SurSur guv presides dialogue to resolve IDPs
issues in Lianga town
Surigao del Sur, Oct. 30 (PIA) – Suriga del Sur
Governor Johnny Pimentel presided a dialogue on Wednesday in Lianga province to
resolve the concerns of indigenous peoples (IPs) who vacated from the
hinterlands of Lianga, San Agustin and part of Tago towns situated at the foot
of the “Andap Valley” area since Monday morning.
During the discussion, the Lumad leader
representatives have insisted several demands to the government such as
immediate cessation of military operations and immediate investigation to the
recent killing incident of an IP leader, among others.
Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod
(MAPASU) general secretary Genasque Enriquez in a phone patch interview said
that the crisis started after the shooting incident of a certain IP leader
Henry Alameda took place on October 24 in Sitio Kabalawan, San Isidro in Lianga
town.
Evening of October 27, 2014, the people from the
said area and nearby communities started to leave their homes and are
temporarily housed at Diatagon Gym, said Enriquez.
According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
Management officer Abel de Guzman, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have
reached to 407 families with 1,844 individuals who take shelter at Diatagon Gym
in Lianga province and Buhisan Elementary School of San Agustin town.
Meanwhile, the 401st Brigade in a press statement
released stated that they have condemned the terroristic acts and always uphold
human rights. Accordingly, they are mandated to protect the communities against
the lawless elements. As such, they are in pursuit operation against the CNN
(CPP/NPA/NDF) group responsible for the series of economic sabotage in the
month of September and October in the province of Agusan Sur and Surigao del
Sur.
As agreed in a dialogue, the members of the
provincial and municipal Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Fact Finding
Committee will conduct an ocular
inspections to the communities on October 31, Friday to ensure the safety of
the IDPs before they will return to their respective communities this weekend.
Meanwhile, Governor Pimentel is set to distribute
relief goods consisting of five kilos rice, two cans sardines and noodles to
407 families on October 31. Earlier, the barangay council and the municipal
government unit of Lianga have already distributed relief goods to the IDPs.
(NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
525 preschoolers avail dental check-up in Dinagat
Islands
By Jane Mayola
SAN JOSE-Dinagat Islands, Oct. 30 (PIA) – A total
of 525 preschoolers from different preschools in Dinagat Islands have availed
the free dental check-up spearheaded and conducted province-wide by the
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office from October 14 to 25, 2014.
The 2-week activity is in line with the month-long
celebration of National Children’s Month with the theme, “Bata Kasali Ka, Ikaw
ay Mahalaga”.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Social Welfare and
Development Office also conducted a Provincial Day Care Worker’s Convention
where paticipants joined in several activities in order for them to be more
competent in performing the tasks in their field of work for the betterment of
the children. (SDR/PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
AgNor Solon sees conversion of roads to steer
greater growth for Butuan
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 30 (PIA) - Agusan del Norte
First District representative Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun seeks the conversion of
five local roads into national roads, believing these could generate huge
economic movements for the city.
It can be recalled that Fortun have long expressed
his intention to have these local roads converted into national roads. August
2012, a Resolution was passed by then Fortun-led Sanggunian Panlungsod of
Butuan, endorsing to the Department of Public Works and Highways, through its
regional office the conversion of said roads into national roads.
"Efficient road networks form part of the
lifeblood of trade and commerce. These roads provide vital link for efficient
transportation of goods and services to strategic destinations to and from the
City of Butuan, the Province of Agusan del Norte and other parts of the Caraga
Region, more particularly ports of embarkation and disembarkation and the
provincial and city centers. The whole stretch of the road encompasses a number
of local government units," says Rep. Fortun.
While Fortun recognized the major contributions to
economic development of these roads for the city, the province and the region,
the solon is also cognizant of Local Government Unit's inability to meet the
financial demands of maintaining the integrity of the said roads. "This
has resulted in the bad condition of the road, thereby causing an unwelcome
impact on the economic and commercial activities in the affected areas,"
Fortun in his explanatory note. (LAWig Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)