Davao supermarkets, stores urged to voluntarily
Recall China-made products with melamine
Councilor Rachel Zozobrado yesterday urged Davao supermarkets and stores to voluntarily recall their China-made products that are suspected to contain melamine. She also cautioned Dabawenyos from buying and consuming milk and dairy products from China in the wake of the Chinese milk scandal which left 53,000 children in China sick and several others dead.
“There are several establishments in the city that are selling dairy and milk products from China and some of these products may contain the banned industrial chemical melamine,” Zozobrado said. Most Dabawenyos buy the food products from China since these are cheap compared to the other consumer products in the market.
Zozobrado said this should prompt the proper government agencies to conduct an inspection on the various establishments selling imported products to check if the China-made products that have been recalled and said to contain melamine are being displayed and sold in Davao City.
A voluntary recall of five of its products made in China has been made by Marudai Food Co. of Osaka after it admitted that these products may contain melamine. The products which were made by its Chinese subsidiary and which have been recalled are Cream Panda, Kakuni, Matcha Azuki Mirukuman, Gratin Crepe Corn and Mocchiri Nikumanan.
She said establishments in the city should police their ranks and should be responsible enough to check if they have products that are made in China which may contain the toxic substance melamine. On the other hand, she added, the government agencies concerned should already start inspecting these establishments.
Zozobrado said it is not only the Uyanguren stores that sell China-made food products but also the big supermarkets. However, she said, it has not been confirmed if all China-made milk and dairy products have melamine traces. It is to the advantage of these stores if they can place a sign indicating that no products with melamine content are being sold in their establishments to assure their customers of their safety.
She said even Singapore has found traces of melamine in the creamy White Rabbit candy which are sold in some Davao City stores. The authorities also found traces of melamine in yogurt bars with the Yili brand, and the strawberry milk with the Dutch Lady brand---all made in China,. In view of this the Singapore government suspended the importation and sale of milk and dairy products from China.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Libre Notaryo sa Barangay
Free notary, legal services for Toril residents held
Free notarial and legal services were provided for residents of barangays Daliao and Lizada in Toril, District 3 this city from 8 to 12 AM and from 2 to 5 PM yesterday September 11, 2008.
The free notarial and legal service program was spearheaded by the office of councilor Rachel Zozobrado in coordination with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the barangay officials of the respective areas. There was also a mobile late registration of birth for the said barangays in coordination with the Local Civil Registry.
“This is one of way of making legal services more accessible to the barangays particularly to the poor people who have no way or have difficulty in securing the services of a lawyer,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.
She said this is the second time they are providing the said services for free to the third district. The first free notarial and legal services program was held last August 22 in barangays Sto. Niño and Mintal of Tugbok District.
“We are hoping that people will take advantage not only of the free notarial and legal services but also of the mobile registration of birth offered by the LCR,” she said.
The group was in barangay Daliao in the morning and in barangay Lizada in the afternoon. Among those who joined yesterday's program were IBP president Manuel Quibod, councilor Rachel Zozobrado as well as other IBP members.
Free notary, legal services for Toril residents held
Free notarial and legal services were provided for residents of barangays Daliao and Lizada in Toril, District 3 this city from 8 to 12 AM and from 2 to 5 PM yesterday September 11, 2008.
The free notarial and legal service program was spearheaded by the office of councilor Rachel Zozobrado in coordination with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the barangay officials of the respective areas. There was also a mobile late registration of birth for the said barangays in coordination with the Local Civil Registry.
“This is one of way of making legal services more accessible to the barangays particularly to the poor people who have no way or have difficulty in securing the services of a lawyer,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.
She said this is the second time they are providing the said services for free to the third district. The first free notarial and legal services program was held last August 22 in barangays Sto. Niño and Mintal of Tugbok District.
“We are hoping that people will take advantage not only of the free notarial and legal services but also of the mobile registration of birth offered by the LCR,” she said.
The group was in barangay Daliao in the morning and in barangay Lizada in the afternoon. Among those who joined yesterday's program were IBP president Manuel Quibod, councilor Rachel Zozobrado as well as other IBP members.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
PRIVILEGE SPEECH
Hon. RACHEL ZOZOBRADO
City Councilor
September 9, 2008
Maayong buntag sa inyong tanan!
