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)

PIA News Service - Thursday, December 26, 2013

DTI Caraga prepares for operations in Dinagat province, conducts price and fair trade laws monitoring

By Glendyl M. Escaret

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 26 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will soon be establishing a field office in the Province of Dinagat Islands. This is made possible with the approval of DTI’s Rationalization Plan which provided for positions to be deployed in the new province.

But this early, DTI-Caraga’s regional office through its Consumer Welfare Division (CWD) has made initial ground works in the area as early as start of the 2nd half of this year.

At least five monthly price monitoring activities were conducted in San Jose, the capital town of the province. Prices of selected brands of basic necessities and prime commodities were checked in 21 selected stores.

Monitoring activities were also conducted for 147 firms in the seven municipalities of the province namely: Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto, San Jose and Tubajon for compliance of the Price Tag Law (RA 7394, Art.81-83 & DAO 9, s.2002) and compliance with Labeling (Art.77, RA 7394).

For the Standards Law (RA 4109/ DAO 2, s.2007), 13 firms selling construction materials and electrical supplies were monitored. They were given a list of products under mandatory standards for their guidance and were verbally instructed to sell only products with Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers and Philippine Standard (PS) marks.

The CWD reported over-all compliance in their monitoring activities.

The regional team also embarked on municipal briefing sessions on the rights and privileges of people with disabilities (PWD) and the senior citizens especially when it comes to purchasing goods and services. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)

Caraga rubber industry localizes national plan

By Jardynne R. Narvasa

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 26 (PIA) - With the aim to make Caraga become one of the top 4 producing regions of quality natural rubber in the country, the Caraga rubber industry cluster members met to validate, harmonize and localize the national rubber plans.

The meeting-workshop, which was conducted recently, was attended by the Board of Directors of the Caraga Rubber Industry Federation, Inc. (CRIFI) and support agencies such the departments of agriculture (DA), environment and natural resources (DENR), agrarian reform (DAR), trade and industry (DTI), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and local government units of Butuan City and Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

DTI Agusan del Sur Provincial Director Lolita I. Dorado presented the Philippine Rubber Industry Updates, while the line agencies took turns in giving their reports and accomplishments in relation to their efforts in the rubber industry development.

The group then reviewed the Philippine Rubber Value Chain Map, Constraints and Opportunities as well as the 2014-2016 Industry Cluster Action Plan.

They also validated national vision, mission, goals and strategic targets for the rubber industry as outlined in the Philippine Rubber Master Plan before proceeding to localize the National Rubber Convergence and Industry Cluster Action Plan.

As follow-through actions, the cluster will be conducting a Basic Training on Rubber Tree Cultural Management and coordination meetings to finalize the Caraga Value Chain Map as well as discuss matters for endorsement to the Regional Development Council. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)

RuMEPP - on its last term, hopes partner LGUs and MFIs continue assisting rural enterprises

By Richelle Joy C. Palattao

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 26 (PIA) - The Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Caraga will be ending its project assistance by close of this year.

DTI – Caraga Regional Director Brielgo O. Pagaran is confident that local government units (LGUs) and micro financing institutions (MFIs) in the region will continue to help rural microenterprises (MEs).

“We have prepared for this by setting up the LGU-RuMEPP partnerships as early as two years ago,” Pagaran said.

“Of course, our agency will continue with the work and we will make sure that the MEs assisted will get continuing support if they need it through our regular programs,” he added.

RuMEPP is a seven – year, US$ 22.826 million programme funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It aims to help poor entrepreneurs & rural families in the country by providing technical and financial support, which can in turn benefit other poor families through job opportunities.

The Caraga Region is one of only five (5) regions that is benefited by RuMEPP. All its then four (4) provinces were part of the 19 provinces implementing the programme. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)

6 SSF projects launched in 2013

By Jardynne R. Narvasa

        

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 26 (PIA) -  DTI-Caraga launched six shared service facility (SSF) projects worth P2.583 million this year.

