Zozobrado, Braga now members of Housing sub-committee
A subcommittee on housing, rural, and urban development was created Tuesday to tackle proposed developments, such as subdivisions and industrial plants.
The move was spearheaded by Floor Leader Danilo Dayanghirang under suspended rules Tuesday afternoon when session resumed after lunch break.
Councilor Bonifacio Militar chairs the subcommittee, while Councilors Rachel Zozobrado and Pilar Braga are its members.
The committee on housing is still chaired by Councilor Arnmolfo Ricardo Cabling, but two of its members resigned and were thus replaced.
Councilor Peter Laviña, who resigned last week with the emergence of the LBDM issue, was replaced by Councilor Louie John Bonguyan. Councilor Wilberto Al-ag, who resigned as committee member Tuesday morning during his privilege speech, was replaced by Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad.
Al-ag said he did not want to be dragged in the controversy.
Cabling, on the other hand, is relieved that some of the workload in the committee will be relegated.
"I have been lobbying for the creation of a subcommittee since we have so many items. Puno kaayo ang committee on housing, daghan pending (There are so many items pending at the committee)," Cabling said. (Grace L. Plata)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Davao, Mersin sisterhood stalled
The forging of a sisterhood agreement between Davao City and Mersin City in Turkey may be delayed due to the transfer of lead proponent Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla.
Councilor Rachel Zozobrado said it was Guinomla who communicated to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte the possibility of forging a sisterhood agreement with Mersin City. However, she said, Guinomla is now back in Davao City as the assistant secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Mindanao.
“We have been communicating with Ambassador Guinomla to fasttrack the Davao’s sisterhood with Turkey prior to his transfer to the city but we were only able to go as far as establishing the two city’s intention to forge the agreement,” she said.
Zozobrado said Guinomla’s presence in Turkey was one of the factors that could have hastened the forging of the sisterhood agreement since he already got the commitment of all heads during the First Conference of Heads of Philippine Honorary Consular Posts in Turkey. However, she said, they will try to work things out with the new Philippine Ambassador to Turkey and the other officials there who are willing to help out in establishing a relationship between Mersin and Davao.
“I have spoken with Assistant Secretary Guinomla and he is willing to help us in forging the agreement even if he is already based here,” Zozobrado said. At least we now have someone here in Davao who can help us out in establishing the sisterhood agreement, she added.
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.
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.
Mersin City has existing sisterhood pacts with Latakia, Syria and Kushimoto, Japan.
The forging of a sisterhood agreement between Davao City and Mersin City in Turkey may be delayed due to the transfer of lead proponent Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla.
Councilor Rachel Zozobrado said it was Guinomla who communicated to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte the possibility of forging a sisterhood agreement with Mersin City. However, she said, Guinomla is now back in Davao City as the assistant secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Mindanao.
“We have been communicating with Ambassador Guinomla to fasttrack the Davao’s sisterhood with Turkey prior to his transfer to the city but we were only able to go as far as establishing the two city’s intention to forge the agreement,” she said.
Zozobrado said Guinomla’s presence in Turkey was one of the factors that could have hastened the forging of the sisterhood agreement since he already got the commitment of all heads during the First Conference of Heads of Philippine Honorary Consular Posts in Turkey. However, she said, they will try to work things out with the new Philippine Ambassador to Turkey and the other officials there who are willing to help out in establishing a relationship between Mersin and Davao.
“I have spoken with Assistant Secretary Guinomla and he is willing to help us in forging the agreement even if he is already based here,” Zozobrado said. At least we now have someone here in Davao who can help us out in establishing the sisterhood agreement, she added.
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.
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.
Mersin City has existing sisterhood pacts with Latakia, Syria and Kushimoto, Japan.
Council declares Mintal a Japanese heritage site
BARANGAY Mintal has officially been declared a Japanese heritage site Tuesday through a resolution passed by the Davao City Council in recognition of the historical bonds between the people of Japan and Davao.
Mintal was then known as "Little Tokyo" during the World War II.
Councilor Rachel Zozobrado, City Council chair of the committee on international relations, said Barangay Mintal will construct a Japanese-themed park and will also reconstruct Japanese relic sites in the barangay.
