be prohibited at the venue on this date.

She said it remains uncertain whether outgoing President Duterte will attend his daughter’s oath-taking but added that if the President will attend, the enforcement of the security plan will have to be coordinated with the Presidential Security Group.

On Monday, the outgoing mayor announced that she considered no other place but this city as a venue for her inauguration.

She said that a transition team has been created to coordinate with the Office of the Vice President.

Duterte served as vice mayor from 2007 to 2010, mayor from 2010 until 2013, elected as mayor in 2016 when her father ran for President, and was reelected in 2019 with youngest brother Sebastian as the vice mayor.

Python adding threats to endangered Philippine eagle

by Antonio Colina IV, Manila Bulletin

DAVAO CITY – Animal keepers at the Philippine Eagle Center have set up traps to catch a reticulated python that’s preying on animals inside their enclosure in Barangay Malagos, Baguio District in Davao City.

Espoir at three months (Photo courtesy of Philippine Eagle Foundation)

This is after a juvenile Philippine eagle named ‘Espoir’ was found dead inside its enclosure at around 12:13 a.m. last April 5. Espoir, a French word for “Hope,” was an offspring of eagle parents Ariela and MVP Matatag.

Last month, a Philippine subsidiary of global animal health company, Ceva Santé Animale, adopted the chick. The Philippine Eagle Foundation and Ceva signed a Memorandum of Agreement on the adoption of Espoir where the company pledged to provide an annual support of P200,000 to cover the eaglet’s food, keeper care, veterinary care, and shelter maintenance.

 

The foundation said the animal keepers immediately took measures to capture the snake, a species classified as a hazard under the center’s biosecurity measures. Consequently, pythons are adding threats to the Philippine eagle which is listed as critically endangered owing to loss of habitat.

“Reticulated pythons are natural resident species inside the Philippine Eagle Center and the surrounding watershed area,” it said.

It added that traps have been set up around the center and search parties mobilized at night to capture the snake.

“Preventive measures are in place to ensure enclosures for animals are safe against hazards and incidents of this nature. The walls of the enclosure were snake proofed with an added layer of ½ inch wire mesh on top of the original cyclone wire with hole size of 2 by 2 inches,” it said.

PEF said that the center suspected that the possible entry points could be the feeding chute, made of a PVC pipe where food is dropped, or the screen ceiling.

PEF said the enclosure of the eaglet is adjacent to an adult Philippine eagle from the wild that can easily catch a snake but “unfortunately for fledglings, they are still vulnerable to predation.”

“They are classified as hazards under the PEC’s biosecurity measures. As such, snake proofing was done on the enclosures of the eaglet and other animals that a snake can prey on,” it said.

 

Dr. Jayson Ibañez, the foundation’s director of research and conservation, said the snake has not yet been captured.

He said the center has already enlisted two Lumad forest guards for help to catch the snake.

“Nagpatulong kami sa aming IP forest guards who are good at trapping wildlife. Two IP forest guards ang nakaduty for trapping ngayon with our own team (Two IP forest guards are on duty for trapping with our team),” he said.

Entry of poultry products strictly monitored in Davao City amid bird flu outbreak

by Antonio Colina, Manila Bulletin

DAVAO CITY — The City Government of Davao City has intensified efforts to monitor the entry of poultry products following the outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) H5N1 in some provinces of Luzon and Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, an official said.

Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, head of the City Veterinary Office, said that the security personnel here have been directed to screen the poultry products upon entry at checkpoints to check if these are not transported from areas with reported bird flu outbreaks.

She said the city has put up more veterinary checkpoints in Lasang, Calinan, Marilog, and Sirawan in Toril.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed an outbreak of bird flu in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, and Camarines Sur and reported confirmed cases in Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac, and Benguet.

 

According to DA, the “possible sources of infection and spread of the virus in those areas are the presence of migratory or resident wild birds, late or non-reporting of suspect cases (sick/dying birds), and illegal movement of infected birds from H5N1 infected areas as per disease investigation conducted by veterinary authorities.”

Pinili said the transport of live birds coming from these areas has been banned in pursuance of DA’s Memorandum Circular No. 6 Series of 2022 released on Tuesday, which prescribes the “Guidelines on the movement of domestic and captured wild birds and poultry products and by-products during the avian influenza outbreak.”

