Davao CCTVs fail to monitor fleeing kidnap gang due to wrong info

The remaining 10 members of the “Bye-Bye” kidnap-for-ransom-gang which evaded the authorities after a shoot-out in C.M. Rector Avenue Thursday may have already left the city, although no one knows for sure.

Two of the gang members were kicked on the spot outside Allied Bank while another one died on the way to the Southern Philippines Medical Center. The fourth member is now in the custody of the authorities but ten more are on the run and the authorities have no idea where they were headed after the shootout.

“Unfortunately the witness gave the people on the ground wrong information as to the description of the vehicles so our cameras were not able to monitor them,” Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) Chief, Retired P/Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman said during a press conference Thursday.

Villaroman said a CCTV was installed right in front of the area where the shootout happened. However, he said, “hindi pa nakakabit ang monitor when the incident happened so we cannot really see.”

He said the witness, who was still in shock after the incident, gave the wrong color and type of vehicle so the cameras nearby and along the way were not able to zero in on the appropriate getaway vehicle.

The authorities earlier asked the public to watch out for Montero vehicles with plate number FBU 1238. However, he said, the kidnappers are not stupid enough to use real plate numbers which the authorities can easily flag down during their trip from Manila to Davao.

“But Dabawenyos should not be scared because the kidnappers are actually based in Central Luzon and in Manila, not in Davao,” he said.

Villaroman said they have received a phone call asking for assistance but he did not elaborate on this, saying that giving away more information may warn the kidnappers. He also reiterated that the authorities are not allowed to conduct an illegal search so what they follow is the Plain View Doctrine.

The kidnap-for-ransom-gang was in Davao with their victim Sally Chua, to withdraw the P15-million ransom money from the bank but the authorities were able to intercept them.

Airlines not feeling the pinch of foreign travel advisories

Most of the airlines flying to and from Davao City are not affected by the different foreign travel advisories issued by their governments against the cities of Davao, Zamboanga and Cotabato.

Photo courtesy of Rudolph Alama

Among the countries that have issued the travel advisory separately are big tourism markets including Australia, Canada and the United States of America.

“We had informal discussions with the airlines but we are still gathering data for possible cancellations as a result of the travel advisories,” City Tourism Officer Lisette Marques said during Thursday’s iSpeak Forum at the Davao City Hall.

Marques said Silkair is a regional airline and these countries are their market so it is of course affected by the travel advisory. However, she said, most of the airlines in the city are focused on the domestic market so they are in no way affected by the advisories.

She said they have not also seen cancellations in relation to the Kadayawan as a result of the advisories. “The Ad Congress cancellation is another matter since it was a result of internal problems,” she added.

Marques said there are many indications that Davao City is growing as a destination. She said she has just received information that a medical association has already scheduled a convention in the city for May 2014 with a delegation of 3,000 people.

When asked about the preparedness of the city when it comes to accommodation, she said “this is a happy problem” because it is an indication that many people are visiting the city.

However, she said that this is also a problem for businesses who build more rooms which are fully booked only during peak seasons.  She said the city would be better prepared if the visitors reserve their rooms ahead.

Davao City to complete installation of 8 water monitoring equipment this July

Davao City is set to complete by this month the installation of eight water measurement equipment which was provided by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as part of Project Noah.

Through Project Noah, DOST aims to make use of technology to improve the country’s disaster risk reduction activities and responses.

“We have received the warning devices last May but we are still waiting for financing for the construction of fences for the equipment,” Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Chief Pepito Capili said during yesterday’s Kapihan held at Abreeza Mall.

Capili said DOST wants to ensure the safety of the equipment considering that monitoring equipment installed in Barangay Suawan last 2010 was stolen two months after its installation. Part of the agreement was for the local government to pay for the fencing.

Among the equipment awaiting installation are six water level monitoring equipment to be installed along the Suawan River, Tamugan, Davao River, Pangi Bridge, Mintal Bridge, Wangan Bridge and Wangan Bridge. Also included are two rain gauges to be installed in Biao which contributes to the Pangi Water System and Baguio Proper.

He said that each of the six areas require P20,000 for fencing. The local government support fund, he said, will provide the estimated P120,000 required to construct the fences which will secure the water measurement equipment.

