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The Untold Story

<br>The Davao Food Exchange in Daliao, Davao City <br>

basmayor
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The Untold Story

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  1. Davao Food Exchange Complex The Untold Story The Untold Story Bernardo F. Basmayor

  2. The Bible says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. In our modern daily lives, we were taught to begin reading with A, B, C and we begin counting from 1, 2, and 3. As you knew, the Davao Fish Port Complex and the Davao Food Exchange Complex with Agri-Tourism Project in Daliao, Davao City don’t just exist automatically without any beginning and this paper reveals how it all begun. It all began when Bernardo F. Basmayor was invited to participate at the National Conference on Fisheries Policy and Planning on March 16 to 20, 1987, held at the Baguio Country Club, Baguio City. The event was participated in by representatives from different sectors and sub-sectors of the Department of Agriculture as well as from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Being a National Conference on Fisheries Policy and Planning, it was also participated in by the officers of the Department of Agriculture as well as from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and representatives of international organizations like the UNDP, FAO etc. As representative for the fishery sector of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Region XI (RAFC XI), Bernardo F. Basmayor, did not just register his attendance and sit but he also submitted 2 proposals, as follows: 1. Creation of Fishery Development Council; and 2. Developing Marine Fishery Resources In Region XI Included in the proposal for “Developing Marine Fishery Resources In Region XI” was the establishment of the Daliao Fishing Port which was one of the components of the Fishing Community Development Program of Daliao, Davao City hatched by 4 small fishermen’s association, namely: Daliao Fishermen’s Association, Inc. (DALFISHA); Lizada Fishermen’s Association, Inc. (LIZFISHA); Sirawan Deep-Sea Fishing Association, Inc. (SDSFA); and United Fishermen of Daliao, Inc. (UNIFISH). With the funding support from the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan, the Daliao Fishing Port was established, at a cost of P359,192,594.59, in 1993 and was completed in 1995, and it successfully gave livelihood to many people in the locality as well as providing business opportunities to many local and foreign businessmen (in another paper it is discussed why it was funded by OECF and not by the European Union). The port got full, with vessels berthing outside waiting for their turn to land. However, after 3 years, landing started to become scarce because vessels need fast unloading of catch so they could go back to the high seas, to continue catching fish, which they could not do in Daliao Fishing Port because the port was congested and they have to wait for 3 to 5 days before they could unload their fish catch. Most of them went to Palau and General Santos to unload their catch and only a few left. Hence, the proposal for the expansion came in to the mind of Bernardo F. Basmayor. The National Conference on Fisheries Policy and Planning widens the developmental horizon of Bernardo F. Basmayor as he started to become more aware of the needs and resources for development and identified that in Daliao, Davao City there’s a vast 25-hectare property lying idle and seemed to be neglected by the unmindful people in government for more than 30 years at that time or more than 60 years now. Imagine the economic opportunities that were lost. This awareness created an undying desire of Bernardo F. Basmayor to propose to utilize the unutilized 25-hectare NDC property in Daliao and he has committed not to rest until he gets it done, and this clearly paved the way for the Davao Food Exchange Complex in Daliao, Davao City, as revealed in the documents presented in this paper. This paper also shows you how Bernardo F. Basmayor saved the 25-hectare NDC property from being reportedly sold to a group of people, under the peace process and apparently declared as Peace Zone, as you might have seen some signages in the area, stating: “This area is a Peace Zone area.”

  3. Bernardo F. Basmayor felt wonderful when he was invited to participate in the National Conference on Fisheries Policy and Planning because he felt he was not qualified because he was only then a small fisherman in Daliao living in a hand-to-mouth existence. This negative feeling is normal to everybody but his positive outlook changed it and he used poverty to strive and thrive. He was invited to the conference, with the insistence of Mr. Dennis B. Araullo, then Director of the Department of Agriculture of Region XI, because he was elected by a group of more than 100 fishermen’s associations in Region XI as the sectoral representative for small fishermen in Region XI to represent them at the Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council of Region XI (RAFC XI). Before he was elected as representative to the RAFC XI he was first elected by a group of fishermen’s associations in Davao City as their sectoral representative for small fishermen at the Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Council of Davao City (MAFC). He was also a member of the PARCOMM. His ideas and dedication put him in that positions because he was one of those fishermen’s association presidents who created the proposal for the “Fishing Community Development Project of Daliao, Davao City, where they proposed for the acquisition of fishing vessels, fishing port and cold storage, and other fishery- related industries. The proposal for the Fishing Community Development Project of Daliao, Davao City was hatched by 4 small fishermen’s association, namely: Daliao Fishermen’s Association, Inc. (DALFISHA); Lizada Fishermen’s Association, Inc. (LIZFISHA); Sirawan Deep-Sea Fishing Association, Inc. (SDSFA); and United Fishermen of Daliao, Inc. (UNIFISH). DALFISHA was the pioneer among the 4 associations as it already had received assistance from the government under the “Tulong Sa Tao” program of the Ministry of Human Settlement. DALFISHA was one of the successful projects of the program. The fishermen leaders in Davao City as well as in the entire Region XI were happy with him because he assured to serve them and he gave his commitment to replicate the Fishing Community Development Project all over Region XI.

