Notice to Sue

Just dont reply to my posts or threads. Thankyou. You are rarely constructive. Your opinion doesn't count. It just has nuisance value.

Davao City Running Routes.

Looks like even in Davao people like to go for a jog outdoors. Well, some.

http://www.walkjogrun.net/running-routes/Philippines/Davao Region/Davao City/

And whats this? Ramon Magasay Park. In Davao. Looks like some people like to go out for a walk in Davao too. Amazing! And named after a former president I gather, of particular high esteem evidently. I wonder what his good name has to do with the likes of Duterte's Davao? "His administration was considered one of the cleanest and most corruption-free; his presidency was cited as the Philippines' Golden Years. "

Magsaysay Park, I know it well. But as the video clearly shows, not too many people do much walking there - and I've not seen one jogger there on any of our quite frequent visits. But it is a very pleasant place overlooking the Gulf and Samal Island and there's often a gentle breeze which makes it a bit more bearable.

There's a far bigger - 80 hectare - and better park at Eden to the south-west which is more elevated (3000 feet) and has nature trails through forested land, much of which is Pine. Eden is, in fact, almost completely man-made with terraces carved out of the mountain slopes and over 100,000 Pine trees planted. But it is privately owned but not that expensive a place to spend a very pleasant day.




Feeling adventurous?



But there's a huge difference between recreational walking through Eden or Magsaysay Park and pounding the city streets to and from work or to the shops. Filipinos will do the former - though not in the same numbers as you'd see in Regents Park, say - but you won't find them walking along city streets and certainly not during the heat of the day.

Looks like a jogger BTW.

Ramon Magsaysay Park - you know it well? Been there for a walk have you?

Of course you wont find them in the streets of Manila as there isn't anywhere to walk or jog, safely. That's the whole point.

So what is the connection between Magsaysay and Davao? Why is a park there given to his name?

And now you are telling me that not only crazy people go to Eden for a walk and other outdoor pursuits in the midday sun (mad dogs and Englishman and all that ) but they are so crazy that they pay for the privilege?

Is this the comedy section?

Well spotted! But he's not jogging in Magsaysay Park (which is where I've never seen a jogger), he's at Eden where it's much, much cooler.

Well there is, it's called the Boardwalk but I doubt you'll find (m)any there, other than very early in the morning or after dusk. Very popular with courting couples though.

There is none. Magsaysay was born and raised on Luzon and has no connection with Davao or Mindanao. Past Presidents do get streets named after them - Rizal, Ramos and Quirino are all major roads in Davao, Cebu and very likely Manila too. Magsaysay is luckier: he has both a street and a park named after him. Strangely there is no street named after Ferdinand Marco, however.

No joggers? How about walkers? And you? Were you walking or jogging?

The joggers in Davao have other routes. See my other link. Or maybe its propaganda?

The Peoples Park in Davao. Wot? Out for a walk. They must be mad!

http://www.travellingthephilippines.info/peoples-park-davao/

Wot? Joggers in Davao? Never 'eard of 'em.

And these clowns in Davao (Peoples Park) . Must be mad.....

Well, you will no doubt know that Ramon Magsaysay was / is held in high esteem. A fine gentlemen. An example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society..... and that on the back of that the following was founded, the Ramon Magsaysay Award...

"The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation was created in 1957, the year the Philippines lost in a plane crash a President who was well-loved for his simplicity and humility, his passion for justice, particularly for the poor, and his advancement of human dignity. Among the many friends and admirers of the late President around the world were the Rockefeller brothers. With the concurrence of the Philippine government, the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund(RBF) established the Award to honor his memory and perpetuate his example of integrity in public service and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.

Supported with a generous endowment from the RBF, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) was organized in Manila in May 1957, with seven prominent Filipinos as founding members of the foundation's board of trustees. The Foundation has since implemented the Magsaysay Award program, pursuing the mission of "honoring greatness of spirit in selfless service to the people of Asia". The first Ramon Magsaysay Awards were given on August 31, 1958 to five outstanding individuals working in India, Indonesia, Philippines, Republic of China (Taiwan) and Sri Lanka, and a Philippine-based organization."

http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/

Secretary Paje: Writ of kalikasan on road sharing a welcome challenge for government
Published: February 17, 2014.


"The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) welcomed the petition for the issuance of a writ of kalikasan (nature) on road sharing filed with the Supreme Court by environmental groups as “a golden opportunity to further improve the effective implementation of the Clean Air Act.”

“The petition is a welcomed challenge for the government because if it succeeds, it will surely help boost the ongoing concerted effort to improve the quality of the air we breathe,” Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Ramon J.P. Paje said.

Despite being named as one of the respondents in the petition, Paje said the DENR was even grateful for the petitioners led by award-winning environmentalist lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. for “potentially opening a new chapter in Philippine environmentalism.”

