Senator Christopher Lawrence Go. (PNA file photo) DAVAO CITY - The passage of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) will further bolster development in Mindanao, said Senator Christopher Lawrence Go Thursday. President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11708 or "An Act Creating Metropolitan Davao Development Authority," establishing a special development and administrative region to be known as Metropolitan Davao consisting of six cities and nine municipalities. MDDA will have jurisdiction over Davao City and the nearby cities of Panabo, Tagum, and Samal in Davao del Norte; Digos in Davao del Sur; Mati in Davao Oriental; and the municipalities of Sta. Cruz, Hagonoy, Padada, Malalag and Sulop in Davao del Sur; Carmen in Davao del Norte; Maco in Davao de Oro; and Malita and Sta. Maria in Davao Occidental. "This will benefit Mindanao as a whole. It is imperative that we create an agency which can centralize and oversee the development efforts and in
POSITIVE GROWTH. Davao Region posts a 5.9 percent growth in the economy for 2021, the Philippine Statistics Administration in Davao Region says Thursday (April 28, 2022). The figure is higher than the national growth in the same period, recorded at 5.7 percent. (Photo by Robinson Ninal) DAVAO CITY - Davao Region's economic performance in 2021 recorded a high of 5.9 percent, a significant increase from the negative 7.5 percent in 2020. With steady prices in 2018, the region's economy was valued at PHP882 billion in 2021 from about PHP833.2 billion in 2020 with an increase of PHP48.8 billion. The level still falls short of PHP18.5 billion compared to the one recorded in 2019, during the pre-pandemic period. Philippine Statistics Administration in Davao Region (PSA-11) Director Ruben Abaro Jr. said Thursday the industry and service sectors posted the highest growth at 9.9 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively. "However, agriculture, forestry, and fishing decelerated by 0.8 pe
INSPECTION. Personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Baguio City Police Office, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency with their sniffing dogs inspect the Baguio City Jail male dormitory on Thursday (April 28, 2022) to look for contraband. The activity was the first time the jail facility allowed the entry of non-inmates and personnel after all jail facilities nationwide were locked down in 2020 due to the global pandemic. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot) BAGUIO CITY - The Baguio City Jail's male dormitory has been declared drug-free for more than two years after canine dogs searched the whole facility. Col. Mary Ann Olaguing Tresmanio, warden of the male jail facility, said the jail's latest inspection was "part of the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the jail management, especially with the male dorm having been declared as a drug-free facility." She said the mandatory inspection aimed to look for contraband, especially illegal drugs being snuck int
XIAN, April 28 (Xinhua) Technology brings many unearthed cultural relics in museums to life in northwest China Shaanxi Province, which is a major province of
House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta (File photo) MANILA - The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) was saddened by House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta's decision to withdraw from the May 9, 2022 senatorial elections. In a press statement issued Thursday, PDP-Laban president and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Marcoleta's withdrawal is a "major loss" not only to the party but also to people who recognize the House leader's "love of country and his deep understanding of the rights of every Filipino." While the PDP-Laban considers Marcoleta as a "true asset" of the party's senatorial slate, it respects his decision to drop his senatorial bid, Cusi said. "We respect, with great sadness, the decision of Congressman Marcoleta," Cusi said. "He is a true asset to the PDP Laban Senatorial slate, as he is a great loss to the incoming Senate, as this man is truly worthy of a Senate seat. He has always