Developer embarks on new resolution project in north Davao

RESIDENTIAL developer Camella is looking north to open another development project, a self-contained masterplanned horizontal development over a 27-hectare property in Communal Buhangin, Davao City.

North is where Davao's fast and consistent growth is currently taking place, and Camella expands presence in the area with this newest subdivision project that will offer its most diverse package yet, featuring enclaves from affordable to high-end homes.

DTI issues warning vs fake ICC helmet stickers

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Region has issued a warning against possible purchase of motorcycle helmets with fake Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers.

The said advisory has cited the brand names Ben 2, KH, NSS, Oscar, Cobra, Pioneer and 2A, which possibly bear fake ICC markings.

Services application for iPhone users launched

MOBILE leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has launched an iOS version of its Smart Services mobile application -- the app that allows its subscribers to buy call, text and Internet packages, get information and content and perform transactions with just a few taps on their smartphones.

The Smart Services app, downloadable for free from iTunes App Store, can now be used by Smart’s iPhone and iPad users to have quick and convenient access to their prepaid or postpaid account’s various services.

BIR-Davao closes Bluejazz for underdeclaration of sales

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Davao region issued on Tuesday a five-day closure order to the management of Bluejazz Beach Resort and Waterpark in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) for underdeclaration of sales.

BIR regional director Lawyer Glen Geraldino said it was November of last year that his office found out that the resort management had been violating the Tax Code of the Philippines, specifically the underdeclaration by more than 30 percent of its sales.

Accommodation establishments not submitting occupancy report

A CITY official said Tuesday that it is difficult to quantify how many tourists are visiting Davao City a year, as almost half of the accommodation establishments owners are not submitting occupancy reports.

Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCPIC) chief Jason Magnaye, in a business forum held Tuesday at DermPath at SM City Davao, said the submission rate of the hotels, inns, and pension houses in the city was pegged at 51 percent in 2012, only a little higher than 46 percent in 2011.

Damosa Land starts building houses in April

THE developer of Damosa Fairlane will start building houses for its high-end residential project by April, and plans to turn them over to the homeowners by next year.

Ed Villaver, vice president of Damosa Land Inc. (DLI), said they will initially build 10 houses next month and hope to finish constructing around 70 to 80 houses by 2014.

City to bid for Apec Summit

DAVAO City, known as the most livable city in Asia, has been shortlisted to host some of the events of the upcoming 23rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in 2015 in the Philippines.

In an interview, City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) chief Robert Alabado told reporters that the City Government of Davao is set to submit a proposal to the Apec National Organizing Council.

Davao Norte steps up efforts to boost rice production

LOCAL officials, farmers and agri clubs in Davao del Notre have pledged their commitment to the National Year of Rice (NYR) 2013, in support of the country's goal of producing enough rice.

President Benigno Aquino III has declared 2013 as National Year of Rice to intensify the government campaign on achieving rice self-sufficiency.

Telco cites growth in mobile data revenues

THE mobile data business of wireless leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has continued to enjoy strong growth numbers as Filipinos continue to embrace on-the-go Internet connectivity.

According to Q4 2012 figures disclosed by Smart’s parent company PLDT, mobile Internet revenues rose P1 billion from end-2011 to end-2012, elevating the latter to P2.6 billion.

AboitizPower barges now on 24-hour shifts

POWER barge operator and AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Marine reported its two plants are already running 24 hours every day amid the thinning power supply and the rising demand for electric power in Mindanao.

With summer months expected to affect the water levels in Lake Lanao and the power output of the Agus-Pulangi complex, officers of Therma Marine are expecting for more challenging times for the rest of the year.

Bizman: Davao's rich opportunities propel Phoenix growth

PROMINENT businessman Dennis A. Uy of Davao City-based Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. gave honor to the city as the vehicle for his success when he received the prestigious Datu Bago Award for 2013.

"While many prefer to do business or find employment in bigger cities, to me Davao is richer in opportunity and richer in producing the elements of success than any place I know," he said in his acceptance speech during the Datu Bago awarding ceremonies at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Friday.

Golden rice: The answer to malnutrition problem

IF APPROVED by national regulators and proved to reduce vitamin A deficiency in community conditions, golden rice will be available in two to three years, according to the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (Irri).

This is good news as 89 percent of Filipinos consume rice on a daily basis. Golden rice is one of the nutrient-rich rice varieties being developed by Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) with support and assistance from IRRI to help reduce the incidence of malnutrition in the country.

Agri programs to boost farmers’ income, productivity get support

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) is advocating an evidence-based program in agriculture for a sustained improvement in productivity and farm incomes, especially for small farmers, said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

"We also want the National Food Authority (NFA) to be strong in rice buffer stocking for emergency purposes and to focus its interventions and programs in areas that would enhance efficiency in the production, marketing, and trade of rice," said Balisacan, who is also the Neda director-general.

Glan port ready for RoRo vessels

GLAN, Sarangani -- Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay Sr. and Governor Miguel Dominguez inaugurated on Friday the new Roll-On Roll-Off (RoRo) facility of Glan International Port, a gateway that provides alternative trade links and inter-island routes in the South.

While Southern Mindanao is tossed up as the country's next vegetable basket, Binay said the new RoRo port will eventually benefit thousands of farmers in the region as this would facilitate "fast transport of perishable goods" and would resolve the "burden of the high cost of transportation using commercial vessels."

Power exec: Long brownouts due to conservation for May elections

THE long brownouts experienced by some parts of Mindanao since first week of March are reportedly part of the conservation strategies the state-owned electricity generator is implementing to ensure steady supply of power this May 2013 elections, a power official said.

