Tagum City to host 2015 Palarong Pambansa
By Rhoje R. Lustiva
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – Tagum City in the
province of Davao Del Norte will be the host of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa.
The Palarong Pambansa is held in May with hosting
duties rotating yearly among the island groups.
There are five bidders for the hosting of the 2015
Palarong Pambansa: Dipolog City, Pagadian City, Koronadal City, Lanao del Norte
province, and Caraga region, it was learned.
The Department of Education (DepEd) together with
the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) officials inspected each of the bidders
on December, last year before the selection of venue. The inspection was
conducted to check if the facilities and billeting areas are adequate.
Part of the rating system during the inspection
include international standards, distance from the main complex, power supply,
and security, among others.
The billeting areas which are evaluated are based
on the adequacy of rooms, bathrooms, kitchen areas and medical provisions.
In the Palarong Pambansa Law, it states that the
Palarong Pambansa 2015 will be the first national games to be held under the
Palarong Pambansa Law (R.A. 10588) signed on May 27, 2014, which mandates the
creation of a Palarong Pambansa Board as the lead policy-making and
coordinating body for the preparation and conduct of the games. The board shall
be composed of the DepEd Secretary as chairperson, a DepEd undersecretary, two
DepEd assistant secretaries, the chairman of the PSC, the president of the Philippine
Olympic Committee (POC) and secretary of the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG). (DepEd Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
FNRI develops food bar suitable for emergency
feeding, calamity victims
By Josefina T. Gonzales
MANILA, Jan. 20 (PIA) - The Food and Nutrition
Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST)
developed a food bar suitable during emergency to help victims of calamities
and disasters like typhoons, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and armed
conflicts obtain appropriate nourishment.
The rice crispy bar is made from expanded cereals
and flour from legumes and oilseeds which provide energy and adequate protein.
It comes in chocolate-coated, peanut-flavored and
tropical fruit variants that provide delicious and quick sources of calories,
protein, carbohydrates and fat.
A 25-gram portion of tropical fruits-flavored food
bar provides 4 percent of the protein and 5 percent of the energy requirement
of a 4-6 year-old child daily.
Rice crispy bar is ready-to-eat, appealing, and
nutritious and light, therefore, easy to handle and transport.
These bars are of good quality and are affordable
emergency foods as well as excellent snacks for long distance travel and when
caught in traffic.
The intended market for rice crispy bars are
government and non-government institutions involved in food assistance during
disaster and emergency situations. These can also be marketed in supermarket as
convenience foods.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana,
Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and
Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Telephone/ Fax Nos:
837-2934 or 837-3164; Direct Line:839-1839; DOST Trunk Line: 837-2071-82 local
2296 or 2284; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or at mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST
website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Like our Facebook page at
facebook.com/FNRI.DOST or follow our Twitter account at twitter.com/FNRI_DOST.
(FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
DILG 13 ready for bottom-up budgeting 2015
implementation
By Bryan F. Edulzura
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) - The Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 13 is all set to implement the
Bottom – Up Budgeting (BUB) 2015.
With around 800 individual projects totaling to
P1.004 billion, to be implemented by the participating agencies, the department
engages more community mobilizers to assist the local government units (LGUs)
and communities in implementing and monitoring BUB projects.
“We double the number of Community Mobilizers (CM)
to assist Caraga Region’s 73 LGUs to implement the BUB projects. From six CMs
we hired in the first semester of 2014, we increased it to 13 CMs in 2015,”
DILG Caraga regional director Lilibeth A. Famacion said.
“We value the importance of organizing the
communities to deepen their participation and improve the efficiency in
reaching the poor. These are the very essence of the BUB process,” Famacion
stressed.
For 2015, all cities and municipalities will
receive at least P12.5 million worth of projects. This money will be used to
fund community-determined, anti-poverty interventions - such as agriculture and
fisheries support, potable water supply, public healthcare, local access road,
basic education, and disaster preparedness and response.
These projects were identified and unanimously
endorsed by the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) which is composed
of 50% LGU representatives and 50% civil society organizations.
Now on its 4th year, BUB puts emphasis on the
deepening participation of stakeholders in public spending. The BUB seeks to amplify the voice of the
grassroots in the allocation and management of public funds, as well as to
promote a greater sense of understanding and ownership of the budgeting process
among the public.
