2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 6 ISSUE 145 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4-5, 2013
Cacao bean grinding plant in 2 to 3 years
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AVAo city will be home to a cacao bean grinding plant in two to three years to give longer shelf life to beans earmarked for exportation. Federation of cooperatives in Mindanao chief executive director ireneo “Rene” Dalayon, in yesterday’s club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo Davao said that they had signed a memorandum or understanding (MoU) with ADM Asia corporation in Singapore to export beans there, The MoU includes a
side agreement that they would be provided with a grinding machine plant if Fedco has 1.2 million cacao trees solely for ground bean export. The grinding machine will turn dried cacao beans into powder, increasing its shelf life to one to two years from the current only 6 months to one year, but it would even be lesser if the atmosphere of the place is cold, such as in europe. The major importers of the cacao beans from Mindanao are from eu-
DAVAO’S SONG BIRD. The White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge founder Cathy Binag serenades members of local media with her favorite love
FCACAO,10 songs during a gathering held at the restaurant’s veranda Wednesday night. Lean Daval Jr.
Antig proposes how to save Mindanao banana industry By EJ DOMInIC FERnAnDEz ejf@edgedavao.net
“M
iNDANAo is unthinkable without the banana industry, which is why we (private sector and the Philippine Government) should do something about it if we want to save it,” said Pilipino Banana Growers and exporters Association (PBGeA) executive director Stephen Antig. Antig said in an interview with edge Davao that there are four major problems threatening the banana industry and the PBGeA, along with certain government agencies, is
conducting programs to save the industry. He added that if the banana industry is saved, it would have a positive effect on the economy and employment. “Millions of individuals related to the banana industry would lose their source of livelihood if the banana industry is not saved, he said. “employment is the key to lasting peace, since people will be focused on working and earning, and will not be preoccupied with illegal movements,” he said. Major ProblemsAn-
tig said fusarium wilt, otherwise known as Panama disease, is the biggest threat to the banana industry in Mindanao right now, followed by sigatoka disease, adding that these diseases have been plaguing the banana industry in Mindanao even before typhoon Pablo hit Davao oriental, compostela Valley, and Davao del Norte. “What the Panama disease left was wiped out by typhoon Pablo,” he said. This leads to another problem topping the list of threats to the Mind-
anao banana industry, and that is the financing of small banana growers for rehabilitation of their banana plantations hit by Pablo. Antig said “lucky are the small banana growers who are under big corporations since, the big corporations will definitely help them with the refinancing of their plants for rehab.” The other small banana growers, on the other hand, find it hard to borrow money for refinancing since most of them are deeply indebted, Antig said.
FANTIG,10
An enforcer from the Traffic Management Center (TMC) is seen driving a confiscated “payong-payong” along McArthur Highway after the group’s surprise operation in Puan, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.
On leadership
Task Force Davao, CSSDO team up for youth summit
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ASK Force Davao, in coordination with the city Social Services and Development office, will be organizing a youth leadership summit in connection with the children’s Month celebration. lieutenant christine Pamplona of TF Davao said around 220 potential youth leaders, ages 15 – 25, are expected to participate in the threeday developmental activity. Participants will be
coming from various districts of the city, with priority given to barangays which are experiencing problems with their youth who are involved in lawless activities like gangsterism. “The purpose of this is to organize and harden young people to become more effective and responsible citizens so that they can also be our partners in our efforts in the peace and order in Davao,” she stressed. “This is also one way to
FON,10
6 nabbed in drug den By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR
P
olice on Wednesday arrested six persons at a suspected drug den in Purok 7, Poblacion, Nabunturan, compostela Valley Province. emerson R. Rosales, director of the Philippine Drug enforcement Agency (PDeA) 11, said arrested were brothers Rex and Michael Dulcero who were subjects of a warrant of arrest for being allegedly the owners of the drug den. The orhers nabbed were Joel Dulcero, 39, Demetrio Dulcero Jr., 30, Jojit Mura, 35, Rodel Ando,37, and Jestonie Andigan, 26, from compostela Valley province who were caught in the act while using illegal drugs. Ando and Andigan are
both ‘job orders’ of the provincial capitol, compostela Valley. More or less twenty (20) grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu” with a street value of Php 180,000.00 more or less and assorted drug paraphernalia were recovered by the police inside the residence of Rex and Michael. Those arrested will be facing charges for violation of The comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The six are temporarily detained at the Davao city jail facility while the seized suspected illegal drugs were submitted to the regional laboratory of the PDeA 11 for examination.