“The water monitoring equipment are automated but we will still need manual monitoring which is being provided by field personnel and even people from the barangays,” he said. The city is still negotiating the provision of eight weather monitoring stations with DOST and some more equipment to be financed by the League of Cities of the Philippines.

Capili said they could not ascertain the total amount of the water monitoring equipment as these were provided by the DOST. However, he said, the local government support fund will contribute around P800,000 for the city’s disaster preparedness project.

Duterte sets 5 priority areas in oath-taking speech

Rodrigo R. Duterte, who has taken his oath of office as Davao City Mayor for the 7^th time Sunday, has unwittingly identified the five focus areas of his administration for the next three years including peace and order, environment, informal settlers, corruption and tourism.

While he mentioned the successful programs of the city in terms of the firecracker ban, smoking ban and curfew, Duterte reiterated the need to maintain the peace and order in the city by going after drug pushers, and other criminals.

“You can stop or leave the city vertically or horizontally,” was his warning to criminals.

Duterte said while the people could not fight and prevail against nature, he said Dabawenyos should take a deliberate action by de-clogging the canals, acquiring the needed rescue and weather monitoring equipment and continuing the conduct of barangay-based education campaign to prepare people.

“We should put a stress on the management of solid waste because these clog our canals and drainage systems resulting to floods,” he said.

He said the city has acquired relocation sites to accommodate those who live in danger zones. “There is no other option, you have to leave the place,” he added.

However, he said that relocation of informal settlers will only be allowed when the site is ready for habitation which means the people’s sources of livelihood should be accessible.

He said they plan to ask the business sector to relocate their businesses along these areas. Environment-protection and economic development should complement and not clash with each other, he added.

While he made mention of his plan to continuously promote Davao as a tourism destination, Duterte said he is deadest on stopping corruption in the city.

He asked the Ombudsman to fasttrack the appointment of a city Ombudsman to investigate corruption issues in the city. Duterte asked everyone to create a city where “opportunities abound and where every house is secured and every person is safe.”

1.7% rise in poverty, 95% employment rate In Davao Region a big puzzle for RDC XI

Outgoing Regional Development Council XI (RDC) chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said poverty incidence in the Davao Region was the lowest in Mindanao but was saddened by the high poverty incidence of 28.8 percent as of the first semester of 2012 which is a 1.7 percent increase from 2006.

However, she noted that the Region has sustained the 95 percent employment rates for both 2011 and 2012 which is evident of the expansion of the region’s absorptive capacity for employment.

“Pero pag medyo mataas ang poverty incidence and mataas ang rate ng employment, it makes you wonder and we have to look into this,” she said,

Duterte-Carpio said the planned targets for 2010 and 2011 were not achieved because of identified risks and external shocks including the slower recovery of the US and European economies that limit market options for banana exporters, high oil and energy prices and the selling by the small-scale miners of their gold produce in the black market.

“But the Gross Regional Domestic Product levels had been increasing and the Region has rebounded as the top economy among the six regions in Mindanao for 2011,” she said.

She admitted that the statistics on increasing poverty incidence is however evident of the non-inclusive growth. But on the other hand, the creation of jobs aimed at reducing poverty is an indication of inclusive growth which is why the two conflicting statistics of increasing poverty incidence and employment growth continue to puzzle economic workers in the region.

The RDC XI has identified the remaining challenges for the region in the remaining three years (2013-2016): slow decline in poverty incidence, unsustained economic growth levels, low productivity levels in almost all major sectors, slow growth in employment generation.

One-stop-shop for small renewable energy projects to help Minda-Mayor Sara

Davao City Mayor and Regional Development Council (RDC) XI chairperson Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio cited the establishment of a one-stop-shop for small renewable energy projects in Mindanao as one of her favorite accomplishments.

“We are trying to find a solution to Mindanao’s power problem just like the hydropower electricity plant project and establishing a one-stop-shop will hopefully encourage the implementation of small renewable energy projects here,” Duterte-Carpio said in an interview held after her State of the Region Address Wednesday.

