Saturday, December 07, 2024

DOT-10 showcases Mindanao’s 1st travel hub in Bukidnon to boost tourism, MSMEs

MALAYBALAY CITY (July 15, 2024/PIA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT)-10 reported that the opening of the tourist rest area (TRA) in the scenic town of Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon marks the first TRA in Mindanao to enhance the travel experience for local and international visitors

Marie Elaine Unchuan, DOT regional director for northern Mindanao, said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas media forum on July 2 that the TRA sets a new benchmark for travelers’ comfort and convenience following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directives to enhance the country’s tourism sector by improving facilities and resources that can significantly boost the economy.

“The tourist rest area opened in August last year and promises to redefine the journey for domestic and foreign tourists. Its clean, well-ventilated restrooms and inviting seating areas create a relaxing oasis for weary travelers,” she said.

With maps, guides, and expert tips, its information center is essential for tourists exploring northern Mindanao’s attractions.

Showcasing culture and local products

Unchuan said the TRA doubles as a vibrant shop, offering a selected range of local delicacies and handcrafted souvenirs.

“Visitors can indulge in Bukidnon’s famous coffee, savor delectable pastries, or purchase unique keepsakes crafted by local artisans. It delights travelers and supports micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) along with other local businesses,” she added.

Beyond its Pasalubong center, the TRA showcases local artwork, such as paintings and intricate leaf carvings, enhancing atmospheric energy and displaying the region’s artistic talent.

Inclusive amenities for all needs

Multiculturalism and inclusivity are TRA’s design principles. It caters to diverse travelers’ needs. The lounge and charging stations provide a comfortable space for tourists to relax and recharge their devices.

The coffee shop offers a selection of beverages and snacks, perfect for a quick refreshment break.

The TRA offers family-friendly amenities such as clean restrooms with showers and a lactation room to cater to the needs of even the youngest travelers.

Strategic location for maximum convenience

Travelers exploring Bukidnon and nearby provinces will find TRA an ideal pit stop due to its strategic location at the crossroads of major travel routes. Its proximity to Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, and Lanao del Sur enhances accessibility for visitors discovering the region’s natural and cultural wonders.

Emalyn Cagolcol, a traveler from Valencia City, described the tourist rest area in Manolo Fortich as truly one of a kind.

“It was more than a mere rest stop. The facilities are not only clean and well-kept. It is also scenically situated amidst the serene landscapes of Bukidnon. It provided a much-needed break during our trip, allowing us to recharge and refresh ourselves before continuing our adventure,” she shared.

Manolo Fortich TRA is the second DOT-managed rest area in the country, following the successful model established in Medellin, Cebu.

“This TRA exemplifies DOT’s commitment to providing world-class facilities nationwide, ensuring travelers have access to modern and well-maintained facilities,” the DOT-10 regional director said. (Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

DOT-Northern Mindanao gives inaccurate details about mountain ranges in Bukidnon

April 3, 2024 MindaNews fact-checked the claim of the Department of Tourism – Northern Mindanao (DOT – Northern Mindanao) about facts involving the mountain ranges in Bukidnon province. Some details are inaccurate, hence misleading

In a post on its Facebook page last February 22 titled “5 FACTS ABOUT BUKIDNON,” the DOT-Northern Mindanao said:

“The name ‘Bukidnon’ is derived from the Visayan term ‘bukid,’ which means mountain. True to its name, the province is characterized by extensive mountain ranges, including Mount Kitanglad, Mt. Dulang-dulang and Mt. Kalatungan, which are some of the highest peaks of the country.” (emphasis supplied)

Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Dulang-dulang are not two different mountain ranges.

They are among the peaks belonging to the same mountain range, the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, legislated as a protected area on November 9, 2000.

Mt. Dulang-dulang (2,938 meters above sea level) is the second-highest peak in the Philippines. On the other hand, Mt. Kitanglad (2,899masl) is the country’s fourth highest peak, and like Mt. Dulang-dulang, is one of the popular trekking destinations in Bukidnon.

The DOT-Northern Mindanao post further said that Mt. Kitanglad “sits between Malaybalay City and the municipalities of Lantapan, Impasugong, Sumilao, and Libona.”

