(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 19 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds coming from Northeast to North will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


Thursday, August 7, 2014

Caraga GAD Committee sets activities for this year’s 18-Day Campaign to End VAW

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) – In celebration of this year’s 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) under the Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) is once again setting activities for the said campaign from November 25 to December 12, 2014.

GADCC chair and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga regional director Atty. Marylin Pintor reiterated that the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation.

“In the Philippines, the government has expanded it in 2006 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1172 to include up to December 12, which marks the adoption of the United Nation Convention Against Transnational Crime, thus making it an 18-Day Campaign,” recalled Pintor.

It was also learned that this year's 18-Day Campaign will kick-off early morning with a fun walk activity from the Capitol Grounds to the city's Guingona Park. A flash mob will also be conducted on Nov. 25. Pintor also bared that the guest speaker will be coming from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) or CHR, whichever is available.

Meanwhile, as planned by the members of the GADCC Caraga, the following activities will be conducted during the days of campaign: 1) Press Conference; 2) Oratorical Contest; 3) Gender Sensitivity Training for Media; 4) Reproductive Health Forum; 5) Info Drive Campaign in public and private schools; 5) Youth Forum; and 6) Capacity Building Training for GADCC members, among others.

Said campaign will also culminate on December 12 with a tree planting activity in one of the beach resorts in Butuan City. This is also in time with the International Day Against Trafficking. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DILG chief calls support for Vigan City in the Search for 'New7Wonders Cities'

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is calling for support for the Philippines’ City of Vigan to be one of the seven best cities in the world.

DILG Caraga regional director Lilibeth Famacion is urging Caraganons to support the country’s lone survivor city – Vigan City to won in the Search for “New7Wonders Cities” in the world.

“Vigan City is one of the 21 cities left to vie in the international competition for the “New7Wonders Cities” by the New7Wonders Foundation and is in need of the support of every Filipino to push through as winner,” said Famacion.

The “New7Wonders Cites” is the third international competition by the New7Wonders Foundation, which aims to recognize the seven best cities in the world that has contributed immeasurable to human civilization.

The search is about to reach its final phase. From the 300 cities, which qualified in 2013, 21 cities are left and the city of Vigan is the Philippines remaining candidate, Famacion said.

Famacion said, just recently, DILG has issued Memorandum Circular 2014-91 dated August 1, 2014 to “Support to the National Promotion Campaign for the City of Vigan to be one of the new Seven Wonder Cities of the world.”

“We are calling on the full support of our countrymen for this cause and bring pride to every Filipino,” said Famacion.

The memorandum was issued to ensure that the City of Vigan will remain as finalist until the announcement of the Official New7Wonders Cities and hopefully win the competition on December 7, 2014. Thus, the DILG is calling all Local Chief Executives and all Caraganons to extend full support to this venture by undertaking promotional advertisements and campaigns to vote for the Heritage City of Vigan, Famacion added.

Voting can be done by visiting the New7Wonders Cities website at http://new7wonders.com/en/cities.

Famacion is hoping that all will do their share in the cause and do their part in voting and in campaigning for the city of Vigan to win. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


DOE holds info drive on coal mining in SurSur

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, August 7 (PIA) – With the aim of curbing the proliferation of illegal coal mining and trading activities in the province, the Department of Energy (DOE) has conducted an Information, Education and Communication Campaign on the Department Circular No. DC 2012-05-006 or “Guidelines on the Accreditation of Coal Traders and Registration of Coal End Users” on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 in Bislig City.

The activity was participated in by 11 local coal mining stakeholders, some government line agencies and representatives from the city government of Bislig.

DOE Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada urged the traders and the coal end-users to follow the rules and regulations stated in the department circular.

USec.  Monsada emphasized that the agency’s primarily intention is to improve the quality of life of the Filipinos, “by formulating and implementing policies and programs to ensure sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient, and accessible energy.”

She stressed that engaging in illegal mining spawns several problems including the use of unsafe methods of mining and the denudation of protected forest areas, among others.

“Also, the illegal coal mining has deprived the national and local governments’ rightful tax revenues,” Monsada said. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DOLE, partner-agencies intensify implementation of K-12 Program

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 – “There is no stopping the K-12 program.”