I rise on a personal and collective privilege.
Everyone’s attention is, as it should be, on the still unresolved peace and order problems in some parts of Mindanao. Then there is that brouhaha caused by reports and charges of alleged corruption in the Court of Appeals which still leaves a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth.
Amidst all these, I would like to commend the Supreme Court for its Justice On Wheels program. This program shows that while it would seem that the wheels of justice grind slowly, it does not stop grinding and is now literally within the reach of the people.
The Justice On Wheels program is a product of then Chief Justice Hilario Davide’s vision to make access to justice by the poor one of the major thrusts of the Supreme Court.
Administrative Matter No. 04-6-02-SC which mandates the implementation of Justice On Wheels was patterned from the Guatemala government’s efforts to bring justice to the grassroots through its mobile court system. This mobile travels in places where there are no judges and hears cases that involves domestic relations and labor as well as conduct mediation.
Lately, the Supreme Court added its speedy trial program and launched it through the Justice On Wheels, which is aimed at decongesting city jails all over the country. In Southern Mindanao, for instance, cases of a number of inmates who have languished in jail for years were finally and completely tried. It was reported that some 142 of these inmates were released.
The implementation of the Justice on Wheels Program of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is primarily geared towards bringing justice closer to the Filipino people. This is the same dream that my father, the late councilor Jesus A. Zozobrado, Jr. had, when he passed a resolution in the halls of this same council, requesting the House of Representatives for the creation of additional courts for barangays in Toril, Calinan and Sasa in Davao City. And while this dream has not been realized during his lifetime, and the aforestated Resolution is, in fact, still awaiting action from the House of Representatives, I am happy to note that with the Supreme Court’s Justice On Wheels Program, his dream of bringing justice closer to the barangays is now nearer to reality.
In approving the circular providing for the establishment of the Wheels on Justice Program, the Supreme Court noted the number of vacancies in Philippine courts particularly in the municipal trial courts and in the municipal circuit trial courts. This has resulted to delays in the resolution of cases which is not good as delayed justice can impede the country’s progress by undermining the political, social and economic stability of the country.
Let us extend our support to the Supreme Court’s Justice On Wheels Program and commend them in their efforts to ensure the effective administration of justice in our country.
Hon. RACHEL ZOZOBRADO
City Councilor
September 9, 2008
Maayong buntag sa inyong tanan!
I rise on a personal and collective privilege.
Everyone’s attention is, as it should be, on the still unresolved peace and order problems in some parts of Mindanao. Then there is that brouhaha caused by reports and charges of alleged corruption in the Court of Appeals which still leaves a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth.
Amidst all these, I would like to commend the Supreme Court for its Justice On Wheels program. This program shows that while it would seem that the wheels of justice grind slowly, it does not stop grinding and is now literally within the reach of the people.
The Justice On Wheels program is a product of then Chief Justice Hilario Davide’s vision to make access to justice by the poor one of the major thrusts of the Supreme Court.
Administrative Matter No. 04-6-02-SC which mandates the implementation of Justice On Wheels was patterned from the Guatemala government’s efforts to bring justice to the grassroots through its mobile court system. This mobile travels in places where there are no judges and hears cases that involves domestic relations and labor as well as conduct mediation.
Lately, the Supreme Court added its speedy trial program and launched it through the Justice On Wheels, which is aimed at decongesting city jails all over the country. In Southern Mindanao, for instance, cases of a number of inmates who have languished in jail for years were finally and completely tried. It was reported that some 142 of these inmates were released.
The implementation of the Justice on Wheels Program of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is primarily geared towards bringing justice closer to the Filipino people. This is the same dream that my father, the late councilor Jesus A. Zozobrado, Jr. had, when he passed a resolution in the halls of this same council, requesting the House of Representatives for the creation of additional courts for barangays in Toril, Calinan and Sasa in Davao City. And while this dream has not been realized during his lifetime, and the aforestated Resolution is, in fact, still awaiting action from the House of Representatives, I am happy to note that with the Supreme Court’s Justice On Wheels Program, his dream of bringing justice closer to the barangays is now nearer to reality.
