Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Anti-epal ordinance takes effect in Butuan City

By Mariesh F. Celedeña

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The city government of Butuan has taken a significant step toward strengthening transparency, accountability, and ethical governance with the implementation of its Anti-Epal Ordinance, a measure that prohibits public officials from using their names, photographs, logos, slogans, initials, and other personal identifiers on government-funded projects, programs, and services.

The ordinance took effect on June 21, aiming to ensure that government resources are used solely for public service and not for personal or political promotion, reinforcing the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust. This fosters a responsibility anchored in integrity, accountability, and service beyond personal or political interests.

The ordinance applies to all city-funded, barangay-funded, national government-funded, and government agency-funded projects implemented within Butuan City.

Butuan City Councilor Marlon R. Labis emphasized that projects, programs, and services financed through taxpayers’ money belong to the Filipino people, saying, “The people government projects, programs, and services, therefore, credit belongs to them, not to individual officials.”

Labis further stressed that government officials are entrusted with delivering services based on integrity, accountability, and responsibility rather than seeking personal recognition.

Under the ordinance, government-funded infrastructure, equipment, programs, relief goods, and other publicly funded initiatives may no longer display the names, images, political slogans, logos, initials, or other identifying marks of elected or appointed public officials. The measure also provides penalties for violations to ensure compliance.

Institutionalizing a culture of people-centered governance by shifting public attention away from personalities and toward the programs and services that benefit communities.

Beyond Butuan City, the ordinance reflects the broader national call for good governance and responsible stewardship of public funds. By discouraging the use of taxpayer-funded projects for political branding, the measure supports efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust in government institutions.

With the Anti-Epal Ordinance now in effect, the city government of Butuan underscores that the true measure of public service lies not in personal recognition, but in meaningful programs and lasting benefits that are felt and delivered to the people. (MFC, PIA Caraga with a report from the Office of Councilor Marlon Labis)

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Tandag strengthens disaster resilience through whole-of-government action

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — Reinforcing the national call for a safer and more resilient Philippines, the city government of Tandag launched its observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month, highlighting the importance of proactive governance, community preparedness, and collective action in building disaster-resilient communities under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Held on July 6, with the theme “Naghahanda at Kumikilos Para sa Panatag na Bagong Pilipinas,” the opening program at the Parkshed of the Tandag City Hall compound in Barangay Awasian brought together members of the Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Tandag City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) members chaired by Mayor Roxanne Pimentel, city and barangay officials, government employees, national government agencies, and development partners in a collective call to strengthen disaster resilience.

The observance highlighted the importance of whole-of-government and whole-of-society collaboration in reducing disaster risks amid the increasing threats posed by climate change and natural hazards.

CDRRM Officer Reveen John Geli presented the city’s major disaster risk reduction and management accomplishments during the first half of 2026, underscoring Tandag’s sustained investments in building resilient communities.

Key accomplishments include a citywide earthquake and tsunami drill, a four-day CDRRM updating and planning workshop, community-based preparedness activities, capacity-building initiatives, and other resilience-building programs.

“Our accomplishments show that disaster resilience is not built overnight. It is achieved through continuous planning, collaboration, and community participation,” Geli said.

Following the opening ceremony, the CDRRMC convened its third-quarter full council meeting, presided over by Vice Mayor Eleanor Momo on behalf of Mayor Roxanne Pimentel, where members approved strategic measures to strengthen the city’s disaster preparedness and emergency response systems.

Among the significant actions taken by the council was the approval of humanitarian assistance for families affected by the recent earthquake in Sarangani Province, reflecting Tandag City’s commitment to solidarity and humanitarian action beyond its jurisdiction.

The council likewise approved the Tandag City El Niño Action Plan, which outlines preparedness and response strategies to mitigate the effects of prolonged dry conditions on agriculture, water resources, health, and other critical sectors.

To further institutionalize participatory governance, the council also received an orientation on the Philippine Open Government Partnership (OGP) Localization Program, emphasizing transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and responsive governance in local disaster risk reduction planning.

