Timely

Timely

Biking makes the body healthy .  Biking is  a very affordable mode of transportation be it for personal or when one reports to the place work and back home..  Through biking one can make new friends.  But is it safe to do this ?  In my city, however,  there is a need still to properly designate lanes for bikers inorder for one to be safe while on the street.  There is a strong move for this group of bikers here to ask government to implement asap the Bicycle Ordinance.  Hence, a group of bikers is asking the authorities for the passage of an implementing rules and regulations so that the law will be properly implemented.  Be safe bikers.  I hope government acts fast .... Here's my story ...

Advocate pushes for safety among biking enthusiasts in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, June 24 (PNA) -- Bike enthusiast and convenor of Cycle for Life is pushing for the rights of bikers on the streets in the same manner accorded to drivers of four-wheel vehicles.

Monica Ayala of Cycle for Life said they are conducting bicycle clinics for biking enthusiasts to brief them of their rights while passing through roads and other thoroughfares.

Ayala who guested at FAST Fridays held at Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Premier said they conduct workshops on road safety among schools, of which sone of their regulars are members of the "Ecoteneo" of the Ateneo de Davao University high school students.

Ayala said there are different types of bikers and among them are the daily bikers who use bicycles as their mode of transportation as they report to their place of work.

She said these are common among carpenters, laborers, and other daily wage earners.

"It is just unfortunate to see them compete with the big trucks and other fast moving vehicles without being given the courtesy of a three feet by three feet distance on the right and left," she said.

She said the three feet distance is indicated in the bicycle law.

The Bicycle Ordinance in Davao City was approved in 2006 but did not take off pending the passage of the Implementing Rules and Regulations, she said.

She said their group is supporting this ordinance even as they lobbied continuously for the passage of the corresponding IRR.

She recalled that among the first toy that kids have are bicycles, however most of them stopped biking as parents would not allow them to pursue it because of their exposure to hazards when they move to the main streets.

It could have been a good exercise for the kids rather than confine themselves indoor and instead tinker with their computer which does not involve physical activity, she said.

She also said that economically, bicycle is an alternative mode of transportation because it is less costly compared to the fuel-run vehicles.

In the meantime that Davao City has not finalized the provisions for bicycle lane and the approval of the corresponding IRR for the bicycle ordinance, Ayala said their group will continue to advocate for the safety issue.

Ayala said they are also gearing up for the National Bike Day.

"This is a nationwide activity to be held on November 16, 2014," she said.

She said they will be initiating activities in Davao City to encourage Dabawenyos to join in the celebration by cycling in the city. (PNA) CTB/LCM/PRIXDIGNA D. BANZON/LDP

D Chaingi Airport  ....

Singapore's Chiangi Airport is one airport I would both say "pretty and handsome". It is a friendly gateway where directions are conspicuously posted visible to the public especially to first timers like me. Everything is inorder.  

Singapore was the second country in Asia that we visited and in every destinations that we went through, we label our journey as seamless the moment we stepped into the  airport.  As I travel, I also search about the airport.  There were lots of information about Chiangi Airport and I would like to include here this information from Wikipedia as the source. 

"Changi Airport, is the main airport inSingapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about 17.2 km (10.7 mi) northeast^[4] from the commercial centre in Changi, on a 13 square kilometres (3,200 acres) site.

Changi Airport has three passenger terminals with a total annual handling capacity of 66 million dpassengers. Terminal 1 opened in 1981, followed by Terminal 2 in 1990 and Terminal 3 in 2008. The Budget Terminal, opened on 26 March 2006 and closed on 25 September 2012, will make way for Terminal 4 which will be ready by 2017.^[7]

In 2013, the airport handled 53.1 million passengers, a 5% increase over the previous year. This made it the fifth busiest airport by international passenger traffic in the world^[8] and the second busiest in Asia by international passenger traffic in 2012. The airport registered 4.92 million passenger movements in December 2012, a growth of 8.6% year-on-year. Changi’s daily record was broken on 21 December 2013, the Saturday before Christmas Day, with 191,800 passengers passing through the 24 hours. In addition to being an important passenger hub, the airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world, handling 1.85 million tonnes of cargo in 2013. The total number of commercial aircraft movements was 343,800 in 2012.^[9]

The airport has won over 430 awards since 1981, including 30 'Best' awards in 2012. Changi Airport's efforts to counter the onset of age include periodic physical upgrades to its existing terminals and building new facilities.^{[9]" ....  Wikipedia}

Sharing some photos inside Chiangi Airport.

