Snippets

TADECO, a member of the Anflo Group of Companies, embarked on a journey with a small step in Dec. 20, 1950. Armed with the passion to achieve and a vision to fulfill, Don Antonio O. Floirendo, started an abaca farm on a swampy land somewhere in Davao, in the land of promise, the island of Mindanao.  Riding the wave of times and a plummet of abaca prices, situations pushed the company to shift to the production of Cavendish bananas for export in 1969. Banana production for export is as old as the century at the time but very, very young in the country. An established system in South America for the export of bananas was imported, nurtured, tweaked and new technologies evolve as the Philippines' flora and fauna differs from that of South America, though still favorable to the growth of banana.  As part of the definition of agriculture, Tadeco invested on research for the improvement of operating procedures and understanding of the variety given the sensitivit...

In its 70 years of existence, one banana company still stand after a myriad of mixed frustrations, denials, triumphs and victories. It's still standing amidst chaos brought about by the challenges framed by man and given by nature. Its strength lies not on the physical foundation and vastness of the plantation it operates but on the resiliency of the people under its wings. It's flight over the years overcomes adversities not by soaring high but by being steady in front of gusty winds. One can see it coming knowing who its founder is. Known for being a man with great connections, he was also a tactician pointing specific and precise steps wherever the wind blows. The great culture he had developed along with trusted allies who come and go made impact on thousands of lives each day. His profound keenness of detail and crisp thinking, enabled the company to go in strides racing to a sure victory in an end game still very far in sight. Through the years of its existence, the compa...

The agreement is a victory for the banana industry.  The understanding between parties declares that the governor has recognized the importance of Tadeco and the workers working peacefully.  The resolution provides a glimpse that Gob Jubahib is now being briefed and educated about the real effects of Fusarium Wilt. He is now fully supportive of the moves of Tadeco to safeguard the plantation from Panama Disease through the biosecurity facilities. He is now eager to fully implement biosecurity protocols, vehicles passing thru tire dips and people stepping on foot baths.  The meeting of minds proves that negotiations, for the benefit of the majority, at times, provide preferable solutions to conflicts. Hopefully and prayerfully, Gob Jubahib will now be true to his words after all the hullabaloo.  However, Gob Jubahib's pronouncement that the roads are now open and no gatepasses are required anymore may be face-saving wo...

Gov. Jubahib, in his speech during the event on his first 100 days in office, signaled a very dangerous mind. Explaining and insinuating that because the banana plants of Tadeco are healthy, these don't need the bio-security measures against fusarium wilt such as tire/ wheel baths and foot baths. Where the hell did he get an idea such as that! He had not thought about why the bananas in Tadeco are healthy and why the banana plants in the nearby Sto Tomas and Kapalong plantations are dying on Fusarium Wilt. He wants to open roads which are already accessible by the public. He wants to get rid of these structures mandated by the Bureau of Plant Industry and with a provincial resolution that backed it. He asked about what to choose, banana or people? Let's discuss. People in Tanglaw, Bobongon and Balagunan can pass thru the farm roads provided that vehicles and people take the precautionary defense of passing through tire baths and foot baths with their livelihood intact (thes...

The Philippines is the second largest exporter of Cavendish bananas, next only to Ecuador. The dreaded Fusarium Wilt disease caused by a fungus, Fusarium oxysporum cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) is wrecking havoc and threatening the existence of the banana industry, not just in the Philippines but all over the world. Banana exporting countries as well as banana eating countries are scrambling to solve the problem. Our government in 2012 thru the Bureau of Plant Protection of the Department of Agriculture had declared war to minimize and slow down the spread of the fungus that is exploding like wildfire. The administrative order urges the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and other provinces to put up quarantine measures which includes tire/wheel and foot baths in every entry and exit points of a banana farm. TADECO has been in the forefront in the production of Cavendish bananas for export as well as in the combat of the Fusarium Wilt disease. Protectin...

