PIA News Service - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Nat’l Greening Program Summit set in Butuan

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) -- A one-day National Greening Program (NGP) Summit will be held on November 23, 2011 at the Almont Hotel's Inland Resort in this city.

The event is being organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA.

According to DENR-Caraga Regional Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca, the said NGP summit aims to identify advocates and build partnerships leading to a regionwide commitment and participation of various stakeholders in tree planting and long-term plantation stewards.

“Along with poverty reduction, resource conservation and protection, productivity enhancement, climate change mitigation and adaptation, the NGP is significantly given priority pursuant to Executive Order No. 26 of President Benigno S. Aquino III,” said Sibbaluca.

Sibbaluca also called on the local officials and employees of government to participate in all the activities related to this program to strengthen the preservation and proper use of the country’s environmental and natural resources.

For inquiries and clarification of this activity, the DENR can be reached at telephone numbers: (085) 342-7856; 341-3250; and cellphone number 0910-340-5832. Look for Ms. Jholyvil Cocon. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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GADCC-Caraga spearheads 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) -- The Regional Development Council - Gender and Development Coordinating Committee Caraga will spearhead the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women with the theme “UNITE: Stop VAW, Now!” on November 25 to December 12, 2011.

GADCC chairperson and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga Regional Director Atty. Marylin Pintor said that the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey conducted among women aged 15-49, revealed that one in five women has experienced physical violence since age 15; and one in ten experience sexual violence.

Among women who have experienced physical or sexual violence, 26.9 percent fought back verbally, 21.2% fought back physically, and 17.5 percent sought help to try to stop the violence while of those who sought help to stop the violence, 45.1 percent went to their own family, 28.5 percent from friends and neighbors and 14.5 percent from in-laws.

“Against this backdrop, the Caraga RDC-Caraga with the Philippine Commission on Women and the Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their Children, agreed that the 2011 campaign to end VAW shall call on women to claim and defend their rights. It will focus on information dissemination about the anti-VAW laws, as well as the various services of government agencies and non-government organizations to address the needs of VAW survivors. It will build on the past initiatives, as well highlight aspects of VAW that need particular emphasis, e.g. the issue of VAW among deaf women and electronic VAW,” said Pintor.

The 2011 campaign shall also be a venue for a constructive dialogue among key government agencies and service providers on VAW like crisis centers, social workers, healthcare providers, police and alternative law groups, to discuss various aspects VAW; including gender-based violence issues raised to the UN CEDAW through the communications procedure of the CEDAW Optional Protocol.

Meanwhile, weeklong activities are also being readied by the committee for all the women and the general public to participate, as well as exercise their rights against violence. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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EMB, DENR spearhead Nat’l Environmental Awareness celeb in Butuan

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) -- In line with the National Environmental Awareness Month celebration, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga will spearhead river clean-up and tree planting activities on November 18, 2011, 6:00a.m. at the Marcos Bridge, Barangay Libertad, this city.

According to EMB-Caraga OIC-Regional Director Ester Olavides, the activity is pursuant to Republic Act No. 9512 otherwise known as the "National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008," an act to promote environmental awareness through environmental education.

Government agencies, non-government organizations, academe, and partner stakeholders will be participating in this activity.

Dir. Olavides called on participants to bring their own cleaning and planting materials during the activity.

The EMB-Caraga office can be reached at telephone numbers (085) 341-3826; 342-5332. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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Philippine Trade Unions Walk the “Green” Talk

by Fryan Abkilan

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) -- The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and Workers Development Foundation Inc. (WDFI) with support from the Japanese unions, together with 25 young trade union leaders from 17 local affiliated unions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, joined the country’ countdown to Rio+20 with a National Workshop on Green Jobs and Decent Work, held here recently.

“Our engagement in green programs started with great optimism,” said Bro. Ernesto Herrera, TUCP General Secretary, recalling that in 2007 TUCP affiliates and members decided to carry out non-traditional (trade unions’) ambitious sustainable development actions and activities.

“We started with ambitious goals with a serious commitment for action. Looking back from where and how our engagements began, how much we’ve learned, and what we have accomplished to date, that green journey needs more action from trade unions,” pointed out Bro. Herrera.

