DOST-13 to conduct campaign on ‘Iba na ang
Panahon: Science for Safer Communities’
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 2 (PIA) – The Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) Region-13, in collaboration with the Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of National Defense –
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) – National Mapping and Resource Information Authority
(NAMRIA), is spearheading the conduct of the nationwide campaign on Iba na ang
Panahon: Science for Safer Communities set on April 10-11, 2014 at the Gateway
Hotel, Surigao City.
“The information and education campaign aims to
gather and disseminate all DOST knowledge products on disaster risk reduction
and to assist local government units and other stakeholders on how to maximize
the use of these knowledge products to prevent losses of lives and properties,”
said Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)
chairperson and OCD-13 regional director Liza Mazo.
Around 350 participants are expected to join
composed of local chief executives, DRRM officers, member-agencies of the
RDRRMC and representatives from the academe and private sectors.
Dr. Renato Solidum, director of the Department
of Science and Technology’s Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(DOST-PHIVOLCS) will present an overview of the local geologic hazards and
warning systems.
Also, local hydrometeorological hazards and
warning systems, disaster risk exposure assessment for mitigation, and DOST
nationwide operational assessment of hazards are among the topics to be
presented during the event.
For queries, you may contact Meriam Bouquia or
Paula Mae Creencia of DOST Caraga at telephone numbers (085) 342-9053 and
341-9551. Confirmation of attendance must be sent on or before April 4, 2014
through telefax number (085) 342-5684 or email at dostcaraga@yahoo.com.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
LCC conducts 2014 National Literacy Awards
regional orientation
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, April 2 (PIA) – The Department of
Education (DepEd) through the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) on Tuesday
conducted a regional orientation to stakeholders and advocates of literacy in
Caraga region at the Teachers Development Center here.
The regional orientation covers the revised
criteria and guidelines for the selection of the 2014 National Literacy Awards
(NLA).
During the orientation, DepEd Caraga Education
Program Supervisor Amelita P. Givertz informed the participants that the 2014
NLA has two categories: the Outstanding Literacy Program; and the Outstanding Local
Government Unit (highly urbanized city, component/component independent city,
class A municipality (1st-3rd class) and class B municipality (4th-6th class).
DepEd Caraga Alternative Learning System (ALS)
focal person Leoniza Lavapiez also said the 2014 NLA aims to recognize the best
practices of local government units in implementing literacy programs or
projects that help alleviate poverty, provide livelihood, address welfare
needs, promote freedom and make education facilities accessible. She also
encourages all the 12 divisions of the region to submit entries to the 2014
NLA.
Also, during the orientation, Jean Abad of the
Technical Advisory Group of the LCC) said, in order to qualify as nominee for
the 2014 NLA, entries in all the categories must already be in existence for at
least two years.
According to Benedicto Tambis of the LCC
Secretariat, the first place winners of the NLA who maintained the rank for
three years are eligible for the Hall of Fame Awards. "The Hall of Fame
awardees will no longer be eligible to join the regular contest, and they shall
be subject to monitoring and evaluation by the council," she added.
Tambis further said that a Special Award of
Excellence on Literacy may be extended by the council to hall of Fame awardees
who are evidently deserving of the said award upon strong recommendation by the
evaluating team.
The regional selection by division of the 2014
NLA will be conducted on April 14 to May 2. Regional winners will be announced
on May 5 and the awarding of winners will be held during the celebration of the
Literacy Week on September 2014, said Tambis.
The Outstanding Literacy Program Award is given
to a civil society organization, non-government organization, private
organization or educational/academic institution, which has developed and
implemented a literacy program that made a positive impact on learners and the
community.
On the other hand, the Outstanding Local
Government Unit Award is also given to local government units that have
developed and implemented policies, programs and projects conducive to literacy
advancement and have efficaciously made a positive impact on their barangays
and the quality of life of their people.
The Caraga Regional Selection Committee (RSC) is
composed of DepEd, Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Information Agency (PIA),
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), and Philippine Normal
University (PNU).
The RSC will take charge in screening entries
for the Outstanding Literacy Program and the Outstanding Local Government Unit
of the region. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
41st Ship for Southeast Asian and Japan Youth
Program now opens
By Salma Jayne Tamano
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 2 (PIA) - The
National Youth Commission (NYC) announces the opening of applications to the
41st Ship for Southeast Asian and Japan Youth Program (SSEAJYP).
