At least 38 business establishments in Davao, Philippines region are holders of the seal that embodies their obligation to continuously offer quality customer service, the Philippine Government Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 revealed.

This number could even go higher when the seals of the five applicants will already be released, after the compliance of additional documentary requirements.

The DTI Bagwis Program (formerly known as the DTI-Certified Establishment Program), which awards seals to various establishments, aims to give due recognition to the business people that uphold the rights of consumers and practice responsible business where consumers get value for money.

All retail establishments, supermarkets, department/specialty stores, and DTI-accredited service and repair shops.

Of the 38 DTI Bagwis Seal holders in the zone, 14 are from Davao del Norte, 11 from Davao City, eight from Compostela Valley Province, three from Davao del Sur, and two from Davao Oriental.

There are three levels of award under the Philippine government DTI Bagwis Program – bronze, silver, and gold.

The Bronze Seal represents the establishment’s compliance to Fair Trade Laws and the presence of a Consumer Welfare Desk or a recognized Customer Service Counter. While the Silver Seal means the achievement of the requirements required for the bronze seal plus the establishment’s commitment to social responsibility. The Gold Seal, on the other hand, embodies the achievement of the Silver Seal requirements and some elements aligned to the ISO 9001 (Quality Management System).

Philippine Government DTI 11 Regional Director Marizon S. Loreto said that in patronizing the products and services offered by the DTI Bagwis Seal awardees, consumers are assured of quality.

“One of the DTI Bagwis Program’s goals is to ensure that quality and safe goods, products, and services at affordable prices are available at DTI-certified establishments. Thus, consumers can really count on these store or shops,” she said.

Another objective of the program is to create an environment where entrepreneurs uphold fair and honest business practices through voluntary self regulation.

Loreto said DTI will regularly campaign among establishments their accreditation to the Bagwis Program.

“This is to ensure that consumers are provided with quality products and services and the same time, encourage more patrons for the establishments,” she said.

The DTI Bagwis-Gold Seal beneficiaries in the region are the NCCC Department Store (Tagum City), NCCC Supermarket (Tagum City), and Davao Citi Hardware (Tagum City).

The Silver Seal awardees are the Supervalue Inc. (Supermarket Category – SM City Davao), EMCOR Inc. (Appliance – Bajada, Davao City), Davao Bonifacio Motors, Inc. (Service and Repair Shop Category – Davao City), Sunscor Grocerama (Supermarket – Davao City), SM Department Store (Davao City), NCCC Supermarket (Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City), NCCC Supermarket (Ma-a, Davao City), Wilcon Builder’s Supply (Hardware – Davao City), EMCOR Inc. (Appliance – Digos City), JK Salazar Corp. (Bansalan), Alfa Furniture and Appliance Showroom (Appliance – Tagum City), EMCOR Inc. – NCCC Mall Branch (Appliance – Tagum City), EMCOR Inc. (Appliance – Tagum City), G & P Home Furnishings (Appliance – Tagum City), L & L Furniture and Appliance Showroom (Appliance – Tagum City), LYR Marketing and Furniture Center (Appliance – Tagum City), JHG Trading Inc. (Supermarket – Tagum City), Kar Asia Inc. (Service and Repair Shop – Tagum City), Gillamac’s Marketing Inc. (Appliance – Tagum City), EMCOR Inc. (Appliance – Sto. Niño, Panabo City), EMCOR Inc. (Appliance – Gredu, Panabo City) and EMCOR Inc. (Appliance – Nabunturan, ComVal).

The Bronze Seal awardees are the Kar Asia Inc. (Repair and Service Shop – Lanang, Davao City), Toril Advance Marketing Corp. (Hardware – Davao City), Starburst Marketing Corp. (Hardware – Toril, Davao City), Davao Central Warehouse Club (Department Store – Digos City), EMCOR Inc. (Appliance – Lupon and Mati, Davao Oriental), LYR Marketing and Furniture Center (Appliance – Nabunturan, ComVal), Ocampo Hardware Plus (Nabunturan, ComVal), JML Hardware (Nabunturan, ComVal), JM Shoppers Corp. (Appliance – Nabunturan, ComVal), Imperial Appliance Plaza (Nabunturan, ComVal), Nabunturan Central Warehouse Club (Supermarket – ComVal), and 02 Builders (Hardware – Nabunturan, ComVal). (DTI-XI/Jenny Molbog-Mendoza)

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Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said he wants the Philippines to have an investment friendly environment in order for the country to attract more investments that would create more jobs.

