DepEd encourages student to participate in ‘Yes
for Peace’ campaign
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) – In sustaining its
institutional support for the “Yes for Peace - Bayanihan para sa Kapayapaan,
Kaunlaran, Kasaganahan (KKK)” campaign, the Department of Education (DepEd) is maximizing
the collective involvement and participation of pupils and students (10 years
and older) in the continuing process for an end to the armed conflict.
Pursuant to DepEd Advisory No.391, s.2013, the
Yes for Peace campaign aims to encourage peace-loving Filipinos to speak as one
and to provide a democratic people’s mandate for a comprehensive peace process.
To attain the target 10 million responses to the
campaign, regional directors, schools division/city superintendents and
district supervisors are requested to monitor and oversee the activities of
both public and private elementary and high schools in their respective areas
of jurisdiction.
School heads or principals of participating
schools are requested to submit the Yes for Peace questionnaires and reports on
or before September 15, 2014 to enable to announce additional regional
summaries on September 19, 2014 during the celebration of the International
Peace Day, said DepEd Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Atty
Alberto Muyot.
“We aim to inculcate Bayanihan spirit to every
Filipino, make them effective advocates for the campaign, and thereby help
restore confidence in a transparent and participative peace process,” said
Muyot.
Meanwhile, Yes for Peace lead organizer Ernesto
Alcanzare announces that “to catch public attention to our silent campaign and
to assert our individual right to peace, we are now organizing simultaneous
press conference through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Kapihan in all
regional centers at 10 a.m., August 12, 2014, which is also an International
Humanitarian Law Day."
The Yes for Peace guidelines, questionnaires and
report forms are downloadable at http://www.yesforpeace.yolasite.com. As of July 31, 2014, there are 9,278,129
number of participating KaBayanihans already that now reached 92.78% of the
goal. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
80,000 Butuan city studes mobilized for 'Project
Green Friday'
By Eric F. Gallego
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) - The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga, Department of Education
(DepEd) and the city government here launched on Tuesday “Project Green
Friday" which will mobilize some 80,000 high-school students in this city
to plant tree seedlings every week.
The move was formalized during the signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the School Division Superintendent Dr.
Joseta B. Carmen of the DepED, Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. of Butuan City and
Regional Director Nonito M. Tamayo of DENR-13 in a simple rite held at the City
Mayor’s Conference Hall in Barangay Doongan, this city on August 4, 2014.
The signing ceremony was also witnessed by
Forester Maritess M. Ocampo, OIC, Technical Director of the Forest Management
Services, DENR-13, City Engineer Lorden Vizmanos and the Punong Barangays from
the different barangays in the city.
Carmen said “Project Green Friday" shall
require every student from the various public schools to participate in the
tree planting activities as part of their compliance of requirements on the
subject “Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan, Technology and Livelihood Education.”
Director Tamayo said Project Green Friday is “a
strong manifestation of support of the Butuanons to the National Greening
Program in which the DENR has a goal of 30,000 hectare production land and
beaches to be planted with tree seedlings and mangrove propagules and beach
forest by supporters from the various sectors this year," Tamayo said.
He said the Provincial and Community Environment
Officers in the five provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del
Norte, Surigao del Sur and the Dinagat province have been directed to conduct
full swing of tree planting activities in their respective area of
jurisdiction.
According to Mayor Amante the youths must be
convinced to set aside a seed to raise and grow, in line with the vision of
transforming the city into a mecca of forest resources by the year 2020.
“We will do everything possible to restore the
glory of Butuan City once dubbed as the Timber City of the South,” Amante said.
Mayor Amante has challenged his constituents to support the National Greening
Program and the vision.
Also, Mayor Amante has encouraged the people to
collect every kind of seeds and bring them to the DENR Macrosomatic and Clonal
Center at Barangay Buod or to the City Government where these seeds will be
germinated using the proper technology. The different barangay chairpersons in
the city, likewise have been tasked to identify planting sites that are
accessible to the students where they can plant these seedlings.
