NEWS: RDR ADMITS PRESSURES TO ENSURE VICTORY OF HIS LP CANDIDATES

By Cha Monforte, Rural Urban News

MARCH 23

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has admitted that he is also having pressures despite being unopposed this election season as he has “to work harder for the winning of my candidates… if not all, then at least the majority of them”.

He added that as the leader of the Liberal Party he has to aspire more for the winning of LP candidates in three cities and seven municipalities of the province.

The LP in the province is strongly challenged by Lakas-Kampi-CMD particularly in the second district where Congressman Anton Lagdameo casts strong influence banking on the traditional Tadeco-towns bailiwick of the Floirendos.

Lagdameo, also unopposed, is actively supporting the presidential bid of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

But latest report said that former Congressman Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr has been entertaining to junk survey-tailender Teodoro and support instead a leading presidential candidate.

The LP led by the governor and his son former vice governor Anthony Rafael del Rosario, who is running for congressman in District 1, have formed LP party slates in all municipalities and cities of the province to square off with the Lakas-Kampi-CMD slates of the Lagdameo-Floirendo camp.

Incumbents in District 1, recognized now as a home political turf of Del Rosarios, became LP candidates after the governor’s defection to the opposition camp November last year, while outsiders became the administration bets.

Incumbents in District 2, on the other hand, sought to troop under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD given that the district particularly the Tadeco-influenced towns and Panabo City are known to be the vote-rich, traditional bailiwick of the Tadecos since the Marcos time.

But the LP managed to set up slates in each electoral areas, a few of which are lacking one or so candidates for councilorship, to do battle against the Lagdameo-Floirendo-supported slates.

The vice gubernatorial post is vied by incumbent Vice Gov. Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio Jr (LP) and Boardmember Roger “Dangpanan” Israel (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), who has no gubernatorial candidate in tandem after the backing out of ex-Miss Universe Margie Moran, wife of Tonyboy Floirendo, late November 2010.

Guesting during last Thursday’s Kapihan sa Kapitolyo at the Capitol’s Media Center at Mankilam, Gov. Del Rosario also said that since he is running unopposed he wanted to be a “referee” to all candidates through the candidates’ forum that was launched on that day as a joint project of the provincial government, Philippine Information Agency and Commission on Elections- Davao del Norte provincial office.

He said that the candidates’ forum, which would be held every Thursday to temporarily replace the almost weekly Kapihan, would give a chance to all candidates especially those who are not yet known in public to promote their candidacies for free with the local media covering it.

The governor also thanked the people in the province for continuing to support his leadership.

Particularly, he also urged voters to be steadfast in learning the new automation process of the May 10 election even as he called on the people as well as the authorities to exert utmost efforts to make the incoming election peaceful, non-violent and credible one. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: gov. rodolfo del rosario, davao del norte governor rodolfo del rosario

NEWS: RDR wants gays to invade northern Minda once Talaingod-Bukidnon Road is completed mid 2010

By Cha Monforte

feb 3 

Citing that it would only take the shortest two-hour travel to go to Valencia City once the Talaingod-Bukidnon Road is completed middle this year, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has urged gays to then invade the northern areas in Mindanao to share their best talents and skills associated with them.

Speaking after the oath-taking of the officers of the Progressive Gays and Lesbians of Davao del Norte (PROGLAD) on Friday, the governor said that with the expected completion of the 85-kilometer Talaingod-Bukidnon Road gays and lesbians could be “one men of goodwill” to other parts of Mindanao such as the Valencia , Malaybalay and Cagayan de Oro cities.

He said that the travel time passing through a completed Talaingod-Bukidnon Road would be cut by about a half.

Current travel time of bus passengers from Tagum City to Cagayan de Oro City passing the existing Buda road via Davao City would take at least six hours.

“It is timely that you get organized as you are known to be made of very talented people who produce the best couturiers, the best saloon operators, fashion designers in town, and you can also spend your talent to Bukidnon,” Del Rosario added.

The governor was also gung-ho over the prospect that since Bukidnon is a landlocked province its people would come in droves to Davao del Norte to frolic on beaches, while his province can seize on agricultural opportunities of Bukidnon.

He said there would be an interchange of economic activities between the two provinces since they would become most closest in distance after its completion.

With this, it is expected to capture a significant volume of passenger vehicles and cargo trucks directly plying the Davao City-Cagayan de Oro City route.

