Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Business urged: invest in green energy

Councilor Rachel Zozobrado said the signing into law of the Renewable Energy Act 2008 also known as RA 9513 last December 16 should encourage businesses to explore the possibility of investing in renewable energy sources in Davao City.

“This development should even urge Hedcor to look into the possibility of going green considering that it already has the expertise and equipment needed for energy development.” Zozobrado said. It can be recalled that Hedcor came into conflict with the Davao City Water District over the use and development of the Tamugan River.

A total of US$1.23 billion investment in the renewable energy sector is expected by the Philippine government due to the passage of the bill. The country is also expected to reduce the Philippine’s energy self sufficiency rate from 56.5% in 2005 to 60% by 2010 once the law is fully implemented.

Zozobrado said the reduction of fuel prices in the world market is only temporary and it is imperative that energy-dependent countries like the Philippines find alternative sources of energy which will not only save them dollars but will also help the environment.

She said investors can tap alternative and renewable energy like wind, solar, ocean, hydropower and biomass energy. Projections by the Department of Energy shows that the country can save $1.2 billion worth of energy in the next ten year if it is able to get an additional 2.500 megawatts from alternative and renewable energy sources.

If Hedcor’s projection of an impending power crisis is true, she said, then investors should take advantage of the various incentives offered by the Energy Bill and explore the development of renewable energy sources for major cities in the Philippines like Davao.

“With the implementation of the law companies that will invest in renewable energy will be granted a 7-year income tax exemption aside of course from the other incentives provided by the law,” Zozobrado said.

RA 9513 exempts from taxation carbon credits generated from renewable sources. Investors who will invest in renewable energy sources will also enjoy a reduced 10% corporate income tax form the original 30% income tax with the expiration of their income tax holiday. Facilities dedicated to renewable energy will also be given a realty tax cap of 1.5% for facilities and equipment used to produce renewable energy.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sisterhood agreement between Turkey, Davao eyed

The City of Mersin in Turkey has signified its interest in forging a sisterhood agreement between Mersin and Davao City.

“Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla communicated Mersin City’s intention to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier this year,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. Guinomla used to be based in Davao City.

Zozobrado said all heads present during the First Conference of Heads of Philippine Honorary Consular Posts in Turkey agreed to support all the flagship projects of the Philippine Embassy which includes the forging of sisterhood agreements.

“Mersin City is one of the ten largest cities in Turkey in terms of agricultural, industrial and commercial potential. It is considered the site of the largest port on the Turkish Mediterranean and is the center of maritime commerce in Turkey,” Zozobrado said.

The proposed sisterhood with Turkey aims to foster mutual understanding through people to people exchanges, tourism promotion as well as trade and investment activities. Furthermore, she added, a sisterhood agreement between Mersin City and Davao City will strengthen the overall bilateral relations between Turkey and the Philippines.

As recommended by Ambassador Guinomla, Zozobrado said, Davao should initiate the forging of a sisterhood agreement with Mersin City,

Zozobrado said the Committee on International Relations has already met to discuss the proposed sisterhood agreement.

Ivan Cortez of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center said the planned sisterhood agreement is advantageous to both cities. “The agreement should focus on the demands from both cities specifically on employment, tourism and other business opportunities,” Cortez said.

Mersin City has existing sisterhood pacts with Latakia, Syria and Kushimoto, Japan.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Winning orator urge dads:
“choose dev’t. without sacrificing env’t.”

“Please plan for Davao City’s development by considering development without sacrificing the environment,” was the plea of high school student Ernest Jan P. Mendoza during the culmination of the 2nd Jesus Z. Zozobrado Oratorical Contest held at the Mintal Gym last December 1, 2008.

“This will lead to more investors and increase our finances which will lead to progress and peace,” Mendoza said. The Sto. Nino High School student, who won the championship for his piece on “3rd District: Adopting Sustainable Land Practice For Ecological Stability”, went home richer by P5,000.

At present, he said, we see commercialism in the third district but there are only few industries established here and so far none is perceived to be harming the environment. “We like the 3rd congressional district the way it is,” he added.

He said the government should control the cutting of trees and the conversion of farms to housing projects. While the people wish for and welcome change, he said, we do not wish to see tall buildings rising here—modernization toppling the rural areas.

“The change we want is the transformation for a better agricultural system to help the farmers yet preserve the environment and the ecosystem to keep the whole of Davao City free from flood, land erosion and other natural calamities,” Mendoza said.

While we understand that Davao must provide food and shelter for its growing population as well as provide opportunities for its increasing workforce, he said, this should all be done using sustainable land practice to promote ecological stability.

“We do not want Davao to end up like Manila---polluted, dirty, overpopulated, an urban jungle,” he said.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Investors urged to look at possibility of
Growing coffee in Marilog District

Prospective investors in Davao City need not go far to start their own business ventures because there are lots of opportunities in the city’s third district particularly in barangay Buda in Marilog District.

“Coffee was one of the seven agricultural products cited as a possible income earner for small and medium enterprises during the recent Mindanao Investment Conference and the Marilog area has vast lands that can be planted to coffee,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.

Even Mindanao Business Council chairperson Vicente Lao confirmed the possibility of converting the Buda area into a very productive money-earning community by it the center of coffee production in the region, she said.

Zozobrado said coffee drinking has become a way of life not only in Davao or in the Philippines but in other countries as well. As proof, she said, see the annual revenues and active marketing campaign of Starbucks, Seattle Coffee and even our very own Bluegre Café.

“Why don’t we take the cue from those who know how business operates like the MinBC,” she said. She added that Lao’s suggestion to convert Buda in Marilog into a premium coffee producer particularly Robusta coffee should give investors a hint to look into the possibility of entering into joint venture agreements with Marilog farmers some of whom are already farming and producing coffee beans although in smaller quantities.

She said the demand for coffee increases by 3% every year and Mindanao has one of the biggest areas ideal for coffee production. The Mindanao Coffee Board is even planning to produce 75,000 metric tons of coffee by 2015 to meet this demand.

“Investors should take advantage of this and invest in Marilog as it has an ideal climate and is not visited by typhoons,” she said. However, Zozobrado said Marilog is inhabited by indigenous people so government should also make sure that while they are provided livelihood opportunities, they are also not displaced from their lands by the investors.