MANGO growers in Digos City last week cautioned the non-government organization Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) on its campaign against pesticides which the growers claim claim is “grossly one-sided, misleading, lackadaisical and dampens people’s initiatives towards being more productive.”
The reaction came in the wake of an IDIS-organized forum at the Cor Jesu College here last Friday where a certain Dr. Alan Dionisio of UP Manila reportedly bandied a study blaming a mango plantation as the source of pesticide contamination in Sitio Baliwaga, Sta. Cruz municipality.
“It is pure speculation,” said Leonardo Castillo who has a six-tree orchard in Baliwaga. He said that the study team may not be familiar with the physical situation of Baliwaga as they failed to notice that it is a coastal village, but where rice is intensively cultivated and large fishponds are maintained.
“Singling out mango plantations as the source of pesticide contamination without clarifying the fact about limits allowed by law is disinformation,” he said, as he expressed fear that it will poison the minds of the youth and dampen their interest in a livelihood that is putting them through college. Castillo’s two sons are enrolled at Cor Jesus College in Digos City.
He said that the Department of Agriculture is repeatedly training them on maintaining physio-sanitary measures and that they have been paying close attention to the application of pesticides and other chemicals so that they can achieve better yields and at the same time make their fruits acceptable in the international market.
Meanwhile, Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas counseled the organizers of Dionisio’s forum to be balanced in their campaign against pesticides and not to forget that the farm sector has hundreds of thousands of families dependent on it for livelihood.
“Do you have an alternative for people losing their livelihood if the banana industry is destroyed?” he asked.
He said that the anti-aerial spray movement will be more relevant if they help in training subsistence farmers adopt precautionary meaures in the handling of pesticides and other chemicals essential to protecting crops from pests. [PR ]
Mango growers caution NGO on its anti-pesticide campaign
DA pushes for insemination to improve livestock quality
THE Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Animal Industry, wants to improve the quality of livestock in the country through the use of artificial insemination.
Dr. Rubina Cresencio, chief of the Livestock Development Division of DA, stressed that artificial insemination is a tool for improving the genetic makeup of livestock.
She said this means that livestock such as cattle, carabao, and goats will soon be more resistant to disease and infection as a result of artificial insemination. Likewise, AI is designed to help the increase production rate of livestock in the country.
Dr. Cresencio added that the DA also aims to fast track the localization of the Unified National AI Program (UNAIP) among local government units. If localized, LGUs will be able to improve the breed of their cattle and present livestock in their area by using AI technology.
She added that the DA has been promoting AI in the local level in many regions. DA also encourages the provinces to assess their livestock plan and decide which breed of livestock need undergo AI.
They must maximize their AI potentials, Dr. Cresencio said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Limson, national coordinator of UNAIP, said the consultation among experts and regional livestock technicians of the country aims to strengthen the national AI Program of the government. [PNA]
Collateral-free loans to MSMEs
by Noel Baguio
IT’S going to be a big day for small entrepreneurs.
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Davao del Norte will soon be able to access bank loans even if they don’t have collaterals with the coming launch of the Credit Surety Fund (CSF) program to the province.
Developed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the CSF is a fund generated from contributions of well-capitalized and well-managed cooperatives with counterpart contributions from the provincial government and the national government’s Industrial Guaranty and Loan Fund (IGLF) equivalent to the amount raised by the coops.
The BSP, in coordination with the provincial government, will launch the DavNor Coopreneurs Credit Surety Fund program on July 31, 2009 at the Central Bank Building in Davao City. Simultaneously, the CSF program for Compostela Valley province will also be launched at the same event.
Monetary Board chair and BSP governor Amando Tetangco Jr., Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario and Comval Gov. Arturo Uy will lead the signing ceremonies.
They will be joined by Monetary Board members Ignacio Bunye and Juanita Amatong, together with the CSF oversight committee chairs of the two provinces.
Gov. Del Rosario said he is ready to put up more than P5 million as counterpart of the province to the amount local cooperatives may raise for the fund.