I Love To Travel ...

With my winged feet, I also love the gateways that I've been to ... I am amazed ... and I love the airports, the airplanes, the people, the lines of suitcases in the carousel, the nice walls, the colored benches, and most of all the clean restrooms ... I like it ... you like it too am sure of that .... I will be posting photos of the airports as entry and exit points of those trips ...

For the love of summer ... the Davao destinations are ready to receive visitors with several events that tourism players prepare for this year.  For those who want to spend the long break here, exciting activities are in store for any one of you out there.  Let us explore our destinations and invite others to hae fun and indulge in the beauty of the beaches, the mountains, the food, the people of course and the fun. Why not go for "One Summerfun, One Davao" ...

Tourism stakeholders promote 'One Summerfun, One Davao'

DAVAO CITY, April 2 (PNA) -- The different stakeholders in Davao Region are one in promoting this year's summer activities dubbed as "One Summerfun, One Davao."

One Davao Tourism Officers Association (ODTOA) president Noel Daquioag said it has been their goal to support each other as they market the different destinations in their respective areas.

"New destinations continue to be uncovered in the different places of the Davao Region," he also said.

A unified promotion of these places will entice tourists to visit the different destinations of the region and creating events will also give them a unique experience," he said.

Acting head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region XI Eden Larano said the different local government units come together to complement each other in the promotion of their destinations.

"Because it is summer, most of the events are sports related activities from beach volleyball, mountain climbing, swimming and others," she said.

Digos City tourism head Bebot Felera said they have every summer "Mt. Apo Summer Climb" from April 12 to 20, 2014,that is held in time of the Holy Week. Among others, the participants will be issued a Certificate of Climb. The climb carries a registration fee of P720 for local climber, P432 for student and P1,080 for foreigners.

Meanwhile, Davao del Norte for this summer will have the "Lingaw Sa Tag Araw Summer Workshops" that include workshops on visual art, brass band, dancesport, theater arts, hip-hop dance.

The other event is the Grand Sta. Cruzan which is spearheaded by the Tagum City Tourism Council and the Diocese of Tagum. It is a religious-historical celebration held in small Christian communities Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) in a presentation in the most colorful May-time festivity which depicts Catholic tradition of procession or parade of Biblical characters and the traditional presentation of the sagala (a religion-historical beauty pageant).

The City of Mati in Davao Oriental has organized "Mati SummerFrolic 2014", an electronic music festival of colors in Barangay Dahican.

Provincial tourism head of Davao Oriental Miguel Troccio said together with this event is the 10th year anniversary celebration of the Amihan sa Dahican surfers which will highlight the Dahican Strip.

Included during the holding of Summerfrolic are beach volleyball, beach frisbee, foam party and the feast on waves of surfing and skim competition.

In Compostela Valley, tourism officer Christine Dumpar said they are also into promoting their pilgrimage site where for this Summer they are encouraging tourists to help in the actual building of houses in Maragusan town where an area there is also badly hit by typhoon Pablo.

Participants, she said will be ushered to a side trip to the different destinations there from mountain climbing and trekking towards the waterfalls and the chance to see the largest flower in the world, Rafflesia, that can only be found in the forests of Maragusan.

She said there are also sports activities in beaches of beach volleyball, duathlon, frisbee, wake-boarding.

Davao City tourism head Lisette Marquez said there will be lined up sports activities even as she said that they will be inviting professional basketball players for this summer's sports event in the city.

