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Kadayawan Festival is celebrated annually as a thanksgiving festival of Davao City and is known as one of the biggest festivals in the Philippines. “Kadayawan sa Davao” reflects the bountiful harvest, abundance of vegetation, tranquility of living, richness of culture and gift of nature.

This renowned festival is celebrated every third week of August with a very festive environment that every local and foreign visitors would certainly enjoy. Street dancing competitions, exhibits that promote Davao’s best products, talents and best services are made up to complete the said event.

Two of the most awaited events during the celebration are the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan or street dancing and Pamulak or Floral Float Parade which showcase a mobile display of the blooming of flowers and abundance of fruits in creatively decorated floats on parade.

Despite the limited budget, the public and private are working together to make this year’s Kadayawan Festival a successful one. Kadayawan is one of the local events that make Davao City as one of the most visited cities in the Philippines.

Everything is all set from the venue, security down to the different preparations needed to welcome the 25th Kadayawan Festival of Davao City.

Kadayawan Festival 2010 Schedule of Activities:

Engr. Manuel A. Medros 2nd Solo Exhibit for Painting
August 11- September 11, 2010
Venue: Museo Dabawenyo

Agri-Trade Fair
August 13-30, 2010
Venue: SM City

Panagtagbo
August 16-22, 2010
Venue: People’s Park

Fair Trade Opening
August 16-22, 2010
Venue: Sangguniang Panlungsod Lobby

Kadayawan 2010 Festival Opening
August 20, 2010
Venue: Rizal Park

The 25th Kadayawan Festival Performance of the Different Tribes
Hudyakan
August 20-22, 5:00 PM-2:00 AM
Venue: Bolton Street (Beside Sanguniang Panlungsod)

Hiyas sa Kadayawan
August 20, 2010, 8:00 PM
Venue: Almendras Gym

Indak indak sa Kadalanan
August 21. 2010, 8 AM
Venue: Major thoroughfares of the city
This event features the different cultures and traditional dances of the different tribes of Davao and surrounding areas.

Pamulak Floral Float Parade
August 22 at 8 AM
The route start at Magsaysay Avenue to Claro M. Recto Street then to Legaspi and San Pedro streets.

The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) has recently named Davao City for being the best in quality of life among metropolitan cities in the Philippines

Davao City also bagged others citations which include:

1. Special Award on the Compliance to Government Plans and Programs
2. Special Award in Documentation, for providing the AIM with a very good documentation of Davao City’s system
3. An Entrepreneur’s Award, for being the most small and medium enterprises- friendly

In 2001, 2005 and 2008, Davao also named as the Most Competitive Metro City in the Philippines by the Asian Institute of Management.

ICT Davao, an organization of all information and communication technology groups hosted by Davao City was one of the delegates who participated in the first Indo ASEAN IT business summit along with Vichael Roaring, Commercial Attache and Embassy of The Republic of the Philippines in New Delhi. The said summit came to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ICT organization of Davao City and Gujarat IT-ITES, an IT organization based in India.

The MOU was signed by the ICT Davao Vice-President Samuel Matunog and the President of Gujarat Electronics and Software Industries Association (GESIA), Nirav Shah. GESIA is composed of 240+ member companies around the world.

The two bodies agreed to establish interaction, promote business missions, organize and participate on workshops and seminars, promote advisory services on industry prospects and status and institute relationships for exchange of information.

The MOU proves that the city of Davao is an asset for business process outsourcing (BPO) of the country. Fruitful and progressive opportunities are expected to come along between the ICT Davao and the Gujarat partnership. In the same development, two big BPO firms are planning to set up business in the city as part of their expansion. One of which could possibly hire more than 500 call center agents.

For 2010, Davao is the first in the top 10 next wave cities of the Philippines. The business process outsourcing industry is one of the most promising sectors and generates thousands of jobs in the city. The partnership between India and Philippines is a good start for more business opportunities to set in Davao City.

With the growing tourism industry, the local government of Samal Island is considering environmental projects to sustain its growth. The city government is eyeing PhP 164 million pesos for the environmental projects in order to preserve the natural beauty of the island.

The Environmental User’s Fee (EUF) under City Ordinance No. 156, series of 2009 was created to realize such undertaking. The EUF or the so-called “Blue-Green Ticket” is a 5-peso charge collected upon entry in Samal Island. The fund will be used for the environmental sustainability program of the city government.

The city government of Samal needs at least PhP 91 million pesos for a sanitary landfill project, Php 1.5 million for the slaughter house, PhP 6.5 million for the coastal park, Php 11.5 million for the waste water treatment facility, 3.5 million for the Penaplata Park and PhP 50 million for a treatment facility.