The activity reaffirmed that disaster resilience extends beyond emergency response. It requires sound policies, evidence-based planning, sustained investments, and active citizen participation to reduce vulnerabilities and protect lives.

As disasters continue to become more frequent and complex, Tandag City’s initiatives demonstrate how local governments can translate national priorities into concrete community actions, advancing the vision of a safer, more resilient, and Panatag na Bagong Pilipinas through effective local governance. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

DSWD trains WGP Dinagat Islands beneficiaries on 3K session

By Renelle L. Escuadro

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Walang Gutom Program (WGP) goes beyond providing monthly food support to the family beneficiaries in Dinagat Islands as it recently conducted the program’s 3K (kalusugan, kakayahan, at kabuhayan) session in the province.

The Walang Gutom Program’s 3K session, facilitated by the community engagement coordinators, provided beneficiaries a chance to gain practical knowledge and skills in meal planning, informed food purchasing, and effective household budgeting to help improve food consumption and nutrition outcomes in their families.

DSWD Caraga said the 3K session is a regular convergence where program beneficiaries are taught proper food handling, safe food preparation, and healthy cooking practices to help ensure safe and nutritious meals for their households, especially the children.

It added that the beneficiary family is also required to attend at least one session per month to promote continuous learning and responsible household food management.

Meanwhile, the DSWD’s WGP is the agency’s flagship initiative to reduce involuntary hunger among food-poor households by providing food assistance alongside nutrition education and capacity-building activities, enabling families to become healthier, more food-secure, and resilient.

It also reflects the continuing commitment to uplift Filipino households by improving access to food and easing the burden of hunger in communities, fulfilling President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mandate to make sure there will be enough nutritious food in every Filipino household.

The program provides each family beneficiary with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card loaded with P3,000 in monthly food credits. Through food redemption, the family may use the EBT card to buy food from DSWD-accredited partner retailers and merchants. The beneficiary’s purchase will follow the recommended food basket budget: 50 percent carbohydrates such as rice and sweet potato;  30 percent protein foods; and 20 percent fiber, including fruits and vegetables. 

Tatay Danilo, a resident of Tubajon town in Dinagat Islands, is one of the beneficiaries of the program during the June 22 food redemption activity. 

Using his EBT food credits, he bought a sack of rice, vegetables, and other food items and brought them home to his family. 

“Bilang isang magsasaka, malaking tulong para sa akin ang buwanang food redemption dahil nakadaragdag ito sa pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan ng aking pamilya” (As farmer, the monthly food redemption is an additional help to address the needs of my family), he said. 

“Bihira ang ganitong uri ng suporta kaya labis ang kanyang pasasalamat sa programa (This kind of support is seldom, which is why I am thankful to the program),” he added. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with reports from DSWD Caraga and DSWD Walang Gutom Program)

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

NCIP trains Mamanwa IPs of Surigao Norte on financials, bookkeeping

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — As part of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-Surigao del Norte’s implementation of the Integrated Area Development Approach in Implementing Culturally-Relevant Economic Program (IADDA- CREP), a training on financial literacy and simple bookkeeping was recently conducted for members of the Mamanwa IP community in Barangay Magtangale, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte. As part of the program’s second component on social enterprise development, the training is expected to strengthen the financial management and entrepreneurial capacities of indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) as they pursue sustainable livelihood development.

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Surigao Branch Manager Jesily A. Rejuso and Daphne Corraine V. Ramos shared practical knowledge on financial literacy, savings, budgeting, and responsible financial management.

Jessa Mae I. Bando, community officer-in-charge of the NCIP Malimono Community Service Center, also presented updates on the implementation of the IADDA-CREP. 

She highlighted the progress of the program’s first component on Agrotechnology Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP)-dased development which focuses on strengthening sustainable agricultural production while preserving and promoting the traditional knowledge and practices of the Mamanwa community.

Meanwhile, Engineer Macoran V. Jacob, San Francisco municipal agriculturist, presented the technical designs for the goat and duck barns to be constructed under the program’s first component. 