She said smaller renewable energy projects that can produce 5 to 10 MegaWatts usually find it very time-consuming to go to Manila to process their papers and get approval for their projects. With the establishment of the one-stop-shop, she said, the proponents of these projects need not go to Manila anymore because “inter-agency na ang maghatag sa ilaha diri sa Mindanao (the different agencies will take care of the permits and papers which will be issued to them right in Mindanao).”

She said she is first a mayor before she is an RDC chairperson and her stand has always been for renewable sources of energy. “I prefer renewable sources of energy,” she said, and it is because of them that this one-stop shop has been established.

While she admitted that climate change might change the water source and can result to drought or overflowing, she reiterated that the development of renewable energy source “is our thrust.”

Without exactly saying it, Duterte-Carpio remains steadfast about her preference for renewable energy source and her doubts about other energy source like the coal-powered electric plant.

“More than the environmental degradation of coal-fired power plant, we also have to consider the health risks to people in the area,” she said. The negative effects of coal-fired power plants has already been experienced even by first world countries and we don’t want our people to experience that, she added.

Christmas comes early for Davao government employees with up P15T bonus guaranteed

Employees of the Davao City government will have more reasons to smile these days after they were assured of their Christmas bonus.

The Davao City government has assured the employees of the early release this November of the remaining portions of their 13th month pay, half of which was already released last June.

“We will start to release the 13th month pay of the local government employees by November,” Assistant City Administrator/Human Resource Management Office Department head Edwin Alparaque said yesterday.

Alparaque also assured the employees that they will be given their Social Amelioration Bonus amounting to P15,000 for regular employees and P10,000 for contractual employees and job orders.

“These benefits are already part of the 2012 annual appropriation so I do not see any reason why they won’t receive these benefits this year,” he said.

The same Social Amelioration Pay has been previously given to the employees last year, he added.

However, Alparaque clarified that this is not yet the signing bonus as both management and labor are still negotiating the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA). The signing bonus, he added, is given the employees whenever a new CNA has been negotiated and approved.

“Ginatuki pa man ang bag’ong CNA so wala pa’y signing bonus (we are still negotiating the new CNA so there is as yet no signing bonus),” he said

DOE conducts public consultation in Davao for safe renewable energy dev't.

The Department of Energy (DOE) conducted Thusday last week a public consultation in Davao City for the proposed new department circular appropriately titled “Renewable Energy Safety, Health and Environment Rules and Regulations (RESHERR)” which will hopefully be approved before the end of the year. 

“The new circular, which is yet to be approved by the DOE Secretary, is part of DOE’s proactive stance in ensuring the safety of the operations of renewable energy sources,” Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) Director Mario C. Marasigan said. There is an existing rules and regulation, he added, but it only covers geothermal energy so the proposed circular will expand on the sale law and will cover all renewable energy sources including hydro, geothermal, biomass, wind, solar and soon ocean energy.

Marasigan said this is a reminder to all those involved in the renewable energy industry to be ready for any eventuality or emergency that may challenge their operations in the long term. He said it is practical to update the old rules and regulations  since geothermal used to be under a different bureau before, but is now placed under the jurisdiction of the REMB.

The proposed rules and regulations comes as a result of the enactment into law of Republic Act 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act in 2008. The new circular aims to “ensure the adequate safety and protection against hazards to health, life and property as well as pollution of air, land and water from Renewable Energy operations,” he added.

The final consultation is scheduled in Manila next week, after which a consolidation of all the concerns and consultation results will be made by the Bureau. After which, it will be submitted to the DOE secretary for approval. Once published, the new circular will have the force of law.

Davao cooking lessons at TRUST Depot

photo courtesy of Ken

Getting frustrated with the routinary recipes you always put on your table?  You can now add some magic touch to your regular menu and get the kids more excited to your cooking by joining Booboo Maramba in one of her cooking lessons slated at the TRUST Depot along Quimpo Boulevard every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The series of cooking lessons started last Monday, June 25 and will run for several more week until the middle of July this year. Booboo is an authority in Davao City when it comes to fondant cakes but more than her expertise in that area, she has proven to be a witty lecturer of sorts. I wouldn't even use lecturer because she delivers her cooking lessons in a funny informative way, giving you bits and pieces of her domestic life in the process.

