401st Brigade chief to vacate post for a higher
office
By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) - A senior official of
the army in Caraga region may soon vacate his post as the regional army
commander here to assume a higher post at their national headquarters in Camp
Emillio Aguinaldo.
401st Brigade Commander BGen. Gregory M. Cayetano,
announced during the Monday Flag-raising rites that he may soon be leaving his
post after serving as the chief of his brigade for one year and 11 months. He
assumed his post as the top official of the said brigade last February 28,
2013.
Cayetano said he will be assuming a post at the
G-8, (at the Assistant Chief of Staff in the Army for Education and Training).
“Hopefully, I can contribute something to the said office,” Cayetano said.
The senior army official also disclosed that he
will be replaced by Col. Alexander Macario, whom he described as “my teammate
who is equally efficient and effective officer. I believe he can do more and
(even) improve the systems upon his assumption,” according to Cayetano.
The general was the guest of honor and speaker
during the Monday flag-raising rites. He was welcomed by acting Caraga PNP
Director CSupt. David Y. Ombao and other regional senior police officials, and
was afforded an arrival honors upon his arrival at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez.
During his message, Cayetano cited the various
joint and cooperative peace and security efforts between the AFP and the PNP
which he described as “at its best in this particular time.” He also cited the
police provincial and field officials whom he and his brigade had worked with
in implementing the various projects, programs and thrusts of the national
government, particularly in the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del
Sur.
He made mention of the successful joint AFP and
PNP project of the community organizing for peace and development (COPD) in the
municipalities of Loreto, Veruela and San Luis in the province of Agusan del
Sur which he said to have “strengthened the bond between the police, the
military and the community sending a positive signal to the people even to
those who are in the grassroots level,” according to Cayetano. He also cited
other military-PNP successful joint ventures such as the “Joint Plan Halalan”
in 2013 which had contributed greatly to the success and peacefulness of the said
electoral exercise, the “Plan Alalay Kalakal,” the “Movement and Visit
Protocol,” the “Common Network Open Line Protocol 24/7,” the assistance from
the PNP Special and Legal Teams, the PNP SOCO, the Joint Peace and Security
Coordinating Councils, to mention some according to him.
Cayetano also said that he is privileged to be
working with three PNP Regional Directors during his term, with then PCSupt.
Getulio Napenas, PCSupt. Dominador E. Aquino and presently with PCSupt. David
Y. Ombao. (PNA/PIA-Caraga)
FNRI develops nutritious, affordable treats to
fight malnutrition
By Josefina T. Gonzales
MANILA, Jan. 21 (PIA) - In the Philippines,
undernutrition is persistent among infants and young children. There is also an
emerging prevalence of obesity or overnutrition among adolescents and adults.
This co- existence of under-and overnutrition is referred to as the double
burden malnutrition.
Moreover, the Philippines is among the countries
with the highest incidence of non-communicable diet-related diseases like
diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Diabetes is characterized by increased in blood sugar
level.
Studies have shown that a diet with low glycemic
index food may improve diabetes control, reduce cardiovascular risk factors and
reduce body weight. Foods low in glycemic index will not raise blood sugar
level abruptly.
Related to this, the FNRI has developed three
functional food products called monggo frozen yogurt, instant mashed sweet
potato premix and brown rice puto premix.
Locally- grown crops such as monggo beans, sweet
potato and brown rice were utilized to develop the said products.
All products were found acceptable and
microbiologically safe based on the Philippine’s Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
Instant mashed sweet potato premix is high in
dietary fiber and low in fat, while brown rice puto premix is also high in
dietary fiber. Both food products are ideal for weight watchers.
Interested entrepreneurs can avail of FNRI
technology business incubator (TBI) program for the technology transfer and
commercialization.
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)
DepEd creates assessment system for K-to-12
program
By Rhoje R. Lustiva
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) – The Department of
Education (DepEd) through memorandum no. 2, series of 2015 dated January 13,
2015, has created a technical working group (TWG) on the assessment of the K to
12 Program to formulate and adopt policies on implementing and institutionalizing
an assessment system for the government’s flagship education program for
education.
The national TWG is composed of chairperson,
second to the chairperson, and members. They are responsible in formulating an
assessment framework for assessing quality performance in the system, national,
teacher and classroom levels; and establishing quality standards/protocols on
assessment instruments development and administration, data processing,
communication and utilization of assessment data.
Also, the TWG is responsible for formulating and
adopting policy guidelines on implementing and institutionalizing a national
assessment system for the K to 12 Program to promote quality assurance in
education; designing the capability building program required for the roll out
of the K to 12 assessment system; and formulating mechanisms on utilization of
assessment data to inform decision making at different levels of education
governance.