The presentation guided the IPs who will serve as carpenters for the construction of the goat and duck barns, ensuring the structures will be built in accordance with the approved plans and technical specifications.

Through this initiative, NCIP-Surigao del Norte continues to empower IPs by enhancing their financial literacy, enterprise management skills, and agricultural capacities. 

On behalf of the Mamanwa IP community, Datu Rhanie said, “I want to express our deepest gratitude to the NCIP in Surigao del Norte for bringing this vital training on financial literacy and bookkeeping directly to our community. This training has given us the practical skills we need to manage our funds wisely and keep accurate records of our hard work. It ensures that our livelihood projects remain sustainable for the generations to come.”

This effort of the agency reflects the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to promoting sustainable, culturally responsive, and community-driven development that strengthens the economic resilience and overall well-being of the Mamanwa IP community in Barangay Magtangale.

The Integrated Area Development Approach in Implementing Culturally- Relevant Economic Program is a flagship initiative of NCIP strategically designed to empower  IICCs/IPs by helping them harness, protect, and manage their ancestral domains. The initiative focuses on specific, actionable goals within ancestral domains, such as economic development, capacity building, and localized implementation. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from NCIP-SDN)

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

DOLE helps vulnerable families keep children away from labor

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

HINATUAN, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — Like many mothers, Girlie T. Vallescas dreamt of seeing her son graduate from school and build a better future. But for years, poverty forced her family to make difficult choices.

Her son, Eloy, one of the 100 profiled child laborers in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, would accompany his father on fishing trips whenever there were no classes to help the family earn a living.

“As a mother, I am determined that none of my children will become child laborers,” Girlie shared in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Surigao del Sur during the national launching of the Laya at Laro: Information and Service Caravan on Child Labor Prevention and Elimination in Hinatuan, the host town.

She recalled that Eloy’s participation in fishing was driven not by choice, but by the family’s financial hardship.

“Si Eloy mouban og panagat sa iyang papa sa panahon nga walay eskwela tungod sa kawad-on” (Eloy joins his father’s fishing trips whenever there are no classes because of poverty), she said.

Today, however, Girlie sees a brighter future for her children through the support of the national government.

She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the national government, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), under the leadership of Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino, after their family became one of the beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.

“Dako ako pasalamat sa TUPAD, sa DOLE nga naka-avail mi ani nga programa, nahatagan mi og ayuda. Daku gayud kini nga tabang sa amoa isip mangingisda… Makapalit nako og mga uniform sa akong mga estudyante nga naa sa day care og elementarya” (I am deeply thankful to DOLE for allowing us to benefit from TUPAD. The assistance is a great help to us. I can now buy school uniforms for my children who are in daycare and elementary school),” she said.

Despite life’s challenges, Girlie remains steadfast in her greatest aspiration.

“All I want is for Eloy to finish his education,” she added, uttered in a local vernacular.

Her story reflects the realities faced by many vulnerable families, where economic hardship often pushes children into labor, away from the classroom.

Recognizing these challenges, the national government continues to strengthen interventions that address the root causes of child labor while ensuring that children can pursue their education and enjoy their childhood.

During the national launch of the “Laya at Laro: Information and Service Caravan on Child Labor Prevention and Elimination,” held in celebration of the World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL) 2026, 100 profiled child laborers aged 11 to 17 and their parents or guardians received integrated government services under DOLE’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program (CLPEP).

The beneficiaries received livelihood assistance through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), TUPAD wages, school supplies, educational materials, and gifts under “Project Angel Tree”. The children also participated in the Kids Town Service Caravan and Laro ng Lahi, allowing them to learn, play, and simply enjoy being children.

These interventions reflect the government’s whole-of-nation approach to eliminating child labor by addressing household poverty, expanding livelihood opportunities, and strengthening access to education and social protection.

Under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., DOLE continues to work with local government units, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that every Filipino child is protected from labor, supported in school, and given the chance to achieve his or her dreams.

For mothers like Girlie, the government’s assistance represents more than financial support; it is renewed hope that their children will remain in school, break free from the cycle of poverty, and build a better future for themselves and their families. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)