Nordeco to complete P1.5-M Samal-Pantukan interconnection project this year

BY IVY TEJANO

  

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DAVAO CITY – The Northern Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. (Nordeco) vowed to complete the P1.5-million interconnection project between Samal and Pantukan this year.

Nordeco issued the pledge before a joint committee hearing with the Senate Committees on Energy, Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship on July 12, Wednesday.

The electric cooperative said they deemed it proper to address the issues and concerns raised by the concerned member-consumer-owners and the local government units.

“We wish to enlighten our dear member-consumer-owners over the issues and concerns raised against Nordeco during the Senate Committee Hearing on July 12,” Nordeco said.

It added that the cooperative seeks to guide the entities, such as the Senate Committee on Energy, provincial government of Davao del Norte, city government of Igacos, and the local government units in the franchises of Nordeco.

Nordeco belied the “false, baseless accusations” of a certain Ryan Amper. It said that Amper is not connected with the electric cooperative.

“The self-proclaimed convenor of the Davao Consumer Movement (DCM) put into serious doubt the very existence of this consumer movement, its motive, and cause,” Nordeco added.

Nordeco said it hopes that the level of discourse on issues affecting them be confined to relevant laws and facts and not merely rely on unverified facts and assertions.

The electric cooperative was invited earlier to appear before the Senate Committee on Energy in response to Senate Resolution No. 629.

The resolution seeks an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the calamity status on Samal Island due to the power crisis. The objective is to explore short-term and long-term remedies to address the electricity supply deficiency on the island.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealed to the Nordeco to solve the power disruption in its service areas.

To address these concerns, Nordeco is now constructing a 15-kilometer submarine cable, estimated to cost around P1.5 billion, that will connect Igacos and Pantukan town with the mainland.

Nordeco officials believe that this initiative will effectively resolve the persistent power problems Samal Island faces.

Full development of potentials of Mindanao sought

BY IVY TEJANO

  

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DAVAO CITY – Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao-Eastern (OPAMINE) Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno wants Mindanao transformed from a mere land of potential to a region of true success.

MAGNO (FB)

“There is still a lot of potential to expand the infrastructures in the entire Mindanao to facilitate the storage and transport of our products to all the other parts of the country and the world,” said Magno.

Magno made the statement during his speech before the guests and participants of the Philippine Building and Construction Exposition and Travel and Leisure Expo (PHILBEX-TLEX) organized at the SMX Lanang Convention Center here on Thursday, May 11.

Magno at the same time expressed enthusiasm as Davao City was chosen to host this year’s PHILBEX and TLEX events.

He said he hoped the organizers, participants, and officers of the big events recognized the huge potential in Davao and Mindanao, which is why they decided to hold the event there.

He said Mindanao boasts top-quality and untouched beaches, waterfalls, caves, mountains, biota, and other tourist attractions that cater to domestic and international visitors. However, the region needs more tourists to appreciate these offerings, he added.

Magno said that the PHILBEX and TLEX present the chance for the government and private sector to collaborate in attracting more tourists and construction projects to Mindanao, as he believes this will positively impact the island’s economy and the livelihoods of its inhabitants.

The OPAMINE official also urged private housing firms to participate in the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino program, a large-scale socialized housing initiative under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Magno cited the Department of Social Housing and Urban Development under Secretary Jerry Acuzar in its aims to construct six million housing units by 2028.

He added that the infusion of funds from domestic and foreign sources is expected to positively impact local industries, particularly in the building, construction, and tourism sectors.

“This injection of capital has the potential to provide a much-needed boost to these industries,” he said.

Magno proposed that the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao serve as a conduit to connect the private sector to the national government to improve coordination and collaboration.

He expressed willingness to hear and address any concerns raised by the private sectors and offer support in bringing those concerns to the Office of the Special Assistant to the President and the Office of the President.

The PHILBEX and TLEX Davao event has attracted 300 exhibitors, who have set up 200 booths to showcase their offerings to the people of Mindanao.