  4. The table of contents included the list of documents submitted during the conference and two of which were the proposals of Bernardo F. Basmayor for “Developing Marine Fishery Resources in Region XI” and the “Creation of Fishery Development Council”. Bernardo F. Basmayor was dwarfed by the participants who were big wigs in fishery industries and officers of different government agencies and non-government organizations both national and international.

  5. During this conference, Mr. Dennis B. Araullo, then Director of the Department of Agriculture of Region XI, and Bernardo F. Basmayor, sectoral representative for the small fishermen in Region XI, met with the representatives of the international funding agencies to seek financial assistance for the implementation of the Fishing Community Development Project in Daliao, Davao City. They got support from the FAO representative, Dr. Ulrich Grieb, and Mr. Turhan K. Mangun, the UNDP resident representative.

  6. Bernardo F. Basmayor was also invited by the Department of Agriculture to participate in the National Planning Workshop held on September 17 to 19, 1987, at the Philippine International Conference Center (PICC) in Pasay City. In that conference, he was again with Mr. Dennis B. Araullo, then Director of the Department of Agriculture XI, where they had both the opportunity to discuss the proposal for the establishment of the Daliao Fishing Port with the representative of the European Economic Commission, Dr. Bernard Buch, who eventually visited Daliao, Davao City to conduct interviews with the local residents to determine whether or not there is a need for the establishment of the fish port in the area.

  7. Anybody can become successful in creating new things if he/she is using his/her time and energy wisely and incessantly. As motivational speaker Ross Perot says, “Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown.” Don’t take no for an answer. If you believe in yourself keep going towards your goal. Know that once you complete it you will have the satisfaction of succeeding when others doubted you or told you it was impossible. The Davao Food Exchange Complex project didn’t just appear like a magic but it is the real product of perseverance and dedication from the proponent who did not rest in finding ways and making moves to reach the goal despite seeming rejections. The Davao Food Exchange Complex is the product of focus and perseverance that transcend through the years and not as claimed by some powerful politicians. It is the real display of good intention and dedication to contribute to make our space become a better place to live and to honor and glorify God’s creation.

  8. Bernardo F. Basmayor was authorized by the Sangguniang Barangay through Barangay Resolution No. 22, series of 2017 to represent the Punong Barangay of Daliao in terms of acquiring and/or exploring the concerned government agencies regarding how the Sangguniang Barangay can help promote in the development of the NDC Daratex property in Barangay Daliao, Toril, Davao City.

  9. Because of his desire to really implement the expansion of the Davao Fish Port Complex and the optimal utilization of the of the dormant NDC property, Bernardo Basmayor personally handover his letter to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources office at Dilliman, Quezon City. The authority given to Bernardo F. Basmayor under Resolution 22, series of 2017 gave more weight to his efforts and communications. It was one of the legal personalities he used in transacting with the government agencies. Other legal personalities he used are revealed in this paper. Commodore Eduardo B. Gongona PCG (Ret), the Undersecretary for Fisheries, DA/Director BFAR sent him the copy of the 1stIndorsement, dated March 24, 2017, forwarding the proposal for the expansion of Davao Fish Port Complex and the optimal utilization of the NDC property as fish processing and cold storage facility to Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan, General Manager of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority.

  10. In response to Commodore Eduardo B. Gongona’s indrorsement, Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan, the General Manager of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, sent Bernardo F. Basmayor a letter informing him that PFDA has already plans for the improvement of Davao Fish Port Complex to accommodate more fishing vessels and to provide areas for fish processing, fishery-related businesses and other establishment.

  11. Feeling that telling the branches without telling the head is not enough Bernardo F. Basmayor sent a letter to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte proposing for the Expansion of the Davao Fish Port Complex and the optimal utilization of the NDC Property as Fish Processing and Cold Storage Facility using the company letterhead of Bottomline Interactive Multimedia Speech Laboratory and Educational Technology – the company owned by Bernardo F. Basmayor to do business for the installation of speech laboratories at schools, not only in the Philippines, but also overseas. This is the another legal personality used by Bernardo F. Basmayor.

