Day: July 26, 2006

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/25 July) — China is looking at potential "multibillion" investments in Mindanao, including $3 billion in mining in the next five years once cooperation is formalized in the region, Chinese ambassador Li Jinjun told reporters Tuesday. Li identified "huge business opportunities" for Mindanao in tourism, agriculture, fisheries, mining and infrastructure after Sec. Jesus Dureza, of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), and other trade and investment officials briefed him on Mindanao's peace process, the BIMP-East Asia Growth Area, and investment opportunities in Davao City and Mindanao. Li said many Chinese investors have eyed investments here but are just waiting for developments because they were worried about the "little and incorrect information" they know about Mindanao. He said China is concerned about the peace processes in Mindanao and said they are happy to see progress in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/25 July) — The provincial government of South Cotabato will offer for public auction at least 23 real properties of residents who failed to pay their taxes over the last five years. Provincial Treasurer Alegria Beltran said the scheduled public auction on August 4 at the provincial capitol compound will be the first ever set by the local government since such mandate came out 15 years ago with the passage of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code. The "civil remedies for collection of revenues" was provided for by Chapter 4 of RA 7160.Beltran said they initially planned to hold a public auction last year but they decided to defer it for another year due to appeals from some property owners.

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/25 July) — Police authorities urged local government units (LGUs) in South Cotabato and in neighboring areas to designate public parking areas or convergence zones for various vehicles to ensure their protection against various carnapping syndicates reportedly operating in the area. Supt. Efren Saliganan, acting South Cotabato police director, issued the proposal to local peace and order councils of the province's 10 towns and lone city as he admitted that the number of vehicle theft, especially involving motorcycles, has increased over the last six months. Saliganan, who assumed his post only last month, called a command conference Monday to specifically discuss and set strategies to effectively curb the "alarming" carnapping cases in the province.

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/25 July) — The University of the Philippines in Mindanao is holding roundtable discussions to explore the creation of a multi-agency task force or network to focus on health disasters and emergencies in Mindanao. The discussions, scheduled on July 31 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel here, would gather local government and non-government officials from the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and General Santos. The forum aims to "facilitate exchange of views and share experiences on health disasters and emergencies and its impact on human populations and the environment," the UP-Min information office said.