The agency’s list of areas encompassed by the mountain range is incomplete. Mt. Kitanglad Range straddles Malaybalay City and the towns of Lantapan, Talakag, Baungon, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, and Impasugong. These eight areas share boundaries on the summit of Mt. Kitanglad. (Source: Protected Area Management Plan of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, 2018-2022, Page 6. Note: No online link, e-copy only)

The two other mountain ranges in Bukidnon are Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park, where Mt. Kalatungan is located, and Pantaron Range (also called Pantadon).

Kalatungan Range encompasses Valencia City and the towns of Talakag, Pangantucan, and Maramag.

Pantaron Range straddles Bukidnon and the neighboring provinces of Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, and Davao del Sur.

As with all our other reports, MindaNews welcomes leads or suggestions from the public to potential fact-check stories. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno / MindaNews)

Babaye, lalaki gipamusil sa Valencia

Biktima sa pagpamusil ang babaye ug lalaki sa Aguilar St., Purok 16, Brgy. Poblacion, Valencia City, Bukidnon

Sumala ni Police Lt. Col. Mitchell Clemencio, OIC sa Valencia City Police Station, ang krimen nahitabo pasado alas 3:30 sa buntag niadtong Pebrero 28, 2024.

 

Ang mga biktima isa ka 41-anyos nga lalaki ug 33-anyos nga babaye.

 

Sila gidala sa Adventist Medical Center sa Brgy. Poblacion, Valencia City apan ang lalaki gideklarar nga patay sa wala pa mahiabot.

 

Nasayran nga ang duha nag-inom sa D96 Minimart sa dihang isa ka wala mailhing tawo ang niduol kanila ug gikalalis niini ang babaye nga biktima.

 

Paglabay sa pipila ka minuto, nilakaw ang suspek ug mibalik nga nagdala og mubo nga armas dayon gipusil ang duha ka mga biktima nga naigo sa managlahing bahin sa ilang lawas.

 

Ang suspek daling misibat sa wala masayring direksiyon human sa insidente.

 

Nasayran nga ang lalaki isa ka sekyu nga taga Tanglaw, Davao del Norte samtang ang kaubang babaye taga Talomo, Matina Aplaya, Davao City.

 

Anggulong Love Triangle ang isa sa gilantaw nga hinungdan sa maong krimen.

 

Samtang ang kapolisan nagpadayon pa sa ilang imbestigasyon alang sa pag-ila sa misibat nga suspek. (Diego M. Hidalgo)

PGB gives aid to 3 provinces hit by disasters

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (Feb. 12, 2024) – The Provincial Government of Bukidnon (PGB) has recently sent humanitarian supplies to its three neighboring provinces that have been affected by floods and landslides

The provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Agusan del Sur each got P1 million in welfare goods from the PGB.

 

PGB distributed the relief aid through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (PDRRMD), which is led by Israel Johan M. Damasco, Jr.

 

Ellen Salumintao, PGB’s social welfare and development officer, said earlier that instead of delivering ₱1-M cash to the three provinces, the receiving LGUs had requested that welfare commodities be supplied to them for direct distribution to the neediest people.

 

Each beneficiary LGU received 500 bags of 25 kilos of rice and canned products worth P1 million.

 

The PGB sent relief materials to the mentioned LGUs that were declared under a state of calamities as a result of the shear line and low pressure, which caused landslides and flash flooding. (melbmadera)

JICA ‘not ready yet’ to fund Mindanao Railway

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 15 Nov)—A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) official said they are “not ready yet” to fund Mindanao Railway’s construction

“Actually, to be frank, we have a lot of projects in the entire Philippines, now because we are supporting the construction of the Manila subway and North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and so on,” JICA Philippines’ Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto said in a press conference Friday last week.

“Comparing with preparedness, actually we do not have any background information about Mindanao railway so preparedness-wise we are not ready to consider the railway project,” he added.

Notably, the Philippine government stopped seeking funding assistance from China for the construction of the Mindanao Railway, the Department of Finance (DOF) told the Chinese Embassy in Manila last October.

DOF stated in a letter to Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian dated September 22, 2023, that the Philippines is “no longer inclined to pursue Chinese ODA financing for the Mindanao Railway Project Phase 1 Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment.”

