Red Cross chair to visit Caraga Region
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, June 7 (PIA) –- Philippine Red
Cross (PRC) chairman Richard Gordon is set to visit Caraga Region on June 9 and
10 to turnover response equipment and first aid kits to its provincial offices
in Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
In a phone conversation with Jingjing Romero, PR
consultant of the PRC chair, he said the activity is part of PRC’s commitment
to better serve the people in the region, especially in the aforementioned
provinces.
Romero also said Gordon will grace the joint
turnover of the RC 143 DMT Response Equipment and RC 143 Community Health
Volunteer Team First Aid Kits to be held at the Municipal Gym in Claver,
Surigao del Norte.
He added recipients of the project are coming
from the six barangays from the two municipalities: Mainit and Claver.
Wrapping the activities of the day is a press
conference on the evening here in the city where PRC top officials will have
the chance to interact with the local tri-media.
On the following day, June 10, the official said
Chairman Gordon will grace the joint turnover of the Red Cross 143 DMT Response
Equipment and Red Cross 143 First Aid Kits at Agusan del Sur Provincial
Training Center, where some six barangays from the municipalities of Esperanza
and Bunawan served as recipients of the project.
Romero further said part of Chairman Gordon’s
visit is the ceremonial turnover of the newly-constructed PRC Agusan del Sur
chapter building at the Government Center, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del
Sur.
The official added the building costs P7 million
which was funded by the provincial government through the leadership of Gov.
Adolph Edward G. Plaza.
Gordon will be accompanied by PRC
Secretary-General Gwen Pang.
In an earlier report, it was learned that the
provincial government of Agusan del Sur is setting aside a budget of some P2.5
million for the re-agents on the blood program, have spent for the acquisition
of one unit blood refrigerator cost P450,000, have paid for the half the price
of an ambulance with a total cost of P1.8 million and manpower support. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
DENR-Caraga intensifies implementation of Nat’l
Greening Program
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, June 7 (PIA) -- Pursuant to
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s issuance of the Executive Order No. 26
ordering and declaring the implementation of a National Greening Program (NGP)
as a government priority, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) Caraga is intensifying implementation of said program in Caraga region.
Regional Technical Director Virgilio Dela Cruz
of the DENR’s Ecosystem Research Development Services reiterated that the NGP
seeks the attainment of sustainable human development, and economic and
ecological security. As a strategy, it aspires the planting of some 1.5 billion
trees in around 1.5 million hectares of public lands for six years, starting
2011 to 2016.
“For this year, 2012, we are targeting a 1.3
million indigenous species to plant in Caraga region. Aside from that, we are
also producing fruit trees… Seedling production is already 45 percent from its
target,” said Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz further bared that 25 years from now,
Caraga region is predicted to be supplying the wood requirement of the
Philippines and would even do importation of wood products.
“Every Filipino people is urged to plant 10
trees every year. For those who plan to conduct tree planting activity may
approach our office and we will be very glad to assist them,” Dela Cruz said.
With this program, all government agencies and
institutions, including local government units, will provide full support to
the program, not only in terms of tree planting, but also in the production of
quality seedlings, mobilization of all government employees, including students
to plant at least 10 seedlings each, annually. The private sector is encouraged
to participate in the program as well. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Agusan Norte police steps up campaign vs
criminals
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, June 7 (PIA) -- The Agusan del
Norte police is gearing up its campaign against criminals in the province
through various strategies and activities.
This was learned during the Provincial Peace and
Order Council (PPOC) meeting chaired by Governor Erlpe John Amante, held
recently at the Provincial Training Center, Capitol Site, this city.
According to Provincial Director PSSupt Eugenio
Paguirigan, crime incidents from January 1 to May 31 in the province decreased
to 96 compared to last year's 171 crime incidents of the same period.
“We are continuously intensifying our campaign
against illegal logging, illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and loose firearms,
among others,” Paguirigan said.
Paguirigan added that from January to May 2012,
his office successfully conducted Random Drug Testing in different stations of
the province and assured that whoever among his personnel are found using
illegal drugs will be penalized.
“We also conducted the following activities as
part of our significant accomplishments: Disaster Preparedness Training to our
personnel; field inspections in the different stations to check whether
assigned personnel per station are complying with the PNP directives;
bloodletting; tree planting activities; Oplan Gardenia “Balik Eskwela”; sports
activities; and meetings/fora with other agencies and media partners for a
stronger linkage with them,” stressed Paguirigan.
