Gov. Uy leads donation drive for Marawi People

Gov. Uy leads donation drive for Marawi People

Compostela Valley Province (June 7) --- Capitol employees, public and private companies donated goods to extend help to the people of Marawi City who have been attacked by the Maute Group last May 23, 2017. This terrorist attack lessened economic activities in the city and caused people to be displaced.

The province of Compostela Valley under the leadership of Gov Jayvee Tyron L. Uy initiated the Oplan Marawi Donation Drive to gather help from different sectors and organizations through the use of social media, radio, local TV stations. They have also linked with 3 stations as drop-off points namely: Yuyu (Tagum City), Penongs Sta. Ana Branch (Davao City) and PSWD Office (Nabunturan) to make collections easier and locations accessible for people.

The goods are now transported to Iligan City for distribution headed by Raul C. Villocino of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

One of the remarkable values of the Comvalenyos is their will to serve their fellow Filipinos through the concept of bayanihan, holding on to their commitment that "no one shall be left behind".

"When we were struck by Pablo, we received donations from far-away places and people we don't even know. Now that our brothers and sisters in Marawi are in a serious crisis, it is our solemn obligation to help them as members of our own shared Filipino community", Gov. Uy said.

Gov. Uy further stressed that volunteerism or bayanihan has always been a practice in Compostela Valley.

To show his commitment to bayanihan tradition, Compostela Valley will host this Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge this June 7-11, 2017.

This event will gather volunteers from different parts of the country. The volunteers can engage into activities on social housing, nutrition and environmental protection. (allin joy camille, arianne dacalos//ids comval)

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

(Marawi)

Food and non-food relief goods are now on their way as Compostela Valley province sends its team dawn of June 7, 2017. Gov Jayvee Tyron L. Uy initiates the Oplan Marawi Donation Drive to gather help from different sectors and organizations to help the internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected in the Marawi conflict.(albert dayao/ ids comval)

Comval Holds 8th Summer Sport Festival 2016 and Nabunturan Over-all Champ

Comval holds 8^th Summer Sports Festival 2016, Nabunturan over-all champ

Compostela Valley Province --- The provincial government holds once again this year’s 8^th Provincial Summer Sports festival with the theme “Have a Better Life, Yes to Sports” from May 25-27, 2016.

Participated by competent athletes of the eleven (11) municipalities of Compostela Valley, the various sports events are Basketball (Male), Volleyball Women, Football Boys, Futsal Girls, Badminton-Male and Female, and Billiard.

Nabunturan emerged as the over-all champion of the 3-day event which is the annual activity of the Provincial Physical Fitness and Sports Development Council (PPFSDC) of the province.  The awarding was held with Gov. Arturo Uy and Sports Coordinator Francis Secuya during the Employees regular convocation on May 30 at the provincial capitol.

Meanwhile, attending the opening program are Vice Governor Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, Sports Coordinator and Councilor-elect of Nabunturan Francis Secuya, Board Member-elect Nena “Ate Nenz” Atamoza representing Governor-elect Jayvee Tyron Uy, Municipal Coordinators and Coaches of the 11 municipalities.

According to Atamosa on her opening remarks, “This is not to compete each other but to have new friends.” She added that Gov.-elect Uy hopes that this year’s event will promote camaraderie and inculcate sportsmanship among different municipalities in the province.  “He also wants the youth to be involved and spend a healthy summer through sports and to stay away from drugs,” she said.

As an added excitement during the opening program, the different delegates also witnessed the extreme dance number of the pride of Comval, the DMX Dancers who recently emerged as the Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) Finalist of ABS-CBN talent competition.

The torch lighting and official declaration of the opening is headed by Vice Governor Zamora with the provincial officials, Sports Coordinator and Nabunturan SB Member-elect Francis Secuya, event and municipal Coordinators.  While the Oath of Sportsmanship is led by Azeneth F. Ducaze, the Palaro Futsal Player. (Rey M. Antibo, IDS Comval)

MANGROVE PLANTING, COASTAL CLEAN-UP

HIGHLIGHT 8^th COMVAL SUMMER BEACHFEST

MABINI, Compostela Valley – This year’s summer beach sports festival along the coasts of this province’s two coastal towns intends to break its past records on the number of mangrove seedlings planted during the annual celebration.

In last year’s festival, scores of students, soldiers from the 10^thInfantry Division of the province, beach resorts owners and workers, government employees, and coastal villagers among others planted about 300 seedlings at the Casilac site in Brgy. San Antonio, Mabini.

Seedlings planted the same site three years ago have already grown waist-high, enhancing the threatened but still abundant mangrove strands.

“In this festival, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Maco is again joining the festival as part of their Ocean Month celebration. CENRO Martiniano Rotol and Protected Area Superintendent Julie Española have provided 500 mangrove seedlings for the activity,” provincial tourism officer Christine Dompor said.

Mabini, approximately 70 kilometers away from Davao City and located in the southeastern section of the province of Compostela Valley is part of the 3,433-hectare Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape of Davao gulf.