It was reportedly Del Rosario who conceived the project and was responsible for cajoling President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo into funding the mega project that is expected to spur economic activities between the two provinces particularly the areas it traverses.

“I urge you to develop a culture of winning attitude to rally this province to become a premier province by 2010,” the governor told the leaders of gays and lesbians in the province.

“The three of us- I, (son) Anthony del Rosario and Vice Governor Baby Suaybaguio will be together and committed to empower you and develop your members,” Del Rosario said. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

Filed under: gov. rodolfo del rosario, talaingod-bukidnon road, talaingod-bukidnon road

OPINYON: Namangka sa duha ka sapa

TSA PWERA
Ni Cha Monforte

Namangka sa duha ka sapa

Morag kinahanglan na gyud nga si kanhi Bise Gobernador Anthony Rafael del Rosario (AGR) sa Davao del Norte nga mo-resayn na isip empleyado sa Kapitolyo tungod kay lain tan-awon nga siya nagakampanya ug suporta kang Noynoy Aquino sa oposisyon samtang ang iyang papa nga si Governor Rodolfo del Rosario anaa sa administrasyon. Di ta moingon nga gidili na ang pagpagawas sa pagtoo sa politika sulod sa Kapitolyo bisag kontra pa kini sa dispensasyon. May tanang kagawasan si AGR sa pagbatbat sa iyang political belief bisan asa pa man ug bisan unsa pa man kay kita wala man gigaid sulod sa usa ka diktadura.
******
Unang-una, sa panan-aw man gud sa Malakanyang niani, kung mangagpas kita, morag balikwaot gayud kani nga sitwasyon ug dili angayan tagaan ug dakong kumpyansa si Gov. Del Rosario tungod kay iya man nga gipabiyaan ang iyang anak nga pangampanya ug suporta para sa kandidato sa oposisyon- karon nga sayo pa, ug mas posible nga gamit ang panahon ug rekursos sa probinsyal nga kagamhanan, samtang ang gobernador mangampanya usab ug suporta para sa kandidato sa administrasyon. Nah, matunga ang Kapitolyo ani, ug posible ang tan-aw na sa mga political operators sa Malakanyang karon: namamangka sa dalawang ilog si governor. Ang Malakanyang biya dili simple lang ug pangisip.
******
Makalibog pod ang panan-aw sa publiko nianing pagdeklarar ug kusganong suporta ni AGR kang Nonoy Aquino isip kandidato pagka-Presidente, samtang tataw gayud nga si Gov. Del Rosario maka-administrasyon pa gayud labi na nga naendorsar na isip standard bearer sa Lakas-Kampi-CMD si Gibo Teodoro kinsa gisuportaran sa ubay-ubay ka mga gobernador sa nasud. Pasabot ba kini nga tungaon na lang ni AGR ug Gov. RDR ang mga politikanhong pamuo, rekursos ug mga aktibidades sa Kapitolyo ug mag -iyahay sila sa pagpangulo niani kay dili man sila pwede mag-uban tungod lagi kay managlahi ang ilang kandidato sa pagka-Presidente?
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Pwede pa gihapon sila mag-uban sa mga kalihukan sa Kapitolyo sama sa RDR on Wheels pero di lang sila mangestorya kung kinsa ang ilang kandidato sa pagka-Presidente. Apan lisud baya kani labi na kung nagsingabot na gayud ang piniliay o human sa deadline sa filing of certificate of candidacy karong Nobyembre 30, tungod kay karon man gani ang mga lideres nila nagsugod na pod ug kalibog kung asa sila mouban- sa anak ba o sa amahan? O ngadto sa Liberal party ni Noynoy o sa Lakas-Kampi-CMD? Apan di ba morag wa may problema ang duruha sa ilang pagdagan? Mas way problema ang amahan gawas lang kung kontrahon siya ni kanhi Kongresman Tonyboy Floirendo, o ni Kongresman Anton Lagdameo human magkabikil ang duruha ka pamilya (Floirendo ug Del Rosario) sulod ra pod sa ilang clan niadtong 2007 nga piniliay.