As defined in their respective role to actualize
Project Green Friday, the DepEd shall develop and implement a module on the
value of tree growing to the place, people, community and economy with the assistance
of the DENR and the city. It shall also enjoin the students to participate in a
tree planting exercise every Friday of each week to include the bringing of
seedlings per DepEd Order No. 5 s. 2014. Under Project Green Friday, the
bringing of seedlings is contemplated to inculcate in each student the value of
sponsoring life for each seedling he/she gathers and to indirectly draw the
participation of parents in this tree growing exercise.
The city government on the other hand shall
enjoin its LGU barangay to coordinate with the Teacher In-Charge, Head Teacher,
Principal to provide support during the course of the implementation of Project
Green Friday. It shall also provide policy support in the implementation of the
Module that will be developed by the DEPED under this partnership to highlight
the value of tree growing in its EPP and TLE subjects.
during
planting. It shall also extend support to the DepEd in the formulation of the
Module that highlights the value of sustainable tree growing, provide training
for the Geotagging of Planting Sites, Geographic Information System (GIS) and
Mapping needs for the Project Green Friday and Certificate of Tree Planting to
elementary and secondary graduating students who can plant ten trees per year.
(DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
BFAR Caraga to conduct 'Fish-Sing BFAR Hymn
making contest'
By Shane Abeguel T. Eviota
SURIGAO CITY, August 8 (PIA) – The Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Caraga Regional Office is set to conduct
the Fish-Sing BFAR Hymn making contest just in time with the commemoration of
the 51st Fish Conservation Week this coming October.
The contest aims to intensify the youth’s
participation in the awareness campaign for the fisheries sector as provided in
Sec. 118 of Republic Act 8550 which supports educational campaign on
management, conservation and proper use of the environment at all levels.
The conduct of the said activity will be
spearheaded by the bureau’s Information and Public Relations Group (IPRG) in
cooperation with Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education
(DepEd) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
All high school and college students are
encouraged to join and participate and be part of the historic event.
Forms and contest mechanics are now available at
the Regional Office of BFAR-Caraga located at PeΓ±aranda Street (Paradise)
Barangay Taft, this city or for more inquiries, please call telephone number
(086) 826-2159. (SDR/PIO-BFAR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Agusan solon seeks to declare Butuan as heritage
tourism zone
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) - Agusan del Norte
first district representative Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun on Tuesday filed House
Bill 4823, seeking to declare Butuan City as a heritage tourism zone.
“Butuan City has a vibrant history and rich
cultural heritage. Before colonization, it was called the Kingdom of Butuan and
was known for its metallurgic industry and sophisticated naval technology,”
said Fortun in his explanatory note.
Exigency of the bill is anchored on Section 15
of Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, which reads: “The State shall
conserve, promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage
and resources, as well as artistic creations,” and also in Section 16 of the
same article: “All the country’s artistic and historic wealth constitutes the
cultural treasures of the nation and shall be under the protection of the State
which may regulate its disposition.”
Butuan has been the discovery site of the first
wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia, the Balangay Boat, believed to
rule Southeast Asian waters as early as 320 AD. The utilization of these boats
to maintain trade relations with neighboring islands and empires prove robust
commercial activities in the area. Numerous archeological artifacts have also
been excavated – gold jewelry, death mask, weighing scales and porcelains –
beefing up Butuan’s claim as then center of trade and commerce in the region.
Numerous historical accounts show that on March
31, 1521, an Easter Sunday, Ferdinand Magellan ordered the celebration of a
mass in Butuan. “In remembrance of this important historical Christian event that
is claimed to be first in the country, the Bood Promontory…was built,” Fortun
added. Butuan is also the host of Banza Church Ruins, a church built by Spanish
friars in 1625 and believed to be the first Christian Church in Mindanao.
Way older than the mentioned historical and
cultural treasures are the Bequibel and Bitor shell middens in Brgy. Bonbon,
supporting claims of human habitation and activities of early thriving
civilization in Butuan – as early as the Neolithic Age or about 7,000 years
ago.