“This year, we will face another challenge as we
implement the projects; but with the engagement of community mobilizers and
support from the participating agencies,
LGUs and civil society organizations, we are ready for the 2015 BUB
run,” declares DILG-BUB Regional Focal Person Marilou Autor-Salado.
The oversight agencies of BUB 2015 are DILG,
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), National Economic Development Authority
(NEDA) and National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
The participating agencies are Department of
Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA),
National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Tourism (DOT),
Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Energy
(DOE), Department of Education (DepEd), National Electrification Administration
(NEA) and Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).
Full list of 2015 BUB projects can be viewed at
www.caraga.dilg.gov.ph and www.dbm.gov.ph. (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA-13 chief bares 2014 accomplishments
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) – Regional director
Florencio F. Sunico, Jr. of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA)-Caraga today bared the accomplishments of the agency for
2014.
In an interview, Dir. Sunico said in terms of
enrollment rate, TESDA-Caraga was able to accomplish 99.7%, explaining that the
100% allotment of the government for the region was almost perfectly utilized.
The official added the absorption rate of the
region was almost perfect considering that the scholarship slots utilization
was granted to those who qualified based on the qualifications set in each
scholarship program.
For the Training for Work Scholarship Program
(TWSP), Sunico said the allocated amount of P24 million were used allowing the
Caraganons especially the youths avail of such privilege. He added the TWSP is
the biggest scholarship program that is implemented by TESDA.
As to the completion rate, Sunico said the
accomplishment rate is posted at 89%. This means that of those who were
enrolled in 2014, 89% of them were able to finish the different trainings. He
explained further that since the last batch of enrollees last year was in
December, “this means that the training is not yet finished until now. However,
he said the accomplishment will be carried over in 2015."
The TESDA chief of the region is hoping that the
completion rate will still increase after the trainings will be completed in
the first quarter of this year. “Ideally, TESDA only allows a maximum of 5-10%
dropouts, thus, we are targeting for a 95% completion rate,” Sunico said.
The certification rate, according to Dir. Sunico
was posted at 84%. These are the graduates who were able to pass the assessment
examinations that were conducted in different qualifications/courses. “This
means that of the 10 graduates who took the assessment, eight of them passed,”
Dir. Sunico said.
Sunico further explained the national average of
the certification rate is 85%. “Thus, we still lack one percent to meet the
national average and this can be obtained after those that are enrolled in
December 2014 will take the assessment this year and hopefully pass,” he said.
For the employment rate, Dir. Sunico said the
national data revealed that Caraga ranked second to Region XII having
accomplished 74.7%. He explained the data was a result of a scientific study
used in tracing graduates of TESDA, dubbed as “Impact Evaluation Study” that
was conducted last year. “The baseline of the data is 2013, meaning that during
this year, Caraga ranked second in the employment rate based on the national
figure… The national average is posted at 65%,” Sunico said.
With these developments, Dir. Sunico acknowledged
the agency’s partners and stakeholders for the unwavering support rendered to
TESDA-Caraga, hoping that the partnership will still continue this year in
developing human resources of the region in support to the Human Development
Cluster of the Philippine Development Plan. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Dinagat Islands conducts SPMS orientation
By Ma. Jane A. Mayola
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Jan 20 (PIA) – The
Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) recently conducted a one-day
orientation on Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS) and
Synchronization of Provincial Activities for the 2015, held at the Provincial
Guest Center, Capitol Compound, Brgy Cuarinta, San Jose, this province.
The event aims to enhance the performance and
commitment of all government employees and to reorient them with their key
responsibilities since the SPMS of the province was already approved by the
Civil Service Commission-Caraga Region.
Other goal of the one-day activity is to
synchronize the different activities of the province for the year 2015 in order
to harmonize the utilization of manpower and resources of the province.
Participants of the said activity are department
heads of different offices and the administrative officers of the province.
(SDR/PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
Surigao Norte vice guv explains sisterhood deal
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Jan. 20 (PIA) -
On behalf of Governor Sol Matugas, Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr.
addressed members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, national line agencies and
team capitol family during the Monday Morning Sharing (MMS) held at the
Provincial Convention Center on January 19, 2015, this city.