Flash flood victims in Davao City receive relief aid

by Ivy Tejano, MB

DAVAO CITY — Over 1,000 families affected by the recent flash flood here received relief assistance from the Office of the First Congressional District Representative Paolo Z. Duterte on Wednesday morning, Feb. 22.

Personnel from the office of Congressman Duterte distributed emergency food packs, hot porridge, and breakfast to the flood victims in barangays 2-A, 5-A, 8-A, 9-A, 10-A, 19-B, Matina Gravahan, and Maa in the early hours of Feb 22.

As several barangays in the city were flooded, authorities ordered an evacuation on Tuesday evening following a heavy rainstorm which caused water levels in a river to rise and forced the 1,093 families or 4,300 individuals to leave their houses. 

The First Congressional District Office assured that all victims were given appropriate assistance.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) issued warnings about the water levels in the city’s five rivers, namely Davao River, Lasang River, and Bunawan River which were under code red, and Talomo River and Matina River which were under orange level.

CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran said that water in the three major rivers in the region rose because of the rain, and that the roadway connecting Lasang and Bunawan had to be closed to traffic until Wednesday as portions of the road was under floodwater.

Davao City, Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental sustained moderate to heavy rainfall on February 21 at 7 p.m. due to a localized thunderstorm that led to flooding in various barangays. Not a single person was reported injured or missing in the incident.

Davao City Rep. Duterte warns fixers

by Ivy Tejano 

DUTERTE

Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Z. Duterte vowed to file charges against fixers using the name of First Congressional District Office for their nefarious activities.

Duterte recently received information that a woman claiming to be an employee of his office had been recruiting people that need medical assistance from the government.

The fixer claimed that Duterte’s office will release P30,000 medical assistance with P3,000 automatically going to her. 

Upon receipt of the information, Duterte instructed his staff to report her to the police and have the incident recorded in the blotter.

“Paludhon nako ni atubangan San Pedro Church duha ka gabii (I will let her kneel in front of the San Pedro Church for two nights) and then appropriate charges will be filed,” Duterte vowed.

He urged Dabawenyos approached by anyone claiming to be an employee of the First Congressional District Office and offering such assistance to report them to authorities.

“If naa mahitabo susama ana sa uban, i-report dayon sa police ug sa congressional office sa numerong (If there’s a similar incident like this, please report it to the police and to the congressional district office’s contact number) 09667510792,” Duterte said.

 

Apo Agua, DENR, Fardeco join hands for reforestation program

by Ivy Tejano

APO Agua operations head Shake A. Tuason, DENR–Davao regional executive director Bagani Fidel Evasco, and Fardeco Multipurpose Cooperative chairman Nelson Tagud at the signing of the memorandum of agreement.

DAVAO CITY – Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. (Apo Agua) recently partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 11 (Davao region) and the Fardeco Multipurpose Cooperative for a five-year reforestation program for the rehabilitation of the DENR’s 200-hectare Panigan-Tamugan Watershed in Barangay Cadalian in Baguio District here. 

In keeping with their shared commitment to preserving the watershed and giving the people a chance to live, the Apo Agua and DENR-Davao teamed up to promote biodiversity and watershed conservation in the community through a complete information, education, and communication campaign.

DENR-Davao regional executive director Bagani Fidel Evasco said to foster wildlife conservation through preserving and protecting animals, plants, and their habitats, metal signages highlighting local endemic species will be placed in all barangays of Baguio District, in addition to multimedia materials like posters and movies.

Evasco said they have worked with Aboitiz on many projects.

This reforestation program is about planting trees and restoring and caring for the National Greening Program (NGP) area within the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed, he added. 

“With this partnership, the Apo Agua is helping us ensure the sustainability of our water table all the way to Davaoeños’ homes. I hope it does not end here, and we will continue with our conservation efforts,” Evasco said.

Apo Agua also provided the monitoring team of the DENR City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) with digital cameras and their Lawin Patrollers with mobile devices, power banks, and raincoats to optimize their watershed monitoring activities.

“It’s an honor to stand alongside DENR in protecting the Panigan-Tamugan watershed. At Aboitiz, we highly value environmental conservation as part of our strategy for advancing business and communities,” Apo Agua president Anna Lu said, adding that they recognize the urgent need to protect the watershed as this will be the next water source of Davao City.