SSEAJYP is an annual cultural exchange program
that started in 1974 as a joint statement between ASEAN member States and
Japan. Participated by young people from
these countries, the program’s objective is to promote friendship and mutual
understanding among them and the local youth in their respective countries.
Now on its 41st year, SSEAJYP has been
instrumental in forging stronger relations among the youth of Southeast Asia
and Japan.
For this year, there will be a selection of the
following: Two Participating Youth (PY) from each region (1 male and 1 female);
One National Leader (NL).
Discussion Facilitators who shall provide
support for PYs in the Discussion Program
Application forms for SSEAJYP are available at
www.nyc.gov.ph. The application form
with the requirements for PYs and NLs may be submitted through email to
sseayp41@nyc.gov.ph on or before April 25, 2014. The application form with requirements
for Discussion Facilitators may be submitted on or before April 30, 2014.
(NYC/PIA-Caraga)
AFP intensifies operations vs NPA in Surigao Sur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, April 2 (PIA) – The 36th Infantry
Battalion, Philippine Army in Surigao del Sur has pre-empted the New People’s
Army (NPA) from conducting further massive offensives and other related
activities in Surigao del Sur to highlight their 45th anniversary celebration
on March 29.
Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Anastacio
Suaybaguio, Jr. said that his troops have intensified military operations in
order to achieve their bid to suppress whatever plans the rebels wished to
carry out to mark their special occasion.
However, Suaybaguio admitted that his battalion
had also suffered casualties but has done more damage against the enemy
forces. Proof to this, he stressed, was the “body count” of two teenagers, aged
18 and 19, believed to be NPA rebels which recovered cadavers were turned over
to authorities in Carmen town, 45 kilometers north of Tandag City, barely a
week before the anniversary celebration.
The battalion’s area of responsibility (AOR)
covers the whole of the northern portion of the province including the town of
Tago and Tandag City as well. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
LGUs discuss Participatory Budgetary Projects
By Maria Cecilia N. Sosas
BUTUAN CITY, April 2 (PIA) – The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) discussed with the 56 local government
units (LGUs) in Caraga region the guidelines for the implementation of Grassroots
Participatory Budgeting Projects (GPB) on March 27, 2014 at LJ Mega Convention
Hall, this city.
GPB formerly called Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) is
an approach to preparing the budget proposal of agencies, taking into
consideration the development needs of cities/municipalities as identified in
their respective local poverty reduction action plans that shall be formulated
with strong participation of basic sector organizations and other civil society
organizations.
Core Shelter Assistance, Road Opening,
Construction of River Dike, Acquisition of Rescue Boats, Evacuation Centers,
Supplemental Feeding Program and Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens
are some of the projects that will be funded by GPB.
Jean Paul S. Parajes, GPB Regional Focal and Planning
Officer, discussed and expounded the LGU Eligibility Assessment and orientation
on GPB.
DSWD Focal Persons for poverty reduction
programs namely: Elsa P. Montemor, Regional Project Coordinator of
KALAHI-CIDSS; Aldie Mae Andoy, Protective Service Focal; and Marvin F. Tubo,
SLP Special Projects Focal elucidated the GPB 2013 Implementation Updates.
Regional Focal Person of Listahanan, Dante S. Rosales, shared the usefulness of
Listahanan the database of poor families and stirred to ink MOA and to utilize
the data so that the proposed projects will go to the right beneficiaries of
the program.
DSWD
Accountant III Pio V. Japitana presented the status of LGU Cash Advances.
Assistant Regional Director for Administration,
Nerisa T. Murih, gave an encouragement message to the participants. “Caraga is
the first region to have GPB Projects completed in 2013; there are 232,000 poor
households identified through the Listahanan database which really need our
help. I encourage and inspire you more to implement all the proposed
projects. Our region has 180 Million
allocated funds for 2014. I hope the poorest of the poor will benefit this
Social Welfare Development (SWD) projects and services,” Murih said.
“I also thanked the Civil Society Organizations
(CSOs) in helping us through the monitoring and proactive in planning from
designing up to the implementation of the projects,” Murih added.
Open Forum capsulized the activity of which
issues and concerns were raised by the participants and were answered by the
DSWD Focal Persons. (Social Marketing Unit/PIA-Caraga)
2013, a triumphant year for AgriPinoy Corn
Program in Caraga
By Aurell P. Arais
BUTUAN CITY, April 2 (PIA) – “Clear vision,
close coordination and determination is equal to success,” this has been the
constant reminder of acting regional executive director Edna Mabeza to every
staff under her management in the Department of Agriculture regional field unit
13 (DA-RFU 13).
