Happy New Year!

Best wishes for good health and ample wealth in Year 2009!

Merry Christmas

Best wishes for more Peace and Love in this Season of Hope! Merry Christmas to all!

Big thanks for more Christmas cheers from Charlie Gonzales, Hans Sy and SM Group, Phoenix Petroleum, Flying V,  Atty. Wendel Avisado & Family, Engr. Louie Jacinto & Family, Councilor Angging Librado-Trinidad, DMC – Urban Property Developers, Inc., Genesis 888, Speaker Boy Nograles, Engr. Teodorico Adarna, Amado So and Healthy Options.

Off to Cebu

Im off to Cebu this early morning.

Be back in Davao Monday night.

Just in time for the meeting of the Dabaw Kaisa, the Tsinoy Association, which is preparing for the inauguration of the Unity Arch at the end of Magsaysay Avenue on January 29, Chinese New Year next year.

The new arch will complement the Friendship Arch at the other end of the main street in Davao’s Chinatown.

Most important things during Yuletide

Find out here how Davaoenos spend the Yuletide holidays without firecrackers. They learned to embrace the most important things during Christmas.

Thanks for more Christmas cheers from Mayor Rody Duterte, Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, Councilors Leo Avila, Tess Mata-Maranon, City Librarian Fe Alajar, Julio T. Cruz Group of Companies, Holcim, Chamber president Sim Marfori, Chary and Wit Holganza, and to Class 74 of the Davao City High School who sang Christmas carols to my family last night.

Archbishop Capalla

Front page photo at the Mindanano Daily Mirror yesterday.

Migrant workers day

Today is International Migrant Workers Day. We salute the vital contribution of our Overseas Filipino Workers particularly the all important remittances that keep our economy afloat.

Yet more must be done to protect and promote migrant workers rights. Governments, employers and civil society groups must join hands to advance the many recommendations adopted during the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development held in Manila last October.

This Sunday and Monday, I will be in Cebu to meet OFW leaders to promote savings mobilization for alternative investments.

Here are the new officers of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. for next year:

Chair – Atty. Domingo T. Duerme

President – Simeon P. Marfori II

Executive VP – Nelia C. Tumarao

VP for Trade & Commerce – Alberto M. Soriano

VP for Agribusiness – Evelyn G. Lavina

VP for Professional & Service Ventures – Corazon Mae M. Baylon

VP for Industry – Napoleon M. Liloc

Corporate Secretary – Dr. Ma. Lourdes G. Monteverde

Corporate Treasurer – Patrick John D. Castro

Trustees – Atty. Bienvenido D. Cariaga, Atty. Enrique M. Diola, John Y. Gaisano, Jr., Sofronio M. Jucutan, Vicente T. Lao and Myrna P. Valdez

Thanks for more Christmas cheers from James Lee, Councilor Pilar Braga, Simeon Gonzales of Lakpue Group of Companies, Knights of Columbus brother Manny Malin, and Bishop George Rimando.

Diamond Jubilee

I went to the early dawn mass this morning, the second day of the misa de gallo to usher in the Christmas season.

The mass was led by no less than the Archbishop of Davao, Monsignor Fernando Capalla to kick off the year-long celebration to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the of the Archdiocese of Davao next year.

Five city councilors were present during the eucharistic celebration, namely, Bel Reta, Tess Mata-Maranon, Dado Mahipus, Conde Baluran and myself.

The archdiocese was founded on December 17, 1949. The 60th year celebration of the archdiocese has for its theme “Remembering the past with gratitude” “Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

Last City Council session today

Dawn masses ushered in today the official start of the Christmas season. The City Council took part in this annual ritual taking care of the food stalls infront of the San Pedro Cathedral and the City Council building.

The offering of the free stalls for food vendors would run nine days.

The regular City Council session today is scheduled at 1 p.m. because a  number of our colleagues, our SP Secretary Leika Lopez and her staff burned the midnight candle to help organize the traditional “simbang gabi” food fair.

The calendar of business today includes items not taken up in yesterday’s session and a few additions including the request of the Bankerohan Meat Vendors Coop for the extension of their slaugherhouse permit, which expires at the end of this year.

Passed unnoticed by the local media yesterday was the City Council’s favorable endorsement for Legaspi Oil’s plan for a Special Economic Zone at Barangay Sasa.

One of the remaining important items left at the City Council agenda is the hydro power plant project of clean energy company Hedcor at Tamugan.

Thanks for more Christmas gifts from Councilor Mabel Acosta, Councilor Conde Baluran and University of the Philippines (UP-Mindanao)

Dec 15 City Council Agenda

Here’s the Calendar of Business of the regular session of the City Council for today:

Invocation by Councilor Edgar R. Ibuyan (1st District);

National Anthem; City March

Roll Call

Privilege Hour

First Reading – 6 Items (Nos. 1623 – 1628)

Third & Final Reading – 3 Items – Item No. 1556 Amusement tax exemption for Gary Valenciano concert for a cause on December 22; Item No. 1591 Amusement tax exemption for Barney show on December 16; Item No. 1074 reclassification of 12,649 square meters from protected light industrual zone to heavy industrial zone at Barangay Binugao

Committee of the Whole – 5 Items – Item Nos. 1257, 399, 400, 379, 386 all pertaining to application of cell sites of various telecom companies;

Second Reading (Deferred Items) – 22 Items, e.g. Item No. 1044-A investigation of the kiling of Datu Dominador Diarog, chieftain of the K’lata Tribe at Barangay Manuel Guianga on april 29, 2008; Item Nos. 984-B and 1126 on the plans of Hedcor, Inc. to tap the Tamugan, Panigan and Suawan Rivers for a hydro-electric power project;

Second Reading (New Committee Reports) – 6 Items, e.g. Item No. 1539 Deed of Donation by the Shelter Development Cooperative involving road lots, open spaces and community facilities at Concorde Village at Barangay Tugbok and Centennial Village at Barangay Ula; Item No. 1596 Application for Preliminary Approval & Locational Clearance for Northcrest Expansion by Alsons Development & Investment Corp. with an area of 40.8 hectares at Barangay Cabantian; Item No. 1581 – request for favorable endorsement for the application of Special Economic Zone of Legaspi Oil Co. Inc. located at Barangay Sasa

Im back

Thank you for waiting. I’m back.

I went off blogging due to my hectic travel schedule the past three weeks. I did not bring along my laptop and did not have any easy access to the net.

I know I missed a lot and will have to make up.

Now, I’m busy preparing for Christmas presents and gifts for about 300 individuals and groups. Actually my office started giving gifts since December 1.

In return, I have received early Christmas presents. Big thanks to the following:

1. Councilor Danny Dayanghirang;

2. NCCC Mall;

3. Mr. & Mrs. Devin Uraya of Uraya Land; and

4. Davao Association of Credit Men, Inc.

Today would be another busy day. Here are some of my appointments:

1. Davao City High School Alumni Homecoming at The Venue with Class 58 and Class 83 celebrating their golden and silver anniversaries respectively;

2. OFW Family Day at SM Parking Lot;

3. Phoenix Oil Christmas Party at Apo View Hotel;

Tomorrow and on Tuesday, the City Council wold hold its final two sessions for the year.