TD Agaton victims benefit from Team Balangay
relief operation
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) - Close to 500
families who are living in Brgy. Maug, Butuan City demonstrated much joy for
the relief operation spearheaded by Team Balangay and United Sentinels Search
and Rescue Team, in cooperation with Samahang Magdalo Balangay Chapter, Project
Michaelangelo, Rotary Club Raha Sulayman, and other private partners.
Every family received a relief pack containing
canned goods, rice, biscuits, noodles, medicines, and slippers.
The elderlies also received a “malong” (tubular
Muslim fabric used as a blanket) and each recipient was given a brand new
shirt.
“Through the concerted efforts with our
benevolent partners, we hope that our endeavor to reach out our fellow
Butuanons who were affected by flooding during the onslaught of tropical
depression Agaton will surely help by providing them with some of the basic
necessities contained in the family packs,” said Eugenio Boco, operations head
of Team Balangay.
Imelda Mantilla, one of the recipients, said
that “we are truly overwhelmed that there are those who also felt and willingly
respond to our plight. The disastrous effects of TD Agaton really devastated us
but with the donations from good-hearted benefactors, it lessened the burden of
inadequacy after the loss of some of our properties.”
Meanwhile, hot bread and hot cereal drink were
served as the process of distribution continued.
Samahang Magdalo Balangay chapter coordinator
Michael Torralba bared that “this is not the first time that our organization
extends assistance to disaster victims and we want everyone to know that our
service will always be made available in the spirit of true volunteerism and
compassion to one another.”
“I verily appreciate the efforts of the donors
for bringing the goods to us. It is a great consolation on my part. These will
help sustain my family’s day to day needs. I thank you sincerely from my
heart,” expressed Geraldin Sales, another relief goods recipient.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Butuan CSOs extend help to TD Agaton victims in
Brgy. Maug
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) – Various civil
society organizations here have extended their needed assistance for the
victims of tropical depression Agaton in one of the most-affected barangays in
the city.
The Team Balangay and United Sentinels Search
and Rescue Team with Samahang Magdalo Balangay Chapter, Project Michaelangelo,
Wilderness Search Rescue, Center for Disaster and Emergency Management, Rotary
Club Raha Sulayman, and other partners visited Barangay Maug on Friday for the
distribution of relief goods to the TD Agaton flood victims.
“Among other barangays in the city, we are so
thankful that we have been chosen by these various donors. Your efforts and
assistance mean so much to us,” bared Barangay Captain William Macuno.
To maintain a systematic and peaceful
distribution of relief goods to some 500 recipients of said barangay, Macuno
personally appealed to his constituents to patiently queue as requested also by
the organizing donors.
"We opted to have this relief distribution
to be in a smooth and peaceful process that each family will really receive the
relief goods from the donors," said Macuno.
The relief goods contained canned goods,
biscuits, noodles, medicines, slippers, and "malongs", among others.
"I am happy that we have with us today our
relief donors from the private organizations to give us relief goods as their
way of helping us. Thank you very much to the Team Balangay and partners. Other
organizations who will be willing to share their blessings are very welcome to
visit us here in our barangay," expressed Macuno.
Also, Rufina Ego-ogan, 53 years old, married and
one of the recipients of the relief distribution said that they will never
forget the people who dared to care for them and continue to extend any kind of
help for the Agaton-survivors.
"Another help is extended to us today from
a group of donors and I am very thankful that we received the assorted relief
goods from them. We survived TD Agaton and with the help of these private
donors, they give us a hope to continue to live," Ego-ogan stressed.
Aside from the relief goods, hot bread with
coffee and cereals were also served as snacks for the recipients which include
the children. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Member agencies to submit to ASESDC mandates
related to environment protection
By David M. Suyao
PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Feb. 7
(PIA) – The Agusan del Sur Environment and Sustainable Development Council
(ASESDC) required member-agencies to submit their mandates related to
environmental protection in line with the harmonization of the council’s
functions as the extension arm on environmental protection of this province.
In a workshop conducted on February 4-5, 2014,
Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member and chairperson of committee on
environment Hazel del Rosario said it is very important that each agency member
must submit the required mandate in order for the council to determine the
correct agency to give suggestions and recommendations to applicants for
clearance from the provincial government before they will be issued permits by
the regulating national government agency.
