Kidapawan residents feast on tons of durian, marang, mangosteen

Kidapawan City’s Timpupo Festival 2023 was a hit among fruit lovers who flocked to the City Plaza stalls selling “fruit per tray” priced at P150 to P200. The fruit per tray promo was made available from 8am-10pm on August 19, 2023. (Photo courtesy of the CIO/Kidapawan City Government)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato – Thousands of residents feasted on 12 tons of free-to-eat fruits lined along the national highway here for the Timpupo Festival that marked the culmination of the city’s 76th foundation anniversary Friday.

The “eat-all-you-can” fruit festival, together with a fruit-laden float parade, served as the highlight of the weeklong celebration of the city’s anniversary annually.

An estimated 11,000 kilos of different varieties of fruits were displayed on the 800-meter-long table mounted along the Davao-Cotabato National Highway during the day.

Kidapawan City Mayor Atty. Jose Paolo Evangelista officially opened the Timpupo Festival on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.(Photo courtesy of the CIO/Kidapawan City Government)

"All the fruits came from local farmers, which signifies our rich natural abundance," Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista said in an interview.

The official also led the symbolic civic military and fruit float parade participated by various government and private entities.

Sen. Bato Dela Rosa graced the occasion a guest speaker, lauding local farmers for continuing the improvement and expansion of local fruit varieties.

(Photo courtesy of the CIO/Kidapawan City Government)

Fruit float parade

In the float competition, the city's Districts 2 and 8 were declared champions, followed by the Saniel Cruz Annex High School and Barangay Linangkob as the third placer.

The winners received P100,000, P75,000, and P50,000, from the city government, respectively.

Other activities held during the weeklong celebration were the pyro-musical display, mountain bike challenge, traditional food preparation, gigs, sports events and display of affordable fruits.

The city is known for being a major producer of fruits such as durian, rambutan, lanzones, mangosteen and marang in the province. (PNA)

917Ventures launches MemoApp to accelerate business digitalization with automated documents, affordable e-signatures

Recent years have seen rapid changes in the way people work, with remote and hybrid work arrangements widely adopted around the world. This has also reshaped the way documents are handled, with many processes going digital.

As a high-performing and agile company, Globe was quick to innovate, adopting a tool called MemoApp at the height of the pandemic for paperless approvals within and across departments. The user-friendly online tool has made internal reviews and clearances more efficient, becoming part of Globe’s ways of working even as employees are now back in the office.

 

Now, Globe’s corporate venture builder 917Ventures is bringing this digital tool beyond the company in response to the growing business demand for efficient digital document handling.

 

"MemoApp is truly a game-changer in the industry. Through its affordable document management solution, we are able to help businesses create, track, and sign documents easily in a secure online platform. It's incredibly convenient, cost-efficient, and time-saving.  No more hassles in missing documents and having piles of paperwork. With MemoApp, users can track and approve with one click,” said Carla Bianca Yap-Sy Su, 917Ventures Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

 

MemoApp is a fully automated, all-in-one management tool designed for teams and businesses of all sizes. It streamlines workflow processes by providing an efficient platform for creating, approving, signing, and tracking memos.

 

MemoApp’s latest feature is an electronic signature that revolutionizes the way businesses take care of paperwork. This feature allows enterprises to digitally sign and collect documents, simplifying the approval process and making document tracking faster. With a user-friendly interface and enhanced security measures, it ensures that e-signatures are as effective as traditional pen-on-paper signatures.

 

The platform is also an affordable alternative to other e-signature solutions. Subscription starts at only P499, significantly more affordable and provides more value for its users than other document management tools.

 

MemoApp offers not just competitive pricing, but also a commitment to quality and user experience.

 

Not only does MemoApp allow users to access memos anytime, anywhere on any device, but it also secures every document with encryption, visible only to designated individuals in a workflow. It eliminates the need to switch between multiple applications, saving time and enhancing efficiency.

 

MemoApp’s launch signifies a significant step towards digital transformation, particularly for Filipino businesses. By simplifying the document process, and improving workflows, it is poised to empower more Filipino businesses to boost their productivity and save time and money.

 

Led by Yap-Sy Su and Venture Builder Myles Salud, MemoApp was already successfully tested and adopted by the Globe Group, including Globe, KonsultaMD, GCash, Rush Technologies, BRAVE CONNECTIVE, INQUIRO, m360, and KROMA Entertainment.

