PIA Caraga set to launch an emergency
broadcasting system
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) – An Advance Forward
Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS) is set to be launched soon by the
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga as a unique, creative and innovative
strategy to intensify its services and to effect a more helpful information and
communication scheme.
AFEBS, a Community-based broadcasting system
designed for disaster response, was conceptualized under the ingenuity of PIA
Caraga regional director and Northern and northeastern Mindanao cluster head
Abner Caga, in his genuine pursuit to give substance to PIA’s mandate.
“It is set up for serving the needs of a
specific community or for a specific purpose, in effect providing them with
appropriate information intervention thereby putting substance to our mandate,”
said Caga.
Accordingly, AFEBS is considered the most
effective communication tool when it comes to assisting people in
disaster-prone communities as it reaches into the homes of the far-flung
barangays and is one of the most effective vehicles for helping seriously
disadvantaged communities share vital information.
In no time, the project will be implemented in
Surigao City where disasters most significantly occur in this part of the
region.
AFEBS will be installed in the city’s vital
locations such as bus, ferry, airport terminals, parks/luneta and other public
places.
Caga also assured that due to its low energy
requirement, “it can be powered by a small generator set or solar power thus
ensuring operational sustainability even during worst disasters and when power
is certainly scarce.”
Other functions of AFEBS include public paging
system, feedback mechanism and serves as platform for all forms of advocacies.
It can also be utilized for surveys and even for purpose of entertainment.
“Though disasters cannot be completely
prevented, its effects can be mitigated through effective communication and
timely, accurate and relevant information. AFEBS is one unique solution worthy
of implementation,” said Caga. (VLG/FEA/PIA-Caraga)
PIA Caraga promotes emergency broadcasting
system innovation
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) – A communication
system dubbed as Advance Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS), under
the lone and direct management of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga,
is a distinct innovation that puts forward for a real constructive impact in
the community.
As disaster and calamity downright threatens
human lives, the agency crafted the AFEBS to contribute in protecting lives and
properties through delivery of information and updates powered by its
communication system.
Following the existing PIA Caraga’s Power FM
platform, AFEBS is another special system conceptualized to widen the reach of
vital information particularly in remote locations.
“Our office wants to establish the practical
relevance of utilizing the advance communication facility and how people can
benefit best from this,” said PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga.
The operational capability of AFEBS equipment
has been tested and proven to be functional 24/7 in all weather conditions;
compact and highly mobile which can be transferred anytime, anywhere in just an
hour or two; user friendly (plug and play); can be remotely managed thru the
internet; and highly reliable, long life design.
“AFEBS will soon be fully operational in Surigao
City and we intend to extend our services by installing this communication
system to some other cities and provinces in the region who are willing to
partner with PIA in order to serve the best for their constituents,” bared
Caga. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga RDRRMC to hold 2-Day Training on
Earthquake Evacuation Drill in Butuan
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) – The Regional
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Caraga is set to hold
the Two-Day Training of Regional Pool of Evaluators on Earthquake Evacuation
Drill on February 27-28, 2014 at Goat2geder Hotel and Restaurant, this city.
“This activity aims to build resiliency and
strong foundation in providing effective evaluation during earthquake drills
and simulation exercises,” said Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga regional
director and RDRRMC chair Liza Mazo.
Mazo added that said activity will be
participated in by selected focal officers of the RDRRMC member-agencies,
provincial/city DRRM officers, structural engineers, personnel from the Bureau
of Fire Protection (BFP) stations, accredited responders and representatives
from private sectors in the region.
On Day-1, participants will learn more on the
earthquake-induced landslides, faults and trenches in Caraga, as well as the
rain-induced landslides and updates on the distribution of faults and trenches
in the region. These will be tackled by the representatives from the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhiVolcs) and Mines and Geo-Sciences
Bureau (MGB).
How to establish Building Emergency Evacuation
Plan (BEEP) and Earthquake Drill Evacuation Tool will be presented by Marc Gil
Calang from OCD-Caraga.