“As observed, many member-agencies are absent or
hesitant to attend during meetings or deliberations by the ASESDC because they
are confused whether they are the concerned agency to give advises and
recommendation to applicants for
clearance from the provincial government to operate, whether a plantation,
quarrying, mining and other business operation that involve environmental
issues. That is why, it is very important that we define our responsibilities
mandates so that in any way we can contribute to the effort of the government
to protect our environment,” SP del Rosario said.
The deadline for submission of the required
mandates will be next week as scheduled by the ASESDC in order that review and
finalization will also be earlier and early implementation of the ASESDC
function will also be earlier and smooth.
“After our functions are well defined and
identified, there will be no more duplication of functions from among us and I
am very confident that with our agreement that each member agency will sign a
memorandum of agreement and commitment, our council will surely function
harmoniously and of course, we can expect productive discharge of our
responsibilities,” SP del Rosario said. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
CHED Caraga accepts StuFAPs application
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) – The Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) Caraga region is now accepting applications for the
CHED Student Financial Assistance Programs (CHED StuFAPs) for academic year
2014-2015, says CHED education program specialist.
According to Engr. Ramil A. Sanchez, OIC Chief
Education Program Specialist of CHED Caraga, their office is mandated as
provided for in Article XIV, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution “to
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education and make such
education accessible to all.”
Thus, according to Sanchez, CHED is continuously
providing poor and deserving Filipinos opportunities to quality higher
education as articulated in its Long Term Development Plan.
CHED StuFAPs available programs include: 1)
Scholarship Programs (Full and Half Merit) ; 2) Grant-in-Aid Programs (CHED
Senate Study Grant Program or CSSGP,
CHED Special Study Grant Program for Congressional Districts or CSSGP-CD, DND-CHED-PASUC Study Grant
Program, and OPAPP-CHED Study Grant Program); 3) Student Loan Programs
(Study-Now-Pay-Later or SNPLP; and 4) Special Programs to include the a)
Sajahatra Bangsamoro Study Grant Program or SBGP, b) Student Agribusiness
Enterprise Loan Fund or SALF, c) Study
Grant Program for Poverty Alleviation or SGP-PA, and d) Study Grant Program
under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PAmayanan (PAMANA).
Sanchez further said, interested applicants can
secure their Application Forms with list of requirements at the CHED regional
office and it can also be downloaded at www.ched.gov.ph or at
http://scholars.chedcaraga.com. Application will be received until March 31,
2014. Incomplete applications will not be accepted, he added.
For clarification, interested individuals may
call the CHED Caraga Scholarship Coordinator, Dr. Elsie E. Calo at (085)
342-2064 or visit the Scholarship Unit, Technical Services division, CHED
Caraga, CSU Campus, Ampayon, this city. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
DENR warns WPP not to accept illegal logs
By Eric Herzon F. Gallego
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) - The operators of the
Wood Processing Plants (WPP) in Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte have been
asked by DENR 13 Regional Executive Director (RED) Nonito M. Tamayo recently to
refrain from accepting undocumented logs.
RED Tamayo gave the warning in the midst of the
heavy flooding’s of Agusan River caused by a slow-moving Low Pressure Area
(LPA) and Typhoon Agaton near the region.
Tamayo also likewise ordered all field offices
to suspend the issuance of the Self Monitor Form (SMF) particularly Falcata
logs being travelled through the flooded Agusan River to prevent possible
accidents along the river.
He said that the “rafted (falcata) logs carried
by strong river currents are uncontrollable and dangerous.”
"The transport of these logs in the midst
of strong river currents may aggravate the conditions of the already flooded
houses along the riverbanks because these logs can smash the houses since they
are difficult to be maneuvered," he added.
RED Tamayo has instructed the Forest Management
Services (FMS) Regional Technical Director Maritess M. Ocampo to conduct
regular visits in all wood processing plants to determine the operators who
took advantage and defied his order at the height of the calamities.
Caraga Region and the provinces in Compostela
and Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte were among the areas that
suffered severe flooding due to continuous downpour over from January 10 to 22.