The 3,000-square meter TRUST Depot is not only a hardware that comes complete with all the construction materials you need but it has also become a multipurpose store that sells school supplies and yes, baking equipment!

If you want to try your hands in baking or cooking, then catch Booboo in one of her lessons. But if you just want to get some goodies for the kids and the whole family without a sweat then contact Mommy's Kitchen at 09223168118 (SUN) or 092139036778 (SMART) for your orders. Choose from the following yummy cupcakes that melt in your mouth---chocolate cupcake, chocolate chip cupcake, banana cupcake, banana oatmeal cupcake, red velvet cupcake, carrot cupcake.

Ms. Universe runner-up Shamcey Supsup at PAL Interclub launch

Ms. Universe runner-up Shamcey Supsup just made the Philippine Airlines' (PAL) announcement of the start of the PAL Interclub at Marco Polo Hotel, more interesting. PAL Interclub, which is the longest and the oldest running team golf tournament in the country, expects 1,500 participants in
the two divisions, the Senior Division which will start on February 16, and the Regular Men's Division which will start on February 22.

PAL vice president for marketing support Felix Cruz said the golf tournament is expected to pour in up to P60 million to the city's coffers in terms of the plane fare, accommodation, meals, souvenirs, caddy, shopping and other related expenses of the golfers and their supporters.

"This is a big boost to Davao City's economy, aside from the fact that it will promote the city as an ideal place for sports tourism," he said.

Supsup admitted she was never the sporty type as she only played piko, taguan, tumbang preso and other games popular in the rural areas while she was growing up in General Santos City. However, she said, it was the same discipline practiced by the athletes which helped her surmount life's challenges, including the Ms. Universe search.

Radical changes in BMBE law to benefit SMEs-Casiño

The House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development is eyeing radical changes to Republic Act 9178 or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Act of 2002 once the amendatory bill is approved.

“We are looking at very radical revisions in the BMBE Law that will strengthen the small and micro entrepreneurs in the country once the amendments are approved,” Committee chairperson, Representative Teddy Casiño said yesterday during a public hearing on the amendatory bill held at the Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City.

This is the third leg of a series of public hearings held in Congress and in Cebu last year. The fourth and last public hearing will be held in Central Luzon, after which the amendatory bill is expected to be passed on third reading at the plenary.
Casiño said it is high time to amend the BMBE Law as it has been a failure and has failed to live up to its goals of providing incentives to the small and medium entrepreneurs. He said that in Davao City alone, only 44 entrepreneurs have registered under the program out of the thousands of small business owners in the city. Of this, he added, only seven have been granted income tax exemptions in 2011.

“There are many complaints about the implementation of the BMBE Law and one of this is the P1,000 payment for the certificate which is required to be registered under the law,” Casiño said. And even if the entrepreneurs get registered under the program, he added, they do not get tax exemptions from the national government because of the strict policies of the Bureau of Internal Revenue when it comes to tax exemptions.

He said the small businesses do not even enjoy benefits in the local level because they do are still required to pay local taxes and fees. They do not even have benefits in terms of credit, he added, because the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that no special facilities were created for them under the program.
“Small businesses in Davao have to wait for a long time for the approval of their applications for tax exemptions since these are being processed in the national level,” he said.

The amendatory bill is pushing for the automatic exemption of the small businesses under the BMBE Law both in the local and national taxes and fees for a period of between two to six years. Once this is implemented, he said, small businesses no longer have to pay certain fees to the local government like Mayor’s permit, business permit, garbage and other fees.

“We want them to be automatically exempted from the local charges and taxes but this is where the problem comes in since most local government units are apprehensive about the possible reduction in their income,” he said.

Casiño however said that a consensus among the LGUs they have talked to during the public hearings show that the exemptions may be allowed for small business with capitalization of less than P200 thousand and for a specified period only. After the maximum six-year period of exemption, then they have to pay, headed.

PhilHealth soon to make e-transactions mandatory for hospitals

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to make electronic transactions mandatory for hospitals that have the capability of connecting through the Internet.

This was revealed by PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon during his visit to Davao City last Saturday.

