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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 31
JAKARTA -- The authorities of Indonesia's Batam Island officially started on Sunday the operation of direct shipment from Batuampar Port to China's Guangzhou and Shenzhen to boost trade between the two countries. The direct shipping service was initiated by Persero Batam and the Batam Concession Agency in collaboration with SITC International Holdings, a Hong Kong-based shipping logistics company. (Indonesia-Chi.....»»
Manila-based shipping firm eyes resumption of Davao-Lupon ferry services
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/February 20) – A Metro Manila-based shipbuilding company is eyeing to resume the Davao City – Lupon, Davao Oriental ferry boat operation in October, a City Council official said Tuesday. Councilor Conrado Baluran, Committee of Transportation and Communications chair, said that shipping firm Pinoy Catamaran proposed the possibility of servicing the stalled ferry […].....»»
95 areas in Davao Region still grapple with flooding
Ninety-five areas in the Davao Region continue to grapple with flooding, as reported by the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao). Davao del Norte has the highest number of flooded areas, with 64 barangays affected, followed by Davao Oriental with 22, and Davao de Oro with nine. The region has also experienced over 50 landslides, with Davao de Oro leading with 44 incidents and eight in Davao Oriental. Tragically, a significant landslide in Monkayo, Davao de Oro resulted in nine confirmed deaths, one critical injury, and four individuals still under search and rescue operations. Davao City also recorded casualties due to heavy rains. The adverse weather conditions have affected thousands of individuals and displaced over 4,000 families in evacuation centers. The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has provided assistance to the affected families. The heavy rainfall is attributed to a weather system known as a shear line, causing widespread impact in the Visayas and Mindanao areas......»»
Power rates down by P0.37/kWh for Feb-Mar billing
High on love but low on power rates! Valentine’s Day for residential consumers of Visayan Electric is expected to be sweeter as electricity rates for the billing month of February-March will be P0.37/kWh lower compared to last month. This decrease, bringing the total rate down from last month’s P11.62/kWh to P11.25/kWh, is attributed to lower.....»»
‘New poll machines to give speedy results, lower failure rates’
There will be faster transmission of votes and lower failure rates with the new machines and transmission service to be used in the May 2025 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections said yesterday......»»
Shipping giant warns of global transport disruptions
Maersk has put customers on notice that risks in the Red Sea may persist for months Danish shipping major AP Moller-Maersk has warned of significant disruptions to the global shipping network due to the elevated risk of attacks in the Red Sea. "While we hope for a sustainabl.....»»
Shear line affects over 80-K families in Davao
The shear line in the Davao Region has had a significant impact on over 80,000 families, as reported by the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao). The affected families are spread across Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental. Evacuation efforts have been underway, with some families still in shelters. Tragically, casualties have been reported, including fatalities and injuries due to landslides and flooding. The infrastructure has also suffered, with roads and bridges being blocked or damaged. The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has been providing relief to affected residents, and the local government units have also contributed aid. In response to the shear line, the OCD-Davao has raised its Blue Alert status, emphasizing the need for intensified monitoring and immediate mobilization of resources. The situation remains challenging, with ongoing flooding and landslides affecting numerous areas in the region......»»
Meralco power rates expected to go down this month
Lower power rates may be expected this month due to lower generation and transmission charges, according to energy utility provider Manila Electric Co......»»
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......»»
China s Xi lauds ties with Indonesia during president-elect visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping praised China's strong ties with Indonesia during a meeting Monday with President-elect Prabowo Subianto. Xi laid plans for regional peace and affirmed China's commitment to deepen maritime cooperation with Indonesia.State broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi told Prabowo that bilateral ties "have entered a new stage of jointly building a community with a shared future." He also added t.....»»
Indonesia International Open 2024 10-ball title JEFFREY IGNACIO TINALO SI HK-BORN FILIPINO ROBBIE CAPITO
MANILA—Ginapi ni Jeffrey Ignacio ang Filipino na ipinanganak sa Hong Kong na si Robbie Capito, 10-3, Huwebes, Enero 25 para pamunuan ang Indonesia International Open 2024 sa Jakarta, Indonesia. Tinalo ni Ignacio si world number 1 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz ng Spain, 10-6, sa semifinal habang dinaig ni Capito si Jonas Magpantay ng Pilipinas, 10-7, para ….....»»
Indonesia’s Mount Marapi erupts again, no reported casualties
AGAM, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Mount Marapi erupted again on Sunday, spewing smoke and ash high into the air, but no casualties were reported. The Marapi Volcano Observation Post in West Sumatra province recorded an eruption with an ash column about 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) high from its peak, followed by ash rain. Sprays of ash.....»»
