Butuan City opens ‘Forest in the City Hall
Exhibit’
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 18 (PIA) – In relation to the
launching of Butuan 2020: Premier Forest City, the city government here opened
on March 17 the “Forest in the City Hall Exhibit” set up at the city hall
lobby.
A ribbon cutting ceremony led by city councilor
Samuel Alan Amante is conducted to formally signal the launching. A ceremonial
watering of plants was also initiated that suggests each person’s
responsibility to foster clean and green environs.
Highlighted in the exhibit are the programs and
projects or the so-called 13 Strategic Initiatives for Vision 2020.
Councilor Amante encouraged the public to
replicate the good practices of greening drives so they can prove to people
from other countries what makes Butuan a better place to visit and an ideal
place to reside.
He likewise invited the public to visit and
enjoy the scenery of the ‘Forest in the City Hall Exhibit’ and be inspired to do
their part as the city aspires for increased income opportunities and
empowerment among Butuanons to own and participate in the development of the
locality.
As included in the planned agenda, the Butuan
Forest Festival, a showcase of forest-based exhibitions, parades and
competitions is aligned to promote public and private participation in the
planning and implementation of forest projects wherein several sectors are
expected to be involved in the annual forest festival.
Meanwhile, Butuan City mayor Ferdinand Amante,
Jr. gave his message through a phone patch and expressed his gratitude to the
stakeholders for their cooperation and combined effort during the “Grow a
Million Tree” kick-off activity on March 16 wherein 1,500 mahogany seedlings
were planted along the five kilometer stretch from Bancasi rotunda going to
Brgy. Bonbon road in this city.
“It is one of the most organized tree planting
activity and its overwhelming success is significant in describing good
governance. Let’s prepare for growth-related actions similar in nature with
this in the future as Butuan goes global,” he remarked.
Moreover, the exhibit aims to create public
awareness about the Butuan strategy map - stakeholders to utilize production
zones for short-term and long-term agroforestry products; attract ecotourism
investments by integrating urban forestry in planning and development; attract
investors to buy and process raw materials in Butuan.
As envisioned by 2020, “Butuan will be a model
for sustainable forest-based economy in the country, thereby giving its people
the highest per capita income in Mindanao.”
On March 21, Friday, the Butuan City band will
be staging again to entertain the guests who will go to see the exhibit.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
PopCom-13 to launch U4U Teen Trail Initiative in
Butuan
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 18 (PIA) – The Commission on
Population (PopCom) Caraga is set to launch its new program dubbed “U4U Teen
Trail Initiative” on March 26, 2014 at the Covered Court of Agusan National
High School (ANHS), this city.
“The U4U is an initiative which aims to deliver
critical information to Filipino teens aged 10-19, to prevent teen pregnancy,
and reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections through online and
mobile platforms,” revealed PopCom-Caraga regional director Alexander Makinano.
Makinano, further bared that the campaign of the
government can be best brought to the doorsteps of every household through the
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – the information arm of the government, as
well as the local media.
In line with this effort, PopCom will also have
a press conference in the afternoon of the same day at the same venue.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DOST to promote SETUP in Surigao Sur towns
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Mar. 18 (PIA) - The Department
of Science and Technology (DOST) will promote their Small Enterprise Technology
Upgrading Program (SETUP) to the four municipalities, namely: Barobo, Tagbina,
Hinatuan, Lingig, and Bislig City on Wednesday, March 19.
SETUP is DOST’s response to their public’s
demand to improve access to technologies and breakthroughs developed by the
different facilities of DOST. This program is focused in helping SMEs utilize
and adapt technological innovations and scientific processes that improve
business productivity and efficiency.
Provincial Science and Technology Director
Andrew Soliano said the activity, which will be held at Mangagoy, Bislig City,
will be attended by the representatives from the four municipalities, Bislig
City, national and local government agencies, various sectors including the
micro, small, and medium enterprises.
“SETUP is a nationwide leading program of the
DOST that will encourage and assist the small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) to
adopt technological innovations that will improve their products, services,
operations and increase their productivity and competitiveness,” said Soliano.
Soliano said the program focuses on the six
priority sectors: the food processing; furniture; gifts, decors and
handicrafts; marine and aquatic resources; horticulture (Cut flowers, fruits,
high value crops); and metals and engineering.
Meanwhile, the Provincial S & T Center
sub-office in the second district will also open on the same day located at
Bareda St., Mangagoy, Bislig City. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DAR Surigao Norte, Dinagat Islands personnel
attend VAWC symposium
By Darryl Tumbaga
SURIGAO CITY, Mar. 18 (PIA) – Employees of the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands
attended the symposium on Republic Act 9262 or Violence Against Women and
Children (VAWC) held recently at the Cultural Center for Children, Provincial
Sports Complex, this city.
