This cultural activist is all smiles as she sings for the Manobo evacuees in a solidarity activity Friday at the evacuation gym in Bankerohan Gym. Some 500 Manobos will finally return to their villages in Loreto, Agusan del Sur after their mayor Dario Otaza signed an agreement to stop military operations and help rehabilitations of their farms. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
Dr. Chito Medina of farmers support network MASIPAG (left) and Atty. Lee Aurelo of Third World Network (center) call for local and national laws to stop genetic-modified crops in the country for its negative effects on health, income and organic crops. They were resource persons in a forum last Thursday at Lispher Inn with City Councilors to discuss the banning of GMOs. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza (in white shirt) finally showed up in a dialogue Thursday at Men Seng Hotel with the Manobo evacuees and concerned groups including Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte (left) to reach an agreement to pullout military and paramilitary troops in their communities so they can return. The Manobos also demanded seedlings from Otaza to make up for the planting season they lost due to their evacuation. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
Firefighters from 911 had difficulty putting out the fire that razed 200 houses for nearly three hours in a crowded and narrow settlement in Sasa Km 11 last Thursday. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
A family scours through burned debris in their home after Thursday's fire that razed 200 houses in a crowded and narrow settlement from Fatima Village, Km 11, Zone 5 Sasa through Purok 1, Muslim Village. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)