Thursday, 25 July 2024

Deep sea payao, gipadali ang pag-instalar sa Dinagat Islands

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands - Agresibo si Gob. Nilo P. Demerey Jr. nga  mapadali ang pag-instalar sa unang napulo ka mga “ deep sea payao” ngadto sa natumbok nga pahimutangan o coordinates niini sa kadagatang Pasipiko nga giingong tuna highway nga karun maoy gipahimuslan sa mga pribadong commercial fishing companies.

Mao kini ang nahimong reaksyon sa gobernador human pormal nang gi-presenter sa mga miyembro sa Task Force Deep Sea Payao (TFDSP) ang nahimong resulta sa unang misyon niini niadtong nakalabay nga Hulyo 10 – 11, kauban ang mga tinugyanan sa Philippine Coastguard didto sa kalawrang bahin sa pasipiko  nga 45 nautical miles ang distansya gikan sa lungsod sa Loreto, Dinagat Islands.

Ang komprehensibong presentasyon sa grupo mao ang nag-ingganyo ni Gob. Demerey nga dayong tawagan ang Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) alang sa mga posibling matabang niini para mapadali ang pagproseso sa mga rekisitos sa nahisgutang proyekto nga gikan sa Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Gitahasan usab niini ang mga membro TFDSP nga lihukon na ang pagplansa sa mga gikinahanglang dokumento alang sa pag-ila unya sa mga lehitimong benipisyaryong grupo sa mga mananagat nga maoy mudumala og magmentenar sa proyekto. Samtang kauban ang BFAR sa musunod nga mga adlaw han-ayon na mga dokumento usab sa pagpangayo og sakyanang pandagat nga gamiton unya sa pagpangisda nga mao ang tolo ka mga 62 footer tuna handline fishing boat ngadto sa BFAR Central Office.

Tungod niini, dayong gipaabot ni Demerey ang importansya og katuyuan niini nga proyekto ngadto sa mga board members sa 6th Sangguniang Panlalawigan alang sa suporta sa ngalan sa lehislasyon. Sa pagkakaron mashayag na ang katumanan sa mga pangandoy sa gobernador nga palambuon ang natad sa pangisda sa probinsya sa Dinagat Islands. Mahinumduman nga ang pagpalambo sa programa sa pangisda usa sa mga nag-unang prioridad nga nahilakip sa i2FAME strategy (industrialize and innovate fishery, agro-forestry, mining, and ecotourism) para sa pagkab-ot sa Regional Development Plan 2023-2028 nga giduso sa Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) kinsa ang gobernador mao ang kasamtangang chairperson niini. (Jimmy S. Jara, PIO-PDI/PIA-Dinagat Islands)

Thursday, 25 July 2024

DTI trains youth in Dinagat Islands with entrepreneurial skills

DINAGAT ISLANDS -- The Department of Trade and Industry - Province of Dinagat Islands (DTI-PDI), in collaboration with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and the Local Youth Development Office of the local government of San Jose, concluded the Youth Entrepreneurship Program: You Can Be Your Own Boss (YEP! BYOB) Workshop. on July 16 -19 at the Justiniana function hall in Brgy. Justiniana Edera, San Jose, Dinagat Islands.

The four-day workshop focused on equipping youth participants with essential life and entrepreneurship skills to start and manage a business. On the first day, participants were guided through self-assessment to determine their potential as successful entrepreneurs. They learned the importance of having a vision and mission statement and setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals. Tools for identifying business opportunities in the community and empathizing with customers were introduced like community mapping and empathy mapping, along with an introduction to the Business Model Canvas through a collaborative activity.

The second day centered on business operations, where participants engaged in activities designed to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They explored various marketing strategies, focusing on the marketing mix, which includes the four Ps: product, price, place, and promotion. Through interactive workshops, the youth learned to develop effective marketing plans, analyze pricing strategies, and choose appropriate distribution channels to reach their target market. They also discussed promotional techniques for attracting and retaining customers. Additionally, the sessions covered supply chain management, quality control, and the importance of efficient business processes.

The third day shifted focus to 'My Team and Resources,' emphasizing teamwork and managing finances. Participants learned how to create organizational charts, which helped them understand the structure and roles within a business. They also discussed the financial aspects of running a business through the Business Expense Savings Training Game. This interactive exercise provided them with basic knowledge of bookkeeping and financial management, teaching them how to track expenses, manage budgets, and make informed financial decisions.

The workshop's first three days had been dedicated to equipping the participants with the skills and knowledge needed to develop their business pitches. While the final day featured a business pitch competition where participants presented their business ideas, incorporating comprehensive elements such as operations plans, marketing plans, organizational plans, and canvasses for the business model. Participants detailed their operations plans, outlining the processes, logistics, and resources required for efficient business management. Their marketing plans showcased strategies for reaching their target audience, including promotional tactics, pricing strategies, and distribution channels. They also presented organizational plans, illustrating the structure of their teams and the roles and responsibilities within their businesses.

