Surigao Norte guv takes oath as RDC-Caraga chair
By Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO CITY, June 27 (PIA) – Surigao del Norte
governor Sol F. Matugas officially took her oath as the Regional Development
Council (RDC) chairperson of Caraga region on Thursday, June 26 at the
Provincial Convention Center, this city. She will take the lead in the council
for the period May 16, 2014 to June 30, 2016 in effect of her reappointment as
authorized by President Benigno Aquino III.
Regional directors of government agencies, local
chief executives, officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and
Philippine National Police (PNP), and representatives from the private sector
were in attendance during the oathtaking ceremony.
In her acceptance speech, Gov. Matugas expressed
her gratitude to the board members and partners in government service and
allies for their incessant support in bringing development in the region.
“We conquered because of unity and interest to
advance the region. For servant leaders, good is not enough so let’s keep
striving for excellence,” remarked Matugas.
She also emphasized that demand-driven,
empowering and liberating education and enhancement of human resources are
necessities in pursuing progress.
Meanwhile, the 79th RDC Meeting immediately
started after swearing of the lady governor. The participants have witnessed
the RDC Platform of Action for 2014-2016 through an audio-visual presentation.
The following eight RDC-Caraga themes were
likewise presented: Accelerating infrastructure development as the backbone of
Caraga region’s inclusive growth and poverty reduction; Transparent and
responsive governance: Restores and builds public confidence and promotes
economic development; Building the resilience of Caraga’s communities through
disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; Improving the productivity
and competitiveness of agriculture and fisheries of food security and
resiliency; Diversified competitive and productive industry and services
sectors for sustained economic development and inclusive growth; Capacitated,
empowered and globally competitive Caraganons in this increasingly complex and
modern world; A peaceful, orderly and stable Caraga: The key to combating
chronic and inter-generational poverty and sustaining economic growth; and
Conservation, protection and responsible utilization of natural resources for
sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The development administration, economic,
social, and infrastructure development committees under RDC-Caraga also gave
updates and situational reports.
Matugas bared that Caraga is out of the poorest
and poverty incidence have declined. “But that is only good. We need to do
great. The RDC must double its effort to become great," she said.
As proudly claimed by Gov. Matugas, Caraga is a
region of great potentials. “We have to lay down our directions and stand for
positive reforms. As we ascend and traverse the road to a prosperous Caraga,
let us think big,” she said. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Gov Matugas assures unfaltering commitment,
dedication on her 2nd term as RDC chair
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, June 27 (PIA) – The chairperson of
the Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC), Surigao del Norte Governor Sol
F. Matugas on her second term, assured her unfaltering commitment and
dedication for continuing inclusive growth and development of Caraga during the
79th Regional Development Council Full Meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2014 held
at Provincial Convention Center, this city.
Just recently Governor Matugas was re-appointed
by President Benigno S. Aquino III, as the chairperson of the Caraga RDC, a
highest policy making body in the region.
In her message, Matugas said that she will
remain bold in her advocacies, clear in her direction and courageous in the
face of daunting challenges.
“I will stand for reforms that will benefit the
people of Caraga particularly the poor and the marginalized and I exhort all
the members of this council to do the same as we continue our quest to becoming
the Fishery Agri-Forestry, Mining and Ecotourism (FAME) Center of the country,”
Matugas said.
Matugas then laid down the RDC’s direction for
the next two years and its RDC Platform of Action for the year 2014-2016 that
will serve as guide for the council towards a great Caraga.
She also encouraged everyone to dream big and
think big on what the council can do for all Caraganons and what Caraga can
become as a region of vast potentials.
“We are the leaders of this region and it is our
responsibility to bring into fruition a development that is high and
sustainable, generates mass employment that draws the majority of our people
into the economic and social mainstream and facilitates the reduction of
poverty. Together let us rise up to challenge of surpassing our current gains
and paving the way for a great Caraga Region,” she added.