This was the statement of Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR) director Atty. Benjo Santos M. Benavidez during his presentation on the Tertiary Transition Sector Fund (TESTF) before the representatives coming from the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Caraga on the discussion relative to the K-12 and its impact, held recently at the LJ convention Hall, this city.

Benavidez also bared that K-12 is a crucial step for the country to be at par with the international curriculum standards. However, the transition would mean a 2-year gap of college enrollees in 2016, leading to a possible displacement of tertiary teachers.

“Come 2016, there will be no students enrolling in the 1st year college level and we do not want workers to be displaced by the implementation of the K-12,” Benavidez added.

To alleviate the negative impacts of the K-12, the Tertiary Transition Sector Fund (TESTF) was proposed to be presented in the congressional hearing.

A technical working group composed of Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was tasked to consult HEIs and other establishments nationwide to enhance the bill presented and ensure that their thoughts are reflected in the proposed bill.

Also, DOLE-Caraga regional director Atty. Johnson Cañete highlighted that said activity is significant as it will avenue to the participants to discuss issues and concerns to further develop their learnings on the K-12. “This dialogue will be a very good tool and venue for all of us to share with each other,” he said.

BLE director Dominique Tutay also presented the action plan on the implementation of Republic Act 1055. She emphasized that both the teacher and non-teaching personnel should be consulted.

According to Tutay, there is an estimated 86,001 faculty members in private HEIs. Out of this number, 47,469 are full-time and 37,683 are part-time faculty members teaching from first year to fourth year college.

“For SY 2016-2017 and SY 2017-2018, half of the 47,469 or more or less 24,000 full-time faculty members who are teaching first Year and second year college may be retrenched due to foregone enrollment.  Part-time faculty members are excluded in the assumption as they are deemed engaged in other employment,” remarked Tutay.

A full-time faculty member receives a monthly salary of P30,000. The proposed TEST Fund bill intends to extend financial assistance to retrenched faculty members for a period of two years. Hence, the proposed 17.28 billion budget.

There is one non-teaching personnel for every four teaching personnel. Since there is an estimated 24,000 faculty members who may be retrenched, the assumption is that there would be 6,000 non-teaching personnel who may also be affected.

“A non-teaching personnel receives a monthly salary of P15,000. The proposed TEST Fund bill intends to extend financial assistance to retrenched non-teaching personnel for a period of two years. Hence, the proposed 2.16 billion budget,” Tutay said.

She also conveyed that BLE would be offering “Job Search Assistance and Livelihood Grants for the would-be retrenched teachers."

The Expanded Government Assistance for Students and Teachers in Private Education Act (E-GASTPE) or the SHS voucher scheme for the disadvantaged students of the 11th and 12th grades is also part of the action plan.

Tutay further said that there is also a plan of crafting a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Social Security Services (SSS), Home Mutual Development Fund (HMDF) and Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Incorporated for the implementation of emergency loans for the affected teachers. 

The DepEd on the other hand, according to DepEd Caraga assistant regional director Rebecca V. DeLapuz, shall formulate the design and details of the enhanced basic education curriculum but will closely work with CHED and TESDA.

CHED acting director Maricar Casquejo, presented the roles of CHED in the implementation of K-12. According to her, CHED is to conduct a systematic assessment/survey and profiling of HEIs, teaching and non-teaching personnel (using CHED Form E5) and to explain the Transition Plan of HEIs.

Meanwhile, TESDA Caraga regional director Florencio Sunico, Jr. assured the participants that TESDA would continue offering retooling and skills enhancement courses for the college teachers to be given a chance to teach Technical Vocational Courses to the Senior High School students.

“The bill once finalized will be posted in our website. The TESTF or Fund is established to enable qualified Senior High School students to enroll in eligible HEIs offering senior high school by providing complementary tuition or schooling subsidy in addition to the E-GASTPE,” announced Sunico.

This is also to ensure the provision of financial assistance to retained employees who are not transferred to teach and/or work in the secondary education of the same HEI (faculty development fund) and retrenched employees of HEI during the interim period (SY 2016-2017 to SY 2020-2021).

Moreover, DOLE Usec. Rebecca Chato reminded the participants on the daunting problem on jobs mismatch. She put emphasis on the fact that the schools are producing skills that are not being needed by the current industry.

“We are the only one left that has not adopted K-12. It is high time that we embark on a journey to improve the quality of our graduates,” Usec. Chato said.