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Morag wa poy problema si AGR sa iyang ambisyon nga mahimong kongresman sa Distrito 1 gawas lang kung may kalit nga may political realignment ug modagan si Bise Gobernador Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio kontra kang AGR. Matud pa ni kanhi Governor Yayong Gementiza wa siya nawad-an ug pagtoo nga di na gayud modagan si VG Baby. Una na man gud giingon ni Yayong nga modaug gayud si Baby batok kang AGR tungod kay mas nailhan ang mga Del Rosario sa Distrito 2 ug bag-o pa mipuyo sa Tagum si AGR samtang si Baby karaan nang damang sa politika. Usa pod, ang mga Suaybaguio usa sa mga pioneer nga pamilya sa Tagum.
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Posible na nga si Comval Gov. Chiongkee Uy nga mosuporta sa kandidato sa administrasyon tungod kay si Gibo Teodoro man ang nahimong manok sa Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Sa iyang pag-organisar man gud sa Uswag Comval party giingon nga namarkahan siya sa Malakanyang nga posibleng moambakay ngadto sa oposisyon ug may estorya sa kanto nga mas gusto niya si Senador Manny Villar kaysa kang Noli de Castro. Kay si Gibo na man ug dili si Noli ang nahimong standard bearer sa administrasyon, di na mabutang sa delikado ang Comval unity nga maoy ilang kanunayng ginapasiatab.
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Apan si kinsa kaha nila Gov. Chiongkee ug Kongresman Bobong Amatong ang kontrahon ni kanhi Gov. Joecab. “Either or pa rin” si Joecab matud pa sa usa ka magsisibya. Kung dili siya modagan pagka gobernador, pagka kongresman ang iyang daganan. Tungod kay bug-at pa gayud nga kandidato si Joecab hangtud karon, tataw nga makagasto gayud ug dako “either si Gov. Chiongkee or si Kong. Bobong” bisan pag tuod nga sa kaulahian mapildi ra gihapon si Joecab. Gibanabana nga kinahanglan nga mogasto ang makalaban ni Joecab ug di momenus sa P30 milyones aron si Joecab mapildi.
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May kursunada na nga moparang kang Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay sa pagkakongresman sa Distrito 1 sa Comval- usa ka abugado. Mideklarar na siya sa miaging semana pa. Kanhing abugado sa Ombudsman for Mindanao, university professor, kanhing organisador sa mga labor unions ug mga komunidad, kanhing aktibista kay nahimo pa ganing overall chairman sa League of Filipino Students (LFS) sa tibouk Mindanao, ug nag private practice na pagkaabugado sobra 10 ka tuig na karon. Siya si Atty. Jaime Lopoz Jr, o si Atty Jun Lopoz. Tama ra pod ni kay may mapilian na ang Distrito 1 kaysa wala. Ang election piniliay gud. Dapat may pilion ta. Kung usa ra man man ang kandidato ug wa tay mapilian sama ra pod nga atong gihikawan ang katawhan sa ilang katungod sa pagpili ug lideres nga morepresentar kanila. Apan, matud pa, di modayon ug dagan ni Atty. Jun kung modagan pa man pagkakongresman si Bise Gobernador Ramil Gentugaya.
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TINALIGSIK: Di gusto ni Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy nga mahimong full-pledged Daneco GM si OIC GM Allan Laniba. Way labad ni mayor kay andam pod daw si Laniba nga dili mahimong regular GM….. Way kamatuoran sa taho nga may pinalitay sa boto sa pagkahimong  Daneco Board of Directors president ni Dean Briz. Gama-gama lang kani sa mga tsismoso. Di ba sir Dean ug BOD member Kirbot sa Nabunturan? …… Hinoon, giingon nga may interbensyon sa mga political kingpin sa duha ka probinsya nga mao ra poy miendorso nga mahimo silang Daneco BOD member, kay sa katapusang pag-ihap sila man ang mipili kung kinsa ang ilang gusto nga mahimong Daneco BOD president. (e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com)