"Proper coordination leads to effective
program implementation,” Mabeza added.
These are the driving force of the Caraga
AgriPinoy Corn Program in attaining various achievements not just in terms of
awards but on helping the farmers alleviate their plight.
As a result of close coordination, DA 13
garnered five major awards last year during the 1st National Quality Corn
Achievers Awards wherein the awarding was held at Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay
City last October 23, 2013.
Caraga region grabbed the following awards: Most
Outstanding Province: Province of Agusan del Sur, Most Outstanding
Municipalities: Esperanza, Agusan del Sur and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte;
Most Outstanding Provincial Corn Coordinator- Perla C. Galaura of Agusan del
Sur; Most Outstanding Municipal Corn Coordinators: Mary Jane A. Maratas and
Jovie R. Ego-ugan; and Most Outstanding Corn AEWs: Ismael Saguran and Nelson
Dulayba.
The activity is aimed at the country’s corn
industry to level up through the strong partnership of the government, private
sector, corn farmers and other stakeholders.
But grabbing an award is just the tip of the
iceberg. What is most important is the growth rate on corn production attained
last year.
Based on data, corn production posted an
increase of 20.06 percent for the year 2013 as compared to 2012 or an annual
production of 89,521 metric tons (MT) on 2012 to 107,476 MT on 2013. This was
attributed to increase in area harvested which was 33,830 hectares in 2012 to
38,017 hectares in 2013 and an increase in yield from 2.65 tons in 2012 to 2.83
tons in 2013 or an increment of 6.83 percent.
Increase in area for corn was due to
availability of seeds and favorable soil moisture while increase in yield was
attributed to lesser occurrence of pests and diseases as well as the use of
high quality seeds.
To strengthen coordination, DA RFU 13 meet with
its local government unit counterparts composed of 82 LGU agricultural
extension workers working with the corn program region-wide more often.
Aside from meetings, AEWS were also equipped
with the necessary capabilities through training of trainers (TOT) and other
field exposure activities.
On the other hand, to make the farmers at par
with the agri-technological advances, farmer field schools (FFS) were
conducted.
Radio was also tapped in teaching the farmers
through the University on the Air on Corn Production aired on four radio
stations in Caraga. It was a two month radio broadcast using the corn
production module anchored by the respective LGU corn coordinators together
with the provincial farmcasters.
To further encourage the farmers in its
endeavor, various interventions had been implemented such as the provision of
farm mechanization projects ranging from planting to harvesting as well as
inputs needed by the farmers.
DA -13 also implemented massive campaign on
consumption of white corn through information and education campaign.
Following the milestones in the roadmap towards
corn sufficiency in the country, it will not be long that Caraga Region will
suffice in corn production and produce more than its commodity demand.
Armed with technically equipped staff including
its LGU counterparts and development minded farmers, in due time, Caraga Region
will become a major corn producing region in the country. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Skills competition recognizes women’s role in
development
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, April 2 (PIA) – To recognize the
contribution of women to the country’s development and in time with the Women’s
Month Celebration, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA)-Caraga in cooperation with the Regional Development Council-Gender and
Development Coordinating Committee (RDC-GADCC) recently conducted the
Non-Traditional Skills Competition for women.
The two-day competition which was held in two
separate venues: Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT) and Agusan
del Norte Provincial Training Center in Cabadbaran City featured trade areas in
Automotive Servicing Gas Engine Tune-up, Plumbing, Shielded Metal Arc Welding
(SMAW) and Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM).
For the Gas Engine Tune-up, Jenny Torrecampo of
ASSAT won gold medal and received P1,500 from TESDA-Caraga. Northern Mindanao
School of Fisheries’ (NMSF) Jannielyn Nastor won silver and received silver
medal and P1,000. Maria Fe Monta of Surigao del Norte College of Agriculture
and Technology (SNCAT) was proclaimed third and received bronze medal and cash
prize of P500.
In the Plumbing, Maricris Blanca of ASSAT won
gold and received same cash prize from TESDA-Caraga. Another competitor from
ASSAT, Jazil Bullo was declared second and won silver medal and a cash prize.
Likewise, RDC-GADCC Caraga gave additional P500 to all medalists.
Meanwhile, three competitors were featured in
the SMAW. They were required to fabricate a window baluster of their design.
Winning gold medal is Gretchen Tumilap of ASSAT, followed by Lea Perudez of
TESDA-Surigao del Norte Provincial Training Center, and Jennifer Mutya from
SNCAT was declared bronze medalist.
