Importance of basic traffic rules training stressed

Davao City motorists should undergo regular seminars on the basic traffic rules and regulations so they will be able to update themselves on the latest laws and avoid violating them later on.

“A lot of road accidents happen because of drivers who do not follow traffic rules and regulations,’ councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. In most cases, she said, traffic violations lead to accidents and even deaths that could have been prevented had the drivers followed the basic traffic rules.

She said accidents do not only occur in the downtown area where there is more vehicular traffic. Unfortunately, road accidents also happen even in isolated areas in the third district primarily because of the increasing human and vehicular traffic in the area.

“But more than those reasons, it is the apparent ignorance of the drivers or just plain hard-headedness in following traffic rules that is the culprit,” she said. While basic traffic rules are already being tackled before a driver gets his license, she added, it is also important to keep them constantly aware of the basic traffic rules so they can apply this in their daily driving activities.

The defensive driving seminar conducted by the Land Transportation Office XI in Mintal, Tugbok District yesterday is thus good news for the residents of the area. Aside from basic driving skills, LTO’s Allain Lloyd Cahilog also informed the participants on the penalty updates under Department Order 2008-39.

Zozobrado said accidents and deaths involving motorcycles are on the rise. And since this is the most common form of transportation in the third district, it is important that drivers should be constantly reminded of their responsibilities not only to the legal system but also to their passengers and the pedestrians.

Youth’s role in 2010 elections is focus of speech gab

The role of the youth in the 2010 elections will be the main issue tackled by various orators from the different public high schools of the 3rd District of Davao City during the ongoing 3rd JAZ Oratorical Contest.

The JAZ Oratorical Contest, which is an annual oratorical contest named after the late councilor Jesus A. Zozobrado has just concluded the first elimination round last Wednesday at the Lower Tamugan High School Gym for Marilog contestants.

First place is Geneva Etchoros from Tamugan National High School, with coach Ms. Cherry May Acebu; second placer is Judy Ann Pardillo from Saloy National High School, with coach Ms. Joseph Claire Celerinos and third placer is Joan Bastatas from Marilog High School of Agriculture, with coach Ms. Lanie Figueroa.

“The pieces delivered by the student orators are actually very inspiring and mirrored their perception and thoughts about the coming 2010 election,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. While the contest aims to discover the oratory skills of high school students, it is also a way of getting the youth involved in the issues that will help set the stage for their future, she added.

Zozobrado said adults really have a lot to learn from the young people and by listening to them who knows we will be able to do the right thing for the next generation. The theme for the elimination round is “My Future is in my hands, a clean and honest 2010 election has my hands printed on it.”

The 1st and 2nd prize winners will advance to the Grand Finals on Dec.7, 1PM at Mintal gymnasium. The next elimination for the 3rd JAZ Oratorical Contest will be held today, Friday at Calinan National High School AVR.

There are two other sub-district eliminations scheduled on November 16, 3PM at the Sto. Niño National High School for those coming from Tugbok District, and another elimination on November 19, 3PM at Doña Carmen Deña National High School for those coming from Toril District.

Criteria for judging will be 50% Manner to include mastery, diction and gesture, and 50% Matter to include relevance of the piece to the theme. All entries to the Contest must be original and have not been published in any forms of media. For more details please call the Office of Councilor Rachel Zozobrado at 2220855 local 426 or 226.

Dabawenyos urged to reuse waste water

Dabawenyos may still be enjoying abundant water supply but this will not be for long considering the looming water shortages all over the world. It is thus a good idea to educate the people in reusing their waste water.

“There are reports that more than half the nations all over the world will face freshwater shortage by 2025 and it is important that Dabawenyos are aware of this blessing and also of their own responsibility towards conserving water,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.

This report was validated by researchers at the US-based Sandia National Laboratories which provides technology solutions to global threats to peace and freedom. Sandia water experts Mike Hightower and Suzanne Pierce also predicted that as much as 75% of the global population will face freshwater scarcity by 2050.

Zozobrado said the Dabawenyos should support legislations and activities that encourage the reuse of water. She said it is always a good idea to reuse water and the Dabawenyos should already start practicing this even without the government’s prodding.

The latest city council legislation that seeks to reuse water is the Rainwater Collection Ordinance which was authored by councilor Leonardo Avila. “This is an idea that should be followed not only by Dabawenyos but also by people throughout the country if we want to mitigate the effects of water scarcity,” she said.