According to the DA, the policy regulates the movement of ducks, quails, chicken, and other poultry commodities in affected areas, particularly those coming from within the one-kilometer (km) quarantine area.

She assured local consumers that the city remains free from bird flu.

“Based on our monitoring, we have no reported case yet. We have obtained several samples from our forms and results tested negative,” she said.

But Pinili encouraged the poultry raisers to immediately report to authorities any reported deaths of poultry caused by flu to contain the spread of infection.

She said the local government’s surveillance has been focused on Talomo and Tugbok Districts where the city’s big commercial poultry farms are situated.

 

In a press release issued by the City Government of Davao, Pinili said that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) reported an outbreak of bird flu last March 10 in nearby Tacurong in Soccsksargen wherein 1,000 ducks had been culled.

City sets up booths for vax certificate

By Maya Padillo -SunStar Davao

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, said Dabawenyos can now access their vaccination certificate at the VaxCertPH booths set up at the different malls in Davao City.

The VaxCertPh booths were opened at SM Lanang Premier, Abreeza Mall, Gaisano Mall Bajada, SM Ecoland, and Gmall of Toril.

The opening of booths aims to give Dabawenyos the convenience of accessing their vaccination certificate because back then it was difficult for them to download their vaccination certificates online for international travels and travel to other LGUs.

Before we had had mga concerns asa nila kuhaon ang ilahang mga vaccination certificate for those who want to travel abroad and to other LGUs na nanginahanglan ug certificate. I would like to announce na ang atoang mga VaxCertPh booth is already available sa atoang mga different malls Wala na’y rason na maglisod sila ug download sa online ug avail sa online,” Schlosser said.

The vaccination certificate can be availed by those planning to travel abroad since countries are now requiring people entering their territory to be fully vaccinated. It will also serve as proof that an individual has completed the required doses.

“I hope this will serve as our answer sa inyong concerns before na puwede namo maka pa-print or maka-avail sa inyong vaccination certificate which will be needed sa mga international travels and other LGU travels,” Schlosser said.

Davao City has been chosen for the pilot implementation of the digital vaccination certificate which can be done only online in October last year. However, the booth only catered to those Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are required to secure a digital vaccination certificate.

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that set up the VaxCertPH information technology system for the issuance of vaccination certificates was reported updating the system with added security features and information on booster shots received.

 

Duterte-Carpio: City eyes lifting more Covid-19 restrictions

By RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, SunStar Davao City

March 01, 2022

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is pushing for the lifting of some Covid-19 restrictions and fast-tracking the further reopening of the city's economy.

Duterte-Carpio said in an interview stream lived on her official Facebook page Monday, February 28, that the City Government will issue an executive order to suspend some Covid-19 restriction policies.

This came after Davao City has been placed under a less-strict Alert Level 1 effective March 1 until 15 due to the continuing downtrend of Covid-19 cases.

The mayor did not specify when the executive order will be released.

Despite the lifting of some restrictions, she said the minimum health protocols, such as wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing, will remain.

“[Walaon na] Kanang pag-lockdown, pagsarado sa mga offices and businesses depende sa (We will lift the lockdowns, closure of offices and establishments depending on the) alert levels, so we want everyone to open, and we want everybody to be on full operations, except we will not lift the mandatory wearing of mask, and importante gihapon ang distancing (distancing is still important),” the mayor said.

The mayor cited the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) guidelines on Alert Level 1, allowing local governments to suspend implementations of Covid-19 restrictions.

"Naa didto sa IATF resolution na pwedeng i-suspend sa local government ang implementation sa mga Covid-19 restrictions, which is mao pud atong direction sa pagkakaron (The IATF resolution provides local governments the authority to suspend implementations of Covid-19 restrictions, which is the direction we are pushing), in lieu of this war dinha sa (there in) Ukraine ug (and) Russia because any war sa tibuok kalibutan will affect kitang tana (in some parts of the world will affect everyone),” she said.

“We need to move fast in reopening our city and economy tungod kaning giyera dinha sa Russia ug Ukraine duna na siya epekto diria sa ato (because the war in Russia and Ukraine would have a huge impact to everyone), especially in terms of prices sa (of) basic commodities, prices sa gasolina (and gasoline prices),” she added.

The move, she said, would uplift the business sector and provide more jobs to Dabawenyos.

Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, said the business sectors will be given discretion in imposing restrictions against unvaccinated individuals.

She said, though, that restricting those unvaccinated would be difficult to impose.

“As I said kaniadto, lisod kaayo i-restrict ang mga unvaccinated (As I said before, it is hard to restrict those unvaccinated) when, in fact, dili man mandatory ang atoang vaccination. Mura gani’g gina-punish nato sila sa choice na ilang gipili na gitagaan man sila sa choice (since vaccination is not mandatory. It’s like we are punishing them for their choice),” Duterte-Carpio said, adding that restricting them would be possible if law would mandate the public to get vaccinated.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Covid-19 Task Force, said the recent surge, suspected to have been caused by the Omicron variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, is over as the positivity rate drops to five percent as of February 20.

Schlosser said the city is considered "low risk" for the virus, and that it can now slowly shift to the “new normal.”

RT-PCR, antigen tests not needed In getting health card from CHO

 

By Maya Padillo, EDGE Davao -January 26, 2022 10:00 am

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed on Monday that a negative reverse transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or a negative antigen test to get health cards from the City Health Office (CHO) are no longer required.

The mayor said the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force has agreed to lift the requirement for negative RT-PCR or antigen test that has been required by the city since September 2021 through Resolution No. 35-A of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force to ensure the health safety of the workforce in every establishment.

The mayor said this after a netizen appealed to her during the Special Hours with Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

“It was agreed upon na tanggalon na ang testing dinha sa pagkuha og health card nato. Wala na ang RT-PCR test or antigen test na required kung magkuha ka og health card or magrenew ka og health card dinhi sa City Government of Davao, sa City Health Office,” the mayor said.

The mayor said such a requirement is no longer needed due to the limited capacity of the city to provide free tests. “Ang reason is because daghan sila kaayo and there are not enough tests na libre gikan sa City Government of Davao nga mo-cover sa tanang magkuha og health card. The purpose of this is surveillance so gi-shift nato kani na surveillance didto nalang mismo sa establishments depending on the capacity or the allotted test for the surveillance. Mao na ang reason. And the third reason is that it has been reported nga ginapasa sa mga employers diha sa ilang mga empleyado ang cost sa testing nila para makakuha sila og health card,” she said.

A health card is one of the requirements that job applicants must provide to the employers. Mayor Sara added that the responsibility of the surveillance should be shouldered by the employers because it is their interest that will be heavily affected if the number of cases will spread among the workforce.

“Employers should be responsible enough nga naa sila’y surveillance sa mga employees nila nga dunay symptoms. Because kung pasagdan nila ni muabot ang panahon nga tanan na magkasakit and it would really affect their business. So, it is very important, gina-highlight nato sa tanan nato nga businesses nga duna’y regular surveillance testing to avoid the situation nga wala na’y empleyado, na ma-lockdown mo because sa kadaghan sa cases,” Mayor Sara said.

 

Will Davao City soon surpass Manila as the second largest city (proper) in the Philippines?

By 

Martin Cocson

 ·

Studied Civil Engineering at University of the Philippines Diliman

It largely depends how fast both city is growing now. If both grows at the same rate they did between 2010–2015 (City of Manila - 2015 - 1,780,148 at 1.43%; Davao - 2015 - 1,632,991 at 2.3%), Davao City will marginally surpass the City of Manila’s population by 2026. Using the same population growth rates, both will reach more than 2 million by 2024.

Davao City can actually become the second largest city at an earlier time considering the attention (and investments) it has been getting as President Duterte’s hometown. Or it could be a little longer if the good news generated by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno entices people to return to the capital. We can better gauge this when we see the results of the 2020 Census.

Update (July 2021):

The results of the 2020 Census has been released. The City of Manila’s official population count is now 1,846,513 and Davao City at 1,776,949. Between the two censuses, the former added 66k and the latter 143k. Assuming the same number will be added in the next 5 years, Davao City will be marginally larger than the City of Manila by the next Census. And both cities won’t reach the 2M milestone just yet.

Davao City placed under GCQ but with heightened restrictions

By: RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, SunStar Davao City

DAVAO City and Davao Oriental will return to general community quarantine (GCQ) status, while the rest of Davao Region will remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Thursday afternoon, July 15, the updated quarantine status in the country, with the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and President Rodrigo Duterte.