In approving the circular providing for the establishment of the Wheels on Justice Program, the Supreme Court noted the number of vacancies in Philippine courts particularly in the municipal trial courts and in the municipal circuit trial courts. This has resulted to delays in the resolution of cases which is not good as delayed justice can impede the country’s progress by undermining the political, social and economic stability of the country.
Let us extend our support to the Supreme Court’s Justice On Wheels Program and commend them in their efforts to ensure the effective administration of justice in our country.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Possibility of promoting tourism with North Sulawesi eyed
The International Relations Board is eyeing the promotion of tourism between Davao City and Manado in North Sulawesi once its existence has been fully legally formalized.
The City Council has approved the resolution proposing the creation of the International Relations Board but is awaiting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s approval. However, members of the Board are raring to start working on maintaining and renewing sisterhood ties with other cities particularly Manado in Sulawesi with which the city has a sisterhood agreement signed on June 22, 2004.
“Tourism promotion between Mindanao and Indonesia has already started several years ago thanks to the BIMP-Eaga initiatives,” Council Committee on International Relations chairperson Rachel Zozobrado said. BIMP-Eaga or the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area is an economic cooperation among the four regions that aims to develop their resources including tourism, education, trade and communication.
However, Zozobrado said, there is so much more that can be done to promote the two areas to their residents through the sisterhood agreement signed between the two cities. The Board, with the help of Davao City’s travel industry can explore specific strategies to promote Davao tourism to Manado, she said.
Even North Sulawesi is also excited about trade and tourism prospects between the two cities. BIMP-EAGA North Sulawesi Secretariat head Dr. Shelley Sondakh also indicated their intent to “explore collaboration and complementation areas between Sulawesi and Mindanao” particularly Davao and General Santos City.
Davao Association of Travel Agencies president Angel Puentespina said tourism packaging for the BIMP-EAGA will definitely give local tourism a boost. He said tourism players in the region have recently launched an initiative to develop tour packages that will promote EAGA destinations.
Zozobrado said a regular flight between Davao and Manado will also lead to more tourist exchange between the two cities. Merpati Airlines flies between Davao and Manado on a chartered basis.
“The Board can closely look into the various possibilities offered by our sisterhood agreements with other cities to get the most economic advantage for Davao City,” Zozobrado said.
The International Relations Board is eyeing the promotion of tourism between Davao City and Manado in North Sulawesi once its existence has been fully legally formalized.
The City Council has approved the resolution proposing the creation of the International Relations Board but is awaiting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s approval. However, members of the Board are raring to start working on maintaining and renewing sisterhood ties with other cities particularly Manado in Sulawesi with which the city has a sisterhood agreement signed on June 22, 2004.
“Tourism promotion between Mindanao and Indonesia has already started several years ago thanks to the BIMP-Eaga initiatives,” Council Committee on International Relations chairperson Rachel Zozobrado said. BIMP-Eaga or the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area is an economic cooperation among the four regions that aims to develop their resources including tourism, education, trade and communication.
However, Zozobrado said, there is so much more that can be done to promote the two areas to their residents through the sisterhood agreement signed between the two cities. The Board, with the help of Davao City’s travel industry can explore specific strategies to promote Davao tourism to Manado, she said.
Even North Sulawesi is also excited about trade and tourism prospects between the two cities. BIMP-EAGA North Sulawesi Secretariat head Dr. Shelley Sondakh also indicated their intent to “explore collaboration and complementation areas between Sulawesi and Mindanao” particularly Davao and General Santos City.
Davao Association of Travel Agencies president Angel Puentespina said tourism packaging for the BIMP-EAGA will definitely give local tourism a boost. He said tourism players in the region have recently launched an initiative to develop tour packages that will promote EAGA destinations.
Zozobrado said a regular flight between Davao and Manado will also lead to more tourist exchange between the two cities. Merpati Airlines flies between Davao and Manado on a chartered basis.
“The Board can closely look into the various possibilities offered by our sisterhood agreements with other cities to get the most economic advantage for Davao City,” Zozobrado said.