  12. There was a news that the NDC compound was sold to a certain group as a result of the alleged peace process and allegedly to be declared as a Peace Zone. Bernardo F. Basmayor sent communications to the Senate of the Philippines informing 3 senators of the disadvantages it may serve the government if the alleged sale is true and consummated. The copies of the letters are included in this paper.

  13. The cold storage and the fish processing facility is estimated to employ more than 3,000 who may be working in shifts. The universal market that the project envisioned could give business opportunities to more than 100 small business people.

  14. Imagine if the direct 3,000 workers is paid a minimum of Php350.00 daily, each of them could have an income of Php9,100.00, working only for 26 days per month. The project could provide Php27,300,000.00 per month. If 60% of these income would be spent for food, Php16,380,000.00 per month will be circulating in Daliao, Davao City. Imagine more than 3,000 workers have Php16,380,000.00 per month to be spent for food and other commodities and it will be spent just within Daliao, Davao City.

  15. Nobody could think any development for the optimal utilization of the dormant NDC property better than this Project because it centers its emphasis on low income resident of Daliao, Davao City, while also attracting big investors for the establishment of the fish processing and cold storage facilities and also attracting more foreign Vessels to use the expanded Davao fish Port Complex.

  16. In response to the letter to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Michael P. Ong, the Acting Deputy Executive Secretary referred the letter to Ms. Ma. Lourdes F. Rebueno, the General Manager of the National Development Company (NDC) for appropriate action. The term “appropriate action” keeps the paper always active.

  17. This is the letter sent by AGM LILIA L. ARCE, the Officer In-Charge of the National Development Company (NDC) In reference to the letter sent to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, dated March 27, 2017.that contained the

  18. How It Really All Started? Why did the Barangay Council of Daliao passed Resolution No. 22, series of 2017?

  19. This letter to the Punong Barangay of Daliao, dated February 10, 2017, prompted the Sangguniang Barangay of Daliao to pass and approve Resolution No. 22, series of 2017, dated March 5, 2017, authorizing Bernardo F. Basmayor to represent the Punong Barangay in acquiring and/or exploring with concerned government agencies to help promote the development of the NDC property, located in Daliao, Davao City.

  20. In dealing with government agencies, you will be entertained more if you are carrying with you an image of authority. As we all knew, government agencies deal more sincerely with people with authority and legal personality and Bernardo F. Basmayor presented himself as the Chair of Daliao Aquamarine Research and Extension Center (DARE CENTER) in transacting with any government agencies. This was the first legal personality used by Bernardo F. Basmayor in transacting with the government agencies.

  21. As Chair of DARE CENTER, Bernardo F. Basmayor requested the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Davao to allow DARE CENTER to submit the proposal for the expansion of the Daliao (Davao) Fishing Port complex and for the utilization of the non-productive and non-performing NDC compound as Fish Processing or Fish Canning Plant To augment post harvest handling.

  22. Because the City Government of Davao seemed to be deaf on the request to submit the proposal, Bernardo F. Basmayor elevated the request to the Office of the President, copy furnished the City Government of Davao, using DARE CENTER in transmitting the General assembly Resolution No. 7, series of 2004, of Toril Christian-Muslim Market Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative for the expansion of the Davao Fishing Port and the utilization of the unutilized NDC Compound in Daliao, Davao City, as Fish Processing Plant.

  23. Here’s the copy of the excerpt from the minutes of the General Assembly meeting held at the Senior Citizens’ building, Toril, Davao City, on September 25, 2004

  24. VICINITY MAP OF THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE DAVAO FISH POSRT AND THE UTILIZATION OF THE UNUTILIZED NDC COMPOUND AS FISH PROCESSING PLANT PROJECT

  25. If you received a letter from the national government, you will surely feel great and wonderful. Robert Castañares, the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development of the Department of Transportation and Communications sent Bernardo F. Basmayor acknowledgment receipt of his letter, dated November 8, 2004 and Informing him that his request was referred to the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) for possible funding.

  26. Mr. Robert R. Castañares sent the 1stIndorsement to Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia, the General Manager of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority the letter of Bernardo F. Basmayor relative to the request for financial assistance for the expansion of the Davao Fishing Port Complex and the utilization of the unutilized NDC compound as Fish Processing Plant, copy furnished the Office of the City Mayor.

