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Travel agencies group warns about cheap, illegal operators
The Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA) has issued a warning about unregistered and illegal travel and tour operators in their area. These operators have been found to be offering travel and tour services without proper licensing, leading to issues such as lack of refunds, scheduling problems, and other travel arrangement discrepancies. Pia Partoza Montano, a travel agency owner and Vice-President for the Travel and Tours Sector of DTAA, emphasized the prevalence of these unauthorized operators, particularly in inbound tourism, and the challenges in monitoring and regulating them due to their large numbers. Montano also highlighted the potential risks associated with using these unregistered agencies, as they may offer cheaper rates but could lead to problems in case of incidents. To address this issue, the Department of Tourism-Davao (DOT-Davao) has introduced a QR code system to help the public verify the legitimacy of travel agencies by accessing data on authorized and registered operators. The DOT-Davao encourages travelers to transact with accredited enterprises to ensure the quality and reliability of their travel arrangements. Currently, there are at least 109 registered travel and tour agencies in Davao City under DOT-Davao's accreditation. The DOT-Davao also provides information on the requirements for registration and renewal for travel agencies on their official website. This warning serves as a reminder for the public to be cautious and discerning when engaging with travel and tour operators to avoid falling victim to unauthorized and illegitimate services......»»
DPWH tallies 268 gov’t and school buildings partially destroyed in Hinatuan quake
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Region reported that a total of 268 school and national government buildings were partially destroyed by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on December 2. The estimated damage amounted to P108,497,894.84 for school buildings and P1,899,365.60 for national government buildings. The damages included cracks on walls and falling debris such as ceilings. According to Engr. Alexander Turingan of DPWH XI, there were no reported damages in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur. Franz Irag, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) XI operations head, emphasized the importance of addressing damages to school buildings, which also serve as evacuation centers during calamities. Dean Ortiz, spokesperson of DPWH XI, highlighted the agency's focus on national roads and bridges, clarifying that they will respond to requests to inspect private and government buildings. Architect Kashagar Toghyani, officer-in-charge of the Office City Building Official (OCBO) of Davao City, urged private building owners to promptly engage professional engineers to assess structural integrity, especially for buildings housing more than 10 individuals. He emphasized the necessity of fire inspections and transparency with building occupants to ensure their safety. The recent earthquakes did not affect government buildings in the Davao Region, and DPWH is committed to conducting thorough assessments and ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants in the aftermath of the quake......»»
Aww, cute: London show explores the world of the adorable
London, United Kingdom—From cats and plushies to emojis, a new central London exhibition opening on Thursday is exploring the “irresistible force” of “cuteness”. Even before the doors to “CUTE” opened at Somerset House, social media influencers in Japanese schoolgirl uniforms, “Hello Kitty” dresses and Pikachu hats playfully posed for photos, to charm their social media followers......»»
There are more singles than married couples in Central Visayas but…
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Did you know that there are more singles compared to married people in Central Visayas? In fact, there are more singles in the entire Philippines, based on the 2020 census, and Central Visayas, one of the most populous regions in the country, is no exception. State statisticians identified approximately 6.4 million.....»»
Ex-Pres Duterte: “Absolutely nothing wrong with 1987 Constitution”
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 10 January) – Former President Rodrigo Duterte sees no reason why the 1987 Constitution should be changed because “we have a good Constitution. I find it in perfect condition. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it,” he said. He told reporters on Saturday night that he is not for amending the Constitution […].....»»
Go storms away with adorable 65
Lloyd Go didn’t just make a move on moving day at the ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship here yesterday. He also took a decisive step towards realizing a dream victory......»»
Liza Soberano pens touching letter for dog Yuna
Actress Liza Soberano may be making waves in Hollywood, but she hasn't forgotten the love of one furry friend who has gotten her through the past few years......»»
Traveling with Your Pets? Here are 6 Essential Tips for a Pet-Friendly Adventure
Heading out with your furry buddies? Exciting, right? We get it – being pet lovers ourselves, we know you want your furballs to have a blast without any stress. Whether it’s a quick road trip or a week-long vacay, chill out. We’ve got some simple tips to make your pet-friendly adventure totally pawsome. 1. Prep […].....»»
Park Hyung-sik spreads joy, gives back through ‘SIKcret’ Philippines fan meet
It is no secret that Filipino fans have a passionate love for their South Korean idols. That’s why when Park Hyung-sik returned to the Philippines for his “SIKcret Time in Manila” fan meet on Feb. 17, his Pinoy fans showed their heartfelt joy through their energetic cheers until the end......»»