Once the bill is passed, Butuan will be accorded
with priority development by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in coordination
with the National Historical Institute, the National Museum and other concerned
government agencies. It will also recognize areas of potential for historical
and cultural tourism development, such as historical and cultural landmarks,
rivers and mountain resources, indigenous communities, among others.
“Butuan City’s cultural heritage need to be
preserved and made known to our people and peoples of the world. Butuan City is
a center of learning and discovery for its heritage and historical past. It is
hoped that with the passage of this bill, the DOT and other appropriate
agencies can implement institutionalized and sustained programs for the
introduction of the necessary facilities, infrastructure, information and
promotion mechanisms for the preservation and promotion of Butuan’s rich
heritage,” Fortun explained. (LAWig Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Four rice retailers in SurSur mete out
suspension
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) – Four of the 30
accredited rice retailers of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Surigao del
Sur suspected of “diversion” meted out suspension immediately after the agency
learned of their anomalous transactions following the report of the respective
job order (JO) workers hired to monitor their daily operations.
In NFA parlance, diversion means converting the
government rice into commercial rice which commands a much higher price.
NFA rice
is sold at P27 or P32 per kilo depending on its variety.
Gleen Echin, NFA Officer-In-Charge (OIC)
provincial manager here, cited “unreasonable depletion” as root of their course
of action against the said retailers in accordance with the Deed of
Understanding (DOU) with all Bigasan sa Palengke (BSP) owners, stressing that
this may also serve as stern warning to potential violators.
She added that these BSP owners, whose business
address and operations are conducted in Cantilan, San Miguel, Marihatag, and
San Agustin, respectively, can no longer deal with the NFA for the rest of
their lives.
Echin believes that these people behind the
“diversion” could have been doing such unscrupulous business a long time ago.
(NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Aussie continues dev’t support in Caraga thru
DSWD
By Eunice G. Montaos
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 8 - The Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian government extended AUD 12-M
(P487-M) funding support for development works in the Philippines of which
Caraga is one of the benefiting regions.
Six towns in the region namely Pilar, Jabonga,
Bayabas, Del Carmen, Sta. Monica, and Hinatuan, are targeted for the project
implementation which will run from 2014 to 2016.
These DFAT-funded projects will be facilitated
by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga as this will
be implemented using the development strategy of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services- National
Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP).
DSWD-Caraga regional director Minda B. Brigoli
said that this Aussie grant will finance classrooms and day care centers to
help poor children meet the requirements of the supply side of the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program and also to
provide support to KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP for the broader Yolanda reconstruction
and rehabilitation efforts.
“The widened coverage of the Pantawid Pamilya
program, as well as the K-12 implementation, calls for further increase in the
demand for early childhood care centers and school buildings,” Brigoli bared.
KC-NCDDP regional program manager Mita G. Lim
also bared that 13 barangays of the non-prioritized villages of the KALAHI
CIDSS-NCDDP Yolanda-affected areas are expected to benefit the project.
“The estimated cost for the project
implementation in the region is Php 23.6 M since the approximate costs of the
units are Php 800,000 for every day care center, and Php 1,000,000 for every
classroom,” disclosed KC-NCDDP Regional Community Infrastructure Specialist
Macrino S. Sumagang.
KC-NCDDP DFAT Municipal Monitor Maryfel B.
Jerios updated that the Work and Financial Plan for the project implementation
had already been finalized and involved Local Government Units were already
communicated about the said foreign grant.
“Site validation to identified barangays is
ongoing, along with the updating of detailed proposals and the 1st tranche
request for fund release,” Jerios added.
Australian DFAT is one of the modalities handled
by the KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP, one of the poverty-alleviation programs of the
DSWD. (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
Pantawid Pamilya covers 159,075 households in
Caraga
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 8 – The Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has
registered 159,079 households (HH) in Caraga region.
“The program started in 2008 covering 24
municipalities in four provinces. It is now on its sixth year of
implementation,” DSWD Caraga regional director Minda B. Brigoli recalled.
Brigoli revealed that as of the first semester
of this year, the program has reached 100 percent in its aim to cover five
provinces, nine Congressional Districts, six cities, and 67 municipalities in
the region.