“Rest assured that whatever the outcome of the petition, the DENR will continue to strive to attain the best air quality achievable with the help of all the stakeholders, including the petitioners,” Paje said.

In their petition, clean air advocates asked the high tribunal to issue a writ that would compel the government to set up and implement a road-sharing scheme for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians in a bid to reduce traffic and air pollution from motor vehicles.

The petitioners wanted the government to devote half of all roads to “organized, collective, clean and affordable transportation system,” and the other half for covered sidewalks, all-weather bike lanes and urban gardens.

Paje said that should the high court grant the petition and issue a writ, such will “in no uncertain terms inject new vigor into the DENR’s implementation of policies that bear directly on the people’s right to breathe clean air.”"


http://www.gov.ph/2014/02/17/secret...d-sharing-a-welcome-challenge-for-government/

Indeed, John, Davaoenos are well-served as far as leisure facilities are concerned. There's a pretty demanding (I'm told) golf course in the city proper, albeit it only has 9 holes with two more planned and certainly one of those will be to PGA standard. And, of course, we have our own resort island (Samal).

And yes, you're right, people do jog in Peoples' Park which is more shaded than Magsaysay. BUT, there's a big difference between recreational exercise in park and having to walk the city streets to and from work. People do not want to arrive at their workplace hot and sweaty.

I see you've just re-posted a comment from Brock in which he rather understates the length of time he's lived here. His "several years" is in fact some eleven years and the thrust of his message is, I think, perfectly valid and one with which I agree.

Markham. Have a read of the release from the supreme court. What does it say? Quit the sniping all around the movement and read the content. Then comment. I am sure your comment will be negative, but at least you (hopefully) will have understood what its all about.

Now to put you straight on a point. You have been pretty derogatory, to the point of rudeness, again, about the Filipino people in involved in this movement. You have questioned the motives and the integrity of the protagonists with words like "making a name for themselves" etc etc. The man leading this drive is a Ramon Magsaysay award holder. Have a read of the Ramon Magsaysay Award website. An then decide if your earlier assertions are accurate.

The people involved in the movement are 100% Pinoy and have lived in the Philippines all their lives, along with their fathers and fathers fathers. We aren't talking about expats that have gone over for retirement. We are talking about intelligent indigenous Filipinos.

All power to the Fil Brit Expats. You undoubtedly have a voice to be heard. But I know who I would tend to listen to more readily on such matters.

However, since you raise the 11 years as a standard to go by then I must reiterate, my wifes friends husband spent 14 years in the Philippines.

I think you are referring to the DENR Statement, part of which you have quoted.

John, you seem to think that I am opposed to this attempt to clean-up the country's cities and make the place more pleasant for all. I am not. We are, in fact, both on the same side but I see beyond the rosy picture painted in broad brushstrokes in press releases to the practical aspects of implementation. I was a PR man for some fifteen years representing corporate and individual clients, I know the tricks of the trade. I do, however, question one of the 'demands' made by this group and that is the provision of "edible gardens" which I suggest is a little over the top but if all the country's cities were to be as clean as Davao, they would be far more pleasant places to live.

And it is the cleanness of Davao that was a principal persuader to my wife and myself for moving here from Cebu at the end of 2010. The city has byelaws that go further than the provisions of the Clean Air Act: for example, smoking is prohibited in all public-access buildings and within 50 metres of their entrances. That includes all shops, bars, restaurants, malls, offices and, since mid-2o12, all public parks (you are actually frisked at the entrance and not permitted to take cigarettes and either a lighter or matches into a park). I've been a smoker all my adult life but I have absolutely no problem with that and, indeed, support it. The burning of trash, including garden refuse, is also prohibited here and if detected there's an automatic 5,000 Peso fine for the first offence.

So let's stop all the sniping and point-scoring which achieve nothing and discuss this in a calm and sensible manner.

Exactly. Its only taken 76 posts to get there though.

Press Release from Senator Legarda...

"Senator Loren Legarda today expressed her support to the cause of the Share the Road Movement towards safer and cleaner roads through the promotion of non-motorized transportation.

"As I convey my support to this campaign, I congratulate Atty. Tony Oposa and the Share the Road Movement for championing environmental causes as well as the right of Filipinos for a healthier society," said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Environment and Natural Resources, and Climate Change.

"Among the advocacies I have been promoting is the shift to a low-carbon lifestyle and rethinking our mode of transportation is one of the crucial steps towards this initiative," she added."




http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2014/0217_legarda1.asp

Given the above, then what is the solution in Manila? Can't build more roads as you say, cant afford a subway or tube system as it would need to be quake proof and built to accomodate subsidence and flooding and outside of budget. Getting private cars off the road in Manila is a solution and possible within a restrictive budget. If left as things are then projections have it that traffic levels and pollution will continue to increase and some of the politicians too are recognising this and are concerned by it.