Security Bank Corp. winning streak continues

SECURITY Bank Corp. (SBC) remains as the country's top securities house for the 8th consecutive year after again winning the coveted "Cesar EA Virata Award for Best Securities House 2012-Bank Category" at the Philippine Dealing System (PDS) Annual Awards held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

The bank started its winning performance in 2006 when the PDS Group launched the award to recognize outstanding performance, leadership, innovation and for contributing to the domestic capital market.

Park Inn by Radisson eyes Mice market

A WORLD-CLASS hotel is the latest addition to Davao Region's flourishing tourism industry.

Located next to SMX Convention Center at SM Lanang Premier in Davao City, the eight-storey, 204-room Park Inn by Raddison is basically established to address the consistently growing tourist arrivals in the region and, at the same time, to supply the projected huge demand for hotel rooms as the city is refocusing its direction toward becoming the next Mice (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination in the Asean sub-region.

Northpoint: Giving the best living experience

IF CITY living is your lifestyle of choice, then you enjoy urban living and all the modern conveniences it offers.

Your workplace or business will be within city limits, easy accessible with a short drive or ride on public transport. You enjoy the city's night life and dining out in Davao's eclectic mix of homegrown restaurants, food chains, and exquisite fine dining hot spots.

Sustainable livelihood for Pablo victims pushed

"LIVELIHOOD recovery intervention by the government and other humanitarian actors for Typhoon Pablo victims in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley needs to begin now," said Kevin Lee.

Lee, head of the Humanitarian Response Consortium (HRC), a gorup of local and international NGOs working for emergency response, added that "development plans for the regions should prioritize incomes and sustainable livelihoods for small farmers and fishers, prioritizing the needs of vulnerable groups such as women and IP's."

Tiangges: Responding to people's needs

TOI some, they are nuisances that crowd the pavements along the edges of the streets. But to others, they are a source of cheap items that offer solution to hunger and provide satisfaction to your wants.

Just like the latter, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario also believes that bazaars or locally known as tiangges should be given a chance to expose their purpose, rather than be shooed away just because of their intent of earning a living.

UCPB auto loan promo extended until March 31

OWNING a car, and taking care of it, need not be an expensive dream. With the United Coconut Planters Bank's (UCPB) "Drive Your Worries Away" auto loan promo, extended until March 31 of this year, you can now get to ride your dream car complete with a free one-year comprehensive motor insurance with Acts of Nature coverage.

Under the auto loan promo, UCPB customers could take advantage of the free one-year insurance coverage consisting of Own Damage and Theft Up, Acts of Nature, Voluntary Third Party Liability for bodily injury and property damage, Unnamed Passenger Personal Accident, and Express Roadside Assistance.

DTI: 40 SME projects identified for funding

AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Region identified about 40 projects of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are to be funded through the agency's Shared Service Facility (SSF) program.

DTI regional director Marizon Loreto, in an interview during the OSY and Stakeholders Consultation at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Tuesday, said the 40 SSF projects amounted to about P34 million.

Government agencies forge MOA for further dev't of industries

VARIOUS government agencies signed on Thursday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in a bid to further develop the region's priority industry clusters.

Bigger gold deposits found in South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY - Canadian mining company has disclosed higher gold and silver reserve at a minefield in T’boli, South Cotabato as commercial production gears towards full stream this year.

Cadan Resources Corp. now pegged the estimated deposit at the T'boli project at 3.8 million tons, containing 1.1 million ounces (Moz) of gold and 3.3 (Moz) of silver.

City to host 1st National Industry Cluster Investment Conference

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Region will host the 1st National Industry Cluster Investment Conference (Nicip) slated at SMX Convention Center Davao on June 7-8, this year.

DTI regional director Marizon Loreto, in an interview during the CSO and Stakeholders Consultation at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Tuesday, said about 700 to 1,000 participants all over the country will converge in the city for the two-day event.