Paguirigan further emphasized that active
participation of the community and other stakeholders is indeed necessary, as
well as a focused and concrete anti-criminality programs in the province to
maintain peace and order situation. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Agusan del Sur intensifies anti-smoking
campaign, launched “SPONGE” campaign
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, June 7 (PIA) -- The province of
Agusan del Sur, thru the D. O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH) intensified its
anti-smoking campaign even as it launched the “Sponge” campaign today in order
to give full support to the anti-smoking ordinances passed by the province and
some municipalities while the rest of the municipalities are on process of
passing the same ordinance.
During a press conference held at the DOPMH
today, Dr. Joel Esparagoza, Provincial Health Officer said, it is high time
that people, smokers or non smokers, should know the ill effects of smoking to
human life so that the information will spread as wide as it can be, and media
is one that has the biggest role in this endeavour.
Being a doctor for internal medicine and an
authority in explaining the ill effects of smoking, Dr. Lorelaine Rivera-Pastor
showed the members of the media a power point presentation on how the lungs
absorb the smoke of tobacco that contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds in
the form of hot gases and millions of tiny particles also known as aerosols.
Tar, Dr. Pastor said, is the common name for all those particles that stand for
total aerosol residue.
“As you see, the lungs is like a sponge that if
smokers continue to supply it with tar, it will look like a very dirty honey
comb dripping with very dirty honey when someone squeezes it. What is worst is
it brings so many cancer diseases in the body and as we all know, here in
Agusan del Sur, smoking related diseases is the number two causes of death,”
Dr. Pastor said.
In his testimony Sangguniang Panlalawigan member
Dr. Nestor Corvera relayed to the media how he suffered when he was attacked by
a stroke due to heart failure.
“I want you to know that before, I can
personally consume two packs of cigarette per day, and even when I am laying in
bed, I smoke before I go to sleep. But I think when the abuses that I inflected
to my body returned to me, I was helpless. If not for the help of Gov. Adolph
Edward Plaza, the mayors of Agusan del Sur and some friends, I am already dead
by now. That time, I need P1.5 million for a heart by-pass operation, and I do
not have that much money. So I asked help from Gov.Plaza, his mother, former
Gov. Valentina Plaza and the mayors, and they never turned me down. But the
heart by-pass did not happen. Thru my prayers which the doctors and the nurses
of the Philippine Heart Center told me to do, which I did, miracle happened. I
was cured, but maintaining some P20,000 worth of maintenance medicines,” SP
member Corvera said.
With the partnership that the D.O. Plaza Memorial
Hospital forged with the media, Dr. Joel Esperagoza is hopeful that the
campaign on anti-smoking will prosper in Agusan del Sur. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
MARINA leads 2nd Maritime Shipping Forum
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, June 7 (PIA) –- The Maritime
Industry Authority (MARINA) - Surigao del Norte field office spearheaded on
Wednesday, June 6, the 2nd Maritime Shipping Forum at the 3rd Floor of DoΓ±a Eva
Macapagal Building, Philippine Ports Authority, Port Area, this city.
MARINA - Region X and XIII Regional Director
Engr. Emmanuel B.Carpio in his opening remarks said the main purpose of the
forum is to open the line between the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA),
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), MARINA, boat owners, captains and operators, and
to provide proper venue for all stakeholders to clarify some issues and
concerns.
Carpio said they are also planning to conduct a
familiarization seminar for dangerous and flammable goods to all boat captains
and operators to ensure the safety of their passengers.
During the said forum, Surigao del Norte PCG
Commander Joel Simo-ag appealed to all boat captains and operators to strictly
comply with the Maritime pre-departure requirements to avoid delayed and
inconvenience of departure.
Meanwhile, PPA Manager Engr. Isidro V. Butaslac
said this office, together with the PCG and MARINA, are always there to serve
the needs of the people in the shipping industry and as the President said,
“Kayo ang Boss namin.”
Attendees of the forum were representatives from
city and provincial local government, national line agencies, socio-civic
organization, maritime industry stakeholders and some local media. (SDR/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
Feature: “Clean ground, zero waste” consultant
shares enterprise tips
By Gervacio C. Dauz, Jr.
A seminar dubbed “Community Enterprise
Approaches: Zero Waste Management Program” held in the province zeroed in on
the how's and why's of Butuan City’s “Clean ground, zero waste” program.