LPA which later developed into tropical
depression “Agaton” has affected 86,455 families, 56 persons dead, 27 injured
and five missing and about P3,946,600 worth of infrastructure damages in Agusan
del Sur and Surigao del Sur due to landslide and floodings. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
DOST’s F-House eyed as emergency shelter
By Apple Jean C. Martin and Framelia V. Anonas
MANILA, Feb. 7 (PIA) - It’s called the “F-House”
– a fast-build, firm, and fold-away shelter that can be highly useful in times
of emergency. It can be assembled as
quickly as a tent to house people during disasters, and can also serve as a
depot for emergency supplies or distribution center for food, medicine and
other supplies.
It’s very versatile, and it is locally available
because it is made by Filipino experts.
Developed at the Department of Science and
Technology - Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI),
the F-House comes very handy in times of emergency.
“Like tents, the F-house can be folded, packed,
stored and used repeatedly,” said Dr. Florence Soriano, project leader and
former DPST-FPRDI director. “Unlike tents, however, the F-house has a floor that
can be mounted on specially designed prefabricated footings.”
According to Dr. Soriano, the height of the
footings of the F-House can be adjusted when the terrain is not flat.
With regard to security, the F-House can be
well-secured just like the regular house. It also offers the same indoor
comfort and amenity of a permanent house because its structural design allows
it to be resistant to weathering, extreme temperatures, winds, and other
harmful natural forces.
The F-House is also stable during storms as
tension cables tied to ground anchors secure the roof.
The shelter can also be easily transported. It
can be put in a rigid case and placed at the back of a trailer or in a low-bed
truck, in case of multiple deliveries. When dismounted from the trailer or
truck, the F-House can be wheeled to destined location through prefabricated
footings previously positioned and leveled.
“The rigid case can be unfolded and erected into
a house in just one hour or less,” assured Dr. Soriano. “This can be easily
done by four medium-built unskilled workers, using only simple carpenter's
tools and gadgets.”
Built to comfortably house a family of five, the
prototype shelter can be very handy when not in use.
“It can be stored in a space approximately five
times smaller than its actual service size,” informed Soriano.
Because it is highly compact when not in use,
several units can be stored in a small warehouse.
The walls, floor, and roof are sheathed with
weather-, termite-, fungi-, and fire-resistant wood wool cement board panels
that are fixed and fastened using specially designed light-weight metal
sections.
The prototype F-Houseis already integrated with
provisions for power supply.
Soriano also revealed that that the cost of
fabricating one prototype with double walls was P75,000 or roughly P6,500 per
square meter. The cost can still be lowered when mass-produced or when the
walls are singly sheated.
In contrast to site-built low-cost houses that
typically takes three to four months to build from planning to construction,
the F-House can be acquired and erected instantly.
“We assure end-users that the fabrication of the
F-House was adequately supervised in the shop using only quality-tested
materials,” said Soriano. “The method of erecting the shelter was well planned
and engineered. Hence, buying the F-house is like buying time when a safe and comfortable
refuge is needed most.”
Currently, Soriano and her team as working on
for more improvements on the F-House, including its size, features, materials,
and transportability, among others. (S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Beyond Monitoring: DILG Caraga provides relief
assistance to flood-affected Butuan barangay
By Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) - In response to the
overwhelming aftermath of Tropical Depression Agaton in the city in which 83 of
its 86 barangays are affected, the Department of the Interior and Local
Government Caraga Region (DILG 13), together with DILG Butuan City, mobilized,
repacked and distributed 263 packs of relief goods in the form of food packs
and used clothing to Barangay Bobon, a church-turned-evacuation center in
Barangay Doongan, and to some affected DILG personnel recently.
Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr.
expressed the need for support from the various sectors in Butuan to supplement
the City Government’s relief assistance to a staggering 20,000 families in
need.
The DILG 13 is among those who responded and
have allocated funds and even collected among themselves financial and in-kind
donations last January 22, 2014. All of those collected were repacked and
distributed to a barangay identified by the city government, in coordination
with the DILG Butuan.