The updated quarantine classification in the region will be effective from July 16 to 31, 2021.

Davao City will shift to GCQ but with heightened restrictions after more than a month of being placed under MECQ. The city was placed under MECQ from June 5, and was extended twice until July 15, due to the surge in Covid-19 cases resulting in overwhelming hospital and critical care facilities.

Davao Oriental also graduated from the MECQ status to GCQ with no heightened restrictions.

Davao Occidental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte, meanwhile, will be under MECQ until the end of the month.

The entire region was placed under MECQ status due to the rising Covid-19 cases.

As of July 14, Davao Region had a total of 48,673 Covid-19 cases, wherein active cases was at 7,832, while 39,234 recovered, and 1,607 succumbed to the virus.

GCQ with heightened restrictions

According to the IATF Resolution No. 121, the following establishments and activities are prohibited from operating in areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions: entertainment venues (bars, concert halls, theatre, etc.), recreational venues (internet cafes, billiards, arcades, etc.), amusement parks, fairs, playgrounds, kiddie rides, and traditional cockfighting and cockpits.

Also prohibited are outdoor contact sports, games, and scrimmages, except for non-contact sport, which is allowed.

Indoor sports courts and venues, indoor tourist attractions, venues for meetings, conferences, and exhibitions are still not allowed in areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions.

For personal care services such as salons, parlors, beauty clinics, they are allowed to cater up to 30 percent capacity. They may add 10 percent if the area is granted with the Safety Seal.

Outdoor tourist attractions are allowed to cater up to 30 percent capacity provided that minimum public health standards are strictly followed.

Staycations and other Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited accommodations are allowed without age restrictions, provided that MPHS are adhered to. Staycation hotels with Certificate of Authority to Operate will be allowed up to 100 percent venue capacity, while other DOT-accredited accommodation establishments are allowed up to 30 percent area capacity with the local government oversight.

Indoor dining is allowed up to 20 percent area capacity. They may add an additional 10 percent if they were granted the Safety Seal. Outdoor dining is allowed up to 50 percent.

Religious activities are allowed up to 10 percent capacity but may add up to 30 percent depending on the local government.

There is a need to temporarily suspend essential government activities in Davao City

 

(UPDATED) Executive Order No. 31-A Series Of 2021 

An Order Regulating All Barangay, Local and National GOVERNMENT Office Events Including GOVERNMENT-Owned and Controlled Corporation Events 

SECTION 1. COVERAGE. This Order applies to all barangay, local and national GOVERNMENT offices, agencies and instrumentalities, including GOVERNMENT-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs). 

SECTION 2. NON-ESSENTIAL. All face-to-face non-essential events are hereby prohibited until after the lifting of the State of Calamity: 

* inauguration 

* anniversary 

* thanksgiving 

* ribbon-cutting 

* blessing 

* oath taking program 

* photo opportunity 

* photo and video shoot 

* retirement honors 

* welcome honors 

* testimonial program 

* turnover 

* groundbreaking activity 

* launching program 

* courtesy call 

* press conference 

* commemoration

* summer outing

* team building

* salo-salo 

* birthday

* all other similar activities 

The above events are all allowed on online platforms only. 


SECTION 3. NON-EMERGENCY BUT ESSENTIAL. All face-to-face non- emergency essential GOVERNMENT activities are hereby temporarily suspended until August 31, 2021: 

* training

* seminar

* medical mission 

* operation tuli

* gupitan sa barangay 

* registration

* sign-up activity

* tree planting activity

* all other similar activities 

Non-emergency activities such as trainings and seminars are allowed on online platforms only. 


SECTION 4. ALLOWED. All disaster and emergency activities including emergency employment projects, bloodletting activities, distribution of financial, food and non-food items are allowed. 

The distribution of food and non-food items that are not related to a disaster or emergency event should be distributed house to house in the form of contactless delivery by the organizer or in a distribution system where no mass gathering is conducted. 

These activities include but are not limited to the distribution of livelihood kits, information materials, distribution of government aid, community pantry, food aid and all other similar activities. 

SECTION 5. APPROVED EVENTS. All approved events covered by this Order are hereby suspended or modified accordingly. 