In a related development, Merlyn Daluran of
TESDA- Surigao del Norte Provincial Training Center was the only competitor in
the EIM who was required to perform a demonstration on the Circuit Fluorescent
Lamp Electricsl Installation. However, her performance was still evaluated
following the standards set by TESDA. He passed the standards and was awarded
gold medal and a cash prize.
The Regional Competition on Non-Traditional
Skills for Women is a friendly competition on vocational and technical skills
encouraged by RDC-GADCC. Competitors are endorsed by the respective operating
units who are currently enrolled or graduates prior to the competition of
Training Centers and Technical-Vocational (Tech-Voc) schools.
Winners were awarded during the 2014 Women’s
Month Celebration Culmination Activity held recently at the covered court of
the Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol. This year’s month-long celebration is
anchored on the theme: “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at
Pagsulong." (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Hindi na kailangan ang UN
peacekeepers sa West Philippine Sea, sabi ng Palasyo
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Abril 2, 2014 (PIA) - Sinabi ng
Malakanyang noong Martes na hindi na kailangan na tumawag sa United Nations
(UN) na mamagitan sa nagaganap na teritoryong pandagat na hidwaan laban China sa
West Philippine Sea.
Sinabi ni Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. na walang katiyakan na ipadala ang UN
Peacekeepers papunta ng West Philippine Sea kahit na sa nangyari kailan lamang
malapit sa pinagtalunang Ayungin Shoal.
“Titingnan natin. Tinitimbang naman natin ang
sitwasyon. Pero pansinin naman natin na sa larangang ‘yan nagkakaroon lang ng
ganyang sitwasyon kapag ito ay isang bagay na inilahad na mismo sa United
Nations General Assembly, saka lang nagte-take action ang UN. Sa ngayon naman
ay hindi naman humahantong sa ganyang antas ‘yung conflict na pinag-uusapan
natin,” sabi ni Coloma.
Binalewala rin niya ang ulat na inakusahan ng
Chinese Foreign Minister ang Pilipinas na nagdala ng mga taga media sa Ayungin
Shoal para gumawa ng pakulo.
“Hindi ko maisip na nagpakulo o kaya nagbigay ng
sobrang pag-cover sa bagay na ito. Ang ginawa lamang natin ay mabigyan ng
pagkakataon para sa mga miyembro ng media na makita ng lubusan ang sitwasyon
….. At iniulat din nila kung ano ang kanilang nakita,” sabi ni Coloma.
Inilatag ni Coloma ang spekolasyon na ang China
ay naging agresibo dahil sa mayroong kasalukuyang Visiting Forces Agreement sa
pagitan ng Estados Unidos at ng Pilipinas.
“Nasa ibang bansa na kung papaano nila bigyan ng
kahulugan ang kilos na ginawa natin, at ang pinag gagawa naman natin ay
idinikta n gating pambansang interes at hindi sagot kung ano man ang gusto ng
ibang bansa na Makita, o gustong mangyari,” sabi niya.
Maliban sa Ayungin Shoal, ang Manila at Beijing
ay may alitan na dahil sa Scarborough Shoal at ang Kalayaan Group of Island.
(DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: Ang laraw Bangsamoro Basic Law sa
gihapon nagpadayon: Palasyo
Ni Nida Grace P. Barcena
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Abril 2 (PIA) - Ang pasiunang
kopya nga laraw sa Bangsamoro Basic Law sa gihapon nagpadayon bisan pa kon ang
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) mipakyas sa ilang mga gisugyot nga tagal
sa pagsumiter sa pasiunang kopya sa laraw niadtong Marso 31, sumala pa ni
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr
niadtong Martes.
“Nagpadayon ang proseso sa pag-estudyo nga mogiya
sa pagsumite sa pasiunang kopya sa laraw sa Bangsamoro Basic Law sa taknang
nalangkob sa gika-uyonan. Busa kampante usab sila nga padayon nga paglihok nga
mapadali ang maong proseso (Dumadaloy ‘yung proseso ng pag-aaral na hahantong
sa pagsusumite nung draft ang Bangsamoro Basic Law sa panahong nasa loob nung
pinagkasunduan. Kaya’t panatag naman sila na umuusad ang prosesong ito sa
tamang bilis)," sumala pa ni Coloma..