Mangrove planting is a regular activity of the beach festival to augment the existing mangrove forests of the protected seascape.  An important part of the marine ecosystem, mangroves act as a buffer zone for sea storms and provide a spawning ground for fish and other marine lives.

All of the five marine turtle species in the Philippines found in Davao Gulf are the Hawksbill, Oliver Ridley, Green Sea, Loggerhead, and the Leatherback turtles. Two – the hawksbill and the leatherback turtles – lay their eggs on the coasts of Kopiat, an island about 800 metres from mainland Mabini..

The Philippine Environmental Governance Project 2 (EcoGov), a technical assistance project in the Philippines funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), identified Davao Gulf as a feeding ground to 11 species of cetaceans including sperm whales, killer whales, and bottle-nose dolphins.

A number of these species regularly swims the channels between the islands and mainland Mabini to feed on the seascape’s seagrasses, rich planktons and krill. But sightings of these endangered marine mammals have become rare in the last years.  (jra/tss/ids)

  

Comval holds Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month Celebration

By: Rey M. Antibo

Compostela Valley Province---The Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) recognizes Farmers and Fisherfolks for their invaluable contribution to the economic growth of Philippine Agriculture and food sustainability through the conduct of Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month Celebration on May 26, 2016 stage at the Municipal Gymnasium, Poblacion, Montevista, Comval.  This year’s theme: “Magsasaka’t mangingisda, Katuwang sa pag-uunlad ng bansa.”

Attending the program are Mayor Eutropio Jayectin of Montevista, Mayor Lema P. Bolo of Compostela, Assistant DA Regional Director for Operations Phoebe S. Orbe, Supervising Agriculturist Minda Agarano of PAGRO, Raymundo Pajarito representing Governor Arturo T. UY and Governor-elect Jayvee Tyron Uy, National Agencies, Municipal Agriculturist, Program Coordinators, MAGRO and PAGRO staff and Farmers of the entire province.

According to Agarano who gives the rationale of the activity, “the conduct of this celebration is pursuant to Proclamation No. 33 signed by the late President Corazon C. Aquino in 1989, declaring the month of May as “Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month” where the men and women of the agri-fishery sector are given due recognition and tribute for their major role in economic recovery.”

She added that this year’s celebration coincides with the continuous campaign of DA to help farmers and fishermen amidst the damage wrought by prolonged dry spell or the El Niño phenomenon.

During the program, a mass turn-over of the of DA projects was also held such us four (4) wheel drive tractors, Sprayers, Hybrid Corn and Rice Seeds, Fertilizers, Vegetable Seeds, and other Agricultural Equipment to the farmers, cooperatives, PLGU and MLGU as the recipients of the said projects.

Mayor Jayectin said he is very happy that his municipality is one of the recipients of the 4 wheel drive tractor saying “rest assured that this equipment will be used by the farmers especially in the land preparation.”

Meanwhile, the PLGU also recognizes the Gawad Saka winners for this year by giving Cash Prizes and Certificates as well as an oath taking of the newly elected Comval Cacao Industry Council (CCIC) officials headed by their Chairman Juanito Aquino. (Rey Antibo, PGO-IDS Comval)

  

KOPIAT SWIMMING CHALLLENGE. This is not your ordinary swimming competition as participants to this Kopiat Swimming Challenge show off their skill and stamina traversing the 800-metre Kopiat-Mainland channel from the shores of Beach View Resort, Mabini on May 22. The event is part of the Summer Beach Fest scheduled on weekends of May spearheaded by Comval Tourism Office. (a. dayao/ids comval)

FIREDANCE COMPETITION. Another fiery night in Mabini with the firedance and reggae band competition on May 21 spearheaded by the Provincial Tourism Office of Comval. The event is part of the Summer Beach Fest scheduled on weekends of May spearheaded by Comval Tourism Office. (a. dayao/ids comval)

Summer Beach Sports Fest Highlights Drive to Mitigate Climate Change Impact

 

 

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley (May 11) -- The province’s Summer Beach Sports Festival this year, will center on the contribution of its tourism program to the campaign to mitigate the future impact of climate change on the eco-tourism resources of Compostela Valley.

 

The province’s beach sports festival is held all weekends of May along the coasts of Mabini and Pantukan at the northern edge of ecologically fragile Davao gulf, a key biodiversity area (KBA) in the Philippines listed as one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots.

 

In 2014, the MPLS Protected Area  Management Board conducted a coral reef assessment at the site. Based on the assessment, 53.40% of the seascape’s live coral cover percentage is in good condition. It also identified 46 scleractinian coral genera.  Only 110 genera of scleractinian coral have been identified worldwide, 72 of which are found in the Philippines.

 

Christine Dompor, provincial tourism officer, explained the annual summer beach sports festival was conceptualized in 2008 as a tourism promotion campaign and a mechanism to raise awareness on protecting, preserving, and conserving the endangered marine ecosystem of the gulf particularly within the 3,433-hectare Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape (MPLS).

