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THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO
suburbia
14 VOL. 4 NO. 41 DECEMBER 12-18, 2011
BOC charges Digos businessman, two brokers for onion smuggling
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ion importations, smugglers are able to sell their imported onions at a much cheaper price than the locally produced ones. This results in economic dislocation to our local onion raisers. The BOC estimate on the duties of the seized illegally imported onions was placed at Php 1,483,332.00 based on the 40% rate of duty for onions. However, since the shipment was misdeclared, its computed tariff was very much lower than the official duty rate. Moreover, it did not have the necessary import permits from the Department of Agriculture. The charges filed against Rodriguez and his two brokers bring to eight the number of cases filed by the BOC against violators of the country’s TCCP under Commissioner Biazon’s leadership. “We are harnessing the capabilities of the BOC’s RunAfter-The–Smugglers (RATS) group to enable us to get a high conviction rate on the cases we have filed at the DOJ,” Biazon pointed out. Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG) and concurrent RATS Head Peter Manzano, for his part said, “We are tightening the cases we are filing with the DOJ and closely coordinating with DOJ officials to get convictions.” [Bu-
trader and two brokers will now realize the seriousness of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) anti-smuggling campaign, when they get their day in court, after the bureau filed cases against them at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for attempting to smuggle into the country Php 3,708,331.13 worth of onions. Charged for violation of various provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) like misdeclaration, undervaluation and importation of agricultural products without the necessary permits from the Department of Agriculture were Moises BaganRodriguez of San Miguel, Digos City and the owner/proprietor of YANZHEN ENTERPRISES, the consignee of the illegally imported onions together with brokers Abolkhayr L. Cali and Zahraida M. Abdul. According to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, the illegally imported onions which were declared as pastries ingredients and dough and contained in 20 forty footer container vans were intercepted at the Port of Davao on September 23, 2011 by BOC Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) operatives. “These people may have thought that our anti-smuggling efforts are only focused in the metro ports of Luzon. We have operatives in all of the
country’s international ports of entry to closely monitor the movement of cargoes,” Biazon said. “And I have specific instructions to all of them, not only to be more vigilant in their jobs, but to spare no one as well,” he added. The shipment of illegally imported onions were seized after BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group (IG) Danilo Lim issued the corresponding alerts for the twenty customs entries of YAHNZEN ENTERPRISES on the day the onion shipment arrived at the southern port on board the vessel MV Jan V-1126. Lim subsequently ordered the CIIS operatives headed by Al Tomas Albano to conduct a 100% examination on all the 20 forty footer container vans. “Onions, based on our many seizures for the past months, score the highest in smuggling attempts. This is the reason why we are closely monitoring the importation of agricultural products to ensure that the BOC’s thrust to protect the interest of local farmers, upon instruction of the Commissioner, is strictly enforced,” Lim said. The sector that is mostly affected by the entry of illegally imported onions into the country is the local onion industry. Because they do not pay the right taxes for their illegal on-
reau of Customs]
community of health buffs who share the love and joy of running is on the rise at the Provincial Capitol of Davao del Norte. Packs of happy running people will soon dot the late afternoon landscape of the Government Center in Mankilam, Tagum City, after the Provincial Sports Development Division (PSDD) organized the Capitol Runners Club. Sports Division Chief Giovanni Gulanes said the main mission of the club is to promote running not only as a sports but as a way to a healthy lifestyle in order to increase the productivity of Capitol employees. He said the program is in line with Governor Rodolfo del Rosario’s policy of promoting a culture of health and wellness among the personnel of the province and the whole Dabaonon population, in general. Running sessions around the Provincial Government Center are slated to be held every Monday and Wednesday a few
minutes after office hours in the afternoon. More than 30 initial runners representing the various departments of the Provincial Capitol were all set to run during the supposed maiden run last Monday, December 5, 2011. However, the soft launch was marred by intermittent rains that affected the whole province. But, Gulanes hopes other health-conscious workers will join the opening run that was re-scheduled on Wednesday in order to encourage more personnel to run along. He urged them to join the club in order to take advantage of the fitness regimen. According to him, becoming a member of the group is the fastest way to make running a habit and keeping motivated to stay fit. The sports division bared the membership to the club will soon be opened to the general public, who believe in the many benefits of recreational running. He said the exercise im-
proves health condition as it prevents diseases, reduces body weight, relieves stress and eliminate the depression of an individual, among other gains. Yet, many eyebrows were raised when Gulanes revealed that running further improves sex life. He was referring to a health journal which disclosed that sex stands to be enhanced from regular running, since exercises increase feel-good hormones and improve overall physical wellbeing. Year-round running activities will also be organized, including at least one fun run in a year to be sponsored by the province in coordination with the club. Club members will be taught about the proper execution of running, especially on postures, pace, breathing, pronation, among others. Speakers from the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) will also be invited to handle provincewide running clinics.