Four of these projects were given to cooperators in Agusan del Norte and Butuan City while the other two went to Agusan del Sur groups.

The Agusan del Norte/Butuan City recipients are IVORY .07 Arts and Crafts and Butuan-Agusan del Norte Handicrafts developers, Inc. (BAHANDI). These arts and crafts groups were given identical sets of sewing and foot machines for the production of various crafts from water lily such as bags, sandals, slippers and shoes.

The other two groups got equipments for their organic beverage projects (corn coffee and ginger/salabat). They are the women group of Culit Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Taguibo Organic Farmers Association for Sustainable Agriculture (TOFASA).

Cooperators/SSF recipients in Agusan del Sur were those engaged in Coco-coir Geonets: Community-Based Twining and Weaving Project and Organics: Processing and Packaging of Organic Inputs.

DTI’s SSF Development Program has been one of the tools of the agency in assisting and empowering micro, small and medium enterprise (MSMEs) to become more productive and competent entrepreneurs locally and globally, through better technology and more sophisticated equipment. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)

PIA News Service - Monday, December 23, 2013

DepEd conducts orientation-seminar on IP Education

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Surigao del Sur spearheaded today an orientation-seminar on Indigenous People’s (IP) Education for District Supervisors, Secondary Cluster heads, Municipal Tribal chieftains, and some stakeholders held in this city.

Danilo Alcantara, IP Coordinator, said the activity aims to provide relevant information pertaining to the National Indigenous People’s Education Policy Framework and some other related legal laws to support and promote the program.

Alcantara also added that the said activity will also help capacitate the school heads to integrate the indigenous knowledge, systems and practices (IKSP) in teaching-learning processes and deepen the understandig of IP System.

"We have invited the local government units in order to strengthened partnership to support the program," said Alcantara.

Accordingly, the program will cater to the basic education needs of IPs who live in mountain villages and sitios here in Surigao del Sur as well as in Mindanao and other areas of the country. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Maritime police commits to protect fish sanctuary

By Rina “Jiji” Jaylo

SURIGAO CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA) — Cognizant of the urgency to protect marine life and giant coral reefs in the city’s biggest fish sanctuary against illegal fishing, the local Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime station recently made a commitment to provide a round-the-clock police protection to Brgy. Buenavista Fish Sanctuary, this city in a joint undertaking with barangay officials.

P/Insp Andres Banquel, Jr., commander of PNP Maritime 1301st station, said he was saddened to know that the fish sanctuary has been constantly raided by illegal fishermen who used noxious substances and tiny nets to catch fishes.

“We learned that this kind of illegal fishing goes unabated and is rampant in Brgy. Buenavista. We’re empathic with the locals’ predicament because they were caught in a situation where barangay authorities were just being ignored by illegal fishers,” told Banquel, saying “henceforth we would be conducting sea patrol together with barangay officials and other volunteers to ensure the protection of these marine resources”.

Kagawad Noel “Weweng” Llesis, number one councilor in the said barangay, disclosed that the previous barangay officials did not take a step forward to protect their fish sanctuary from illegal fishing due to lack of interest and lack of political will.

“As newly-elected officials, I and my colleagues in the barangay council, as well as Punong Barangay Romeo Alcala, are determined to put an end to this rampant ‘rape’ and destruction of our marine resources. Hence, we’re enlisting the help of P/Inspector Andres Banquel, Jr. to ensure maximum protection of our fish sanctuary and the eventual arrest of any malefactors,” Llesis stressed.

He said the barangay council of Buenavista and the PNP Maritime 1301st station will be organizing next week a group of volunteers to be known as Brgy. Buenavista Fish Sanctuary Brigade which will serve as support group of the maritime police in protecting the said marine habitat. (FEA/PIA-Caraga)

E-bamboo sways things for the better in Surigao del Sur

By Romel M. Oribe/Teresita B. Subibi/Marson Jan S. Dolendo

TANDAG CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry-Surigao del Sur Provincial Office (DTI-SDS), in coordination with local government units and other national government agencies, has been conducting various events in Surigao del Sur for people to take a closer look at the investment potential of engineered bamboo or e-bamboo.