Pulong proposes P5-M fine for hospitals demanding deposit for emergency cases

by Ivy Tejano, MB

DAVAO CITY – Davao City first district Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte has filed a bill increasing the P1-million fine and imposing other stringent penalties on hospitals and clinics demanding deposits before administering treatment for emergency and severe cases.

House Bill (HB) 3046 filed by Duterte and three other lawmakers amending the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law also has a provision mandating the establishment of a government hotline in which the public can immediately call to seek immediate assistance regarding violations of the law.

Together with Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS party-list Reps. Edvic Yap and Jeffrey Soriano, the Davao City solon said the current set of penalties imposed under Republic Act (RA) 10932 on erring employees and officials of medical facilities should be increased further to P5 million as “there is still a significant number of reports of hospitals violating the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.”

“The (Anti-Hospital Deposit Law) asserts the rights of an individual to be admitted to any hospital and be given basic emergency care without being asked to hand over an advance payment outright. This is in consonance with the Hippocratic Oath that physicians take, pledging to help the sick to the best of their ability and knowledge,” the bill’s authors said.

“Hence, hospitals, in general, are duty bound to provide care and treat those injured or suffering,” they added.

Batas Pambansa (BP) 702 makes it unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic to demand deposits or advance payments for the confinement or treatment of patients in emergency and severe cases. Certain provisions of BP 702 have been amended under RA 834 and RA 10932 and increased the penalties on hospital employees and officials violating the law. 

RA 10932, which was signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 and implemented the following year, penalizes hospital employees or medical practitioners found guilty of violating the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law with P100,000 to P300,000 or imprisonment of two months to two years.

The law also imposes higher penalties of imprisonment of four to six years, and a fine of P500,000 to P1 million, or both, on directors or officers of hospitals or clinics responsible for implementing policies or instructions that violate the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.

Five years after the signing of RA 10932, Rep. Duterte wants even more severe penalties imposed on hospitals and clinics, complemented by the establishment of a Department of Health (DOH)-administered national hotline to make it easier to flush out the law’s violators.

Under HB 3046, a hospital employee, official, or medical practitioner found violating the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law shall be fined between P500,000 and P1 million or imprisoned for four to six years, or both, upon the discretion of the courts.

If the courts find that the violation was committed due to the medical facility’s established policy or upon instructions of its management, the director or officer responsible shall be penalized with imprisonment of six to 12 years or fined P2 million to P5 million under the bill.

HB 3046 also has a provision that would allow the filing of administrative cases against erring hospital employees and officials with the corresponding penalty of suspension, cancellation, or revocation of their professional licenses.

This is on top of the revocation of the medical facility’s license to operate by the Department of Health after three repeated violations of the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law arising from an established policy or instructions of its management.

Under the bill, the president, chairman, board of directors, trustees, and other officers shall be held solidarily liable for damages the court may award to the patient-complainant.  

67 students, teachers stranded at Mati City high school due to heavy rain

 Published October 26, 2022, 2:51 PM

by Ivy Tejano

DAVAO CITY – Sixty-seven students and teachers were forced to sleep overnight at the Buso National High School (BNHS) in Mati City, Davao Oriental after they were stranded due to a heavy downpour late Monday afternoon, Oct. 25.

STUDENTS and teachers of the Buso National High School in Mati City make themselves comfortable in their classroom after they were stranded due to a heavy downpour on Monday, Oct. 25. (Via Ivy Tejano)

The Mati City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that a bridge collapsed in Barangay Tagbinonga at 5 p.m. due to rain-induced landslide.

Commuters were stranded as a result, the Mati City Information Office (CIO) said.

Dinner was served by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Barangay Buso officials, and the Tagbinonga Sangguniang Kabataan to the stranded.

Mattresses and portable tents were given to the teachers and students to make them comfortable.

The city government sent heavy equipment to the area to transport stranded commuters.

The stranded students and teachers to returned home on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at around 10 a.m. after the weather cleared.