Tap OFWs as tour guides, tourism ambassadors

SENATORIAL candidate and former congresswoman Cynthia Villar (NP-Team PNoy) called on the Department of Tourism (DOT) to tap returning overseas Filipino workers as tour guides to welcome international visitors from such countries as Korea, Japan, Malaysia and the Middle East.

"This can be part of our reintegration efforts for OFWs since they are familiar with the customs, culture and even languages of countries that send a lot of tourists our way. It will also help put our tourists at ease since those looking after their needs are former workers in the countries that they came from," Villar, a social entrepreneur, explained.

ICT-Davao names new prexy

SAMUEL Matunog, former president of Davao Software Industry Inc., was named new president of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in Davao City.

Matunog, who is a lawyer, assumed the post left by the council's former executive Lizabel Holganza, who served as president for two terms.

New Otop store to open in Abreeza

THE first One Town One Product (Otop) store in the country is set to be transferred to a new and bigger location this year, an official said yesterday.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 director Marizon Loreto, during the CSO and Stakeholders Consultation at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Davao yesterday, said OTOP store will be transferred to its new location from Aldevinco Shopping Center to Abreeza Ayala Mall either in March or in the first week of April.

Philippines economy to remain strong in next 2 years

GOVERNMENT economic planners have remained optimistic the Philippine economy will remain strong in the next two years, as the country is determined to maintain its sound macroeconomic fundamentals and continue improving its investment climate through policy and regulatory reforms and infrastructure development.

"For this year, we expect the economy to grow six to seven percent. For next year, the growth is expected to accelerate to 6.5 to 7.5 percent," Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in his speech, a copy of which was obtained by Sun.Star, during the recent economic briefing and general membership meeting of the Managers Association of the Philippines in Manila.

Land Registration Authority nets P202M in revenue collection

TOTAL revenue collection of the Land Registration Authority (LRA)-Davao skyrocketed in 2012, registering a total of P201.908 million from property registration transactions.

LRA records showed the total remittances last year went up by P35.815 million from 2011's P166.093 million.

City to host 22nd Minbizcon

THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) will host this year's 22nd Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon).

This was bared Friday by Daniel T. Lim, the newly-elected president of DCCCII, during the 2nd General Membership Meeting (GMM) at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

Telco makes postpaid plan subscription easier via web

MOBILE phone subscribers who intend to apply for a postpaid plan from leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) can now do so whenever, wherever.

The leading telco recently included postpaid product offerings in the enhanced Smart online store (store.smart.com.ph). As such, Smart's prospective postpaid clients no longer need to go to a physical Smart Store to accomplish and submit application forms and documentary requirements to avail of Smart mobile or Smart Bro postpaid plans.

Neda sees 7 percent growth this year

THE National Economic Development Authority (Neda) has projected the economy to grow from 6 percent to 7 percent this year based on the improved business and consumer confidence particularly in the last quarter of 2012.

During the recent Cargo Economics Conference, Emmanuel F. Esguerra, Neda deputy director general, said that this growth is bigger than the 6.6 percent GDP performance in 2012.

New facilities upgrade milk production in Bansalan

THE Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) in Barangay Kinuskusan in Bansalan, Davao del Sur is considered as the province's goat center. It is also known for its pioneering efforts in milk production, using goats as the main source of milk.

"People come to the center to buy fresh milk from us," MBRLC director Roy C. Alimoane, who is also the center’s animal science specialist. "However, there are instances when we run out of milk as the demand is high."

Industry cluster to generate P6.79B investments, $448M exports

THE government targets to generate P6.79 billion in investments and $448 million in export revenues this year as it implements an industry clustering strategy to develop the country's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In a presentation to an economic briefing, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said that industry cluster development can create 1,794 MSMEs and assist 6,349 existing ones.

S&R sets opening in May

ANOTHER shopping experience is up for Dabawenyos as S&R Membership Shopping is set to open its seventh warehouse store in Matina, Davao City in May, and its first outlet in Mindanao.