Last April, DTI-SDS, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), local government unit of Tago, Surigao del Sur, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) of Surigao del Sur and the Golden Grain Farmer Irrigators’ Association signed a memorandum of agreement [MOA] for the establishment of a 3-hectare bamboo plantation in Barangay Bajao, Tago, Surigao del Sur. The project was launched with representatives of these agencies planting the recommended engineered bamboo species like giant, tinik, etc.

In July this year, DTI-SDS, in tandem with DTI-Cottage Industry Technology Center (CITC), had organized a 3-day techno training on bamboo processing in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. As offshoot, the former had turned over a primary processing facility on 10 December 2013 to Buhisan Women Development Organization, a techno training organization-participant based in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.

To know the extent of bamboo’s business potential, DTI-SDS conducted a Business Opportunity Seminar on 25 October 2013 in Bislig City with Mr. Edgardo Manda, the top honcho of the Philippine Bamboo Foundation, Inc. (PBFI), as speaker.

The DTI had also signed a MOA with Surigao del Sur State University-Tagbina Campus on 25 November 2013 for the establishment of a bamboo nursery-cum-bamboo gene bank.

As year-ender, DTI will conduct a “Trainers’ Training on Nursery Establishment and Bamboo Plantation Rehabilitation and Management” on 19-20 December 2013 in Bislig City. This is in partnership with the City Government of Bislig and PBFI.

For inquiries, contact DTI-Surigao del Sur at (086) 211-3029 or email at dtitandag@yahoo.com.ph. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)

Pangasius doing brisk swimming in Surigao del Sur

By Romel M. Oribe/Teresita B. Subibi/Marson Jan S. Dolendo

TANDAG CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA) - Just two years after the Department of Trade and Industry-Surigao del Sur Provincial Office (DTI-SDS) introduced pangasius culture in Surigao del Sur, the industry has grown beyond expectation.

This makes investors take notice of its potential. For this year alone, at least 5,000 fingerlings were stocked by different growers in San Miguel, Tandag City and Lianga which translate to about P300,000 investments. Some of these pangasius are now being processed and bottled by Donnel Polizon (former Tagbina, Surigao del Sur mayor-turned entrepreneur) who learned the processing and bottling technology from a techno training that DTI conducted in February this year.

It can be recalled that things began “swimming” for the pangasius industry in Surigao del Sur in June 2011 when DTI-SDS forged an alliance with the Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU) for a pangasius production project in Barangay San Jose, a barangay of Tandag City that SDSSU has adopted. Attended by cooperators and stakeholders, the launch was highlighted by the loading of 1,000 pieces of pangasius donated by the Regional Office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through Regional Director Nerio G. Casil.

All messages that day harped on the same thing: the project is a good vehicle for job generation and wealth creation for a depressed barangay like San Jose.

Pangasius was introduced by BFAR in the Philippines in 1981. It belongs to the catfish family and known commonly as cream dory. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)

RuMEPP-Caraga tops performance targets

By Dennis Solis

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA) -  The Rural Micro Enterprise Promotions Program (RuMEPP) in Caraga Region not only met but also exceeded its performance targets in project implementation. This is the appraisal made by the RuMEPP Program Management Unit (PMU) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

It also performed beyond the expectations of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the programme funder. This was confirmed during the IFAD Supervision and Implementation Support (SIS) Mission for RuMEPP recently.

The seven-year program which will be winding up by close of this year served 6,978 new and existing micro enterprises (MEs), a 215% accomplishment versus the target of only 3,248 set by IFAD. This level of performance is true to all four Caraga provinces.

Agusan del Norte served 2,015 MEs (301%) versus 670 target; Agusan del Sur - 1,851 MEs (219%) versus 846 target; Surigao del Norte -1,653 (215%) versus 662 target; and Surigao del Sur -1,459 (136%) versus 1,070 target.