The activity is in line with the nationwide
celebration of the Women’s Month with the this year’s theme, “Juana, ang Tatag
Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangonat Pagsulong.”
The symposium’s lone speaker was Lydia Bajan,
Local Government Operations Outcome Manager of the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) Surigao del Norte who talekd about the salient
features of R.A. 9262.
The most engaging part of the activity was when
Bajan shared tips for men on how to help end violence on women.
Meanwhile, on his part Provincial Agrarian
Reform Program Officer II Jamil P. Amatonding, Jr acknowledged that Filipino
women are catalysts of change and partners in realizing the government’s goal
of an empowered Filipino nation.
Amatonding also commended the women from DAR
Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands for their hardwork and perseverance to be
better employees and always demonstrating their efficiency and brilliance in
the performance of their tasks and commitment to public service.
The symposium ended with a three-minute animated
story entitled “Impossible Dream” where a woman was depicted as a hardworking
mother and a very loving wife amidst her daily undertakings and challenges both
in her own abode and workplace. (SDR/DAR-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
Surigao City DRRMC joins 1st Quarter National
Simultaneous Earthquake Drill
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Mar. 18 (PIA) – The Surigao City
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) will join the conduct
of the 1st Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill at 9:00 am,
Wednesday, March 19, 2014, this city.
It was learned that the City DRRMC has
identified the City Hall, Saint Paul University-Surigao (SPUS) and Metro
Surigao Shopping Center as the ceremonial sites for the conduct of the said
earthquake drill.
The blowing of city’s siren will be the signal in
doing the simultaneous earthquake drill and a re-enactment of various rescue
situations will be conducted for documentation purposes.
The conduct of the said drill will gauge the
efficiency of the warning dissemination and the response of the CDRRMC council
and the local government unit, as well as the level of preparedness of school,
and other establishments and surrounding communities if an actual earthquake
takes place. (SDR/Surigao City DRRMC/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DOE releases findings on the February 27
Mindanao incident
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 18 (PIA) - The Department of
Energy (DOE) and the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) presented at a
press briefing last Friday the findings of their investigation on the total
loss of power in Mindanao on 27 February 2014.
A supply-demand imbalance caused by the reduced
generation of STEAG coal-fired power plant due to a technical problem and the
defective equipment of the government-owned Agus 1 hydro power plant led to the
incident.
The National Power Corporation (Napocor) acknowledged
NGCP’s assistance in correcting and restoring the defective Napocor-owned
capacitor voltage transformer inside the switchyard of the Agus 1 plant.
For its part, NGCP is pushing for power plants
to coordinate and check with the system operator their own respective plants’
protection settings.
Measures to uphold the security and integrity of
the grid were in place at the time when two major events, namely STEAG’s
generation reduction and the tripping of Agus 1, happened within seconds of
each other. In just 85 seconds, around 870 megawatts were dropped from the
grid. “It was practically impossible for the system to recover from the steep
decline in overall system frequency, which directly resulted from STEAG’s
generation reduction and the tripping of Agus 1.This, in turn, triggered the
safety systems of the remaining generating plants as part of their equipment
protection,” stated Mr. Eugene Bicar, NGCP’s Head for Mindanao Systems
Operations. This “confluence of uncommon events,” as described by TransCo
President, Mr. Rolando Bacani, was an unprecedented occurrence in the grid.
NGCP fully cooperated with the inter-agency team
that sought to solve the Mindanao power situation. NGCP’s internal
investigation, which was submitted to the Department of Energy and TransCo,
included the voltage and current profile at the time of the incident, and
showed that there was no fault in any of NGCP’s transmission equipment.
NGCP remains steadfast in fulfilling its mandate
as system operator, “We are one with the power sector in resolving this. As the
system operator, NGCP will continue to uphold the security and integrity of the
power grid,” said Atty. Cynthia D. Perez-Alabanza, NGCP Spokesperson.
(NGCP/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Palasyo binaybay ang mga benepisyo
ng pagtaas ng presensiya ng pwersa ng Amerika sa Pilipinas
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mar. 18, 2014 (PIA) - Sa
pagselyo ng kasunduan ng pagtaas at painog-inog na presensiya ng pwersa ng
Amerika sa Pilipinas ay magdadala ng malawakang benepisyo para sa bansa, sabi
ng isang opisyal ng Palasyo.