Aquino pointed out that the kind of environment that investors generally look for is one that would allow for speedy and smooth business transactions, or lessen the tedious processing of investment applications and other documentary requirements and other forms of bureaucratic red tape.

The Chief Executive said we should make life easy for investors because the influx of more foreign and local capital would in turn generate jobs for Filipino workers.

“Tratuhin natin nang tama and mga tumutulong sa atin (Let us be nice to the people who help us),” said the President.

The President first made known this policy of his administration in his speech after taking his oath as the country’s 15th President last June 30. He again shared it with media men during his first press briefing with the Malacanang Press Corps last week.

“We will make our country attractive to investors,” said Aquino in his inaugural speech. He added: “We will cut red tape dramatically and beginstable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance to business.”

There are two other major economic concerns that President Aquino said he will address to attract investors. The other concerns are infrastructure and government investment policies.

The Philippine President has started to take the necessary acts to address these major economic concerns.

One of these is the creation of an economic team that would help the President manage the economy and craft economic policies and programs. In turn, these policies and programs will create an environment conducive to foreign investment.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, hailed the Aquino economic team as one that “would boost business and investor confidence as they are noted to have wide ranging experience in providing long term policy solutions and sound advice” on addressing issues including investment promotion, infrastructure development and bureaucratic red tape, among others.

PCCI president Francis Chua said they are pleased with the roster of President Aquino’s economic team and that it is their desire to work closely with the team to ensure that the interest of the private sector and small and medium entrepreneurs “are reflected on the table.”

The economic team is composed of Department of Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, NEDA Director-General Cayetano Paderanga, Jr., Department of Trade amd Industry Secretary Gregoy L. Domingo, and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares.

Attached to the DTI are the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) and Board of Investments (BOI), which are the lead government agencies responsible for investment promotion. (PIA 6/OPS)

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In many developing countries of the world such as the Philippines, delivery of basic services in the rural areas for the poor and other marginalized areas of the community are eventually not at par with those in urban areas.

For persons with disabilities, for example, there are not enough assistance and services provided to them neither by the local government units nor by the national government which are sustainable.

An substitute community approach of service delivery called the Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) has been established to cater the needs of the increasing number of people with disabilities in the Philippines.

As the national focal agency of the Philippine government on disability matters, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) which is also the policy making body on disability concerns, took the cudgels and action to lead in the promotion of the CBR among key stakeholders way back in the 1980’s. It particularly requires them to apply the holistic approach which is the combination of both the medical and vocational models.

CBR anchors its service delivery using the resources of the community/locality mainly to cut poverty among the persons with disabilities including their rehabilitation and their eventual inclusion into the mainstream of society.

Under this scheme, it makes sure that manpower resources of the community are also mobilized in order to have an effective and sustained implementation of the CBR major components.

Taking full cognizance of the main provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution specifically Section 11, Article XIII thereof, the NCDA, formerly known as the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP), lobbied with both Houses of Congress for the passage of equally important laws on disability, amongst was Republic Act No. 7277 otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons which was approved in March 24, 1992.

In the ensuing enactment, Executive Order No. 437 titled “Encouraging the Implementation of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) for Persons with Disabilities in the Philippines” was issued by President Gloria M. Arroyo on June 21, 2005 as an off-shoot of NCDA’s recommendation to the President for a huge implementation of the program by all local government units nationwide including non-government organizations of and for persons with disabilities.

Specifically, the Philippine government directive requires all local government units to (1) adopt the CBR strategy in delivering services to their constituents with disabilities and to allocate funds to support the implementation, and (2) designate a unit under the office of the local executive to be responsible in the implementation of the CBR in accordance with the policies and implementing guidelines set by then NCWDP, to include the promotion and capability building of the LGUs on CBR.

Following the issuance of EO 437, several other primary stakeholders from the private sector has offered partnership in the implementation of the CBR strategy, amongst is the Christoffel-Blindenmission Community-Based Rehabilitation Coordinating Office (CBM CBR-CO). (National Council on Disability Affairs)

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“DO what you love… the money will follow,” is a title of one business book, and Lolita Cabanlet epitomizes that book title. She practically pursues what she loves and enjoys doing, and in the process, paved the way for the birth of her Philippine business Cagayan de Oro Handmade Paper Crafts (CDO-HMPC).

