THIS SITE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED

… As I am on vacation.

… see you soon.

… don’t worry i’m just taking a sort of break after a full year of blogging – cha monforte

Filed under: Uncategorized

NEWS: Comval BM lawyer sends two Comvalenyos to law school as scholars

june 1 ATTY. DEXTER LOPOZ Compostela Valley boardmember and 2000 bar exam topnotcher Dexter Lopoz is sending two of his provincemates to study law as his own scholars beginning this semester. “Comval needs more lawyers now who would serve and work for efficient administration of justice. Eleven years after the birth of our province, we only have one Regional Trial Court, abnormally saddled with over 3,000 cases, more than half of which is handled by only two lawyers of the Public Attorneys Office,” Atty. Lopoz explained the rationale of his own law scholarship. “Moreover, we have only three fiscals serving seven courts in the province and one court in Tagum City, while the Dept. of Agrarian Reform’s Bureau of Legal Assistants has only one lawyer,” he added. He said that lawyers serving these offices are heroically overworked and overstressed. By now, his law scholars Ian Enterina, a resident of far-flung barangay Casoon in Monkayo, and Francisco Maynaban, poblacion Compostela resident, are already enrolled with the newly-established law school in Tagum- the Saint Thomas More College of Law, which commences its operations this semester. As scholars, their matriculation and and tuition fees would be shouldered by the boardmember, with the two having only to pass all their subjects in each semester to maintain their scholarship. Lopoz said that his two scholars are only for the start and he planned to have one to two scholars in each year of law studies as they move on in years. The search of Lopoz law scholars had been going on two months ago and more than a dozen of applications were received from usually fresh college graduates. Lopoz picked Enterina and Maynaban as his start-up law scholars for their good grades in college and high potentials in service orientation and community leadership. The scholar must also be a bonafide resident and registered voter in the first district of Comval. The law scholarship of a boardmember is known ot be first in Mindanao and in the country. Atty. Lopoz placed Top 2 in the 2000 bar examinations and remains yet unsurpassed in his record of placing the highest thus in the bar exams as a law graduate from a law school based in Mindanao. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: atty dexter lopoz, comval boardmember dexter lopoz, comval news, comval officials

NEWS: Daneco power rates up by P1 per kwh seen in ERC-proposed rules on “wheeling rates”

ERC proposal slammed by member-consumers

may 31

 

The new rules in setting “wheeling” power rates of electric cooperative as proposed by the Energy Regulatory Commission could result into overall average increases in power rates of Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco) amounting to almost P1 every year per kilowatt hour for the next three years.

ERC Commissioner Jose Reyes on Saturday’s public consultation at the Daneco main office in Montevista, Compostela Valley said that the ”wheeling rates” are proposed as a new regulatory framework in the setting of power rates for electric cooperatives to adjust it with the “real prices” adding that the prices of power have already been deflated through the past years.

“This is also to make electric cooperatives give better service to their member-consumers,” he said.

But Daneco member and retired Daneco employee Priscilla Bartonico during the open forum slammed the ERc proposal saying that the increase of power rates generated by the proposed rules would hit hard Daneco’s residential consumers calling it “a great burden”.

She appealed to Daneco’s Board of Directors (BOD) not to approve the ERC-proposed rules otherwise review and make new methodology to make rates’ increases affordable “based on conservative budget”.

In Daneco simulated computation on the impact of the proposed rules various power user-categories, projected to increase per year per kilowatt hour were residential by 15.50 centavos or 43-percent increase, commercial by 4.95 centavos or 23-percent increase, public building by 4.61 centavos or 21-percent increase, industrial by 12.56 centavos or 90-percent increase, while projected to decrease were street lighting by 69.21 centavos or 72-percent decrease and industrial large load by 42-percent drop.

Offset against among each other, the simulation generated a net and overall average of 86.3 centavos or 31-percent increase.  

Even some members of Daneco BOD were not happy of the ERC proposal.

Daneco Director Dean Briz also questioned the proposed rules citing the detrimental implications of increased power rates to the member-consumers.

He said that they only got hold a copy of the endorsement of the rules as sent Daneco OIC General Manager Allan Laniba.

But Reyes said that the the ERC also based its proposal from the figures given by the Daneco management as basis in the formulation of the draft of the rules on “wheeling rates”.