RuMEPP-Caraga has also released Php 36,642,341 pesos worth of business development services (BDS). These BDS releases were instrumental in the development of a number of industries in the region like seaweeds, kalakat (palm oil fronds), pangasius, tilapia, coffee bean production, water lily products, arts & crafts, organic farming projects as well as the series of skills training and enhancement seminars including marketing support, among others.

The highest BDS project release is Php 10.6 million pesos to Surigao del Sur to assist 1,459 MEs throughout the province. Agusan del Sur had Php 9 million pesos of BDS to assist 1,851 MEs; Php 8.7 million pesos was given to Agusan del Norte to assist 2,015 MEs; Php 8.4 Million pesos to Surigao del Norte to assist 1,653 MEs.

A survey from the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) confirms the steady growth of the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) and the decrease in poverty incidence catapulting the region from the bottom of the 17 regions to 11th place, just next to Cebu and Davao, a feat that also reflects the contribution of the RuMEPP projects by increasing the economic activities in the rural communities.

The RuMEPP programme covers only the 19 poorest provinces in the country, with the goal of increasing economic development and improved job generation to reduce of rural poverty of at least 200,000 poor rural households.

RuMEPP is involved in capability and capacity building endeavors equipping the MEs with adequate skills to start, manage and grow a business enterprise to increase their incomes and even provide employment as the business expands.

The program likewise provides the MEs access to working capital when they need it form Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) funded by the Small Business Corp. (SBC).

RuMEPP is a seven-year, US$22.826 million program assisted by IFAD with the DTI as the lead implementing agency. It aims to reduce 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)

Tagalog News: DSWD tumanggap ng solar na parol, mga sasakyan mula sa donor

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Disyembre 23 (PIA) - Ang Department of Socal Welfare and Development (DSWD) ay tumanggap kamakailan ng kabuuang 1,002 piraso ng solar na parol mula sa Panasonic para sa mga biktima ng bagyong Yolanda sa Eastern Visayas.

Ang naturang donasyon ay tinanggap ni DSWD-Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Operations Office (DRRROO) Director Restituto Macuto mula kay Panasonic President Nobou Yasuhira sa National Resource Operations Center (NROC) sa lunsod ng Pasay.

Habang may sariling rechargeable na baterya, ang naturang parol ay hindi lamang magbibigay liwanag, ngunit ito ay magagamit din bilang pinagmulan ng koryente para makapag charge ng mga maliliit na electronic devices tulad ng cellphones.

Bawat parol ay may limang LED at ito ay denisenyo na maglabas ng liwanang na 360 degrees. Nakapagbibigay din ito ng hanggang anim na oras na liwanag sa pinakamataas na antas na maibigay o hanggang 90 oras sa mababang maliwanag na setting.

Sa isang banda, ang Republic of Botswana ay nagbigay ng limang Isuzu flatbed na ruck para sa ginagawang disaster relief operation.

Pule Mphothwe, Deputy chief ng mission ng Embahada ng Botswana ay nag-abot ng symbolic na susi kay Dr. Macuto. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Cebuano News: Malakanyang buot nga dumdomon ang 2013 uban ang hinanaling pagbangon sa katawhang Pilipino-kauswagan nga panglantaw alang sa 2014 ug determinasyon

Ni Nida Grace Barcena

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Disyembre 23 (PIA) - Ang Malakanyang wala mangandoy diin ginumbok ang 2013 isip puno sa tuig sa mga kadaut sa krisis ug kalamidad, apan usa ka bahin nga makahatag ug pinakamaayo ang “hinanaling pagbangon ug pag-rekober” sa mga katawhang Filipino, komo ang administrasyon ni Presidente Aquino milantaw padulong sa bag-ong tuig uban ang hataas nga determinasyon nga makab-ot ang nahabilin nga mga katuyoan.

