Monday, January 23, 2012

Improved BIMP-EAGA air connectivity eyed as Davao hosts 3 EAGA air summits

A stronger air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), an economic cooperation among the four regional economies, is expected as Davao hosts three very important summits this year.

“The three events are not big in terms of size but big in terms of the quality of the participants, most of them are decision-makers,” Department of Tourism XI director Art Boncato said.

Boncato said the Asia Air Access Forum will be participated in by regulatory bodies and airline officials who will present their plans for the region, The Airline CEO Summit will be a venue for the Chief Executive Officers of the airlines to meet and discuss the strategies and plans of connecting EAGA. The Air Network Forum will allow players to conduct a business to business interaction.

There will be an exhibit during the three Summits, where free exhibit space will be given to all airlines. The Airline Summit will include Garuda Airlines of Indonesia, Malaysia Airline, MAS Wings, Royal Brunei Airline and the airlines operating in the Philippines including PAL, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airline, Air Philippines and Sea Air.

“We are expecting around 200 participants mostly tourism players and the civil aviation authorities,” Boncato said. Other countries involved in the BIMP-EAGA will also be invited including China, Japan and Australia.

Boncato said the Southern Mindanao’s tourism sector is excited about the vibrant prospects for tourism considering the traditional markets for Davao tourism including the United States, Japan and South Korea. He said there are plans to explore the emerging tourism market in China and Singapore.

“There is a big potential for Davao in China as shown by the result of our trip to Beijing last year where Davao was a featured destination,” he said. They are also confident about Singapore as a tourism market for Davao as two airlines are already flying in and out to Singapore, he added.

He said the region’s tourism sector is serious in its bid to connect Manado and Davao. Boncato said Lion Air of Indonesia previously expressed its interest in coming to Davao and they have already met with DOT and Mindanao Development Authority. However, there was a lull in the talks “so we are seriously following this up.”

“The past year was much better than 2011 tourism-wise,” Boncato said. Davao’s major tourism market is still the MICE market or the Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibits.

Davao is eyeing the next Ad Congress, with additional 4,000 people that can be accommodated by the new facilities that will be built in the city this year, Boncato said.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Explosive components capable of destroying 2-storey bldg found


A sack containing up to 25 kilos of ammonium nitrate and several explosives components was recovered by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) along Bgy. Malagamot, Panacan at 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

“Initial investigations showed that the explosives components were intended for use in quarry and mining operations although it can also be used in crafting bombs,” DCPO director Col. Rene Aspera said during a press briefing at the DCPO Friday morning.

Aspera said included among the items they recovered inside the sack include 97 pieces non-electrical blasting caps, 25.2 kilos of ANFO or ammonium nitrate fuel, 89 pieces of Suprdyne Dynamite and 95 pieces of fuse lighter.

Both the DCPO and Task Force Davao received the information from 911, which got a call from a concerned citizen about several suspicious items scattered along the road and being played on by children.

Major Johngie N. Tizon said an IED reinforced by shrapnels like nails can kill and the extent of damage it can create depends on the size of the IED. He
brought out a sample containing 5 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and said “kaya nitong baliktarin ang isang 6x6 na army truck at kayang was akin ang isang smaller vehicle like a Humvee.”

“Ammonium nitrate weighing 25.2 kilos (like the one recovered by the DCPO and TF Davao Thursday) can demolish even a two-storey building,” he said.

Aspera said the person responsible for the sack carrying explosive components may have panicked upon sensing that there was a checkpoint in Ylang due to the heavy traffic along the Panacan-Sasa junction so he decided to turn to Malagamot instead. However, he added, “meron ding traffic sa Malagamot since there was a checkpoint also kaya siguro iniwan na lang ang sako sa daanan.”

Tizon said one reason for their initial theory that the explosives components were intended for quarry and mining and not for terrorist activities is the inclusion of a non-electrical blasting cap.

“Yung IED na ginagamit may electrical and dos not use a lighter pero ito sinisindihan pa,” he said.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Nokia launches two units with Dual SIM



Those who want to get life’s little perks when it comes to having thousands of music, videos, dual SIM and lots and lots of Gigabytes in their mobile phones but just don’t have the cash can now smile and say---at last!

Thanks to Nokia’s two new feature-rich mobile phones, the Nokia X1-01 and the Nokia C2-00, even the regular daily wage earners will now be able to get these features in their mobile phones, which used to be available only to high-end phones that can break the bank with their prices.

I instantly fell in love with the vibrant colors sported by the Nokia X1-01 especially the Ocean Blue. But when I saw the red unit then that when the problem started because now I can’t decide which color I want. This is a petty cool cellphone which, according to Nokia Corporate Communications manager Nikka Abes, meets every consumer’s requirements when it comes to “convenience, cost savings , coverage and multi-user need.”

