From Left to Right: Bing Gonzales of Mindanao Daily Mirror, Dennis Lazo of Bombo Radyo, Fiscal Emelio "Nonot" Dayanghirang III, Coach Huebert Paz, BAP-SBP Executive Director Patrick Gregorio, BAP-SBP Davao region chief Regino "Boy" Cua, Marianne Saberon-Abalayan of Sunstar Davao, Pastor Gary Visitacion of Philippine Challenge Ministry, Rico Jhone Biliran of MindaNews and Charles Maxey of Sunstar Davao.Friday, February 29, 2008
From Left to Right: Bing Gonzales of Mindanao Daily Mirror, Dennis Lazo of Bombo Radyo, Fiscal Emelio "Nonot" Dayanghirang III, Coach Huebert Paz, BAP-SBP Executive Director Patrick Gregorio, BAP-SBP Davao region chief Regino "Boy" Cua, Marianne Saberon-Abalayan of Sunstar Davao, Pastor Gary Visitacion of Philippine Challenge Ministry, Rico Jhone Biliran of MindaNews and Charles Maxey of Sunstar Davao.
SPORTS: PSC chief calls for unity in Davao sports
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez has called on sports stakeholders inthis city to "unite and work with unity" in order to attain sustainable sports development program.
"This is for the better of sports in Davao City. We need to move andlook forward," Ramirez told sports journalists here following theawarding rites of the Edsa Unity Basketball Tournament Saturday night.
Ramirez, a former city sports coordinator, said he personally wants tohave a sustainable sports development program in Davao City that wouldplan and implement an integrated program of physical fitness andsports development for the city as well as sustain sports trainingactivities.
Davao City Sports Council, Inc. (DCSCI), which is composed of regionalchapters of the National Sports Association (NSA), the citygovernment, the private sector and other sports stakeholders, shouldwork hand in hand for Davao City's sports development program, hesaid.
"It's much better for us to work together to achieve our goal ofbetter sports program," said the former Ateneo de Davao Universityprofessor and chief mentor of the Blue Knights.
The national sports agency chief pointed out that the city governmentshould be the "hub of the wheel" of all the sports activities in thecity.
"By simply staging tournaments here and there is not a program. Weneed programs here, a sports development program, " he lamented.
Ramirez, the first Dabawenyo chief of the PSC, also reiterated theimportance of the creation of a sports commission that, according tohim, would give direction to the sports program of Davao City.
The formal creation of the Davao City Sports Commission (DCSC) throughan ordinance, however, had endured setback.
The envisioned DCSC, according to the proposed ordinance, will beacting as an umbrella body for all sports associations, organizationsand groups in the city, both from the public and private sectors.
The powers of the commission include to plan and implement anintegrated program of physical fitness and sports development for thecity as well as sustain sports training activities, particularly foroutstanding athletes and help the city government to identify, planand manage sports facilities required for the training of athletes andconduct of sports tournaments.
"It is the mandate of our office to help draft sports developmentprograms for the local government units and to have grassroots sportsprogram nationwide," said Ramirez.
He also said the opening of the PSC Mindanao satellite office herecould help achieve the common goal for Davao sports.
The PSC board has decided with board resolution to put up a Mindanaosatellite office to help augment the talent identification andgrassroots development program of the national sports agency.
It will also coordinate with various local government units theprograms of the PSC in Mindanao, which has 27 provinces and 33 citiesas well as the promotion of Philippine Sports Institute. (Rico Biliran/ MindaNews)
SPORTS: Palaro-bound DAVRAA delegation faces budgetary constraints
The Davao Region delegation bound forPalarong Pambansa in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan is facing"budgetary constraints, " reports said.
But Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) officials are nowtaking measures and finding solutions to the financial woes, accordingto Dr. Fidel Japos, head of the Department of Education's (DepEd) TaskForce on School Sports.
"We are now taking measures for that (problem)," said Japos. "One ofthat is to trim down the number of the technical officials in thedelegation."
At the moment, Japos said, the DAVRAA delegation is composed of 484delegates, 85 of which are "technical officials" taking care of threecommittees -- kitchen, transportation and communication.
"We cannot cut the number of athletes and coaches," he said, noting that some of the technical officials may have to go.
