Sep
26th
Davao City is the only city in the Philippines that has an emergency response system. In a city where crime rates are comparably low, adding the “Central 911″ to the Davaoeno’s reach further proves that Davao is among the most livable places in the world. The project was first envisioned during 2002 and then was quickly developed to help law enforcers, even ordinary citizens react to emergency situations.
“The launching of the 911 in Davao, made the Philippines the only country after the US and Canada to adopt the system. Using the 911 system, DLPC used a modified version of its Geographic and Information System and called it the Emergency Computer Aided Dispatch (ECAD) to help authorities locate the origin of emergency calls. The system even tracks how fast the police could respond to the emergency calls. The system also uses color-coded icons to monitor movement and location of police mobile units: Blue for mobile units at rest; Red for on the move response and Green for onsite, which means that a mobile unit has arrived in the site of emergency.(www.rvr.aim.edu.ph)
My cousin works as a telephone operator for more than a year now. I asked her what kind of emergency calls they usually receive. She said that emergencies requiring immediate medical attention makes up most of the calls. Second are domestic disturbances, especially late at night. Of course, prank callers are already given, she added. Rescuers sometimes encounter strange situations like pythons coiling around trees, snakes sleeping inside a car’s engine compartment, dogs swallowing mothballs and drunk individuals showing a little too much skin and confidence.
Davao City Central 911
Sep
18th
Where’s my coffee?
The chilly spell has arrived. Nope, there is no winter here in the Philippines, we only have two seasons – dry and wet.
Although Davao is typhoon free, during the last months, heavy rains frequently visited the city. Come September, the climate slightly changed. The rains calmed a little, the sun is setting a little earlier, the sky is mostly grayish and the air is colder.
A lot of people here gets excited when the cold spell comes in. It’s understandable. We have a very humid climate almost all year round and the chilly season gives us a break from the hot periods. Now, I am not used to the crisp air. It makes me sleepy…and lazy. It makes me want go to bed earlier, wake up later and it tempts to me hit the snooze button on my alarm twice. OK… thrice! Its a little difficult to concentrate on my job. I’m a graphic/layout artist and sometimes when I do a project this time of the year, I need three steaming cups of strong coffee an hour.(Yeah, I know. Too much coffee is bad, that’s why I have bitter cocoa as my alternative.)
Nevertheless, I enjoy this time of the year because it puts me in a milder mood. I get to stay home more to do things I don’t regularly do, like finish a book in just a week or simply reflect on the days that went by(or sleep more).
But now here in the office, I’m doing a yearbook layout for a university. And again I’m wondering… where’s my coffee?
Sep
14th
Just a few things to be discovered here
(click image for larger view)
Instead of the usual words, I decided to make an illustration of just a few things to be experienced in Davao.
I’ll be adding more soon.
Sep
9th
Davaoeños will soon enjoy the proposed Davao Light Rail Transit. The project was one of the results following the BIMP-EAGA investment conference held in this city last October.
The Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP), Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), MCC Capital Inc., a UK-based financial institution, and local government units in the Davao Region have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on the proposed Davao Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the construction of a bridge in Samal.
Wendel Avisado, executive director of the DIDP stated that “the LRT system will serve the coastal builtup area of Davao City, as well as neighboring areas in Davao del Sur (Sta. Cruz), and Davao del Norte (Panabo City).” He said that the project cost was R240 billion in 1997 when it was first proposed. “It is also proposed to be 60 kilometers in length and a BOT (build, operate, transfer) project,” Avisado said.
The intended railway system will initially stretch across the major highways of Tagum City-Carmen-Panabo City-Davao City-Sta. Cruz-and Digos City in Davao del Sur.
Personally, this railway system means less hassle and shorter traveling time to the rural areas where there are still many unexplored thrills and adventures to be experienced.
Sep
7th
Big time investors from the capital city have finally found a landmark for another beneficial project to boost Davao City at large. It’s the Robinsons Mall that’s going to be up soon in Bajada district, precisely near the Water District. As you can see, the construction is now going on and the countdown begins until its proposed operation starts.
The proposed layout of Robinsons Davao | Photo by: Eric
The people of Davao are more than pleased to welcome the presence of the mall and it’s only a matter of time going on all the malls in the city. Furthermore, the mall developer will not only finalize the mall project but it will be preceded by the construction of Robinsons housing projects as well. The proposed sites will be at the Diversion Road in Buhangin with two major projects and one in Lanang (in front of Lanang Golf & Country Club).