Brigoli added that 1,309 barangays or 99.84
percent are covered by the program.
“There are two barangays namely Urduja and
Soliman which are not covered by the program for they are commercial centers
within the city. Thus, there are no poor households identified in these
areas," she said.
The majority of the Pantawid Pamilya grantees in
the region are female, they consists of 142, 853 or 89.79 percent while only
16, 240 or 10.20 percent are male.
These numbers are expected to get higher because
of the on–going validation of the households under the Extended-Age Coverage
Program and the newly registered Set 7C households.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps
(formerly Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino) is a conditional cash transfer program of
the natural government under DSWD that aims to eradicate extreme poverty in the
country by investing in health and education of children. (Social Marketing
Unit/DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
DA prioritizes farm-to-market roads in preparing
against effects of climate change
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) - The Department of
Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday that 100 percent of the budget for
farm-to-market roads today is being used to make roads at least six inches
thick and five meters wide, as part of government’s climate change resiliency
program.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said, one
of the big problems of our countrymen is adequate road network and he is proud
that under the Aquino administration, substandard farm-to-market roads became a
thing of the past.
“Hindi na po pwede yung basta ma-grader lang ay
ok na. Now 100 percent goes to concreting,” Alcala said.
He added irrigation canals have also been
concreted to avoid seepage and other possible defects.
The DA’s initiative to combat the effects of
climate change though is not limited to infrastructure, Alcala said.
According to the secretary, whenever there is a
projection of a prolonged dry spell, the department deploys drought tolerant
seeds to affected areas, and sends ‘submarine’ type seeds, or seeds that can
withstand long periods of being submerged, to flooded areas.
The ‘submarine’ type palay of the DA, he added,
can withstand being submerged for 14 days.
Once the sun comes out and the floodwaters
subside, the ‘submarine’ type palay recovers, except when it is swamped during
the flowering stage.
Also as part of the climate change resiliency
program the Department has introduced grains that can be used as an alternative
to palay, Alcala said.
"Among these is the adlai, which is
indigenous to the Philippines," Alcala said.
He added adlai can be prepared "the way we
cook rice cakes or steamed rice, and besides being an alternative to rice, it
can also be used as an alternative to corn." (DA-OSEC/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor guv partners with DSWD, LGUs on
supplemental feeding program
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) - Agusan del Norte
governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell “Angel” M. Amante-Matba is giving importance to
nutrition of children ages 3-4 years old enrolled in Day Care Centers of the
province as fulfillment of her thrust in the delivery of public service to the
most needy.
Just recently, Matba forged partnership with the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XIII and the
municipal government of Tubay to implement the Supplementary Feeding Program
(SFP) first in Tubay for children ages 3-4 years old.
The feeding program is a major anti-hunger
activity of DSWD, which aims to provide food supplementary to the regular meals
in the form of hot meals to be served during snacks and mealtime to children
ages 3-4 years old within five days in a week for 120 days.
It is also part of the DSWD’s flagship activity
in line with the national government’s Early Childhood Care and Development
(ECCD) Program.
To fast track the implementation of the said
program, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan gave authority to Gov. Matba to sign the
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DSWD and the municipality of Tubay
through Sanggunian Resolution No. 178-2014, authored by Provincial Board Member
Elizabeth Marie R. Calo.
Under the said MOA, one of the responsibilities
of the local government of Agusan del Norte is to integrate the Supplementary
Feeding Program (SFP) into the Nutrition Plan and Strategy to solve the problem
on hunger and malnutrition.
The chosen municipality will provide
administrative and technical assistance in the operationalization of the SFP
and oversee the organization of Parent Committees in each Day Care Center.
Based on the 2008 7th National Survey conducted
by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and
Technology, it revealed that prevalence of under and over nutrition still exist
among Filipino children and has significantly increased as compared to the last
survey. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Tagalog News: Paje iniutos ang mataas na alerto
sa mga mailap na hayop mula sa Africa dahil sa Ebola virus
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 8 (PIA) - Habang ang
makasaysayang pagsiklab ng nakakamatay na Ebloa Virus sa West Africa ay patuloy
na kumakalat, inilagay naman ng mga otoridad ng Philippine Wildlife sa mataas
na alerto and illegal na pagpasok at pagpuslit ng mga mailap na hayop mula sa
Africa papasok ng bansa.
