FROM 3

part of the pillars of competitiveness of cities and municipalities, which is innovation and one of the components of innovation is digitalization.

“I am positive that by 2028 most of the LGUs if not all will be digitalized,” she said.

Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon, chair of RDC 11, said that digitalization is among her priorities when she assumed office. Her office has already entered into a contract with a service provider and she is hoping that in 16 months her province will be digitalized.

“Kailangan ang efficiency and we will be reducing yung mga corruption. Kung maayos naman ang sistema ng ating recording talagang mabilis ang mga resulta na makuha natin. We will be at par with national agencies that are already digitalized,” she said.

The DRDP 2023-2028 is the second medium-term goal geared towards a long-term vision. It also serves as a guidepost for all Davao Region stakeholders in pursuing the region’s sustained recovery from the disruptions by the pandemic, and a vehicle for accelerated transformation to a more progressive, broadbased, and strong Davao Region.

Milan said digitalization is among the things that should support RDC’s development plans for Davao Region to soar high and that will give a better life for Dabawenyos.

“Practicing good governance will improve bureaucratic efficiency and the outcome of our Davao Regional Development Plan in 2028 Davao Region shall have more efficient government service delivery as well as efficient and responsive bureaucratic practices,” Lim said.

misery as they advance their violent causes. Nakabalo kita nga ang masa, ang mga katawhan, sila ang sandigan ug ginasaligan sa mga teroristang NPA. Ug kung moingon ang masa nga tama na, undangon na nato kini, gikapoy na kami — human na ang away. Sa Davao City, human na ang away,” she said.

The vice president expressed admiration and gratitude to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for successfully ending the insurgency in Davao City.

In March last year, the army declared Davao City as “insurgency-free” after years of fighting the communist insurgents.

“Today, we commemorate and celebrate our people’s commitment to the noble principles of freedom and social justice that liberate us from the threats of extremism. Now, we are presented with limitless possibilities for Paquibato and the entire city, taking advantage of the gains of peace to fortify our city and secure the life of the Dabawenyos,” Duterte said.

She ended her message hoping that one day soon, Filipinos will wake up to the news that the entire Philippines is already NPA terrorist-free.

“Let us make this happen,” she said.

(BDRRMCs) to alert the community about the impending hazards if ever this tropical depression will enter the country’s area.

“Continuous ang atong preposition sa atoang resources and ready to be deployed just in case kung naa na’y flooded areas sa ilahang area of responsibility (There is a continuous preposition of the resources and it can be readily deployed in case there is flooding in their area of responsibility),” he said.

He added that the BDRRMCs and the security clusters with search and rescue capacity are likewise advised to be always on call should their teams be needed at the onset of flooding or other emergencies. CIO in the field of forest guarding and law enforcement conducted a series of training sessions focused on forest conservation, resource management, and law enforcement.

During the sessions, the participants learned how to identify illegal forest activities, enforced forest laws, and conducted surveillance patrols. In addition, a workshop was conducted on spot mapping, forest land use plans, and forest patrol planning to enhance their abilities.

“I am really honored to be part of this forest guarding training,” said Almart Martije, a 31-year-old member of the Mandaya tribe from barangay Don Salvador Lopez in Mati City, adding that it emphasized the deep-rooted connection between the IPs and the land. Most importantly, the training highlighted the role of IPs as stewards of the forests for generations.

But it’s not only the IPs who will benefit from the program. “By increasing the number of forest guards on the ground, the initiative ensures better protection against illegal activities that contribute to deforestation, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss,” said Maje Egento, the senior technical officer of BaiAni and Kennemer.

In addition, the program would generate employment opportunities for IPs, thus enabling them to earn a livelihood while safeguarding their ancestral lands. “The program promotes environmental awareness and encourages local community participation in conservation efforts,” Egento pointed out.

Eleuterio Manaytay, the chairman of the Provincial Tribal Council, said the training didn’t only allow IPs to utilize their traditional knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the ecosystem but also provides a platform to advocate for their rights and well-being of indigenous communities.

“Collaborating with government agencies, conservation organizations, and local communities,” Manaytay added, “the forest guards work towards the long-term sustainability of the forests.”

The collaboration of the IPs and the support organizations is worth emulating. “The program in Davao Oriental exemplifies how empowering local communities can effectively

He said the suspension is not due to the issue of ROW but the lack of the required DED plan.

“Work cannot commence without the detailed engineering plan. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cannot proceed without the DED, even without the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), but making the ROW as a scapegoat for the alleged suspension,” Batacan said.

The P23 billion bridge project with a length of 3.98 kilometers and protect the environment and promote sustainable development,” the press release said.

“By providing training and equipment, IPs are empowered to safeguard their ancestral lands and the valuable natural resources they hold,” it went on. “The program sets a remarkable example of other communities, inspiring them to follow suit in their efforts to protect the environment and advance sustainable development.”

The Philippines is among the countries that are losing their forest cover fast, ranking fourth in the world’s top 10 most threatened forest hotspots, according to Marjorie Pamintuan in an article published in Philippine Daily Inquirer.

In 1934, forests comprised more than half (54%) of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares. In 2010, the forest cover had gone down to 23% or about 6.8 million hectares, said a report compiled by the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO).

Based on the 2010 satellite images released by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), open forests accounted for 68% (4.595 million hectares) of the country’s total forest cover, 28% are closed forests while the rest are mangroves.

Caraga Region has the highest total forest cover in Mindanao, with 683,112 hectares. Davao Region is closely trailed with 428,716 hectares. The rest of the regions: Northern Mindanao (377,858 hectares), ARMM (301,894 hectares), and Zamboanga Peninsula (176,918 hectares).

“The country’s forests are habitat for more than 6,000 plant species and numerous bird and animal species,” Pamintuan wrote. “Forests also four lanes and will serve at least 25,000 vehicles daily is targeted to be completed by the year 2027.

On October 27, 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremony for the SIDC project that would link Davao City and Samal Island.

The bridge project is designed to be a four-lane cable-stayed extradosed iconic bridge with a total length of 3.98 kilometers including approaches with a vertical navigational clearance up to 47 meters supported by two pylons with a height of 73 meters. By Maya M. Padillo serve as home to some 12 million indigenous peoples.”

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Forest Resources Assessment defines forests as tree plantations, and bamboo, palm and fern formations, logging roads and open spaces adjacent to logging sites of corporate forest concessions. In 2004, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) adopted the definition through Memorandum No. 005.

“A forest is more than just trees,” said the late national scientist Dr. Dioscoro L. Umali. “It is a community throbbing with life – an ecosystem of plants, animals and their surroundings; an all-embracing web of life woven into soil, water, and air. These elements interact with each other. They all are essential parts of a whole system.”

Umali said that tampering any one of these elements disrupts the balance of the ecosystem. “In nature,” the Ramon Magsaysay laureate pointed out, “there are no rewards and punishment; there are only consequences.”

Deforestation should end. “Halting deforestation is more than planting trees,” said Pamintuan, a graduate of communication research from University of the Philippines-Diliman. “For as long as commercial logging continues, conflicting economic and environmental policies remain, widespread poverty and landlessness, and corruption in government persist, laws and projects that are meant to stop deforestation are bound to fail.

“Worse, we will continue to lose our forests,” she added. “The future of our nation and the next generation is at stake.”