More than 15 years ago, she and husband-lawyer, Virgilio, went on a pleasure trip to Southeast Asian countries. During those trips, she had found herself having a earnest interest on handmade paper products from Japan, Thailand and India. She has noted that Japan uses the bark of a shrub, Thailand uses mulberry wastes while India uses cotton to make handmade paper.

Having that latent ability in handicrafts making herself, she started to do research on handmade paper. She went to trade fairs to know about the business, and even visited some handmade paper plants in Bicol and Manila, including the Salay Handmade Paper Products Industries, Inc. (SHAPII). At that time, she was more interested in product design only.

Using the plain handmade sheets she bought from other papermaking outlets, she started making her own products. She was so inspired by orders which kept coming in. She then decided that she should go into handmade paper production herself. Armed with her basic knowledge on handmade paper making, she started her own home-based papers, using the kitchen blender. The initial products were so encouraging that even her husband became very supportive of her infant business venture and gave her additional financial assistance.

After three broken blenders, her business flourished, and orders kept pouring in. She decided that it was time for her to hire additional hands.

Through the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Science and Technology Center in Misamis Oriental, a basic training on handmade paper-making was conducted for her workers.

Business continued to prosper so much that she could not keep up with the orders anymore. She sought the assistance of DOST in region 10 based in Cagayan de Oro City. The financial aid was used to buy an oven, hot plate dryers and motorized beaters. The assistance made a big difference in her business, and in fact, increased her production output several folds. It also was able to solve her major problem on paper molds, which has been the main reason why some of her past purchase orders has been shelved.

Five years later, and inspired by the continuous orders from both local and international markets, she again sought the assistance of DOST-10. The P1M loan extended by the DOST-10 through its Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) was used for the installation of additional beaters, kiln dyer, mechanical screw press, fiber cooker, fiber squeezer, univats, dying tubs and a roller presser. The new equipment made a meaningful impact on the business as they made handmade paper-making highly-efficient and cost-effective.

Indeed, the “hobby,” which started in the kitchen, has gone a long way. The business is now contained in a two-storey plant located in a 1000-sq.m. area in Barra, Opol, Misamis Oriental. It employs more than 300 people during peak production (in-house and contractual) about a hundred are home-based backyard workers. Seven regular staff man the business, which include the general manager, two production managers (one each for paper production and crafts), quality control officer, administrative officer, bookkeeper, and in-house designer.

Aside from the local market, the CDO-HMPC boasted of having penetrated the world market, which includes the USA, Japan, Fiji Islands, Qatar, Kuwait, Hongkong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, countries in Europe like Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Sweden.

Their product lines include wedding albums, photo albums, stationeries, paper boxes, greeting cards, gift bags, picture frames and other novelty items.

All the family members are involved in the business. Eldest daughter Zara, a lawyer, takes charge of drawing up the Memo Agreement with the buyers and in reviewing the contracts. JV, the second child, serves as the manager. Nicole, the third child, who is an interior designer, does the in-house designing, along with Luchi. Husband, Virgilio, serves as consultant.

As the business continues to flourish, awards and recognitions also came in. Recent achievements include being the only two companies from the Philippines that made it through a rigorous and extensive European Market Entry Strategy Seminars held in Netherlands. As a result, CDO HMPC qualifies to display and have its own booth at the Paperworld in Frankfurt Germany for three consecutive years. It also qualified for European Export Coaching from the Center for Promotion of Import (CBI).

CDO HMPC also received a 13M grant from the Australian Government’s Enterprise Challenge Fund (ECF), the first grant awardee from the Philippines. Funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid), the ECF provides businesses with grants ranging from Php 3.8 million (A$100,000) to 57M (A$1.5M) to support reasonable business ideas that can also have a positive impact on poverty alleviation. The grant is the highest so far approved by ECF among participating countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The success of CDO-HMPC is attributed to the following: its readiness to attain the level of productivity as required by the importing markets, actual market research, introducing designs with European trends and style, competitive quality and craftsmanship of products and its being socially responsible.

Of course, CDO-HMPC business is not always a bed of roses. It has also experienced many problems, but always, it has found ways to cope. Some lessons learned are the flexibility to market problems especially during global economic crisis and institutionalizing its accounting systems focusing on fair economic trade, environmental protection and democratization of workers.

