PIA Davao Region

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Dec. 29 (PIA) -- The City of Tagum has retained its title as the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) in the country after the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) awarding ceremony during the 47th Philippine Business Conference and Expo. In the height of the pandemic, the City Government of Tagum still manages to bag the said award despite the economic setback it has encountered by releasing ordinances boosting the confidence of the businesses in the city. The city government has passed two major ordinances for tax relief which are City Ordinance no. 940 s. of 2020 and City Ordinance No. 978 s. of 2020, where the leasing payments in the City Economic Enterprises will be temporarily suspended. In an interview last month, City Mayor Allan L. Rellon stated that taxpayers who paid in the first quarter received a 10% reduction, while those who paid in the second quarter and beyond the due date received no surcharges or interest. At the height of

DAVAO CITY, Dec. 29 (PIA) – The members of the Social Security System (SSS) are alerted to secure all their information as the government owned and controlled corporation has embarked on online registration and transactions.   SSS Digos City Branch Manager Jocelyn Tejano-Gopo has made the warning especially to the members under her areas of jurisdiction such as the provinces of Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental.   Gopo said that is to protect the members from fraudsters, scammers or internet hackers who may use their data or information for illegal transactions.      “ Gusto nako i-warn ang members nga dili pataka og hatag sa inyong data, user ID ug password, bisan ang inyong SSS number bisan kinsa kay kabalo namo daghan kaayog mga kaso karon nga kanang na kompromiso ang ilahang mga data  (I just want to warn the members not to provide their data, user ID and password, or even their SSS number to anyone because there are many cases now where the members’ data have been compromised),”

DAVAO CITY, December 29 (PIA) – Following the two batches of mission caravan from Davao Region to the typhoon-hit areas in Caraga Region, the Office of Civil Defense XI continues to encourage  citizens to send in relief donations through the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council XI (RDRRMC). Speaking in the One Davao Virtual Presser today, OCD XI Assistant Regional Director Lenie Duran-Alegre enumerated the priority items needed in the typhoon-stricken communities. “ Some of the items needed by the communities are water, shelter kits, GI sheets, temporary tents, solar panels, and food,”   the official said to those who wanted to give cash instead may deposit thru DBP Camp Aguinaldo Branch: 000-001494353 (Philippine Peso) and 015000474354 ( US Dollar). Donations in-kind may still be dropped  at the OCD XI office, just contact 09171789711. Alegre highlighted the importance of channeling relief donations thru the RDRRMC as the council has enough logistics to transport th

DAVAO CITY- On New Year's eve (Dec. 31)  The Davao Pasko Fiesta will be having its virtual New Year Countdown to mark the arrival of 2022.   Sponsored by Smart Telecom and 8Telcom the “Davao Giga New Year Countdown 2022” will be taking the place of the traditional Torotot Festival which was the iconic Dabawenyo New Year's eve celebration.   Gatchi Gatchalian, festival director of the Davao Pasko Fiesta said the upcoming virtual New Year countdown will be exciting and festive. “Starting 10 p.m. we will have a party with a virtual DJ while waiting for the midnight to strike and witness the virtual countdown,” Gatchalian said.   During the countdown Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte will be giving their pre-recorded New Year’s greetings. Gatchalian said those watching the virtual countdown will be in for a treat as   Smart the event sponsor will also be giving away two Samsung A22 5G capable smart phones to lucky winners.  “All they have to do i

DAVAO CITY, Dec. 28 (PIA)- A recorded number of 51,982 Dabawenyos ( as of 1:04 pm Dec. 28) have donated their Pahalipay gift packs to victims of Typhoon Odette. And this number is still increasing. The Pahalipay is a system feature of the Safe Davao QR Code which facilitates the distribution of gift packs to residents of Davao City.   Residents will just to have log-in at their SDQR profile and click their Pahalipay button which gives out details such as gift type, claim period and supplier or where they can claim the gift packs. Instead of claiming their gift packs some Dabawenyos suggested to the City Government if they can have the option of donating the gift packs to the victims of Typhoon Odette which devastated   large parts of Northern Mindanao and Central Visayas. The City Government of Davao gave a go-ahead to the developers to work on the donate button. Working on Pahalipay is a team from Ingenuity, a homegrown software company. “The process for donating would be similar to t

DAVAO CITY, Dec. 24 (PIA) – The senior high school graduating students in Davao Occidental province were urged to apply for the Science Education Institute (SEI) undergraduate scholarship program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). DOST Davao Occidental Provincial Director Maria Victoria I. Dado has called on the grade 12 students who will be graduating next year and will be taking up college degrees, especially from the low-income families to take advantage of the opportunity to become scholars under the DOST-SEI.   The deadline of submission of the documentary requirements has been extended until December 31, 2021.   Dado said that eligible to apply are students belonging to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand and non-STEM who belong to the top 15 percent of the graduating class.   She said that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the applicants are no longer required to take the exams, but their academic ratings in grades 9, 10 an