He said though that the rules would still be subject to the approval of Daneco’s annual general assembly this coming August 30.

He added that it is “not the rates but the rules” being sought for approval by electric cooperatives nationwide.

With the wheeling rates, which would adjust power rates either increase or decrease based on the formula in the methodololgy, electric cooperatives could save from the costly process of public hearings and follows ups in Manila, the ERC commissioner said. 

In the ERC timetable, the rules’ effectivity would be September 26, 2009 or 15 days after its publication.

BOD chair Dr. Antonio Sembumpan also squelched start-up howl of protestation of attending members saying the board would thoroughly review the proposed rules before it would be submitted to the general assembly.

Meanwhile, Laniba in an interview said that the draft rules would cause a 200-percent decrease or a significant P2 drop per kilowatt hour in the power rates for street lighting.

He added that the it would also give opportunity for Daneco to recover the real property taxes levied by local government units to Daneco’s power lines and facilities.       

Moreover,  Reyes bared that there was still ERC’s provisional approval in the the last increase of power rates charged by power generator where he said Mindanao got lowest increase of power rates compared to Visayas which had about 83 centavos increase per kilowatt hour.   (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: BOD chair Dr. Antonio Sembumpan, Daneco Director Dean Briz, Daneco OIC General Manager Allan Laniba, Daneco employee Priscilla Bartonico, Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco) , BOD chair Dr. Antonio Sembumpan, Daneco Director Dean Briz, Daneco employee Priscilla Bartonico, Daneco OIC General Manager Allan Laniba, Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco)

NEWS: Cheers in LFS Law office blessing

The LFS Law foursome (from left) Atty Arvin Dexter M. Lopoz, managing partner, Atty. Marie Jude Fuentes-Lopoz, supervising partner, Atty. Cheryl S. Sevilleno, senior partner and Atty. John-Christopher T. Mahamud, junior partner.

may 29

Monday last week, 25th of May, was a blessful day for the foursome- Atty Arvin Dexter M. Lopoz and his better half Atty. Marie Jude Fuentes-Lopoz, and law partners Atty. Cheryl S. Sevilleno and Atty. John-Christopher T. Mahamud. No less than Rev. Fr. Rudy Malasmas, S.J., former headmaster of Ateneo de Davao University blessed with holy water the sparkling new office of LFS (Lopoz Fuentes Sevillano) Law firm at Unit 31, 3rd Floor of Cocolife (UCPB) Building at corner CM Recto-Palma Gil Streets. They first held office at a building along McArthur Highway for over three years, and by April it was time to go as they did decide to locate within the city’s known hub in cognizance to the fruits of their collective labor.

The LFS Law office bursts with blurring glass-encased partitions, exuding positive energy and happy glow. Thus, when their family members, friends in the legal circle and other neighbor tenants of the building came for the day to celebrate, there was open cheer being shared in the room. Among the well-wishers were RTC Branch 15 Judge Ridgway Tanjili and his brother Ely Tanjili, assistant branch manager of RCBC-Davao City, and Atty. Ricky Diola of the ACCRA Law. Inspired Atty. Dex, boardmember of Compostela Valley (District 1), could only call for a toast and wish for more good luck in their new office.

Filed under: Atty Arvin Dexter M. Lopoz, Atty. Cheryl S. Sevilleno, Atty. John-Christopher T. Mahamud, Atty. Marie Jude Fuentes-Lopoz, Rev. Fr. Rudy Malasmas , Atty Arvin Dexter M. Lopoz, Atty. Cheryl S. Sevilleno, Atty. John-Christopher T. Mahamud, Atty. Marie Jude Fuentes-Lopoz, Rev. Fr. Rudy Malasmas, S.J.

NEWS: Flowers, tributes pour in for Prospero Amatong, 77

may 18

Flowers pour in while tributes keep on coming for former Congressman Prospero Amatong, who succumbed in a hospital in New York City Saturday morning. He was 77 years old.

Reports said he fell on a pavement hitting his head while strolling with family members and friends in a park at New York City.

He was on vacation at the United States with his wife Luz and family members.

His son Congressman Rommel Amatong, who did not join in their US trip, said his father’s body would be brought home by next week.

For Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy, “he is exceptional as a leader, a master politician. I would say no one could ever duplicate his performance in our lifetime. He is the real “Mr. Service”.