The governor cited the fund as an important milestone for both cooperatives and MSMEs, since it opens up a new avenue towards increasing credit flows for financing their own needs.
The Provincial Cooperative Development Division, headed by Engr. Humber Cabunoc, is expecting the developed cooperatives in the province to raise P5 million to jumpstart the program this year.
Republic Act 9501 mandatea banks and lending institutions to allocate eight percent of their loan portfolio to micro and small enterprises, and two percent to medium enterprises.
However, the small entrepreneurs continue to find it difficult to avail of loans from these institutions because of lack of acceptable collaterals, unstable income or cash flows, and low paying capacity, among other factors.
The BSP developed the CSF as a better alternative in order to avoid the MSMEs being perpetually victimized by unconscionable usurers and loan sharks whose schemes do not support the growth of the sector.
The fund addresses the need of MSMEs, which comprise 90 percent of local firms, for more capital by enhancing their creditworthiness and mitigating the credit risk of financial institutions extending credit to the sector.
Banks that will extend loans secured by the CSF can rediscount up to 80% of such loans with the BSP.
As designed, the surety fund is to be managed and administered by an Oversight Committee at the provincial level to make it more responsive to the credit needs of MSMEs in each province.
Road safety is everybody’s business
CONCERTED effort is needed in order to ensure road safety and avoid traffic accidents.
With the growing rate and severity of road accidents, especially with its rise in two-wheeled vehicles, concerned government agencies in the Davao del Norte have called for a joint community undertaking in promoting road courtesy, discipline and responsible driving habits among drivers and operators, as well as subservience to traffic laws and symbols among pedestrians and commuters.
Davao del Norte Land Transportation Office Chief Marietta Piccio said road safety and even discipline is something that really have to be instilled to everyone.
“Life is precious. So, we cannot just afford to loss or ruin it by a single traffic mistake,” she told the members of the media during the recent ‘Kapihan sa Kapitolyo’ media forum at the Provincial Media Center.
Piccio bared her office is now seeking ISO certification in the implementation of its quality management system, where they will only issue licenses to those applicants who are qualified and well-trained.
Other guests at the Kapihan include Davao del Norte DepEd Supervisor Alma Agayan, DPWH OIC District Engineer Aimee Cariaga, and Police Chief Inspector Levitico Estay, police community relations (PCR) Deputy chief of DavNor Police Provincial Office (DNPPO).
C/Insp. Estay urged for better coordination among concerned agencies and vigilance of the commuters,asking them to “remind the drivers about road safety before and while boarding a vehicle.”
Agayan revealed road safety is being integrated in the schools, particularly in the HEKASI and English subjects of school children.
“Our school children are taught how to safely cross the streets and ride vehicles,” she said, adding the parents are also oriented with the topic in their PTCA meetings.
Cariaga assured traffic safety is also a very important concern of the DPWH. “It is the mandate of the agency to establish and maintain a standard system of signs in order to ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists,” she said.
To curb the growing number of road accidents, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) launched a road safety awareness campaign called “Ligtas Lakbay, Tuloy ang Buhay (Safe Trip, Life Continues)” last February, which aims to promote road safety awareness for all modes of transportation and to help change the behavior of motorists by instilling proper driving and discipline on the road. [Noel Baguio/PGO-ID]
Holcim is unbeatable as property taxpayer
– Other top Davao City taxpayers listed
by Lovely A. Carillo
HOLCIM Philippines, Inc. remains unbeatable as the top property taxpayer in Davao City. The country’s leading cement manufacturer, which resulted from the merger of Davao City Union Cement, Hi-Cement Corporation, Alsons Cement Corporation and Bacnotan Cement Corporation, has topped the list of the city’s property tax payers for years now.
“Who can beat Holcim when the corporation has at least a hundred tax declarations for their land, building and equipment,” Real Property Tax Division Chief Conrado D. Lapido told Edge Davao.
Lapido said the yearly awarding of the top property tax payers has almost become predictable because almost the same companies are making it to the Top 10 list headed by Holcim.