“Were it not for DOST’s assistance, we could have lost our foreign buyers… could have closed shop many years ago,” says JV, the general manager. (DOST/Tess Baluyos)

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“Upon the impact of technology and modern devices nowadays, summer vacation is mostly consumed in front of computers and within the four-corners of air-conditioned rooms. Young people today likely gain experience and win friends through a virtual world on the Internet and online-games.”

Wide awake of its big role in promoting Philippine culture, heritage and tradition, the City Government of Tagum led by the undisputed City Mayor of Tagum Hon. Rey T. Uy through the City of Tagum Tourism Council chaired by full of life Madam Alma Uy in partnership with Tagum’s Parishes in the Diocese under the watch of Her Excellency Bishop Wilfredo D. Manlapaz, DD, STD, the religious tradition of celebrating Santacruzan has been revived to instill values and religious awareness among Tagumeños.

This year’s Santacruzan’s – 2nd Year of Flores de Tagumeños celebration shows grander and more elaborate than ever, featured the best of Philippine fiestas in a spectacular in honor of Mama Mary Saturday afternoon starting a High Holy Mass to consecrate the occasion to the Virgin Mary and followed by Giving of flowers to Mama Mary then the Blessing of the Sagalas and their traditional implements made before the Santacruzan Grand Procession starts conducted at Parish of Christ the Eucharistic King officiated by His Eminence Wilfredo D. Manlapaz, DD, STD – Bishop of the Diocese of Tagum.

The Bishop expressed his joy as he saw the harmony among the faithful as Santacruzan cheer up the spirit of Catholism by giving honor to Mother Mary, he said during his homily.

In favor of its people’s formative development, the unity among the church and state is very evident in the festival of Flores de Mayo at the open field of Rotary Park, Tagum City, Philippines. As Madam Alma Uy says (Tagum Tourism Council chaired), “we are not only concern of our infrastructure development, but also of our people’s consciousness geared towards faith, morality and cultural tradition”.

The grand Santacruzan in City of Tagum saw the convergence of the Best Fashion Designers in Davao City and Tagum City with twenty six (26) Sagalas representing the different virtues reflecting the character of Blessed Virgin Mary.

To mention the Fashion Designers as follows; from Davao City – Kasuotan, Style Altamoda, Chardin Fashion House, Knots Forever, BARO, Ezzeya Fashion House, Renaissance Haute Couture, Hasegawa Unlimited Fashion House, Don’s Creations, Dionesio in Style, Raquel’s Apparel Shop, Harold Cabrera Fashion, Forever Yours La Bamba fashion de Atelier and Garimon Roferos Haute Couture and from City of Tagum – Professionalle Fashion Design, Beauty and Wedding Concepts and Red Carpet Fashion Couture.

Including also the twenty six (26) Salagas in their beautiful and colorful costumes are – Emerald Uy, Tangerine Dream Suarez, Maritess Ricardo, Kristina Camille Grandea, Divi Anne Alcontin, Sweet Lani Grace Libres, Lutchie Orang, Stela Marie Mendiano, Maria Niña Canda, Johanna angel Quinio, Fean Briz, Minette Lindz Maloles, Yvonnie Lauganas, Rae Jezrel Bajado, Emelie Cadenas, Katreena Galang, Kimberly Gaje, Zerene Villanueva, Mary Gay Pono, Princess Avanne Petallana, Katherine Arboso, Febbie Amor Silvallana, Queen Kristelle Albano, Charllot Garbo, Kristina Mari Raymundo and Maria Lilibeth Millan, all of the Sagalas are coming from the twenty three (23) Barangay in Tagum City who represents the “Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban” (GKK), which means the Small Christian Community.

A little quick look about Santacruzan. A Santacruzan is a religious-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during the year. One of the most colorful festivals in the Philippines which describes the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured as major sagalas and escorts.

Flores, from Spanish flores or “flowers,” also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria (flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in honor of the Virgin Mary.

In the end, it was truly a memorable event for the participants, the spectators, and most of all to our Blessed Virgin Mary’s Marian Garden for having had the opportunity to pay tribute to our Blessed Mother.

“We have learned, experienced and will forever treasure the celebration, and the opportunity to hand down to our younger generation our rich Philippines culture and religious celebration that our ancestors have passed on through the years,” said Tagum officials. (Edwin/CIO Tagum)

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“We aim to develop [the] livelihood of our constituents here in Davao del Norte,” said Engr. Humber D. Cabunoc, Chief of Cooperative Business Enterprise and Manpower Development Division (CBEMDD) in Tagum City yesterday.