Int’l. board to help Davao renew ties with the world
Davao City is set to renew its ties with some cities in the Philippines and in other countries with the approval of the International Relations Board, a body composed of government and private agencies mostly dealing with foreign trade, relations and investment.
“We hope that with the approval of the International Relations Group we will now have a body that will intently look into the status of our existing sisterhood agreement and turn them into economic advantages for the city,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.
The resolution was approved by the City Council last week and is just awaiting the signature of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for finalization.
Zozobrado, who is chair of the Council International Relations Committee, said Davao City has entered into several sisterhood agreements with various national and international cities but not too many of these agreements have succeeded in what both cities want to achieve.
Davao City Investment Promotion Center chief Roberto Teo said Davao has existing agreements with Nanning City of China and Republic of Palau. These are only among the latest twinning pacts the city has entered into after the enactment of City Ordinance No. 0297-06 or the Davao Sister Cities Program.
“There is also a sisterhood agreement with Honolulu, Hawaii which was signed last 2004 and a lot of other twinning agreements which are set to expire every five years unless terminated,” Teo added.
“We have a lot to do in terms of really exploring the opportunities that these sisterhood agreements can offer the city in terms of economic development,” Zozobrado said. Depending on the terms of the pacts, she said, Davao can explore economic activities that will lead to more jobs and income to the Dabawenyos.
Zozobrado said the membership of the DCIPC to the board will ensure that the city can explore investment opportunities with the cities we have sisterhood agreements with considering that the Center is already doing this prior to the formation of the Board.
However, she said, there are various aspects in twinning pacts including tourism and other economic and social opportunities which the Board can take care of as a body.
Davao may be in the forefront of Mindanao’s (and the Philippines’) economic development but there is a need to sustain and strengthen existing and proposed sisterhood agreements if we are to move forward, she said.
Aside from the DCIPC, the International Relations Board is composed of the Office of the City Mayor as chair, the different council committees including Tourism, Trade and Industry, Information, Communication and Technology, City Planning, City Tourism Council, City Information Office, City Agriculturist, TESDA, DOST director and DTI City director.
Davao City is set to renew its ties with some cities in the Philippines and in other countries with the approval of the International Relations Board, a body composed of government and private agencies mostly dealing with foreign trade, relations and investment.
“We hope that with the approval of the International Relations Group we will now have a body that will intently look into the status of our existing sisterhood agreement and turn them into economic advantages for the city,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.
The resolution was approved by the City Council last week and is just awaiting the signature of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for finalization.
Zozobrado, who is chair of the Council International Relations Committee, said Davao City has entered into several sisterhood agreements with various national and international cities but not too many of these agreements have succeeded in what both cities want to achieve.
Davao City Investment Promotion Center chief Roberto Teo said Davao has existing agreements with Nanning City of China and Republic of Palau. These are only among the latest twinning pacts the city has entered into after the enactment of City Ordinance No. 0297-06 or the Davao Sister Cities Program.
“There is also a sisterhood agreement with Honolulu, Hawaii which was signed last 2004 and a lot of other twinning agreements which are set to expire every five years unless terminated,” Teo added.
“We have a lot to do in terms of really exploring the opportunities that these sisterhood agreements can offer the city in terms of economic development,” Zozobrado said. Depending on the terms of the pacts, she said, Davao can explore economic activities that will lead to more jobs and income to the Dabawenyos.
Zozobrado said the membership of the DCIPC to the board will ensure that the city can explore investment opportunities with the cities we have sisterhood agreements with considering that the Center is already doing this prior to the formation of the Board.
However, she said, there are various aspects in twinning pacts including tourism and other economic and social opportunities which the Board can take care of as a body.
Davao may be in the forefront of Mindanao’s (and the Philippines’) economic development but there is a need to sustain and strengthen existing and proposed sisterhood agreements if we are to move forward, she said.
Aside from the DCIPC, the International Relations Board is composed of the Office of the City Mayor as chair, the different council committees including Tourism, Trade and Industry, Information, Communication and Technology, City Planning, City Tourism Council, City Information Office, City Agriculturist, TESDA, DOST director and DTI City director.
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