 

Individuals and businesses looking to try the MemoApp can sign up here to book a demo and avail of a free trial.

Kadayawan 2023 Festival

Kadayawan Execom. The 38th Kadayawan Executive Committee is composed of the City Government and Public Sector partners. (Photo courtesy of PIA XI)

Every third week of August, Davao City holds the much-awaited “Kadayawan” Festival, dubbed as the festival of festivals, known for its grand celebrations such as street dancing, floral float parade, cultural festivities, street parties, and concerts.

The Kadayawan Festival is Davao City’s annual festival, which celebrates life and thanksgiving for nature’s bounty, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living. The festival’s name is taken from the Mandaya word “Madayaw” which means “valuable”, “good” and “beautiful.”

It was said that during the olden times, the tribes living in the foothills of Mt Apo would hold a thanksgiving feast to thank the creator for their bountiful harvests.

The festival in its current form was first celebrated in 1986 as Apo Duwaling Festival, the name represents the city’s three icons: Mt Apo, Durian and the Waling-Waling orchid.  In 1988 during the term of then newly elected City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, it was renamed as Kadayawan.

Kadayawan Village in Magsaysay Park (Photo courtesy of PIA XI)

Today, the festival highlights the rich and diverse cultures of the City’s 11 ethnolinguistic communities that include the Bagobo Tagabawa, Klata, Ata, Matigsalug, Obo Manuvu, Maguindanaon, Iranun, Sama, Tausug, Kagan and the Maranao. 

This year’s 38th Kadayawan Festival aims to build on the gains set forth during last year’s 37th Kadayawan when it returned to the face-to-face celebration, after two years of being held digitally due to pandemic restrictions.

“We really expect tourists to come here to witness the 38th Kadayawan. We have a lot of activities in store for the Dabawenyos and for our tourists so we brought back the events we had in the 2019 Kadayawan,” said Kadayawan Festival spokesperson and 2nd District Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre.

The 2019 Kadayawan was the benchmark for the post-pandemic Kadayawan as it had registered the highest number of visitors for the festival. The City Tourism Operations Office recorded 250,000 visitors to Kadayawan in 2019.

Davao City Tourism Officer Jennifer Ricardo Romero said they are targeting 250,000 visitors for 2023 gauging the 2019 staging of the festival as a target to be met.

“Our target is really to hit pre-pandemic figure and that is 2019,” Romero said.

“Yes we will be bringing back the events held in 2019, which were not held in 2022 like Habi Kadayawan,” Romero said.

Habi Kadayawan is a fashion accessories design competition inspired by the rich and diverse cultures of the 11 ethno-linguistic groups in Davao City.

They will also be having Kasikas sa Kadayawan, which is a variety show featuring songs, dances and other performances.

The 2022 Kadayawan saw a trimmed-down festival as the city was just recovering from the ravages of the pandemic. The holding buoyed hopes for eventual recovery, particularly in the tourism sector.

The 2023 Kadayawan Festival will have a budget of P65 million, a noticeable increase from the P40 million budget in 2022.(Rudolph Ian Alama)

Tboli’s P120M Integrated Public Transport Terminal fully operational this month

Photo courtesy of: T'boli municipal government

The local government of T'boli is confident that its newly-built Integrated Public Transport Terminal will not only lead to more economic activities in this culture-rich and vibrant town, but it also has the potential to elevate the commuting experience of locals and visitors alike.

Features of the Facility

Taking inspiration from Singapore’s Changi Airport and blending some elements of Tboli culture, the new public terminal brings together modern aesthetics and a harmonious balance between timeless appeal and traditional design.

The P120 million terminal building funded by a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines in 2022 is expected to be fully operational this August.

Mayor Keo Dayle Tuan described the facility as "modern yet traditional" because it features not just a two-storey terminal building but it also has its own helipad.

"This is the only public terminal in the province that has an elevator, and we also have a helipad, which VIPs and other visitors can use when they visit the municipality," Tuan said.

The terminal, which boasts 29 stalls for business enterprises, wide parking, waiting areas, and restrooms, is designed to provide a safe and comfortable environment for passengers, whether local or foreign.