Apart from the 85 technical officials, there are 339 athletes and 53coaches from the Davao Region delegation attending the nationalmulti-sport events for elementary and secondary students on April21-26.
He said they are also negotiating with airline companies for a cheapercharter flight to Palawan since "we have found out that traveling byboat is much more expensive."
Japos estimated that the DAVRAA participation would cost P8 to P10million, including transportation, food, supplies, uniforms andallowances.
Explaining where the funding would come from, Japos said the localgovernment division offices will provide P150,000 each and the centraloffice will give P4 million.
"The DepEd regional office will also give its counterpart, " he said.DepEd-XI has nine division offices, including the cities of Davao,Digos, Tagum, Panabo and Island Garden City of Samal and the provincesof Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and CompostelaValley.
During his courtesy visit to DepEd-XI regional director SusannaTeressa Estigoy, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William"Butch" Ramirez has reportedly vowed "to provide help."
Ramirez said he will also hand out equipments that would be used for the training of the Davao Region athletes beginning on March 23 toApril 15 in the City of Mati in Davao Oriental.
"We will also send lecturers there to conduct leadership training andcoaches' education training," said Ramirez. (Rico Biliran / MindaNews)
But Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) officials are nowtaking measures and finding solutions to the financial woes, accordingto Dr. Fidel Japos, head of the Department of Education's (DepEd) TaskForce on School Sports.
"We are now taking measures for that (problem)," said Japos. "One ofthat is to trim down the number of the technical officials in thedelegation."
At the moment, Japos said, the DAVRAA delegation is composed of 484delegates, 85 of which are "technical officials" taking care of threecommittees -- kitchen, transportation and communication.
"We cannot cut the number of athletes and coaches," he said, noting that some of the technical officials may have to go.
Apart from the 85 technical officials, there are 339 athletes and 53coaches from the Davao Region delegation attending the nationalmulti-sport events for elementary and secondary students on April21-26.
He said they are also negotiating with airline companies for a cheapercharter flight to Palawan since "we have found out that traveling byboat is much more expensive."
Japos estimated that the DAVRAA participation would cost P8 to P10million, including transportation, food, supplies, uniforms andallowances.
Explaining where the funding would come from, Japos said the localgovernment division offices will provide P150,000 each and the centraloffice will give P4 million.
"The DepEd regional office will also give its counterpart, " he said.DepEd-XI has nine division offices, including the cities of Davao,Digos, Tagum, Panabo and Island Garden City of Samal and the provincesof Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and CompostelaValley.
During his courtesy visit to DepEd-XI regional director SusannaTeressa Estigoy, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William"Butch" Ramirez has reportedly vowed "to provide help."
Ramirez said he will also hand out equipments that would be used for the training of the Davao Region athletes beginning on March 23 toApril 15 in the City of Mati in Davao Oriental.
"We will also send lecturers there to conduct leadership training andcoaches' education training," said Ramirez. (Rico Biliran / MindaNews)
Reconstruction of Davao’s oldest bridge completed by early August
MindaNews photo by: BJ Patiñ0The reconstruction of the Gov. Generoso Bridge, the oldest span in this city, will be completed by early August this year, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane assured President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her visit here Wednesday.
Formerly known as the Bankerohan Bridge, the 58-year-old bridge along the Davao-Cotobato Road was badly damaged during the typhoon that battered Davao last year.
The President arrived here Wednesday to look into the status of ongoing government infrastructure projects in Region XI, including the Gov. Generoso Bridge, which is situated in the heart of the city’s bustling commercial district.
Ebdane, who accompanied the President in her inspection of public works projects here, said the DPWH will see to it that the contractor of the span will meet the August construction deadline.
The President also congratulated Ebdane for the P10 million the government saved from the implementation of the project.
The DPWH chief said that the original cost estimate of the 170.88-linear bridge project was P216 million but his department awarded the contract to the bidder who offered the lowest bid of P206 million, thus the P10 million savings.
The President, in a light-blue raincoat jacket, braved the slight shower to view the ongoing construction of the bridge. Ebdane informed her that Pier I of the bridge was already completed, and that the contractor has started the construction of Pier II.
The President expressed elation over the progress of the project which, when completed, will cut the travel time between the neighboring provinces of Davao and Cotabato.
