DAVAO CITY (PIA) - To entice summer tourists to this part of Mindanao, the local government here is launching its own Davao Summer Festival.
City Tourism Officer Jason Magnaye said it's a marketing strategy to support the private sector, particularly those involved in tourism to attract people in search for a summer destination.
Magnaye said that currently, there are no summer festivities in this time of the year here. For the other three quarters of the year, Davao is pockmarked with festivals and events like Araw ng Dabaw, Chinese New Year, Kadayawan, and Pasko Fiesta.
COMVAL mulling 'bibingka' plan
NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley (PIA) - Something is cooking here - the capital town of Compostela Valley (ComVal).
The provincial government, the municipal government here, the local Department of Public Works and Highways, the host Barangay Council of New Sibonga, and the association of "bibingka" (rice cake) makers are mulling to set in place the recipe to transform the rice cake industry in New Sibonga into a thriving tourism attraction to spur the economic growth of the village.
Villagers feed roving dolphins
GOVERNOR GENEROSO, Davao Oriental (PNA) - The seawaters of the farthest village here had been the regular route of dolphins, encouraging local villagers to feed these sea mammals regularly.
The town's tourism officer Joey Gamao said about 56 of these dolphins play around the Parola area in Barangay Pundagitan. He said feedings are done between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
He said they see these dolphins in groups between the months of February to September. Meanwhile, Mayor Vicente D. Orencia said tourism development is in the priority list of his agenda.
D.P.W.H. pushes transparency
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur - The Aquino administration is serious in running after erring field officials, engineers, employees, and workers, this was the stern warning of Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary and Regional Action Officer Romeo S. Momo.
"Our current administration is serious in sacking officials who are remiss in their duties, functions and responsibilities.
We are duty bound to give our best public service for development and progress," said Momo. "There will be transparency and accountability of government employees at all times," Momo added. (Mike Crismundo)
Farmers back rice culture
TIGBAO, Zamboanga del Sur - Farmers here are not going against rice culture, which they consider as their best bet to overcome poverty.
Tigbao farmers turned to the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) to free themselves from the quicksand of high interest rates of borrowings from loan sharks.
Using modest credit assistance from the MRDP, the rice farmers of Tigbao have made significant progress in their lives. Farmers in Barangay Begong have recovered from the high-interest debts incurred from non-formal lenders.
Their break came when the municipal government endorsed them as one of the beneficiaries of the MRDP. (Marvyn Benaning)
