(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 19 March 2024) Easterlies affecting 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. Light to moderate winds coming from Northeast to North will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


PIA News Service - Friday, December 27, 2013

IFAD on RuMEPP Caraga: Job well done

By Arnold D. Faelnar/Marson Jan S. Dolendo
        
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 27 (PIA) - “Job well done!” – This sums up the overall assessment of the recent supervisory mission on the Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP) in Caraga.

The Supervision and Implementation Support (SIS) Mission for the RuMEPP was conducted recently by a team from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

In an interview following the IFAD SIS Mission, Country Program Officer Yolando Arban commended RuMEPP project implementers in Caraga for their work. He was joined by the other mission members – Dr. Ramon Quesada, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Corporation (SBC) and Edilberto Angeles of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

The mission was made to measure the strategies of the region in helping reduce poverty incidence through increased economic activities in the provinces. It also validated RUMEPP programme implementation and the status of compliance to the agreed actions from the mission made last year.

Arban confirms the positive impact of the RuMEPP projects through the development of micro entrepreneurs (MEs) who were operating profitably and sustainably through the RuMEPP initiative.

He said that the implementation of RuMEPP in Caraga Region has achieved satisfactory marks by IFAD standards. This was evident during the actual visits and interviews of the beneficiaries who showcased development in their business enterprise because of the RuMEPP intervention.

Among the projects visited were the seaweeds pickle delights in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, the “Kalakat” or palm oil fronds project in Trento, Agusan del Sur, and the woven water lily project of Butuan City in Agusan del Norte.

RuMEPP is a seven-year, US$22.826 million program assisted by IFAD with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the lead implementing agency.  It aims to reduce rural poverty through increased economic development, job creation, and better income for poor rural households by promoting profitable and sustainable micro enterprises. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)


Caraga industry players adopt 3 main strategies for tourism development

By Eden Burnea

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 27 (PIA) - Caraga’s tourism industry is targeting an increased contribution to the regional economy of some Php3.91 billion more and 48,522 new jobs by 2016.

To meet these goals, industry players are adopting three main strategies as outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan 2011-2016, namely – 1) improving market access and connectivity; 2) developing and marketing competitive tourist destinations and products; and 3) Strengthening tourism institutional government and human resource capacities.

The 2016 targets are made after due consideration of 2012 base figures such as the estimated P1.16 billion gross value added (GVA) in 2012 and about 74,465 jobs as of the same year. Estimates were based on the number of tourists, revenues generated from each tourist, the input level standard for the gross value added or economic contribution figures, and the jobs created per tourist standard used by local government units.

The move was made during the Learning Session on Green Tourism cum Roadmapping Workshop, recently.

The activity was attended by tourism stakeholders both private and government and supported by GIZ-Coseram through its partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry - Caraga in the Industry Cluster Assistance for Regional Economic Development (I-CARE) project.

In improving market access and connectivity, Caraga will embark on improving the capacities of airports in the cities of Butuan & Surigao and in Siargao Island. The industry will also work for the regularization of flights in Bislig City and Tandag City.

Another task will be to make Caraga more accessible from the Luzon and the Visayas Islands via sea travel through fast craft transport and improving on-arrival tourist accommodation facilities and amenities from the ports of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte and Surigao City to tourist destinations.

For easier access from other places within Mindanao, the industry will work to speed up implementation of the projects under the DPWH-DOT road improvement development.

In terms of developing and marketing competitive destinations and products, the region will focus on designing and setting up or upgrading the tourism service infrastructure which include the transport network, communication, and other tourist servicing facilities – in the identified tourism development areas (TDAs).

Caraga’s TDAs are Siargao, Dinagat, Surigao City-Lake Mainit, Butuan City- Cabadbaran City, Agusan Marsh, and San Agustin-Hinatuan-Bislig.