 

Dompor said the twin objectives may not be enough now because of climate change. In 2014, she noted, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its fifth Assessment Report that predicted that oceans would rise more than three feet by 2100, a little less than 90 years from now.

 

“What would happen then to our coastal areas … to our ecotourism industry if the waters of Davao gulf rise? We will never know if this, in fact, will happen but it is better to be prepared. It is better to contribute to minimizing the impacts of climate change,” the provincial tourism officer said.

 

She thanked the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Maco and MPLS Protected Area Supervisor Julie Español for the 150 mangrove seedlings and the Month of the Ocean tarpaulin that will be displayed on different festival sites.

 

The tourism officer said on May 21, a Saturday, students, soldiers from the 10^th Infantry Division of the province, beach resorts owners and workers, and coastal villagers among others will dozumba at Omandac Beach View Resort in Brgy. Pindasan, Mabini at 5:00 a.m. then proceed to nearby Sitio Casilac in Brgy. San Antonio for the mangrove planting at 6:30 a.m. to be followed by a clean-up of the coastal area. 

 

Mangrove planting is a regular activity of the beach festival to augment the existing mangrove forests of the seascape.

 

Mabini, approximately 70 kilometers away from Davao City, is located in the southeastern section of the province of Compostela Valley.  The Protected Landscape and Seascape includes Kopiat island and Lunod island.

 

Kopiat island, host of the multi-million peso international standard resort Lubi Plantation of Lapanday Properties Inc., is the staging point of the region-wide almost a kilometer Kopiat swimming challenge. This year’s challenge finishes at Omandac Beach View Resort and falls on Sunday morning of May 22.

 

All of the five marine turtle species in the Philippines found in Davao Gulf are the Hawksbill, Oliver Ridley, Green Sea, Loggerhead, and the Leatherback turtles. Two – the hawksbill and the leatherback turtles – lay their eggs on the coasts of  Kopiat island.

 

The Philippine Environmental Governance Project 2 (EcoGov),   a technical assistance project in the Philippines funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), identified Davao Gulf as a feeding ground to 11 species of cetaceans including sperm whales, killer whales, and bottle-nose dolphins.

 

A number of these species regularly swims the channels between the islands and mainland Mabini to feed on the seascape’s seagrasses, rich planktons and krill. But sightings of these endangered marine mammals have become rare in the last years.

 

Beach sports line-up

 

The lined-up beach sports of the festival are: beach volleyball for male and Black Light Party on May 14 and beach volleyball for female on May 15 at Beach View Resort; fire dance, reggae band competitions, and zumba also at Beach View on May 21;

 

Mangrove planting and coastal clean-up at Sitio Casilac in Brgy. San Antonio, Mabini also on May 21; Cheer dance competition, Kopiat Swimming Challenge from Kopiat Island to Beach View Resort, and kite flying in Pantukan on May 22; 

 

On May 28, Water volleyball and Amazing Beach Race at Welborn Beach Resort, Body Painting at Seaworld Oasis, Hip Hop Grand Prix at Jeinos Beach Resort all in Pantukan;  and Frisbee competition at Magnaga Waters Beach Resort. (jpa/pgo-tss/ids)

 

 

 

Photo Caption:

 

Flying, sexy but fierce. Beach volley belles perfectly described last Sunday's Beachfest event. The event is part of the Summer Beachfest Event sponsored by the Provincial Tourism Office of Comval. Other fun activities  are scheduled all weekends of May.(Photo Credits: Comval Tourism/ids comval)

Natural Disasters in ComVal

While staying in Manila for several days, I received the message of more unusual rain and natural disasters from one of my favourite regions in Mindanao, Compostella Valley with its capital Nabunturan.

ComVal Governor Chiongkee Uy (whom I'll be meeting soon in one of these days!) inspects the damages at Barangays Tagbaros and Elizalde, Maco, where a tornado hits the are, while heavy flood of water rushed to the barangay road and damaged the Tagbaros bridge and its nearly surroundings.

Thank you to Abert Dayao, ids, for sending me these (sad) informations. Hope to see you guys soon under better conditions.

Conquer Compostella Valley in Mindanao

Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao - also one of my favourite spots while travelling in Mindanao. The province, called COMVAL for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte, until it was made independent in 1998. The province borders Davao del Norte to the west, Agusan del Sur to the north, and Davao Oriental to the east. To the south west lies the Davao Gulf.

Compostela Valley is subdivided into 11 municipalities namely Compostela, Laak (San Vicente), Mabini (Dona Alicia), Maco, Maragusan, Mawab, Monkayo, Montevista, New Bataan and Pantukan.

The capital town of Nabunturan is only a two-hours drive from Davao City. There are also several privately owned airstrips in the province, mostly owned by multinational companies.

Come and conquer COMVAL!

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(My deepest gratitude to Miss Fe Fuentes Maestre, PGO Comval Province!)