"Ang target is mahuman siya (it will be finished) by August when most Japanese tourists visit the city. With city tourism, a barangay tourism council will be established, patterned after the Japanese Heritage declaration. This will hopefully make Mintal another tourist destination," Zozobrado said.
Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) chief Roberto Teo earlier said, "The declaration of Mintal as a Japanese heritage site will encourage residents to look at possible economic activities which they can do to attract Japanese and other tourists."
Philippine Nikkei Jinkai Inc. chairman Bernardo Fernandez said all of Mintal used to be occupied and owned by the Japanese.
Barangay captain Ramon Bargamento has already identified a site where the planned Japanese garden would be built, the small plaza beside the Mintal Gym.
However, Historical Society chair Enrica Babao said the place is too small and suggested that they scout for bigger areas since there are lots of government institutions in the area like the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Bureau of Plant Industry.
BARANGAY Mintal has officially been declared a Japanese heritage site Tuesday through a resolution passed by the Davao City Council in recognition of the historical bonds between the people of Japan and Davao.
Mintal was then known as "Little Tokyo" during the World War II.
Councilor Rachel Zozobrado, City Council chair of the committee on international relations, said Barangay Mintal will construct a Japanese-themed park and will also reconstruct Japanese relic sites in the barangay.
"Ang target is mahuman siya (it will be finished) by August when most Japanese tourists visit the city. With city tourism, a barangay tourism council will be established, patterned after the Japanese Heritage declaration. This will hopefully make Mintal another tourist destination," Zozobrado said.
Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) chief Roberto Teo earlier said, "The declaration of Mintal as a Japanese heritage site will encourage residents to look at possible economic activities which they can do to attract Japanese and other tourists."
Philippine Nikkei Jinkai Inc. chairman Bernardo Fernandez said all of Mintal used to be occupied and owned by the Japanese.
Barangay captain Ramon Bargamento has already identified a site where the planned Japanese garden would be built, the small plaza beside the Mintal Gym.
However, Historical Society chair Enrica Babao said the place is too small and suggested that they scout for bigger areas since there are lots of government institutions in the area like the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Bureau of Plant Industry.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
World Oceans Meet A Pitch For EAGA’s Water Resources
The World Ocean’s Conference slated in Manado, Indonesia on May 11 to 14 is another chance for the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area member economies to pitch for the region’s water resources.
“It is worthwhile to note that the World Ocean’s Conference which will be attended not only by EAGA members but also by other countries is being hosted by our neighbor and sister city Manado,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. This is a good opportunity for the EAGA members to raise their concerns about the status of their water resources.
BIMP-EAGA is an economic cooperation among the member countries which seeks to develop the region’s common and complementing resources including tourism, agriculture and education. Water might as well be a common concern among EAGA members, Zozobrado said, considering that all our shorelines are closely linked.
She said the Conference will tackle important issues involving the world’s seas and oceans. Considering the possible water crisis that we are about to experience in the future sans the passage of urgent measures, she said, the Conference should be considered an ideal venue to plan specific measures to protect our water resources.
Zozobrado said Davao City is known to have not only one of the cleanest and potable drinking water sources but it is also an area known for its pristine diving and fishing sites. It is time for us to closely share our experiences as well as our emerging problems related to our water sources and the Conference will surely be significant venue for doing that.
The World Ocean’s Conference slated in Manado, Indonesia on May 11 to 14 is another chance for the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area member economies to pitch for the region’s water resources.
“It is worthwhile to note that the World Ocean’s Conference which will be attended not only by EAGA members but also by other countries is being hosted by our neighbor and sister city Manado,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. This is a good opportunity for the EAGA members to raise their concerns about the status of their water resources.
BIMP-EAGA is an economic cooperation among the member countries which seeks to develop the region’s common and complementing resources including tourism, agriculture and education. Water might as well be a common concern among EAGA members, Zozobrado said, considering that all our shorelines are closely linked.
She said the Conference will tackle important issues involving the world’s seas and oceans. Considering the possible water crisis that we are about to experience in the future sans the passage of urgent measures, she said, the Conference should be considered an ideal venue to plan specific measures to protect our water resources.
Zozobrado said Davao City is known to have not only one of the cleanest and potable drinking water sources but it is also an area known for its pristine diving and fishing sites. It is time for us to closely share our experiences as well as our emerging problems related to our water sources and the Conference will surely be significant venue for doing that.
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