CATHOLIC CHURCH AGAINST RENEWING PICOP CONCESSIONS

THE PICOP REHABILITATION PROGRAM ANOMALY (Second of Five Parts)

Picop blamed for rape of
Surigao del Sur forests
By ROGER M. BALANZA

Picop Resources Inc. (PRI) has only 1,200 workers under its employ, despite the exclusive privilege of exploiting about 200,000 hectares of Surigao del Sur forest, indicating the province has not benefited in terms of [...]

Davao City Council floor leader mends ways after being hit for slowness

Dayanghirang reforms;
calendars Cabling items
By ROGER M. BALANZA

After getting flak for slow action on housing permit applications, Davao City Council floor leader Danilo Dayanghirang has moved into action, placing into the agenda of today’s council session twelve legislative items of councilor Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling.
Some of the items have been sleeping for four weeks [...]

KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL A BIG SUCCESS IN DAVAO CITY

Davao City remains a bastion of peace and a melting pot of various cultures in Southern Philippines despite eruption of new hostilities between government troops and rebels in Mindanao.
Not even the menace that remnants of Communist-inspired local rebels pose can rock the march of progress in this former marshland some 540 air miles south [...]

Catholic Church opposes Prospero Pichay as PICOP receiver

THE PICOP REHABILITATION ANOMALY (Part One of Five)
Picop officials rapped for
filching company equipment
By ROGER M. BALANZA

Picop Resources Inc. (PRI) officials in Bislig City in Surigao del Sur are taking advantage of a pending rehabilitation program by filching company equipment for lack of a receiver named by the court.
Catholic Church [...]

Military winning in Compostela Valley anti-communist campaign

Comval rebel attacks waning
By ROGER M. BALANZA

A military strategy that strengthened police and military outposts has ended costly raids by communist rebels in Compostela Valley, according to Governor Arturo Uy.
A raiding spree by New People’s Army rebels in Compostela Valley in the recent months led to several policemen and [...]

Compostela Valley joins Kadayawan 2008

Solidarity Ring a big hit
in Davao City festival

Compostela Valley’s Solidarity Ring was among top crowd drawers of the Kadayawan Festival, with thousands visiting the P1.5 million symbol of solidarity during its week-long exhibit at the Museo Dabawenyo.
Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy said the Kadayawan showing of the 1.8 kg gold-and-silver ring, a [...]

Davao del Sur governor says NPA spies attending govt peace and order meetings

 
By ROGER M. BALANZA
 
Region Eleven’s new chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) admitted that sensitive issues in RPOC meetings are being sent out to the communist New People’s Army.
 
Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas said he is pruning down membership of the RPOC for better control of crucial issues discussed particularly [...]

ON THE GO: Ayala Center of Davao okayed

AMBUSHED. Ricky Floirendo, senior vice president of the Anflocor Group of Companies, fields questions from ABS/CBN DXAB radio reporter Allan Abais, center, and Mindanao Insider Daily executive editor and durianburgdavao blogmaster Roger Balanza, shortly after the Davao City Council approved on final reading permit for the P3 billion Ayala Center of Davao, Anflocors joint-venture project [...]

LIBEL RAPS READIED VS. PHIL DAILY INQUIRER, REPORTERS, NGO

ENDOSULFAN NOT USED IN ANFLOCOR PINEAPPLES

The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) has refuted allegations that a Floirendo-owned pineapple growing company in Davao City is using endosulfan, as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI).
Estrella Laquinta, FPA XI regional officer said Davao Agricultural Ventures Corporation (DAVCO) “is not using endosulfan for its pineapple [...]

KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL 2008 – COMPOSTELA SOLIDARITY RING EXHIBIT

ComVal’s Solidarity Ring joins Kadayawan Festival

          The now-famous Solidarity Ring, the symbol of Compostela Valley’s political unity, is joining Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival in a public display at the Museu Dabawenyo.
          The 1.5-kilogram gold-and-silver toned ring—the biggest in the country—temporarily leaves its home at the lobby of the ComVal provincial capitol for viewing from August [...]