The Business Model Canvas offered a visual summary of their business models, highlighting key components such as value propositions, customer segments, revenue streams, and cost structures. The panel of representatives from the DTI, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, and the Provincial Cooperative Development Office, who are crucial in the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province, evaluated these presentations. Their feedback and support were vital in fostering entrepreneurial growth and driving economic progress in the province.

The YEP! You Can Be Your Own Boss Workshop empowered the youth of Dinagat Islands with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, contributing to the economic growth and development of the community. (DTI-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)

Thursday, 25 July 2024

IP org in Surigao Sur enhances skill on abaca  mng't

MADRID, Surigao del Sur -- The training on abaca management organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga, in collaboration with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) and the local government of Madrid, Surigao del Sur was a significant step towards empowering the Indigenous Peoples (IP) farmers of the Bayogo Indigenous Peoples Organization (BIPO).

The two-day training provided vital knowledge and skills in the harvest and post-harvest management of abaca fiber production, implemented under the DA’s program on Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) recently held at IP community in Barangay Bayogo, Madrid, Surigao del Sur.

By focusing on proper harvesting techniques and handling practices, the program helped the participants to reduce damage to the fibers which is essential for improving the quality and marketability of their products.

The inclusion of a ceremonial turnover of abaca planting materials and fertilizers further enhanced the support provided to the farmers, enabling them to apply their newly acquired skills effectively.

The efforts of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Madrid led by Engr. Abigail T. Tupas and municipal 4K focal, Engr. Sheilamay Pamad, highlighted the importance of community development and the empowerment of local farmers through education and resource support.

The national government, LGU, and partner stakeholders' collaboration efforts and initiatives contributed to the sustainability of the abaca industry and promoted the livelihood and welfare of the participating farmers in the municipality, and in the province as well. (Photo courtesy of DA-Caraga/NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Thursday, 25 July 2024

Project LAWIN reduces illegal logging hotspots in Caraga

By Mariesh F. Celedeña

OIC, Regional Executive Director Maritess M. Ocampo

BUTUAN CITY –  “There is a significant decrease in the number of illegal logging hotspots in the Caraga region from 17 to 6.”

This is the notable statement of OIC, Regional Executive Director Maritess M. Ocampo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on July 16 at DENR Regional Office Training Center, Butuan City.

“In 2017, DENR Caraga recorded 17 illegal logging hotspots in the region. In 2023, it decreased to 7, and in June 2024 one more area was trampled down and under probationary review. We are determined to bring this down to 50 percent by 2027 or 2028,” Dir. Ocampo said in detail.

“These illegal logging hotspots are from the province of Agusan del Sur namely, municipalities of Esperanza, Talacogon, San Luis, and Loreto, including the towns of Lianga and Lingig in Surigao del Sur,” she added.

This accomplishment can be attributed to the Project Landscape and Wildlife Indicator System (LAWIN) which is a forest and biodiversity protection system that aims to protect, conserve, properly use, and sustainably manage forestry and biological resources.

Project LAWIN has 67 forest protection officers who vigilantly patrol and monitor the forest conservation areas in the region. A total of 7,951 kilometers were being patrolled by these forest protection officers exceeding their target of 6,960 kilometers in 2023.

“Sustaining the efforts on anti-illegal logging operation is another contributor in the decrease of illegal logging hotspots in Caraga wherein DENR and law enforcement agencies of the government apprehended a total of 667,260.77 board feet (bd. ft.) in 410 incidents and confiscated 743,151 bd.ft. in 486 incidents,” Ocampo relayed. 

DENR Caraga further collaborated with adjacent regions like Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao and Davao Region so the illegal forest products will be intercepted and will not reach the end market. It also strengthens projects under the National Greening Program (NGP) so communities in the illegal hotspot areas will divert their income from cutting trees and instead help the government against illegal logging.

Caraga region, as the timber capital of the South, has 976,072.21 hectares of forest conservation area. (MFC/PIA-Caraga)

Thursday, 25 July 2024

Saint Theresa College of Tandag, Inc. pioneers nursing course in Surigao Sur

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) -- The Saint Theresa College of Tandag, Inc. recently announced its current offering of the degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

This government recognition served as a milestone to the academe, being the first to offer the said program in the province of Surigao del Sur.

The offering of the BSN program is indicative of Saint Theresa College of Tandag, Inc. commitment to realize their desire for more educational offerings that respond to the growing demand for healthcare professionals in Caraga region.

The higher education institution aspires to produce graduates who are not only competent nurses but also compassionate, caring, and concerned individuals with holistic aspirations who will contribute to the improvement of the health sector and the well-being of the community.

According to the school's administration under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Glenn C. Infiesto, DCT, this achievement served as a testament to the their dedication to providing quality education and meeting the needs of the students and the community.

Being the first institution to offer the said course for Surigao del Sur, Saint Theresa College of Tandag, Inc. has a vision of being at the forefront in nursing education, poised to forge a new generation of healthcare professionals, armed and prepared to rise above the rest, with an unwavering commitment to excellence, justice, and keeping the core values of a Theresian. (Phot credit to STC of Tandag, Inc./NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)