The 79th RDC full council meeting was attended
by representatives of different provinces, municipalities and offices of the
region. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Tandag City vice mayor brags feat of local
council
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 27 (PIA) – Backed up with a
total of 223 resolutions and 54 ordinances passed and approved, aside from a
total of 101 committee hearings and meetings conducted, Tandag City Vice
Mayor Ruel Momo took pride in delivering
his 20-page “Legislative Report” on Monday during the occasion of the 7th
Charter Day celebration of this city held at the public gymnasium.
However, he admitted that being at the helm of
the current crop of the now trimmed 11-member Sangguniang Panlungsod has not
been an easy task.
Last year, the council has still had the
representation from the youth sector—in the person of former Sanggunian
Kabataan (SK) president Deivon Jeiv Mozar—whose membership has already ceased
in December, Momo clarified.
Meanwhile, the vice mayor described their branch
as a “working sanggunian” as it is “always in coalition with the programs of
the local chief executive” whose aim is to become “a more progressive and
industrialized city.”
Also, before a crowd comprised of national and
local officials down to the barangay level, people from academe, business and
religious sectors, as well as the general public, Momo introduced the regular
and ex-officio members of the sanggunian, naming in particular order
Christopher Pimentel; Denis Tan; Hyna Jean Boniao; Valerio Montesclaros, Jr.;
Imelda Falcon; Bernardo Urbiztondo, Jr.; Andrei Andresan; Rey-vic Geli; Alfredo
Cantalejo; Seldio Pilonggo; and Ma. Lourdes Kharin Momo, the remaining
ex-officio member, being the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.
In addition, to highlight the accomplishments of
the collegial body, he cited, among others, several select legislations that
are considered “necessities” to the call of times. Primarily, Ordinance No. 23
s of 2013—Implementing force evacuation as resort when a disaster or emergency
has been declared in the city and providing penalties therefore and for other
purposes; and Resolution No. 115 s of 2013—Authorizing the City Mayor Roxanne
C. Pimentel to enter into and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the
Internal Peace and Security Plan with the AFP represented by the 36th Infantry
Battalion Commanding Officer LTC Anastacio L. Suaybaguio, Jr., Local Government
Unit (LGU), the Barangay Governments of the City of Tandag represented by their
respective Punong Barangay and the Department of Education (DepEd) represented
by Dr. Teofila G. Cabatuan.
But before the vice mayor ended with an
expression of gratitude, he added that his office has always continued to
provide emergency health assistance for the needy constituents. (NGBT/Radyong
Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DTI promotes SSF availment in Dinagat Islands
By Elmer A. General
SAN JOSE, Province of Dinagat Islands, June 27
(PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry-Province of Dinagat Islands Field
Office (DTI-PDI) continues to promote the agency’s flagship program Shared
Service Facility (SSF) with the conduct of a consultative meeting held recently
at the municipality of Libjo, Province of Dinagat Islands.
This is the second SSF promotional activity
conducted by DTI-PDI since January of this year when the DTI field office was
set up in the province.
The SSF Program primarily seeks to address the
gaps and bottlenecks in the business activity of cooperatives or associations
of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing the needed
equipment/s, machinery, tools and other implements, things which the
cooperatives or associations are otherwise hard-pressed to obtain or procure on
its own.
The agency has allocated P10.9M under the SSF
Program for the province in 2014. To date, DTI-PDI has submitted a total of
twelve (12) SSF project proposals amounting to approximately P7.9M for approval
at the regional level.
The activity was conducted in cooperation with
the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) municipal office and LGU-Libjo through
its municipal agriculture office. It was attended by the officers and members
of one farmers’ cooperative and 14 farmers’ associations in the municipality. The whole province has been designated as a
Special Program for Agrarian Reform Communities (SPARC) which effectively
placed the province under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
During the said forum, Elmer A. General, DTI-PDI
CARP Coordinator encouraged the participants to avail of the program in order
to improve their productivity with the DTI acquiring appropriate equipment/s,
machineries, tools and other implements for them. He also emphasized that the
provision of equipmentunder the SSF program is basically for free, save some
conditions and undertakings.
Some of the participants expressed interest to
avail of the SSF program for the production of virgin coconut oil (VCO) and
coco sugar. However, they requested
assistance in the preparation of project proposals and if the LGU can provide
support for the establishment of a facility that will house the SSF equipment.