Vice Gov. Egay narrated the events in Siargao from
January 12 to 16 this year which was capped by the memorandum of agreement
(MOA) signing of the sisterhood agreement between the province led by Governor
Sol and Camarines Sur, headed by Gov. Luis Miguel Villafuerte.
Egay further narrated that Gov. Villafuerte was
accompanied by Vice Gov. Fortunato PeΓ±a and members of the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan of CamSur when the sisterhood covenant was inked at the municipal
gym of Dapa.
“Villafuerte, the youngest governor in the country
today was impressed that we have two capitol buildings, one in Surigao City and
the other one, Kapitolyo nan Siargao
(KNS), situated at the heart of Dapa," Egay noted.
During the said events major economic drivers such
as tourism, education, livelihood, agriculture and infrastructure were also
given due consideration by the two provincial leaders.
In his message, Gov. Villafuerte said the surfing
capital of the Philippines meets the wake-boarding capital of the country.
“I am truly proud to announce the sisterhood
agreement of CamSur and Surigao del Norte. Together we can take advantage of
our competencies and commonalities to benefit our tourism and economic
programs. I love Siargao," Villafuerte said.
Meanwhile, Egay revealed that a hidden paradise
for surfing enthusiasts can be found in Guian, Dapa which really has great
waves.
He also said that Gov. Villafuerte enjoyed basking
on the sunshine and exploring the wonders of Siargao through extreme
ocean-sports almost everyday.
"Gov. Villafuerte and his company praised
Siargao because the adventures that they experienced were simply amazing. Also,
they wanted to navigate to the Sohoton Cove in Bucas Grande Islands, but they
were advised to call it off due to giant waves and tropical storm 'Amang' which
hovered the shores and the eastern seaboard,” Egay said.
Vice Gov. Egay also said that the province is
exploring more innovative ways on how to benchmark in select places of CamSur
to learn from their best practices.
He mentioned the PeΓ±afrancia Basilica Minore, in
Naga which is positioned along Balatas road, named after the Patroness of the
Bicol Region and home to the Divino Rostro (Holy Face). The feast is celebrated
during September of every year.
Egay also talked about the beautiful tourist spot
of Caramoan Islands, off Bicol, which gives life to a seemingly untouched
nature and extraordinary destination for kayakers, and the once-in-a –lifetime
breath-taking ocean experience that can surely wow the tourists.
The MMS was hosted by the Office of the Provincial
Administrator headed by Atty. Premolito Plaza. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del
Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Caraga police, military top officials vow to
pursue ‘normal operations’ with the lifting up of truce
By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 20 (PIA) - Top police and
military officials in the region said Monday morning that they will continue
pursuing the normal operations mandated to them with the lifting up both of the
suspension of police operations (SOPO) and suspension of military operations
(SOMO) here in the region.
The month-long unilateral suspension of military
and police operations declared on December 19, last year ended on Monday, Jan.
19, 2015.
PCSupt. David Y. Ombao, Caraga PNP chief in an
interview, right after the Monday flag-raising rites held at this camp said
that the police will “continue with the normal police operations such as doing
patrol in the provinces, cities and the rest of the places in the region,
anti-criminality campaign, anti-illegal activities campaign, peace and security
efforts, community information, education outreaches, medical and dental
missions.”
According to Ombao, this will include all the
necessary measures and efforts which will ensure the safe release of their
three police personnel who are still in the hands of their captors since their
alleged abduction more than two months ago.
”Until this time, I’m hoping that our friends from
the other side will finally release our personnel soon. I understand that
sincerity from both sides is already there. Let us just open all the peaceful
channels, exhaust all peaceful efforts and to pursue the negotiations for their
safe release,” Ombao said.
On the part of the military, Brig. Gen. Gregory M.
Cayetano, Brigade Commander of the 401st Brigade who was the guest of honor and
speaker of the Monday flag-raising ceremony also said during a post-rites
separate exclusive interview that the military will “pursue with the focused
military operations coupled with the community organizing for peace and
development at the conflict-affected areas of the region.” According to the
military official that the AFP will continue working and encouraging those
involved in the armed struggle to return back to the folds of the law through
their “Balik-Loob” program, provide livelihoods to those who wanted to live
with the society’s mainstream.