Ang kasunduan, na pinalutang mula sa
kasalukuyang kasunduan kasama ang US kagaya ng Visiting Forces Agreement at ng
Mutual Defense Treaty, ay seguradong makakatulong sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan
ng paglipat ng teknolohiya at pagharap sa mga trahedya, sabi ni Presidential
spokesman Edwin Lacierda sa kanyang pakipanayam sa media noong Lunes.
“Ito ay makakabuti sa kalidad ng depensa ng
Pilipinas sa panahon ng paghahanda. At hayaan ninyo akong bigyang diin na parte
ng painog-inog ng presensiya ay sumisentro sa paghahanda sa mga sakuna at
pagpababa ng sakuna,” dagdag niya.
Nakita ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas na malaki ang
pagbabago pagdating sa pagtaas ng painog-inog na presensiya particular na noong
magpadala ang Amerikanong military ng kanilang assets sa Central Visayas
pagkatapos ng pananalasa ng bagyong Yolanda.
Nagpadala ang US ng mga barko, mga eroplano, mga
helekopter at mga sasakyang military para tumulong sa pagdala ng mga relief goods,
suplay at mga kagamitan sa apektadong rehiyon ng Visayas.
Ang bagong kasunduan ay hindi na nangangailangan
ng ratipikasyon ng Senado ng Pilipinas dahil ang pagtaas ng painog-inog na
presensiya ng kasunduan kasama ang US ay itinatag sa dating mga kasunduan na
naratipikahan ng ng Senado.
“Isa itong kasunduan na itinatag o kaya
ipapatupad base sa mga probisyon ng Mutual Defense Treaty, at ng Visiting
Forces Agreement. Ang dalawang kasunduan ay naratipikahan na ng Senado,” sabi
ni Lacierda.
“Kaya sa tingin ng sangay ng Ehekutibo, Ang mga
ito ay ang mga naunang probisyon na magpapatupad ng kapwa kasunduan na
naratipikahan noon pa ng Senado. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: GSIS interest rates gihangyong
paubsan
Ni Jay Vincent V. Demain
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 18 (PIA) - Paubsan ang
interes. Kini ang giawhag karon sa 16th Sangguniang Panlalawigan pinaagi sa usa
ka resolusyon nga naghangyo sa Government Service Insurance System kun GSIS nga
ubsan niini ang interest rates sa utang sa mga myembro niini.
Sa pagpangamahan ni Provincial Board Member
Rodulfo A. Pitogo, naghangyo ang probinsya nga maghimo og stratehiya ang GSIS
aron maubsan ang interes sa utang sa mga myembro niini. Kon ma-aprobahan,
makuhaan matod pa niini ang kalisod sa mga empleyado sa gobyerno sa pagbayad sa
ilang utang sa ahensya, diin dako nang tabang kini sa pang-adlaw-adlaw nga
galastoson sa pamilya sa usa ka myembro.
Naglaom ang probinsya nga aprobahan kini nga
hangyo ilabi na nga suportado kini bisan sa GSIS Regional Attorney dinhi sa
Caraga ug hulaton na lamang ang desisyon sa GSIS Board of Trustees. (LGU-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Cebuano News: SLP orientation and stakeholder’s
forum gipahigayon
Ni Lyka Quinto
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 18 (PIA) - Nagmalampuson ang
pagpahigayon sa Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Orientation ug
Stakeholders Forum sa Roldans Fastfood and Restaurant ning dakbayan, Marso 14.
Agi’g pakig-alayon sa Lokal nga Panggamhanan sa
Butuan ug Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), ingon man ang
mga stakeholders sa nasangpit nga programa, nagtambayayong kini sa tumong sa
pagpakunhod sa kaso sa kapobrehon ning dakbayan.
Namugna ang SLP alang sa mga “poorest among the
poor“ nga walay sarang ika-pundar alang sa pamilya; panginabuhian sa pamilya,
ingon man sa natad sa edukasyon sa ilang mga anak ug hilabina sa hisgutanang
panglawas.
Nahisgutan usab ang Self- Employment Assistance
Para sa Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Integrated Program. Usa kini ka investment capital
ubos sa SLP. Tumong niini nga mahatagan ug higayon ang mga katawhan nga
makapundar o makasugod ug negosyo alang sa mga panginahanglanon sa matag
pamilya niini.
“It has a goal of establishing community-based,
self-managed and sustainable credit facilities to enable the economically
active poor to have continued access to credit,” saysay ni
Marvin F. Tubo, Special Projects Focal Person. (LGU-Butuan City
PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
