In an effort to curb criminality in the community, Mayor

Rodrigo Duterte ordered for the reinforcement of Barangay Tanods that would augment the Davao City police force in maintaining peace, law and order.

Duterte signed Executive Order No. 21 last May 6, mandating the formation of peace and order units for each barangay of the City of Davao, which will be under the general supervision of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

The Mayor said that each barangay must have their own security activity, which would support the DCPO in combating lawless elements in their respective area of responsibility.

“Dili kaya sa pulis. Gamay lang akong pulis,” Duterte said in an interview.DUTERTE, 3

Although the city will require more power, clean water for the residents of Davao City is equally important. This is the stand of Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte as another company has signified its intent to build a 160-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric power plant in Barangays Lamanan and Gumalang in this city’s Calinan district.

Even as the company already has an endorsement from the Department of Energy, it still has to get the approval of the City Council before it can proceed with its application.

“The company has to pass the eye of the needle for this project or even something smaller,” the younger Duterte adamantly said.

The City Council’s Committee on Energy reported the proposed hydro power plant will use water from the Tamugan and Davao Rivers. The process, the committee added, will affect the water level of the rivers which are part of the protected watershed area of the city.

PULONG, 3

Duterte to strengthen barangay security

Pulong, City Council reluctant on approving hydropower plant

City Vet intensifies anti-rabies IEC and vaccination programThe Animal Health and Disease Control Division of the

City Veterinarian’s Office has formed a Rabies Vaccination Team that would conduct rabies vaccination in the different barangays of the city.

Assistant City Veterinarian Dr. Esther Cherry Rios said the program aims to prevent and control the spread of Rabies, a disease attributed to dog bites in Davao City and to totally eliminate Rabies in line with the goal of the National Government to achieve a Rabies Free Philippines by year 2020. The program’s strategic thrust is the promotion of Responsible Pet Ownership (PRO) in the prevention and control of rabies.

Rios added they have also launched a massive Information Education Campaign in the Barangay level by informing barangay officials and luminaries and educating

them on the importance of rabies vaccination and the effects of the rabies disease to domesticated animals and people exposed to dog and cat bites.

Data from the City Veterinarian’s Office show an increase of more than 20% in the number of domesticated animals vaccinated this year as compared to last year. Based on last year’s medical bulletin, the office has recorded a slight decrease of rabies incidents in the city because of the massive information campaign which has resulted in the maturity of Davaoeños in handling domesticated animals.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease, a disease that is transmittable to humans from animals, that is caused by a virus. It is a preventable disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

The City Government of Davao opened its second community-based child minding facility last May, which aims to help working parents who belong in the low-income group and cannot afford to hire help in looking after the welfare of their children.

Maria Luisa Bermudo, City Social Services and Development Office Head, said this is the response of City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to parents who are having difficulties in taking care of their children due to their work.

The center, located near Bonifacio Rotunda along Magallanes St., caters to children three years old and below. Parents may take their children to the center to be taken cared of by qualified individuals, while they are out at work.

Bermudo said that while in their care, children would be provided appropriate early childhood development activities, adding that they would also ensure the safety of the children. The facility also has a breastfeeding room, toddlers’ room, playing area and sleeping quarters.

CITY OPENS, 3

City opens second community-based child minding center

PAGE 2

City’s scholarship program produces top graduates

The City Government of Davao added another feather to its cap as it produced 4 magna cum laudes and 10 cum laudes from its Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program (STEP) for the school year 2013-2014.

Records from the City’s STEP Office show, out of 607 students from different year levels who availed of the scholarship last school year, 61 scholars from various colleges in the city received their diplomas last March 2014.

STEP is a scholarship grant under the Educational Assistance Program (EAP) of the city, instituted by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in 2008. It aims to provide financial support to less fortunate yet promising college students.

Executive Order No.7, Series of 2014, an Order strengthening the EAP, states that “The City Government of Davao recognized that affording quality education is a right that must be enjoyed by all citizens especially

for the underprivileged but deserving student with the end-view of alleviating their respective families’ economic status and subsequently bring about progress and prosperity to the society.”

CITY’S SCHOLARSHIP, 3

2014 Summerfest successfulThe Davao City Government,

through the City Sports Develop-ment Division (SDD) and City Tourism Office, successfully held this year’s summer sports festival. Dubbed as the Davao City Summer Sports for Peace Festival, delegates from all over the city and the country took part in the festivity that ran from May 1 to 31.

Various sporting events were organized for the celebration, which in-cluded competitions and train-ing camps for different sports such as arnis, basketball, volleyball, rugby and others. A Sports Scientific Con-ference, which covered matters like sports administration and management, sports medicine, sports nutrition, sports physiology, as well as sports marketing and event organizing was also conducted during the festival.