Together with representatives from the Climate Change Commission (CCC), regional offices (Region 10) of the Department of Labour and the Regional Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), the largest Japanese national center, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO), and the Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF), the program looked at government’s current programs and initiatives on green jobs and appreciated actual, on-the-ground experiences, activities and green and greening programs of unions.

“We are happy to see the extent of engagement, the variety of activities and of how far Philippine unions have gone in green jobs and decent work,” said Bro. Yoshiharu Sonezaki, Assistant Director, Social Policy Division, Department of Economics and Social Policy, JTUC-RENGO.

Unions as major actors of sustainability

The participants put forward an urgent call for up-scaling current greening efforts, particularly providing more inclusive and sustainable avenues for unions’ participation in discussions, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of green jobs programs, projects and activities.

“Unions refuse to remain bystanders and will fully engage in this time of great environmental challenge. We will continue to participate, collaborate, contribute and make people, businesses and communities accountable for their (environmental) actions,” noted the participants.

Recognizing the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in addressing local climate change concerns, the participants called upon the Climate Change Commission (CCC) to engage workers and their unions in the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan.

As initial commitments to the campaign, the participants committed to partner with the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) and its regional boards (RTWPBs) in holding more enterprise-level green jobs advocacy activities, documenting unions’ green and greening practices and inclusions of green provisions in collective bargaining agreements.

Participants were from major target sectors such as services, telecommunication, transportation, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, academe, electronics, public sector and local media. (TUCP/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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Feature: Philippine Red Cross of Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter, a ceaseless service provider

by Maria Rebecca C. Ayaton

Inspired by its fundamental principles, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) of Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter continues to reach out to the nation, stretching a helping hand that has a touch of love and commitment to do their remarkable service—saving lives.

Like all other chapters of the Philippine Red Cross, the Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter is also doing its best in providing humanitarian services to the Agusanons.

The Philippine Red Cross is founded on seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Blood Services

All year round, the local chapter staff collects blood thru bloodletting activities. There are times that the local chapter independently conduct a bloodletting activity or may conduct it by partnering with other agency. Many agencies have partnered with PRC because of its contagious desire in helping people.

Teodoro Cairo, Administrator of PRC Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter, has urged Butuanons to donate blood to the needy--an act not only beneficial to oneself but to other people as well.

As of October 2011, the Butuan City Chapter has collected a total of 3,488 units of blood acquired from walk-in donors, patient-directed donors, replacement donors, and from mass bloodletting activities. It was on the month of March when the local chapter has collected the highest number of blood units.

Disaster Management Services

The local chapter also renders disaster management services (DMS). The DMS includes earthquake and fire drills, trainings on basic disaster management and eventually produced graduates of the said training.

Moreover, the local chapter, in partnership with the local government of Butuan, conducted a Bomb Simulation Drill last July of 2011 at Butuan City Hall. This was in line with the celebration of Disaster Consciousness Month. The conduct of the said drill was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and preparedness of the constituents in responding to such kind of disaster.

On the first quarter of 2011 catastrophes took place in some barangays of the city and provinces in Agusan del Norte. The DMS handed relief goods to the affected families of Barangay Maug, Ignacio, Pangabugan, Bingkilan in Butuan City, and to the affected families from Doña Rosario, Tubay, Agusan del Norte. Other relief operations were also conducted in the month of March 2011.

Safety Services

The Safety Services arm of the PRC is aimed at educating the people on how to prevent accidents.

In the local chapter, the Safety Services committee has conducted lectures and trainings on Basic First Aid Training, Community First Aid Training, Basic Water Safety Training, First Aid and Basic Life Support for Adult Lay and Rescuers and Health Care Providers, First Aid Lecture Demonstration, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Training, and Tailored First Aid Training.

These lectures and trainings were conducted in the elementary schools, high schools, health centers, government agencies and private agencies all throughout the province especially in the populated academe such as the national high schools like Agusan National High School in Butuan City, Agay National High School RCY Council, Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte and among others.

The local chapter will re-do these activities over and over again for they will never get tired in keeping the people away from disasters and as well as preparing them in times of crises.

In addition, the local chapter had also organized First Aid Stations and Beach Patrol during the special events in the province that needs their service such as the 9th Baoto Festival 30km paddling marathon in Jabonga, Tanduay First Five Tour concert, 10th Chapterwide Youth Camp, and in 35th Milo Marathon 2011 last October.