Moreover, the bridge will improve traffic conditions on the Maa Road intersection along MacArthur Highway in Matina, all the way to Quirino Avenue on the other side of the Davao River, the DPWH said.The old Bankerohan span, which had a maximum load capacity of 45 tons, was built over five years from 1946 to 1950.
Notice to the public: From the 1987 Philippine Constitution
Article III - Bill of Rights SEC. 18.
(1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.
(2) No involuntary servitude in any from shall exist except as punishment for a crime whereof the party shall be duly convicted.
(1) No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.
(2) No involuntary servitude in any from shall exist except as punishment for a crime whereof the party shall be duly convicted.
Tell the Truth, Now, says AdDU community
Our country today is in a very deep political and moral crisis. We see its impact on the face of Jun Lozada, the reluctant star witness. He fears for his life and for his family’s safety, as he struggles to speak out what he knows about the NBN-ZTE deal.
This $329-million controversial deal apparently has a built-in $130 million kickback. This is very disturbing! Whoever has the key to the solution to this problem, speak! We want to know the truth! Whistleblower Lozada, of course, is not a saint. He himself confesses his previous wrongdoing. But his bold witnessing overcomes the tricks some authorities employ to avoid saying what they know and to prevent those who know from speaking out.
The greatest casualty here is the truth. So tell us the truth, now!For if all this is true, then it will confirm the grand scale corruption that the Philippine bishops have relentlessly been preaching against.
According to the Editorial of the official publication of the Philippine Bishops, “Graft and corruption in the government are so endemic and extensive that socio-political integrity in governance has seemingly become a moral impossibility to achieve during the remaining three-year tenure of the present national leadership” (CBCP Monitor June 25-Jul8 2007, p. A4).
This is a heavy statement. We would be hypocrite, however, if we blame only the government. At the moment, no social institution in Philippine society seems immune to corruption. So, like Lozada, the media must also say, “Mea culpa” for some distorted reporting.
Like Lozada, the Church must also admit its lack of transparency in its institutions, and should also say “Mea culpa”. Like Lozada, the private sector must stop bribery and not yield to extortion, and say, “Mea culpa”.
This collective admission of guilt is part of our communal cleansing. And this Lenten Season should be a good time to confess the sad truth of our participation in corruption!The Blessing of IntegrityThank God, there is another truth to be told.
The probinsyanong Intsik is not alone. There are many more whistleblowers who, in less sensational ways, live up to the demands of living a life of integrity. We witness the heroic citizenship of ordinary employees who continue, despite low salaries, to pour their energies into their public service. We know of judges who retire with peace of mind because they have held fast to their principles.
All this is also true! We bless the dynamic leaders who literally walk the streets in delivering basic services to their people. We affirm the achievements of conscientious individuals in the corporate world and the religious groups who combine professional competence with social conscience.
All this is must also be hailed for they are true! We celebrate, with both sacred rage and serene faith, the death of our contemporary martyrs who have sacrificed life, job, and family for the sake of justice.
They lived in the joy and consolation of the truth! Communal Action for TruthNow, in response to the call of Philippine bishops and various vigilant groups, the Ateneo de Davao University students, faculty, administration, staff, and other concerned citizens here in Davao City join together in “communal action,” to pray hard and work even harder for enlightenment, cleansing, and the courage to live by the “truth that sets us free.” (John 8:32).
We commit ourselves to continuous struggle---within our own selves, our families and institutions---to abhor lies and to uphold truth. At the same time, we challenge those who hold positions of public trust---please check and recheck your values.
We call on their relatives to interrogate the acts of their fathers or mothers or sons or daughters in positions of power. Do not be the cause of their downfall.We call on the students and alumni---you are the best contribution of schools to society.
Remember the values that your school stands for. Do not bring shame to your Alma Mater. We call on the religious communities and members of civil society. Support the authentic whistleblowers. Give them shelter. Help them discern.
Take care of their families. More importantly, don’t leave individual whistleblowers to carry the burden of shaking the conscience of society. Let’s transform our groups into prophetic communities and communal whistleblowers.