SECTION 6. TASK FORCE ACTIVITIES. All government activities of the response, vaccination and recovery clusters of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force are exempted from the provisions of this Order. 


SECTION 7. PENALTIES. All existing laws and ordinances shall be pursued against those who fail to follow the provisions of this Executive Order. 

SECTION 8. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision of this Executive Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting. 

SECTION 9. REPEALING CLAUSE. All Orders or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 

SECTION 10. EFFECTIVITY. This Order shall take effect immediately. 

Done this 26th day of May 2021 in Davao City, Philippines. 

(Sgd) 

SARA Z. DUTERTE

City Mayor

Attested by:

(Sgd)

ATTY. ZULEIKA T. LOPEZ 

City Administrator

Bill declaring Davao City, Davao Region as chocolate, cacao capitals passed

CAPITAL. Voting 22-0-1, the Senate passed on Monday, March 8, Senate Bill 1741 (SB 1741), also known as "An Act declaring the City of Davao as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and the entire Region XI (Davao Region) as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines." The bill was sponsored by Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. (RJ Lumawag)

By: REUEL JOHN F. LUMAWAG, SunStar Davao

DAVAO City being declared as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and Davao Region as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines will open more opportunities to local cacao farmers and processors.

Voting 22-0-1, the Senate passed on Monday, March 8, Senate Bill 1741 (SB 1741), also known as "An Act declaring the City of Davao as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and the entire Region XI (Davao Region) as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines."

The bill was sponsored by Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

Villar filed the bill on July 27, 2020.

The bill is co-authored by Senators Christopher Lawrence T. Go and Ronald dela Rosa, both from Davao Region.

Section 2 states that the bill seeks to recognize Davao City and Davao Region "as the country's biggest producer of cacao and its vital contribution in making the Philippines world-renowned and sought after by chocolate makers from the US, Japan, and Europe."

Leo Brian Leuterio, City Agriculturist's Office head, said they welcome the passage of SB 1741 because it recognizes the efforts made by local cacao farmers, processors, and chocolate makers.

Villar said in her sponsorship speech on February 9, 2021, that based on the latest data her office received from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Davao Region produces around 78.76 percent of the annual production of cacao in the Philippines.

She cited Malagos Chocolate, which has bagged 28 international awards, for its chocolate products. Also under the Cocoa Excellence Programme in 2017, cacao produced by Malagos Agri Ventures has been included among the best 50 cacao beans globally.

Villar also said Laguna-based and multi-awarded chocolate brand Auro Chocolates also sources its cacao beans from Davao-based farming farmers.

She also recognized Cacao City and Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. (Cidami) as among the contributors to the growth of the chocolate and cacao industry in Davao City and Davao Region.

Cacao City is an outlet store for cacao products while Cidami is a non-profit based in Davao is also the leading cacao value chain organizer in cacao.

"This recognition proves that we are already there, na achieve nato atong mga targets. The fact nga maka-produce ka quality chocolate, means naka-produce ka quality cacao beans, quality [imong] fermentation, at the end of the day it means hawod imong farmer (The recognition shows that we have achieved our targets of producing quality cacao products. Having quality chocolates means we are producing quality cacao beans, which have been fermented properly. At the end of the day, it means that our local farmers have the know-how in cacao production)," Leuterio said.

He said local farmers will directly benefit from Davao Region and Davao City's recognition as Cacao and Chocolate capital.

Leuterio said the recognition will increase awareness of locally made chocolates. This is seen to produce better prices, industries, and side-table demand for chocolates and cacao.

"It can produce more interest. More interest means more market and sales. More market and sales mean good stable prices of raw materials, which always benefit the smaller farmers in the [value] chain," he said.

In a press statement on February 9, Villar said "her bill simply gives recognition for the pioneering, outstanding collective contribution of the cacao farmers who supply dry cacao beans to the processors and manufacturers."

Meanwhile, Armi Lopez-Garcia, national chairperson of the Philippine Cacao Industry Council, said they hope President Rodrigo Duterte will veto SB 1741.

"The Senate chose to ignore the unanimous voice of the Philippine cacao industry opposing SB 1741, which runs against the national policy to develop the cacao industry nationwide. But what can we do? We hope that the President will veto the bill because it is unfair to the industry players of the other regions. However, we will no longer work for a Presidential veto especially since he is from Davao, the main beneficiary of the bill," Lopez-Garcia said in an interview with SunStar Davao on March 9, 2021.

