Thursday, 15 October 2026

SSS expands microloan program as support to UPLIFT

By Renelle L. Escuadro

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Social Security System (SSS) Butuan Branch Manager Arnold O. Pepino shared the expansion of the agency’s LoanLite program through partnership with the country’s banking institutions.

During an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga on Oct. 7, the officer said, “The SSS LoanLite is a program offered to voluntary, employed, and self-employed SSS members as long as they have a registered account with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) through its Diskar Tech Savings mobile application.”

Pepino emphasized that this program served as another agency’s response to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) to help SSS members address the impact of rising living costs.

“LoanLite started with the state insurer’s partnership with Union Bank of the Philippines, and now we have RCBC as another bank to strengthen and sustain the program,” he added.

“Under the program, members can apply for a loan from P1,000 to P20,000 with an annual interest rate of eight percent only, and payable within 15, 30, 60, and 90 days,” Pepino told PIA.  

Meanwhile, he also emphasized ongoing efforts of SSS to encourage its pensioners to avail of its convenient and affordable pension loan program.

“With the current economic crisis, we have to make sure that if we file a loan, the interest rate should be affordable. Our pension loan program allows our pensioners to file a loan up to P200,000 with an interest rate of 10 percent per annum only,” he said. “They can pay the loan amount within six, 12, and 24 months.”

Pepino underscored that unlike lending institutions with higher interest rates, pensioners do not have to pawn or surrender their automatic teller machine (ATM) card for SSS disbursement, as loan payment will be deducted through its system, making this loan option convenient and less burdensome to the members. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)  

Thursday, 15 October 2026

GSIS extends solar loan program to Butuan pensioners

By Renelle L. Escuadro

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Butuan Branch Manager Troy L. Palermo announced that the Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan (GSEL) has been extended to pensioners, expanding its programs to help more Filipinos reduce their electricity bills, while supporting clean, sustainable energy.

“The agency extended the GSEL program to pensioners who are of regular old age and not exceeding 80 years old, disability pensioners, and those beneficiaries of the Portability Law, giving them an opportunity to have an affordable solar panel installation at their homes,” Palermo said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga and other members of the Integrated State Media on Oct. 7.

“GSEL allows pensioners to borrow up to P500,000 with a low interest rate of five percent per annum and payable for five years,” he added. 

“Interested pensioners may apply for GSEL through the GSIS Touch application,” he told PIA, noting that the state insurer does not charge service fee for the loan application.

“With this expansion to pensioners, the branch has received 70 applications pending for approval as of October 6,” Palermo gladly said, knowing that more GSIS members may power their homes with solar energy.

He also shared that GSEL is a member-focused financial and energy initiative that supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT). 

Through initiatives such as the GSEL, GSIS reinforces its role as a responsive government-owned and controlled corporation by supporting national policy while delivering tangible benefits to its members. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands)

Thursday, 15 October 2026

NIA Caraga livelihood aid helps Agusan Norte farmers cope with El Niño

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Farmers in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte are gaining additional source of income, while helping cushion the effects of El Niño and prolonged dry spells through a government-supported livelihood enterprise established by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Caraga.

The initiative enables members of the Kasilac-Talo-ao Irrigators Association, Inc. (IA) to engage in palay buying and milled-rice selling, providing an alternative income stream when climate-related challenges and water shortages threaten farm productivity and harvest earnings.

The intervention complements the national government’s efforts under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen food security, protect agricultural livelihoods, and build climate-resilient communities. By extending support beyond irrigation services, the initiative helps farmers diversify their income sources and become better prepared for disruptions in agricultural production.

On January 29, 2025, NIA Caraga provided the association with an initial livelihood assistance of P150,000 to establish its palay-buying and milled-rice-selling enterprise. On September 22, 2026, the agency extended an additional P150,000 to strengthen its operations, bringing the total livelihood assistance to P300,000.

Under the leadership of IA President Samuel N. Alcover, the association purchases palay from its members, processes it into milled rice, and develops market opportunities for their produce. This arrangement allows farmers to participate in a collective enterprise that can generate supplementary income alongside their regular farming activities.

Alcover expressed his gratitude to NIA Caraga and the national government for the assistance, which provides the association with an opportunity to strengthen its livelihood and help its members cope with the financial challenges brought about by unpredictable weather and potential crop losses.

He also recognized the importance of the association’s collective efforts in managing the enterprise responsibly to ensure that the government assistance continues to benefit members and support their families’ needs.

To help sustain the initiative, the association established three marketing agreements with demand partners through the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). The local government of Buenavista also supported the enterprise by allowing the association to display and sell its milled rice at the agribusiness center within the Municipal Agriculture Office.

The initiative is expected to benefit 150 association members, composed of 53 women and 97 men, by improving market access, creating supplementary income opportunities, and strengthening the association’s organizational and financial capacity.

For farming families, the value of this government intervention extends beyond the financial assistance. When El Niño, prolonged dry spells, or insufficient water supply affect planting schedules and harvests, an additional livelihood can help reduce dependence on a single source of income. The enterprise also creates a more organized channel for marketing palay and milled rice, helping members capture opportunities along the agricultural value chain.

NIA Caraga Regional Manager Ruby C. Tuan Jr. continues to support initiatives that complement irrigation services with livelihood assistance and market partnerships, recognizing the importance of strengthening farmers’ capacity to manage agricultural and economic risks.