The TWG also has its sub-TWGs composed of System
Assessment; National Assessment; Teachers and Supervisors Assessment; and
Classroom Assessment. (DepEd Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Aggie distributes support to Seniang-affected
farmers
By Rhea C. Abao
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) - Tropical Storm
Seniang hit Caraga region before the end of 2014. The low depression turned
tropical storm unleashed torrents of rainfall that led to landslides and severe
flooding in the region.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) immediately
activated its Monitoring Team to assess the damaged it brought. As of January 16, 2015 estimated damages in
agriculture in Caraga has reached ₱32,043,933 for cereals (rice & corn), ₱3,468,700 for other crops
and ₱3,468,700 for livestock. Validation of the rest of the LGU reports is
still ongoing ensuring that agricultural damages would be properly accounted
for.
Regional Director Edna M. Mabeza said that DA-13
is now ready for the initial distribution of buffer stocks for those LGUs who submitted
damage reports and were duly validated by the DA’s monitoring teams being
deployed in the first week of January together with the representatives from
PSA- Bureau of Agricultural Statistics
Buffer stock is DA’s supply of inputs held as a
reserve to safeguard against unforeseen calamities, shortages or demands. A total of 3,047 bags of certified seeds will
be initially given in the identified areas of the region- 1,645 bags will be
distributed to Agusan del Sur, 1,200 bags for Surigao del Sur, 250 bags
allocated for Agusan del Norte, 750 bags for Butuan City and 20 bags for
Taganaan, Surigao del Norte.
For the poultry sector, 80 heads of ducklings are
now ready for distribution to the municipality of Tago, Surigao del Sur. 200
heads of kabir chickens will also be distributed to Barobo, Marihatag and Tago,
Surigao del Sur.
In addition, 45 kilos of assorted vegetable seeds
will be given to Butuan City, municipality of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte and the
municipalities of Barobo and Tagbina, Surigao del Sur. Ten bags of Corn OPV
(Var.6) is also allocated to province of
Agusan del Sur in which Bayugan City is one of its priorities.
DA-RFO-13 is also committed to procure more seeds
and provide other interventions under its Quick Response Fund to fully
rehabilitate affected farmers once the final validation and assessment is
done. This is to ensure that the food
sufficiency program of the department will be sustained even with the
occurrence of floods and other calamities.
(DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
BIR-SurSur looks forward to a better year for tax
collection
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Jan. 21 (PIA) –
Monib Dimakuta, revenue district officer (RDO) of the Revenue District Office
106 (RDO 106) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Surigao del Sur
expressed confidence on having a much better performance for 2015.
Beforehand, he admitted that 2014 was quite a
struggle, citing a -8.09 percent deficit or equivalent to P60,360,054.55, when,
supposedly, his office could have at least hit the target of P745,763,000 but
came up short with only P685,402,945.45.
However, the BIR chief pointed out, they still
managed to surpass the 2013 tax goal of P609,671,948.75 by posting a 12.42
percent increase or equivalent to P75,730,996.70 as shown in the cumulative
comparative collection for the period from January-December 2014.
Also, Dumakuta claimed depressing their collection
towards the end of the year, particularly in December 2014, where a deficit of
-10.08 percent or equivalent to P6,064,541.26 was registered.
During the said month, the BIR here was tasked to
collect P60,165,000—but only yielded P54,100,458.74.
On the other hand, he stressed it was not all a
flop since his office still exceeded the collection posted during the same
period of the prior year by 7.63 percent or equivalent to P3,836,233.75. (NGBT/Radyo
ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Regional BPLS monitoring team visits BOSS in
Surigao City, Claver
By Rodrigo R. Matabaran
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Jan. 21 (PIA) - A
joint regional monitoring team of the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Business Permit
and Licensing System (BPLS) implementation recently visited Surigao City and
Claver in Surigao del Norte for the on-going Business-One-Stop Shop (BOSS).
The team is composed of DTI-Caraga Senior Trade
and Industry Development Specialist Marson Jan Dolendo and DILG-Caraga Local
Government Operations Officer II Luth Apresto.
During the visit, the team looked into the
business permit registration process flow, quality and efficiency of service
delivery of concerned offices of the local government units.
In Surigao City, the team was able to discuss with
Business Permit and Licensing Officer Ernesto P. Kang on some possible areas
for improvement to further shorten the processing time like upgrading the
computer system to fully automate all the processes and computation of fees
involved in business permit application, among others to simplify the
procedures.
Aside from the improvement of the processing, the
team also suggested to BPLO to adopt the standards and mechanism prescribed in
the DILG-DTI memo circular.
It was learned during the visit that Surigao City
significantly increased its revenue collection on business permits fees and
taxes since BPLS adaption and streamlining in 2011.
While in Claver, the team was able to have an
audience with Claver municipal mayor Eddie P. Gokiangkee and explained to him
the purpose of the visit.