  27. If you heard that the ink is mightier than the sword, better believe it because the letter from a simple man created not only ripples but waves as you can see in the letter from the Office of the President to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Hon. Domingo F. Panganiban, endorsing for appropriate action the proposed expansion of Davao Fish Port Complex.

  28. Mr. Waldo Q. Flores, the Senior Deputy Executive Secretary of the Office of the President sent the letter of Bernardo F. Basmayor to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications, Hon. Leandro R. Mendoza, endorsing for appropriate action the proposed expansion of Davao Fish Port Complex Transshipment and Fishery Post Harvest Facilities, in Fish Port Avenue, Daliao, Toril, Davao City,

  29. On December 12, 2005, Mr. Ricardo O. Romero, the Chief of Staff of the Undersecretary For Maritime Concern, of the Department of Transportation and Communications referred the letter of Bernardo F. Basmayor to Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia, the General Manager of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, endorsing for appropriate action the request for the expansion of Davao Fish Port Complex and the utilization of the NDC compound in Daliao, Toril, Davao City.

  30. On February 3, 2005, Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia, the General Manager of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, Wrote Bernardo f. Basmayor a letter infrming him that it is difficult to source out funds for the proposed expansion of the Chief of Staff of the Undersecretary For Maritime Concern, of the Davao Fish Port Complex. In that letter, Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia expressed that they consider the proposal of Bernardo F. Basmayor to use the idle NDC compound in their proposed expansion plan.

  31. Bernardo F. Basmayor used the Toril Christian-Muslim Market Vendors Cooperative as another legal personality in writing a letter to Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia, who expressed difficulty to source fund for the expansion of Davao Fish Port Complex and his words expressing difficulty to source fund could discourage anybody, but not Bernardo F. Basmayor, as he wrote a letter-reply to Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia respectfully suggesting, instead, two things: • A request shall be given to the Department of Agriculture that the expansion plan shall be included in the Mindanao Rural Development Plan (because MRDP has enormous fund) • To accept their effort or to please allow them in helping PFDA in sourcing out funds, in their humble capacity, as the proponent (Bernardo F. Basmayor has the experience in presenting proposal to the European Economic Community for funding the establishment of the fish port during the National Conference on Fisheries Policy and Planning in Baguio city, last March 16 to 20, 1987, together with Mr. Dennis B. Araullo, the then Director of the Department of Agriculture in Region XI).

  32. To give support of his plan, Bernardo F. Basmayor wrote to Mr. Robert Castañares, the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development of the Department of Transportation and Communications, informing him that he is now working hand in hand with Mr. Mario Malinao, the Port Manager of Davao Fish Port Complex, in the preparation of the feasibility study and the packaging of the fishing port expansion. He also informed Mr. Robert Castañares that they were planning to submit the proposal to the Mindanao Rural Development Program, but he suggested that Mr. Robert Castañares will inform him if the national government has available program that could accommodate the project.

  33. Time passed by and on December 13, 2006 Bernardo F. Basmayor received his copy from Lynn Danao-Moreno, the Executive Secretary of the Office of the President of the Philippines, writing Ms. Ofelia V. Bulaong, the General Manager of the National Development Company (NDC) respectfully referring his letter to the President requesting for, among others, the utilization of the NDC compound in Daliao, Toril, Davao City.

  34. Another letter, dated December 13, 2006 that Bernardo F. Basmayor received was his copy of the letter from Lynn Danao-Moreno, the Executive Secretary of the Office of the President of the Philippines, sent to Hon. Malcolm I. Sarmiento, the Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) respectfully referring his letter to the President requesting for, among others, the utilization of the NDC compound in Daliao, Toril, Davao City.