“Holcim usually pays P26 million for the land they own as well as their building and other real properties,” Lapido said. Even Halifax Davao Hotel, Inc’s Marco Polo, whose P80 million worth of real property contributes up to P10 million to the government coffers, could not upstage Holcim’s yearly property tax payments, he added.
Holcim always
top payer
Holcim Philippines, Inc. has 40 years of history in Davao City from its earlier beginnings as Hi Cement Corporation which became DUCC and then Bacnotan Cement and the Alsons Cement Corporation.
The Davao plant is actually its third plant in the country, the rest located in La Union, Bulacan and in Misamis Oriental. The company employs a total of 1,400 workers for the four plants nationwide.
Holcim has a total installed clinker production capacity of 7.2 million metric tons per year and produces about 8.7 million metric tons of cement annually.
Holcim is one of the companies that are benefiting from the perceived construction and property development boom currently experienced by Davao City and neighboring areas.
Lapido said that aside from Holcim and Marco Polo, the companies that usually make it to Davao City’s top 10 property taxpayers list are SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Davao Light and Power Company, Mindanao Shopping Destination Corporation and DSG Sons Group, Inc.
These companies are included among the top 20 real property taxpayers and 20 business tax and license taxpayers that have been commended by the Davao City Council last year.
Included in the list of the top real property taxpayers for 2008 (for 2007 tax payments) are Dynasty Management and Development Corporation, Shogun Management, Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc., Grand Regal Hotel, Mindanao Corrugated Fiber, DSG Sons Group, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, Terminal Facilities and Services, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Royal Mandaya Hotel, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Pilipinas Makro, Lapanday Packaging, Inc., Philippine American Life, FEP Printing, Master Tours and Travel, J.King & Sons Company and Emcor Inc.
No awarding
City Treasurer’s Office Administration in-charge Rosanna Buala said the city government did not award the top property and business taxpayers last year (for 2008 tax payment). She however refused to divulge any reason. She also refused to provide a copy of the specific amounts paid by the taxpayers for 2008 unless a letter of request is provided and unless the request is approved by the assistant City Treasurer who was not at the office at that time.
Buala said the record of the top real property taxpayers is not a public document that can be easily sourced from their office.
Improved tax
collection
Lapido said the city’s real property tax collection is expected to increase this year with the implementation of Ordinance No. 040-07 which provides for the general revision of the market values of real properties in 2008. The schedule of market values for buildings has also increased and is set to be implemented later this year.
However, he said, there is no comparison between the real property tax collected by the city in 2008 and the expected increase in property taxes this year considering that the increase comes as a result of the revision.
He said the city’s gross real property tax collection for 2009 has already reached P529.225 million from January to Junes this year. This is expected to increase since tax payments are still expected between July and December. LAC
Golfer of the Week – Charlemagne B. Aldevera
Charlemagne “Charlie” Aldevera comes from very humble beginnings.
Just like many probinsiyanos, he came to Davao City to seek greener pastures away from his home in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, a sacrifice he did not regret at all.
After landing a job in the judiciary, he studied law at the University of Mindanao and became a lawyer in 1975. His wife, Marilou Dureza, is also a lawyer. Much later, one of his three children, Charmalou D. Aldevera, inherited his father’s law practice.
On the golf course, you always see him in a good mood. Sporting a warm smile, talking to fellow golfers and friends, Charlie has not changed a bit. He is still a simple man.
He never runs out of talking points that can make his friends around him laugh. One friend, even said “Duna gyud na siya sumpay sa storya. Makatawa ka gyud.”
No wonder, friends enjoy his company.
And why do you find him on the golf course?
Charlie said with a straight face: “As you age, your balls shrink.”
Charlie, a member of the board of directors of the Davao City Water District played basketball in his younger years, later shifting to tennis and eventually to golf.
“Mao nay ako bu-ot gipasabot ganina (that’s what I meant a while ago),” Aldevera said, bursting into laughter. From basketball, to tennis ball, finally to golf ball.