In line with this, Davao del Norte Technology and Livelihood Development Center (DN-TLDC) will hold 16 trainings starting on May to December.

On April 28-28 (Wednesday-Thursday), DN-TLDC invites all interested individuals in Davao Norte to take part in the training on Photographic Printing (included T-shirt printing) at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Registration fee is 700 pesos inclusive of training kit and materials, morning and afternoon snacks and training certificate duly signed by the provincial governor.

Furthermore, the following are DN-TLDC’s schedules of trainings from May to December (list of schedule is taken from the Provincial Administrator’s Office-CBEMDD): May 11-12, Culinary Arts (Chinese Cuisine); May 27-28, Basic Cosmetology; Jun. 8-9, Coco Midrib Plates, Trays and Pusô-Making; July 8-9, Jewelry-Making; Jul. 21-22, Fruit Preservation; August 10-11, Catering Business Operation; Aug. 26-27, Basic Meat Processing; September 14-15, Event Party Organizing; Sept. 29-30, Kiddie Course for Christmas; October 7-8, Candle-Making; Oct. 20-21, Ham-Making; Oct. 26-27, Specialty Cakes and Pastries; November 10-11, Sewing (Dress, Curtain,Pajamas-Making; Nov. 23-24 (Fish Processing) and; December 8-9, Herbal Bath Soap Making.

All above-mentioned in-house trainings will happen in DN-TLDC training hall located at National Highway, Tagum City, infront of NCCC mall. All trainings have a registration fee ranging from 600 pesos to 850 pesos. For more information, contact Edgar C. Cabrera at 0918-717-6022 or 400-4298.

John Alejo, a participant of DN-TLDC’s Swedish Massage Training held today (April 26), shared his gratitude, “Wala ko naka graduate og college apan pinaagi ani nga training, wala ko nagdahum na ang akong natun-an, makatabang pod sa akong panginabuhi. Masking asa ka na lugar makaabot, basta aduna lang ka’y skills, maka-lahutay gyud ka.” (I haven’t graduated in college but through this training, I didn’t expect that what I’ve learned will help me in uplifting my way of life. Wherever you may go, if you are equipped with skills, you will really survive.)

Today, John is earning enough to sustain his family’s needs through applying the skills in reflexology. He learned how to master the skills from DN-TLDC’s trainings which is now the source of his family’s income.

Cabunoc said that DN-TLDC aims to arm the people in Davao del Norte with the basic and practical skills for livelihood as an answer to one of the pillars in Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario’s RDR Wheels: Livelihood skills and enhancement program.

“We prepared programs and short courses for those who want to develop their skills and craftsmanship? The main objective of our division can be explained by our division’s long-time motto: ?Negosyo, Tubag sa Kalisud’,” added Cabunoc.

Cabunoc stressed that after every training, DN-TLDC participants may start their own small business and generate their own source of income. DN-TLDC is hopeful that the way of living among Davao Norte’ will improve. (PIA XI/Christy Carole Sanico)

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The Philippine government was able to give training and employment to 140 registered nurses in Capiz.

Capiz Labor and Employment Provincial Director Ricardo Monegro disclosed that a total of 140 Capiceño nurses have availed of the government’s training cum employment under the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) program.

The NARS program is part of the government’s initiatives under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, particularly on Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) to mitigate the impacts of the global economic meltdown.

Monegro said that some 55 registered nurses in the province benefited from said program during the first batch of implementation which begun in April last year, while the 85 Capiceño nurses also availed in the second batch of the program implementation last October.

NARS is a training-cum employment scheme wherein the hired nurses would be deployed to their hometowns in rural areas to undergo six-month training in providing public health services and in performing clinical functions under the guidance of participating nearby hospitals and other medical facilities.

President Arroyolaunched the collaborative undertaking of the DOLE, the Department of Health (DOH), and the Professional Regulations Commission’s Board of Nursing (PRC-BON) during the Multi-Sectoral Summit on “Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis” held in Malacanan Palace.

Earlier, DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque said that the Project NARS had not only provided training and employment to unemployed nurses but also triumphantly assisted in uplifting the essential health services in the country’s 1,000 poorest municipalities.

He noted during the formal culmination of the one-year Project NARS on April 15,2010 that the government and the social partners are pleased that more than 10,000 registered Filipino nurses have productively participated in the nationwide endeavor, in the process serving as noble warriors of wellness in the country’s disadvantaged rural areas.