She said while the marginalized sector may find it financially challenging to put up a real rainwater collector, they can however invest in a small and affordable tank. There are lots of farflung areas in Marilog that do not even have accessible water sources so saving up rainwater and using this for washing their clothers and for other purpose other than for drinking would be a good idea, she said.

“There is always a way to all the challenges that we think will hinder us from reusing water but with determination and simple logic these are easily surmountable,” she said. You do not even have to rely on the rain to reuse water, she added, because you can just collect whatever it is you use for washing the clothes and then use it for cleaning the floor or other parts of the house.

Governments all over the world are already rethinking their water management programs considering that economic development depends a lot on the availability of water. “The industries that power our economy-- including agriculture, mining and energy production---will all compete for our limited freshwater resources and we should prepare for that eventuality,” she said.

P1.6M IP dormitory at DMC opens

Indigenous Peoples and their relatives from far-flung areas of Davao City now have a place to stay while waiting for the discharge of their patients from the Davao Medical Center with the inauguration and blessing of Balay Dangpanan yesterday.

“The P1.6 million Balay Dangpanan is a halfway home for indigenous peoples and their watchers who have no place to stay here in the city while waiting for their discharge from DMC,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. Also present during yesterday’s inauguration are Vice Mayor Sara Duterte as well as councilor Teresa Mata Marañon.

Zozobrado, who spoke on behalf of Duterte, said the local government will continue to extend assistance to DMC through their Lingap Program. She said the vice mayor has also discussed with Committee of German Doctors Country Director Dietmar Schug, the possibility of extending the city’s support for Balay Dangpanan.

Duterte, through Zozobrado, turned over several household appliances for the home including a refrigerator, rice cooker, folding bed and the likes, for the use of indigenous peoples and other Dabawenyos who would be using the halfway home. Zozobrado’s office also turned over several kitchen appliance and wares for the halfway home.

“Balay Dangpanan is very timely considering the plight of the IPs and the other residents from the third district who have to loiter along the hospital corners when they are waiting for their patients to be discharged,” she said.

DMC Chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega said Balay Dangpanan is really a dream come true for him since it has been a long time dream to fill in the gaps and the lapses in the country’s health care. People from far away areas in the city especially the indigenous peoples don’t know where to stay when they have patients here in the city so this is a solution to their plight, he added.

Vega said the structure was intended for doctors and nurses but since they already have houses in the city, he suggested that the structure be turned into a halfway house for marginalized IPs who does not have a place to stay while waiting for their patients to be discharged.

He said the Schug was very receptive to the idea so he pushed through with the proposal even if DMC has to pay for the maintenance of Balay Dangpanan.

Gwangyang City seeks sisterhood with Davao

Yet another Korean City is seeking close partnership with Davao City, in line with its goal of developing a global network with the world’s foremost port cities.

“No less than the mayor of Gwangyang City of the Republic of Korea wrote City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to suggest the setting up of a mutual, cooperative and friendly relationship between the two cities,” International Relations Committee chairperson councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.

A few months ago, Davao City signed a Letter of Intent with Uijeongbu City of the Republic of Korea in time with the visit here of a 16-man delegation from the city

Zozobrado said it is interesting to note that while Gwangyang is among the top three Free Economic Zones and Free Trade Zones in the Republic of Korea, the city is focusing on Green Growth and seeks to become a highly-developed but eco-friendly city.

She said we need all the help we can get to keep our development in line with the objective of keeping our environment safe and sound, and this city is a good model for such development.

Gwangyang City Mayor Lee Sung-Woong, in a letter to Duterte, said “we are presently working towards creating a global network with the world’s foremost port cities with the vision of constructing a free trade in North-east Asia.”

“With this in mind we are seeking your interest and truly hope to establish an international relationship that makes for friendship and mutual cooperation and development between our two cities,” he said.

Zozobrado said Gwangyang is a port city and just like Davao, it has a beautiful coast and surrounded by mountains and rivers.

“Davao can learn a lot from the development plans of Gwangyang City and we should look forward to the signing of a sisterhood agreement with them if only to be able to build closer ties with a city that is very similar to Davao in terms of its geographical make up and economic growth,” she said.

The POSCO Gwangyang Steel Works, a global steel company, has been the main driving force of Gwangyang City’s growth since 1986. The company has produced 17.45 million tons of steel in 2008.