Si Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. mipagawas ug pamahayag kagahapon alang sa paghulagway sa mensahe sa Malakanyang sa nag-hinapos nga tuig diin kasamtagan pang giandam uban sa pakig-alayon sa National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

“Batid naman po natin na sama-sama tayong dumaan at nakaranas ng hindi lamang, ayon sa katagang ginamit ng Pangulo, hindi lamang sa sunud-sunod na kalamidad kundi sa patung-patong na paghamon at problema; na hindi pa tapos ang isa ay naganap na ang kasunod,” sulti ni Coloma sa pakighinabbi sa dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Si Coloma mitumbok sa Zamboanga nga panagbangi, ang 7.2-magitude nga linog didto sa Bohol ug Cebu, bagyong “Santi” sa Central Luzon, ug ang malumpagon nga super bagyong “Yolanda” nga sunod sunod nga miigo sa nasud sa nag-hinapos nga tuig sa 2013.

“Sa ating paglingon sa kinabukasan, nandoon po ‘yung determinasyon natin, hindi lamang na malampasan ang mga nakaraang pagsubok, kundi magtatag pa ng mas mainam at mas mabuti—‘yung ating sinasabing ‘build back better’ na kapag naitayo na ang lahat, masasabi nating meron tayong mas mainam at mas katanggap-tanggap na mga pasilidad, at hindi lamang po maipapanumbalik sa normal, meron pong pwedeng asahan ang ating mga kababayan na isang mas maaliwalas na kinabukasan,” ang opisyal sa PCOO miingon.

Si Coloma miingon nga ang NEDA mopagawas ug “results matrix” diin mosilbe isip “scorecard” sa tanan implementasyon sa mga programang reporma nga nahisaysay ubos sa Philippine development Plan sa Aquino Administrasyon.

Siya miingon kini maoy giya sa mga mga ehekutibo sa nagkadaiyang mga ahnesya ug mga departamento sa pagderminar unsa nga programa ang natapos na, unsa nga mga proyekto ang padayon nga gipahamtang, ug unsa pa nga mga plano alag sa kalamboan ang angayan mahatagn ug dugang nga pagtagad.

“Puspusan po ang magiging pagsisikap ng pamahalaan na isagawa ang mga repormang ito at katuwang po ng ating Executive branch ang ating mga mambabatas dahil marami pa pong mga panukalang batas na dapat na isalang sa ating lehislatura,” dugang pa ni Coloma.

Si Coloma miingon nga sila mopagawas ug year-end report ngadto sa publiko sa dili pa mahuman kining bulan sa Disyembre diin gipatugbaw ang unsa ang nakab-ot sa panggamhanan sa nagkadaiyang aspeto sa pagdumala sa miageng tuig ug ang panglantaw sa umaabot nga tuig. (PND/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

PIA News Service - Friday, December 20, 2013

TESDA certifies new masons in Butuan City

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA) – Some 40 masons from this city were assessed and certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Office (TESDA), receiving national certification in Masonry NC-II.

This development came after Holcim Philippines, Inc., one of the leading cement manufacturers in the country has signed a memorandum of agreement with the local government unit here and TESDA-Caraga to train masons from this city for 17 days.

The training, dubbed “Holcim Galing Mason” was launched last month in Butuan City Hall. During the launching, 40 masons coming from different barangays here have signified their intention to undergo the said training.

The first phase of the training took place from November 12-18, 2013 where the trainees are required to construct two classroom buildings at Ampayon Integrated High School.

After this phase, the trainees were assessed by TESDA-accredited assessors where all trainees reportedly passed the said assessment.

Also, top 25 of the trainees were chosen to continue in the next phase where they were given the opportunity to undergo free National Certification (NC)-II assessment through the National TVET Competency Assessment and Certification (NATCAC).

Maria Cristina Soberano, TESD Specialist-II and TESDA-Caraga focal person of Galing Mason said the 15 trainees who were not able to join in the second phase of the project still received training allowance of P150.00 per day, aside from the free morning and afternoon snacks and lunch every day.

“Aside from the national certification, they also received allowance in the entire duration of their training… Free morning and afternoon snacks and lunch per day were also served to the trainees for the entire training period to ensure that they will really finish the training,” she said.