Lab Notes | El Niño 2024: another disaster, another government failure
Since disasters always include human components, there is nothing natural about it. Therefore, there is no such thing as a “natural” disaster; there was a human failure somewhere in how social, economic, and political systems were set up. The post Lab Notes | El Niño 2024: another disaster, another government failure appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Delivery drivers urge Mayor Baste for business permit exemption
Title: Delivery Drivers Seek Exemption from Business Permit Requirement A group of delivery drivers in Davao is urging Mayor Sebastian Duterte to exempt them from the mandatory business permits. The drivers, including those from various delivery apps such as Grab and FoodPanda, are concerned about the financial burden imposed by the business permits, which range from P2,000 to P6,000. They argue that this requirement is unique to Davao City among all cities and provinces in the Philippines. Grab rider Rolando Atico emphasized the need for solidarity among all delivery drivers, regardless of the app they work for. He urged fellow drivers to support each other, as the financial impact may extend beyond just Grab and FoodPanda. Atico also requested Mayor Duterte to reconsider the requirement and reinstate the previous occupational permit, which only cost P125. The group is facing a 30-day deadline to obtain the business permits, and they are citing financial constraints as a reason for their request for an extension. Failure to comply could result in their removal from the delivery platforms, jeopardizing their livelihoods. Additionally, they are advocating for changes to Davao City's Revenue Code, proposing a model similar to Cebu City, where only an occupational permit is required. The drivers are also calling for an inquiry into the lack of transparency and unilateral actions of food delivery companies, particularly concerning rider capitalization and financial concerns. They believe that a thorough investigation will help ensure fairness and equity in their financial obligations and working relationship with the delivery companies. Maribel Paguican, the Business Bureau officer-in-charge, stated that non-certified delivery riders categorized as service contractors must obtain a business permit. She mentioned two permits for occupational and business activities, with a discounted structure for delivery riders. However, concerns have been raised about increased taxes, potentially ranging from P3,000 to P6,000, along with an additional tax on top of the declared income of P1,400. The delivery drivers' plea for exemption from the business permit requirement reflects their concerns about the financial impact and the potential threat to their livelihoods. Their call for solidarity and support from fellow drivers highlights the urgency of the situation. This story sheds light on the challenges faced by delivery drivers in Davao and the implications of the business permit requirement on their financial well-being. It also underscores their efforts to seek fairness and equity in their working relationship with the authorities and delivery companies......»»
Wildlife forensics: how science is helping to combat a billion-dollar organized crime industry
Another day at the airport, another routine inspection for a Customs Officer.She finishes examining the contents of one shipment - nothing of note. But then, she spies a crate labeled 'exotic reptiles.'Suspicious, she opens the shipment and begins to search among the crates. And there, tucked away in a corner, is a collection of turtle shells and other wildlife products.She pauses. Have these shell.....»»
They call it shape shaming
There was a time when people would casually say “You’re fat” and think nothing more of it than an observation coupled with surprise......»»
K-pop boy band BtoB makes Manila 1st stop of ‘Our Dream’ Asia tour
Even before the proper presscon began, Filipino fans of the South Korean boy band BtoB (Born to Beat), called Filo Melodies, couldn’t contain their excitement to see their K-pop idols during the event......»»
Edsa People Power Anniv: Marcos asked to focus on fight vs corruption
MANILA, Philippines — The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) has opposed proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution and urged the current administration to instead focus more on people’s needs and eradicating corruption. NCCP’s pronouncements came on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution on Sunday under the.....»»
Plaza Independencia: Rama plans to rubberize park, make more family-friendly
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama plans to make Plaza Independencia more family friendly as he envisions more changes to make this dream a reality. These included having the inside of the Plaza Independencia being rubberized, having more plants inside to make it also more environment-friendly and to have facilities for families.....»»
Rapper Range999 admits to shooting foreigner for being ‘bastos’ to female friends
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – Rapper-singer Jed Andrew Salera has admitted to shooting a foreign national inside a hotel compound in Cebu City’s early on Sunday morning. Salera, who goes by he professional name “Range999,” said he was angry that Michael George Richey was disrespectful to his female friends and even touched their butts. “Kay katong.....»»
LWUA ‘has nothing to do’ with rift between Daluz-led MCWD, Rama’s Cebu City Hall
LWUA ‘has nothing to do’ with rift between Daluz-led MCWD, Rama’s Cebu City Hall.....»»
Capitol: Nothing would be destroyed in building new provincial government center in Balamban
Capitol: Nothing would be destroyed in building new provincial government center in Balamban.....»»
Nothing wrong with owning semi-automatic rifles – Robin
Gun enthusiast Sen. Robinhood Padilla sees nothing wrong with the revised Philippine National Police regulations on the firearms law, which allowed citizens to own 7.62 mm semi-automatic rifles......»»