Giatake ang Tadeco sa gobernor sa Davao del Norte niadtong Sept 26, 2019. Dala ang mga himan (boom truck, buckhoe, grader, ug uban pa) nga pangbungkag ug dagkong istruktura inubanan ug bombero para pagbungkag sa mga malinawong tawo nga nagtapok para sa ilang panginabuhi, taas-noo siya nga nagdahom sa paglampos sa himoong pagpangbungkag. Iyang tumong : bungkagon ang mga butang nga gilungotlungotan sa mga taong naglagot sa Tadeco. Tatak#1: Giasoy ni Gob nga gihatagan niya ang Tadeco ug one month notice, unya dismantolon na ang mga istruktura nga naa sa dalan sa sagingan nga giangkon as public roads. Ang tinuod niini, dunay sulat nga gihatag sa Tadeco kabahin sa pagguba dated Sept 16 nga nadawat sa Tadeco ug Sept 20, usa ka bulan na ba kini? Ug usa ka sulat nga ipostpone ang aktibidad ngadto sa Oct 7, nga gihatag ngadto sa Bucor nga wa gani kadawat sa unang sulat (nga giaddress ngadto sa Tadeco) Tatak #2: Memo Circular 2019-121 naga-awhag sa pagtanggal sa mga obstru...

Tadeco was attacked yesterday morning (9/26/2019) by the governor of Davao del Norte. Coming in with heavy equipments (Boom truck, grader, buckhoe, acetylene welding, etc) worthy of demolishing huge structures accompanied by firetrucks in anticipation of breaking the ranks of peaceful workers defending their livelihood, he held his head high up expecting success.  His purpose : bring down structures he and his cohorts (before being elected as governor) have long wished to conquer because it's their promise to people with hatred to Tadeco.  Concern #1: As claimed by the Gov, he had serve a one-month notice for Tadeco to dismantle illegal obstruction in Tadeco farm roads claimed as public roads.  Fact is, there was indeed a letter informing Tadeco that the govt will dismantle structures dated Sept 16 and received by Tadeco on Sept 20. Is this a one-month notice?  And a letter dated Sept 24, postponing the activity to Oct 7 which...

In a time when savages and pagans no longer thrive, there are still people who try  to be as disrespectful and lawless as can be. The incident of destroying a swing beam in a farm road of Tadeco which is used to inform people that 'hey, there's a foot bath in here and we have to follow simple protocol to guard  farms from an infectious disease' comes  as a surprise. Surprising, not because it happened once in a lifetime but what  was  surprising are the circumstances that came out  in the open: a misinformation from some radio station citing a closed road from Sto Tomas to Panabo; an  order by the Congress to the police to survey the area for public roads but was carried out by DPWH; a  DPWH District Engineer acting without an order from his superior; a DPWH crew dismantling the lowly swing beam with small mallets and had bonnets and covers in their faces, not wanting to be identified and riding a private vehicle;...

His latest pronouncement that Tadeco should not hire inmates to work in the plantation is a statement taking aim at everything just to bring Tadeco down. When he can't pin the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between BuCor and Tadeco as disadvantageous to the gov't, he employs tactics questioning the ownership of the roads inside the plantation as well as election issues - all out of context of his case on Allegation that the JVA is disadvantageous to the Government. Although, it augurs well with his purpose of getting media mileage. But alas!, as fate would have it, his plan was overtaken by events. His rampage of ego-tripping is now checked when he choose to say words that caught the ear of Mayor Sara Duterte. So now, as ill-advised, he is using the JVA issue to cover his spat with Mayor Sara. But his recent pronouncement to file raps against custodials/escort guards who are just escorting the inmates working as trainees in the plantation, is as rotten as he is. His insinuati...

The 5th Congressional hearing on "Resolution Calling for Inquiry, In Aid of Legislation, on the Allegedly Grossly Disadvantageous Contract Entered into by the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) and the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (TADECO)" orchestrated by Speaker Alvarez, was out of order. Tackled were public roads and structures which are not related to the JVA, which, if indeed true that everybody is not allowed to pass through and need to be resolved, can be solved by the DILG thru the Panabo City government. Additional issue thrown into the JVA equation is the alleged election manipulation which can be properly addressed by protest in the Comelec of which nobody has done - Alvarez should start going to the Comelec to really press this issue. The work of the congress is to investigate in aid of legislation but apparently, they are now acting as the executive branch, directing the DOJ, bypassing the DILG and directing the PNP. They do as they want, even if ...