In an earlier speaking engagement, Butuan City Councilor Ramon Carampatana emphasized that the trainees, after they will be conferred with national certification by TESDA, will be regularly contacted by the city government in case construction projects are taking place in the city.

“The city government has high level of trust and confidence to TESDA… This means we believe that if TESDA has certified a skilled worker, he/she has passed not only the national qualification standard set by TESDA, but as well as the international standards set by other countries in as far as selecting globally-competitive skilled workers is concerned,” Carampatana said.

Because of this, the official said that with the future construction projects that are implemented by the city government, they will be tapping the services of the 40 masons. “This is what has been stipulated also in the memorandum of agreement that we have signed between TESDA and Holcim Philippines, Inc.,” Carampatana said.

During the training recognition held recently in Barangay Ampayon here, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr., TESDA-Caraga Regional Director Dr. Florencio F. Sunico, Jr., and TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rodrigo De Villa were among the dignitaries present who witness the confirmation of the trainees. (TESDA-13 /PIA-Caraga)

Cebuano News: Cong. Amante mibotar sa P2.264T alang sa 2014 badyet

Ni Aimee B. Sienes- Sajor

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Des. 20 (PIA) - Gi-aprubahan niadtong Disyembre 10, 2013 sa Bicameral Conference Committee didto sa kongreso ang badyet sa sunod tuig 2014 nga mikabat sa P2.264 trilyones ka pesos diin mas taas kini og 11% kaysa 2013 nga badyet.

Ang maong badyet miagi usab sa pagtuki sa Committee on Appropriations diin usa sa miyembro si Cong. Erlpe John M. Amante nga mibotar sa maong badyet.

Ang 2014 General Appropriations Bill nanginahanglan og pag-uyon sa Senado ug House of Representatives sa dili pa kini i-adto sa Presidente alang sa iyang pirma.

Kinahanglan nga sayo maaprubahan ang badyet bag-o magsugod ang kada fiscal year aron masiguro ang paghatag og pundo alang sa mga programa ug proyekto sa gobyerno.

Sa niaging semana usab, Disyembre 3, mibotar si Cong. Amante, uban sa 122 ka kongresista, aron sa pag-apruba sa P14.6 B supplementary budget alang sa disaster fund.

Ang pundo gamiton alang sa rehabilitasyon sa mga lugar nga naigo sa kalamidad karong tuiga sama sa typhoons Labuyo, Odette, Pablo, Sendong ug Yolanda, ang Zamboanga City siege, ug ang linog sa Bohol. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Cebuano News: Agnor makadawat og P7M pasidungog gikan sa DILG

Ni Jay Vincent V. Demain

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Des. 20 (PIA) - Seal of Good Housekeeping award, mao kini ang pasidungog nga nadawat na usab sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte bag-ohay pa lamang gikan sa Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) tungod sa maayong pagdala niini sa pang-gobyerno.

Usa ang probinsya sa mga nakakuha sa maong ganti sa tibuok nasod tungod sa exemplary performance niini sa local legislation, development planning, resource generation, resource allocation and utilization, customer service, ug human resource management ug development, maingon man sa matang sa fundamental of good governance.

Tungod niini makadawat matod pa ang probinsya og 7 ka milyon ka pesos nga performance Challenge Fund Subsidy gikan sa DILG isip cash prize.

Ang Seal of Good House Keeping usa sa mga proyekto sa DILG nga tinuig nga gihatag sa mga LGUs sa tibuok nasod agig pasidungog kanila ug pamaagi na usab aron kini mas maningkamot pa sa paghatag ug kalidad nga serbisyo ngadto sa katawhan. Matod pa sa ahensya, sunod tuig 2014, aduna, na usay bag-ong award ang ihatag niini nga mao ang Seal of Good Local Governance diin basihan ang nahinmo sa LGU sa natad sa good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection for the basic sector, business-friendly and competiveness, environmental compliance, ug law and order and public safety. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)