Filed under: anthony rafael del rosario, baby suaybaguio, gov. rodolfo del rosario, anthony rafael del rosario, baby suaybaguio, gov. rodolfo del rosario

NEWS: RDR’s turn to say on Bolante fertilizer: “I did not receive it”

nov 19

It is two more to go for their say on P728-million fertilizer fund scam that spilled over in Davao del Norte an Compostela Valley areas.

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario took his turn yesterday in saying he did not receive any of the controversial fertilizer from former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante before the May 2004 polls.

In a DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum report early morning yesterday, the governor said that instead he received from the Dept. of Agriculture funds for irrigation projects for the province’s farmers.

A google search ended up in link stating that the govenor at that time was the national president of both the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)

After Del Rosario’s made his turn to talk with the local media on the issue, who remains now in the so-called Bolante list in the two provinces is former District 2 Cong. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo, and Comval Cong. Prospero Amatong (District 2), who would still have to state on whether they had receive Bolante’s fertilizer or not prior the May 2004 elections.

Sidlak tried but failed to reach them yesteday.

The other day Davao del Norte Cong. Arrel Olano (District 1) admitted he received Bolante’s fertilizer and distributed it to some 6,000 farmers in Asuncion, Kapalong, San Isidro and Talaingod towns. He said his recipients could be verified right in the field.

Olano said that he started distributing the fertilizer before the May 2004 polls and stopped when the election period began. He said he continued distributing the fertilizer after the elections.

Last Sunday, Comval Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora (District 1) admitted, too, he received fertilizer but only in August 2004, after the May polls in that year.
Zamora said his recipients included even the farrmers belonging to the militant Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas in his province.

He said the transaction was “duly accounted for” and that he has a list of recipient barangay captains throughout his district except Monkayo town. where he did not distribute the fertilizer as Zamora were at political odds then with Mayor Manuel Brillantes.

Both Olano and Zamora said they did not receive money but only fertilizer. .
Last week, former Comval Gov. Jose Caballero said he did not receive any fertilizer nor money for it, although he complied with the requirements asked by the DA for him to access the so-called Bolante fertilizer.

Bolante has been accused of engineering the alleged diversion of P728 million to the 2004 campaign kitty of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom he had cleared to have not been involved in the scam, along with other names of local officials and congressmen who were identified as proponents of the fertilizer funds.

A total of 103 congressmen, 53 provincial governors and 23 mayors were identified as among those who availed of the funds. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: bolante fertilizer comval, bolante fertilizer davao del norte, comval cong prospero amatong, davao del cong. tonyboy floirendo, gov. rodolfo del rosario, bolante fertilizer comval, bolante fertilizer davao del norte, comval cong prospero amatong, davao del cong. tonyboy floirendo, gov. rodolfo del rosario

OPINION: Dangpanan sings louder this time

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

nov 12

After his recent trip in Rome where the Santo Papa lives, Davao del Norte Boardmember Roger “Dangpanan” Israel isn’t yet singing a different song. He’s still singing the same song but already louder this time.

Before his departure last month, Tagum’s veteran politician, who came from the ranks of the local media, told me in an interview that he would go into “deep personal reflection” that included on whether he would finalize his plan of running to run for the first congressional post that the last-termer Cong. Arrel Olano is finishing to serve at present.

In that interview, he said that considering his length of service as an elected official and the masteral studies on public administration he graduated, he is ready and capable to handle higher posts including that of the governor and congressman.

But Dangpanan is most interested to run though for Congress which is also being vied by former Vice Gov. Anthony Rafael del Rosario, son of Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, the district’s recognized kingmaker.

“We still have not made an agreement on it,” he said referring to the young Del Rosario as the other party.

In his early morning radio program over DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum late last week, Israel, who said he had just gone from Rome in Europe, was not yet singing a different tune but was more loudly repetitious on the absence of agreement between him and Anthony.

On the airwaves, he’s either been singing “It’s not too late” or “It’s now or never” with a refrain that he could not wait to be 65 anymore by 2013.

But in a rather bellicose commentaries, Israel, also of the administration  party, announced that he would be going to the barangays and consult the people on his congressional plan “kay wa man silay gusto nako”.

He bared his plan of organizing a grassroots structure parallel to the RDR Wheels of the governor.

He also asked for indulgence from his constituents for the small amount he is giving for their solicitations reasoning on the present absence of pork barrel funds for the Davao del Norte boardmembers.

He also alleged that the capitol has been engaged on borrowing binge from banks here and there and bared that the 2009 budget for education for the thousands of provincial scholars would not be for the 2009 expenditure but for the 2008 payables to the schools where the scholars study.

But also playing coy on his plan, Israel said that “pwede pod ko nga di na lang modagan ug mag technician na lang sa FM station ni kanhi governor ug congressman Pros Amatong sa Nabunturan” as he greeted the provincial elder on the air. An FM station owned by Amatong located along the road going to the Cabidianan Capitol in Nabunturan is now reportedly ready for test broadcast.

The other day, he said he has gone in seven countries in Europe including the country-city Rome, from where he brought home a holy miraculous water he is sharing at press time to his constituents.