To strengthen institutional governance and human resource capabilities, priority tasks include skills capability building, improving labor relations, professional tourism training and education, as well as the improvement of governance for tourism development at the LGU level. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)


DTI-CIC conducts service excellence training for LGU BPLS frontliners

By Fritzie Rose L. Gulle
        
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 27 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry-Center for Industrial Competitiveness (DTI-CIC) conducted a two- day training entitled “Service Excellence for LGU BPLS Frontliners” recently, this city.

The training was made to capacitate local government unit (LGU) personnel involved in licensing and permitting on how to provide excellent frontline services to clients.

This is in support to the Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) Streamlining Program of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) that aims to improve efficiency in the delivery of the LGU’s service to the public particularly in the area of permitting. BPLS streamlining initiatives are also pursued actively by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DTI in the region.

The activity tackled both intra and interpersonal attitude examination during the first day while the second day highlighted the concept on customer service excellence by applying positive Filipino work values to help boost productivity and competitiveness.

Some 48 participants from 24 LGUs and two national line agencies attended the training which was facilitated by Ms. Ella C. Lachica and Ms. Carol R. Velasco of DTI-CIC.

The service excellence training is one of several programs for competitiveness of the DTI-CIC to make both private and public sector organizations become globally competitive. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)


DTI Caraga meets performance targets, braces for more challenges and opportunities in 2014

By Geraldine B. Dangate

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 27 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) –Caraga has successfully met and, in most cases, exceeded its annual targets as early as end of November, this year.

The preliminary data released by DTI- Caraga showed that the jobs generated figure was already 8,701, that is 45 percent more than the 6,000 annual target.

Domestic sales were also 11 percent more than the P400,000 million annual target at P444.74 million.

DTI-Caraga also reported that the number of business registrants improved to 5,700 as of November, a 3% higher than the 5,541 registrants in the same period last year.

Although the numbers for small and?medium enterprises are higher than?target, the agency noted that the 2013? figures are lower than in 2012. This is?because some of the SMES targeted to be served through the shared service facility (SSF) programme have yet to receive those services due to some delays in the procurement process.

“We are hoping we will no longer face the same problem next year,” DTI-Caraga regional director Brielgo O. Pagaran said during the agency year-end performance assessment held recently.

“The over P50 million allocation for SSF projects and another P87 million of grassroots participatory budgeting (GPB) projects (formerly known as bottom-up budgeting or BuB) have to be moved so we can help more MSMEs,” he added.

Director Pagaran said that while the GPB/BuB and SSF programs and the on-going climate change adaptation financing will take care of DTI’s “inclusive growth” objectives, the agency also needs to work on promoting our existing economic zones if not work for new potential areas to get more investments.

He also said that the best bet for SME development would be to promote franchising. He sees the need to set up franchising incubation centers which would be tied up with the academe before full commercialization/privatization. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)


Port cops seize deadly weapons

By Eugenio Lira, Jr.

PORT OF SURIGAO CITY, Dec. 27 (PIA) - Dozens of deadly weapons confiscated from passengers in the island port of Dapa, Surigao del Norte, were turned over on Thursday, December 26, to officials of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

Port Police Inspector Elvis Aurelio Daguman, detachment commander of the Port of Dapa, turned in about 86 pieces of assorted bladed weapons and 3 pieces of brass knuckles to PP/Superintendent Froilan Caturla, commander of the Port of Surigao City, as part of the former’s year-end accomplishment report covering the second half of 2013.

“This big haul of lethal weapons is a result of our intensified campaign called “Operation Bakal” during the third and fourth quarters of this year. We were able to detect these through our baggage x-ray machine and manual security checks conducted by our port police personnel and PPA security guards on outbound passengers in the Port of Dapa,” Daguman disclosed.

PP/Superintendent Froilan Caturla said their implementation of  “Operation Bakal” in all ports under the PPA Port Management Office of Surigao, which covers the provinces of Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, had greatly helped in ensuring the safety of sea-going travelers and the public who use governments ports during their travels.