Labor official bats for continuity of gov’t initiative

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has been calling for the continuance of the program that has given more impact to the public.

Capiz DOLE Provincial head Ricardo Monegro said that with the successful implementation of the government program, particularly on Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS), there is a need to continue said initiative.

Monegro said that with the growing population of unemployed registered nurses in the country, the NARS program could be of great help to them in providing not only training but also temporary employment.

The Project NARS had been implemented in the 1,000 poorest municipalities in the country for one year, which started in April last year and culminated in April 15, 2010.

Records show that the government imitative had benefited more than 10,000 registered Filipino nurses nationwide.

In Capiz alone, a total of 140 nurses have productively participated in the nationwide endeavor, particularly in uplifting the vital health services in the country’s poorest towns. (PIA)

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Being able to serve nutritious meals three (3) times a day is one of Arlyn Gutierrez’s struggles every day. At 40, she already had 10 children where 7 of them aged 20, 13, 10, 8, 5, 3 and 2 are dependent on Arlyn’s meager income as a fish vendor. With the number of children she has, Arlyn was able to share that “usahay kaisa ra mi makakaon sa usa ka adlaw (sometimes we can only eat once a day).”

Ronelyn, Arlyn’s 20 year-old child, is a single mother and is solely relying on her parents to provide for her child. Aside from raising her grandchild, Arlyn and her husband are also working so hard to support for their other children like Anelyn, 10, who is in first year high school, Arnold, 10, and Britney, 8, who are both in Grade 1. The couple could hardly earn P100 per day especially if there is weather disturbances during fishing and because of this, Arlyn’s children could not afford to go to school every day.

Arlyn’s three (3) elder children preferred to go to other cities and work as house helps since she said that they could not send them to school anymore. “Maglisud naman gani ko ug pakaon sa ilaha unsa nalang kung ipa-eskwela pa silang tanan?” (Feeding them alone all is already hard for me. What will happen to us then if I’ll send them all to school?), she emotionally added.

The striving mother knew that education is one of her children’s rights to claim but with their situation, she now believes that it is already a privilege for some but absolutely not for them.

For now, Arlyn only hopes that she will be able to provide for their daily consumption but she did not expect that something more will be given to them just as when she learned that they were chosen as one of the 2,198 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental.

With a wide grin Arlyn said, “Daku kaayo among pasalamat sa 4Ps tungod kay nakatabang jud sa among kalisud ug nakahatag ug dakung kausaban sa among kinabuhi labi na karon nga makakaon na jud mi katulo sa usa ka adlaw (I give a very big thanks to 4Ps because it did not only help us in our endeavors but it also made important changes in our lives especially now that we can already eat three (3) times a day).”

Every month, Arlyn receives P1,400 to support the educational and nutritional needs of her children.

The 4Ps provides conditional cash grants to the poorest households as determined through an intensive household enumeration, to help the whole family improve their health, nutrition and education.

It is a five-year program initiated by the government to reduce poverty and meet certain human development goals. The household beneficiaries are expected to comply with the Program’s conditions so that they may continuously receive their grants. (DSWD/Recthie Tolinero)

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In an elementary school in Ilocos Norte, the teacher asked her pupils to describe an earthen jar during a social studies class. A blank stare from across the classroom greeted her. Sensing that she was not fully understood, she said the word burnay and the class was stirred back to life as the pupils started to generate a lot of images about the subject matter. Soon, the classroom was alive with students wanting to take part in the discussion about burnay.

“When a child thinks, he naturally uses the language he grew up with. That is why the thinking process is quick and clear. But imagine if an Ilocano child has to first translate a Filipino or an English word, the thinking process is not as fluid, said Department of Education Undersecretary Vilma Labrador.”

This is the reason why the Department of Education issued Department Order 74 in July 2009 which institutionalized the mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE), convinced by overwhelming evidence which showed that the use of mother tongue in early education improves better and faster learners.

“Our goal here is to develop lifelong learners who are proficient in the use of their first language, the national language and other languages, said Education Secretary Mona Valisno.

The Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education project is a continuation of the Lingua Franca Education Project launched in SY 1999-2000 as mandated by DECS Memo No. 144 s. 1999.

“We know of many teachers who translate Science lessons in Tagalog so that students can better understand the concepts,” Labrador pointed out. For young learners, it is easier for them to comprehend why water boils and why it turns into ice when subjected to varying temperature using the language they use at home,” she added.