The 2nd hearing on the Tadeco-Bucor Joint Venture Agreement last May 30, 2017 was nothing but grandstanding, with no new issues to boot, just the bully Alvarez and bobo Aguirre. Alvarez, in his porma - rocking his chair, forgot that he is part of the legislative body and not the executive. His commands to the DOJ presumed that he is in the executive part of our government. Aguirre, on his part being with the executive department, felt helpless with the commands of a person not his superior because of fear on the issues hounding him which can cost him his post. It is, therefore, a show of their weaknesses. One, assuming to be an executive and the other succumbing to an assuming congressman, all in the guise of righting a wrong. Is it right for a congressman, being a member of the legislative body, to command a member of the executive department? Is it ok for a member of the executive department to just say yes to the whims of somebody in the legislative department? And can the two of th...

The original complaints of Alvarez, as stipulated in House Resolution 867, are that the rent/lease/share or whatever of Dapecol/BuCor is so small that the JVA is disadvantageous to the gov't; a 25 year lease instead of the prevailing 10 years plus an issue on ill-treatment of workers. The DOJ was asked to review and junk the JVA on those grounds. CoA also entered the issue by commenting on it with a recommendation that the agreement be fixed. The Solocitor General also made its unsolicited remarks. Heck, even some journalists who do not know the real score joined the fray with flying bullets. And since the allegations, hence the review, have been proven to be of no truth when all laws and provisions of the constitution are laid out and all financials are in, Alvarez and cohorts are throwing issues after issues to find flaws in the agreement to take down Tadeco but to no avail. They even resorted to bullying and intimidating the resource persons just to point out their flawed argume...

Tadeco Bucor Joint Venture Agreement - Further  Presidential Decree 1585 (a) that when the national interest so requires, the President of the Philippines may review, amend, modify, revise, rescind or revoke any such contract, concession, license, permit lease or similar privilege or any condition or provision therein; (b) that, upon the recommendation of the government agency or instrumentality concerned with the administration of any such contract, concession, license, permit, lease or similar privilege, the President may, pending the conduct of appropriate hearing, summarily suspend and order the cessation of all activities and operations under the contract, concession, license, permit, lease or similar privilege for violation of any condition prescribed in duly issued rules and regulations of the administering government agency or instrumentality. DOJ Secretary Aguirre wants the president to invoke the above PD for the cessation of the Tadeco-Bucor JVA. Well, his...

Congressional Inquiry Was the investigation fair? Was it really in aid of legislation? Alvarez was talking about a business agreement where an entity may be created which will take care of the business when in fact it is a rehabilitation agreement where the common interest is the rehabilitation of inmates. Tadeco, while engaging in the banana business, trains the inmates on the banana plantation in the land provided by BuCor. It is such a unique agreement that is so effective in weeding out corruption (stipends to inmates are directly given to them and not thru any other method which can be corrupted) while effectively restoring the lives of inmates back into law-abiding citizens. Questions such as what's the difference between a partnership and agreement are very lousy, tasteless even. Another lawmaker asking about net income and a line of thinking that any accountant will cringe. Whew! A Secretary of Justice sensing that the case cannot be won by the proponents...

Business or Service http://www.bucor.gov.ph/about.html The link above is the website of the Bureau of Corrections or Bucor. Accordingly, it is mandated by law to accomplish its twin objectives - The Effective Rehabilitation and Safekeeping of National Prisoners. Its functions are to safe keep prisoners convicted by courts three (3) years and one (1) day and above to serve sentence in prison; keep prisoners from committing crimes while in BuCor's custody; provide inmates basic needs as human being; ensure rehabilitation programs are made available to the inmates for their physical, intellectual and spiritual development and develop livelihood programs to assist inmates earn a living and develop their skills while in prison. The legal basis: The BUREAU OF PRISONS was established on November 1, 1905 under the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION through REORGANIZATION ACT ACT 1407 of the PHILIPPINE COMMISSION until it was Transferred to the DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ). ...