After I recently enjoyed listening to what appears as BM Roger’s comic cum tear-jerker and hullabaloo on his congressional plan, I imagined of the coming Tagum’s fiesta bolanteros. From such imagery it’s now either deal or no deal, or kwarta o kahon, or believe it or not, or she loves me, she loves me not. But when he makes true his threat of running for Congress, there’s then that spectacle of ruining the Lakas unity in Davnor, and one may say, nah naluke na siya. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, email: chamonforte@yahoo.com, or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

Filed under: anthony del rosario davao del norte, boardmember roger "dangpanan" israel, cong. arrel olano, fofer mer cong prospero amatong, gov. rodolfo del rosario, anthony del rosario davao del norte, boardmember roger "dangpanan" israel, cong. arrel olano, fofer mer cong prospero amatong, gov. rodolfo del rosario

OPINION: “Comval-Davnor effect”

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

Lakas-CMD regional chairman and Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario did not mince words in rallying new and old Lakas members who took and affirmed their oath as members of the Lakas-CMD party last Thursday at Nabunturan Gym. He was optimistic on the victory in 2010 elections of national candidates as well as the local candidates of what appears now as a mammoth monolithic administration party in Comval. This has been so with the swearing in of the forces of the minority pro-administration parties most notably now represented by Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes, who bannered the Liberal party (Atienza wing) in the last polls, and Maragusan Mayor Cesar Colina Sr, who won for his first mayoral reign in the highland town via Kampi party.

So the Lakas-CMD party is now so fortified under the leadership of Gov. Chiongkee Uy. It appears to be the only political party in Comval with the mum on Kampi, and with it, it appears now that Comval has become one Lakas-CMD Country already. Just like the Davao del Norte that appears more than a Lakas than a Kampi territory after Gov. RDR did traffic of sort in the last polls in holding both in straw the Lakas and Kampi parties. Gov. RDR couldn’t be faulted for his optimism last  Thursday when he sit side by side with an old-time political kumpadre, provincial elder and Comval’s father Pros Amatong, RDR has been an administration top gun in this part of the country- in a big region at that.  But such optimism may ring truer to the local bets than to the national bets.

Not so yet. We have what I call now as “Comval-Davnor effect” in the 2004 and 2007 polls that gives failure to deliver landslide victories for the administration national candidates. In 2004 polls during the GMA vs. FPJ toss up that later zoomed in Garci as a national figure, in Comval amid the political unification of Joecab-Pros Amatong-Way Kurat when Gob. Chiongkee was still running for a boardmember’s seat, the province had virtually no opposition at provincial level while in the municipal level there was that scant challenge posed by the sudden emergence of Kampi brought by former Davao City Mayor and ex-DILG Sec Luis Santos, and the Sen. Angara’s LDP. There was no UNO yet at that time. In the end, there was that sweet, easy victory for the provincial and most of the municipal administration bets. Though FPJ was virtually not carried by municipal opposition groupings which got either Kampi or LDP in the eleventh hours before the filing of certificates of candidacy, but the surprise of it all was that FPJ won in Maco, Mabini, Pantukan and Maragusan, although he lost by over 14,00 votes to GMA throughout the province (with over 10,000 votes in District 1 compliments of Cong. Way Kurat Zamora, and the balance in the District 2, but with 3rd placer Sen. Ping Lacson getting a total of over 17,000 votes). Most of the opposition senators, too, except  for the administration’s Mr. Palengke Sen. Mar Roxas, landed in the Magic 12 in Comval. But the worse of its all was that FPJ won right at the backyard of Mindanao’s Lakas chief RDR though narrowly by the margin of over 2,000 votes (but just the same the message was  clear RDR should not have lost in his province, while Lacson got a whooping total of over 32,000 votes in Davnor). It was a slapping, nightmarish result for RDR, while Joecab, elder Amatong and the entire Lakas machinery all sweated out in delivering only a margin of over 1,000 in favor to GMA in the Comval Dos. Cong. Way Kurat for delivering good results for GMA in Comval Uno was stand-out in that polls.

The results of 2007 midterm elections in both Davnor and Comval failed again to deliver victories for the national senatorial candidates as even the young navy lieutenant now Senator Trillanes, who did not have his pretty face shown for once to the electorates in the two provinces during the entire campaign period, landed in the Magic 10 while the opposition favorites Sen. Chiz Escudero and Sen. Loren Legarda squabbled for the top post along with the Sen. Manny Villar. Consistently showing in the last hours for the two provinces in the two polls was the abandonment of the campaign for the national candidates as provincial and local bets as focused for their own electoral survival.