Aldevera is a member of the BULDOG (Businessman, Lawyer, Doctor, Golfers) but despite what the name BULDOG evokes, he turns out to be the most simple and humble golfer of all. [Moses P. Billacura]
House of Hope run, MTM-Wushu, Karang Marathon
by Moses Billacura
Holiday Gym and Spa will celebrate its sixth anniversary next month by holding a Run For A Cause.
The event will benefit the Davao Children’s Cancer Fund, Inc. also known as House of Hope that you can find at the Davao Medical Center compound.
Dr.Mae Dolendo heads the organization that has benefitted kids with cancer, especially those who come from far-flung areas who stay at the House of Hope while undergoing treatment.
The 10-kilometer and five-kilometer runs will be on August 2 starting at the Holiday Gym and Spa in Torres St. Attractive prizes are at stake for the winners too.
If you want to help, join the race by calling (082)2223041 or 2224207.
* * *
One afternoon I sneaked into Infinity More Than Medals(MTM)-Wushu Davao training area at the EastWest Centrum in Lanang.
There I saw young boys and girls ordered by a lady teacher to run and run faster. After that, she instructs them to form a line and do the splits.
For children, doing splits is very easy. And looking at them, reminds of the young gymnasts in China being trained very hard by their mentors and in later years, they emerge world champions.
Just recently, MTM-Wushu Davao athletes won medals in Macau. Thanks to the program implemented by Master Yu Zhi Bo and the support of the parents.
I hope that the medalists can find the time to attend the DSA Forum at Tower Inn to share their wonderful experience.
By the way, the MTM Wushu Program is open to ages five to 21 while the Taiji which is a gentle and relaxing exercise, Sanshou, a Chinese hand to hand combat and self-defense system, and Fitness Wushu, a style of martial arts displayed in movies by Jet Li and Jackie Chan, is open to all ages.
* * *
Congratulations to the winners of the Disudrin Inter-School Badminton Tournament at the Wheels ‘N More.
After the Davao leg, the badminton series will go to Cebu and Manila.
* * *
Outstanding tri-athlete Paulo Dino F. Ouano and Daisy Jane Cimafranca are organizing the Mulatto Outdoor Shop’s Katingalahang Kalingawan sa Kadayawan on August 15 to 16 at the Bago Beach in Gulf View.
You can compete in exciting events like the karang marathon, takyan competition, palo sebo, outdoor cooking competition and many more.
Call them at (082)2990951, 2440682 or text (0917)7178906 or 7045288.
Milo run execs looking for bigger run venue
MILO executives are looking for a bigger venue to accommodate more
runners for next year’s National Milo Marathon-Davao leg.
Milo assistant vice-president, Pat Goc-ong, said they have seen the tremendously growing number of runners who have been taking part in the Davao races.
The Rizal Park in San Pedro has been the starting point of the regular races but organizers have seen the need to look for wider roads and bigger venue for the hosting of the event.
“The safety of the runners is a primary concern for us,” said Goc-ong during the Milo Marathon press conference, July 10, at Dencia’s Restaurant.
Goc-ong has also instructed Davao race coordinator Kenneth Sai to start planning for the 34th edition.
Around 3,000 runners who wanted to join the Davao leg were turned away, according to Sai.
“Talagang puno na. Ang dami talagang gustong mag sali,” said Sai, who had wanted to accommodate the runners, mostly students.
Sai also bared that Milo officials are looking into the possibility of holding a Milo Sports Academy soon in Davao where the best products of their summer sports clinics will meet for further training. [Moses P. Billacura]
Year of the Bravehearts
PREPARE your 2010 boxing calendar this early. Make sure it is adorned with a Big Red Heart pierced by a flash of lightning.
If Lady Luck smiles, 2010 could be the year of the Braveheart Boys of North Cotabato, a province in the Southern Philippines which has a long history of conflict and violence but which has stood out as one of the most outstanding local government units in the country.