“Davao City is well-connected so there is no excuse for hospitals to not be connect
ed once we make electronic transactions mandatory for them,” Banzon said. He said the same case is true for Tagum City which seems to be also well-connected electronically.

Banzon said PhilHealth’s direction is towards the interconnection of PhilHealth with hospitals all over the country through electronic transactions, to make the transactions more efficient. He said PhilHealth is set to implement its automation program as part of its goal to provide improved services to its members.

One component of PhilHealth’s automation program is the e-claim project which will allow accredited hospitals to have access to the database of PhilHealth for purposes of

verifying the members’ eligibility. The ultimate goal, Banzon said, is to make the whole process efficient for its members.

Banzon cited the new case rate

payment method, which was implemented September last year, as a better way that allows PhilHea

lth members to determine the exact amount of their coverage for eleven most common medical cases like Pneumonia and Hypertension, and 12 surgical cases.

“Case rate is more beneficial both to PhilHealth members as it is more transparent, and to health care providers as it is simpler to administer,” he said. The illnesses and surgical cases covered under the case rate payment scheme are based on the cases which PhilHealth paid in the past years.

Juris breaths fresh air in davao concert scene

If you are looking forward to lots of bumpy and danceable numbers, then don't watch the pre-Valentine concert of Juris. But if you just want some heartwarming songs that will help you reminisce your past loves, your heartaches, your teenage kiligs and your first love, or you just want a relaxing night, then you can still catch Juris Live at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao tonight, for the second night of her 2-day Pre-Valentine Show.

Thank the Demolay Alumni Feliciano Inigo Chapter for bringing one of the ASAP sessionistas to her roots. Juris was born and educated in Davao--grade school and high school at the Ateneo de Davao and as she said during her show last night "It's always good to be back in Davao..."

Unknown to many, Juris is not only a soulful singer but she also writes songs. She wrote Di Lang Ikaw--with music by Aiza Seguerra. Just found out last night too that she's the voice behind the theme song of the unforgettable teleserye "Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin".

She sang one of my old-time favorites---Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka which was written by Mr. C and originally recorded by Basil Valdez. The song is Basil's all the way but her rendition of the song was very moving.

This is sort of a homecoming show for another Dabawenyo, Ken Cruz, who surprised me with his light singing of "I Don't Wanna Bore You With It" by Stevie Wonder.

Tickets are sold for P800 (VIP) and P500 (Patron). Viewing with dinner tickets are priced at VIP P1,100 and Patron P800.

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.

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.

Aboitiz bent on building coal-powered plant in Davao City

Fresh from the development of the Sibulan Hydropower Plant in Davao del Sur, Aboitiz Power is now bent on developing another source of energy for Mindanao but this time it has set its eyes on the development of a non-renewable source namely a coal powered plant right in Davao City.

Aboitiz Power called for a press conference yesterday to announce its plan to establish a coal-powered plant in the city. Earlier, its executives met with Davao City mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and members of the City Council to get their pulse on the proposed coal-powered plant. They also met with members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Inc. yesterday evening.

The proposed coal-powered plant, with an estimated cost of $400 million, is expected to bring in lots of investments and employment opportunities for the city, not to mention up to 200MW of power.

However, coal mines, from where the coals used to power the plants come from, are known to be the largest contributor to global warming and to climate change problems due to the mine's high emission of methane, carbon dioxide and other waste products including thorium, radioactive contaminants and uranium.

Coal mines are said to result to groundwater interference and water table levels and have high impact on the flow of water in rivers. Aboitiz is looking at Indonesia as its source of coal.

The combustion of coal, is seen as a large contributor to air pollution and acid rain. Erramon Aboitiz however admitted that coal-powered plants have earned a negative reputation in the 1930s but coal-powered plants now use more modern technologies and coal generation has become greener.

Coal-powered plants are however still know to produce emissions of sulfur dioxides, nitrogen and carbon dioxides in the air, thereby contributing to global warming and climate change.

For a city blessed with one of the cleanest waters in the world, having a coal-powered plant right on top of its aquifers can spell nightmare not only for Dabawenyos but for the whole world. But then again, it is still a question of priorities---power or environment.

