3rd District bgys urged to spur growth with dev’t. plans

3rd District Councilor Rachel Zozobrado challenged the third district barangays last Friday to make use of their Medium Term Barangay Development Plan or MTBDP to push the growth of their barangays.

“It is high time that each barangay be empowered to plan for their future and the development plan is a means of empowering the barangays,” she said.

The MTBDPs of 31 barangays in the third district were turned over to the barangay captains and the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator at the ALMACEN building, Catalunan Pequeño yesterday.

The MTBDP is under the Upscaling Barangay and Marketing Development Project of the Josefa Segovia Foundation, Inc. The project is a partnership between the Foundation and the 31 barangays in the 3rd district and will be used as a basis in the community development project of the Foundation for the said barangays.

“The government has limited resources and it will always welcome the support of the private sector to help uplift the economic status of the people especially the farmers,” Zozobrado said. The Medium Term Barangay Development Plan of the 31 barangays in the third District of Davao is a blueprint for the development of each of these barangays.

Chone Baldoza, JSF executive director, said almost all the barangays in Calinan participated in the creation of the MTBDP except for one barangay (barangay Kawayan) who declined the offer.

Baldoza said the MTBDP project is a good example of partnership between the barangay and a non-profit organization like JSF. The Foundation took care of the expenses for the creation of the development plans while the barangay provided the venue and all the information required to create the plans.

The 31 barangays who received their MTBDPs are Biao Joaquin, Calinan Poblacion, Dalagdag, Dacudao, Dominga, Inayangan, Lacson, Lamanan, Lampianao, Megkawayan, Pangyan, Riverside, Sirib, Subasta, Talomo River, Saloy, Tamayong, Wangan in Calinan District, Cadalian in Baguio District, Bantol, Baganihan, Buda, Dalag Lumot, Datu Salumay, Gumitan, Magsaysay, Malamba, Marilog, Salaysay, Suawan, Tamugan in Marilog District

Photos during the 71st Araw ng Dabaw celebration

Museo Dabawenyo Inauguration

The Museo Dabawenyo was inugurated last March 15, 2008. Said opening was one of the highlights of the 71st Araw ng Davao celebration.

The new museum will serve as a repository of all documents, artifacts and other items significant to the history of the city of Davao. Individuals and families who have historical items are encouraged to donate such items to the city government to add to Museo Dabawenyo's collection.

Zozobrado cautions developers
On Maa-Shrine Hills projects

“Housing developments in the city are welcome but developers should also make sure that the Cherry Hills tragedy will not happen in the city this time around,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. Around 60 people died after a landslide occurred in the slopes of Cherry Hills Subdivision in Antipolo City in 1999.

Crown Communities Subdivision and the DM Consunji-UPDI are presently developing the areas along Maa and Shrine Hills and are facing opposition from the Bgy. Maa Federation of Home Owner Association. The Federation is an association of homeowners whose homes are located below the Consunji and the Crown Communities development projects.

Federation president Teodorico Tinio said the sides of the Shrine Hill area is unstable and is therefore not suitable for subdivision development. The Federation officers and members, who met with Vice Mayor Sara Duterte last January 25, said the instability of the soil poses real danger to the residents in terms of landslide and other mass movement.

Zozobrado said the city needs housing developments but the local government should be cautious in approving such developments if they are located in areas where the stability of land is in question. “If you look at the Shrine Hills area from Matina you would notice that the natural contour of the hill has been disturbed already,” she said.

I am not an expert on geology but one cannot help but worry about the possible landslide and other negative effects that can result from disturbing the natural flow of the land with the construction of houses and other infrastructure in the area, she added.

Councilor Braga, who supported the call of the Maa residents said “it is better to err on the side of the safety of the people than in the side of just one or two developers. Braga said Dabawenyos should make sure that housing and other developments will not be harmful to the people in the long run.

Zozobrado also questioned the act of some developers in selling their properties without permits to do so, citing one developer who has been distributing leaflets and selling their lots during an exhibit at SM City Davao two weeks ago. Crown Communities has however communicated with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and denied it is already in the process of selling.

Japanese consul vows to help promote Mintal
as premier tourist spot in RP for Japanese

The Japanese Consul in Davao City is fully supporting the declaration of Mintal as a Japanese heritage site and has promised to participate in any activity or committee hearing spearheaded by the City Council to achieve this objective.