Port Manager Isidro Butaslac, Jr. has commended PP/Inspector Elvis Aurelio Daguman saying “his extraordinary vigilance against criminally-minded passengers who were bringing deadly weapons had contributed a lot in building Dapa Port as the safest gateway to the island of Siargao which is globally known as one of the major tourists’ destinations in Asia-Pacific region.” (FEA/ELJ/PPA-Surigao/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano news: Administrasyon motutok sa 'reconstruction' sa mga naapektuhang lugar sa Yolanda

Ni Nida Grace P. Barcena

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Dis. 27 (PIA) – Samtang kini nagadawat sa maayong rating kon “good” net satisfaction ni Presidente Benigno S. Aquino III alang sa ika-upat nga kuwarter sa tuig 2013, ang kasamtangan administrasyon magpabilin sa pagtutok sa ilahang trabaho, ilabina ang matang sa rehabilitasyon sa mga dapit nga naapektuhan sa super bagyong Yolanda.

Si Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Hermino “Sonny” Coloma Jr. miingon nga ang gobyerno nakahibalo na sa dakong trabaho niini sa umaabot pinaage sa pagtabang sa mga katawhan nga mobangon gikan sa kawad-on human miigo ang bagyong Yolanda.

"Siyempre kung yan ang opinyon, tinatanggap namin ang kanilang pagpapasiya. Nguni't isinasaalang-alang pa rin natin na napakalaki ng dapat gawing programa”, siya miingon sa pakighinabi kaniya sa usa ka media briefing.

Ang Pollster Social Weather Stations nga survey gikan Disyembre 11 ngadto sa 16 mitala ug 69 porsyento sa mga Filipino ang natagbaw sa performance ni President Aquino, samtang 21 porsyento niini ang wala mahimout.

Kini mihubad sa pagkamaayo (good) +49 net rating alang sa president.

Apan si Coloma miingon nga ang gobyerno kahibalo na sa mga dagkong hagit sa pag implementar sa program sa “reconstruction” alang sa mga dapit nga apektado sa Yolanda, diin mibiya ug mokapin pa sa 6,100 ka mga nangamatay.

“Kami anaa pa sa pagbuntog sa mga dagkong hagit kalabot sa pagpahamtang sa programa sa reconstruction ug rehabilitasyon. ("We still have to surmount major challenges in terms of implementing reconstruction and rehabilitation programs.) Kaya sabi natin mas mabuti mag-focus na lang sa trabaho na dapat gawin " siya miingon.

Siya usab miingon nga ang resulta sa survey mahimo maoy indikatura nga si President Aquino wala magpaapekto sa mga kritisismo batok sa kasamtangang administrasyon kalabot sa rehabilitasyon nga kakugi human sa bagyong Yolanda.

Ang resulta sa survey usab maoy indikatora nga ang Presidente wala maapektohi sa mga kritisismo human sa kasamok didto sa Zamboanga City niadtong bulan sa Setyembre, ug ang linog sa Bohol niadtong bulan sa Oktubre. (NGBT/PND/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Cebuano News: 2 ka iskolar sa probinsya midwife na

Ni Jay Vincent V. Demain

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Dis. 27 (PIA) – Duha ka iskolar sa probinsya ang aduna nay lisensya sa midwifery human sila nakapasar bag-ohay pa lamang sa gihatag nga midwifery licensure examination.

Si Kathleen Rose D. Enoy nga taga Sitio Minbahandi, Camagong, Nasipit ug Shiojane B. Rapana nga taga sityo Subait, Bonifacio, Las Nieves mitapos sa kursong midwidery niadtong Marso sa Elisa R. Ochoa Memorial Northern Mindanao School of Midwifery.  Duha sila sa 10 ka iskolar sa probinsya ubos sa programa ni kaniadtong gobernador ug karon kongresista Erlpe John Amante.

Kini nga programa nga gitawag nga Provincial Indigenous Scholarship Program maghatag og full scholarship sa mga lumad nga kabos apan angayan nga mga studyante, nagsugod niadtong tuig 2011.

Gihimo ang oathtaking ceremony sa mga nakapasar sa nasangpit nga tulonghaan niadtong Desyembre 4, 2013. (NCLM/LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan Norte)