She also pleaded to the HEIs and national line agencies to ensure that the right information is being properly cascaded so that the impact of K-12 in not heightened. “Embrace K-12 with open heart and open mind.. when we solve youth unemployment problem then we will solve half of the unemployment in the country,” she added.

An open forum followed after all the presentations. The participants were then grouped by province to plot and present their suggestions on the TESTF. (JPG/ICA/DOLE-13/PIA-Caraga)


DOLE Caraga releases P144,720 for TUPAD beneficiaries in Surigao del Norte

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 - Sixty beneficiaries of Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) in Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte received their salaries for nine days amounting to P2,412 each with a total of P144,720.00 on July 14, 2014, a day before their fiesta celebration.

These beneficiaries were among the identified displaced workers affected by the Typhoon Yolanda’s devastating wrath.

They are also the first batch to have received the TUPAD program in provinces of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.

The said program was implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with the local government of Tagana-an through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) headed by HRMO/PESO Manager Jannecito L. Jalbo.

The temporary work program will be administered for 30 days starting July 1, 2014 until August 11, 2014.

Their job is to clean the streets, pavements and sidewalks and de-clog the canals within the municipal center and the major roads/streets.

In each implementation of the TUPAD program, it is mandatory to orient the beneficiaries on the Basic Occupational Safety and Health Standards and enroll them in the Philippine Red Cross’ insurance system. Personal Protective Equipment were also accorded.

The DOLE-SDN staff received positive feedbacks form the people during the conduct of their interview.

“Nagpasalamat ko sa opportunity na gihatag sa DOLE. Kani nga progama nagpalig-on sa amo as a community (I am so thankful for this opportunity given by DOLE. This program has strengthened our community)," articulated Maribeth P. Dumanacal, one of the beneficiaries.

Municipal Mayor Cesar A. Diaz also expressed his appreciation not only for the financial aid for the Yolanda affected beneficiaries but also for the positive results of the program in their municipality.

“The municipal streets, sidewalks and canals in the three poblacion barangays of Azucena, Aurora and Sampaguita are all cleaned-up and cleared from obstructions. Garbage which were identified to be the primary cause of flooding in the municipal center during rainy seasons especially when a typhoon hits the municipality are now properly disposed,” said Mayor Diaz. (JPG/ICA/DOLE-13/PIA-Caraga)


SurSur SP bares 2014 mid-year topnotch legislators; chief legislation

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, August 7 (PIA) – Monalisa Su, officer-in-charge (OIC) Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) bared the topnotch legislators in Surigao del Sur for the period January to June 2014 on matters of attendance and sponsorship/authorship of resolutions and ordinances while at the same time mentioned one of the most important legislation that the august body has enacted.

On the legislators, Su, who was appointed OIC Secretary on April 28 by virtue of a memorandum issued by Vice-Governor Manuel Alameda, Sr. due to the retirement of Reynilda Cosare on April 17, said that board member Donnel Polizon got the highest percentage of attendance at 96.15 percent, closely followed by board members Tito Cañedo and Mariano Atacador at 95 percent apiece.

She also cited that board member Henrich Pimentel holds the “most number” of resolutions/ordinances sponsored/authored at 145; followed by board members Mariano Atacador, Eleanor Momo, and Tito Cañedo.

For the said period, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has enacted 255 resolutions and 13 ordinances in 23 regular sessions conducted, it was learned.

Regular sessions are held, at least, once a week—twice each in both Districts I and II, done in alternating pattern in accordance with Section 10, Rule IV of SP Ordinance No. 01-13 enacted on July 2, 2013 which adopted its House Rules.

Meanwhile, Su said that one of the most important resolutions that was passed is SP Resolution No. 73 dated September 9, 2013 on the “Granting of Amnesty on the Payment of Interest, Basic, and Special Education Fund of Real Property Tax Delinquencies for the Province of Surigao del Sur effective January to June 2014.”

However, the same was extended up to the end of the year “Due to requests from the different barangays and municipalities of the province” through SP Resolution No. 457 dated July 1, 2014, she pointed out. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


100Mth babies named in Caraga

By May Ann O. Escobal

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) - The Commission on Population (PopCom) Caraga identified the seven nominees of the region in the nationwide “Search for the 100 Millionth Pinoy,” as the Philippine population formally reached 100 million on Sunday, July 27, 2014.