We call everyone to tell your stories of pain and anger, your dreams and energies. In homes and classrooms, talk about Filipinos who tell the truth. Tell children not to cheat their way to success. Teach them hard and honest work.
Tell them to respect the real value of words---and numbers. Remind them of the dignity of our people. We believe that the present crisis is not in our genes. Even our seemingly immovable social structure and incorrigible culture of corruption cannot be our eternal destiny.
If we dare to change, things will change. So let us change!What we now see as an apparent dead-end may yet turn out to be the threshold of a new creation. In the “darkness that covered the abyss” in the beginning of creation, God’s “mighty wind swept over the waters. God said, ‘Let there be light. And there was light’” (Genesis 1:2-3).
In the seemingly desperate situation our country is in today, let the mighty wind of God’s spirit move us. Let there be movement! And there shall be change!But first, give us no less than the truth, and the faith to face it---now!
(This is the statement of the Ateneo de Davao University community, read out last Feb 22, during our mass officiated by Fr. Antonio Samson, SJ, University President, and also read during the prayer rally held at the gate of ADDU after mass.The prayer rally was convened by Ehem! and ADDU, and joining us were various groups, including Pakisama, Bayan, Mindanao Commission on Women, Mincode, and other schools in the city)
This $329-million controversial deal apparently has a built-in $130 million kickback. This is very disturbing! Whoever has the key to the solution to this problem, speak! We want to know the truth! Whistleblower Lozada, of course, is not a saint. He himself confesses his previous wrongdoing. But his bold witnessing overcomes the tricks some authorities employ to avoid saying what they know and to prevent those who know from speaking out.
The greatest casualty here is the truth. So tell us the truth, now!For if all this is true, then it will confirm the grand scale corruption that the Philippine bishops have relentlessly been preaching against.
According to the Editorial of the official publication of the Philippine Bishops, “Graft and corruption in the government are so endemic and extensive that socio-political integrity in governance has seemingly become a moral impossibility to achieve during the remaining three-year tenure of the present national leadership” (CBCP Monitor June 25-Jul8 2007, p. A4).
This is a heavy statement. We would be hypocrite, however, if we blame only the government. At the moment, no social institution in Philippine society seems immune to corruption. So, like Lozada, the media must also say, “Mea culpa” for some distorted reporting.
Like Lozada, the Church must also admit its lack of transparency in its institutions, and should also say “Mea culpa”. Like Lozada, the private sector must stop bribery and not yield to extortion, and say, “Mea culpa”.
This collective admission of guilt is part of our communal cleansing. And this Lenten Season should be a good time to confess the sad truth of our participation in corruption!The Blessing of IntegrityThank God, there is another truth to be told.
The probinsyanong Intsik is not alone. There are many more whistleblowers who, in less sensational ways, live up to the demands of living a life of integrity. We witness the heroic citizenship of ordinary employees who continue, despite low salaries, to pour their energies into their public service. We know of judges who retire with peace of mind because they have held fast to their principles.
All this is also true! We bless the dynamic leaders who literally walk the streets in delivering basic services to their people. We affirm the achievements of conscientious individuals in the corporate world and the religious groups who combine professional competence with social conscience.
All this is must also be hailed for they are true! We celebrate, with both sacred rage and serene faith, the death of our contemporary martyrs who have sacrificed life, job, and family for the sake of justice.
They lived in the joy and consolation of the truth! Communal Action for TruthNow, in response to the call of Philippine bishops and various vigilant groups, the Ateneo de Davao University students, faculty, administration, staff, and other concerned citizens here in Davao City join together in “communal action,” to pray hard and work even harder for enlightenment, cleansing, and the courage to live by the “truth that sets us free.” (John 8:32).
We commit ourselves to continuous struggle---within our own selves, our families and institutions---to abhor lies and to uphold truth. At the same time, we challenge those who hold positions of public trust---please check and recheck your values.
We call on their relatives to interrogate the acts of their fathers or mothers or sons or daughters in positions of power. Do not be the cause of their downfall.We call on the students and alumni---you are the best contribution of schools to society.
Remember the values that your school stands for. Do not bring shame to your Alma Mater. We call on the religious communities and members of civil society. Support the authentic whistleblowers. Give them shelter. Help them discern.
