P420M Davao Port Expansion Now 81.44% Complete

The P420.22 million Davao City Port project is already 81.44% completed and is expected to be fully complete by January 2009. This was the report made by Secretary Jesus Dureza during the 3rd National Government Infrastructure Forum held at the Marco Polo Hotel this morning.

Dureza said the rehabilitation of the quay is already completed and what remains to be done is the expansion of the port. The project, he said, started in August 2006.

The Davao Port Expansion project is only one among the many infrastructure projects for Mindanao being fast tracked by president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo before her term ends in 2010.

“We only have 600 working days to ensure we complete what needs to be completed,” Mindanao Economic Development Council undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Sr. said.

Leyterana said infrastructure enhances the delivery of services, encourages the mobility of people and opens new areas of economic development. He said Mindanao has always been referred to as a strategic region with rich natural resources but “without infrastructure we can’t hope that these resources will be used for the benefit of Mindanao and the whole country.

A total of P993.09 million worthy of seaport projects, including the Davao City Port project and the Cagayan de Oro Port Development Project (worth P572.87 million) are actually expected to be completed simultaneously by January next year, Dureza said.

The upgrading and rehabilitation of the Cagayan de Oro port has been completed and the construction of a back up area for the newly constructed wharf is already 93.37% complete.
All these projects are being fast tracked through the Pro-Performance System which is committed not only to the delivery of priority infrastructure projects but also in ensuring that the projects are implemented with full transparency.

Tinikling At Royal Mandaya Hotel

Davao City seems to be having a hectic schedule these days, with almost all hotels having its own seminar, convention or what-have-you. For sure, all Davao hotels, inns and motels are fully booked this week (and maybe even a week before and the week after this) because of the Araw ng Dabaw celebration whih culminates on March 16, 2008, Sunday.

The Royal Mandaya Hotel was filled with people, a mixture of locals who were there for their regular coffee or meeting and tourists who were there to spend their vacation in the city known for its waling-waling, durian, Philippine Eagle and of course, hospitality.

Museo Dabawenyo An Apt Opening For The 71st Araw ng Dabaw

The opening of the Museo Dabawenyo yesterday was just in time for the formal declaration of the opening of the 71st Araw nf Dabaw. What can be better for Dabawenyos than a museum that will remind the people of its history? The Museum was appropriate for the occassion, so to speak.

Movie Guide

If you are a fan of Dragons and Mammoths then this week's films will suit you fine. Unless of course you love Russel Crowe (and who doesn't?) of the Gladiator, Proof of Life, A Beautiful Mind----more, more more... fame.



10,000 BC looks like a violent enough movie so I do not encourage kids to watch this, same with Dragon Wars. However, I wonder why 10,000 BC is rated GP while D-War is rated PG 13.

I am a Russel Crowe fan so I think all is movies are great. However, his newest film to hit the cinema looks like a cowboy movie (much like the genre of Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven) with lots of guns and gunshots of course. Sorry kids, no movies for you this week.

One Missed Call PG13
SM Cinema 4 12:15/2:00/3:45/5:30/7:15
NCCC Cinema 1 12:25/2:20/4:15/6:10/8:05

10,000 BC GP
SM Cinema 1 11:00/1:00/3:00/5:00/7:00
NCCC Cinema 2 12:00/2:00/4:00/6:00/8:00

D-War PG13
SM Cinema 2 12:15/2:00/3:45/5:30/7:15
NCCC Cinema 4 12:25/2:20/4:15/6:10/8:05

3:10 To Yuma PG13
SM Cinema 6 12:20/2:30/4:40/6:50/9:00

27 Infra Projects To Bring Development To Mindanao And Its People.

So, is imperial Manila finally recognizing the uneven distribution of wealth or is this just another move by Malacañang to assuage the sentiments of a people who has felt neglected since time immemorial?

Top Malacañang officials headed by Presidential Management Staff head Secretary Cerge M. Remonde will be in town tomorrow for the 3rd National Infrastructure Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel to forge stronger ties with Mindanao stakeholder to fully realize the implementation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s infrastructure projects in Mindanao.

Mindanao contributes greatly to the country’s coffers thanks to its agricultural exports. However, the budget given to the island is meagre compared to the other islands. Remonde himself acknowledged this and said some of the country’s poorest provinces are in the island. Thus, the government’s plant to fast track 27 infra projects to promote food security in Mindanao.

Among the 27 infra projects are eight power and energy projects, two ports (including the Davao Port in Sasa, the improvement of which is expected to maximize seaport linkages and increase economic activity), seven airports, nine roads and bridges and a major irrigation project (along with small farm to market roads).

Remonde is also urging the business sector to invest in the infrastructure projects.

Nograles and JDV: Bad Example of Friendship

Davao City 1st District Congressman Prospero Nograles has claimed he and former House Speaker Jose de Venecia are still friends despite the former replacing the latter as House Speaker in a coup d' etat that landed in the anals of the country's political history and which will be remembered for a long, long time.

Nograles said de Venecia knows "it's nothing personal".

Well, de Venecia might be a veteran politician who knows the ins and outs of politics like the back of his hand and who knows that in politics there are no permanent friends only personal interests but stupid he is not. Will you consider someone who has stolen (literally of course) your prestige, your power, your career----you FRIEND?

If they are indeed friends then that could be the worst example of friendship that ever existed. One that people should avoid getting into if they want to remain sane and fully alive; not a zombie---to quote Father Moga's book "Fully human, fully alive". And de Venecia is, at present, definitely not fully alive. If you you were in his shoes, you wouldn't be too.

US Presidential Election: The Heat Is On

It is not yet summer here but Filipinos can already feel the heat as the US Presidential elections draws to a close. By November, Americans will have a new president. Or will they bring back a former White House occupant?

Former first lady Hillary Clinton is still on the running but her archrival Barack Obama is a hard opponent to beat. The Republicans have already chosen John McCain, a former war veteran, a Prisoner of War and a hero on his own. However, the Democrats are not far behind. So who do you think would the Democrats root for? Your guess is as good as mine!