DepEd said the use of mother tongue from pre-school to grade three is called bridge program because the mother tongue or first language of the learner is being used as a bridge to learn a second or third language, like Filipino or English.

“If a child fully understands what is being talked about, he can make sense of things and participate intelligently in discussions because a familiar language is used, thus, his thinking process is unencumbered,” Labrador explained.

Director Paraluman Giron of DepEd Region IV-A and another strong advocate of MTB-MLE said mother tongue-based education should cover both the teaching of and the teaching through of the child?s first language.

“It is not enough that we teach the mother tongue particularly in the early years but we use it in teaching other subjects which are equally rich ground for increasing higher order thinking skills among our young learners. The question like “Bakit nawawala ang “bakit” pag ang bata ay nasa paaralan na?” can be answered by using the mother tongue in the classroom,” Giron expounded.

Educators believe that If a child cannot fully express himself, he is inhibited to ask more why’s and tend to just keep quiet or just agree with what the teacher says.

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One Oasis Davao, a walk-up condominium consisting of six medium rise buildings (MRBs) of five floors each which Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) constructed at Ecowest Drive, Ecoland, Davao City turned out best seller with units in Building A, all taken in less a month last year.

FLI Davao manager Allan Barquilla said the 120 units in the first completed building were all sold out in July 2009.

Business development officer Geraldine de Gorostiza of One Oasis Davao said they did not expect buying to be that speedy but it only indicated that the Davao market was indeed ready for this.

“Buyers are now shifting into owning properties with more sophistication that is close to the city yet the price is still affordable,” she said.

She attributed the surge in sales of their condo units to the location even as she said that they deliver what they promise as to kind and quality and the period of construction.

She said of the six MRBs, two were completed in 2009 with the third building almost completed as of this time. The construction of the other buildings will be the focal point this year although they are considering changes from five to ten floors in the fifth and sixth buildings.

With capital expense at P1.5 billion the timetable for the completion of the six buildings is on 2013 and by that time all the units are sold, she said.

The Davao One Oasis is an Asian Tropical-inspired community. Only 35 percent of the 2.3 hectares will be used for the building sites and the rest are open spaces for the first class amenities of club house, swimming pool, parks and playground. It is a fully-secured community with 24-hour guarded access gates.

The buildings have stairways at both ends and an elevator. All units will have an assigned laundry area at the roof deck while parking lots at the ground floor and storage area at the basement are available for sale on a first come first served basis.

Gorostiza said that of the total number of buyers, 40 percent are from out-of-town, 30 percent overseas Filipino workers and 30 percent Davao buyers.

She said most of the out of town locators are those with children studying here. The site is near offices, schools, churches, clinic, commercial establishments and close to public transportation along Quimpo Boulevard.

Barquilla meanwhile said that their focus this year is on the MRBs and he said in the pipeline is another condominium project along Ma-a in a 1.3-hectare property which they target to finish construction in 2011.

On the other hand Barquilla is confident of their good performance this year considering that 2009 was a better year than 2008 noting a 15 percent increase of their gross sales against 2008 or about P850 million in estimate making them still No. 1 in the island of Mindanao among property developers. Corporate wide he said Davao is even ahead than Cebu in terms of sales.

The projects in Davao other than One Oasis consist of medium and high-end subdivisions namely Le Jardin, Fuente de Villa Abrille, Orange Groove, Ocean Cove and Kembali Coast.

With their target to be higher than what they had in 2009, he said they need to widen their market reach and will develop more sales channels for the OFWs and a more aggressive marketing in Davao City.

He said they also have projects in other parts of Mindanao like in Butuan, Cagayan and Zamboanga and will also consider areas like General Santos City and Surallah for their future projects.

On the other hand, Barquilla said their beach resort residences in Kembali Coast located at the Island Garden City of Samal is an attraction also to buyers in Manila and Filipinas married to foreigners.

He said the Phase 1 of the project is all sold out and the construction for the 2nd phase is ongoing this year. It is a Balinese theme development in a 50 hectares property in Kaputian, Samal with lot size of 1,000 square meters designed to give residents exclusivity and privacy they want.

It also offers buyers the city’s highest elevation that boasts of majestic view of both the sea and the entirely exhilarating island. It has a 1.8 km beach line and a pristine swimming pool that stretches to the beach front. It also houses an aqua sport shop that offers day rental and tutorial programs. (PIA)

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