Mayor Gokiangkee revealed that the local
government of Claver had a plan to establish a fully operational information
system including the computerization of all functional offices once their new
municipal hall building will be finished which at present is under
construction.
The team explained to mayor Gokiangkee that
actually the next level of BPLS streamlining is full automation through e-BPLS
like what is being done in Quezon City and Cagayan de Oro City.
The team has also discussed with Claver Business
Permit and Licensing Officer Silvano Enaldo some possible measures to further
improve the business permit registration during regular days after the BOSS
implementation in January, like possibly locating vital offices involved in the
process near to each other in the ground floor of the new municipal hall
building for the convenience of the business registration applicants. (SDR/DTI-Surigao
del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Caraga Tech-Voc trainers undergo skills upgrading
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) - Technical Vocational
(Tech-Voc) trainers in Caraga Region have underwent skills upgrading today at
Butuan Doctors’ College here.
According to Marivel Padino of TESDA-Agusan del
Norte Provincial Office, the conduct of the activity is in preparation for the
assessment of Bartending NC II and Barista NC II on Wednesday, January 21,
2015.
Padino added this will serve as a re-orientation
of the new promulgated training regulation of the said qualifications in order
for the participants who are tech-voc trainers from the different Technical
Vocational Institutions (TVIs) in Caraga Region to enhance their skills, be
updated and be prepared for the national assessment, thus, giving them the
chance to pass.
The official also stressed the identified regional
lead assessor of Caraga Region was requested to re-echo the training she had
attended in Manila.
“This is to give updates to the trainers who will
undergo assessment tomorrow,” Padino said.
Padino also said the training was made possible
through the initiative of the Assessors Guild of Agusan del Norte in
coordination with TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Office.
Members of the Guild have decided to push-through
the skills upgrading for them to have better chances of passing the assessment
since there are already amended competency assessment tool, Padino added.
She likewise said the invited regional lead
assessor will just share to the participants the updates of the upgraded
competency assessment tool which she has experienced and taken during her
training in Manila.
For the Bartending, seven trainers have
participated while there are 10 in Barista. Meanwhile, Liza B. Budtan, TESDA-Caraga
Regional Operations Division (ROD) Chief said the skills upgrading is also in
response to the ASEAN Integration this year.
“With the ASEAN Integration that is implemented
this year, we cannot afford to be left behind by other countries in the
international scope, and other regions in the national scope. Thus, there is a
need for our trainers to be upgraded with the skills required in every
qualifications,” Budtan added.
In a related development, Josephine Pimentel of
Holy Child Colleges here is thankful to the organizers of the event saying that
this will help them to be more prepared during the assessment on Wednesday.
Pimentel is also hoping that with this skills
upgrading, a hundred percent passing rate will be achieved during the
assessment.
Ariel Garcia of Baguio School of Arts and Trades
will serve as the Competency Assessor of the said qualification and will fly
here tomorrow from Metro Manila. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Butuan City tatanggap ng parangal sa
NDAPSSS
Ni Ma. Lourdes P. Apego
BUTUAN CITY, Enero 21 (PIA) - Napili ang lunsod ng
Butuan bilang First Placer sa 2014 Best LGU Practices Against Professional
Squatters and Squatting Syndicates.
Sa isang congratulatory letter na ipinadala ng
National Drive Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates o
NDAPSSS kay Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr, sinabi nito na ang lunsod ng Butuan ay
kinikilala ng NDAPSSS dahil sa “outstanding achievements in curtailing the
activities of professional squatters and squatting syndicates through sound
legislative actions, pragmatic policies and professional squatting programs and
projects, and effective implementation of the same, thus enhancing its capacity
to address housing and urban development concerns.”
Ani ng NDAPSSS, nabatid ng NDAPSSS Inter Agency
Committee na ang mga programa ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Butuan ay “effective,
efficient and supportive” sa mandado ng Republic Act 7275 at Executive Order No
153 series of 2002 at kinikilala nito ang mga inisyatibo ng pamahalaang local
ng Butuan laban sa mga professional squatters at mga squatting syndicates na
isang best practice na dapat matularan ng iba pang mga lokal na pamahalaan ng
bansa.
Dahil dito, inimbitahan ng NDAPASS si Mayor Amante
at tatlo pang opisyal ng local na pamahalaan na tumanggap ng award sa awarding
ceremony na isasagawa sa Enero 26 nitong taon sa Coconut Palace, CCP Complex,
Roxas Blvd., Pasay City.
Ang NDAPSSS ay isang grupo na nasa ilalim ng
pamamahala ng Housing ang Urban Development Coordinating Council o HUDCC na
pinamumunuan naman ni Vice President Jejomar Binay. (Radyo ng
Bayan-Butuan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
