DAVAO CITY, Philippines— Was it a misjudgment? When Senator Cynthia Villar brought out the idea of limiting the fast food chain craze offering “Unlimited rice” Filipino thought, she is banning the craving for more rice. But they got her wrong. Villar was actually emphasizing the need to consume allowable rice consumption which our body basically […]
Denuded Marilog soon to be regreened
One million within 10 years! That’s the aim of the Therma South, Inc. (TSI) to accomplish its mission to reforest the denuded areas of Marilog district, some 50 kilometers away from the heart of Davao City. In the past, Marilog district teemed with forest and diversified flora and fauna. In the 1970s, logging – both […]
Hidden hunger continues to take its toll
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Every night, an average Filipino joins at least 3.7 billion other people who go to sleep hungry. Their hunger, however, is not the growling, aching kind. Rather, it is silent, insidiously stunting their bodies and brains, weakening their immune systems, and sapping their energy – and prospects for living productive lives. Their hidden […]
Conserve biodiversity? Go Biotech
DAVAO CITY, Philippines- As the world reshapes now, it is time for us to help save the fast disappearing biological diversity. The latest report “Global status of commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016,” published by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech noted that From 1996 (the first year of commercialization of biotech crops) up to […]
Saving oceans before it’s too late!
The world’s oceans are so huge and literally unfathomable that no one seems to believe that they are in deep trouble. But according to Alexandra Cousteau , an ocean explorer, filmmaker and conservation advocate, the ocean is in trouble. This is particularly true in the Philippines, Cousteau who recently visited the country stressed although she […]
PHL to observe Earth Day as Paris Agreement takes effect
DAVAO CITY, Philippines–On April 22, the Philippines will celebrate Earth Day as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change enter into force for the country. It will be a historic day for the country, “Earth Day will once again be historic for the Philippines as it will mark the commencement of the Paris Agreement’s legal force […]
Are oarfish harbingers of earthquakes?
“Wild animals can be natural early detection systems for disasters. (That’s) another reason why we should value them.” – Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau *** Last April 17, on an early dawn, fishermen swimming off Purok Kiblis in Barangay Lomuyon of Kiamba, Sarangani Province were caught by surprised when they […]
All-out war against illegal drugs
“I don’t like people involved in drugs. I don’t care if they are soldiers or policemen. I tell them that drug dealers and criminals in my city have only two destinations – the jail or the funeral parlors.” – Former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo D. Duterte, now the 16th president of the Philippines *** “Drug abuse has ruined many lives,” […]
Filipinos urged to prepare always for impending earthquakes
“We never know when an earthquake will occur. But we should know what to do before, during and after the occurrence of such events. Regular safety drills should be done to familiarize citizens with safety and disaster preparedness measures.” Senator Loren Legarda, United Nations International Strategy Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Global Champion for Resilience, issued that […]
200 cavans of rice per hectare now possible
“Masaganang Ani 200.” Simply, it means bountiful harvest 200. But that’s the program which the administration of Rodrigo R. Duterte has launched in order to raise the farmers’ rice yield to 200 cavans per hectare in an aim to stop importation, stabilizing food supply as globally traded rice thins down 36 million metric tons (MT). […]
Saving Marine turtles from extinction
There was once a sailboat enthusiast who found himself alone, floating in the middle of nowhere after encountering a sudden sea storm. With his boat capsized, this shipwreck survivor was given a new lease of life by a benevolent marine turtle. A two-day piggy back ride brought this lucky fellow back to land and he […]
Davao doctor honored as health exemplar
A physician from Davao has been named as one of the five recipients of the Third Health Exemplar Awards in Makati City last month. Dr. Richard Tesoro Mata, who has a clinic in Panabo City but lives in Davao City, was recognized for his anti-dengue advocacy. “(He) works patiently one barangay and one community at […]
Contour farming controls soil erosion but…
In the early 1970s, American missionary Harold Ray Watson – then director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) – received several complaints of low and declining farm income from upland farmers in barangay Kinuskusan of Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Watson recalled that in one area, corn production had dropped from 3.5 tons per […]