Sinabi ni Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje ng
Department of Ecnvironment and Natural Resources (DENR) na lahat ng tauhan mula
sa Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) na nakatalaga sa mga paliparan at mga
daungan sa buong bansa ay inatasan na istriktong mag man-man sa lahat ng mga
dayuhang hayop at exotic na alagang hayop, particular na iyong mga mula sa mga
bansang tinamaan ng ebola gaya ng New Guinea, Sierra Leone at Liberia.
Napuna ni Paje na ang Ebola virus ay isang
zoonotic na sakit na nakakahawa sa tao sa pamamagitan ng direktang kontak sa
naapektohang buhay o patay na hayop, at higit sa lahat mula sa dagta ng
kanilang katawan.
Sa Africa, naidokumento na ang naturang
impeksyon sa pamamagitan ng paghawak ng may impeksyon na chimpanzees, gorilla,
fruit bats, unggoy, mga antelope sa gubat at porcupines na nakitaan ng sakit o
namatay, o kaya sa gubat.
Ayon kay Paje, ang DENR ay talagang inihinto na
ang pagbigay ng permiso para sa mga mailap na hayop na pinapasok mula sa Africa
mula noong 2006.
“Wala ng permiso para sa pagpapasok ng mga
ganitong hayop na ibinigay ang DENR mula 2006. Kaya ano mang kargamento na
magmula sa kahit saang lugar sa Africa ay seguradong illegal,” paglilinaw ni
Paje.
Sa parehong pagkakataon, inulit ng hepe ng
kalikasan ang kanyang panawagan sa publiko na tigilan ang pagtatago ng mga
maiilap na hayop bilang alaga dahil sa kanilang posibleng seriosong panganib sa
kalusugan ng tao.
“Ang pagtatago ng mailap at kakaibang hayop
bilang alaga ay nagdadala ng banta para sa kalusugan at pampublikong
kaligtasan. Ang mga hayop na ito ay maaring nagdadala ng zoonotic o
nakakahawang sakit na kumakalat sa pagitan ng hayop at tao,” pagbabanta ni
Paje. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: New Zealand ambassador mihatag og
pagtahod nga pagpanamilit kang Presidente Aquino
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Agosto 8 (PIA) - Mihatag sa usa
ka pagtahod nga panamilit si outgoing New Zealand Ambassador ngadto sa
Pilipinas Ruben Levermore kang Presidente Benigno S. Aquino III didto sa Music
Room sa Palasyo MalacaΓ±ang niadtong Huwebes.
Si Levermore matud pa sa taho nga nagtapos sa
iyang “tour of duty” sa nasud, giubanan sa mga opisyal sa New Zealand Embassy
sa Manila, nga mao sila si deputy head of mission Justin Allen, ug manager sa
New Zealand Aid Programme nga si Hannah Walton-France.
Dugang pa niini kauban usab sila ni National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Foreign
Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, ug opisyal sa Foreign Affairs nga si
Aileen Mendiola Rau.
Si Levermore nahimong ambassador sa new Zealand
ngadto sa Pilipinas sukad niadtong Pebrero 2012.
Atol sa iyang paglingkod, nakatabang siya sa
pagpadayon sa multilateral nga relasyon tali sa Pilipinas ug New Zealand.
Sa tuig 1999, si Levermore sumala pa sa taho nga
miapil sa New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, diin siya
nakaangkon og kasinatian sa negosasyon sa multilateral trade. Siya usab gitudlo
sa New Zealand Mission ngadto sa European Union sa Brussels ug nahimong Private
Secretary sa Trade negotiation sa New Zealand Trade Minister nga si Tim Groser.
Siya usab gikataho nga nagtrabaho sa London isip
usa ka financial market advocate samtang siya naka on leave gikan sa maong
departamento. (NGBT/PND/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