This “Davnor-Comval effect” only shows that Davnor and Comval- related like sisters or like father and son- are consistently and historically polarized provinces that strong opposition votes against national candidates (and maybe against local candidates sans the last-hour logistics) have been always there as evidenced by the 2004 and 2007 electoral results.

It’s one big fallacy then to say that just because there is this recent swearing in of almost all municipal officials and barangay captains under the wings of the administration Lakas-CMD party in Comval and the traffic of politicians under the Lakas/Kampi in Davnor, the provinces would then become one big Lakas-CMD Country for national candidates and for Noli de Castro or Bayani Fernando as GMA’s anointed President. For recalling these (did I slip, VG Baby?), Gov. RDR’s optimism is all for wishful thinking only. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments, reactions, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

Filed under: comval election results, davao del norte election results, dilg sec. luis santos, gov. rodolfo del rosario, kmapi comval, ldp in comval, mindanao, mindanao blogs, comval election results, davao del norte election results, dilg sec. luis santos, gov. rodolfo del rosario, kmapi comval, ldp in comval, mindanao, mindanao blogs

NEWS: “NOT TRUE!” AGR says on report on his Manila frequent stay

oct 21

Former Vice Gov. and current executive assistant Anthony G. del Rosario (AGR) yesterday vehemently belied the report that he has been staying always in Manila sub-office of the provincial government of Davao del Norte, saying that it was “not true”.

In an interview, he said that on the contrary he is preoccupied with his work as a provincial sports coordinator and to the sports activities launched by the provincial government.

Del Rosario talked to the local press Monday after the lunch following the opening rite for the Capitol’s media center building and the oathtaking of the officers of the National Press Club- Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley Chapter guested by Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.

He added that his preoccupied field activities might be the reason why other people have not seen him at the Capitol.

He said that he had never visited in fact the Capitol’s sub-office at Regus Business Center located at Taguig City, Metro Manila.

Earlier report said that as sources were supportive to the earlier declaration of the former vice governor to run for the District 1 congressional post that would be vacated by last-termer Cong. Arrel Olano by 2010 they wanted the young Del Rosario to be visible in the province.

Meantime, in a phone patch radio interview with Radyo Ukay- Davao City blocktimers Ben Wang and Manny Pajarito, Del Rosario said that it was still “too early” to talk about politics and that he would still wait for the “plan” of his fellow members of the Lakas-CMD in Davao del Norte on who would be the party man for the congressional post in the District, an apparently dissimilar stance he gave during the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo about a month ago when he declared his bid for the post.

He said he would abide and follow the decision of the Lakas-CMD in the province although he cited that “there are sectors” which have been reportedly endorsing him to take a crack for Olano’s post by 2010.

The provincial government forged a contract last April following approval of the provincial board with Regus Business Center where the provincial sub-office will hold office “to facilitate all official transactions of the provincial government in the National Capital Region (NCR)”.

Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario contracted with Ms. Cristina Davila, the general manager of Regus Business Center. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: davao del norte agr, ex-vice gov. anthony g. del rosario, gov. rodolfo del rosario, regus business center, AGR, anthony del rosario, davao del norte capitol provincial government, gov. rodolfo del rosario, regus business center

NEWS: Chiz Escudero riddles Davnor politicians

oct 17

Davao del Norte provincial and city officials faced baffling scenarios from Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero when he personally visited them yesterday at the Capitol, Mankilam, Tagum City.

Senator Escudero was the guest speaker for the Philippine Judges Association in the evening in Davao Davao City but he made first a side trip in Tagum City to personally visit and consult politician friends.

He made baffling riddles about the real opposition in the county citing the flip-flopping record of several wannabes for the top post in the country.
He named potential presidential bets as Senate President Manny Villar, Mar Roxas, Panfilo Lacson, and even former President Joseph Estrada.

“Sino ba talaga ang tunay na oposisyon?”asked Sen. Escudero.
He just recalled past records of presidential wannabes flip-flopping in their past dealings with the Macapagal administration.
Present in friendly roundtable exchange of friendly talk at Tahanan building at the provincial Capitol complex in Mankilam were Davao del Norte Rodolfo del Rosario, Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio, Tagum City Mayor Rey Chiong Uy, District 1 Cong. Arrel Olano and others.
They were cheerfully dumbfounded of Escudero’s presentation on past record of flip-flops of the said presidential wannabes. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: cong. arrel olano, gov. rodolfo del rosario, mayor rey uy, cong. arrel olano, gov del rosario, mayor rey uy tagum, senator chiz escudero davao del norte