The cause for the loan application’s withdrawal was not stated in the letter.

However, the JICA official said their “door is open” should the Philippine government be strongly interested in seeking funds from them for the construction of the Mindanao Railway.

“The door is open if the [Department of Transportation], [National Economic and Development Authority], and DOF may have a strong interest in discussing the possibility of this future [railway project continuation],” Sakamoto said.

Meanwhile, NEDA-Davao regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said the Mindanao railway project is seeking to look for other partners to continue the project.

“We have the Mindanao railway project, the Tagum-Davao-Digos segment, this is phase 1 of the railway project earlier, its current status is the right-of-way acquisition funded by the Philippine government,” Lim said.

The Mindanao Railway Project: Tagum-Davao-Digos, which is valued at P83 billion, is seen to reduce the travel time from Tagum City in Davao del Norte to Digos City, Davao del Sur from three and a half hours to an hour and a half. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)

3 boxers from Mindanao assured of bronzes in 32nd SEA Games

MALAYBALAY CITY – Three boxers from Mindanao are now assured of bronze medals in the ongoing 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia on May 8, 2023

Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio outclassed their opponents to advance to the semifinals.

Paalam, of Cagayan de Oro City, won via a unanimous decision against Malaysia’s Daeloniel McDelon Bong, 5-0, in the bantamweight (54kg) division.

Petecio, of Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur, won after the referee stopped the fight after giving her opponent, Laos’ Minavanh Oupaxa, a third standing 8-count in the first round of their women’s 57kg bout.

Paul Julyfer Bascon, of Davao del Norte, beat Vietnamese Thanh Dat Vu via a split decision, 3-2, and will face Touch Davit of Cambodia in the light welterweight semifinals. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno / MindaNews)

Dole North Skyland manager napalgang patay sa Malaybalay

Ang Dole North Skyland Manager sa Bukidnon Provincial Cluster napalgang patay didto sa P-14, Gabunan, Barangay Casisang, Malaybalay City niadtong Marso 18, 2023

Sa taho ni Police Col. Julius Clar Prisco M. Macariola IV, OIC sa Malaybalay City Police Station, ang biktima naila nga si Roger Bergas Balista, 46, minyo, ug residente sa Tagum, Davao del Norte.

Gikataho nga ang patayng lawas ni Balista nakita sa kalsada nga naka posisyon atubang sa isa ka Toyota Hilux.

Siya naka angkon og samad pinusilan sa iyang ulo.

Sa wala pa mahitabo ang krimen, ang biktima giktaho nga nibiya sa staff house sa P-1, Kalasungay ug niadto sa ilang processing plant sa Sitio Gabunan sa Casisang sakay sa Toyota Hilux.

Ang Malaybalay CPS nagpahigayon pa ug mas lawom nga imbestigasyon uban sa lateral coordination gikan sa Provincial Forensic Unit.

Wala pa matino ang motibo sa krimen. (MG Mayumi B. Madera)

Portion of Davao del Norte-Bukidnon highway collapses

DAVAO CITY – Drivers of public utility vans, buses, cargo trucks, and multi-axle trucks bound for Bukidnon from Davao del Norte or bound for Davao del Norte from Bukidnon are advised to take the Davao City-Bukidnon route instead as a portion of the highway in San Fernando town in Bukidnon collapsed due to continuous heavy rains.

The travel advisory was issued last January 14 by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Davao region.

It said a portion of Talaingod (Davao Del Norte)-Valencia (Bukidnon) road, particularly in Sitio Balacayo in Barangay Kalagangan, “is currently one-lane passable to LIGHT VEHICLES only due to road collapse.”

“Motorists are advised to take necessary precautions while traveling due to the prevailing weather conditions,” it said.

In San Fernando, Bukidnon, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) on its Facebook page said the DPWH in Bukidnon and the local government unit are working on the repair. The LDRRMO called on the public not to pass this way “kay dilikado pa gihapon” (because it is still dangerous).

Travel time between Davao del Norte and Bukidnon is shorter via this route compared with the Davao City to Bukidnon route. (MindaNews)