An appeal. The pressing issue on the Tadeco-Bucor JVA has brought opposing views on the different laws, proclamations and even on the constitution on the table, an exercise proving the existence of democracy. Calls for the cancellation of the Joint Venture Agreement has been all over the news. Mounting views, looking at the agreement to be within the bounds of the law and mandate of Bucor, are also visible in social media. Those that want the agreement to be void are looking for laws to support their claim. Those that believe in the agreement look for laws to uphold its legality. Each group has their purpose and intent for their beliefs. Meanwhile, workers in Tadeco and inmates of Dapecol are looking at the horizon, staring at the cloud of uncertainty. The issue has brought uneasiness on the peaceful lives of the workers in Tadeco. The effective rehabilitation effort and mandate of Bucor is in jeopardy. We have been thrust into a realm where tomorrow is either gladness or sadness...

Legality of the Tadeco-Bucor Joint Venture Agreement Law: Commonweath Act 141 of 1936. Chapter II. SECTION 8 . Only those lands shall be declared open to disposition or concession which have been officially delimited and classified and, when practicable, surveyed, and which have not been reserved for public or quasi-public uses, nor appropriated by the Government, nor in any manner become private property, nor those on which a private right authorized and recognized by this Act or any other valid law may be claimed, or which, having been reserved or appropriated, have ceased to be so. However, the President may, for reasons of public interest, declare lands of the public domain open to disposition before the same have had their boundaries established or been surveyed, or may, for the same reason, suspend their concession or disposition until they are again declared open to concession or disposition by proclamation duly published or by Act of the National Assembly. Fact: ...

The Tadeco -  Bucor Joint Venture Agreement is not just an ordinary agreement. On the outside, it spoke about the development of the Dapecol area by TADECO to be jointly executed by the parties with respect to their roles. But in the innards of realities, it is a restorative justice agreement, not seen in any other penal farms and prisons. The restorative justice that the government wants to push for the rehabilitation, for good, of the convicted offenders, is exemplified in the joint-venture agreement. The area is not just an ordinary tract of land for tilling. It is an area intended forthe rehabilitaion of convicted persons.  The idea that inmates should be exposed to the community to ready them for eventual freedom is not enough as maybe seen by some personalities. It is the restoration of law and order that separates the system being run by Tadeco and Bucor from other prisons in the country. Inmates are given specific jobs in the plantation with target time of completion a...

Punitive - intended to punish someone; inflicting, involving or aiming at punishment. Restorative - having the ability to make a person feel strong or healthy again; relating to restoration Punitive/Retributive Justice - a theory of justice which holds that the best response to a crime is a proportionate punishment, inflicted for its own sake rather than to serve an extrinsic social purpose, such as deterrence or rehabilitation of the offender. Restorative Justice - a system of criminal justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large. Speaking of justice, there is always a distinction of those who are the victims or close relative of the victims and those who are the concerned citizens. Victims and relatives of victims usually want revenge and retribution to the fullest with no mercy. Concerned citizens merely show their sympathy and support the cause of the victims or relatives. Victims do not forget and most ...

It's been a while since I have written on a weblog (blog). My last piece was in 2010, a far, more than 6 years ago. I have forgotten my passwords of the account. I can only view them. If you are interested, I have reagnav.blogspot.com , reagnav1.blogspot.com and reagnav2.blogspot.com . reagnav.blogspot.com was my main blog. reagnav1.blogspot.com could have been all about horrorscope or twists about what will happen in our daily lives and reagnav2.blogspot.com could have been about manga as I am a frustrated artist. Anyways, I will be maintaining this reagnav3.blogspot.com from now on. I used to have time to ponder and write on anything that comes to mind. But responsibilities increased so it was sidelined and I have forgotten all about it. Until now that there seem to be a threat to the things that I believe. Things that brought me to where I am now. Things that made me think, not just once, twice or three times but about a dozen times. Threat is defined as the possibility ...