DOF eyes sale of P2.5-B idle gov’t assets: Diokno

The government plans to sell more than 130 properties this year with a total value of PHP2.5 billion, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.

In a recent briefing, DOF Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the DOF’s Privatization Council is targeting to privatize 137 properties in 2023.

Some of these include the Emmanuel Community Hospital Inc. in Tondo, Manila (PHP368.4 million); Central Bank Board of Liquidators in Antipolo City (PHP234.9 million), 21 lots of Technology Resource Center (PHP140.11 million), Elorde Sports and Tourism Development Corporation (PHP485 million), Technology Resource Center in Visayas (PHP100 million), NAFCO lots affected by the High Priority Bus System project (PHP117.2 million), and Wright Patterson Manufacturing Corporation (PHP107.1 million).

The Privatization Council ap- proved the sale of six properties with a total value of PHP152.8 million during its meeting last May 31.

These include the AlAmanah Islamic Bank of the Philippines in Tugbok District, Davao City (PHP25 million), two different lots of Al-Amanah Islamic Investments Bank of the Philippines along Bato Road, Bato, Toril District in Davao City (PHP25.3 million), Central

Mindanao, the country’s second largest island (after Luzon, of course), is noted for its mega-biodiversity, exotic wilderness and culture-tourism destinations.

“From east to west, one can easily embrace several pristine waters of Mindanao’s beaches, springs, rivers, and waterfalls; or be enthralled by the mysticism of the caves, the lithe grace of our lake waters or the lush vegetations within the ‘lungs of the earth’ – our vast and verdant forests,” said the book, B’yahe ta Mindanaw.

“Clinch the challenging heights and thrilling trails of hills and mountains; awesome cliffs, flora and fauna, animal sanctuaries and marine life. These are but few of what the island-region has to offer,” the book, published by the Department of Tourism (DOT), further stated.

Actually, the book is the Mindanao Tourism Situationer Guidebook, which provides travelers, researchers, investors, local folks and the general public glimpses of local history, basic demographic, socio-cultural data, useful information on transport services and tourism facilities located in Mindanao.

Now, the good news. The

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

IT’S MORE FUN IN MINDANAO

DOT recently forged an agreement with two other government agencies – Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to boost Mindanao’s tourism industry, a report from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) said.

Present during the signing of a memorandum of agreement was the tourism secretary herself, Christina Garcia-Frasco.

“(Mindanao) is a land of promise, a land of diversity and rich cultural heritage,” she was quoted as saying.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Undersecretary Angelito de Leon (representing DND) were also present.

“Through this convergence, the DILG commits to ensuring that our local policemen are properly deployed in tourist destinations,” Abalos pointed out.

The DND, on their part, will “prioritize the safety and security of tourists and assist in facilitating stakeholders’ involvement in tourism development projects.” In addition, DND “will integrate DOT programs in their promotional activities and help capacitate people’s organizations for community-based tourism initiatives, especially in indigenous cultural communities.”

Davao region – composed of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro and Davao Occidental – tops the list as it has a multitude of tourist attractions and destinations.

“In all this region’s provinces, people get their fair dose of adventure whether it be the highland experience, through scenic mountain ranges and waterfalls, or the island experience, through the white sand beaches,” said a tourism brochure from the region.

Davao region has five festivals that are worthy to be enjoyed: Kadayawan in Davao City (August), Sambuokan in Mati City (October), and Bulawan in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro (March). July has two lively festivals: Kadagayaan in Tagum City and Padigosan in Digos City.

The one and only World Heritage Site in Mindanao, Mount Hamiguitan, is located in Davao Oriental. It is also home to durian, waling-waling and Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak.

Northern Mindanao – composed of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental –has also its fair share of tourist attractions.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

One of the less discussed matters during the three-day Davao visit of President Ramon F. Magsaysay in September 1954 is the issue about the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA), the custodian and administrator of the public lands reserved for settlement under the abolished Land Settlement and Development Corpora-tion (LASEDECO).

LASEDECO was created under Exec. Order 355, issued by President Elpidio Quirino on October 23, 1950, dissolved the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA), the Rice and Corn Production Administration (RCPA), and the machinery and equipment depart-ment of the National Development Company (NDC).

