LTS Retail Specialists, Inc. has acquired Victoria Plaza

DAVAO CITY
--The LTS Retail Specialists, Inc., owner of the NCCC Malls has just acquired the Victoria Plaza Mall in Davao City.

According to the NCCC spokesperson, they are informing the public that the LTS Retail Specialists, Inc. has acquired Victoria Plaza, the oldest mall in Davao region. The said mall was also the first mall in Davao City and in the entire Mindanao.


NCCC chairman Helen  A. Lim and NCCC Malls President Sharlene Faye A. Lim, the agreement was sealed by the signing ceremony of the two parties on March 12, 2019.

NCCC Malls will formally take over the Victioria Plaza on March 27, 2019.

Philippine Port Authority takes over the underdeveloped Malalag port in Davao del Sur

Port of Malalag, photo: DoTr

DAVAO CITY, Davao
— To further cement Davao’s claim as the third major international gateway in the country, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has taken over management and operations at its Malalag’s port to upgrade the terminal to international standards.

The PPA and the local government of Malalag already formalized the transfer through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by town mayor, Peter Paul T. Valentin and PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago, end of last month.

According to Santiago, the local government unit (LGU) of Malalag in Davao del Sur yielded the operations of the port to the PPA in order to give the terminal the much-needed facelift as it has been underdeveloped since the port was devolved to the LGU in May of 2000.

“With PPA now at the helm, much bigger infrastructure development for the terminal is in the offing to spur economic growth not only in Malalag but play a vital role in the economic boom in the province of Davao del Sur,” Santiago said.

Malalag Port, photo: ctto

“The Mayor already agreed to the proposed development of Malalag port, which will start at the end of this year, with an initial cost of P500 million,” Santiago added.

“The MOA is significant as it coincides with the 50th Founding Anniversary of Davao del Sur, thus, marking a new era for development and progress for the next 50 years,” Santiago explained.

In May of 2000, PPA devolved the management and operations of the port to the local government of Malalag pursuant Administrative Order No. 02-1998. Malalag operated the port even prior to the takeover despite their contract to operate the port expired on July of 2011. However, under the control of the LGU, the physical infrastructure as well as dredging, physical landside infrastructure remained underdeveloped, prompting the need for PPA to come in.

Malalag wharf is located in the municipality of Malalag in the southwest coastline of Malalag Bay, Davao del Sur, at a distance of 25 kms. from Digos and approximately 88 kms. south of Davao City. Cargoes handled at the port include Molasses, Sugar, Steel Products, Vehicle and Heavy Equipment, and General Cargoes.


source: Philippine Port Authority

The First Cab Company in the Philippines to use Cashless Payment

DAVAO CITY, Philippines
—  Starting today (Friday), Davao City will have the most advanced mode of payment for cabs in the Philippine history. The City is now at par with the rest of the world who is using the cashless payment in riding a taxi cab.

The Mabuhay Black Taxi | Photo courtesy: Davao City Mayor  Sara Duterte-Carpio 

Mabuhay Taxi, one of the biggest and oldest taxi fleet operators here in Davao City, teamed up with China Bank, BancNet and Megalink to pioneer cashless payments for taxis in the Philippines, according to Chinabank.ph

The deal, the first of its kind in the country, is a pioneering project to promote card-based transactions which is already popular in the rest of the world. China Bank Davao - Lanang Branch facilitated the deployment of state-of-the art wireless POS terminals of Mabuhay Taxi, one of its long-time valued clients, aided by the Bank’s Cash Management Services Division.

In an agreement signed by the parties last April 12, at least 20 units of Mabuhay Taxi will be installed with wireless point-of-sale (POS) terminals for the initial roll out. Over 200 units will follow.

The taxis won't even charge a minimum. "Even if it is below P100, the transaction will still be processed,” said Joselito Crisostomo, branch head of China Bank Davao-Lanang.
“I hope that more businesses will be inclined to adopt this technology as a payment channel for their goods and services,” added BancNet Executive Vice President and COO Aris Zafra.

Mabuhay Taxi is the first taxicab company in the Philippines to offer this service to its passengers.
And Davao City is the first City in the country who will experience this high tech ways of paying the taxi cab.

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor "Inday"Sarah Duterte-Carpio also announced this on her Facebook Fanpage.