Siya miingon, nga si Presidential Adviser sa
Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles nagpagawas sa usa ka pamahayag gikan sa
MILF chief negotiator Mohaquer Igbal nga ang MILF mibuhat sa unsay mahimo aron
lamang sa pagtapos sa pasiunang kopya sa laraw.
“Si Mr. Iqbal (miingon) nga ang tanan nga butang
nga gikinahanglan pagabuhaton gibuhat na, sa niini ang proseso sa pagpahiuyon
pinasubay sa ekspektasyon (Mr. Iqbal (said) that everything that is needed to
be done is being done and that the process is proceeding according to
expectations)," siya miingon.
Si Coloma nagpasalig sa publiko nga ang
Bangsamoro Basic Law mahipasa ug ang gobyerno dili motugot sa bisan unsa nga
butang nga makabalda niini.
“Dili usab nato itugot nga madiskaril busa anaa
ang ‘sense of urgency' ug anaa pod ang 'sense of determination' sa gobyerno
kung unsa ang kinahanglan nga buhaton (Hindi naman po natin papayagan na
madiskaril kaya nandoon po ‘yung sense of urgency at nandoon ‘yung sense of
determination ng pamahalaan for what needs to be done)," siya miingon.
(NGBT/PND/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Cebuano News: Agnor 2014 Women’s Congress
malampusong gipahigayon
BUTUAN CITY, Abril 2 (PIA) – Malampusong
gipahigayon ang Agusan del Norte Women’s Congress 2014 niadtong Lunes sa Agusan
del Norte provincial training center ning syudad.
Tumong sa maong kalihukan mao ang paghisgot sa
mga “Critical Issues” nga giatubang sa atong mga kakabayen-an diha sa atong
katilingban.
Gipasabot ni Atty. Marylin M. Pintor, ang
regional director sa Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga ug chairperson sa
Regional Development Council – Gender and Development Coordinating Committee
(RDC-GADCC), nga ang mga importanting probisyon sa Republic Act 9710 o ang
Magna Carta of Women nga naghatag ug comprehensibong balaod sa atong mga
kababayen-an nag lantaw sa pagkawala sa deskriminasyon diha sa mga kababayen-an
nga kini matagaan ug dakong kabog-aton sa pag ila, maprotektahan, ug pag
promote sa tawhanong katungod sa mga Pilipinong kababayen-an labi na sa
nagkalisod nga sektor sa katilingban.
Sa maong Women's Congress 2014, si gobernador
Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba mihatag usab ug inspirational message sa
mga partisipante sa mga kababayen-an sa probinsya, nga nag langkob sa mga
opisyales ug empleyado sa mga local government units, government line agencies,
ug women organizations.
Gibutyag ni gobernador Matba nga ang mga
kababayen-han anaay dako nga kontribusyon sa katilingban "isip usa ka
leader sa atong tagsa-tagsa ka mga dapit sa pagserbisyo diha sa Katawhan ug sa
pamilya."
Giklaro ni gobernador Matba, nga isip usa ka
lider sa katilingban dili angayan nga magbagotbot o mobalibad sa paghatag ug
maayong serbisyo sa publiko kay kini man ang gitahas sa atong kaugalingon nga
moalagad diha sa katawhan, ug kini mao ang iyang natun-an sa iyang kanhi amahan
nga kanhi kongresista Edelmiro Amante, nga matud pa, ang atong mga gustong
nahimo sa atong kinabuhi, kita ra usab mismo ang manubag ug mag antos nga mga
sangpotanan.
Si gobernador Matba mihatag usab sa iyang
personal nga kasinatian isip usa ka ginikanan, usa ka asawa ug usa ka lider sa
lalawigan sa Agusan del Norte, nga ang gusto makab-ot sa kaminyoon mao ang
kahapsay ug walay samok sa pagpuyo pinaagi sa kalinaw ug respeto sa matag-usa.
?Mipadayag usab sya sa iyang pasalamat sa tanang partisipante nga mitambong sa
maong 2014 Women's Congress.
Mihatag usab ug usa ka presentasyon para sa usa
ka malawom nga pagtuki kalabot na sa mga kababayen-an sa probinsya si Police
Inspector Diana M. Bacala sa Philippine National Police Agusan del Norte.
?Lakip usab nga mitunol ug presentasyon ang Commission on Human Rights (CHR),
Department of Health, Public Attorney’s Office, National Bureau of
Investigation, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ug gipahigayun dayun ang
panel discussion ug open forum nga gipangunahan ni Edna G. Honteveros, ang vice
chairman sa GADCC Caraga. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