OCIAL Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman sees the need to use biometrics to ensure that target beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) really get the grant. After speaking with the local chief executives from all over the country in consultation dialogue last week held at the Grand Regal Hotel, Soliman admitted that implementing the program in ARMM remains the most challenging. “Doing it in ARMM makes it the most difficult. There are towns in Maguindanao which are controlled by barangay captains, local chief executives and their representatives. People who are supposed to get the grant opted not to talk because
of fear” Soliman said. Assessment from the field showed that there are non-beneficiaries who insisted to claim the grant even if they clearly appear non-beneficiaries. Despite that, they went home with the cash grant because the releasing officer was often threatened by the sight of guns. Soliman said DSWD suspended the operation of 4Ps in ARMM last 2010. Months since its re-operation, the agency observed another recurrence in some areas. Through its Grievance Redress Committee that receives and handles complaints from the people in the field, DWSD recorded a total of 195 complaints sent through text message from ARMM beneficiaries from July to November this year. Sixty-three of that are payment-related.
One of the solutions pushed by Soliman is the use of biometrics to make sure that only the target beneficiaries get to claim the cash grant. “We are still doing the math as to how to make use of the technology for a simple and cheap way of doing this in ARMM,” she said. This project will specifically pilot the operation in ARMM and in Leyte . The local chief executive of Leyte personally requested for the inclusion of the province in the biometrics system that the DSWD hopes to apply in ARMM. DSWD gets to listen to the best practices shared by Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan Iloilo Mayor Jed Mabilog, Santiago City Mayor Amelita Navarro, andNaga City Mayor Cecilia de Asis during the consultation dialogue forum. [PIA 11/MAI GEVERA-MACAPAGAT]
DavNor sports division launches runners club among employees A
Biometrics for 4Ps eyed in ARMM S
DAIRY PROJECT. Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario welcomes Mr. Zaheer Baber, Director of the Land O’Lakes Inc. International Development Division, during his
visit in the province to see the multi-million dairy development project in New Corella town. [noel baguio/davnor pio]
DavSur coliseum to spur economic growth--Cagas
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5,000-seater coliseum worth P268-million in Digos City is expected to spur economic growth for the province. Governor Douglas Cagas has high hopes for the airconditioned coliseum to bring economic stability for Davao del Sur, saying that this has been his longtime dream for his constituents. The coliseum is part of the P500 million five-structure components designed for the Davao del Sur Sports-Cultural and Business Center Complex to include convention centers, swimming pool, volleyball court, dormitory and restaurant, parks and playground and track and field. Izumo Contractors, Inc. turned-over on Monday (Dec. 05) the completed coliseum structure to the provincial government that approved the project in 2008 and had the building constructed within the 11-hectare site of the complex in 2009. Cagas said that the coliseum is open for public function uses such as conventions,
congress, and sports events like basketball games with a fee of P15,000 per hour. However, he said that the rate is negotiable subject to the discretion of his office and depending on the use and the users. The coliseum has been the venue of the regular Monday convocations of the provincial capitol employees and other big provincial events since its grand opening on December 04 last year. The big gymnasium has already hosted three games of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has chosen the province as one of the ten provinces nationwide to host the PBA semi-finals on July 30. The first PBA game was played by PBA teams Talk ‘tN Text and Rain or Shine during the grand opening of the coliseum on December 4, 2010. The event has earned the province some P1.58 million net proceeds. The second PBA game
was played on June 25 as part of the week-long celebration of the 44th Araw ng Davao del Sur. This game provided about P700,000 net income for the province. Cagas said that the PSC has been considering the sports complex to be the sports training center in Mindanao. Early this year, Sports Commissioner Chito Loyzaga visited the province and signified an intention to sponsor a resolution to the Commission to make Davao del Sur Sports Complex as the country’s sports training center in the island. The governor has welcomed this development for the province as a headstart in the field of sports tourism in the province and a landmark in the countryside. Improving the sports tourism in the province is part of the governor’s core program in making Davao del Sur an Agro Industrial Commercial EcoTourism province. [PIA 11/CARINA L. CAYON]
Comval eyes installation smoking cessation clinic
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HE provincial government of Compostela Valley is mulling the installation of a Smoking Cessation Clinic in the capitol premises to provide therapy services for employees who are trying to quit smoking. The plan was agreed upon during a recent Provincial Health Board meeting facilitated by provincial executive assistant Isabelo L. Melendres and provincial health office chief Renato Basañes. The smoking cessation clinic will be realized through a passage of a resolution from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and an Executive Order from the governor. This program is another mitigating measure of of the province in promoting healthy lifestyle for capitol employees. A smoking cessation clinic is defined as a fixed premises where qualified medical professionals/ counselors provide smok-
ing cessation therapy to help clients in their attempt to quit the smoking habit. The therapy can involve individual or group counseling and may include the dispensing of pharmacological aids, if the clinic is registered and equipped to do so. Smoking cessation is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoke substance. Its mission is to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use. Tobacco is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, implicated
in over 90 percent of all lung cancers, contributes to cancers at many sites including the larynx, esophagus, kidney, bladder, and cervix, and is a principal risk factor for respiratory illnesses such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Tobacco use also causes damage to nonsmokers, for example to spouses, and young children in the smoker’s environment through passive exposure to cigarette smoke. [IDS-COMVAL/RODIELYN A. MANUGAS]
BizQUIPS
“There should be an even playing field, because if there are more flights, airline will complete with the price. It could be that there will always be rocketing prices,” --Lawyer Domingo Duerme, PAL Vice President for Mindanao Operation said the open skies policy of the country should also be reciprocal to the policies of other countries.