(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.


PIA News Service - Saturday, September 17, 2011

CDA-Caraga bares rationalized guidelines of the Cooperative Dev’t Councils

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 17 (PIA) -- The Cooperative Development Council (RCDC) Caraga Regional Office headed by Regional Director Manuela Pelaez bared the Simplified Policy and Rationalized Guidelines in the Organization and Structure of the Cooperative Development Councils, during the Regional Development Council (RCDC) meeting held recently at the CDA-Caraga Conference Room, this city.

Dir. Pelaez recalled that the creation, organization, operation and functions of the different CDCs at the various levels shall be in accordance with the intention and purpose of Executive Order No. 95 entitled “Designating the CDA as the lead government agency on cooperative promotion, development, regulation and calling on all government agencies with cooperative programs to coordinate these with CDA and for other purposes.

“The councils in the various levels as organized shall serve as mechanism for collaboration, consultation and coordination in the implementation of various cooperative programs and projects implemented by all government branches, instrumentalities subdivisions and agencies in partnership with the cooperative sector,” said Pelaez.

Pelaez further said that powers and functions of the councils are retained. Among the mandate and responsibilities of the councils include: 1) to coordinate, harmonize and monitor the implementation of various cooperative development plans, programs and projects of national government agencies, government financial institutions (GFIs), local government units, and non-government organizations within the areas of such councils; 2) to operationalize and monitor the Cooperative Medium Term Development Plans (CMTDP) through the collective efforts of all sectors and to develop such mechanism as may be required in line with the CMTDP; and 3) to share resources (financial, supplies and equipment, manpower) towards the full realization of such development plans.

It was learned that in the composition of the councils, little changes/revisions were made. With the rationalized guidelines, the officers of the councils should only be the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Auditor. Unlike before, aside from the chairperson, there is also a co-chair which is the office of CDA but now, CDA would automatically be the secretariat in every council. Involvement of the Regional Development Council (RDC) is also realized.

Compositions for the National CDC are as follows: Members of the National Coordinating Committee; National Presidents of Governors, Vice-Governors, City Mayors, City-Vice Mayors, Municipal Mayors, Municipal Vice-Mayors Leagues of the Philippines, Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Sangguniang Bayan Leagues of the Philippines; League of Cooperative Development Officers of the Philippines; Chairpersons of the various RCDCs; Chairperson of the Philippine Cooperative Center; Chairpersons of tertiary cooperatives; and Representative of other organizations with cooperative development programs as may be identified by the CDA.

For the RCDC, it shall be composed of the Regional Directors of the national government agencies; Regional Managers/Area Manager of government financial institutions; Chairperson of RDC; PCDCs; CCDCs; Chairpersons of the regional cooperative federations and unions; and Representative of other NGOs with cooperative programs.

The Provincial CDC shall be composed of the Provincial Directors of the national government agencies; Designated/or assigned officer of any government agency which does not have any established provincial office; Chairperson of Provincial Development Council; Provincial Cooperative Development Officer; Municipal Cooperative Development Officers for component cities; Chairpersons of MCDCs; Chairpersons of the CCDCs in component cities; Chairperson of the committee on cooperative at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; Chairpersons of provincial cooperative federation and unions; and Representative of other NGOs with cooperative programs.

The composition of the City CDC shall also be the representatives of national government agencies with cooperative programs including GFIs; Chairperson of the CDC; City Cooperative Development Officer; Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperatives at the Sangguniang Panlungsod; Chairpersons of primary cooperatives in the city; and representatives of other NGOs with cooperative programs.

Lastly, the Municipal CDC shall be composed of the representatives of the national line agencies with cooperative programs including GFIs; Chairperson of the Municipal Development Council; Municipal Cooperative Development Officer; Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperatives of Sangguniang Bayan; Chairpersons of the primary cooperatives in the municipality; and representatives of other NGOS with cooperative programs.

Meanwhile, Dir. Pelaez stressed that the officers shall be elected directly by the members constituting the councils at their respective level.

“As much as practicable and when feasible, if the elected Chairperson is from the government sector, the vice chairperson should come from the private component of he cooperative sector and vice-versa,” Pelaez added.

The term of office of the elected officers shall be one year with right to re-election and which shall commence on the fifteenth (15) of January and shall end on the same date one year thereafter when the newly elected officers shall commence their term.

The manner of election of officers shall be by secret ballot and shall be held on the last week of November every year.

With this, Dir. Pelaez acknowledged the continued support by the coop members in the region and hoped for a longer years of partnership. (PIA-Caraga)

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LDRRMC Tandag one of the top 3 finalists for National Search on Gawad Kalasag 2011

by Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

TANDAG CITY, Sept. 17 (PIA) -- The Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (LDRRMC) of this city chaired by Mayor Alexander Pimentel is one of the top three finalists for the National Search for Gawad Kalasag (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan), Best Practices on disaster risk reduction this year.

According to Elvis Cruz from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Central Office, Tandag LDRRMC will represent the 1st to 3rd class municipality of Caraga Region after grabbing an award as winner of the Best Practices on DRRMC from regional level months ago.

The team evaluators from Manila who conducted the field validation ocular/visit on September 15 here was composed of the representatives from OCD, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and League of Mayors in the Philippines (LMP).

Evaluators revealed that the national awarding is tentatively set on the second week of October subject for the availability of President Benigno S. Aquino III who will give an award to the winners from three different categories. The proposed date will coincide with the ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM) and the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR).

The Gawad Kalasag Award is an annual Presidential Award given to the municipality, province, and city where the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council has shown exceptional performance having the best contingency plan on preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation. (NGBT/PIA Surigao del Sur)

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Transparency corner launched

by Cecil Ybañez

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 17 (PIA) -- The City Government here led by Hon. Ferdinand M. Amante Jr., City Mayor, recently launched the Transparency Corner at the city hall that will display all government transactions of the different offices of the city.

Last year,the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed local government units (LGU) to implement a full disclosure program. This policy required all LGUs to post their budget and financial position, bids and public offerings in government websites, newspapers of general circulation, and in conspicuous place within their respective localities.

This order was issued in line with President Benigno S. Aquino III's call for an end in government’s luxurious spending and misappropriation of public funds, and to scale-up interventions to elevate the practice of governance that values transparency and accountability.

Vice Mayor Fortun congratulated Mayor Jun Amante for being consistent in his election campaign platform of change and promised to work hand-in-hand with the mayor in their transparency efforts.

“It is alarming to note that corruption and abuse has become common and worse is that people have at some point come to consider these evils as an accepted norm in government. But the current administration, under the leadership of Hon. Ferdinand M. Amante Jr., will not accede to that, no matter how common place these evils have become,” Fortun said.

City Mayor Jun Amante emphasized the importance of being transparent in his governance in order to attract foreign investors. Quoting one of the Japanese investors, “Being transparent is a good thing because this is one of the first things that investors consider before embarking on a business venture,” the mayor said. He also cited the Japanese guests of their being known for integrity and honesty.

The mayor also encouraged the Punong Barangays to do their part and cooperate with the city government to gain the trust and confidence of the people. He challenged them not to be afraid of showing to the people where and how their taxes are being spent.

Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. further assured the people of Butuan City that they can look forward to a brighter future because of the transparency program of his administration. “Better things are in store for our city and we owe that partly to our full disclosure program," he said. "Just like our Balangai, which has become the symbol of Biyaheng Pinoy campaign for good governance, let us all row our oars together, face the rough waves ahead and sail towards the better Butuan.” (PIA-Caraga)