Community Health and Nursing Services

In line with the the World Water Day Celebration last March the Community Health and Nursing Services Committee conducted hygiene promotion, proper hand washing and mass feeding activities at Sangay High School, Buenavista, and Colorado Elementary School, Jabonga, in this province to 2100 students.

Red Cross Youth

The Red Cross Youth (RCY) Council of the local chapter assisted in distributing relief goods to the different barangays of Butuan City and in other municipalities of Agusan del Norte during the time when the province was flooded last February and March 2011.

From October 6 to 9, 2011 the RCY Committee of the local chapter hosted the 10th Chapterwide Red Cross Youth Camp at Trinos Beach Resort, La Frateridad, Tubay Agusan del Norte participated by 1,139 Red Cross Youth members and 209 advisers from 108 school councils of Agusan del Norte and Butuan City.

Red Cross Youth members serve as the role models for the youth especially the children. For the past months, they are continually inculcating humanitarian values and character building to the youth through their efforts in assisting in relief operations, and through conducting lectures on in Leadership Formation Course, Drug Abuse Preventive Education, Pledge 25 Donor Orientation and Youth Volunteer Orientation Course in the principal schools in the province. (PIA-Caraga)

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Tagalog News: Information officers makikilahok sa MindaComNet Congress

ni Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) – Gaganapin ang 2011 Mindanao Communication Network (MindaComNet) Congress sa Nobyembre 28-30 sa Family Country Hotel, General Santos City.

Ayon kay Regional Director Abner M. Caga ng Philippine Information Agency, ito ay pagkakataon upang malaman ng mga information officers ang pinakabagong "global trend" sa larangan ng komunikasyon. Ito aniya ay makakatulong upang isulong ang adbokasiya ng pamahalaan.

Sa mga nais makilahok, maaring kontakin si Sempa Coronado ng PIA Central Mindanao sa telepono (083) 228-9739 o sa cellphone numbers 09194775200 at 09152888955.

Ang registration fee ay P3,600.00 na para sa miscellaneous expenses katulad ng kits, plaques, tokens para sa resource speakers, transportasyon at komunikasyon, at iba pa. (PIA–Caraga)

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Tagalog News: Pilipinas, nakatakdang magpresenta sa ASEAN Summit ng balangkas na nakabatay sa tuntunin tungkol sa pakikipagtungo sa pagtatalo sa West Philippine Sea

ni Maria Rebecca C. Ayaton

BUTUAN CITY, Nob. 16 (PIA) -- Batay sa adbokasiya ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa pagtataguyod ng “Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation (ZoPFF/C)” tungkol sa pagtatalo sa mga lugar ng West Philippine Sea (WPS), bibigyang diin ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas ang napaka-importanteng tungkulin ng mga miyembro ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sa pagtukoy sa mga lugar nito na may mga pagtatalo para makapagtatag ng Joint Cooperation Area na inaasam naman ng administrasyong Aquino.

Sa pahayag ng kalihim ng Foreign Affairs na si Albert Del Rosario na inihatid naman ni Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy na si Erlinda Basilio sa kasagsagan ng ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting na naganap kapaon sa Kintamani Room 6 ng Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali Indonesia, inulit ng pamahalaan ang paninindigan nito na “rule-based approach is the only legitimate way in addressing disputes in the West Philippine Sea” na dati ring nabanggit sa ASEAN Miniters’ Meeting sa noong Hunyo, 2011, Bali, Indonesia.

Nakasaad rin sa mensahe ang paniniwala ng bansa na ang ZoPFF/C ay isang maaksyunang balangkas na maglilinaw sa paghahati ng mga pinagtataluhang lugar at di pinagtataluhang katubigan ng West Philippine Sea at, sa proseso ay masolusyunan ang problema sa “nine-dash line”.

Ang “nine-dash line” ay isang mapa na nagpapakita ng linyang hugis “U” na nakapalibot sa halos kabuuan ng South China Sea na siyang ginagamit ng Tsina na dahilan na pag-aari nila ang nasabing lugar. Ang mapa ay labis na tinututulan ng ibang bansa kasama na ang Pilipinas at ito rin ay pinunahan ng pandaigdigang komunidad.

Ang proseso sa paghahahati ay magpapagana sa magagawang kooperasyon sa pagitan ng ASEAN at ng Tsina lalong lalo na ang mga kapampangang estado sa South China Sea.