With five regional champions in its fold, Braveheart Boxing Club could finally realize the dream of its patron, North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol to produce world boxing champions.
Braveheart boxers now own five World Boxing Organization (WBO) regional titles. Tiny Rommel “Little Assassin” Asenjo, 20, (14 wins, 2 losses, 12 KOs) holds the WBO Oriental miniflyweight title; Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong, 23, (21 wins, 2 losses, 13 KOs) is the WBO Oriental junior flyweight titlist; Jundy “Pretty Boy” Maraon, 24, (14 wins, 11 KOs, 1 draw) is the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion; Rolando “Smooth Operator” Magbanua, 24, (17 wins, 12 KOs) is the WBO Interim Oriental bantamweight champion; and Lorenzo “Thunberbolt” Villanueva, 23, (15 wins, 15 KOs, 1 No Decision), raw and awkward but tough as nail recently stopped Asian Games gold medallist Eric Canoy to win the WBO Oriental featherweight crown.
“It could happen in 2010. A few of the boys are already ripe for the world championships,” said Pinol, who as governor of the province from 1998 to 2007 embarked on a grassroots boxing program that staged matches among barefoot boys during village and town fiestas and selected from among them those who had the prospect of becoming champions.
In 2005, with the help of the Cuban ambassador to the Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission under Butch Ramirez, then governor Pinol travelled to Cuba with bosom friend journalist Recah Trinidad and brought home to North Cotabato jaded Cuban trainer Honorato Espinosa who gave his country its first Olympic gold medal in Munich.
Espinosa stayed in North Cotabato for 18 months and trained local trainors including Pinol’s younger brother, Noli, who is now Braveheart’s chief trainer. The Cuban influence is very visible in the fighting style of the Braveheart boxers who are aggressive and excellent body punchers.
At least four of these boys are already ready for the big time, said Pinol.
“Magbanua, Maraon, Dapudong and Asenjo could already stand up to the best in the world in their divisions. I will certainly entertain the idea of pitting Magbanua in the junior featherweight division. Maraon could go up against the winner of the Fernando Montiel-Eric Morel bout, Dapudong could take on Ivan Calderon while Asenjo could go up against Donnie Nietes,” Pinol said.
“Of course, there is no guarantee that our boys will prevail over these popular and outstanding opponents, but they certainly will give boxing fans something to remember,” he said.
Pinol said the next group of fighters who are still being honed and fine-tuned include Lorenzo Villanueva, undefeated featherweight Reynaldo Belandres and undefeated flyweight Jermie Jabel.
“About 30 more boys as young as 14 are now training as amateurs and waiting for their turn to be given a chance to prove their worth,” he said.
“Those who do not have the skills and the heart are simply told to go back to school,” Pinol said, adding that the selection of good boxers is just as tough as separating the grain from the chaff.
With a sustained effort and well-planned boxing program, Filipino boxing fans could watch out for the Braveheart Boys in 2010 and the years after that.
Blugre Landco reopens
BLUGRE Coffee Landco branch reopened last Saturday, July 11. After a month of renovations, the Landco branch boasts of the latest look of Blugre Coffee.
The latest design features new standards – new hues, new furniture, new graphics completing an entirely new ambience intended to create a very unique Blugre Coffee experience.
Customers immediately felt the big difference after Blugre Coffee shop unveiled a very exciting venue for enjoying their favorite Blugre beverage or dessert, or for meetings, or for simply conversing with family, friends and loved ones.
Aside from the change in look, Blugre also showcases the latest in its menu.
Expect new food items and desserts created by owner, Larcy Gatchalian.
Blugre Coffee opened the very first specialty coffee shop in Davao City in 1998. Eleven years after, the brand is now synonymous to great coffee and dessert experience.
Aside from the Landco branch, coffee lovers can visit other Blugre Coffee branches at Matina Town Square, SM City Davao, JMP Building, Osmena, Gensan, and opening soon in Robinsons Gensan and Gaisano Mall of Tagum.
Visit www.blugre.com for more Blugre Coffee updates.