Low-Cost Housing

DAVAO CITY (PNA) – Low-cost, prefabricated houses made of wood for low-income families are being eyed as one of the value-added projects by the wood industry cluster team under the advanced stage of the Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project 2 (DICCEP 2).

German Urbiztondo, forester of the Region-11 office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-11), said the team will move to promote more planting of acacia mangium, mahogany (lawaan), and gmelina trees by tree farmers in Region-11 in the coming months to meet the new demand.

Although falcatta trees have been very popular with many tree farmers in recent years due to the demand by plywood factories and pallet-makers in Mindanao, its current cheap price is forcing some farmers to shift to other tree species.

“Falcatta is too soft for construction, it can’t hold nails. They’re used mostly for making crates and pallets for banana companies,” said Urbiztondo during a recent cluster meeting composed of representatives from the private sector, DENR, local government units, and the academe.

source: mb.com.ph

Food poisoning downs over 100 Ateneo de Davao students, officials

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - More than a hundred students of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) were rushed to the hospital two hours after taking spoiled lunch on Sunday.

The students were attending the student leaders gathering—called Sui Generis—with ADDU President Fr. Joel Tabora.

Mureene Ann Villamor, chair of the student council Samahan, said the participants started to get sick around 3 p.m., a couple of hours after taking a pack of chicken adobo, pancit (noodles) and buco salad.

Villamor, who herself was rushed to the hospital after feeling nauseated and vomiting several times, said the chicken adobo “smelled terrible.”

“It did not smell good,” Villamor told Interaksyon.com in a phone interview. She was still confined at the hospital as of this writing.

“At around 3 p.m., may mga lumabas na sa session hall. Kasi nagsuka suka na. They were not feeling well already. I felt sick as I was facilitating at the open forum. I went to the toilet and found out that many students were indeed sick. They called 911 na,” Villamor said.

Father Tabora was reportedly sick himself and was brought to the hospital, Villamor said.

More than 50 students were brought to the Davao Doctors Hospital while almost the same number were also rushed to San Pedro Hospital.

Atenews, the official students publication of ADDU, posted a photo of the reported spoiled chicken adobo served to the students. Student Ricky Zonio said he was among those who felt ill after taking lunch.

“It was really shocking. Until now, throat still hurts because of vomiting. I nearly passed out,” Zonio said in the vernacular.

Edward Lactaoen, associate editor of Atenews, said he was able to talk to one of the doctors who told him that the “symptoms indeed point to food poisoning.” He, too, said a school official has told him that “they're awaiting lab tests on the food served during the event to identify what specifically it was that caused it.”

“Some of our staffers are at the hospitals,” he said.

source: interaksyon.com

Now smoke-free for 10 years, Davao hailed as international example on World No-Tobacco Day

On Thursday, May 31 - marked internationally as World No-Tobacco Day - Davao celebrates ten years as a "smoke-free" city, and as an internationally-acclaimed example of a community successfully kicking a deadly habit.

According to the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), the metropolis is "one of the most successful and pioneering smoke-free initiatives in the ASEAN."

Davao City's campaign against smoking began in 2002, spearheaded by then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

While previous ordinances were already in place to combat smoking in public places, these were so-called "sleeping ordinances," and were thus consolidated into what would become the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance passed by the city council in July 2002.

Duterte then formed the Anti-Smoking Task Force to execute the ordinance, which took effect in November of the same year.

His daughter, the present Mayor of Davao City Sara Duterte-Carpio, has continued the crusade against smoking, saying their policy is being implemented to "protect public health."

Public places including schools, hospitals, government offices, playgrounds, and restaurants have since become smoke-free in Davao City.

"Davao is fortunate to have government leaders who prioritize the health of the people and have the political will to support and enforce a comprehensive and stringent anti-smoking ordinance," SEATCA Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Program Manager Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz said.

According to Villarreiz, Davao City has garnered three Department of Health Red Orchid Awards for "100% smoke-free environments," as well as the Global Smoke-free Partnership Award to a Governmental Body for "exceptional leadership and commitment to further smoke-free policies."

Following in Davao City's footsteps are other Southeast Asian locations, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Malaysia's Malacca, known for its 17th century Dutch buildings; Laos' Luang Prabang, recognized for its traditional architecture; and Cambodia's Angkor Wat, famed for its ancient temples.

More than 40 locations in the Philippines are also looking to become smoke-free, according to SEATCA.

The organization has published Your Guide to a Smoke-free City: Lessons learned from Davao City, Philippines, which documents the city's successful crusade against smoking.

source: interaksyon.com