DepEd to accept entries for the 2012 Nat’l Literacy Award
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, April 7 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga,through the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC), will be conducting the 2012 National Literacy Award (NLA) and is still accepting entries until April 23 for the regional level.
This was learned during the regional orientation on the NLA held recently at the DepEd-Caraga Regional Conference Hall attended by the representatives of the member-agencies in the government, institutions, and private stakeholders.
The 2012 National Literacy Award is in consonance with the celebration of the Annual Literacy Week on September 2 to 8, as per proclamation No. 329.
According to LCC Secretariat Head Dr. Norma Salcedo of DepEd, the NLA has two categories: Outstanding Literacy Program Award, which is given to a literacy program being implemented by a civil society organization, non-government organization, private organization, or educational/academic institution which has positive impact on learners and the community; and Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU) Award which is also given to LGUs (highly urbanized city, component city, component independent city, Class A municipality, and Class B municipality), which have developed and which have efficaciously made a positive impact on their barangays and the quality of life of their people.
Salcedo further said that the award aims to recognize the best practices for implementing literacy programs or projects which help alleviate poverty, provide livelihood, address welfare needs, promote freedom, and make education facilities accessible.
“With the National Literacy Award, we sustain, expand and institutionalize literacy efforts by motivating and recognizing individuals, institutions and the local government units through awards and appropriate recognition. We also encourage the development and replication of innovative, creative and indigenous literacy programs,” said Salcedo.
Nominations and selection of regional winners shall be conducted not later than April 10 to 30. Announcement of regional winners will be on May 2, 2012 and the regional entries must be submitted to the LCC Secretariat on or before May 15. Any entry not received by said date will be disqualified fro the short-listing process.
Ms. Marilyn Antiquina of DepEd-Caraga reminded the representatives of the different municipalities in the region to strictly comply with the requirements and to submit the entries on or before the deadline of submission so it will be screened and processed.
The LCC Head Secretariat, Dr. Salcedo, or DepEd-Caraga Regional Office should be contacted for more information. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Women’s groups start life-saving skills training
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, April 7 (PIA) -- Aiming to have an active participation of all sectors in the society in time of disaster, the provincial government of this province in Northern Mindanao involved women’s groups in disaster preparedness and emergency response.
The first batch of the two-day training was done last week at the Mindanao Civic Center Grand Stadium here.
The disaster preparedness and emergency response training was jointly conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Provincial Population Office, and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
“We decided to expose the women’s organizations to this type of training because they are the ones often left at home and they should know how best to respond during emergencies,” said PDRRMO Head Marlyn Trozo.
Also facilitating the initial disaster response training were the members of the Provincial Emergency Response Team, provincial police force, 35th Infantry "Makamandag" Battalion and Lanao del Norte firefighters.
The Provincial Emergency Response Team is composed of provincial employees intensively trained to provide immediate assistance to victims of natural or man-made calamities.
Participants were women’s groups from the municipalities of Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, Salvador, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo as well as members of the Lanao del Norte Producers Association.
The participants in the first batch disaster seminar and training learned the hazards during calamities and its counter measures, fire suppression, first aid training, and basic life-support.
A rescue olympics was also held to simulate emergency situations which tested the participants’ skills in extinguishing fires and in handling injured victims.
The provincial government set to widen the preparedness and disaster response training and seminars to all sectors of the society.
“This is another way of empowering our women. The vital life-saving skills that they received in this training can be of great help not only in their respective communities but in their homes as well,” stressed Lanao del Norte Gov. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo. (MUC/RER/PIA-Caraga)
Road projects in Agusan Sur to spur economic prosperity in far-flung village communities
TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur, April 7 (PIA) -- The road construction currently implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Agusan del Sur 1st District Engineering Office (ADS 1 DEO) will be completed soon.
The residents and farmers in areas of Campo, San Miguel, Batucan and Del Mote in the river town of Talacogon are grateful of this road construction project of President Benigno S. Aquino lll, which will be completed on July 28 this year, ahead of its completion target.
It is seen that this new road will improve the lives of the village community folks, as some of them will be given access to basic services like education, health, and economic opportunities.
Town and community village officials expressed heartfelt gratitude to the DPWH-ADS 1 DEO for the construction of this new road.
The construction of NRJ-Batucan-Campo farm-to-market road, funded under the Department of Agriculture CY 2011 program in the amount of P7 million, was started January 31, 2012.
It is being implemented by the DPWH-ADS I DEO under District Engineer (DE) Jaime T. Bernat, Sr, and under contract with Roim Builders and Construction Supply.
As of this posting, the project is still on-going.
“We are ahead of schedule and our technical personnel, project engineer and resident engineer are on the ground 24/7 to hit our objective – good quality of works and good quality materials being implemented by the contractor under its program of work,” stressed DE Bernat.
"The area is producing rubber, rice and corn, falcata and varied rootcrops. These produce were transported before only by carabao-pulled cart that will take the farmers long hours before they reached the nearest market. With the construction of this road, exchange of goods and services will be fast, easier and accessible," added DE Bernat.
In compliance with the directive of DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson to engage local civil society organizations (CSOs) to enter into budget partnerships with DPWH regional offices, the DPWH Regional office 13 has recently signed a budget partnership agreement (BPA) with its CSO partner Butuan-Agusan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (BACCIFI).
During the signing of the BPA, Region Xlll DPWH Regional Director Danilo E. Versola reiterated Secretary Singson’s statement that DPWH wants to enhance the quality of its budget process by involving CSO partners in the annual budget preparation.
“This agreement with BACCIFI will help enhance efficiency and effectiveness of our office. With BACCIFI monitoring our programs, projects and activities for this year and beyond, transparency and accountability will be achieved and quality of public service will be improved particularly here in Caraga region,” said Director Versola.
The signing of the BPA is part of the DPWH program to establish stronger ties with people’s organizations in the preparation and execution of the agency’s budget for FY 2013 and beyond. This is in support to the national government’s commitment to institutionalize citizen participation in the budget process as means of enhancing transparency and accountability in the preparation, allocation and utilization of public funds.
The BPA was signed at the DPWH Regional Office 13 by Director Versola, BACCIFI President Joseph Omar O. Andaya and witnessed by DPWH 13 Planning Chief Samson L. Hebra, BACCIFI Executive Director Virginia L. Rosales, Agusan del Norte District Engineer Alipio Grana and Butuan City District Engineer Nicolas Alameda.
The BPA is in accordance with the guidelines set by the Department of Budget and Management National Budget Circular No. 536 dated January 31, 2013 to standardize partnership program with CSOs and other concerned stakeholders. (MUC/RER-PIA Caraga)