DAVAO CITY, Dec. 24 (PIA) – The provincial government of Davao del Sur has intensified its turnover of completed projects to provide convenience to the intended beneficiaries in the far-flung areas in the province.   Among the recently turned over was the covered space with stage worth P1,186,886.58 for the Sibulan National High School in the remote barangay of Sibulan in the municipality of Sta. Cruz.   An electrification project with 150-watt solar lights was also provided for the benefit of the barangay residents.   Governor Marc Cagas turned over the projects to the school teaching personnel represented by Isabelito F. Poncardas and to the barangay council headed by Punong Barangay Danilo Abe.   Abe conveyed his gratitude to the governor for the electrification project which would now provide light to the dark portion of the barangay roads.   In Bansalan town, Cagas has also turned over a newly improved and rehabilitated gymnasium worth P3 million for the residents of Brgy. Sto. Ni

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Dec. 24 (PIA) -- The City Government of Tagum officially opened the Tagumpay River Cruise yesterday at Prk. 1, Barangay Liboganon. After winning P2M for the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) Award by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources XI in 2017, the City Government of Tagum added P500,000 and started the construction of the said project located at the 2,500 square meter lot area owned by Mr. Engelbert Maningo and family in Barangay Libuganon. Two units of floating assets which are the initial floating restaurants with docking facility were constructed out from the initial budget. Additionally, the local government of Tagum spent almost P13M for the initial accomplishment of the said tourism spot for its soft opening. Meanwhile, Davao Del Norte Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib promised to contribute P28-M for its full docking facility from the Ridge to Reef Program of the Provincial Tourism Office. In full operation, the project is expected to provid

COMELEC XI Regional Director Atty. Michael C. Abas DAVAO DEL NORTE, Dec. 24 (PIA) -- The registered voters in the Province of Davao Del Norte rose by almost 14% as compared to the data from 2019 with a total of 690,248 voters for the 2022 elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Davao Del Norte confirms. In the article published by One DavNor Network, District 1 covering the local government units (LGUs) of Talaingod, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, Asuncion, and Tagum City has a total voting population of 337,583 while District II including Sto. Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen, Panabo City, and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) have 352,665 voters for the upcoming 2022 polls. Of all the LGUs in Davao Del Norte, Tagum City still has the highest number of voters with 172,100 followed by Panabo City, with 127,665 voters. IGACOS is next with 84,194 and the fourth one is the Municipality of Santo Tomas with 73,248 voters. Aiming for the governor's post for this comin

DAVAO CITY- From a contact tracing only application during its early implementation, the Safe Davao QR Code (SDQR) has transformed into a full-scale tool utilized as Davao City's COVID-19 Management System. A QR code for contact tracing was implemented in November last year when Executive Order 60 series of 2020 was issued by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. It provided the guidelines for a QR code for contact tracing.  All Davao City residents and non-residents would need to register and get a QR code as this would allow entry to the city and movement within the city. The deluge of registrants for the QR code overwhelmed the initial site and had to be temporarily shut down. The City Government then was assisted by ICT Davao- a local organization of ICT (information and communications technology) to help bring back the site and the QR system.  Ingenuity, a Davao City-based full service software company was tapped for trouble-shooting and redevelopment.  It was an IT bayanihan

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Dec. 22 (PIA) -- The Municipal Government of Kapalong conducted the Two-Day Peace Pact Program in its sixth edition this year for the Ata-Manobo Tribe in Sitio Kapatagan in Barangay Gupitan on December 16-17, 2021.   The program is aimed at uniting the government and the Ata-Manobo Tribe through mutual dialogues with various national government agencies to listen to their needs and aspirations. Present in the event were the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Provincial Director, Roger S. Lumbin, the Department of Education (DepEd) Division Superintendent Dr. Dee D. Silva, 60th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Commander, LTC Ronaldo D. Sarmiento INF (GSC) PA, and the representative of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Davao Del Norte, PLT Francisco S Caslib. Representatives from the government agencies became the resource speakers during the event. The discussions centered on the government services the various government agencie

Davao Del Norte's Vaccination Program Coordinator, Dr. Eleanor H. Salva  DAVAO DEL NORTE, Dec. 22 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government of Davao Del Norte's Vaccination Program Coordinator, Dr. Eleanor H. Salva said that people are not hesitant to take the vaccines in Davao Del Norte. They just lack the means or vehicles in going to vaccination sites, she explained in a radio program today, December 22, 2021. During her radio interview today, Dr. Salva reported the vaccination updates of the Province of Davao Del Norte including the top 3 local government units (LGUs) in terms of vaccination rate and those who are in the bottom 3 LGUs. The Province of Davao Del Norte as of December 21, 2021, vaccinated 48.6% of its target population for herd immunity which is 744,405 residents out of 1,063,426 total population. She further said that 74% of it is already vaccinated with the first dose and there is still 26% who are unvaccinated. Dr. Salva enumerated the top 3 LGUs with high vaccina

