SUBURBIA
EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 153 •THURSDAY , OCTOBER 4, 2012
Cagas vs Peñas for Digos mayor
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By Anthony S. Allada
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AvAO del Sur governor, Douglas Cagas, abandoned reelection plans and will now instead run for mayor of Digos City where he is challenging firsttermer Mayor Joseph Peñas. Cagas filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Comelec office there Tuesday, the second day for filing. His son, Mark, two-term congressman of Davao del Sur, is running for governor against former Rep. Claude Bautista, who was defeated twice by the elder Cagas in the gubernatorial race. Graduating first district provincial board member Mercedes Cagas, wife of Douglas, filed her candidacy for a congressional seat to replace her son, is facing a formidable opponent--vice Governor Arsenio Latasa who was formerly the city mayor for four terms. The Cagases and some of their supporters held a motorcade before proceeding to the Comelec office for the filing. Meanwhile, Peñas welcomed Cagas’ candidacy, adding it would be a good fight. He said he is banking on his group’s slogan “Abante Digos,” The city was recently conferred the Seal of Good Housekeeping Award by the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the brainchild of the late Sec. Jesse Robredo. “One of the criteria of getting this award is good governance and transparency. And this is what we have been doing,” he said. Along with the award, the city received P28-million from DILG which Peñas said would be used to repair roads and public markets. Peñas’ slate is running under the administration Liberal Party (LP) with Bautista for governor, board member Aileen Almendras for vice governor, Latasa for first district congressman and Franklin Bautista for second district congressman. Penas’ running mate is vice Mayor Reynaldo Hermosisima while their slate includes the five incumbent city councilors seeking reelection: lawyer Serafin Senajon, Michael Latasa, Eddie Cadilig, Milagros Llanos, and Myra Dahlia Navidad. The other five are lawyer Bebang Brandares Pauliño, Richie Lim, Engr. Millenium Garcia, Melody Malnegro and Charlene Hermosisima. Peñas said they will attend Holy Mass at 1 p.m. Wednesday before formally filing their COC at the Comelec. [ASA]
Davao Oriental coconut industry goes grassroots
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HE production of coconut-based materials in Davao Oriental has filtered down to the communities as the coconut industry becomes the focus sector of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the province. Provincial Director Belenda Ambi of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI in an interview revealed giving focus on coconut-based products as this jibes with the export potential that President Benigno S. Aquino III had seen on coconuts. Even before the national focus on cocobased industry particularly on the production of coco coir and coco juice, Davao Oriental has been the country’s leading producer of coconuts, getting ahead of the Quezon Province or sometimes falling second. Davao Oriental is said to be the land of coconuts producing an average of billions of nuts per year from its 156,837 hectares of bearing trees while 3,597 hectares are planted to still non-bearing trees. Coconut production paves way for investment opportunities on coco biofuel, coco oil, copra meal/
pellets, dessicated coconuts, virgin oil and food products, but in Davao Oriental the coco coir and peat production has noticeably spurred. Extracted from coco husks, the coco coir production that brings jobs to communities tapped for coco twining to produce coco-nets for soil erosion and other industry needs. Ambi said that there are 11 coco coir plants based in Davao Oriental and that these plants are providing the coco fiber to twining communities in San Isidro and in Camansi, in Mati City. The twines that they are producing are then bought back by the coir plants. “We are happy to learn that members of the twining communities are earning P700 per week,” Ambi said noting an increase in family income. DTI Davao Oriental is set to develop other twining communities in the towns of Banay banay Governor Generoso, San Isidro, Lupon and Mati and will be providing them twining machine to meet the demand for coco-nets out coco twines. [PIA 11/JEANEVIVE DuRoN AbANgAN]
QUALIFIED AND READY TO LEAD. City of Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy endorses the candidacy of Tagum City Senior Councilor De Carlo “Oyo” Uy and Councilor Maria Lina F. Baura as the next City Mayor and City Vice Mayor of Tagum, respectively, stressing that both, along with 10 candidates for city councilors, namely, Ferdinand Bordios, Alan Zulueta, Nicandro Suaybaguio, Houbert
Bryann Uy, Eva Lorraine Estabillo, Mayoral candidate De Carlo “Oyo” Uy, Vice Mayoral Candidate Maria Lina Baura, Samuel Angoy, Tristan Royce Aala, Francisco Remitar, Reynaldo Salve and Oscar Bermudez, have more vision for the development of Tagum City. [LouIE LAPAt]
Mayor Uy endorses Tagum’s Liberal bets A
new leadership that will be able to continue the legacy of good governance and advance Tagum City to a much greater heights. This was how Mayor Rey T. Uy described the official candidates of this city’s chapter of the Liberal Party in next year’s election led by its standard bearer Tagum City Senior Councilor De Carlo “Oyo” Uy, stressing that the team have more vision and capability to advance the collective goal of city’s development. Speaking in a press conference held October 3, 2012 at Miko’s Brew prior to the filing of the candidates’ Certificates of Candidacy, the incumbent mayor reiterated that the
candidates of the Liberal Party are the perfect team for the job of ensuring that the development that Tagum is enjoying today will be sustained. His son, De Carlo, is groomed to become the next City Mayor while Councilor Maria Lina F. Baura is poised to head the upcoming 6th City Council of Tagum as vice Mayor once they win in the May 2013 election. Under his slogan “Qualified and Ready to Lead,” De Carlo or “Oyo” as he is popularly known among Tagumeños, expressed confidence that he’ll be able to continue the legacy of his father whom he described as his “inspiration to make the impossible possible for
Tagum City.” “I have seen the good side of politics through my father and the good side of what the government should be.” “Andam na kita to lead my beloved City of Tagum,” the younger Uy quipped. Oyo also brushed off skepticisms about his age to lead the city, stressing that “age is just a question of mind over matter, but if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Making up the official list of the Liberal Party for City Councilors are incumbent councilors Nicandro Suaybaguio, Alan Zulueta, Francisco Remitar, Oscar Bermudez and Tristan Royce Aala. Joining them are Sam-
uel Angoy, Ferdinand Bordios, Reynaldo Salve, Houbert Bryann Uy and Eva Lorraine Estabillo. Determined to take the city’s leadership, Oyo bared his party’s platform of governance that included strengthening the support to education, comprehensive health and community services, social protection through strengthening peace and order, extensive infrastructure program, continuance of housing development program, support to the agricultural sector, boosting of the city’s tourism efforts and cultural aspects, toughen the city government’s environmental programs and strengthening public-private partnership. [LouIE LAPAt]
against greed and selfishness. These heroes, according to the governor, are the key to attaining his human development agenda, known as P.E.O.P.L.E, which focuses on pursuing improved health, better education and broader livelihood opportunities for the Dabaonon people. He added their quest for excellence in per-
forming their tasks and responsibilities as civil servants are truly inspiring and worthy of emulation. “We are truly inspired by these ordinary persons who live and work in extraordinary ways, thus making a difference to the lives of others,” del Rosario said at the 2012 grand awarding rites. Over 300 officials and employees were honored
for their outstanding achievements of the Capitol personnel in pursuing responsive, accessible, courteous and effective public service (RACE). The ceremony was held in observance of the 112th anniversary of the Civil Service, with the theme, “Kawani, Ikaw ay Isang Lingkod Bayani,” highlights heroism in public service. [NoEL bAgu-
Living heroes abound in Davao del Norte
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IvING heroes, who are vital to building a strong republic, are aplenty in the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte. Provincial Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said the whole world must know that these men and women of valor are advancing and sustaining good governance in this part of the country, and that they are defending it
Io-DN PIo]