Photo courtesy of: T'boli municipal government

Gateway to Enhance Connectivity

Tuan said the new public transport terminal is not just a structure, but it also represents a gateway to enhance connectivity within the region and the entire country as well.

“The town is booming. We see that Tboli is being competitive when it comes to economic enterprise. Our population is increasing, and national roads leading to other towns and General Santos City are being opened,” he said.

Tuan is hopeful that these developments will pave the way for more mass public transportation, like buses, and new routes to and from the town.

Boost Economic Progress

The opening of the terminal is also expected to have a long-term positive impact on the local economy.

Tuan said that Tboli is opening its doors for prospective investors seeking to tap into the area's economic potential.

"We see in the future that Tboli will be the center of development in the area when it comes to investment, and we invite entrepreneurs to invest here,” he said, urging national and international investors to explore the town’s various investment potentials.

The terminal is massively sprawled in Barangay Edwards, a strategic location that the local government described as “development expansion beyond the central areas of the town.”

Moreover, businesses surrounding the terminal are assured to benefit from increased foot traffic, leading to more economic activity and growth.

"This will give landowners around the new terminal the opportunity to build commercial establishments and create jobs for our residents," Tuan said.

The mayor emphasized that among the goals of the local government are to achieve balanced growth, reduce congestion, improve infrastructure, and create more livable and sustainable communities for its people.

Value-added Tourism Attraction

By creating a more organized and efficient transportation network, Tuan said the terminal is sure to add value and attract more tourists and travelers to discover or rediscover the rich cultural heritage and natural endowments of Tboli town.

He is certain that as soon as it becomes fully functional, residents and tourists will have easy and better access to the town’s various tourist attractions.

T'boli is known for its unique culture and tourist destinations like Lake Holon, Bakngeb Rivercave, and Hidak Falls, among others.

Rodel Hilado, T'boli's senior tourism operations officer, said the new terminal is expected to serve the growing number of tourists visiting the town every year.

He explains that aside from being "instragrammable," the terminal will make it easier for people to travel and facilitate the mobility of tourists.

“This facility will primarily give convenience and comfort to tourists and the commuting public,” he added.

Hilado said that this will be more than just a terminal since they plan to make it a hub to access goods and other services.

Looking Ahead

T'boli's sophisticated Public Transport Terminal represents the country’s advancement in infrastructure and transportation management.

With its unique and advanced features, the terminal can serve as an "innovative model" for enhanced connectivity and tourism in the country. This could inspire other towns in the region to also develop more efficient and passenger-friendly transportation hubs in their respective areas. (ORVR – PIA South Cotabato)

Globe to focus E-Waste Zero Program on mobile and broadband device circularity

  

Leading digital solutions platform Globe is refocusing its E-Waste Zero Program to mobile and broadband devices in response to global industry trends on electronic waste circularity. This shift allows Globe to concentrate on reducing its value chain emissions (GHG Scope 3) and maximize its impact on e-waste circularity.

 

Starting September 1, 2023, Globe’s E-Waste Zero Program will focus its attention towards items that Globe distributes to the market, including old mobile phones, tablets, wearables (e.g., smart watch), broadband devices (e.g., routers, modems), and their peripherals (e.g., chargers, adapters).

 

"As a sustainability champion, Globe takes the lead in fostering circularity when it comes to e-waste management. By refocusing our E-Waste Zero Program, we hope to improve our direct impact to our customers and business: mobile and broadband device circularity," said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at the Globe Group.

 

Globe is one of 12 leading mobile providers around the world that have signed up for the new set of pace-setting targets developed with the global association of mobile network operators, GSMA.

 

Extending the lifespan of mobile devices and promoting circularity can greatly benefit the environment. Per GSMA, refurbished phones have 87% lower climate impact than new ones, and recycling five billion mobile phones globally can recover valuable resources worth US$8 billion.

 

Since its launch in 2014, Globe’s E-Waste Zero Program has collected and recycled 216.7 metric tons of e-waste, ranging from broken mobile phones and computer sets to IT network equipment and home appliances. With over 120 e-waste collection bins nationwide and more than 80 partners, the program helps with the responsible disposal and recycling of e-waste.

 

The collected e-waste items are processed by treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facilities accredited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). They segregate, treat, and store the e-waste in their facility within the country, while the remaining items are exported to their main recycling and recovery facilities for further processing and extraction of precious metals.