OPINION: Bleeding hearts

BLOGISTA

By Cha Monforte

In every time there’s a season. There’s a time to unite, there’s also a time to be divided- for good. This might as well be fitting words for the latest goings on at the session hall of Davao del Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Trabaho lang walang personalan, somebody quipped. Last Monday, Boardmember Greg Facula was a reasoning soul while obviously wanting to be apologetic “up there”. But since he’s the floorleader, he couldn’t escape from being the man in full charge of cutting up what appeared as procedural spiel, or better still, call it procedural snafu made by provincial administrator Rufo Peligro. And in behalf of his colleagues, he had to move for the approval of the SP’s resolution returning Peligro’s letter to the executive department, or to be blunt about it, to Peligro’s office, aka Office of the Governor aka Gov. RDR, their Lakas boss.

BM Greg Facula was in his usual serious mood in deliberating, but obviously he was extra cautious, and for several times called for a “win-win solution” in the midst of what appeared as a rearing of the SP’s collective head towards the governor. When Facula’s motion generated a silently unanimous “ayes”, there seemed to be a smoke that billowed up at the session hall from a fire of unknown motive in the wake of the approval of the porkless AIP for 2009.

The Davnor SP in the first place had already deliberated and approved the Kapalong’s supplemental budget measure for the increased hazard pay of the town’s health workers. They were expecting either a governor’s approval or veto message. But since it was the letter of Peligro, inserted as addendum in last Monday’s business of the day, which seemed to suggest that the SP had to approve still the provincial resolution confirming the Kapalong’s ordinance with the comments and findings of the provincial Local Finance Committee, which had contra views to the SP on the hazard pay issue, it was in effect saying that the SP had to reverse its position and grant lesser amount of hazard pay for the Kapalong health workers.That without having the measure passed first the usual process of legislation- the first reading and committee referral, then the committee report and the dispositive readings (second and final) right on the legislative chopping board, which will take at least two weeks. It is as though seeing that Peligro wanted to ram down into the throats of the BMs his letter.

Such bleeds one’s heart among fellow Lakas/Kampi partymates, knowing that the Davnor SP is one pack of legal minds, long-time and seasoned politicians, experienced ex-mayors, ex-vice mayors, ex-councilors who have long known of the executive and legislative processes in government. They, except perhaps to the SK BIMPO (Batang Inudyukan ng Magulang sa Politika, ang anak ng Trapo), for still a neophyte, as the reformist youths say.
The bleeding hearts among those in the SP might have said it’s trabaho lang, walang personalan given that their unison hasn’t actually stepped on the toes of the Capitol’s occupant but rather on the purse of Kapalong’s munisipyo, for the time being while there’s still a reglamentary period until October 13, the time in the season which offers for both the executive and legislative department to still work on and finally deliver the measure to its point of origin for a win-win situation. With that time in tempestuous season, now BM Greg and the rest of the bleeding hearts among the band of colleagues can still play it safe.

BLOGBUZZ: BM Facula is known in the local media circle as the former B. Dujali mayor whose 2005 Xmas party lechon was “kidnapped” by the media kongkos (It’s Press Freedom Month anyway and I am given the time in this season to crack a joke at the freest in the thankless trade where they say the angels fear to tread)…. To BM Greg, the chair of the SP commitee on media affairs, kongko isn’t a bad word. It’s a Chinese word which means to solicit. This has been a running word among those in the media painting a mix of comedy, derision, sarcasm, brashness and reality. At the strictest, it refers to those in the media soliciting though having no media outlets (print, radio and TV), or those who could not even write a single correct paragraph for a news…. During his mayoral reign, BM Greg was known by some to be a good media provider. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

Filed under: boardmember greg facula, davao del norte rufo peligro, gov. rodolfo del rosario, boardmember greg facula, davoa del norte rufo peligro, davoa del norte sk bimpo, gov. rodolfo del rosario, media kongko

OPINION: Banana polevaulters, China, CIA

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario did not mince his words in saying that the pole-vaulting banana growers “deserve to learn their lessons” and “deserve to lose their money”. He said Thursday in roundtable talks with Tagum mediamen after the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo organized by the PIA that one Vic Lao, the chair of the Regional Development Council, should also be “shot at Luneta” for alleged “economic sabotage”, an obviously comical charge made in jest. The governor said he had warned the local bankers a year ago not to put their money to fund the pole-vaulting banana growers.