Based on the documents gathered according to the guidelines set by PopCom, the official nominees from the provinces and Butuan City are the following:

AGUSAN DEL NORTE                                          
Arhea Jabonillo Damasco                       
July 27, 2014 at 1:02 a.m.                                    
Bgy. Tolosa Health Center                                              

BUTUAN CITY
Lyca Jane Geroy Rudado
July 27, 2014 at 1:04 a.m.
Butuan Medical Center

SURIGAO DEL SUR                                             
Zhyraiah Orillaneda Tranquilan              
July 27, 2014 at 1:05 a.m.                                      
Cortes Municipal Hospital                                   

SURIGAO DEL NORTE
Bella Christina Matugas Lincuna
July 27, 2014 at 1:34 a.m.
Caraga Regional Hospital

PROVINCE OF DINAGAT ISLANDS                   
Queen Genyvic Malate Juanillo              
July 27, 2014 at 5:00 a.m.                                      
Dinagat District Hospital                                      

AGUSAN DEL SUR
July Marie Aquino Dahug
July 27, 2014 at 7:30 a.m.
D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital

The child, Chonalyn Sentino, born in Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital at 12:35 a.m. of the said date, received the designation of the “100 Millionth Baby.”

In a simple but apt ceremonies, each nominee was given a starter kit worth Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) and awarded with free PhilHealth package.

PopCom Caraga regional director Makinano said that the symbolic baby will be closely monitored by PopCom in coordination with the Department of Health, PhilHealth, National Nutrition Council, local government units and other partner agencies, particularly in monitoring of his/her development throughout his/her life stages, especially in ensuring that his/her basic physiological (food, clothing and shelter) and psycho-social (health, education, and eventually, employment) needs are met.

“The progress of the symbolic baby and the milestones of his/her life shall be tracked by the regional population office and this will be highlighted during the celebration of the Population and Development activities,” Makinano emphasized.

Makinano pointed-out that the 100 millionth Pinoy is a symbol of hope and a challenge. It is a call to make every Filipino count in development by ensuring that each Pinoy is able to live in a healthy, productive, and livable environment. It is a call to make every child be born wanted and ensured of his/her basic needs, health, education, and other development concerns. It is a challenge to all institutions and every Filipino to count on each other to have a better Philippines - a home to well-planned, healthy, happy, and empowered 100 million Filipinos.  (PopCom/PIA-Caraga)


Mechanization, use of pre and post harvest equipment increase farmers’ income

By Menkent Jay Gumapac

SAN AGUSTIN, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 7 (PIA) - Farmers here no longer have to rely on privately owned machineries when working in their ricefields. Not since they availed the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) project under the Department of Agriculture's Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP).

“The quality of our rice has improved because it (farming process) is now fast,” said Subangan ng Hubo Kamayo Irrigators Association, Inc.  (SHKIA) chairperson Gregorio Climaco.

SHKIA members were able to avail of financial assistance amounting to P1.5Million under the DA-MRDP.  With the said funding, the association was able to buy four threshers and five turtle tiller. They were also able to rehabilitate their irrigators building and multi-purpose drying pavement, and extended their mini warehouse to accommodate more room for their palay.
          
“Before, we had to pay Php250 per hour for the use of machineries (turtle tiller, thresher) now we only have to pay P180 as member-beneficiaries,” said Climaco.

The association holds 54 members serving a total area of 155 hectares from Barangay Poblacion, Otiezea, Kauswagan, Hornasan and Sto. Nino but the use of the machineries is open to non-members thereby earning more income from its rentals.

After a year of operation, they were already able to buy out from their savings additional equipment for carwash, vulcanizing, and welding which are used for the maintenance of their equipments and a service vehicle used for transporting goods.
             
“We are so grateful to the DA-MRDP for the opportunity being one of its recipients. It has greatly helped us in our farming for the assistance now is fast. Our income grew, our members increased and we can do our farming activities at a faster pace,” added Climaco.
          
Pre and Post Harvest Facilities (PPHF) in San Agustin is only one of the 104 PPHF sub-projects now operating in various municipalities in the region under MRDP2. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)


DILG chief elated over the establishment of prov’l training center in Surigao Norte

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) - Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas expressed his elation over the establishment of the provincial community training center in Bad-as, Placer, Surigao del Norte.