Take care of their families. More importantly, don’t leave individual whistleblowers to carry the burden of shaking the conscience of society. Let’s transform our groups into prophetic communities and communal whistleblowers.
We call everyone to tell your stories of pain and anger, your dreams and energies. In homes and classrooms, talk about Filipinos who tell the truth. Tell children not to cheat their way to success. Teach them hard and honest work.
Tell them to respect the real value of words---and numbers. Remind them of the dignity of our people. We believe that the present crisis is not in our genes. Even our seemingly immovable social structure and incorrigible culture of corruption cannot be our eternal destiny.
If we dare to change, things will change. So let us change!What we now see as an apparent dead-end may yet turn out to be the threshold of a new creation. In the “darkness that covered the abyss” in the beginning of creation, God’s “mighty wind swept over the waters. God said, ‘Let there be light. And there was light’” (Genesis 1:2-3).
In the seemingly desperate situation our country is in today, let the mighty wind of God’s spirit move us. Let there be movement! And there shall be change!But first, give us no less than the truth, and the faith to face it---now!
(This is the statement of the Ateneo de Davao University community, read out last Feb 22, during our mass officiated by Fr. Antonio Samson, SJ, University President, and also read during the prayer rally held at the gate of ADDU after mass.The prayer rally was convened by Ehem! and ADDU, and joining us were various groups, including Pakisama, Bayan, Mindanao Commission on Women, Mincode, and other schools in the city)
Nograles urges nation to join CBCP in fight against corruption
House Speaker Prospero Nograles today urged the Filipino nation to join hands with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in its fight to weed out the culture of graft and corruption that has permeated in Philippine society.
The House Speaker said he welcomes the CBCP statement and stressed that this should motivate our people into joining the Church in its call for communal action to revive the Christian values that would help restore the dignity of each and every Filipino individual.
Nograles also said that this is now the time for the whole nation to unite and participate in the call of the Church to uproot graft and corruption from our political system pointing out that the House of Representatives under his leadership has jumpstarted the call for reforms with the formation of an oversight committee that has been tasked to draft the reform package in the Lower House that would yield greater accountability, transparency and the prudent utilization of government funds particularly the so-called development funds.
Nograles also urged the Filipino people to join the government in its fight to either eliminate or reduce the level of corruption in the public sector by remaining vigilant and conscious of their roles as citizens by participating more actively in the political process.
Citizenship bears some responsibility and primary among the duties of every Filipino is to help the government establish a society that would promote social justice, equal distribution of the country's wealth and resources, greater accountability and, integrity in public service, said Nograles.
The CBCP statement, he said, should provide both the Arroyo Administration and the Filipino people with the opportunity to come together and examine where our country now stands and where we want out nation to go from here.
We are all in the same boat and we cannot afford to see the country sink deeper in the abyss of poverty and political instability.
As such, we must all come together to ensure that our country remain afloat so that our vision of an economically stable Philippines may be fulfilled, Nograles explained.
The House Speaker said he welcomes the CBCP statement and stressed that this should motivate our people into joining the Church in its call for communal action to revive the Christian values that would help restore the dignity of each and every Filipino individual.
Nograles also said that this is now the time for the whole nation to unite and participate in the call of the Church to uproot graft and corruption from our political system pointing out that the House of Representatives under his leadership has jumpstarted the call for reforms with the formation of an oversight committee that has been tasked to draft the reform package in the Lower House that would yield greater accountability, transparency and the prudent utilization of government funds particularly the so-called development funds.
Nograles also urged the Filipino people to join the government in its fight to either eliminate or reduce the level of corruption in the public sector by remaining vigilant and conscious of their roles as citizens by participating more actively in the political process.
Citizenship bears some responsibility and primary among the duties of every Filipino is to help the government establish a society that would promote social justice, equal distribution of the country's wealth and resources, greater accountability and, integrity in public service, said Nograles.
The CBCP statement, he said, should provide both the Arroyo Administration and the Filipino people with the opportunity to come together and examine where our country now stands and where we want out nation to go from here.
We are all in the same boat and we cannot afford to see the country sink deeper in the abyss of poverty and political instability.
As such, we must all come together to ensure that our country remain afloat so that our vision of an economically stable Philippines may be fulfilled, Nograles explained.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