DAVAO ORIENTAL, Dec. 22 (PIA) -- The City Government of Mati today, December 22, 2021, received a P30 million worth cheque from the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the construction of Indigenous People (IP) villages. The NHA's District Manager for Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley District Office, Engr. Sonia J. Bulseco turned over today the cheque to Mati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat at the Mayor's Office, Mati City Hall. Mati City Treasurer, Aloma S. Serafin and the City Housing and Resettlement Division Office (CHRD) Officer-In-Charge, Yza Marie B. Marundan. Two IP villages will be constructed from the funding named Balai Kalipay and Balai Maganahay which are both initiatives of the local government unit of Mati under Rabat's term. Each of the housing projects has a budget of P20 million with 75 housing units. Balai Kalipay is situated in Barangay Luban while Balai Maganahay will be constructed at Barangay Dawan. As the project has a total cost of P40 million

DAVAO ORIENTAL, Dec. 21 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government of Davao Oriental along with its city and municipal local government units (LGUs) kicked off its second round of the Three-Day National Vaccination Days dubbed as Bayanihan Bakunahan to boost the vaccination rate in their respective LGUs on December 20-22, 2021. The Department of Health Region XI Regional Director Dr. Anabelle Yumang graced the kick-off of the second round of vaccination in Davao Oriental yesterday in the Municipality of Baganga with Provincial Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang. The City of Mati, Municipality of Baganga, and the Municipality of Lupon are the LGUs that joined the second round of Bayanihan Bakunahan on December 21-22, 2021. The said schedule was finalized after its postponement on December 15-17, 2021 due to Typhoon Rai, locally named Odette. The provincial government targeted 39,652 vaccinees for the three days which is equivalent to 13,222 every day from all priority groups including minors. In t

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Dec. 21 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Panabo City dispatched personnel to Caraga Region to augment the workforce assigned in the clearing operations on Typhoon Odette's devastation. A total of nine (9) fire officers under the BFP Special Rescue Force were sent yesterday, December 20, 2021. In the initiative of BFP - Panabo City Fire Chief Director Louie S. Parangan, supported by the BFP XI Regional Director CSUPT Sydney C.  Besana, nine (9) members of the BFP Special Rescue Force were directed to help the clearing operations in some parts of Caraga Region after Typhoon Odette laid waste and casualties. Apart from the material donations of the City of Panabo to some local government units (LGUs) in the said region, the City Government of Panabo represented by City Fire Marshal CINSP Janeth M. Leguigan supported the action of the BFP Panabo to send the fire officers assigned in the city to Caraga Region. It can be remembered that on December 14, 202

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Dec. 21 (PIA) -- Carlos Barsicula, a resident from Barangay Sawata in the Municipality of San Isidro, Davao Del Norte was awarded with silver medal on the 2021 International Cocoa Awards (ICA) for being one of the best producers of cocoa in the world. Barsicula (silver medalist) and Arthur Lagoc (gold medalist) of Barangay Talandang in Tugbok, Davao City made it to the renowned International Cocoa Awards (ICA) and joined the list of top cocoa producers in the world out of 235 samples from 53 cocoa-producing nations for the 2021 edition. In a published article by Agri Info Davao on December 18, 2021, Barsicula highlighted the good agricultural practices of a farmer in producing good cocoa beans. He said that he attended a lot of training in best practices and technological advancements in cocoa farming to equip himself to become a good cocoa bean producer in his hometown. Barsicula's achievement also gave pride to his town, the Municipality of San Isidro as it is th

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Dec. 21 (PIA) -- The Municipal Government of San Isidro in Davao Del Norte landed in the 1st Place as the Most Improved Class 5-6 Municipalities announced on the awarding ceremony of the 9th Regional Competitiveness Summit held virtually on December 14, 2021, by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). As a class 5-6 municipality, the Municipality of San Isidro garnered the highest rating in the competitiveness index for the said category followed by the Municipality of San Jose in Northern Samar, Region VIII in the second place, and the Municipality of Tomas Oppus in Southern Leyte, Region VIII in the third place. In a recorded video of Municipal Mayor Arnel H. Sitoy presented in the awarding ceremony, he expressed his gratitude as one of the awardees and emphasized that unity made their success possible. "Mapasalamaton mi, diri sa Municipality of San Isidro nga isa mi sa most competitive municipalities kay di mani makab-ot kung wala ang panaghiusa (The Munici

DAVAO CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA)- The Sannguniang Panglungsod (City Council) of Davao City lauded the iSTRIKE (Innovation through Science, Technology, and Riske Resilient-based Initiatives towards Knowledge Economy) and its partner the Department of Agriculture of the collaborative commitment to push of innovation ecosystem in Region XI. iSTRIKE Davao is the brand of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center (RIIC) which is seen as the cornerstone of the Philippine Inclusive Innovation and Industrial Strategy (i 3 s), which lies at the heart of economic transformation and bridges the gap between the industry and academe.  The RIIC serves to create a virtual and physical regional innovation ecosystem made up of universities, research and development (R&D) labs, science and technology (S&T) parks, start-up incubators, fabrication laboratories, co-working spaces, investors, government agencies, start-up businesses, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Sangguniang Panglung