Ipinaliwanag rin sa pahayag ni Del Rosario na ang ZoPFF/C ay naaalinsunod sa balangkas ng mga alituntunin sa pangangasiwa sa mga pagtatalo sa West Philippine Sea. Ito rin ay alinsunod sa nakabatay sa deklarasyon ng ASEAN-China sa “Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea”.

Nakasaad sa pahayag ni Del Rosario na: “We continue to pursue this framework and the embodied principles at every opportunity, as well as, to use appropriate avenues to exhaust all available means to settle the disputes within Asean. We strongly believe that an approach consistent with international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).Thus, the Philippines will consider a parallel track of pursuing third party adjudication, arbitration or conciliation as may be appropriate in the context of the dispute settlement mechanism of UNCLOS”.

Sa pagdating ng Pangulo sa Bali kahapon, inaasahan na babanggitin ng Pangulo ang isyu ng ZoPFF/C bilang parte sa kanyang mga adbokasiya na sa diskusyon sa 19th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits 2011 na pormal na magbubukas bukas, Nobyembre 17, 2011.

Ang ZoPFF/C ay isang maagap na kontribusyon ng Pilipinas para sa ikabubuti ng lahat na bansa na may interes sa West Philippine Sea.

Idiniin ni Del Rosario na ang ASEAN ay hindi dapat mapag-aalinlangan at maging desidio sa mithiin at hangad nitong global na pamumuno.

Bukod sa mga miyembro ng ASEAN, inaasahan rin na dumalo ang mga matataas na pinuno ng ibang bansa na kasama bilang partner sa magaganap na dayalogo na pinangungunahan ng Pangulo ng Estados Unidos na si Barack Obama, Chinese Primier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister ng Australia na si Julia Gillard, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at iba marami pang iba. (PIA-Caraga)

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Cebuano News: Aquino miaprobar sa P1.1-billion rehabilitasyon sa NAIA Terminal I

ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Nob. 16 (PIA) -- Si Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III miaprobar na sa planong rehabilitasyon sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA 1), nga mopailawom sa structural ug aesthetical nga mga kabag-ohan, si Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas mianunsyo kagahapon Martes.

Si Roxas miingon atol sa media briefing didto sa Malacañang nga ang gobyerno sa kasamtangan migahin og P1.1 bilyones ka pesos alang sa pagtrabaho sa structural retrofitting, electro-mechanical engineering, ug interior design sa mga erya nga nagkinahanglan og rehabilitasyon.

Tipik sa pasiunang mga gasto naglakip sa P500 milyones alang sa aesthetics ug interior design, replacing floorings, ceilings ug walls ug partition. Ang DOTC usab mopuli ug modugang pa og 50 porsyento nga mga immigration counters, siya miingon.

Ang DOTC migahin og P300 milyones alang sa rapid exit taxi way aron maalibyohan ang paghuot sa runway ug makunhoran ang pagkadilatar sa pasahero, si Roxas miingon. Ug usab laing P20 milyones ang gigahin alang sa repair ug rehabilitasyon sa 72 ka mga kasilyas didto sa airport, sa iyang pagdugang.

Si Roxas usab miingon nga P340 milyones ang gigahin alang sa structural works aron pag-improb sa structural integrity sa maong pasilidad.

Ang DOTC mipabilin gihapon sa serbisyo sa Leandro Locsin and Associates, ang orihinal nga architectural ug engineering firm nga nagdisenyo sa Terminal 1, matud ni Roxas. Ang Locsin and Associates dunay as-built blueprint ug disenyo alang sa terminal mao nga mas mapadali ang rehabilitasyon sa maong terminal.

Sa samang bahin, si Roxas miingon ang gobyerno nakigtambayayong na sa mga eksperto nga mitukod sa Changi Airport aron mohatag sa ilang tabang kabahin na sa functional designs ug systems improvement sa Termianl 1.

Ang mga eksperto, nga moabot sa Pilipinas katapusan karong bulana, miuyon nga sila mahimong parte sa pagahimoong rehabilitasyon, si Roxas miingon. Ang maong mga eksperto mosusi ug moanalisar sa lugar lakip usab ang agay-agay sa pasahero ug ang gobyerno gitakdang makadawat sa resulta niini karong umaabot nga bulan sa Enero, siya midugang.