“I am saddened by the death of a great man whose life was dedicated to mankind. It’s a loss to all of us. My prayers to the bereaved family. Farewell my brother,” said Davao del Norte Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio Jr., who was one of the close friends of Amatong when he was still the governor of the erstwhile undivided Davao del Norte.

On the otherhand, Laak Mayor Reynaldo Navarro has his succinct words for the man: “In politics he was a legend, a real champion who has never tasted defeat. He was proud of his achievements yet he remained humble and accessible to friends and foes alike. To us his political students, he was a genuine, larger-than-life guru. We will forever miss him.”

Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay said: “We have lost a great leader who in his lifetime had taught us the markmanship of a true and successful politician. His legacy as a forefather of our province and his extraordinary public service will forever be encrypted in the annals of our local history. To me, he is not only to be remembered as a successful politician- he was himself an embodiment of the art of politics.”

For Nabunturan Councilor Raul Caballero: “A great loss of a great leader and statesman whose values and virtues in public service are worthy for emulation, foremost as guides for all politicians in town.”

In his over 45 years in public office, Nabunturan’s greatest father was unblemished as not a single Ombudsman complaint not even an anonymous one had been filed against him.

He was unscathed after serving as Nabunturan councilor (3 years), Nabunturan mayor (14 years, 2 years in New Corella), undivided Davao del Norte governor (9 years), District 2 Comval congressman (9 years), 2 years as project manager of the Philippine National Oil Corp. and 6 years as project engineer of the then Bureau of Public Works, his first stint in government.

He had two episodes when his mandate was cut short: the first on September 28, 1977 when he was purged by dictator Marcos for being with the opposition and replaced by Vice Mayor Zosimo Bugas who served for 4 years, and on March 31, 1986, after reclaiming his mayoral seat in 1980 polls, when he was appointed by President Cory Aquino as the OIC governor of the Davao del Norte.

Even on his political retirement starting in 2007, he was still considered an influential  political kingpin- kingmaker in town and even in the whole province.

When he did not run in the 2007 election and made true his earlier declaration of retiring from politics, it was hailed as a tough class act of seasoned and experienced politician.

But from it, he bequeathed his political power to his successor son now Congressman Rommel “Bobong” Amatong. At a time when he retired began the baptism of fire in politics of his political heir. All out of the service-rich patriarch, the neophyte scion becomes a shoo in, yet it showed to the world that there were no two or more Amatongs holding the reins of power at the same time. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: Congressman Prospero Amatong, congressman rommel amatong , Congressman Prospero Amatong, congressman rommel amatong

NEWS: Tagum has no capacity to detect swine flu virus- city veterinarian

may 12

TAGUM CITY- The city veterinarian here has admitted that the city government has virtually no capacity to detect whether the dreaded swine flu virus that has already sent some countries cowering in fear has already infected swine breeds produced in the city and in neighboring places.

City veterinarian Dr. Jesus Edullantes during Monday’s session informed City Council members that his department has no such “costly laboratory”  like those in Australia that can conclusively identify swine flu virus.

He said that samples of suspected cases in the provinces are still brought to Manila and then shipped to Australia laboratories where the virus is studied and identified.

“The strains of the virus are varying and always change. It is a new isolated virus,” he said.

He added that the many virus found in swines that could also cause respiratory illness has complicated the difficulties in pinpointing whether it is already the swine flu virus that has infected a swine that is ill.

“We don’t even have no vaccine yet for it,” he said.

Edullantes then lashed out at an unidentified newspaper for sensationalizing a story on swine flu virus inspection in Davao City even as he appealed to the media for caution in their reporting to prevent people from panicking over the virus.

He also bared that city has meat inspectors in the city’s slaughterhouse at Tagum Livestock Center checking up that hogs before they are slaughtered undergo ante-mortem examination to ensure an uninfected meat for public consumption.

But city health officer Dr. Myrna Gazmin, on the other hand, in the session belittled the virus to be “only a theory, a possibility” saying that it is yet under study now by the scientific community and that “even the World Health Organization has not yet made its advisory”.

She bared though that the Davao Regional Hospital in the city as well as the Davao Medical Center in Davao City have already made plans to counter swine flu virus infection.

In the plan, she added, suspected infected persons would only be brought to and treated in government hospitals than in private ones to protect the latter from losing patients.