Earlier, the PCIC submitted a position paper opposing SB 1741. The group said the bill "discriminates against the many cacao planters and chocolate producers in other regions."

"It discriminates against the weak regions that are responding to the government's call for the development of the cacao industry in the country. These fledgling regions, provinces, cities, and the hundreds of farmers cooperatives are the ones in need of help. And they should not be discriminated against. They should be supported instead," PCIC said.

It added that the bill could be disadvantageous to other cacao-producing areas in the country "because Davao city would have the definite advantage in marketing and branding."

"How can the other producers compete with a chocolate product that comes from the chocolate capital of the Philippines? Clearly, a great disadvantage that will tend to a restraint of trade because the level playing field of fair competition has been slanted in favor of Davao city," the group said.

However, Garcia said they do acknowledge the achievements Davao Region and Davao City have made in the cacao industry. But they do not see the need that there should be legislation on this.

"Wala me kaso i-acknowledge ang Davao but dili lang i-legislate (We do not find an issue acknowledging Davao but it did not need to legislate it)," Lopez-Garcia said.

Meanwhile, Lopez-Garcia said the council will continue to work on its mandate to help develop the cacao industry as it has lined-up several projects.

"We have to look after ourselves. We are now thinking of so many projects that will really lift up the spirits of the industry players all over the country," Lopez-Garcia said.

The PCIC is a private sector-led council created to spearhead the development of the cacao industry. This will be composed of public and private sector representatives with the Department of Agriculture as co-chair of the Council.

Davao City posts 89% Covid recovery rate

 Photo by Mark Perandos

by: RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT

SunStar Davao City

A LOCAL health official said Davao City is targeting to beat the overall recovery rate in the country as Covid-19 recoveries in the city continue to rise.

City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, February 23, 2021, that the city is continuing to experience a downtrend of active cases due to a large number of new recoveries.

According to the Department of Health-Davao Region Covid-19 case bulletin, as of February 23, Davao City had a total of 12,832 Covid-19 cases, wherein 748 were active cases, 11,458 were recoveries and 626 were deaths.

He said the total number of recoveries accounts for an 89-percent recovery rate for the city.

The health official said the city's recovery rate is inching closer to the national recovery rate, which is currently at 93.1 percent.

"Hapit na ta mutungtong sa 90 porsyento. Kinahanglan nato maapsan or ma-overtake-kan nang atong national rate nga 93.1 percent sa recovery rate nationwide (We are now almost at 90-percent. We hope to surpass the current national recovery rate, which is now at 93.1 percent)," Lopez said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

He added, "Kung ato na malampasan nang 93 percent nga recovery rate, then that is very, very good na (If we would surpass the 93-percent national recovery rate, that is already a very good) accomplishment for Davao City."

Lopez noted an estimated 50-percent drop of active cases in the past two weeks.

"In fact, ang (our) number of deaths from March [2020] up to present, murag nipantay na siya sa atong (is almost equal to our) active [cases]," he said.

With the downtrend being felt since February 3, the health official said they are also targeting to decrease the active cases to a single digit or a much lower double-digit.

Lopez also noted a downtrend in Covid-19 cases in the entire Davao Region following the downtrend in Davao City. The city had contributed a high percentage of the total cases in the region.

Davao City, according to the previous Covid-19 bulletin, experienced a surge in Covid-19 cases in mid-October last year when the city was still placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), which started on July 1, until it was reverted to general community quarantine (GCQ) on November 20.

Cases continued to increase until January 2021 brought about by the post-Holiday surge, which was projected to be felt until mid-February this year.

Lopez cited the importance of having a projection or forecasting for Covid-19 cases, as it will be the city government's basis in its response.

Lopez said their projections were “accurate,” although the downtrend was felt a week earlier than what was previously projected.

"Mao na (That is the) advantage when you have accurate data, if you're going to have some anticipations based on the forecasting," he said, adding that their forecast depicts what would be the Covid-19 situation in the city in the coming weeks or months.

He said this progress is facing challenges brought about by the recent discovery of the new Covid-19 variant in the country, now also recorded in Davao City coming from a 10-year-old boy who was asymptomatic and fully recovered.