But since pole-vaulting persisted and it has now resulted to the non-payment to the already shipped bananas, and “ayon nagkalinti-linti na ang mga growers” in the words of Gob Dolfo, hence now bad, bleak days are really ahead for the affected banana growers. He said that due to this pole-vaulting the local banana industry would be losing billions and not millions of pesos this year. That in terms of income lost by the growers and taxes which should suppose go to government coffers.

For the uninitiated, pole-vaulting occurs when a contract banana grower sells his produce to companies other than the one he had signed a contract with. March to April this year the pole-vaulting row between banana growers and banana multinational companies (MNCs) cracked up wide open in public.

For his harsh words, Gob. Dolfo could not be faulted. He said he has not been with the banana industry for 35 years for nothing. He had been there and had known well of the ups and downs of the number one dollar industry in his province. That’s when the governor stood side by side with the Banana King Antonio O. Floirendo Sr. as his right hand man in the making of Tadeco as a leading banana exporter in Asia-Pacific region, and consequentially, the making of Davnor as the Top 1 producer province in the country.

But pole-vaulting growers could not be faulted too. We know that these growers come from at least three origins.

First, there are these landowners whose lands before have been turned into banana plantations of big banana firms and whose 25-year lease contracts had already expired. So they learned to grow cavendish bananas using the already developed plots, sell their produce to banana companies and get higher income from boxes pegged in dollars. Where before their families suffered economic difficulties for being victimized in the tricky downpayment scheme and low monthly rentals from banana firms, now mansions and bungalows are sprouting inside contract-growing banana
plantations.

Second, there are these ARBs- the agrarian reform beneficiaries who for being benefited by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, they managed to carved out a share of landholdings from banana plantations and vast private lands and organized a coop for banana contract growing. Where before they are poor tillers and workers or employees of banana firms, now they take pride over having their own banana companies run like an MNC.

Third, there are these landowners who after knowing that their neighbors become economically well off out from banana production, they have even their ricelands converted to banana plantations to follow suit to them in this lucrative dollar-earning banana craze in the provinces. The known Compostela granary, Tagum’s Pagsabangan  and even the highland Maragusan are not even spared of this, so with the watersheds and aquifers in the outskirt highlands in Davao metropolis.

Now that growers know how to grow cavendish, they have been dreaming all along they could independently sell their produce direct to the foreign buyers and not passing through the cartel of Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA)- this one which wants the aerial spray- and the MNCs which the growers charged to be buying their produce in low dollar prices.

Enter into the picture Vic Lao and et al, whom the governor tagged as having “no plantation, no contract” and who allegedly dropped the high and mighty name of Malacanang in pursuing the pole-vaulting adventure. He appears to be brokering for the growers to carve their own foreign market niche. He brought the growers’ produce at high dollar prices over those offered by the MNC buyers. One grower said that an MNC affiliate offered only $2.11 per box, while he made more money to the pole-vaulting company which bought his produce at $3.95 per box. That’s a lot of money in difference in terms of thousands of boxes. The pole-vaulters delivered. Until they blew it. Now in the Sto. Tomas-Kapalong-New Corella enclave alone, affected growers have still to collect P78 million from the pole-vaulting banana marketers. Bankers, too, who fund the pole-vaulting are standing to lose. I tell you so, Gob Dolfo reminds.

I think the aim of the pole-vaulters is good- that in giving high prices for the growers. That’s good for the economy. But it puts banana MNCs into a fit of so jealous rage. What is not good is that they lead the growers to renege their contracts with the PGBEA cartel and MNCs.

It is said that pole-vaulting started when China opened its market even for Class B bananas than the Class A bananas the cartel and MNCs want to buy. That’s 1 billion of banana eaters out there versus the 88 million Pinoy consumers. It’s good for the economy, regardless that cheap China-made products have long flooded the country including milk adulterated with the dreaded melamine. The pole-vaulting could have been our country’s sweet revenge that’s initiated by our own growers. But sadly, the pole-vaulters blew it.

But here’s this devil’s advocacy: maybe the MNCs which have known links with the CIA have the latter enlisted to sabotage the Pinoy pole-vaulters’ marketing initiatives in China. After all, the CIA is known behind the strings of downfall of regimes in Banana Republics in Latin America. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com)

Filed under: banana industry, gov. rodolfo del rosario, antonio floirendo, banana companies firms, banana growers, banana industry in davao, banana pole-vaulting davao del norte, gov. rodolfo del rosario, tagum sex scandal