Ms. Universe Margie Moran with more substance in her 50s

Ms. Universe 1972 Margarita Moran-Floirendo made the Philippines proud when she won the coveted crown several decades ago. But after more than 30 years, she continues to make her countrymen proud by proving that real beauty does not fade.

DatelineDavao made it to the former Ms. U's 57th birthday party at the Tadeco Clubhouse in Panabo last Saturday and realized how this stunning beauty has become more than a pretty face.

Moran-Floirendo still looks regal but has achieved more depth in her personality. With her as one of the executive directors of the Habitat for Humanity Philippines, they have built over 3o,oo0 houses for those who have less in life.

She however emphasized that they do no believe in dole-outs so the houses they built are not free. Aside from the equity paid by the homeowners which is as low as P5,000, the community also contributes their labor in house building.

One would expect a very big event when a celebrity like her celebrates her birthday. Instead, the party was very intimate with no more than 80 guests, all belonging to the people she works with in the community of Panabo and nearby municipalities.

"I prefer it this way so I can interact with everyone," she said. Moran-Floirendo said she is planning to establish more projects in Panabo and in Davao City which she considers her home. She may not have been born in Davao, she said, but she is a real Dabawenyos by heart.

Dengue scare in Davao Region

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed a resolution declaring the Province of Davao del Sur in a state of calamity due to the continued rise in dengue cases in the Province.

“A total of 600 dengue cases have been noted in the province with Digos City on top of the list,” Davao del Sur provincial information officer Nilda Aniñon said during a press conference held at the Philippine Information Agency two weeks ago.

Aniñon said this is followed by Bansalan with 95 dengue cases, Sta. Cruz with 52 dengue cases and Malalag with 26 dengue cases. Dengue has also claimed the lives of 14 people from the Province, majority are from Digos City.

Expected to follow said declaration last Friday is Digos City, with 10 lives in the city already claimed by dengue. Digos City Mayor Joseph Peñas said the dengue cases in the city have reached an alarming level and the local government has to act now to prevent further deaths.

Davao City has not been spared from dengue cases, with 14 deaths due to dengue registered in the city for the first half of the year. While reports from the City Health Office shows a decrease in the number of dengue cases in the city from 1,690 in January to June 2009 to 1,130 dengue cases for the same period this year.

Davao City has the most number of dengue cases in Southern Mindanao, followed by Davao del Norte with only 220 dengue cases. Health officials here however said the higher number of dengue cases in the city can be attributed to the larger population of the city and the accessibility of health institutions in the city which makes it easy for the public to report an infection.

Dengue

While the term dengue used to have an evil connotation no thanks to the word itself which was based on the phrase “Ki denga pepo” from Swahili which means an evil spirit cased cramp-like seizure, there is really nothing un-spiritual about dengue.

The culprit has been identified as the Aedes aegypti mosquito which usually bites during the early part of the day. While it is not contagious, a person infected by the dengue virus can also become a source once bitten by a mosquito.

A person bitten by the carrier mosquito can develop a fever within 6 days after the transmission of the virus. Among the symptoms are headaches, nausea and vomiting, high-grade fever,, rashes on the skin and even nose or gum bleeding. However, it is important to have the patient diagnosed for dengue through a blood test the soonest possible time.

Preventing Dengue

One of the best ways to prevent dengue is to clean the surroundings, ridding your environment of plants , old bottles and rubber tires that can serve as habitats for mosquitoes.

However, those who want to be assured of more protection opt for mosquito repellents with DEET or Diethymetatoluamide. While it does not kill mosquitos and other insects per se, DEET can prevent mosquito bites.

DEET works by masking the smell of carbon dioxide usually given off by the human skin. And since insects hunt for their meal by following the scent of carbon dioxide, DEET fools the mosquitos into getting their bite elsewhere.
Insect repellents like OFF Lotion can however be highly priced at about P30 for the smallest tube and P120 for the largest repellent.

Enterprising companies (like Johnson & Sons, Inc—the company behind OFF Lotion) have also started selling anti-mosquito candles like the Citronella Bucket to give people more options when it comes to protecting themselves from mosquitos and in effect from dengue.

The anti-mosquito candle is not only protective, but it can also provide a more relaxing atmosphere. The wax can burn for up to 50 hours. You can also get the traditional anti-mosquito coil for a cheaper option.