Ang NAIA Terminal 1 usa ka 30-anyos na nga airport, kini nakabaton sa dakong rehabilitasyon niadto pang 1996 diin ang mga world leaders miabot sa Pilipinas alang sa 1996 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooeperation (APEC) Summit. Ang maong terminal nga giablihan niadtong 1981, adunay orihinal nga passenger capacity nga 4.5 milyon ka mga pasehero matag tuig. Kini miabot na sa tukmang kapasidad niini niadtong 1991, si Roxas miingon.

Sa kasamtangan, kini modawat na sa 7.3 milyon ka mga pasahero matag tuig, ug sulod sa 20 ka tuig kini nagadawat sa dugang 56 milyon ka mga pasahero sobra sa gikatakda niini, sa dugang pamahayag ni Roxas.

Si Roxas miingon ang plano nga rehabilitasyon sa NAIA Terminal 1 wala gihimo tungod sa bag-ohay nga asister niini isip usa sa pinakadaot nga airport sa kalibutan. Siya miingon nga responsibilidad niini nga e-improb ang airport tungod sa prinsipyo nga “customers are always right.”

Si Roxas usab miklaro nga ang long-term plan nga pagbalhin sa NAIA didto sa Clarkfield sa Pampanga kini mag-agad lamang kung mahuman na ang NorthRail Project nga mobiyehe sa mga pasahero didto sa Clark gikan sa Manila.

Ang P1.1 bilyon nga alokasyon magagikan sa realigned budget sa DOTC ug Manila International Airport. Ang maong rehabilitasyon gikatakdang mahuman sulod sa 18 ka bulan. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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Cebuano News: Moralidad sa kapulisan nagpabilin taliwala pa man sa pagpinusilay sa 2 ka pulis sa Surigao del Sur

BUTUAN CITY, Nob. 16 (PIA) -- Nagpabilin matud pa ang moralidad sa kapulisan sa Bayabas Municipal Police Station, Bayabas Surigao del Sur taliwala pa man sa natigayong pagpanusilay sa duha ka pulis niini.

Kini ang giklaro ni P/Chief Supt. Isagani Haneb, assistant regional director for operation sa Police Regional Office 13.

Sumala sa nasangpit nga opisyal, isolated case ang natigayong insidente nila P/Insp. Edgardo Dico, hepe sa maong police station og ni PO3 Lord Anthony Lerin.

Wala pagsinabtanay og dugayng panagbangi matud pa ang posibleng hinungdan sa panghitabo nga nidangat sa ilang kamatayon.

Alayon niini, mas gipalawman pa sa kapulisan ang pagpanubay sa maong hitabo hilabi na nga dili malikayan ang kakulian sa matag police station tungod usab sa kahago sa mga trabaho sa kapulisan nga posibleng modangat sa panaglalis.

Una ng gipaneguro sa naasuyng opisyal nga personal siyang modalikyat sa Bayabas Municipal Police Station aron masuta ang ugat-hinungdan sa pagpinusilay sa duha ka pulis.

Kahinumdumang dead-on-arrival ang hepe nga si Dico gahapon sa dihang gidala sa ospital samtang namatay usab si PO3 Lerin tungod sa naangkong samad-pinusilan niini sa abaga ug paa. (BR/PIA-Caraga)

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Cebuano News: PDEA-Caraga personnel, gipailawom sa random drug testing

BUTUAN CITY, Nob. 16 (PIA) -- Gipailawom karon sa random drug testing ang tanang personahe sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency kon PDEA-Caraga.

Sigon ni PDEA-Caraga Regional Director Joel Plaza, tinuig kini nilang ginapahigayon sa ilang empleyado aron masigurong sa ilang buhatan mismo mapamatud-an ang ilang hugot nga pagkampanya batuk sa paggamit sa gidiling druga.

Dugang pa sa opisyal, mga representante sa PDEA-Region XI ang nagpahigayon sa nasangpit nga drug testing kondiin gikalipay sa ilang ahensya ang negatibong resulta sa tanang empleyado niini nga nagpasabot nga wala sila nagagamit sa gidiling druga.

Tungod niini, gi-congratulate ni Director Plaza ang iyang mga personahe og gilaumang magapadayon pa ang pagpakusog nila sa kampanya batuk sa illegal drugs ning rehiyon. (BR/PIA-Caraga)