PIA Press Release
2008/07/05
by Romy Sabaldan
Davao City (5 July) -- Davao Oriental Governor Cora Malanyaon said she is supportive of any project that would develop Davao Oriental, including the East Coast where the Department of Tourism is planning to develop[ some areas as tourism destinations.
The East Coast which is composed of the municipalities of Tarragona, Manay, Boston, Caraga, Cateel and Baganga are beautiful places expected to be visited by tourists because of its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage including the oldest church built during the Spanish time.
Earlier, Tourism regional director Sonia Garcia said the Department of Tourism has plans to promote kayaking and diving in East Coast Davao Oriental. A handful of foreigners who were married to Filipinas residing in East Coast had already explored the possibility of promoting kayaking in the area.
Governor Malanyaon said "we are looking on the possibility of improving the area to give better attraction to tourists by preserving its natural form."
Governor Malanyaon also said that the province is bringing its aquamarine resources back to life as the government is promoting clean environment, balance ecology and proper waste disposal.
"Our effort is focused on our principal goal which is to fully develop Davao Oriental and its outlying areas, not only for tourist attraction but also for the benefit of the residents living here," she said.
Governor Malanyaon was with President Macapagal-Arroyo's party during the President's recent visit in Davao.
When interviewed by Davao mediamen, Governor Malanyaon admitted that Davao Oriental is rich in mineral resources like nickel, chromite, copper, manganese and high grade gold.
"We are truly proud of our rich natural resources, however, we have to caution the impact of active mining industries in our province because we also have to protect our indigenous people, our Lumads who have been residing in these areas for so long time, she said.
The Bureau of Mines and Geosciences reported that out of the 80,000 tenements in the country, 30,000 of the total number can be found in Davao Oriental.
"We are not disregarding the rich resources in our province, but we also have to protect our environment. We are looking forward to generate more revenues out of our mining industries but we have to regulate its activities to maintain an ecological balance, she stressed.
"Ubama" for a change
THIS is the group that has something to do with economic change but definitely nothing to do with the top presidential candidate of one of the world's most resilient economies - the United States of America (USA).
His election is better left to the wise counsel of the American people and their collegial body of Democrat and Republican electoral colleges.
When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo went to Davao, she reported to the people about what is currently taking shape in the land of plenty. One important part of her visit to the American soil was that of immediately expressing her support to whosoever will become the next US president. The country is gearing up for their national elections this November after president George Walker Bush ends a successful two 4-year terms.
Whether Barack Obama or John MCcain. Obama called her and MCcain personally met with the president of one of Asia's resources-rich country. Who cares? The more important part of the issue is that this country's foreign relations has always been tied up with the nation whom President Arroyo called as the Philippines ' most important strategic ally.
If "Ubama" has nothing to do with Obama, it is simply because they cannot vote for him.
Ubama in Davao City is the United Blind Association of Masseurs which had taken the first small step in the economy of at least 35 differently-abled persons by either preventing or taking them out of the streets to beg and give them a more decent and dignified way of life.
"We are now officially recognized as a cooperative through the registration we have from the CDA - Cooperative Development Authority", says Allan Español, a partially-blind masseur who had also stamped a big mark in his membership with the Philippine Sports Association of the Differently-abled (Philspada) by winning three gold medals in shotput, discuss throw and javelin throw during the recent Philippine Olympic Festival (POF) at Gov. Khalid Dimaporo's MCC in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
"Our new livelihood, started with a training in reflexology with the Department of Social Services and Development (DSWD) and the Swedish massage at the Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries", Aldrin Paña said in the vernacular while applying a rejuvenating pinch to the shoulders of this writer in one of the cubicles of the 64-square meter massage clinic of "Ubama" located at the end of the south wing of the Gaisano South Citimall mezzanine area at Ilustre Street, this city.
He said they were able to get the space from the mall at a discounted rate of P8,500 a month through the help of the city government with a resolution from the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City.
Paña, who had his given name copied from the "second man on the moon" after Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin proudly said that his job as a masseur has already graduated one brother from high school and another one is on his way to taking the college course.
The Dabawenyo Aldrin, who had been totally blind at birth and the fourth from the eldest of a brood of nine orphans is himself a product of the German-funded Davao School for the Blind.
His group is also the mother coop organization of blind women masseuse and is now branching out in the different cities of Mindanao starting with General Santos and Tagum with each services being paid at a measly P180 for an hour's massage, 70% of which goes to individual income while the remaining 30% goes to the coffers of the association to be channeled to fund loans and other economic activities of the group.
Actually the current official name of the association is Ubma for United Blind Masseurs Association, but the group is willing to give it a new twist in popularity by calling the group Ubama for a change. (PIA XI)
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