The seminar had Dr. Almer M. Alfonso, Sr. as
resource speaker, who is considered the pillar of zero waste management in
Northern Mindanao. He, too, was also a three-term councilor of the city of
Valencia in Bukidnon and is currently serving as a pro-bono consultant for
Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.
“It’s all about our values; we are responsible
for it,” Alfonso started. He said that without making cleanliness a personal
issue, nothing will happen in the long run.
He also said there is a need to consider
unpleasant effects of not implementing a zero waste management approach.
According to him, gross killers such as diarrhea and dengue caused by dirty
environment have not been given attention as compared to the resources invested
for viruses like bird flu and AH1N1.
Further, he said that zero waste management can
create livelihood when done properly and creatively.
Alfonso also shared the pillars of Environmental
Solid Waste Management three E’s – education, engineering and enforcement.
According to him, education is “where we hope to
see the day that the neighborhood or community would say with conviction: ‘I am
doing it (cleanliness drive) because I want to’.” This type of education, he
said, is not taught but rather caught.
Complementary to education is the next pillar
infrastructure.
“If we educate our constituents, but we cannot
offer them a public lavatory or comfort room, then they will be tempted to just
urinate anywhere,” he cited.
Then lastly, the enforcement of laws comes to
place. He argued that unless we enforce our laws, then nothing significant will
happen.
Going further in referring to Republic Act 9003,
which provides for an ecological solid waste management program, he highlighted
provisions on segregation and collaboration where he has few tips to follow.
The biodegradable, he suggested, could be reused
ecologically by turning the same into fertilizers. But for non-biodegradable
waste, he advised to (1) sort at source; (2) pack properly; and (3) use,
re-use, recycle, or dispose ecologically.
As an observation, he pointed out that “we
refuse what we thought we don’t need anymore.” But in solid waste management,
he argued that we should take the “f” from the picture and what would be left
is “reuse.”
In the end, he questioned the audience on “What
kind of world do we leave our children in an overcrowded and ecologically
devastated planet?”
The seminar held June 1 was organized by the
SMCC, SMCC Alumni Association, Brgy. Council of Talisay, Office of the Vice
Governor of Agusan del Norte through Association of Brgy. Captains.
It was attended by community and political
leaders, teachers from the Department of Education, representatives from
government agencies, SMCC personnel and alumni. (RER/NCLM/TESDA-Agusan del
Norte/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Kaso ng dengue bumaba ng 19% sa
Caraga
BUTUAN CTY, Hunyo 7 (PIA) -- Bahagyang bumaba ng
19 porsyento kung ikukumpara sa parehong quarter ng nakaraang taon
ang kaso ng dengue sa rehiyon.
Ayon kay Sunshine Alipayo, DOH Center for Health
Development (CHD)-Caraga regional information officer, patuloy na mino-monitor
ng Department of Health (DOH) ng rehiyon ang mga kaso ng dengue lalo na't
padating na ang panahon ng tag-ulan.
Aniya, simula noong Enero 1 hanggang Hunyo 2
ngayong taon, ang kagawaran ng kalusugan sa rehiyon ay nakatala ng 372 na kaso
ng dengue kumpara sa 461 na kaso sa nakaraang taon.
Sinabi ng opisyal na ito ay dahil sa malawakang
pagmomonitor ng DOH-Caraga, pati na ang pakikipag-tulungan ng mga ahensya ng
gobyerno at mga pribadong organisasyon.
Sa kabuuang bilang ng kaso ngayong taon, ang
Surigao City ang napag-alamang may pinakamataas na numero sa kaso ng dengue na
umabot sa 94. Ito ay sinundan ng Surigao del Norte na may 78 na kaso, Agusan
del Sur - 51, Butuan City - 9, Province of Dinagat Islands - 9, at Cabadbaran
City - 8 kaso.
Sa mga kasong ito, ani Alipayo, 43 porsyento
dito ay pawang kabataan na may edad 1-10 na taon at 60 porsyento dito ay pawang
mga kalalakihan.
Idinagdag din ni Alipayo na kinakailangang
palakasin ang “Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue” (ABKD), isang programa ng
pamahalaang nasyonal. Aniya, kung ang mga tao sa barangay ay gagalaw para sa
implementasyon ng programa at aksyon laban sa dengue, “darating ang oras na
wala nang maitatala na kaso ng dengue sa bansa.”