 

Globe has also partnered with schools and private companies on e-waste donations and has worked with government and non-government organizations in establishing a community-based Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facility in Malabon, Metro Manila for the proper handling of e-waste.

 

The company’s contribution to e-waste recycling was recognized by the GSMA in 2020, as one of the global best practices for take-back and collection programs.

 

“As we shift our focus towards mobile and broadband devices, we want to assure our customers that our commitment to promoting e-waste circularity remains steadfast. We hope to inspire more of our customers to adopt responsible consumption habits in their daily lives,” added Crisanto.

 

While Globe will redirect the E-Waste Zero program, collection bins will still remain in their current locations, and the free door-to-door hauling service for multiple e-waste items weighing at least 10 kilograms will continue.

 

3-yr El Niño Action Plan to make Baguio resilient

Baguio's Strawberry and Lettuce fields are susceptible to extreme weather changes such as the El Niño

BAGUIO CITY – This city's three-year El Niño Action Plan will focus on long-term preparations that are expected to make the local government and residents resilient to the effects of the weather phenomenon.

Louie Glenn Lardizabal, OIC of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC), in a phone interview on Monday said the three-year plan will take a whole-of-society approach from 2023 to 2026.

"We will do a full-blast information campaign. There will be an introduction on the use of technologies, installation of rainwater harvesting and water filtration facilities, shift to the use of solar powered-gadgets and others which will have a more long-term benefit,” Lardizabal said.

“It is a repeated phenomenon so, individually, we should be ready every time there is a declaration of El Niño and not prepare only when it is almost here," the official said.

He added that they have set strategic goals to enhance public awareness and preparedness, as well as strengthen water resource management.

The Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) earlier suggested that the city government urge establishments to utilize rainwater to address the water shortage.

“We want to empower the people and also revive what they already know,” Lardizabal said.

In the 1970s and 1980s, households in Baguio used to gather rainwater in pails from water spouts attached to the roof for general home use because of the limited supply from the utility company.

Over the years, however, the water utility drilled more water sources and was able to provide supply more frequently to some villages. With more residents connected to the water utility company, many residents slowly stopped the practice of rain harvesting.

“I am from Baguio, I grew up drinking water from the spout and it was safe. We used rainwater for everything- washing, cleaning, doing the laundry and even taking a bath. We can revive that practice so that the water does not go to waste,” Lardizabal said.

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) reported that the El Niño season is from July to September this year until the first quarter of 2024.

El Niño is characterized by below-normal rainfall conditions that could bring negative impacts like dry spells and droughts in some areas of the country.

Lardizabal said that while the plan covers three years of implementation, it can be enhanced or updated as often as necessary. (PNA)

Amai Pakpak Medical Center-Marawi City Heart Institute now operational

Photo courtesy of Amai Pakpak Medical Center FB page

The Heart Institute of state-run Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) in Marawi City has started performing operations after opening the facility on Friday.

On Sunday, doctors of the APMC Heart Institute culminated their Cardiovascular Surgical Mission, which is in its third year.

The Philippine Heart Center (PHC) led the first mission at APMC in 2021 to expedite the adoption of APMC as a regional heart center.

APMC is a Level 3 teaching-training hospital with residency training programs for Internal Medicine, Pediatric, Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Anesthesiology.

With the addition of its Heart Institute, the hospital will serve as a regional referral center for the Bangsamoro region and other Mindanao regions.

It is equipped with Cardiovascular Catheterization Laboratory, Cardiovascular Operating Room, Surgical Intensive Care Unit and recovery room.

"The establishment of APMC Heart Institute is in line with the thrust of Universal Health Care and is part of the mandate of Department of Health (DOH) to explore the regionalization of health care," DOH Undersecretary for Visayas and Mindanao Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr. said.

The initiative of the PHC for their 2012 Performance Governance System is to decentralize cardiovascular care and increase access to such services.

APMC chief Dr. Shalimar S. Rakiin said patients can avail of all government benefits for very minimal charges.

The 438-bed APMC’s government grant ranges from P100 to P200 million. It also received $1.5 million from the King Salman Foundation of Saudi Arabia last year.

To date, the Heart Institute has spent P150 million from DOH's general appropriations allocation. (PNA)