(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Sunday, 01 December 2024) Northeast Monsoon affecting Eastern section of Northern Luzon. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Monday, November 10, 2014

DA-13 implements 1.9 billion plus worth of MRDP2 projects in Caraga region

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 10 (PIA) – The Mindanao Rural Development Program 2 (MRDP2) projects implemented in Caraga region through the Department of Agriculture (DA)-13 has a total regional portfolio of more than P1.9 billion worth of subprojects under the Rural Infrastructure (RI), Natural Resources Management (NRM), and Community Fund Agricultural Development (CFAD) Components

Based on the figures revealed during the Mindanao MRDP2 Culmination Program held on Friday in one of the convention centers in this city, CFAD was able to address 226 livestock subproject; 111 fisheries; 106 crop production; 104 pre and post harvest facilities (PPHF); and 55 small infrastructure subprojects catering a total number of 36,340 beneficiaries.

These subprojects per category amounted to P282,250,000 were accomplished in the following five provinces: Agusan del Norte (P40,000,000); Agusan del Sur (P95,000,000); Surigao del Norte (P62,500,000); Surigao del Sur (P70,000,000); and province of Dinagat Islands (P15,000,000).

For the Rural Infrastructure component, an amount of P861,510,230 has supported the 56 (197.12 km) farm-to-market roads (FMR); 10 (353.4 lm) bridges; 7 (1,440 ha) communal irrigation systems/projects (CIS/CIP); 13 units potable water systems (PWS); and five other infrastructure subprojects including four concrete footbridge and one warehouse.

“Projects in four municipalities with P7M allocation each or a sum ofP28M worth of projects were also completed. An additional P1.5M was also implemented in the municipality of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte as prize for being adjudged as outstanding Agro-forestry project in Mindanao during the People's Organization Congress in Davao. Another P28M worth of projects were also implemented on the so-called NRM-Global Environment Facility (GEF),” disclosed DA-13 regional director Edna Mabeza.

NRM projects were categorized as Agroforestry (805 hectares covered); Riverbank Stabilization (114 hectares); Mangrove Rehabilitation (183 hectares); and Marine Sanctuary and Fishery Reserve (225 hectares).   

Mabeza thanked the stakeholders for their cooperation in the implementation of MRDP2 which will soon culminate on December 2014.

Meanwhile, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala who graced the event congratulated all the active partners in the implementation of the MRDP2. “The 40% counterpart shouldered by the DA has increased local government units’ participation of the program. DA will always be there for you to assist and find ways to respond to your needs,” he said.

As announced and promised by Sec. Alcala, all municipal mayors who were present during the MRDP2 Culmination Program will be provided with hand tractor while the province of Dinagat Islands will be given 1M for livestock project.

In a response message, Mayor Enrico Corvera of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte expressed his gratitude in behalf of his constituents to DA for its assistance through the MRDP2 and other programs & projects offered by the national government. He said that in their municipality, they encouraged the 4Ps beneficiaries to get involve in livelihood programs in order to give them the opportunity to uplift their state of living.

The MRDP2 continues to implement poverty-reducing interventions in more poor communities across Mindanao as it expands in scope of coverage (225 towns in 26 provinces). It is implemented under the DA, MRDP1 accomplished various projects and provided significant learning experiences on which MRDP2 takes off.

MRDP2 focused on a goal to reduce poverty by accelerating environmentally sustainable rural development. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


MRDP2 best LGU implementers in Caraga region named

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 10 (PIA) - In time with the Mindanao Rural Development Program 2 (MRDP2) Culmination Program and Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Launching Ceremony held here on Friday, the winners of the Search for MRDP2 Best LGU Implementers were named and plaques of recognition were personally handed over by no less than the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

After careful assessment conducted by the evaluation team per component, the following placers definitely deserved their specific rewards:

