Durian

There are reports that thousands of durian fruits due for export to China have been rejected. Naturally, the durian fruits could not have come from places in the Philippines other than Mindanao, specifically Davao.

But there is also another report saying that durian fruits are expected to be pricier this Kadayawan season because of lesser harvest from farms devoted to durian trees.

Which is which really? Are there excess produce of durian that China is not anymore interested to buy possibly more because of that country’s conflict with the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea? Or, is there an oversupply of durian.

But to be honest we are somewhat perplexed on the supposed China’s shunning the durian coming from the Philippines. Why, because in a neighboring barangay roughly three kilometers away from our farm house a durian processing plant owned by Chinese traders is operating twenty four hours daily.

The same plant also continues to buy durian fruits brought to its facility where these are being processed and thereafter shipped to China. In fact a wholesale buyer of durian fruits came to us bringing with him his open back multi cab,

But when he saw the durian fruit we offered to sell him he backed out. He told us the number does not reach the minimum volume required by the nearby processing plant to be purchased.

In other words the Chinese buyers now prefer the processed durian fruits than having the same processed in China.

Yes, the Chinese businessmen are so astute that they feel it more financially advantageous to them if they will be buying the processed durian fruit than buying the fruits and have these processed in China.

First the Chinese is certain they can get more money if they buy the processed products than the bare fruits. Yes, not only that they can save of the shipment cost, cost of labor in processing, also escape the hassle of disposing the wastes of the durian fruits once the meat is extracted for processing in facilities located in their country.

****************************

So the number of road accidents in Davao City has risen to 31.3 percent during the period January to July this year compared to the figure of road accidents over the same period of last year. And the local traffic authorities attributed the rise mostly to human errors.

Really? So no amount of traffic education program conducted by the city’s traffic managers has succeeded in making drivers learn the value of carefulness and strict adherence to traffic laws in avoiding road accidents?

In view of these alarming number of road mishaps, it is our take that the city’s traffic managers should revisit the existing traffic education scheme to drivers plying the roads of the city. We now see the need to restudy the routes for public utility vehicles, private transportation and cargo trucks and other similar purpose vehicles.

And similarly, the traffic managers of the city must now look into Davao’s residential enclave configuration. Perhaps it is now time to encourage the creation of other routes to the city proper so as not to have vehicles converge in the main thoroughfares like MacArthur Highway and J.P. Laurel Avenue.

Above all, the city’s traffic enforcers must have their men stationed in regular stretches of the most used roads or highways on a regular basis. The scheme must not at any time, be done like the so-called “ningas cogon” because if there is no permanency in posting of traffic enforcers, the likelihood is that any such scheme of making the drivers always on their toes can ever make them comply with their responsibility of helping keep Davao City’s roads safe for both drivers and commuters.

But of course it is a fact that even by adopting such safety measures, still there will always be accidents to happen in the city’s roads.

But if the measures will be adopted and it can help reduce substantially the number of road accidents, – human error-caused or mechanical in nature – then it can help a lot in soaring the city’s reputation as truly a visitor’s destination.

*************************

So, Davao City’s increased annual subsidy for senior citizens will take effect only in 2026?

Yes, in the past year, Davao City gave its senior citizens a measly P1,500.00 subsidy for the whole year. Shortly before the election last May 12, the City Council approved to double the amount making the subsidy P3,000 annually.

Unfortunately, the latest report from the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) from the Davao City Hall says that the amount will still be released in 2026. Meaning, it will be a whole year of waiting. It also effectively denies the seniors the amount they deserve for this year 2025.

Well, during the waiting period for the release of the subsidy next year there is the possibility that many of the entitled senior citizens may already have gone to the great beyond even as new senior citizens will also join the rank.

Apparently, the decision to have the hiked subsidy paid by 2026 yet may be reconsidered if some concerned members of the Sanggunian will push for the inclusion of an amount for the purpose in a possible Supplemental Budget that will be proposed in the local legislative body.

                                                                              -30-