In response, municipal agriculturist Mario Coles
said that their office is willing to assist in identifying possible SSF
projects in the municipality, in preparing relevant project proposals and when
necessary, in providing support for the establishment of facility for the SSF
equipment.
He also thanked DTI-PDI for extending its
services to the relatively far-flung municipality of Libjo and looks forward to
more partnerships in the coming years. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
DTI promotes rubber production in Libjo
By Elmer A. General
SAN JOSE, Province of Dinagat Islands, June 27
(PIA) - A business opportunity seminar on rubber production was conducted by
the Department of Trade and Industry-Province of Dinagat Islands Field Office
(DTI-PDI) at the Municipal Agriculture Office, Libjo, Province of Dinagat
islands (PDI), recently.
The seminar was conducted to introduce rubber as
an additional source of livelihood for the farmers in the municipality.
Mario Coles, Libjo’s municipal agriculturist,
gave the welcome message and he stated that the current number of rubber trees
in the municipality is insignificant in terms of productivity. Given the current demand of rubber in the
domestic market, the potential of adopting this high-value agricultural crop in
the municipality has not been ruled out by the local officials.
Ephraim ReΓ±os, DTI-Caraga Regional Office’s
focal person on rubber and the resource person for the seminar, expounded on
this by citing the high industrial demand for natural rubber, the status of the
rubber industry in the country and an overview of the potential income
generation from the same.
One participant asked during the open forum as
to where they could get suitable rubber clones as planting materials. Another participant expressed their need for
additional trainings for the cultivation of rubber trees, tapping for rubber
latex and other production-related activities.
Coles said in response that the provincial
agriculture office is now looking into establishing a bud wood garden in the
province for growing out suitable “rubber clones” as planting materials should
suitable planting areas are duly identified.
ReΓ±os also said that the agency is ready to
offer technical assistance to those who will engage in rubber production. He
also pointed out that the farmers of Libjo should start investing in high value
crops such as rubber without necessarily forsaking staple crops. This can be
done through intercropping with staple agricultural crops.
He added further that the cultivation of rubber
tree particularly in areas previously ravaged by mining activities, kaingin and
illegal logging has a two-fold impact; higher income for the farmers as well
the restoration of the natural environment.
The activity was conducted by the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Unit of DTI-PDI.
(DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor conducts mass dog castration
BUTUAN CITY, June 27 (PIA) - As part of its
continued effort to control and eliminate rabies, the provincial government of
Agusan del Norte through the Provincial Veterinary Office conducted a series of
mass dog castration across the province.
Started in the second week of May, the
Provincial Dog Neutering Team (PDNT) had already castrated 96 dogs in the
different barangays of the municipalities of Carmen, Nasipit, Buenavista,
Magallanes and Tubay. Municipal livestock technicians and student-interns from
Central Mindanao University (CMU) and Caraga State University (CSU) also took
part in the said activity.
“Having a neutered dog is an advantage. It is
not a nuisance compared to intact dogs which during heat season will seek out
the female dogs wandering the streets,” Dr. Belen M. Aruelo, the Provincial
Veterinarian conferred.
“We are targeting an annual 10 percent healthy
reduction of dog population in the province for a period of five years,” Dr.
Joseph Dargantes, the Provincial Animal Rabies Coordinator stated.
Dr. Dargantes stressed that lesser dog
population equates to lesser human dog bite incidence and lesser likelihood of
Rabies infection. Castrating male dogs unintended for breeding will
significantly contribute in preventing unwanted dog street pregnancies, he
further added.
Presently, the total dog population in the
province numbers about 15,000 heads.
“I like my dog to be castrated. It is healthier
and would not roam around," Manong Amado of Sitio Tinago of the
municipality of Buenavista affirmed. He was among the 20 dog owners who made
their queue waiting for their turn to have their dog castrated.
By year 2015 and onwards, the PDNT plans to
conduct quick spaying among female dogs in the province. This surgical method
entails a more complicated procedure but has a more significant impact for dog
population reduction.
The province through governor Matba, has been
very keen in the drive against rabies in the province. The governor has been
pushing the implementation of dog leashing and dog impounding of stray dogs in
the province. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