Being part of the Davao gulf, Samal Island is considered one of the biodiversity areas in the Philippines. Fortunately, resort owners and business operators are willing to support on the implementation of these environmental projects which is a positive approach for the island’s tourism industry.

These environmental projects are very important to ensure the island is able to maintain and preserve its environment despite the growing number tourists and establishments.

Photo courtesy of sweetcaroline on Flickr

There is a new attraction in Davao that is breathtaking and full of adventure and this is wakeboarding. Wakeboarding is a water sport which combines the techniques of snow boarding, water skiing and surfing.

The Deca Wakeboard Park is the pioneer and offers this newest water sports in Davao. The park awaits every visitor who wants to experience not just physiological but psychological arousal that would definitely gives you fun under the heat of the sun. Wakeboarding is now the latest sensation that is also popular in other places. Here in Davao, one can experience wakeboarding in just few kilometers away from the heart of the city. It takes you around 20 to 45 minutes travel from the downtown area.

The Deca Wakeboard Park is located at Brgy. Tacunan, Mintal, Davao City and a first of its kind in Davao. This park was opened last August 2009 to all wakeboarding enthusiasts. The park features state-of-the-art overhead cable systems and an ideal venue for Wakeboard tournaments like the World Cup Finals. Amateur and experience wakeboarders can enjoy a wild ride since the facilities are complete and manned with highly-trained personnel. Since its opening, lots of local and even international wakeboarders are coming in. The developers of the park are constantly looking forward to make this park more competitive to suit the standards of other countries. There are amenities around the park that cater the needs of every visitor.

The Deca Wakeboarding Park is open seven days a week from 8:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the afternoon. Rate starts at PhP 400 up to PhP 1,000 per wakeboarder with free usage of wakeboard, vest and helmet. You can avail their discount provided you are a resident of Deca Homes.

So, if you want to unwind and experience wakeboarding, then wakeboarding at Deca Wakeboard Park is place for you. For inquiries, you can e-mail them through info@xtremewakeinc.com or call them up at (082) 304-6005 / (082) 286-4078.

Image courtesy of life123 website

The Davao City Central 911 is a fully integrated, computerized emergency response system that links the residents of Davao to the emergency resources of the city government. It is patterned after the emergency dispatch system in the United States and Canada. It enables residents of Davao City to call for emergency services by simply dialing 911 on any land line or mobile phone. Central 911 is said to be first 911 emergency response system in Asia.

The Davao Central Communication and Emergency Response Center was established last September 27, 2002 in partnership with the Davao Light and Power Company. Initially, the Central 911 through the initiative of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte begun with only 34 mobile units with the call center in service for the enforcement of laws. Central 911 is composed of fire auxiliary, k9 units, urban search and rescue, police and emergency medical services. Last 2009, he City Government of Davao has provided more equipment for Davao Central 911 to further render service to the people of the city.

In 2002, the Davao Central 911 received a total of 4,026 calls. To sum up from 2003 to 2008, a total of 38,262 calls were catered and had responded. Majority of the calls are related to emergency with 24 percent and followed law enforcement with 74 percent. The other services comprised the remaining 2 percent.

The Davao Central 911 is equipped with Emergency Computer Aided Dispatch or ECAD, a computerized mapping system given by the Davao Light and Power Company in support of the peace and order drive. This mapping system helps authorities locate the origin of a particular call.

Two patrol cars are to be dispensed in each police station with built-in radio station. The Davao Central 911 is a reflection that taxes are working and been using properly and is given back to the people of Davao City.

With Central 911, it enables public safety agency to respond to any emergency cases in a more effective way.

Babak, a district in the Island Garden City of Samal is annually celebrating its founding anniversary every 28th day of the month of May. This grand celebration is called KABASAN Festival. Kabasan is a native word for seashells. This is a long week summer celebration with different activities prepared for Babak folks, visitors from nearby districts and from other places.

The celebration is really festive and colorful showcasing the different talents of the locals and the richness of its culture and native products. Kabasan Festival 2010 is another milestone of the island which is now on its 6th year. It is indeed a remarkable experience for spectators of every night that is full of fun and surprises. For those who are living outside Island Garden City of Samal, don’t be anxious because you can choose among the best resorts and inns surrounding Babak area. The said establishments offer you perfect amenities at an affordable price. You can also jump off to Monfort Bat Cave which has just recognized by the Guinness as the largest colony of Geoffrey’s Rousette Fruit Bats.

Kabasan Festival was opened last May 22, 2010. A Motocross Challenge held at day time and followed by a spectacular fireworks display and a live band concert in the evening.