Nokia Xi-01 comes with up to 16GB of memory so you can store as many of your favorite music. It has an MP3 player, one-press playlist creation and stereo FM radio which sounds great to any music lover. It also comes pre-loaded with games and has a flashlight. Aside from the colors already mentioned, you can also opt for other colors like Dark Grey and Orange. And let’s not forget it has dual SIM cards and has music side keys.

The more sophisticated of the two is the Nokia C2-00 which is not only dual SIM but offers the convenience of having one of the SIM doors on the side so it’s easy to change into a third or fourth provider without opening the back of the phone considering that most SIMs are located near the battery. This unit allows internet browsing but not WiFi so you need to pay for that. The phone comes with a 32GB memory, FM radio and VGA camera.

While the Nokia X1-01 is more eye-catching than the Nokia C2-00, you will probably go for the latter since it has an audio recording feature. It also comes in so-nice Magenta and other colors like Snow White, Jet Black and Dynamic Grey.

One thing going for the two new units is its affordability, with a P1,990 price tag for the Nokia X1-01 and a P2.990 price tag for the Nokia C2-00. The phones will be available in Davao City between June and July this year.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Dabawenyos at ABS CBN's SUPAHDANZ


Three young dancers from Davao City are making waves not just in Manila but all over the country! If you’re a regular Sunday viewer of ASAP at ABS CBN then you have probably seen them for several weeks already, making their moves and winning the hearts of dance enthusiasts including celebrities like Billy Crawford and KC Concepcion who are among the judges of ABS CBN’s SUPAHDANZ Competition.

The dance competition is a nationwide search for new dancers who can best show the Supahdanz moves. They started with 10 groups and after several thrilling Sundays, we only now have 4 crews who will compete for the finals.

Davao’s P.O.D. Dance Crew is composed of Ayana QUIROS Merquita and Jabs and Pen under the guidance of Jhoey Zulueta. The fight is getting too close as it nears the end but as of last Sunday, the P.O.D. remains at the top of the voting.

Dabawenyos and P.O.D. fans are urged to vote for the crew anytime through http://asap.abs-cbn.com/. Look for the ASAP SUPAHDANZ OFF POLL at the middle right side of the page and VOTE FOR POD. You can vote as many times as you want by just copying the link to your browser and following the same steps.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Hubert Webb leads Google Trends


Barely three days after he and his co-accused were acquitted by the Philippine Supreme Court, Hubert Webb has been all over the television and surprisingly, at the top of the Google Trends.

The controversial decision of the SC, which to quote "REVERSES and SETS ASIDE the Decision dated December 15, 2005 and Resolution dated January 26, 2007 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. 00336 and ACQUITS accused-appellants Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb, Antonio Lejano, Michael A. Gatchalian, Hospicio Fernandez, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada and Gerardo Biong of the crimes of which they were charged for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. They are ordered immediately RELEASED from detention unless they are confined for another lawful cause."

In its decision, the court said what is important in the country's justice system is
"not whether the court entertains doubts about the innocence of the accused since an open mind is willing to explore all possibilities, but whether it entertains a reasonable, lingering doubt as to his guilt."

The court further said "For, it would be a serious mistake to send an innocent man to jail where such kind of doubt hangs on to one’s inner being, like a piece of meat lodged immovable between teeth."

Friday, December 3, 2010

LBP lends P7B to priority sectors in 2010

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Land Bank of the Philippines has lent a total of P7.01 billion to its priority sectors in Region XI, with the local government sector getting the highest loan portfolio of up to P4,942.05 billion as of the end of October 2010.

LBP XI regional head Vice President Camilo Leyba said the government is the best sector to lend money to, considering that it has a 100 percent repayment rate.

"The payment or amortization for their loans is already included in their yearly budget and is just debited to their accounts," Leyba said.

He admits they have a problem collecting from the small farmers who are most often faced with poor harvest and other problems that prevent them from paying their debts on time.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Halloween Tattoo and Music Fest



Expect Davao City's Halloween to be hot, hot hot, as the Ancheta brothers spearhead a tattoo and music competition on October 30, 2010 starting 2 p.m., at the Offroad Bar, Central Park corner Bangkal.

Dubbed as the "HALLOWEEN TATTOO and MUSIC FEST", the event will feature band performances of mix genre, tattoo competition and lots of fun!

Interested? Registration fee is P600 inclusive of an I.D., certificate, shirt and food. Registration forms are available at Anito Depot, 2nd Floor, NCCC Mall, Maa, Davao City.

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