  35. At this stage, Bernardo F. Basmayor was invited by Mr. Mario Malinao to meet with the staff of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, who were conducting an ocular visit to the Davao Fish Port Complex asking him about the planned expansion. The staff also visited the NDC compound in Daliao, Davao City and conducted site interviews to local residents to determine the viability of the proposed utilization of the NDC property as Fish Processing and Cold Storage Facility to augment post harvest handling of fish. During the interviews, the staff learned that the NDC property was sold or about to be sold to a private group, supposedly under the peace process, and shall be declared as a Peace Zone. Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia, sent Bernardo F. Basmayor after his staff visited Davao Fish Port Complex and inspected the NDC property (to determine the viability of the site for Fish Processing Plant), informing him about what transpired. Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia informed him further that the preliminary survey to determine the need to improve or expand the facilities of the Davao Fish Port Complex was conducted by their Planning Staff simultaneously with the Impact Evaluation Study and Midterm Evaluation study of Davao Fish port Complex last May 2006 in Davao City. Mr. Petronilo B. Buendia informed Bernardo F. Basmayor that based on the results of the survey, there were indications of demand for the expansion and improvement of some of the Davao fish Port Complex’s facilities sand services. Furthermore, Mr. Buendia informed Bernardo F. Basmayor in his letter that PFDA will conduct a detailed feasibility study to determine the type and magnitude of the facilities and structures to be improved/expanded, whether there is a need to tap/utilize the NDC compound for the proposed expansion plans for Davao fish Port Complex. Mr. Buendia also informed Bernardo F. Basmayor that PFDA staff had a meeting with Ms. Lilia L. Arce, the Assistant General Manager of the Asset Management Group of NDC, who told them that the 25-hectare NDC compound is still OPEN FOR SALE by any group and the City Government of Davao, the DTI Region 11 and other government agencies are interested to develop the said area into an Agri-based Food Terminal Complex. He said sale of the NDC complex to the private sector did not push through due to the City Council opposition of the said deal. (Mr. Buendia did not know that Bernardo F. Basmayor went personally to the Senate and handover to 3 Senators his letters about the alleged sale of the NDC property, as presented below in this paper).

  36. Mr. Buendia said the sale of the NDC complex to the private sector did not push through due to the City Council’s opposition of the said deal. (Mr. Buendia did not know that Bernardo F. Basmayor went personally to the Senate and handover to 3 Senators his letters about the alleged sale of the NDC property, as presented below in this paper).

  37. There was a news that the NDC compound was sold to a certain group as a result of the alleged peace process and allegedly to be declared as a Peace Zone. Bernardo F. Basmayor sent communications to the Senate of the Philippines informing 3 senators of the disadvantages it may serve the government if the alleged sale is true and consummated. Bernardo F. Basmayor submitted personally to the Office of Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., the Senate President, dated July 4, 2006 and was received by Myrna at 1:00 a.m. of July 4, 2006.

  38. Bernardo F. Basmayor submitted personally to the Office of Senator Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., the Senate Chair for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, dated July 4, 2006 and was received by Aileen on July 4, 2006.

  39. Bernardo F. Basmayor submitted personally to the Office of Senator Joker Arroyo, the Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, dated July 4, 2006 and was received on the same date of July 4, 2006.

  40. Because good intentions need to be known. When Hon. Prospero Nograles became Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Board of Directors of Toril Christian-Muslim Market Vendors Multipurpose Cooperative passed Resolution No. 1, series of 2008, in a meeting, held at its office at Saavedra Street, Toril, Davao City on March 1, 2008, reiterating the Cooperative’s request to President Gloria Macapagal-arroyo, through Honorable Speaker Prospero Nograles, for the expansion of Davao Fish Port Complex and the utilization of the unutilized NDC compound, in Daliao, Davao City, as fish processing plant.

  41. Resolution No. 1, series of 2008 was passed by the Board of Directors of Toril Christian-Muslim Market Vendors Multipurpose cooperative, help at its office at Saavedra Street, Toril, Davao City on March 1, 2008, reiterating the Cooperative’s request to President Gloria Macapagal-arroyo, through Honorable Speaker Prospero Nograles, for the expansion of Davao Fish Port Complex and the utilization of the unutilized NDC compound, in Daliao, Davao City, as fish processing plant.

  42. The utilization of the 25-hectare NDC property is now beginning to materialized, following the proposal of Bernardo F. Basmayor and of course with little modifications and deviations. In the Davao Food Exchange Complex, only 19.9 hectares will be utilized because the 5 hectares were allocated to The Davao Food Terminal Complex, (which seems to be a white elephant because it is not operational since it was established years ago and opened only reportedly on May 28, 2019. As you can see, the following are included in the Davao Food Exchange Complex: a. Food Processing is included in place of the proposed Fish Processing Plant. b. Cold Storage is also included as proposed. c. Commercial Center is included in place of the stalls as proposed originally. d. Added are the provision of the Tourism Center; Water Bottling; Technology/Business Incubation Center and Agri-Aqua (Extracts from the original proposal presented above which was submitted to two presidents: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.)

  43. As the appointed representative of the Punong Barangay of Daliao as mandated under Resolution 22, series of 2017, and because Bernardo F. Basmayor observed that the Davao Food Terminal Complex remains non- operational despite its opening reportedly last May 28, 2019, he wrote the Punong Barangay of Daliao informing him about the things that he found when he conducted inquiry at the City Agriculturist Office of Davao why the stalls had not been occupied and how the bidding of the stalls were conducted.

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