Last Friday, Bureau of Internal Revenue officials disclosed that some of the business establishments at Chinatown in Davao City may not be complying with the country’s tax laws. They also bared that most of the stores in Chinatown are not issuing official receipts to their customers.

If we need cheap hardware tools and some stuffs need at home, we actually find them at the stores in Chinatown here in Davao. The stores there do not actually issue receipts; you can even ask for a discount on selected items. It’s like: Name it, they have it.

Most of the Chinese traders in the area don’t speak English or Tagalog. I wonder how they communicate with their workers. I have some owners  give instruction through hand signals to their workers.

The BIR said that the wholesale dealers declared only an annual income of P1.5 million. It is under-declared, the BIR suspects. I believe too that  the figure is under-declared.  I have seen several wholesale dealers in DCLA and 168 Mall.

There is a store in DCLA that if you’re not a wholesale buyer, sales clerks won’t allow you to enter in some portions of the store.  They will not allow you to pick some items, they want to do it for you.  Weird.

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/07 July) – After being spotted by a TV news crew beating the red light in Manila, Vice President Jejomar Binay’s convoy this time obeyed traffic rules here.

Although escorted by two motor-riding cops and several other policemen, the party negotiated the major streets of this city without “wang-wang” or sirens as well as blinkers.

But the motor-riding cops waved their hands and swerved to give way to the convoy as they approached the congested portion of Diversion Road in Buhangin District before making a left turn at the Quiñones Road leading to JP Laurel Ave. [read on]

What should we expect from father and daughter tandem in Davao City? Even the new Mayor Inday Sara Duterte also vowed that the city will remain a dangerous place for criminals. It’s seems she’s just reiterating her father’s warning to the criminals in the city. Many say that this younger Duterte is much tougher than her father, many also expect  that she would strictly implement the house rules even within the premises of the city hall.

Following her inauguration on June 28, Inday Sara immediately called fro a press conference. One pretty striking statement was her stand on curbing criminality in the city. She was also asked on the possible working reconciliation with their political foe — the Nograles. She refused to answer the question. Instead, she just smiled. But in the past, she said that she is not a ‘plastic’ person and if she’s mad, she really means it.  She pointed out that the city can stand on its own feet even without the congressional funds — only referring to First District Rep. Karlo Nograles, son of her mayoralty race rival former Speaker Boy Nograles.

She has also said that even a public apology cannot mend the damages that has been done.

For his part, now Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also vowed that he will not allow the peace and order in the city to deteriorate. When asked how he can contribute since he has no longer in control of the law enforcement agencies, Duterte pointed out that the legislative body may control the release of budget. “Through the aid of legislation, we will call their (police) attention if they will not perform their duties well.”

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/22 June) – Go look for other sources of energy, was Vice Mayor and Mayor-elect Sara Duterte’s advice to the proponent of a hydropower plant in Tamugan River, adding she does not believe the project can solve the power crisis in the city and other parts of Mindanao.

Speaking to reporters after presiding the session of the city council, her last before assuming as mayor, Duterte said power producers should look for alternative sources of energy instead of eyeing Tamugan River, a declared watershed area. Continue reading »

DAVAO CITY—A local producer of dairy products and livestock is pushing for “agriculture tourism,” saying that the region has many agricultural potentials waiting to be tapped.

Agri-entrepreneur and veterinarian Roberto “Dr. Bo” Puentespina told the BusinessMirror that he and the family-owned Malagos Garden Resort is now pushing for “agriculture tourism” not just as a source of income, but as a weekend lifestyle. Continue reading »

Just last Tuesday, House Speaker Prosper Nograles assured that Freedom of Information Bill will be ratified on Friday. But what happened yesterday could be unexpected for those who don’t know Boy Nograles. Months before he formallyannounced that he is running for mayor in Davao City, in his media interviews here in Davao, he kept on saying that he will not run for any lower position. Meaning, he wont run for mayor in Davao City; instead, he may run for Senate. Right?

But then election season came and he ran for mayor against Davao City Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. Eventually and as expected, he lost.

FOI bill could have been  landmark piece of legislation that could have lifted the shroud of secrecy over government transactions and data.

I think and I believe that Nograles would just want to live with what he has been labeled as: The Worst Speaker of the House. He’s a loser in the local arena, his political career is already doomed. His Big Boss will be out of the Palace by June 30.  So what’s the point of having a legacy? He doesn’t care anymore, he only cares for his son, who will replace him as representative of Davao City’s First District. He cares because the FOI Bill would surely affect the “initiatives” of his beloved son.

Koala bear stuff toys displayed at “ukay-ukay” stalls in Uyanguren area of Davao City. We were looking for stuff toys for our dogs at home when we stumbled upon on these popular Koala bears — this was how Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin described the alleged witness to the election fraud.  Unlike in the past, you would only find “ukay-ukay” shirts and pants. But these days, everything is almost there in “ukay-ukay” stalls.

Urbanized but Davao City still looks green as seen from an exclusive subdivision along diversion road. How I wish we can afford to build my own garden up there.

As expected by most of Davaoeños, the younger current vice mayor Inday Sara Duterte defeated the country’s fourth powerful person — House Speaker  Boy Nograles — in the mayoralty race of Davao City.  Nograles campaigned hard to live with his dream of becoming a mayor of Davao City. But on May 10, more than 380,000 people of Davao City frustrated the House Speaker, who only earned about 160,000 votes  from all three districts here. Continue reading here.

On Thursday, Sen. Noynoy Aquino visited their family friend and political ally Jesus Ayala in Davao City. Aquino was in Davao City for his “spiritual retreat.”  The Palace calls it a ‘gimmickry’… or they are just threatened?