On Day-2, Dir. Mazo with the pool of evaluators
will conduct the actual Earthquake Drill and Evaluation at the Celebes Coconut
Corporation in Butuan City.
Critiquing of the participants’ performance
during drill evacuation will then follow. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DOST, partners hold 3-day Reg’l Conference on
Renewable Energy in Caraga
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) - The Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga Foundation, Philippine Electronics and
Communication Institute of Technology (PECIT) and officials of Tennessee
Renewable Energy Development Council (TREEDC) with other partner stakeholders
are conducting the Three-day Regional Conference on Renewable Energy starting
today until the 22nd at the Balanghai Hotel here.
DOST-Caraga regional director Dominga Mallonga
bared the conference is intended to identify and prioritize geographic areas
where renewable energy projects will be developed and showcased to encourage
businesses and people to adopt and implement such technologies and eventually
bringing about benefits for the communities in the region.
“The conference is also aimed to offer a venue
where people will be encouraged to shape and advance socio-economic
developments in the region by looking at ways on how they can deploy and
integrate renewable energy technologies/sources into the existing energy
system,” said Engr. Romeo Zerrudo, president of PECIT, this city.
Zerrudo added that this year’s regional
conference will strengthen and facilitate renewable energy networks for
advocacy, research and funding collaboration among stakeholders such as those
from the academe, policy makers, researchers, the business communities,
students, foreign and local non-government organizations, neighborhood
communities, and others.
The participants of today's conference (Day-1)
learned more about the Policy, Regulation, Governance and Financing on
Renewable Energy Programs/Projects, as well as the Foreign and Local
Partnerships in Renewable Energy.
Meanwhile, Manpower Development through
Education/Training and Job Creation; Concepts, Challenges and Opportunities on
Renewable Energy; and Solar and Wind Energy Systems For Rural Communities are
among the salient topics that will be discussed by the invited guest speakers
on Day-2.
This year’s conference is anchored on the theme
"Renewable Energy Prospects in the Region: Exploring Available and
Potential Resource and Capabilities for Rural Development."
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga Culinary Show and Live Competition opens
today in Surigao City
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) - The two-day Caraga
Culinary Show and Live Competition opens today, Feb. 20, 2014 at the Saint Paul
University-Main Campus Gym, this city. The event is in line with the 19th
anniversary celebration of Caraga Region.
The activity kicked-off with a grand dance
presentation by the Sadjao Surigao Dance Theater followed by a grand entrance
of participants from the different colleges, universities and catering establishments
all over the region.
In behalf of governor Sol Matugas, vice governor
Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr. formally declared the opening of the event.
A total of seven participants will compete for
student category, they are: Butuan Doctors College (BDC); Caraga State
University (CSU)-Cabadbaran Campus; Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU);
Saint Paul University (SPUS) -Surigao; Surigao State College of Technology
(SSCT); STI College and Saint Theresa College-Tandag.
While four participants namely, SSCT (teachers)
, Narciso’s Cake and Catering Services-Surigao City, Saint Theresa College
(teachers) and Randy Discarten (individual) will compete for professional
category.
Today's scheduled activities include, cake
decorating (professional category), dessert buffet (student category), fruit
and vegetable carving (student category), table setting (student category),
dessert buffet (professional category) and chef wars (professional category).
On Friday, activities include, mini-cake
decorating (student category), chef wars (student category), salads and
sandwiches (professional category), and dual flair tending. (PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
DILG asks village officials to conduct barangay
assembly
By Melody de Vera
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Feb. 20 (PIA) - The Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Agusan del Sur provincial office
required all barangays to participate in the synchronized barangay assembly in
order to gain knowledge on how they can inform the public on the status of
funds of on-going and upcoming projects in the barangay.
Citing Memorandum Circular No.2014-19 dated
January 28, 2014, DILG provincial director Arlene Ann Sanchez said Barangay
Chairmen are mandated to render the State of Barangay Address in order that
they can update their constituents on the services they have rendered in 2013
as well as appraise them on the status of the on-going programs and projects.