To make the festival more colorful and exciting, the following activities are prepared that each visitor must see and enjoy.

Motocross
Hataw Sayaw
Bikini Open
Sadsaran sa Daungan
Seafood Market
Street Party
Sayawan sa Kabasan
Taboan
Hiyas ng Kabasan
Salo-Salo
Sadsaran sa Daungan
Holy Mass
Gabi ng mga Bituin
Chess Competition

Finally, the Kabasan National Chess Open and Regional Eliminations from May 27-28 at the Camp Holiday Resort and Recreational Area in Babak are now all set. The two-day event features Open Division, Kiddies, and the Junior Division. Delightful prizes await the winners.

Davao City is now considered as the next hot spot for outsourcing-related investments. This is according to the Business Processing Association of the Philippines or BPAP. The city ranks first among the Top 10 Next Wave Cities in 2010. This makes Davao the most recommended IT-Business Process (BPO) Outsourcing destination of choice in the Philippines. Among the factors considered are the availability of human resources, infrastructure and the cost of doing business. This year, more businesses and job opportunities related to BPO are expected to pour in Davao City.

Davao City got the highest score among the 2010 list of next-wave cities, recording a 99% score for human resources, 74% for cost, 95% for infrastructure and 76% for business environment, averaging a total of 91% to grab the number one spot.

The creation of next-wave cities is a strategic plan for the Philippine IT-Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry known as “Roadmap 2010”. The program is made possible with cooperation between McKinsey, a consulting firm and Business Processing Association of the Philippines.

Other Philippine cities that are included in the Top 10 list are Bacolod, Iloilo, Sta. Rosa in Laguna, Lipa City in Batangas, Metro Cavite, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Malolos in Bulacan and Dumaguete City. These cities can contribute $1.2 billion in potential revenue and augment employment by 60% for the next couple of years.

Reference: Computer World Philippine website (http://computerworld.com.ph)

Spit just anywhere in the city and land in jail! Well, this is a possible scenario as the anti-spitting ordinance is now taking effect in Davao City.

Spitting in public places is now strictly prohibited in Davao City and this is in connection with the implementation of the Davao City anti-spitting ordinance. This ordinance is envisioned to decrease the alarming rate of Tuberculosis cases in Davao. Spitting is obviously one of the ways in the transmission of this disease which is said to be airborne, contagious and fatal. The Davao City Health Office is the primary body to implement the information dissemination of this campaign.

Davao has been known for its strict and effective implementation on its ordinances. The city implements landmark ordinances that capture attention not only in the Philippines but also abroad. Among these are firecracker ban and anti-smoking ordinance.

What is Anti-spitting Ordinance all about?

For the benefits of the people of Davao City and for those who are planning to visit Davao, here are some information that can help you avoid violating the said law.

This ordinance forbids spitting of saliva, mucus and phlegm to any public places like sidewalks, parks, malls, markets, streets, alleys, buildings, banks, schools, hospitals, churches and the like within the vicinity of Davao City.

Any violation of the anti-spitting ordinance will be penalized by a fine of Php 100 for the first offense; Php 200 for the second offense; and for the third offense will be Php 300 or a subsidiary imprisonment not exceeding six months.

It is noted that Davao City is the first city in the Philippines that implement this kind of ordinance.

The Monfort Bat Cave in Samal Island was recognized by Guinness as the world’s largest colony of Geoffrey’s Rousette Fruit Bats or Rousetteus amplexicaudatus. The award was given last February this year. It has been the highlight of the Eco-Conservation Fair. The said event was held at SM City Davao Event Center last April 21 to 22 with this year’s theme “Bats Conserve Biodiversity”. The event was in connection with the Earth Day Celebration.

The fruits bats colony is located at the Monfort Eco-Park at Brgy. Tambo, Island Garden City of Samal. The said cave has five openings with an estimated bat population of 1.8 million. Fruit bats are less appreciated and sometimes misunderstood creatures but they are also good pollinators and source of organic fertilizer known as guano.

The Monfort Bat Cave shows that wonder of nature still exists which may seem that very few are left. Fortunately, we have this in Samal Island. The crusade continues by giving education for people to comprehend what these bats can do in maintaining balance of our ecosystem.

The Monfort Bat Cave is being preserved and protected by the owner herself Norma Monfort together with the support of the residence and the local government. There are seventy empty caves in the island and were traced to have been inhabited by these kind of bats.

Bat Conservation International, an organization based in Texas, USA stated that Monfort Bat Cave as among the few known to scientists.

Images courtesy of lantaw.blogspot.com