On January 24, 2014, DILG personnel from the
regional office and Butuan City office, headed by Assistant Regional Director
Donald A. Seronay, accompanied by City Director Romeo A. Solis, distributed 210
food packs and used clothing to Barangay Bobon, Butuan City. The food packs
contained 3 kilos of Rice, canned goods and noodles. The distribution was done
in coordination with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRM)
Officer Gracia O. Burdeos-Espere and accommodated by Bobon Punong Barangay
Leonila G. Loayon and her Sangguniang Barangay.
Some 20 food packs were also distributed to
residents of Barangay Baan Riverside who found shelter in Butuan City Alliance Chuch, Doongan Butuan
City and the remainder for some DILG personnel who were also affected by the
calamity.
The DILG 13 acts as Vice Chair for Preparedness
to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) by
virtue of Republic Act 101-21, or the Philippine DRRM Act of 2010. As such,
despite government offices being called-off along with schools in different levels
during calamities, the DILG have a team of personnel who manage to brave the
inclement weather conditions to report to the office to disseminate important
weather advisories to Local Chief Executives; to monitor the effects of the
calamity in region by collecting and consolidating reports from field personnel
on situations and responses of their respective Local Government Units; and
reporting to the DILG central office and other DRRM agencies.
As such, from the onset of the weather
disturbance on January 17 up to the remaining effects on January 21, DILG
personnel from the regional office down to the field offices have personnel on
duty monitoring and coordinating disaster-related activities.
But this time around, the DILG did not settle
for just monitoring and really took the initiative to go beyond it in order to
help those who are in need. (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
RPRAT of Caraga Grassroots Participatory
Budgeting in full swing
By Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) - The Caraga
implementation of the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (formerly known as
Bottom-Up Budgeting) is in full swing after 30 members of the Regional Poverty
Reduction Action Team (RPRAT) of Caraga Region coming from 13 agencies of the
government met recently at the DILG Caraga Regional Office, Libertad, this
city, setting their eyes on the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP)
provincial validation for Fiscal year 2015 spread out in the months of January
and February this year, 2014.
What was once referred to as the Bottom-Up
Budgeting (BUB) is now called Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) through
the Joint Memorandum Circular Number 4 (JMC No.4) issued by the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), to emphasize the role and significance
of the local communities in uplifting their situation towards inclusive growth
and development.
Among the provisos of the JMC No. 4 is the
composition and functions of the RPRAT which includes the conduct of validation
of project proposals. These proposals are to be consolidated and submitted to
NAPC by March 2014.
The provincial validation was the main agendum
for the January 24 RPRAT meeting. It’s objectives are: to validate the project
proposals for GPB 2015; to orient the LPRAT and all personnel involved in the
GPB at the provincial level about the State of Good Local Governance (SGLG)—the
evolved form of the Seal of Good Housekeeping—and the new Local Governance
Performance Management System (LGPMS); to assess the status of GPB
implementation in 2013; and to conduct preliminary discussions to start the
implementation of GPB projects for 2014.
The schedules for the validation are: January 29
for Butuan City; January 30 for Surigao del Sur; February 5 for Agusan del Sur;
February 7 for Agusan del Norte; February 11 for Surigao del Norte; and
February 12 for the Province of Dinagat Islands.
With this, the RPRAT-13 members, spearheaded by
the DILG Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion as RPRAT Chairperson, come to
full-swing implementation of GPB activities for this year. (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Pamahalaan gumagawa ng hakbang
para masegurong mayroong kuryente sa darating na tag-araw
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Peb. 7 (PIA) - Nagbigay ng
kasegurohan ang Malakanyang noong Huwebes na gumagawa ng hakbang ang pamahalaan
para masuguro ang tuloy-tuloy na suplay ng kuryente sa darating na tag-araw,
kung kalian ang pangangailangan ng kuryente ay inaasahang tataas.
Sinabi ni Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. na tinitiyak ni Energy Secretary
Carlos Jericho Petilla na handa ang pamahalaan na patakbuhin ang Malaya Thermal
Plant hanggang 70 araw.
“Ang pamahalaan ay ay gumagawa ng kaukulang
hakbang para maseguro ang patuloy ng suplay ng kuryente sa panahon ng tag-araw.
