DN starts construction of new
sports complex
by Noel Baguio
Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario announced the
construction of the modern Davao del Norte Sports
Complex will finally start within this month of January
after a delay of four months.
Building of the mega project was supposed to begin
last September 2008. But, Del Rosario intentionally
delayed the construction work after the sharp increase
in the prices of construction materials following the
rise in the cost of crude oil in the world market starting
the second quarter of last year.
The P320-million state-of-the-art sports complex
is designed to train local players to compete in the
international arena and to make the province the
premier sports center of Mindanao.
“The construction of the sports complex will be in
full swing starting this January all throughout 2009. We
hope to complete it before the year ends or maybe
towards the first quarter of 2010,” the governor
declared to Capitol officials and personnel during the
New Year’s first Monday convocation at the Bulwagan
ng Lalawigan, Tagum City.
Del Rosario was gratified that he held off the start
of the project as prices of construction materials began
see NEW SPORTS COMPLEX on p./3
P624.5-million budget fuels
speeding RDR WHEELS
by Noel Baguio
Davao del Norte’s annual budget of P624.5-million
for 2009 will fuel the speeding RDR WHEELS impact
strategy of the province, as major projects in all programs
are set to run full speed towards completion this year.
Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario instituted the RDR
WHEELS, as an all-encompassing platform of governance
that brings together all the basic services that the people
so deserve.
The annual budget of the province, which was passed
by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as early as November
last year, was 14.7 percent higher than that of the 2008
income.
The considerable increase was due to the positive
gains in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of the
province by as much as 15 percent (P568.3 million), local
tax revenue by 4.6 percent (P19.35-million) and from
the operating and miscellaneous income which rose by
17.5 percent (P36.85-million).
Del Rosario attributed the increase in this year’s budget
to the reforms in governance, which has served as the
see ANNUAL BUDGET on p./3
Mega projects mark RDR’s bullish outlook for 2009
by Noel Baguio
Dare to be bullish in 2009.
In the midst of anxiety about the domestic economy
likely to be hit by the current global economic downturn
this year, Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario appeared to be
unperturbed as he outlined some of the major projects
he has set to complete or so this year.
Some of the mega projects Del Rosario intends to
run full throttle towards completion before 2010 sets in
include the Kapalong-Talaingod-Bukidnon road, which has
already conquered miles and miles of unexplored
territories in the hinterlands and the proposed Davao del
Norte Sports Complex that will soon rise as a new landmark
symbolizing Davao del Norte as the youth and sports capital
of Mindanao.
The P2-billion, 85-kilometer Kapalong-Talaingod-
Bukidnon Road, which is part of President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo’s Super Region Project is set to be completed before
the president’s term ends.
The project is touted to spell economic development
as it would trigger direct trade between the two provinces
and increase the volume of exports in the region, along
with the benefit of the indigenous people communities
living in the areas where the road traverses.
The construction of the P320-million state-of-the-
art provincial sports complex will also be in full swing
starting this month of January. The project is designed
to train local players to compete in the international arena
and make Davao del Norte a veritable sports haven in
this part of the country.
Gov. Del Rosario also bared the proposed Upper Saug
Multi-Purpose Dam project is already in the pipeline and
is being considered for approval by the national
government by year 2009.
The proposed mega project, which costs about P1
billion, is designed to provide irrigation system to an
additional 8,000 hectares of ricelands in the province,
along with its other components that include potable water
system, hydro-power generation and in-land fishery
project.
The governor revealed National Irrigation
Administration Chairman Carlos Salazar has given him
the positive indication that the project will be given a
budget starting this year. Del Rosario met Salazar during
the recent assembly of all the irrigators associations in
the region.
Del Rosario is certain the project will provide big
increment in the rice production of Davao del Norte, as
he envisions it to become the biggest rice-producing
province in the Davao region.