Kelly Ricks, S&R head of operations, said they originally planned to open on May 10, but decided to move it to a later date due to the conduct of the midterm election on May 13.

Davao Norte eyed as educational tourism hub

TAGUM CITY -- The province of Davao del Norte is being eyed as the next educational tourism hub in Davao Region, with the launch of a local academy run by the provincial government.

Philippine Councilors League-Legislative Academy (PCL-LA) executive director Hilario Caminero said the emerging potential of the province for this type of tourism upon the inauguration of the Davao del Norte Learning Institute (DNLI).

Primer brings another foreign brand in PH

APPLE & Bee, one of Australia's premiere sustainable fashion brands, is now available in the Philippines.

With Apple & Bee bags, accessories and skincare products, one can look great while helping the planet and environment at the same time. From functional shopping totes to perfectly sized overnighters, Apple & Bee is committed to providing high-quality products made from organic and sustainable materials.

Mining company acquires additional equity in SAGC

QUEENSBERRY Mining and Development Corp., the resource development company of Sen. Manny Villar, reportedly secured additional equity in St. Augustine Gold and Copper Limited (SAGC), a US-based mining company that is conducting exploration studies in Barangay King-king in Pantukan, Compostela Valley.

This move by Queensberry and Senator Villar is consistent with what appears to be a recent shift into the mining industry. Queensberry appeared to have a high level of confidence in SAGC to advance the King King Project.

JIB schools join Micecon

THE organizing committee of the M.I.C.E. (Meetings. Incentive Travel. Exhibition & Events) Conference slated on March 6 to 9 at the SMX Convention Center of SM Lanang Premier in Davao City, has tapped schools of the Joji Ilagan Foundation Inc. to provide additional human resources support to the event.

Entrepreneur Joji Ilagan-Bian, chair of the Joji Ilagan Schools and past president of the Davao Tourism Association and charter president of the International Federation of Women in Travel-Davao, said she was overwhelmed by the recognition considering that the conference is a primary industry event.

MacDonald's to build 3 new stores

THREE McDonald's restaurants will be constructed in Davao City this year, a top official announced.

Rebecca Roselada, Human Resource director of Golden Arches Development Corporation, the company that operates McDonald's in the Philippines, said construction of one of the three restaurants is now underway. All the three restaurants will be up in the downtown area.

Smarter Philippines launched in Davao

THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Wednesday launched the Smarter Philippines project in a bid to improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos by taking advantage of the technology.

The launching was initiated by DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo and Undersecretary Louis Napoleon C. Casambre, along with other partners, at the Marco Polo Davao.

Lifestyle center soon to rise at Northpoint

A COMMERCIAL and lifestyle center will soon rise at Camella Northpoint, a landmark British colonial-themed condo development project situated on JP Laurel Ave. in Bajada, Davao City.

The center is a component of the condo project, which is also set to launch its fourth tower, called the Liverpool, in the second quarter of the year.

Dole, McDonald's partner anew for Spes implementation

AS IT continues to provide opportunity for working students, the McDonald's has forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Davao Region for the implementation of government's Special Program for Employment of Students (Spes).

In a press conference held at the Dole regional office on Dacudao st. in Davao City, officials of Dole and the Golden Arches Development Corp. (GADC), who operates McDonald's in the country, vowed to continue giving working opportunity for college students who want to pursue their education and earn their own money at the same time.

Dole to hold 3 job fairs in 2013

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Davao announced Tuesday that it is holding three major job fairs for 2013 that aim to gather thousands of job applicants across the country.

Lawyer Joffrey Suyao, Dole-Davao chief, told reporters in Tuesday’s press conference at his office that the agency will conduct the Labor Day Job Fair on May 1, the Independence Day Job Fair on June 12, and the Dole Anniversary Job Fair in December 8.