Lawyer Omar Pacilan, spokesperson for the National Power Corporation-Power Sector Assets Liabilities and Management (NPC-Psalm), said the mandate to ensure the region has stable power supply for one week starting May 12 came from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Energy (DOE).

Full-time jobs up in January

QUALITY of employment improved in January 2013 as employment growth came from the wage and salary employment and as the full-time workers grew faster than part-time jobs, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

"Employment grew in January 2013 mainly coming from the services and industry sectors and the quality of employment significantly improved in the period," Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

Kickstart announces 10 startup investments

INCUBATOR-investment firm Kickstart Ventures Inc., has chosen 10 startups in the country to receive funding, training, mentoring, and business network access to help accelerate the startups’ respective growth plans.

Kickstart Ventures, led by its president, Minette B. Navarrete, hosted recently a gathering for the founders of its inaugural batch of portfolio companies.

Davao pushes yam farming to meet market demand

THE City Agriculture Office (CAO) of Davao is pushing for the development of purple yam (ube) tissue culture -- a first in Mindanao.

In the last harvest alone, a two-hectare yam plantation in Catigan, Toril is said to have posted a P800,000 revenue.

Northpoint ups ante with lifestyle center

WITH a premier location, world-class facilities and amenities, and an unmatched living proposition, Camella Northpoint has all the desirable points of condo living.

But this landmark condo development is not stopping there: Camella is creating a charming lifestyle center less than five minutes' walk from the condominiums.

Visitor arrivals in Davao reach 1M in 2012

THE number of visitor arrivals in Davao City reached 1.075 million last year, or a growth of 45 percent from the 2011 total of 744,275.

City Tourism Office (CTO) chief Jason Magnaye said this was the first time Davao City has breached the one million mark in terms of tourist arrivals, and attributed the big jump to the additional flights and establishment of structures like the SM Lanang Premier.

CBO crafting amendments on city's signage measure

THE City Building Office (CBO) of Davao is now in the process of creating proposed amendments on the obsolete Signage Ordinance of the city, which was approved back in 2000, a city official said yesterday.

In an interview, CBO chief Jaime Adalin said the proposed amendments, considered as urgent, will clearly set the rules and regulations on the installation of LED billboards and billboards in the city.

CBO nets P72M in building fees

WITH the influx of new big real estate players in Davao City, the City Building Office (CBO) said its collection revenues skyrocketed at P72.6 million in 2012.

In an interview, Engr. Jaime Adalin, chief of the CBO, said they closed 2012 surpassing by P21.4 million its last year's target of P51.2 million.

McDonald's to offer free McMuffin breakfast sandwich

MCDONALD'S Philippines is all fired up and ready to ignite the first and biggest breakfast event in the southeast region: the National Breakfast Day.

On March 18, Dabawenyos will have more reason to take part in the celebration as McDonald's stores located in Sta. Ana, Bajada, Ilustre, Damosa and Matina will be serving a free McMuffin to each restaurant's first 1,000 customers from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. via dine-in, take-out and drive-thru.

Durian processing plant soon to rise in Calinan

A PROCESSING and cold storage facility for durian will soon rise in Calinan, Davao City.

The P12-million facility, which is expected to boost durian farmers' production and marketability of their produce, is set to open in mid-April, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and The Durian Council of Davao City (DCDC) said.

Agri office extends P41-M rehab aid to Comval farmers

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has provided P41-million rehabilitation assistance to high-value crops farmers in the province of Compostela Valley.

DA Regional Director Remelyn Recoter said the assistance is part of the commitment of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala through the agency's Task Force Alayon (cooperation) and High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) to immediately provide assistance to farmers and their families who were greatly affected by Typhoon Pablo.

Iligan diesel plant rehab to start soon

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Alcantara Group is due to rehabilitate the 102-megawatt (MW) Iligan-diesel plant after ownership issues with the City Government has been resolved, a company executive said on Monday.

Oscar Benedict Contreras III, Alsons Power Business Unit manager for communications and stakeholder relations, said mobilization for the rehabilitation of the Iligan plant "will begin this week."

Cash for training project launched

IN SUPPORT to the government's thrust in providing sustainable intervention to improve the condition of disadvantaged youth and empower them through skills training and assistance toward gainful employment and entrepreneurial activities, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will implement the Cash for Training Project (C4TP) in two independent components -- Training for Wage Employment (Trabaho) and Training for Self-Employment (Hanapbuhay).

30,000 tourists to join ‘Araw’ celeb this week

SOME 30,000 foreign and local tourists are expected in Davao City this week to join in the celebration of the 76th Araw ng Dabaw, highlighted by the Parada Dabawenyo on March 16.

Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) chief Jason Magnaye said Dabawenyos can expect more visitors, given that many of the celebration's major events are scheduled this week.

Durian Summit set March 13-14

INDUSTRY players will stage the Durian Summit 2013 in Davao City from March 13 to 14 in an effort to improve production and post-harvest facilities not only in the metropolis but also in the Davao Region.

The two-day gathering, set to take place at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, will serve as venue for local durian industry stakeholders to disseminate new farming technologies and discuss crucial concerns affecting the Davao sector.

Brother launches new printer in Davao City

DETERMINED to come up with more quality products, Japanase printer manufacturer Brother International Philippines Corporation launched its newest top-of-the-line printer to the Davao market.

The MFC-J2510 InkBenefit is the latest model of Brother's inkjet line-up that is sure to attract customers with its innovative features.