Base sa memorandum circular 2012-16 ng
Department of the Interior and local Government (DILG) na pinalabas noong Enero
30 ng taong kasalukuyan, lahat ng mga city mayor o municipal mayor ay makikiisa
sa paggawa ng batas at ordinansang kakatawan sa pagpigil ng dengue, at sa
pagbibigay ng pondo sa dengue prevention and control na naaayon sa nasyonal at
lokal na regulasyon.
Ang ABKD ay isang inter-agency cooperative
strategy kung saan ang pamhalaan ay responsable sa pagtataguyod ng laban sa
dengue outbreak at para rin pababain ang kaso ng dengue at ang pagkokontrol ng
pagsalin ng nasabing sakit.
Isa sa mga inisyatibo ay ang paggawa ng
Ovicidal/Larviciadal Trap System (OL-Trap) para sa Aedes Mosquito. Ito ay isang
device na tumbler, na may strips ng plywood, at pellets. Ang OL trap ay
nakakadetek ng Aedes mosquito at aaksyon bilang maaagang warning signal para sa
pag-iwas sa dengue outbreaks.
Sa isang banda, bilang suporta sa ABKD program,
ang batch 1970 ng Agusan National High School (ANHS) ay nag-iimplementa ng kampanya
upang labanan ang dengue.
Ayon kay Carlito Kho, class president at
Mindanao Regional Operations Manager ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
(PCSO) na nakibahagi sila sa pagtulong sa paglaban sa dengue kaagapay ng
nasyonal na pamahalaan.
Idinagdag din niya na halos lahat ng kanilang
batchmates ay dumalo sa distribusyon ng anti-dengue spray chemicals para sa
dalawang malalaking paaralan sa dito: ANHS at Butuan Central Elementary School
(BCES) bilang parte sa preparasyon sa pagbubukas ng klase.
Ang programang “Brigada 70 Kontra Dengue,” ay
parte sa community extension service ng class 1970 sa premyadong public high
school ng rehiyon. (RER/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: POEA-Caraga binalaan ang publiko
laban sa illegal recruiters
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 7 (PIA) -- Nananawagan ngayon
sa publiko ang Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) sa rehiyon
ng Caraga na mag-ingat laban sa illegal recruitment.
Ayon kay POEA-Caraga Regional Director Marieta
Bellotindos, ang illegal recruitment ay nagpapatuloy pa hanggang ngayon.
Pinaaalahanan din nito ang gustong magtrabaho sa
abroad na maging mapagmasid sa mga aksyon na ginagawa ng mga illegal na
recruiters.
Sinabi rin ng opisyal na kung meron silang
kilala na mga illegal recruiters sa rehiyon ay ipag-alam lang sa kanilang
tanggapan.
Siniguro rin ni Bellontidos na ang mga gagawin
lahat nga pamahalaan upang matigil ang mga illegal na aktibidad na ito.
Binigyang diin din niya na para maiwasang
mabiktima ng mga recruiters, ang mga interesadong aplikante ay kailangan alamin
kung ang mga recruitment agencies ay legal sa pamamagitan ng pagkonsulta sa
tanggapan ng POEA.
Sinabi ng director na nakompleto na nila ang
listahan ng legal na recruitment agencies.
Samantala, iminungkahi naman ng ahensiya ang mga
panibagong ideya upang maiwasan ang illegal recruitment.
Nilinaw din ng tanggapan na huwag mag-apply sa
mga ahensya na hindi lisensyado ng POEA.
Pinaaalahanan din ang publiko na huwag
sumangguni sa mga hindi otorisadong mga manggagawa ng lisensyadong ahensya, at
‘wag komunsulta sa kahit sinong tao sa labas ng ahensya. Kung ang recruitment
ay nasa labas ng probinsya dapat na komunsulta muna kung ang provincial
recruitment ay otorisado o hindi ng POEA.
Binigyang diin din ng kagawaran na huwag
magbayad ng sobra sa placement fee, ito'y katumbas lamang ng isang buwan na
sweldo na para sa dokyumentasyon.
Pinayuhan din ang mga aplikante na huwag
magbayad ng placement fee hangga’t wala silang valid employment contract at
official receipt, at huwag basta-basta maniwala sa mga ads o brochures na
nagsasaad na maaaring mag-apply sila sa Post Office (P.O) BOX, at lakip ang
bayad para sa pagproseso ng mga papiles.
Nagbigay paalala rin ang POEA na ang mga
aplikante ay hindi dapat komunsulta sa mga training centers at travel agencies,
na nangangako ng overseas employment; at huwag tumangkilik sa mga tourist visa,
at hindi kailanman magpagamit sa mga fixers. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