Meanwhile, Councilor Vicente Eliot Sr called on authorities to still not relax their guard against the entry of the virus despite the negative report on it, citing the scale and magnitude of toll it could exact once it manages to come in to infect local swine population and eventually the populace.

The city veterinary office here estimates that at minimum average some 80 heads of hogs, about 30 percent of which come from the neighboring Kapalong town, are slaughtered daily for city meat consumption,  or about 6,400 kilos of meat from hogs per day end up being sold at Tagum public market, which is also patronized by the neighboring towns in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte.

About 70 percent of the hogs are grown in the backyard, while the rest of the 30 percent comes from the large-scale commercial piggeries of Madayag Farms in the city and Mercado Farms in Kapalong, Edullantes said. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: 20567006, 20567781, Madayag Farms, Mercado Farms in Kapalong, Tagum city health officer Dr. Myrna Gazmin, tagum Dr. Jesus Edullantes, tagum councilor vicente eliot sr , Madayag Farms, Mercado Farms in Kapalong, Tagum city health officer Dr. Myrna Gazmin, tagum councilor vicente eliot sr, tagum Dr. Jesus Edullantes

NEWS: PA office’s many positions in Davnor PG reor plan tagged as overstaffing

may 7

The unusually high number of proposed positions in Office of the Provincial Administrator in the newly approved reorganization plan for the provincial government of Davao del Norte has been tagged to be a case of overstaffing.

In the plan, the provincial administrator’s office tops in the number of new positions for creation as it is to be created as separate department with 150 positions from the existing 85 positions under the Office of the Governor. Thus, 75 positions more are added to the already high 85 positions in its plantilla.

But the overstaffing charge took only a short swipe in the questioning of Boardmember Ely Dacalus during Monday’s approval of the the reorganization plan.

Dacalus in his interpellation asked provincial budget officer Norma Lumain on whether the provincial government has funds to accomodate a “high volume” of total positions in the staffing structure in the reorganization plan.

Lumain said that the filling up of the new positions in the reorganization plan would still be subject to the 45-percent ceiling limitations otherwise existing personnel would suffer by cutbacks in benefits.

“We can create as many positions we have, but we are limited by that 45-percent. Positions created cannot just be funded unless we increase our IRA and local income,” Boardmember Antonio Lagunzad clarified.

During Monday’s session when the reorganization plan was inserted as a measure in the calendar of business, human resource management office head Monica Salido summed up that the reorganization plan has a total of 1,376 positions, of which 817 positions are proposed for creation and upgrading, and 559 positions are existing including coterminus positions. Of the 817 existing positions in the plantilla only 750 positions are funded and filled up.

Salido also apprised the provincial board that besides the provincial administrator’s office other offices that would be created as a separate department are the Provincial Information Office and the Provincial Equipment Management and Project Implementation Office, which would be carved out from the Provincial Engineering Office.

Meanwhile, Boardmember Larry Caminero welcomed the move of making the present information office from a mere division under the Office of the Governor to a full department.

He said that the people must know what the provincial government is doing every day, and with a tri-media that the information department has to engage “we can inform people down to the grassroots”.

He said that good governance means transparency which is revealed by the power of the tri-media- print, radio and TV.  (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: boardmember ely dacalus , boardmember ely dacalus

NEWS: “Baby will defeat AGR”- Yayong

Despite AGR’s reported recovery from cancer

may 6

Former Davao del Norte Governor Gelacio “Yayong” Gementiza in an interview yesterday made his early electoral prediction that Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio Jr will defeat the governor’s son Anthony Rafael del Rosario (AGR) once the two would decide to slug it out for the District 2 congressional post in 2010 polls.

Speaking in his sprawling residence cum copra warehouse in Apokon, Tagum City, Gementiza said that AGR, who was reported last week to have recovered from his Stage 3- Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer following chemotherapy treatments, could not win over Suaybaguio saying that “ay sus Tagum lang ang tan-awon (they could only glance it in Tagum) “given that Suaybaguio had served for 9 years as a mayor here”. “Modaug lagi si Baby!”

The former governor reiterated his earlier political remark that AGR is closely identified to have hailed from District 2 and not from District 1 despite than he has already established a residence in the city.

“But Baby is more popular than (Cong. Arrel) Olano, who defeated twice (Pantaleon) Bebot Alvarez due to the issue of non-residency,” Gementiza added.

