STATEMENT | A cry for justice for the victims and survivors of the ongoing climate disaster in Davao region
This most recent landslide is only a stark reminder that recurring disasters have occurred, pointing to a lack of corporate accountability and the failure to install mitigating measures to prevent a new landslide and prompt response when a new one occurs......»»
Philippines rescues 45 survivors in landslide, search continues
MANILA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers in the Philippines have recovered 45 survivors from a landslide on Tuesday that buried estimated 86 persons in a mining town in Davao de Oro province in the southern Philippines, a military spokesperson said Wednesday. Rosa Ma. Cristina Rosete-Manuel, spokesperson for the military's Eastern Command, said that 41 more employees of a mining firm in the area are still unaccounted.....»»
Rescuers seek survivors as Davao de Oro landslide death toll climbs
(1st UPDATE) Provincial authorities say a child rescued Friday is in stable condition, raising hopes rescuers will find more survivors.....»»
P38 daily wage hike for Davao region workers
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 20 February) – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Davao Region (RTWPB-Davao) has approved a P38 daily increase for minimum wage earners in the region, to be implemented in two tranches starting next month. In an announcement released by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Davao on February 19, it said […].....»»
Shear line damages P172-M worth of agri products, infra in Davao region
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 23 January) – The recent heavy rains brought by the shear line destroyed at least P172 million worth of agricultural products and infrastructure in the Davao region. Data from the Department of Agriculture – Davao region (DA-Davao) said the initial damage to palay, corn and other high-value crops reached P145.3 million. […].....»»
Speaking up for survivors of human trafficking: Victoria Nyanjura s story
The UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking (UNVTF) provides humanitarian, legal and financial aid to victims of trafficking in persons through the awarding of grants to civil society organizations. Victoria Nyanjura was recently elected as Chair of the UNVTF and is the first-ever survivor of human traffi.....»»
Sara reveals she will run in next polls
Summary: Sara Duterte, the Vice President and Education Secretary, announced her intention to run in the next election during a visit to flood victims in Barangay Bago Gallera. In a Facebook Live video, she mentioned that her brothers, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, may not run in the next election, prompting her decision to campaign. However, she did not specify the position she would be running for. The upcoming election will be the 2025 midterm senatorial elections for senators, congressmen, and local officials, with the presidential national elections scheduled for 2028. Duterte also emphasized the importance of barangay development councils in times of calamity and stressed the need for disaster resilience and awareness among barangay officials and children. Additionally, she highlighted the significance of safety and security, urging trust in security personnel and caution against scammers and swindlers. Duterte also emphasized the importance of education for the younger generation and the equal opportunities it provides. This announcement comes amidst her visits to various areas in the Philippines, where she has been extending aid and addressing pertinent issues such as disaster resilience and community safety......»»
PEACETALK: The Jolo Siege of 1974, Half a Century Hence: Notes on History, War, Peace, Law and Justice (1)
(First of two parts) NAGA CITY (MindaNews /20 February) – On the occasion of the 50th anniversary commemoration of “The Siege of Jolo 1974: A Forum and Webinar with Survivors and Victims” was held on 12 February 2024 at Bocobo Hall, Law Center, University of the Philippines (U.P.), Diliman, Quezon City. This was planned, organized […].....»»
Hope for more survivors from Baltimore bridge collapse fades
BALTIMORE – The coast guard announced on Wednesday that hope of finding more survivors of the Baltimore bridge collapse has dimmed, and efforts have switched to searching for the bodies of the missing persons, as well as seeking more answers as to why a container ship crashed into the span. The coast guard announced on.....»»
Masara rescue ends, 32 survivors, 92 dead and 36 missing
The rescue operation for survivors of the Masara landslide was ended on Tuesday, February 13, one week after the incident......»»
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......»»
Philippines rescuers find girl alive 60 hours after landslide - Philippines
Three-year-old has given fresh hope of finding more survivors in a gold-mining village where death toll has climbed to 27 The rescue of a child nearly 60 hours after a landslide hit a gold-mining village in the southern Philippines has been hailed as a miracle after searchers had given up hope of finding more survivors. The girl, who the Philippine Red Cross said was three years old, had been among scores of people missin.....»»
PHOTO ESSAY: Waterworld in Carmen
CARMEN, Davao del Norte (MindaNews / 02 February) – Travel from Davao City to Tagum City and other parts of the Davao region, Agusan-Surigao and Manila was cut off Friday due to flooding in Barangay Tuganay. Tuganay connects Davao City with Tagum in Davao del Norte, from where one can proceed to Davao Oriental, Davao de […].....»»
60K Penta vax distributed across Davao Region
FOLLOWING the recorded cases of pertussis or whooping cough in the region, the Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) revealed that there are around 60,000 Penta vaccines that have been fairly distributed in the different local government units (LGUs) in the region......»»
Davao lawmakers thank President Marcos, Romualdez for aiding flood victims
Lawmakers from Davao have thanked President Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez for continuously sending aid to flood victims in the region, including the endorsement of P150 million in cash aid and 51,000 food packs......»»
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......»»
Rare beetle discovered in Mt. Hamiguitan sanctuary
In a recent discovery, a rare long-horned beetle, Paraskeletodes hamiguitanensis, was found in the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS) in Davao Oriental. The beetle was unearthed during a scientific expedition led by the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental and conducted by a team from Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU). Dr. Milton Medina, a Filipino coleopterist, confirmed the uniqueness of P. hamiguitanensis through careful morphological examination, highlighting distinct differences from its closely related counterpart found in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The discovery sheds light on the limited knowledge of beetle taxonomy in the Philippines and underscores the need for increased scientific and conservation efforts in biodiversity hotspots like the Philippines and Sulawesi. Concerns were raised about the global trade of beetle species and the rapid loss of forest cover in the Philippines, emphasizing the vital role of protected areas like Mt. Hamiguitan as essential sanctuaries for biodiversity. The researchers emphasized the need for cooperation with DENR-Davao in promoting biodiversity conservation and encouraged young scholars to explore beetle taxonomy. The discovery of P. hamiguitanensis and several other beetle species in the area underscores the rich biodiversity of Mt. Hamiguitan, with ongoing research aiming to describe more species and uncover many undiscovered ones in the region......»»
Speaker endorses P150 million aid for Davao flood victims
Upto P150 million in financial assistance has been endorsed by Speaker Martin Romualdez for flood victims in Davao region......»»
Floods displace 83,000 families in Davao Region
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 19 January) – Floods brought by heavy rains due to a shear line have uprooted a total of 83,158 families or 349,183 individuals in Davao Region, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office. OCD-Davao Region spokesperson Franz Irag said that as of Friday, 3,648 families or 14,685 individuals […].....»»
Speaker endorses release of P150 million to Davao flood victims
Speaker Martin Romualdez has endorsed the immediate release of P150 million in financial aid, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, to the flood victims in Davao region......»»
Philippine calls for stronger action on climate change
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual has called for stronger sustainable trade and development initiatives to address climate change during the second ministerial meeting of the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate on the sidelines of the 13th World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates......»»