“We want to ensure that our rice production in Davao
del Norte will be self-sufficient, if not create surplus, so
that we can also provide rice to other provinces, as well
as to the Visayas and Luzon,” he said.
The local chief executive further said his office has
been trying to encourage domestic and foreign investors
to put their money in the province by investing on banana,
palm oil and other high-value crops especially in the log-
over areas of the province.
“We are encouraging some investors from Malaysia ,
Thailand and other countries to come to Davao del Norte
as we have big tracts of idle lands here especially logged-
over area in the hinterlands,” he bared.
He said he is also pushing for the mari-culture projects
along the coastal areas of Davao del Norte and at the
same time for the aqua-culture production in Ising,
Carmen, where some 750 hectares of waterlogged area
is available for tilapia production and other high-value
fish.
Recent newspaper accounts report that a $1-billion
joint food project of San Miguel Corporation and Malaysia’s
Kuok Group will soon start in four municipalities of
Davao del Norte. Local officials chorus this is sheer
proof that the province is a favored investment hub
in the region.
Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario instructs Provincial
Agriculturist Dominador Encarnacion and PENRO
Felix Abangin to replicate to other barangays the
success of the Barangay Training Center of Sto. Niño,
Talaingod, which was able to grow 26,000 coffee
seedlings, 3,500 rubber seedlings, 2,500 jathropa
seedlings, and 2,225 coconut seedlings for
distribution to poor farmers.It has also established
a goat shelter with initial 23 heads, and a coffee
and vegetable demo farm for the farmers to learn
new farm technologies. Del Rosario also supported
the plan to develop the river bank of the center’s
P2.5-hectare lot into a little eco-resort. Noel Baguio
Back to work after after the long holidays, Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario (center) spends the first working day of 2009
attending to the problems and concerns of his constituents during the People’s Day at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan.
Prov’l Administrator Rufo Peligro is seen assisting the governor, together with all the Capitol executives.Right
photo shows the Bulwagan teeming with clients, including this anxious mother who approaches a nurse to seek
medical assistance for her sick baby. Noel Baguio

ANNUAL BUDGET from p./1
bedrock of efficiency, transparency and innovations
in accounting, tax collection, and sound public fiscal policy.
Twenty-seven (27) percent of the increased budget
or some P168.1-M is intended to fund economic services,
while 21 percent (P131.3-M) is earmarked for social and
health services, 47 percent (P292.7-M) for general public
services, and 5 percent (P32.3-M) for miscellaneous
services.
These four sectors of expenditures comprise the total
development package for the RDR WHEELS impact agenda
to which the Provincial Government is focusing right now.
Particularly, some P62 million was allocated for Roads
and infrastructure development; P600,000 for the
Development of cooperatives; P3.7 million for Reforms
in governance; P8 million for Water and electricity; P42
million for Health, housing and social services; P9 million
for Education, culture, sports and human development;
P13.8 million for Economic development and
environmental protection and rehabilitation; P2 million
for Livelihood and skills development program; and, P6.7
million for Spiritual and moral recovery program.
In his New Year’s message to the officials and
employees of the Provincial Government, Del Rosario
expressed his profound gratitude to the individual
contributions of everybody in pushing his RDR WHEELS
strategy.
“By effectively turning our operations and
administrative machinery, you have given much flesh to
the skeletal development strategy we have laid down 18
months ago,” he said.
The governor further asked everyone, particularly
the department heads and the chiefs of programs and
projects of the Capitol to raise their performance level
as he intends to raise the speed of the RDR WHEELS
vehicle a notch higher in order to “attain the remaining
nautical mile” this year.

Provincial and local officials led

by Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario pose
besides a long line of clients who
are trying to claim their priority
numbers before the start of the
recent People’s Day in New Corella
town. Besides at the right of the
governor is Mayor Nestor Alcoran
while Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio
is at his left. They were joined by
Board Members Demetrio Maligro
and Ricaredo Federiso (with RDR
WHEELS vests), along with some
municipal councilors . Noel Baguio
 Information needed to set right direction
by Jean Abangan
Without information drive, there won’t be right
direction to take, Board Member Gregorio S. Facula, chair
of Davao del Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee
on Information said.