Based on this result, he said that the people of Tagum will always ask, nasapawan man ta (somebody rises from outside of  them) and would not want it.

Gementiza also opined that if he were the father of a son politician who has recovered from cancer he would not allow him to be drafted to go through the rigors of electoral campaigns especially in a congressional race where it is a must that the candidate should really sweat it out to individually campaign to each and everyone.

“And how much more if you win. Trabaho gyud ang naa sa Congress (it’s all work in Congress),” he added.

Gementiza said that based on what his friend physicians have told him there is a “need for a five-year rest” to those who have survived from cancer.

He further said that given this AGR could have an option of running for governor if his father Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario (RDR) would opt to retire and “in this case RDR would take charge of the campaigning”.

Obviously giving unsolicited advice, he added: “And if AGR wins as governor he can still run the Capitol through his administrator and the vice governor.”

In the same interview, Gementiza also confirmed that he had already applied to RDR for him to go back to the Lakas fold, which has yet no action taken by the Lakas party in the province at press time. “Pero daghan ang mobabag ana (Many will block my application)”.

Asked on what post he would aspire by 2010, he shot back: “ayaw sa, wala sa (none yet)”.

In 2007 Gementiza made a jump ship from Lakas close before elections and subsequently ran but failed in his gubernatorial bid for reelection against the comebacking RDR. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: Anthony Rafael del Rosario (AGR), Former Davao del Norte Governor Gelacio “Yayong” Gementiza, Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio Jr , Anthony Rafael del Rosario (AGR), Former Davao del Norte Governor Gelacio “Yayong” Gementiza, Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio Jr

NEWS: BM Maricar thanks VG Ramil for giving way for her to Congress

Says: “I will not forget that once upon a time I was your beneficiary”

may 4

Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay of Compostela Valley has profusely thanked and gave early tribute to the “bravery and heroism” of Vice Governor Ramil Gentugaya  for giving way for her to become the Lakas party’s standard-bearer for the District 1 congressional seat in the province.
In an e-mail sent to this reporter Friday, Apsay said: “The decision of Vice Governor Gentugaya favoring for the party’s unity thereby giving way to my congressional seat’s candidacy is a great opportunity as well as a challenge to prove that I am worthy of such sacrifice”.
“ I have already made an early pronouncement that I intend to run as congressman in the 2010 elections.  In fact, I made such declaration as early as right after 2007 elections”, she added.
Meanwhile, Maricar’s father, Congressman Manuel “ Way Kurat” Zamora also said: “ I do not doubt the capacity and integrity of Vice Ramil to unite our group.  He is one of my staunched political allies and a closest friend.  That is why I am so much elated with his decision.  He is a good gentleman who values honor, and his act of statesmanship is beyond reproach.  This favor given to our family by Vice Ramil will not be forgotten.  His act will be a principle that will underlay our party’s conduct, so that it will become a basis of any decision in the future”.
In the same statement, Apsay recalled that when she heard of the news that Gentugaya would no longer run for Congress, she immediately sent a text message to the vice governor thanking and lauding for his decision.
The full contents of the text message are as follows: “Vice, I got hold of your texts late last night.  I just want to reiterate this expression of gratitude to you and your entire family.  Your act of giving way in favoring the party especially me, manifests your bravery and heroism, and above all sincere humility.”
“It is without doubt that you had difficulty in coming up with your final decision considering what our constituency have expected.  Nonetheless, beyond all these, you stood up like King Solomon, so brave to decide against what is traditional and hypocritical divisiveness of our camp.
“This rare leadership that embodies the true meaning of sacrifice for the sake of unity is only beholden by those highly spirited and bravest generals in the field, which lead us to an unparalleled victory in the end.  These and all are clear acts of heroism.  An act worthy of praise and adulation, so that others may follow when times may call on the same sacrifice in the future.
“Your ability to become a symbol of unity by nurturing sacrifice and patience as remedy for all are virtues against adversary, which shows your greatness.  As a politician, I will take this a forever lesson, and I will not forget that once upon a time I was your beneficiary.  Me and my entire family will look from this day onwards a favor in return, in the future.  God bless you and your family”.
Earlier, Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy personally appealed to the Gentugaya to stay beside him as the vice governor saying that he needed the latter. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay Compostela Valley, vice governor ramil gentugaya , Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay Compostela Valley, vice governor ramil gentugaya

NEWS: Banana workers coop assails Lapanday, TRO prohibiting sale of “Class B” bananas to 3rd parties

may 1

TAGUM CITY- A banana-growing workers cooperative here has assailed the sudden issuance of a 20-day temporary restraining order of the provincial adjudicator of the Dept. of Agrarian Reform in Davao del Norte following a complaint of the Lapanday Foods Corp (LFC) prohibiting it to sell “Class B” cavendish bananas to third parties.