He also cited the recent recommendation of placing the entire country under MGCQ as a challenge in the city's improving Covid-19 situation.

Lopez said in a previous report that it is still early for the city to shift to a more relaxed quarantine status as the city is still managing to improve its Covid-19 case management.

He also said the recent recommendation of allowing international flights, even with countries with existing new variants, to enter Metro Manila is also another challenge.

According to Lopez, foreigners will now be allowed entry into the country provided they will undergo a 14-day quarantine.

"Problema ani kay kung makasulod (The problem is that once they enter), the question is how far can we monitor or mabantayan kaning pasyente (or monitor our patients)? How far can we go so we can suppress the possible transmission?" He said.

Lopez reminded the public to adhere to minimum health protocols as a measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus while the country waits for the Covid-19 vaccines.

Even with the arrival of the vaccines, he encouraged that health protocols would still be imposed as the vaccine's effect will not take effect immediately.

No case yet of new coronavirus strain in Davao City

 

Photo by Associated Press

By RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, SunStar Davao City

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) has not received any report of infection from a new variant of Covid-19 in the city based on its recent updates from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), acting CHO Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

Lopez said samples tested from Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and Davao One World Diagnostic Center were sent to Philippine Genome Center (PGC) in Manila for genome sequencing. However, results have not yet been sent back to them because of technical problems with the machine being used to process the specimen for the confirmatory tests.

"Until now, naa pay adjust na ginabuhat sa machine. So dili pa sila makahatag og results (Adjustments are being made with the machine so we still cannot get the results)," he said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Lopez said the city already sent all tested and confirmed specimens in January to determine if the new Covid-19 variant had already reached the city and had contributed to the spike in cases.

"Ingon sa ako naka-istorya, most likely wala pa ang new variant sa Davao [City]. Kay kung naa daw na siya, usually maghatag na sila og alert. Wala man ko nadawat nga alert so far," he said.

(The person I am in contact with said, most likely, the new variant is not in the city yet. If it had reached the city, they would alert us, but for now, they have not alerted us.)

The health official said they are intensifying their biosurveillance to detect and monitor variants of the Sars-CoV-2.

He said the RITM is the only facility in the country that can perform genome sequencing for Covid-19.

He added that it is only through genome sequencing that can detect if the patient was infected with the new variant of the Covid-19.

In a previous interview, National Task Force (NTF) Covid-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez personally suggested to Lopez, through a phone call, that the city should submit its specimens to the national RITM to detect if the new variant had reached the city.

Lopez said Galvez was worried upon seeing the recent uptick of cases in the city.

Lopez had explained to the NTF chief that the case surge was brought about by post-holiday activities.

Since the confirmation of the first case of the B.1.1.7 Sars-Cov-2 variant or the UK variant, the country has at least 25 known cases of the new variant. One of them died. The patient died in the third or fourth week of January, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Davao City, meanwhile, is on heightened alert following the recent discovery of the presence of the new variant of the virus in Sabah, Malaysia, Davao Region's closest foreign neighbor.

IATF approves test-before-travel for Davao

 

RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, Manila Bulletin

THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the Davao City Government's request to impose a test-before-travel requirement to all passengers arriving at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport).

In a statement issued by the City Information Office on February 5, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat bared the approval of the request made by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio dated February 3.

According to the City Government, Duterte-Carpio wrote to Puyat on January 22, requesting the assistance of the DOT in negotiating with the IATF for the imposition of mandatory real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for all travelers before they arrive at the DIA.

"We wish to inform you that the IATF has approved your request," Puyat said in the letter.

Puyat also said, "The DOT is one with the City of Davao in its efforts to curb the spread of the virus. We look forward to working with you as we pursue our goal of a slow but sure recovery of the tourism industry."

The request of Davao City for guidelines on the test-before-travel requirement, without prejudice, for travel by land, sea, and air was approved during the 97th meeting of the IATF on January 28.

The City Government said the Department of the Interior and Local Government will also convene a small group and come up with a recommendation in a week's time following the approval from the IATF.

Meanwhile, the city suspended the free RT-PCR testing at the DIA on January 14 and will only resume once the Los Amigos Covid-19 Laboratory goes into full operation.

Arriving passengers with negative RT-PCR tests are prioritized in exiting the DIA after checking their health declaration forms (HDFs).