2.4M Dabawenyos working as of Oct 2023
The October 2023 Preliminary Employment report by the Philippine Statistics Authority-Davao Region (PSA-Davao) reveals that 64 percent of the 3.780 million Dabawenyos aged 15 and above are part of the labor force, indicating that 2.42 million individuals are employed. This represents a 1.8 percentage point increase from the previous year. The report also highlights a 97.1 percent employment rate in the Davao Region as of October 2023, with a 2.9 percent unemployment rate, lower than the national average. Despite this, the region still maintains the highest employment rate in the Philippines. Additionally, the report compares employment rates across different regions, with Soccsksargen, Barmm, Central Luzon, CAR, Caraga, Western Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, and Central Visayas surpassing the national average. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) records the highest labor force participation rate among 17 regions, while the Zamboanga Peninsula has the lowest rate. The data is collected through the Labor Force Survey (LFS) conducted quarterly and monthly by the PSA central office and its regional statistical services offices. The Davao Region, with nearly 6 million inhabitants, remains the 7th most populous region in the country......»»
Power rates expected to rise because of El Niño
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 17 January)—Expect possible increasing power rates throughout the year amid the anticipated El Niño phenomenon in the country, an official from the Department of Energy (DOE)-Mindanao said. Engr. Darwin P. Galang, DOE-Mindanao senior science research specialist, said the anticipated increasing power rates can be possibly El Niño-related, with 26 percent of […].....»»
Uncertainty looms over Davao-Samal Bridge project amid RoW hurdles
The construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC), also known as the Davao-Samal Bridge project, has faced numerous setbacks due to right-of-way (ROW) acquisition challenges. The project was halted on January 3, 2024, due to issues with landowners near a pier in Lanang at Davao City, leading to delays in the project's implementation. While there have been conflicting statements regarding the project's status, the National Economic and Development Authority-Davao Region (Neda-Davao) aims to complete the detailed engineering plans for the substructure of the west land via dock once the Deed of Transfer Possession in Davao City is released. However, ROW issues continue to persist. Despite these challenges, the project is still considered a priority and is included in the Davao Region Development Plan (DRDP) for 2023–2028. The project is funded through China’s Official Development Assistance with an estimated budget of P23.04 billion, and negotiations with the Philippine government are ongoing with a target completion date in 2027. The uncertainty surrounding the project's timeline remains as ROW hurdles persist, impacting the much-anticipated toll-free four-lane concrete exodus bridge spanning a 3.98-kilometer distance......»»
Baltimore bridge collapse could lead to delayed shipments, higher shipping costs
The closure of the Port of Baltimore in the US following the collapse of the Baltimore key bridge is expected to lead to shipment delays and higher shipping costs......»»
US strikes Houthi anti-ship missiles, shipping disruptions grow
The anti-ship missiles targeted in the strikes were being prepared by Yemen's Houthis for firing into the Red Sea and deemed 'an imminent threat' to shipping and US Navy vessels in the region, says the US military.....»»
MinDA, airline firm plan two-day visit to Manado
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 17 January)—The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and executives of an airline company are planning to conduct a two-day technical visit to Manado, Indonesia in the last week of January to discuss with their counterparts the possible resumption of Davao-Manado-Davao flights. Dr. Adrian Tamayo, public relations division chief of MinDA, told MindaNews […].....»»
Al-ag proposes to repeal ordinance requiring delivery riders biz permits
Davao City Councilor Bernie Al-ag has proposed the repeal of an ordinance that requires delivery riders to obtain business permits. The ordinance in question, City Ordinance 0612-21 series of 2021, classified delivery riders as independent service contractors, mandating them to apply for business permits. However, a joint memorandum circular issued by various government agencies exempts individuals providing personal services, including delivery riders, from securing business permits. Al-ag emphasized that the city government must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the memorandum. While the proposed repeal is pending, Al-ag advised delivery riders to comply with the existing ordinance. He expressed confidence in the passage of the repeal, citing the solid basis provided by the joint memorandum. Despite a group of delivery riders seeking an audience with Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte on the matter, Al-ag's proposal was drafted in response to a separate petition. He clarified that the repeal is not about monetary collection but aligning with national law, which exempts delivery riders from obtaining business permits. Al-ag remains optimistic about the repeal's approval, pointing to the support provided by the joint memorandum as a strong foundation for his proposal......»»
Meralco expects lower power rates for April
Energy utility provider Manila Electric Co. is anticipating a decrease in overall household electricity rates for April, bringing potential relief to its customers......»»