“I applaud the committee’s efforts in recognizing the cultural and historical bonds between the people of Japan and Davao City,” Consul of Japan in Davao Koji Mitsui said in a letter addressed to councilor Rachel Zozobrado, chair of the Committee on International Relations.

Various sectors have signified their willingness to support Zozobrado and proponent Louie Villafuerte in coming up with a resolution declaring Mintal a Japanese heritage site the soonest possible time. The University of the Philippines and officials of barangay Mintal are planning to hold a photo exhibit on Mintal as Little Tokyo by August this year.

Mitsui said the Japanese Embassy in Manila does not have exact knowledge about the existence of such a heritage site in Mintal. Mintal barangay captain Ramon Bargamento confirmed there are a lot of Japanese burial grounds in the area and they get a lot of Japanese visitors who either visit the graves of their descendants in Mintal.

“Due to my sincere desire in strengthening the relationship between Japan and your city I will personally promote to the staff in charge of the Embassy of Japan in Manila to preserve and start recognizing the heritage site as one of the premier tourist spots in the Philippines,” Mitsui said.

Zozobrado has also enlisted the help of City Planning chief Louis Jacinto, Bargamento as well as Davao City Investment Promotion Center head Roberto “Bobby” Teo.

Council committee on Tourism chair Susan Reta, who is also supporting the project, said she has done prior research on the site and advised the committee to consider the protocols that should be observed involving the site since the Japanese consider it sacred ground and may not be willing to repaint or do some improvements in the burial grounds.

The area used to be an abaca plantation and was placed under Japanese administration even before the war started, Bargamento said, so there are indeed lots of Japanese descendants and Japanese graves in the area.

Councilor Rachel Zozobrado represents Mayor Duterte

in Guianga's Project Hope Cluster Recognition Day

Third District Councilor Rachel Zozobrado represented Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the Cluster Recognition and Moving Up Ceremonies held at the Manuel Guianga Gymnasium last March 6, 2008.

Among the centers that simultaneously held their recognition that day are: Manuel Guianga Day Care Center, Manuel Guianga Project Hope Day Care Center and Vartolome Project Hope Day Care Center.

"Ang mga day care centers maoy unang makapausab sa panan-aw sa kabataan mahitungod sa mga talan-awon nga masud-ong niini sa gawas sa iyang pinuy-anan; ang iyang kasinatian diha sa day care center makatabang ug dako aron dili na makurat ang bata inig abot sa adlaw nga mo-iskwela na kini sa Grade One," Duterte said in a speech delivered by Zozobrado.

A total of 45 day care center students received certificates and recognition during the Moving Up Day. The students were declared prepared and promoted to Grade 1 for the next schoolyear.

Also present during the Ceremony were barangay captain Antipas Batingal and 3rd district councilor Karlo Bello.

Dads eye declaration of Mintal as Japanese heritage site by August 2008

The long-time dream of Japanese nationals and descendants in Davao City to finally witness the recognition of Mintal as a Japanese heritage site may become a reality on or before August 2008.

“We are mobilizing the aid of all concerned agencies so we can fast track the declaration of Mintal as a Japanese heritage site in time for August when most Japanese time their visit to the city,” councillor Rachel Zozobrado, chair of the Committee on International Relations said. This is also the month being eyed by officials of barangay Mintal and the University of the Philippines in Mindanao for the staging a photo exhibit on Mintal as Little Tokyo.

Mintal barangay captain Ramon Bargamento said the declaration of Mintal as a Japanese heritage site is long overdue considering that it was the center of economic activity during the Japanese occupation. This explains the proliferation of Japanese burial sites in the area up to now.

“There are a lot of Japanese descendants living in Mintal right now and their relatives periodically visit the area to get in touch with them or just visit the graves of their loved ones,” Zozobrado said. She added she is looking forward to the declaration of Mintal as a Japanese heritage site since she grew up in Mintal and can recall seeing a lot of Japanese in the area, either as neighbors or frequent visitors.

The resolution declaring the area as a Japanese heritage site was proposed by councilor Louie Villafuerte who also comes from the third district. “The establishment of the heritage site will recognize the historical bond between the people of Japan and Davao City,” he said.

City Planning chief Louis Jacinto is also supportive of the move to declare Mintal as a Japanese heritage site but said they should closely look into the protocols involved considering that it is considered a sacred ground by the Japanese. He has offered assistance in terms of research and the creation of a map of the area.