92 stranded OFWs
arrive safely in Caraga region
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- With the help of the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA) Caraga and other concerned government agencies,
some 92 OFWs who were stranded in the National Capital Region and Cebu City
since March of this year have safely arrived in Caraga region.
According to OWWA-Caraga regional director Ma. Irene Cambaling, these 92
OFWs have undergone the required health protocols including the rapid testing
from their place of origin that yielded negative results for coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19).
OWWA then facilitated the necessary documents for the travel of these
OFWs back to their provinces in Caraga.
Onboard the M/V St. Francis Xavier of 2G0 Shipping, health workers have
carefully assisted the 92 repatriated OFWs as they arrived at the Nasipit Port,
Agusan del Norte. The personnel from different concerned agencies such as the
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine
National Police (PNP), among others also conducted the required protocols and
other preventive measures.
The local government units (LGUs) also provided vehicles to transport
the OFWs who have long been wanting to go home and be with their families.
Algi Mark Casiñero, one of the repatriated OFWs who is from the province
of Surigao del Norte, thanked the government for their immediate response to
their request to go home in Caraga with their families, and for providing cash
assistance during this pandemic.
Director Cambaling also called on other OFWs who are still stranded in
other regions to closely coordinate with their respective LGUs, so they would
be given the certificate of acceptance as one of the requirements in their
travel back to Caraga region.
They may also directly contact the OWWA regional office hotline
(0917-3150590) or send them their personal details through the official
Facebook account of OWWA Caraga.
The official added that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
and OWWA have already put in place the needed assistance for the OFWs whose
work abroad was temporarily suspended due to the pandemic.
These OFWs who arrived in Caraga region will again undergo the 14-day
quarantine following the directive of their respective LGUs.
Meanwhile, with the intensified implementation of the Balik Probinsya
Program, more of the Caraganon OFWs are expected to arrive in the region in the
coming days. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
LGU Dinagat Islands
creates 'online palengke'
By Susil D. Ragas
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, May 30 (PIA) -- To help ease the burden of
shopping and prevent its constituents from going out, the provincial government
of Dinagat Islands has created the online marketing dubbed as "People's
Online Palengke" or POP.
The provincial government has created the Facebook group “POP” to give a
venue for Dinagatnons to buy and sell different products, including basic goods
and necessities without going out and in just a click away.
The POP is also part of the provincial government‘s coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) prevention protocols to encourage citizens to stay at home.
Provincial Information Officer Jeff Crisostomo bared that in spite of
limited movement, through the help of communication via social media, they have
seen the rise of online buying and selling among Dinagatnons.
He said that they created the group in order to bring together citizens
who want to advertise their goods and services and those who are looking for
products to purchase.
Crisostomo added that POP Facebook group is being managed by the
provincial government through the Provincial Information Office (PIO) and all
transactions shall be between the buyer and the seller only, so he encouraged
everyone to be cautious and respectful in their interactions. (Susil D.
Ragas/Dinagat Islands-PIO/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
SAP serves as
lifeline for grieving family
The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act 11469), signed by
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 26,2020, has paved a way to address the
needs of those affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. One of
the agencies tapped to make it operational is the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD).
Through its guidelines, 492,758 families in Caraga region were
identified as the beneficiaries – qualified to receive P5,000.00 as emergency
subsidy or aid. The said emergency subsidy will address the needs of low-income
families, most affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
One of the families who was able to receive the said subsidy is the
family of Ma. Josefina Gilos Bolaso, from the Municipality of Rosario, Agusan
del Sur. Josefina is a person with disability (PWD). But even with her
disability, this did not stop her from working – earning to address her
family’s needs. She is an on-call traditional massage therapist. She said that
she doesn’t charge her clients strictly. Because of that, she gets a lot of
clients, because even those who do not have a lot of money could enjoy her
services.
“Ang akong paghilot-hilot kay walay tarong nga presyo. Mura rag siyag
donation kibali. Mao nga daghan magpahilot nako kay dili man sila mapugos
mobayad ug mahal (I don’t have a fixed price for my massage services, it is up
to the customer how much she/he will give or donate. That is why there are a
lot of people who would avail my services because they are not pressured to pay
a hefty price form my services),” Josefina said.
Josefina lives with her parents and two other siblings. Before, she did
not feel any pressure working as a massage therapist. But when her brother lost
his job a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, she became
the breadwinner of the family – forcing her to have regular services just to
provide for the family’s needs, especially the medical needs for her mother who
was suffering from a brain tumor.
But when the pandemic hit, her job was also jeopardized. To stop the
spread of the virus, people are instructed to keep a proper distance and avoid
contact with other people. No massage therapy activities were allowed during
the community quarantine. This meant that Josefina would have to stop working.
Since Josefina’s job was not regular, she wasn’t able to save for the
rainy days. What she earned in a day’s work was enough to be used for their
daily consumption. So they were in serious problem, because they no longer had
money to buy the necessities, most specifically, food.
But Josefina heard about the SAP – this gave her family hope. They had
something to look forward to. Fortunately, after being validated, their family
qualified as one of the beneficiaries for the program. They were able to
receive the aid. But sadly, instead of using it to buy food and medicine, it
was used to shoulder the funeral expenses of her mother who passed away last
May 6, 2020.
“Dako jud na tabang sa amoa ang kwarta nga gihatag sa gobyerno, labi na
karon sa among sitwasyon nga nipanaw na si mama. Ug wala ni niabot, dako gyud
problema pa among atubangon (The financial subsidy from the government really
helped us a lot, especially now that my Mama passed away. If it weren’t for
this aid, we would be facing bigger problems now),” Josefina said.
Though it was bitter-sweet on Josefina’s part to receive the cash
subsidy under the circumstances, one thing is certain – the Emergency Subsidy
Program, under the SAP, was able to address the family’s needs.
The SAP under DSWD is intended for low income or poor families who are
considered part of the informal sector. Priority are those families with
members belonging to the vulnerable sector, just like Solo Parents, Persons
with Disability, and Senior Citizens. Josefina’s family fits all the criteria
for them to qualify for the program. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
Pagpalit og vegetable
seeds sa Nasipit aprobado na sa SP
By Prisilina P. Amoroso
DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Mayo 30 -- Naaprobrahan bag-uhay pa lamang
sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang budget sa lungsod sa Nasipit, ning
lalawigan, alang sa pagpalit og vegetable seeds nga nagkantidad og P80,862.25
diin naapil kini sa ilang Annual Investment Plan kun AIP.
Ang nasangpit nga pagpalit sa liso sa mga gulay gisulod sa ilang Annual
Investment Plan kun AIP ilawom sa Bottoms Up Budgeting (BUB) Projects
Integrated Community Food Production Project 2016, ang hiniusa nga proyekto sa
produksyon sa pagkaon sa komunidad.
Ang maong lakang sa munisipyo nagtumong nga matagaag suporta ang mga
mag-uuma, aron mas mapalambo ang produksyon sa agrikultura sa lungsod sa
Nasipit, sanglit kini usa ka kalihokan nga maoy gitagaag dakong pagtagad dinhi
sa lokal nga panggamhanan sa probinsya isip usa sa mga flagship projects sa
Agusan Up program.
Kini libreng i-apod-apod sa mga mag-uuma sa nahisgutang lungsod aron
makatabang kanila alang sa ilang dugang panginabuhian.
Ang pag-aproba pinasikad sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 213-2020 sa
pagpangamahan ni Bise Gobernor Ramon AG Bungabong nga nahitabo niadtong Mayo
11, 2020 sa ilang ika-41st nga sesyon regular. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan
del Norte)