In a press conference, Valentino Rotoni, chairman of the Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative-2 (Hearbco-2), hit the TRO issued Thursday by DAR Adjudication Board provincial adjudicator Jose Nilo Tillano saying that he was aghast to see DAR now running against the welfare of its own agrarian reform beneficiaries.

“We will no longer sell our Class B banana rejects to Lapanday which buys these at low prices,” he said.

He said that he was surprised why on Thursday the TRO was suddenly issued by Tillano

on that day when Hearbco-2’s yearly marketing contract with LFC as the buyer of their “Class B” bananas ended.

He charged that LFC has been forcing them to sell to the company their banana rejects “when other buyers even quarrel among themselves during bidding over our Class B bananas”.

He said that LFC offered only to buy their “Class B” bananas at $1.50 per box while the Davao City-based Mira Agri Ventures, which won in in last week’s bidding, offered $3.20 per box.

He said that naturally Hearbco-2 chose the highest price “to sustain our banana production at a time of high cost of inputs and improve our income to feed our families.”

Rotoni said though that LFC remains to be the buyer of Hearbco-2’s “Class A” bananas which the company buys at low $2.90 per box as covered in a separate ten-year banana marketing agreement which would end by December 2013.

“Buying prices for Class A bananas from other giant firms such as Dole and Unifruti range from $3 to $4 per box,” said Jeremias Coralde, Hearbco-2 production manager.

Herbco-2 officials also accused of LFC of cornering their production through high-priced  agricultural inputs and lower buying prices and of implementing tough standards for “Class A” bananas “so it could become Class B bananas and buy it at much lower prices.”

At its recent production figures, Herbco-2 has an average harvest of 14,000 boxes and 6,000 boxes of “Class A” and “Class B” bananas or about 100,000 boxes of export bananas per month.

Coralde bared that with Hearbco-2 as landowner-producer of bananas and LFC as the buyer-marketer the cooperative is paying LFC about P500,000 for the aerial spray alone plus the about P110,000 for the plane’s fuel in every week.

DAR adjudicator Tillano in his grant of writ of injunction with TRO to LFC stated that in the marketing agreement LFC, as the surviving firm after the merger with the Global Fruits Corp, assignee firm of then Hijo Plantation Corp, has the first option to buy of Hearbco-2’s banana rejects or those do not conform to export specifications.

At press time, Hearbco officials with their counsels are preparing for their countermoves. Tillano set the hearing on TRO on May 6.

At present, Herbco-2’s 342 members, who were former Hijo banana workers, are still amortizing through the Land Bank of the Philippines the 278.41-hectare land they wangled in the late 90s out from the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

From the land distribution, they formed a cooperative and agreed to share equally from net earnings from cavendish banana production they continued when the production of Hijo Plantation Corp ended following the putting of the vast tract of land of Jose Tuazon Jr  under CARP.

“Out from the .82-hectare share of land for each member, I managed to earn at the range of P5,000 to P8,000 every quincena (15 days) from my billing from Lapanday,” said Danny Yting, a Hearbco-s member.

Until at present, Hearbco-2 has an estimated total assets of P200 million and owns a cooperative buildings and packing house right at its plantation located in Barangay Madaum, some 5 kms northeast of this city.

Hearbco-2’s plantation just forms part of the 1,200-hectare banana plantation enclave of Madaum area in the city. It neighbors with the plantations of Hearbco-1 and Harbco. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: DAR Adjudication Board provincial adjudicator Jose Nilo Tillano, Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative-2 (Hearbco-2), Lapanday Foods Corp, Mira Agri Ventures , DAR Adjudication Board provincial adjudicator Jose Nilo Tillano, Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative-2 (Hearbco-2), Lapanday Foods Corp, Mira Agri Ventures