Addressing the Community Development Information
Officers (CDIOs) of Davao del Norte, Facula urged them
to take the lead in informing the public of local
developments in their area.
“Aduna kitay kaakuhan sa atong kumunidad. Dili na
kita maghulat pa sa uban. Kita ang magpahibalo sa mga
kalambuan sa atong lugar,” he said.
The decade is nearing its end but Facula said “it is
not too late that we tune up to the same frequency of
attaining our ultimate goal of informing the public.”
Facula said that the national and even the local
governments are working to raise the level of income f
the Filipino poor households.
“Kung dili nato mapasabot ang katawhan, lisod
mapataas ang ilang kinitaan,” he explained.
Facula was the guest speaker of the recently held
CDIO meeting organized by the Philippine Information
NEW SPORTS COMPLEX from p./1
to plummet towards the approach of the New Year
after fuel prices have considerably gone down.
“Thank God we did it. I believe it is now the right
time for us to begin the construction of the sports
complex,” he said.
The province has already mobilized its infrastructure
juggernaut in preparation for the project. Heavy
equipment from the Provincial Engineers Office had
worked overtime during the long holidays to start
flattening the project site.
The project was unveiled during the 41st Araw ng
Davao del Norte celebration last July 1 by sports
enthusiast Senator Pia Cayetano, together with Gov.
Del Rosario, former Gov. Prospero Amatong, Philippine
Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch”
Ramirez and other Provincial Government officials.
Rising at the 12-hectare old sports complex in
Mankilam, Tagum City, the proposed sports complex
features an Olympic-size swimming pool, main bleacher,
rubberized oval and aquatic center.
Provincial Sports Coordinator Anthony G. Del Rosario
is confident the modern sports complex will lead to
possible hosting of the province to major sports events
like the Palarong Pambansa and other national sportsfest,
including some international athletic events.
Senator Cayetano pledged to put in an initial funding
of P10 million, while PSC Chairman Ramirez said he is
donating a P1 million-worth boxing ring from China.
Agency XI at the Lakan Pakals, Tagum City.
Facula wants the CDIOs in the province to get
organized. Such is in support of the thrust of PIA to
strengthen the information offices in every province.
PIA XI Regional Director Efren F. Elbanbuena in the
same occasion talked about the need to extend
information support to national government programs
and projects as well as discussed the process of political
communication.
He also refreshed CDIOs of the information-
educatin-communication (IEC) campaign which he said
should start with creating awareness, raising the level
of understanding abd should arrive at promoting
advocacy in support of the national and local
government.
Board Member Gregorio Facula, who is the SP
Chairman on Media Affairs, urges CDIOs to take the
lead in informing the public on local developments in
their respective areas, while PIA Regional Director
Efren Elbanbuena sips his coffee with much gusto
during the recent meeting of the CDIOs in the province.
Josephine Elesterio
F DAVAO D
EO
ExecutiveReport
PR OVI N C
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ICIAL SEA
1967
EDITORIAL BOARD
CHAIRMAN: GOV. RODOLFO P. DEL ROSARIO
MEMBERS: ANTONIO RAFAEL G. DEL ROSARIO & PGO DIVISION HEADS
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-Chief: RUFO L. PELIGRO
Managing Editor: NOEL P. BAGUIO
Associate Editors: JOSEPHINE P. ELESTERIO, MERA GRACE E. APUYA,
JUDEZA A. PINGOY
Lay-Out/Computer Graphics: RENE A. DELOS REYES
Circulation in-charge: REYNALDO V. LAGUITAO, MICHELLE S. DE LEON,
LOVELLA S. LABUTAP
Lensperson: LEO L. GEMARINO