In his message sent to the provincial government, the DILG chief congratulated the provincial officials led by Gov. Sol F. Matugas on another historic milestone, which, according to him is a pioneering local training facility organized through the private-public partnership.

Sec. Roxas said the establishment of the training center could not be more auspicious and relevant than at these times considering the resurgence of industries in the locality particularly mining and tourism, as well as the emergence of new ones like manufacturing and information technology, which creates demands for skills development.

At the macro perspective, Sec. Roxas said the provision of opportunities for human capital formation through education and training has always been a key strategy of the present administration in achieving inclusive growth. “Increased investments in the public education sector, training and skills development programs, scholarships and financial assistance have become a defining feature in our national budget,” Roxas said.

But while the country’s economy continues to sustain its performance as one of the fastest growing in the region, Roxas said this has not made a significant dent in the incidence of rural poverty. “Indeed, addressing poverty and joblessness remains as hurdles on the road to fully achieving rapid and inclusive growth… and local government units all have roles to play in this region,” Roxas added.

Sec. Roxas further said the training center finds significance and relevance in local governance by providing constituents with opportunities and expanding access to education, training, and skills development.

“Admittedly, given the huge investment requirements, this facility could not have been achieved by utilizing government resources alone. Thus, we hail the provincial government in its successful adoption of a PPP scheme by mobilizing support of the private sector particularly mining as a key stakeholder of this project,” Roxas said.

Furthermore, Roxas said the provincial government through Gov. Matugas has shown that with creative local governance strategies, big things can be done with less resources. “Indeed, many local government units can derive inspiration from this model of resource generation and mobilization to address specific local needs,” said Roxas.

Moreover, the DILG chief pointed out that the training center is as much a testament to good governance as a triumph of convergence of all sectors in responding to common concerns at the local level.

With these developments, Sec. Roxas hoped that the operationalization of the training center will go a long way in providing gainful opportunities for employment to the unskilled and unemployed constituents particularly the youths, and making a significant difference in their lives. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Malakanyang umaasa na ang pamahalaan at MILF ay magkasundo sa madaling panahon sa patas na binalangkas na batas ng Bangsamoro

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 7 (PIA) - Sinabi ng Palasyo na umaasa sila na ang pamahalaan at ang Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ay sa lalong medaling panahon papayag sa binalangkas na Bangsamoro Basic Law na isusumite sa Kongreso, para lahat ay maari ng magpatuloy ayon sa plano.

Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda sa isang panayam sa media noong Miyerkoles na gusto ng Palasyo na makita ang binalangkas na batas na katanggap-tangap sa bawat panig.

Nagkomento si Secretary Lacierda sa pahayag na ginawa ni House of Representative Feliciano Belmonte na ang kongreso ay maaring hindi makayang maipasa ang Bangsamoro Basic Law sa buwan ng Disyembreng palugit dahil sa pakaantala ng pagsumite nito.

“Umaasa pa rin kami na ito ay mapadali. Ang aming pagkakaintindi sa sinabi ni Senator Frank Drilon ay dahil ginagawa niya ito ayon sa itineraryo mula, kung hindi sa katapusan ng Disyembre, hanggang sa unang tatlong buwan ng susunod na taon,” sabi ni Lacierda.

At dagdag niyang sinabing kahit na naipasa na ang basikong batas sa unang tatlong buwan ng susunod na taon, magsagawa pa rin ang pamahalaan ng plebesito sa loob ng panahong iyon, at magkaroon ng pagsaayos ng Bangsamoro Transitional Authority.

Ang sunod na hamon ay ang pagbigay ng kapasidad sa mga institusyon ng pamahalaan at mapagkunan ng pamamahala sa Bagsamoro Juridical Entity, sabi niya at dinagdagan na ang lahat ng ito ay bibigyan ng diin habang papalapit ang 2016.

Nangako ang Pangulo na maging patas at demokratiko ang pagsagawa ng halalan sa Bangsamoro sa darating na 2016.

Sineguro ni Lacierda na kahit may mga balakid, ang dalawang panig ay kumikilos pasulong at nangunguna sa isipan ng grupo ng gobyerno at MILF ay maseguro na ang Bangsamoro Basic Law ay makatarungan, patas at katanggap-tanggap sa lahat. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)