1. Outstanding Provincial Local Government Unit (LGU) Implementer for Investment for Governance    

    Reform (IGR) – Province of Agusan del Sur

2. Best LGU Implementer for Rural Infrastructure (RI) Component

    1st  - San Luis, Agusan del Sur

    2nd - Bacuag, Surigao del Norte

    3rd - Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte

3. Best LGU Implementer for Natural Resources Management (NRM) Component

    1st  - Nasipit, Agusan del Norte

    2nd - Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte

    3rd - Marihatag, Surigao del Sur

4. Best LGU Implementer for Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) Component

    1st  - Nasipit, Agusan del Norte

    2nd - San Agustin, Surigao del Sur

    3rd - Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur

5. Best Performing Peoples Organization (PO) for CFAD

    1st - General Aguinaldo Farmers Association

            General Aguinaldo, Libjo, Province of Dinagat Islands

    2nd - Sto. Ninon Durian Growers Organization

            San Agustin, Surigao del Sur

    3rd - Women’s Livelihood Vision for Tomorrow

           Malimono, Surigao del Norte

"The Dep't of Agriculture Caraga provides technical assistance through trainings and project preparations which foster better camaraderie and understanding of projects. We conducted pre-construction conferences to fully orient our stakeholders on their role in the project implementation," said DA Caraga regional director Edna Mabeza.

Meanwhile, Sec. Alcala expressed his sincere appreciation to the awardees for their exemplary accomplishments and cooperation as partners in the implementation of the MRDP2 in their respective towns. “I congratulate the LGU leaders and other participating individuals for their remarkable contribution in the successful implementation of the MRDP2,” he said.

Earlier on that same day, Sec. Alcala graced the Turn-over Ceremony of Barobo Municipal Fish Port and Ice Plant to the LGU and the Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Forum in Barobo, Surigao del Sur wherein people’s organizations composed of farmers and fisherfolks got the opportunity to raise questions and concerns to the good secretary.

Jointly funded by the World Bank, DA, and Local Government Units (LGUs), MRDP2 seeks to further improve rural incomes and achieve food security through agri-fisheries infrastructure, livelihood enterprise, and biodiversity conservation projects.

Partnership with LGUs and other national agencies are also forged for laudable impact in Mindanao rural communities. (VLG/JPG/PIA-Caraga)


ULAP, GIZ to hold Conference on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Environmental & Customary Laws

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 10 (PIA) – The Urios Legal Assitance Program (ULAP) of the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) College of Law, with the technical assistance of Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) will be holding the Conference on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Environmental Laws and Customary Laws in the context of Conflict Transformation on November 26, 2014 at the AVR1, FSUU Main Building, this city.

According to College of Law Dean Atty. Josefe C. Sorrera-Ty of FSUU, the seminar aims to address environmental and customary issues; provide different machineries of alternative dispute resolutions anchored on the present environmental and customary laws in the perspective of conflict sensitivity and conflict transformation, and in due course, arrive with action plans towards implementing projects and programs in asset and resource management in the region.

“The conference will gather eminent speakers and scholars engaged in these particular topics. Participants to this forum shall be coming from diverse sectors of the society – national government, civil society organizations, and local government units,” added Ty.

For more information, the College of Law Office can be reached at telephone number (085) 342-1830 Local 1907 or cellphone number 0948-4027092. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DA-13 receives recognition in support for climate change mitigation campaign

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 10 (PIA) – Recognizing the extraordinary efforts of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-13 personnel in undertaking climate-focused activities and increasing adaptation and mitigation awareness on some of the more precarious impacts looming over vulnerable communities particularly in rural areas, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga led by regional director Abner Caga presented a Certificate of Recognition to DA-13 regional director Edna Mabeza during a press conference with DA Secretary Proceso Alcala on Friday.

The certificate is a special acknowledgment for heeding the call of Pres. Benigno Aquino III to intensify the climate change adaptation and mitigation campaign.

“It is high time that we grant due recognition to DA-13 for taking an extra mile in strengthening its advocacy. Their support is greatly appreciated for extensive campaign to reduce vulnerability to climate change especially in the field of agriculture,” said Caga.

RD Mabeza greatly appreciated the gesture afforded to their department by PIA Caraga.

Secretary Alcala lauded DA-13 for putting much regard to farmers’ need to enhance adaptive capability on climate change that would help sustain economic development. “If you equip the community with knowledge about how to handle the perils of climate change, they can achieve resiliency over time and will ensure sustainability of Philippine agriculture,” remarked Alcala.

During the press conference proper, the secretary answered without hesitation each of the media representative’s queries on the department's new programs and projects for Caraga region.

"Phil. importation has reduced, however, the percentage of insufficiency still demands to import goods from other countries. We need to increase production and regulate the cost," emphasized Alcala.

As part of the long term solution to the barriers in transporting farm produce, Sec. Alcala relayed that the national government has included in its target the concreting of farm-to-market roads in all areas in Mindanao.

“With these projects, marketing of products will be more competitive, and with consolidated efforts of farmers, their source of livelihood will become stable,” he said. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)