Marquez said during summer there is always an increase in arrivals, the city being the island's major destination in the south.

She said fun activities are held and these are done in coordination with the private sector.

Major malls here continue to provide events be it in entertainment or organized activities for the youth and the children, she added. (PNA)

FPV/Digna D. Banzon/ldp

In tourism sites here, what could be the government's plan ?  Check it out with this article I write about their plans for 2013  ...

Davao Norte to prioritize access roads leading to tourism sites

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, April 10 (PNA) -- Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said that in line with President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's tourism program, the province has programmed the building of access roads leading to the different tourism sites here.

Del Rosario cited the concreting of barangay roads around the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) to complement the ongoing concreting of circumferential road connecting the three districts of the island namely Babak, Penaplata and Kaputian.

The proposed project, he said, was already endorsed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), the two departments tasked to identify road network projects that have impact on tourism.

"We already got positive feedback on the proposal," he said.

He said it will involve about P300 million funding and we expect that it will commence by 2014 and completed in 2016.

The provision of access roads in the different barangays of the island will not only allow interior tourism sites be exposed to visitors but also provide the residents livelihood opportunities, he said.

He also pointed out that the highway in Talaingod town leading to Bukidnon is already there and they also recommended that it be supported with more access roads.

"We want to be sure that this road network be protected and its usage maximized," he said.

Del Rosario said the access road goes with the project of sustaining the development of tribal villages.

He said it would be an attraction to visitors because it could easily be reached now that it has already a concrete highway.

He said the Talaingod town is a good site also for mountain resorts.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario said aside from tourism are projects on high value crops as well as entry of investors.

He said talks are ongoing with Malaysian investors on growing of oil palm in two towns namely Asuncion and New Corella.

He said the areas are already identified for the said project. (PNA)

LAP/ASA/Prix Digna D. Banzon/ldp

Come and discover our city ! Here's a story about the opening of MICECON 2013 in Davao City ...

Duterte urges MiceCon delegates to discover Davao

DAVAO CITY, March 7 (PNA) -- As Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte welcomed the delegates of the MICE Con 2013, he urged them to discover the city and see for themselves what the city and the locals can offer them.

Duterte welcomed the delegates during the opening of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibits) Conference 2013 on Thursday held at the SMX Convention Center at SM Lanang Premier in this city with President Simeon Benigno C. Aquino III as the honored guest.

The Vice Mayor said the city government is grateful of hosting the event as “it gives us the opportunity to show to both foreign and local delegates the beauty of its surroundings and the best of our economy.”

He said, “we could learn from each other as well as create good will.”

“Davao City has much to offer,” he said.“But I want you to discover them for yourselves and see what the locals can offer you.”

He said a lot of changes has been happening here from construction of buildings to new business establishments.

“Our population marks at 2 million and still growing,” he said. "That is why we need the investments here."

He said "you can explore our city, spend a vacation, or perhaps open your business here."

The Davao Host Organizing Committee worked closely with the Department of Tourism to ensure the successful hosting of the MICE Con this year.

Experts are assigned to take charge of secretariat activities, attendance, transportation and tours, airport reception, accommodations, MICE Market Place, MICE Mart, socials and food and beverage, ways and means, safety and security, and finance.

During the pre-conference activity, the delegates had the Davao Adventure Challenge at the Davao Crocodile Park Complex as well as a guided tour within the park on March 6.

The Mice Market Place was also opened in the morning of March 7 while the Leaders Forum continued in the afternoon of the same day. A Mayor's Night will be held in the evening at the Grand Ballroom of D'Leonor Inland Resort for the Themed Dinner “Madayaw Dabaw ! Life is Here."

On the final day of the event is the MICE Mart, a business-to-business and face-to-face meeting between buyers and sellers of travel and tour products, services and facilities.

The MICE Con will that run until weekend also dealt mostly for the buyer and seller appointments. Over 500 delegates joined the MICON Con 2013. (PNA) 

FPV/ASA/Prix Digna D. Banzon/ldp