Together with the PNP, the concerned agencies and
other stakeholders, "we will continue to work for peace and development in
the region and to leave a legacy of peace to our next generation,” Cayetano
said. “We still have to face some great challenges ahead but together with the
PNP and other partners, we are determined to pursue and achieve long lasting
peace,” Cayetano continued.
BGen. Cayetano also said that like the PNP, the
military here is also looking forward to the safe release of the three PNP
personnel. He said that they had shared with the agony and the apprehensions
and assured that the military here is doing their best to help resolve the
impasse and come up with positive results.
During the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)
press forum last week attended by RPOC chair Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M.
Amante, Jr., 4ID commanding officer MGen. Oscar T. Lactao, 402 Brigade senior
officials and other RPOC members, it was mentioned that the negotiation for the
release of the three police personnel is now in the level of the Provincial
Management Crisis Committee of Surigao del Norte.
PO1 Jorie M. Amper of Malimono Municipal Police
Station Malimono, Surigao del Norte was abducted allegedly by the rebels while
in the performance of his police work to a neighboring village while PO3
Democrito B. Polvorosa and PO1 Marichel U. Contemplo assigned with the Alegria
Municipal Police Station in the town of Alegria of the said province were
abducted while on their way to conduct village visitation over a month ago. (PNA/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Opisyal ng Palasyo ibinigay ang
kredito sa kooperasyon ng publiko sa matagumpay na pagbisita ng Santo Papa
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Enero 20 (PIA) - Tinukoy ng
Palasyo ang kooperasyon ng sambayanan sa mga otoridad na isang malaking sanhi
ng matagumpay ng limang araw na pagbisita ni Pope Francis sa Pilipinas.
"Sa amin, ang pinakamalaking sanhi ng
tagumpay ng pagbisita ng santo papa ay ang mga tao mismo. Kasi kinusa nila na
ito ay maging maayos, maging matagumpay," sabi ni Communication Secretary
Herminio Coloma, Jr. sa isang panayam sa media sa Villamor Airbase.
"Lahat ng pagsisikap ng pamahalaan ay
balewala kung hindi nakiisa ang bawat Pilipino at kung hindi naging maayos ang
pagdalo sa misa," sabi niya.
Kasama ang iba pang bilang ng miyembro ng mga
secretary ng gabinete at mga katolikong Obispo ay sumama kay Pangulong Benigno
S. Aquino III noong seremonya ng paghatid para ka Pope Francis.
Umalis si Pope Francis pauwi ng Roma ng mga 10:12
ng umaga noong Lunes, at tinapos ang kanyang masiglang-masiglang pagbisita sa
pinakamalaking katolikong bansa sa Asia.
"Gusto naming pasalamatan ang ating mga
kababayan sa kanilang buong kooperasyon. Ang panawagan po natin sa kanila:
Makiisa, makisama, makipagbayanihan," sabi niya, na estrikotong sinunod ng
mabuti ang mga panuntunan na inilatag ng mga otoridad.
Pinuri rin si Coloma ang mga unipormadong lalake
at babae na nagtrabaho ng maigi, kahit masama ang panahon para mapanatili ang
kaayosan at maseguro ang kaligtasan ng Papa.
"Saludo po kami sa inyo at maraming salamat po.
Sa lahat po ng pagkakataon, kapansin-pansin ang dedikasyon, sipag, pagiging
masigasig, at mapagpasensiya ng ating mga sundalo at pulis," sabi niya.
Kahit na napakalaki ng pinagagawa sa kanila, ang
mga sundalo at mga pulis ay ginawa ang kanilang trabaho ng mabuti dahil sa
kaibuturan ng kanilang puso, hindi lamang sila gumagawa ng kanilang trabaho
kundi pati na rin ang naranasang sandali ng kanilang pananampalataya, sabi
niya.
Bago dumating ang Santo Papa noong nakaraang
linggo, sinabi ni Pangulong Aquino na 25,000 ang militar at pulis na ikakalat
para bantayan ang seguridad ni Pope Francis at ng publiko. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del
Sur)