The assembly will also include disaster
preparedness symposium for citizen’s awareness to mitigate possible loss of
lives and damage to properties during calamities and report on the peace and
order condition in the community.
Sanchez added that the barangay assembly will
provide transparency in governance and will provide stakeholders venue for
participation by expressing their feeling, comments and suggestions on the
programs projects being implemented in their barangays that would greatly
benefit them and the whole community.
In the DILG memorandum, it is stipulated that
the barangay assembly must be conducted every March and October every year and
non-compliance of barangay officials can become ground in filing administrative
cases against them.
Sanchez also urged the people to participate in
the assembly and to report either to the Sangguniang Bayan or Panlunsod if
there will be no assembly conducted in their respective barangays. (DMS/PPIO-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DENR closes transport of logs on Agusan River
By Eric F. Gallego
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 20 – The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has closed the transport of all types
of logs through the Agusan River and its tributaries effective February 10,
2014.
This means that the DENR would no longer issue a
transport permit for all types of logs that would use the Agusan river and its
tributaries as waterways to move the forest products to the various wood
processing plants along riverbanks in Butuan City and some parts in Agusan del
Sur.
DENR Undersecretary for Operations Demetrio L.
Ignacio, Jr. has issued the “restriction of log movements order” by authority
of Secretary Ramon JP Paje through a memorandum sent to all DENR Regional
Executive Directors on that date.
The order was immediately relayed to all PENROs
and CENRO by DENR Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo during a brief
conference at DENR Regional Training Center in Barangay Ambago, Butuan City on
Tuesday.
USec. Ignacio cited wanton disregard of
regulations imposed under Executive 23 by some people as reasons for the
issuance of restriction order by the DENR.
DENR 13 Regional Executive Director Nonito M.
Tamayo said it was also cited in the memorandum that “rafting and towing of
logs on Agusan river have contributed to the inundation and scouring of the
river banks further exacerbated during heavy rains.” He said “this has
significantly contributed to the siltation of the river.” The other reason is the observation of the
danger pose by rafted logs in barangays downstream when the river is heavily
flooded.
Director Tamayo said he has directed all the
DENR field officials in Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte to effect the
closure to traffic of all types of logs using the Agusan river. He has also
asked the PENRO and CENRO officials to conduct an immediate inventory of all
on-going transport of logs while moving to their respective destinations
through the river and tributaries.
“After reaching their destinations, there shall
be no more logs to be allowed to travel on the waterways including its
tributaries of the Agusan river.
Director Tamayo has likewise relayed the warning
of USec. Ignacio that appropriate sanction shall be imposed upon PENROs and
CENROs and other field officials who issue transport permit in violation of
that order. (DENR-13 RPAO/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Presidente Aquino: Hindi ibig
sabihin na ang Anti-Cybercrime Law ay pigilan ang kalayaang magpahayag
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Pebrero 20, 2014 (PIA) - Sa
kabila ng kontrobersiya sa mga probisyon kasama na ang nasa linyang libelo, ang
Anti-Cybercrime Law ay hindi naglalayon na pigilan ang kalayaang magpahayag,
sabi ni Pangulong Aquino noong Miyerkoles.
Sa pakipanayam sa mga mamamahayag sa Sampaloc,
Manila, sinabi ng Pangulo na ang mga mamamayan ay walang dapat ikatakot kung
sila ay magsasabi ng katotohanan.
"Ngayon, ‘yung pipigilin ba ang freedom of
expression? Hindi naman yata ‘yon ang layunin. Pero, kayo, bilang mga
responsableng mamamahayag meron ding mga—may karapatan kayo, at meron rin
namang hangganan ang karapatan ng lahat, di ho ba?” sabi ng Pangulo.
Sabi pa niya na hindi patas kung ang hindi
segurado o maling pahayag ay inuulit-ulit sa iba’t ibang porma ng pamamahayag.
Sa ibang banda, sabi ng Pangulo na ang taong
nagsasabi ng katotohanan ay walang dapat ikatakot.
"Kung tama naman ang sinasabi mo, bakit ka
kakabahan doon sa libel na isyu?” sabi ng Pangulo. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
