Davao biz community remembers Duerme

Lawyer Domingo “Domeng” Duerme, past president and chairman of the board of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated (DCCCII), retired as Philippine Airline Vice President for Mindanao, and Planters Products, Inc. president, succumbed to liver cancer yesterday, February 18.

He was 71.

Duerme was president of DCCCII in 2007 and served the chamber as its officer for 10 years.

In a Facebook post of Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, Duerme worked as a cargo boy in the Cotabato airport while he studied at night. He became a lawyer and rose to become PAL branch manager and later PAL vice president for Mindanao.

Duerme is a distant cousin of Piñol’s father. Duerme’s life was celebrated by many whose lives he had touched, among them is Rowena Adlaon of the Durian Industry Association of Davao. Based on her comment on Piñol’s post on Duerme’s passing, Adlaon stated: “Knew him Sec when he’s a VP in PAL. His approval on the request of the Durian Industry Association of Davao for granting a discounted airfreight rate for the shipment of durian and other fruits during the conduct of the durian festival in Manila was of big help for the durian farmers. My condolences to his family.”

Mary Anne Abundo, former DCCCII Executive Director, said “He brings charisma to the office in such a way that no matter how difficult the situation is he can always move people to find a solution.”

Former DCCCII Executive Director Maan Doromal said it was a pleasant experience to work with Duerme. Though Doromal was not the executive director of DCCCII during Duerme’s time, she worked with Duerme at the chamber’s committee on elections during the 2015 election of the chamber. Duerme sat as the chair of the committee during that time. She said Duerme was a professional at work and stayed focus on the task at hand.

For Arturo M. Millan, current DCCCII president, in a text message said that Atty. Duerme helped promote investments in Davao despite the bombings in the region, promoted tourism in Mindanao and pushed through the Davao Agri Trade Expo event when it’s challenging to gather sponsors and exhibitors due to the global financial crisis. He was still very active supporting the activities of the Davao Chamber.