Non-Davao City flight passengers may still exit the airport even without the RT-PCR negative test as long as their LGUs will fetch them and they can present other needed documents. Neighboring local government units (LGUs) are urged to pick up their locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at the DIA.

For Davao City residents without negative RT-PCR test results to show, HDFs and other necessary documents will be checked. They must follow the requirements and will be given their health monitoring forms since they need to check-in with their BHERTS (Barangay Health Emergency Response Team). The 14-day home quarantine is mandatory. (With CIO)

This is Davao History: Indelible German traces

 by Antonio V. Figueroa

Although the Europeans, particularly the Spaniards, first set foot in Davao in 1521, German imprints did not find space in local historical accounts until the 1880s, chiefly in scientific explorations that placed the region in world map. The legacy the Germans have left behind has only been sparingly mentioned in Davao’s study of historical writings.

In the region’s floral past, several German names stand out as indelible milestones given their names have been immortalized in two significant flower discoveries in Davao.

The Rafflesia schadenbergiana, called by the Bagobo as ‘bo-o,’ is named after naturalist Alexander Schadenberg, a native of Breslau, Germany, who braved the forest fastnesses of Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. The burrowing skink (Brachymeles schadenbergi Fischer), discovered in 1885 in Davao, was also named in his memory. He was, in personal life, a pen pal of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Filipino national hero.

On the other hand, Vanda sanderiana, the waling-waling discovered in 1882 in Mount Apo, was named after Heinrich Friedrich Conrad Sander, a German orchidologist, while Rafflesia apoanum Stein was in honor of Stuttgart, Germany-born Berthold Stein, a German botanist (orchid specialist), lichenologist (lichen expert), and mycologist (a scientist who studies fungus and its genetic and biochemical properties) known for his contributions in the field of taxonomy.

Dr. Otto Koch, a German naturalist then living in Cebu, collaborated with Schadenberg in the discovery of the rafflesia, the world’s largest parasitic flowering plant. Together, they made two successful ascensions of Mount Apo.

German legacy was further magnified during American occupation, this time in public governance with the appointment of Henry Gilsheuser who, during and after war, also went to serve the Philippine government in different capacities.

Born in Hessen, Germany, in 1881, he became the penultimate American governor of Davao before a Filipino administrator governor was appointed in 1915. He took up public education in Germany but continued his studies in New York when his parents migrated to the U.S.

Gilsheuser fought in the Spanish-American War, appointed third lieutenant in the Philippine Constabulary in 1903 and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served as district secretary of Cotabato, governor of the Lanao province, and later appointed by Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the Military Department for Mindanao and Sulu, as Davao governor in 1910.

Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon, when war broke out, appointed him fuel and transportation administrator of the Civilian Emergency Administration and was in-charge of the Emergency Control Commission during President Sergio Osmeña’s watch. During the presidency of Manuel A. Roxas, he was a member of the US-Philippines War Damage Commission.

For his efforts, he was awarded by the Philippine government the Philippine Legion of Honor. A dyed-in-the-wool Mason, he died in Manila at the Lourdes Hospital in Manila on Feb. 27, 1964 at age 83.

Germany, a country with a third of its population affiliated with Roman Catholicism, shares religious affinity with Davao. In fact, three of the religious orders founded by St. Arnold Jannsen, born in Goch, Germany, have provinces (branches) in Davao City, namely the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD, 1875) the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSps, 1889), and the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP, Sept. 8, 1896).

The SVD priests took over the management of the Saint Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary at Catalunan Grande, Davao City, in the 1980’s from the Foreign Mission Society of Quebec (PME Fathers), while the SSpSAp, also known as the Pink Sisters, holds court at the Holy Spirit Adoration Convent, along Seminary Road, Catalunan Grande, Davao City.

To underpin Germany-Davao alliance, the University of Southeastern Philippines, a state learning institution, introduced years ago under its Institute of Language and Creative Acts the study of German language, which was initially headed by journalist-professor Klaus Döring, a native of Spenge, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and Davao resident since 1999.

Adding another feather to the partnership was the opening of the consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Davao with Döring, a long-time German court interpreter, language teacher and married to a Davaoeña, was installed as honorary consul in southern Mindanao.

An indication that German descent is here to stay, Davao City mayor, Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio is a scion of German-born migrant who became naturalized American.