You can also go for the natural way of preventing mosquito bite sand that is through the use of the oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is derived from plants.
But if you want the age-old method of protecting yourself from mosquitos, the use of mosquito net which is very affordable at P100 to P300 depending on its size, is perhaps the best option for the bedroom

CCNA Review, Certification Exam Now in Davao City

Information Technology professionals need not go to Cebu or Manila anymore to get their CCNA Certification thanks to the establishment of the Concentrix Institute right in Davao City.

“This is a pioneering institute here in Davao City and depending on its success, we will be offering it next in our Manila office,” Concentrix Davao Site Director Gerardo Dumael said during the launch of the Institute this morning. Concentrix Institute, a wholly-owned subsidiary of leading Fortune 500 company SYNNEX, is located at the Damosa IT Park in Davao City.

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification Training Course is being offered for a very affordable fee of only P26 thousand, way below the prevailing rates in Metro Manila. Dumael said the four-month CCNA Training is very friendly even to those who have to work during weekdays since the training is being held from 9am to 6pm every Saturdays and Sundays.

Graduates of the CCNA Training can get the Training with Certification Exam Package for only P40 thousand per person.

“We have been granted full certification by Pearson VUE as its Authorized Test Center for the CNNA and other IT-related certifications,” Concentrix Training Center head Takuya Nishiyama said.

Nishiyama said Concentrix aims to be recognized as a premier quality training provider for English Proficiency, Leadership and Management as well as for Technical Knowledge and Development.

“We use state-of-the-art facilities and cutting edge equipment for our on-site, off-site in-house training course, which are combined with classroom discussion,” he said. And since the Certification Exam is being offered right in Davao, Nishiyama said, students are able to save on travel and accommodation expenses.

Dumael said that after the CCNA Training, the graduates can expect to have the ability to “install, configure, operate and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks.”

The CCNA Training Program of Concentrix has already produced 77 graduates, with a 100 passing rate for Batch 1 to Batch 6. The next Batch of CCNA Training will start on June 26, 2010.

LTO XI is 4th top performing region for 2010

The Land Transportation Office XI ranked fourth in the overall top performing regions for 2010, following Regions IV-Batangas, III-Pampanga and National Capital Region which took the first, second and third places respectively.

“Among the basis for its selection include the region’s revenue collections, infrastructure projects all over the region, road safety program and the Citizen’s Charter,” LTO XI oic regional director Atty. Jesus Zozobrado III said.

The selection also took into consideration the ISO report based on ISO 9001:2000 to 9001:2008 certification. Among the LTO XI District Offices that have been certified are the Metro Davao Licensing Center, Tagum City and Mati. The Compostela Valley and Samal Extension Offices are set for ISO Certification this year.

ISO 9000 is included in the family of quality management systems standards being maintained by the International Organization for Standardization or ISO. Among the requirements before the certification is granted include the keeping of adequate records, set of procedures applied to all the key business processes, monitoring of these processes to ensure their efficacy, checking of output for defects, regular review of the processes and continuous improvement.

LTO became ISO-2001 Certified after its revenues more than doubled thanks to the agency’s successful computerization project which reduced the renewal of driver licenses from months to only hours, and car registration from days to only hours.

“It takes a lot of effort to be ISO-Certified so we continuously provide ISO Awareness seminars for our people,” Zozobrado said. Among the seminars conducted by the LTO XI include the Quality Management Systems Briefing, Re-tooling seminar for cashiers, Deputy Document Controller Retooling Seminar and Re-tooling Seminar for Supply Officers.

Zozobrado said the launch of the Citizen’s Charter and Road Safety Advocacy of the region last December were also factors that helped LTO XI to be included in the Top 5 performing regions nationwide. The Citizen’s Charter, which came as a result of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act, aims to improve the efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public.

“We hope to be more efficient and effective in providing the necessary services to the people with the implementation of the Citizen’s Charter along with the ISO Certification,” he said.

Zozobrado said good governance for LTO relies on two things---the efficiency of the internal operations which is already part of the LTO’s ISO and the achievement of customer or client satisfaction which is now being addressed through the Citizen’s Charter.