Ayon kay Petilla, ang pamahalaan ay nakahandang patakbuhin ang Malaya thermal
power plant hanggang 70 araw para pasiglahin ang suplay sa panahon ng tag-araw
kung ang pangangailangan ay inaasahang tataas lalo na sa Luzon,” sabi ni Coloma
noong nagkaroon ng pakipanayam sa mga mamamahayag.
Pero sinabi rin niya na nagbigay payo rin ang
Department of Energy sa mga planta ng koryente na magsagawa ng pagpigil at
regular na maintenance sa kanilang mga pasilidad para sila ay mapalakad ng
maayos ang kanilang mga planta kung kalian ang pangangailangan ay tumaas.
Ang pangangailangan ng kuryente ay inaasahang
tumaas sa panahon ng mainit na tag-araw habang ang mga kabahayan at mga
establisamiyento ay magpatakbo ng kanilang mga kagamitan para maibsan ang init.
(PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: MOA, PPA agreement tali sa syudad
sa Surigao gilagdaaan
Ni Annie Abis
SURIGAO CITY, Peb. 7 (PIA) - Malamposong
gipahigayon bag-ohay a lamang ang usa ka Launching of Service Delivery Network
ug Signing of Public- Private Partnership Agreement alang sa Surigao City
Family Health didto sa Gateway Hotel, ning dakbayan.
Milagda sa maong MOA signing ug Pledge of
Commitment mao si City Mayor Ernesto Matugas ug Michelle Gardner ang
representante sa Private Sector Mobilization for Family Health.
Sa iyang mensahe si Mayor Matugas mihatag sa
iyang dakong pasalamat sa Private Sector Mobilization tungod sa maong Public
Private Partnership kalabot na sa maayong panglawas tungod dako gyud kono nga
mahatag nga tabang sa mga katawhang surigaonon labina gyud ang mga kabus.
Ang maong kalihukan gipangulohan sa buhatan sa
City Healath Office ubos sa pagdumala ni Dr. Emmanuel Plandano ug gitambongan
kini sa mga representante sa mga nagkalain-laing ahensya sa gobyerno. (SDR/Surigao
Central Media Information & Communication/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Cebuano News: Gobyerno dunay lakang aron sa
pagsiguro sa supply sa kuryente atol sa ting-init, Palasyo mipasalig
Ni Nida Grace P. Barcena
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Peb 7 (PIA) - Ang MalacaΓ±ang
nagpasalig sa publiko kagahapon (Huwebes) nga ang gobyerno dunay mga lakang
aron sa pagsiguro sa padayon nga supply sa kuryente sa panahon sa bulan sa ting-init, diin ang panginahanglan sa
kuryente gilauman nga motaas.
Si Presidential Communication operations Office
secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma jr miingon nga si Energy Secretary Carlos
Jericho Petilla nagpasalig sa gobyerno nga andam sa pagpadagan sa Malaya
thermal plant ngadto sa 70 ka adlaw.
“Ang gobyerno mikuha na ug gikinahanglan nga mga
lakang aron sa pagsiguro sa pagpadayon sa supply sa kuryente sa panahon sa
ting-init. Sumala pa ni Secretary Petilla, ang gobyerno andam sa pagpadagan sa
Malaya thermal plant ngadto sa 70 ka adlaw sa pagpausbaw sa suplay atol sa mga
bulan nga tag-init, diin ang panginahanglan gilauman nga motaas ilabi na sa
Luzon (Government is taking necessary steps to ensure continuity of power
supply during the summer season. According to Secretary Petilla, the government
is prepared to run the Malaya thermal power plant up to 70 days to boost supply
during the summer months, when demand is expected to rise especially in
Luzon)," si Coloma miingon sa usa ka media briefing.
Apan siya usab miingon nga ang Department of
Energy mitambag sa mga power plant sa pagpahigayon ug regular nga preventive
maintenance sa ilang mga pasilidad alang sa pagpadagan atol sa mga panahon nga
ang panginahanglan sa kurente motaas.
Ang panginahanglan sa kuryente sumala pa
gilauman nga motaas sa panahon sa mga bulan sa ting-init diin ang matag
panimalay ug mga mga establistamento mopaandar sa ilahang mga gamit isip
panagang sa kainit. (NGBT/PND/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