According to William “Butch” Ramirez, chief of the SDD,

the festivity is in line with the Duterte Game Plan (DGP) – the city’s comprehensive sports development program,

which serves as a direction guide for the city sports under Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s term. DGP also

aims to enhance the quality of life in the locality through sports and recreation.

Ramirez emphasized the importance of sports and the festivity, which also helps in instilling positive attitude on people, espe-cially children, adding that the sports activi-ties also serve as tools used to change indi-viduals.

The month-long festival also featured other sports activities like the PNP Summer

Cup; Run with the Titans Season 2; the 15th Davao Horse Show and Competition; the 1st

Mayor Rody and Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte Drag-on Boat Competition; the 4th Daba-Daba Frisbee

Tournament; the Federation of Duckpin Bowling of the Philippines National Tournament; the TNT-SBP Tatlohan (3 on 3); the Magnus Team Davao Cup 2014 National World Shoot Qualifier; a Football Invitational; a Collegiate Basket-ball as well as Volleyball for Men and Women, the Davao City Midnight Basketball Cup; the Cyclomax Motocross and; the Enduro Open Challenge.

DUTERTE... from page 1

The EO states that there is an imperative need to augment and strengthen the capability of each barangay in fighting criminality, in view of the proliferation and increasing menace of drugs, robbery, theft, illegal gambling and other crimes, petty or otherwise.

Duterte added each member of the peace and order unit must go through rigorous background check, screening process and training, which will be conducted by the DCPO.

“The Peace and Order Unit in each barangay shall be composed of not more than five members, who shall each be entitled to a monthly honorarium in the amount of P6,000 chargeable against the Peace and Order Fund of the city,” Duterte said. Duterte also said the auxiliary police will be provided with forearms.

CITY’S SCHOLARSHIP... from page 2

The STEP scholars who graduated were from Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), Agro Industrial Foundation College (AGRO), Christian Colleges of Southeast Asia (CSSA), Davao Central Colleges, Davao Doctors College (DDC), Davao Vision Colleges (DVC), Davao Merchant Marine Academy (DMMA), Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), Holy Cross College of Calinan (HCCC), Holy Cross College of Sasa (HCCS), Jose Maria College (JMC), John Paul II College of Davao (JPIICD), MATS College of Technology (MATS), Rizal Memorial College (RMC), San Pedro College (SPC), St. Francis Xavier College Seminary (SFXCS), Saint Peter College Toril (SPCT), University of Immaculate Concepcion (UIC), University of Mindanao (UM), UM-Guinga, Univeristy of Southeastern Philippines

(USEP), and University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP).

The magna cum laudes were Michelle Encabo (JPIICD, BSBA - Financial Management), Anna-Lee Bandoy (UIC, BS in Medical Technology), Ressa Mae Onsing (UIC, BSEd-English), and Mary Mae Caloyon (UIC, BS in Information Technology). On the other hand, the cum laudes were Rechelle Reyes (HCDC, BS Customs), Briandith Biton (JPIICD, BS in Tourism Management), Aljean Tan (JPIICD, BS in Tourism Management), Nova Anne Baclayo (JPIICD, BS in Information Technology), Marriane Lara (SPC, BS in Pharmacy), Gay Marie De Garcia (UIC, BS in Accountancy), Elixer Jon Rodil (UIC, BSIT), Amarose Jayne Busalla (UM, Bachelor of Science in Education), Maggie Mae Abellana (USEP, BS in Business Administration), and Fila Hidalgo (UP, BS ComArts).

CITY OPENS... from page 2

The center could house 50 to 60 children, and will be manned by a teacher and caregivers. The services will be all for free.

Bermudo said that part of the daycare concept of the center is also to provide education to parents for them to continue the childhood development activities at home.

Those interested in availing the services of the center should go to the CSSDO for a screening process, to establish their eligibility, Bermudo added.

The first community-based child minding center was opened Calinan District early this year.

PULONG... from page 1

Another obstacle for the proposed hydropower plant would be the city’s Zoning Ordinance which the City Council has recently passed and would certainly not amend just to accommodate the project.

While the hydropower plant being proposed is expected to provide an additional P300-P500 million to the city in terms of taxes and fees, the City Council, headed by Duterte, will not take the risk of putting the environment in danger.

“Anyway, a Coal-Fired Powerplant is being built. Let us wait for that and if additional power supply is still needed, then maybe we can accommodate the proposal,” Duterte said. “Lisod kaayo kay tubig ang maapektuhan,” he added.

PAGE 3

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