Through this initiative, NIA Caraga demonstrates how government interventions can address farmers’ needs beyond farm production by linking irrigation, livelihood development, and market access. By helping irrigators’ associations establish income-generating activities, the agency contributes to more resilient farming communities, stronger household livelihoods, and sustained local food production.

Beyond delivering water to farmlands, government support also means helping farmers prepare for climate-related challenges, protect their sources of income, and build a more secure future for their families. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte with a report from NIA Caraga)

Thursday, 15 October 2026

New hope for Siargao women: Pilar town breaks ground for caregiving training facility

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — Local officials and education sector leaders recently converged in Pilar, Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte to break ground for a specialized training facility for caregiving NC II, signalling a major boost in livelihood and overseas employment prospects for local women across the island.

​Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Surigao del Norte Provincial Director Catalina Tacubao, LGU Pilar Sangguniang Bayan member Judy Ann Cometa-Go, Pilar National High School Principal Reysan J. Tesiorna, and Siargao TESDA Center Administrator Reymart Balaga spearheaded the ceremonial activity on October 8. 

​Designed to open doors to gainful employment abroad, the facility will primarily serve women in Pilar aged 18 to 33. The curriculum will focus on industry-grade caregiving skills, patient handling, healthcare assistance, and global competency standards.

SB Cometa-Go, the project’s proponent, emphasized that the initiative goes beyond mere skills training—it is about economic mobility and family transformation. ​”This project was born out of a clear vision: to empower our local young women by equipping them with world-class competencies,” the elected official said. 

“Caregiving is one of the most in-demand professions globally today. By building this training center right here in Pilar, we are giving our women aged 18 to 33 a direct path to sustainable, high-paying employment abroad. This will enable them to transform their lives, uplift their households, and secure a brighter future for their families,” she added.

​For local youth, the establishment of the facility brings opportunities directly to their doorstep without the financial burden of travelling to main cities.

“As someone who has always dreamed of working abroad to give my family a better life, having this TESDA facility right here in Pilar is an absolute answer to our prayers,” said 25-year-old resident Anna Rose, who plans to enroll in the pioneer batch. 

“Before, we had to travel far and spend so much just to get certified, but now we can acquire world-class caregiving skills right in our own hometown. I am truly grateful for this chance to build a brighter future,” she added.

​Meanwhile, TESDA Surigao del Norte Provincial Director Catalina Tacubao commended the strong collaboration between the local government unit and the public education sector, highlighting the agency’s commitment to bringing technical-vocational education straight to island communities.

​“TESDA remains steadfast in its mandate to deliver quality, accessible, and market-driven skills training to every corner of the province,” Dir. Tacubao said.. “Establishing a caregiving NC II training facility in Siargao Island ensures that our rural constituents no longer need to move to major urban centres just to acquire certified, job-ready skills. We are fully committed to assisting Pilar in producing globally competitive caregiving professionals who meet international market standards.”

Meanwhile, Pilar National High School Principal Reysan J. Tesiorna expressed gratitude for hosting the pioneering initiative, noting that the presence of a vocational facility enriches local educational pathways and serves as a vital community asset.

​The groundbreaking ceremony was well-attended by students, faculty, community leaders, and local stakeholders who welcomed the development as a crucial step toward gender empowerment and economic resilience in Siargao Island. Construction is set to begin immediately, with inaugural training batches expected once facility accreditation is finalized. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte)

Thursday, 15 October 2026

CHR strengthens rights protection of Caraga senior citizens

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga continues to make human rights assistance accessible to senior citizens, reinforcing the government’s commitment to protect their dignity, rights, and welfare.

The initiative came as the country observed this year’s Elderly Filipino Week (EFW) from October 1 to 7 with the theme, “Nakatatandang Pilipino: May Halaga at Karapatan, May Boses at Ambag sa Bayan.” The national observance highlighted the value and rights of older persons and their continuing voice and contribution to nation-building.

During the Kapihan sa PIA on October 6, Attorney Jason Paul C. Magarin of CHR Caraga said the agency assists senior citizens with concerns affecting their rights and welfare, including requests for social pension, drafting of affidavits, and other legal and social concerns.

The assistance is part of CHR Caraga’s broader mandate to provide avenues for people to raise human rights concerns and seek appropriate assistance.

Magarin said the agency has handled around nine docketed cases involving senior citizens over the past couple of years, two of which were considered human rights violations.

He also shared that CHR Caraga assists individuals and families facing other concerns, including land-related issues involving family members.

Through its public assistance and complaint desk, the agency has likewise assisted around 29 individuals this year, providing an avenue for the public to raise complaints, concerns, and requests for assistance.

For senior citizens, such services are particularly important in ensuring that age does not become a barrier to accessing justice, government assistance, and protection of their rights.

The CHR’s approach is consistent with the national direction that recognizes the elderly not merely as beneficiaries of government programs but as full rights-holders whose voices, choices, dignity, and participation must be respected.

The 2026 EFW, led by the National Commission of Senior Citizens, likewise called for a whole-of-society approach toward an age-friendly and inclusive Philippines where older persons are valued, heard, and empowered.

With the observance of the EFW, CHR Caraga’s continuing assistance underscores the importance of ensuring that senior citizens can access mechanisms that protect their rights and address concerns affecting their daily lives.

Beyond recognizing their contributions, the observance calls for stronger systems that enable older Filipinos to live with dignity, exercise their rights, make informed choices, and continue participating meaningfully in society. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)