Under Republic Act 1160, approved in 1954, NARRA was imbued with the task of reset-tling dissidents and landless farmers, particularly rebel returnees, by providing home lots and farmlands in Palawan and Mindanao. During his first day of the visit, however, the President ordered a stop of the Davao project of NARRA after anomalies in the distribution of lands were reported.

The outburst resulted from a complaint of lawyer Amado Reclusado, representing the Panabo settlers, that Maj. Porfirio E. Jain, project superintendent, was seeking to oust them. As a result, the President summoned Lt. Col. Vicente Luna, Philippine Constabulary provin-cial commander, and ordered him to file charges against the superintendent for mauling the lawyer.

Reclusado, in his narration to the President, claimed NARRA was depriving the tenants

Bukidnon, for instance, is known for its Kaamulan Festival, which presents the rich customs and traditions of seven ethnic hill tribes: Talaandig, Higaonon, Umayamnon, Manobo, Tiwahanon, Matigsalug, and Bukidnon.

Camiguin is noted for its sunken cemetery. A huge cross was installed in 1982 to mark the community cemetery which sank during the 1871 volcanic holocaust. The Lanzones Festival, which is celebrated every third week of October, is worth mentioning.

The South-Central Mindanao – encompassing South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City – boasts a lot of areas that tourists can visit. Lake Sebu is home to the Tbolis, a highland tribe that has its roots in South Cotabato.

General Santos City is known as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. Its tuna export is one of the biggest and largest industries in the country and in whole Asia.

The Caraga Region is among the most visited areas in Mindanao. It is composed of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and the cities of Butuan, Surigao, and Bislig.

Siargao, a tear-drop shaped island, is known around the world. It has world-class waves, sugar-fine white sand beaches, stunningly sapphire seas, turquoise tide pools, and hidden lagoons.

The Zamboanga Peninsula has the following provinces: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay. The two cities – Zamboanga and Isabela – are also part of the peninsula.

Not to be missed is the Great Santa Cruz Island, where you can find the Pink Beach. Here, you can walk around the beach whose pink sand is the result of the pulverized red organ pipe corals that are washed up from offshore and mixed with white sand.

Finally, there’s the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). It is composed of Basilan (excluding Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Cotabato City.

Tawi-Tawi is known for its natural zoos. Wild cattle, wild hogs, and monkeys abound in the forests of mainland island. Sulu is where the Tubbataha Reef is located. It is drawing divers from all over the world with its underwater splendor and rich marine resources

ENDING DAVAO’S NARRA PROJECT

of the settlement of lands they already cultivated; instead, new tenants were assigned on such lands. He also charged that the major mauled him for defending the rights of the original settlers.

He pointed out that 100 hectares of Panabo had been subdivided and were ready for dis-tribution, prompting Magsaysay to order that “There is no need for NARRA to take over the land if it is already subdivided.’’

But Maj. Jain managed to seek an audience with the President the following day and explained his side of the issue. He told the President on September 21, 1954, that NARRA was actually protecting the settlers from paying exorbitant fees to the lawyer in exchange for the patent rights, adding Reclusado was charging the settlers far more than what NARRA was asking.

Given the conflicting claims, Magsaysay, the Official Gazette reported, “held up action on the NARRA controversy, pending an inquiry into the matter to determine the truth. Among the steps he had planned upon hearing the original charges against Jain were to abolish the NARRA project in Davao and relieve Agriculture Undersecretary Jaime Ferrer as NARRA acting general manager and board chairman.”

The President also ordered Maj. Jain to ensure that the “original settlers in the NARRA settlement were not disturbed before any attempt was made to place new set of tenants in the settlement,” adding the efforts of cleaning and planting the lots must be respected by the agency.

Magsaysay justified his relief of Ferrer by saying the action was taken “if an inquiry should show that the charges were true and he had sanctioned Jain’s acts.”

He also instructed Maj. Jain organized the settlers into a farmers’ cooperative marketing association (FACOMA) so they would be able to get assistance from the Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Financing Administration (ACCFA) for their work animals and farm im-plements.

ACCFA was organized under RA 821 and approved on August 14, 1952. Under Exec. Order 129 issued in 1995, it was the outfit oversaw the purchase and exportation of ramie fiber.

(Born on January 9, 1899, in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Maj. Jain,a World War II guerrilla commander, is the son of Nicasio Jain and Clara Engoho. He died on Decem-ber 9, 1974, in Davao City, at the age of 75.)