RDC-GADCC Caraga sets 2015 Women’s Month opening
with Fun-Color Walk
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA) – “The kick-off
celebration of this year’s Women’s Month will be very fun and at the same time
colorful with all the other activities wherein our men and women will surely
enjoy.”
This was the statement of lawyer Marylin Pintor,
Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) chairperson and
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga regional director during a press
conference held on Tuesday at the Bureau of Treasury (BoT) regional office
here.
Pintor bared that this year’s Women’s Month
celebration will kick-off on March 3 with the Fun-Color Walk activity at 2:30
p.m. from the city’s Guingona Park going to Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol
Covered Court, where the opening program will also be held.
She further reminded that participants is advised
to wear protective/eye glasses during the Color Walk, since colorful Holi
Powder along with the ‘Torotot,’ whistle and placards will be used as
accessories during said activity.
“Former Akbayan party-list representative Risa
Hontiveros-Baraquel has gladly accepted our invitation to be our guest speaker
during this event,” added Pintor.
Baraquel has recently been appointed as board
member of the Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation.
Pintor also revealed that during the program,
members of the Men Oppose to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) will have their time to
give bouquets and chocolates to the women participants as a sign of
appreciation and recognition to them.
Meanwhile, live bands will also perform and
intermissions by the different participating agencies. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga GAD committee to celebrate Women’s Month,
encourages more women’s participation in policy-making
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA) – Atty. Marylin Pintor,
Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) chairperson and
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga regional director encouraged more
women’s participation in policy-making and peace-building, during a press
conference held on Tuesday at the Bureau of Treasury (BoT) regional office
here.
“Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women
(MCW) promotes the full participation and equitable representation of women in
all spheres of society particularly in the decision-making and policy-making
processes in government and private entities, in order to fully realize their
role as agents and beneficiaries of development,” reiterated Pintor.
Pintor disclosed that this year’s women’s month
with the theme “Juana, Desisyon Mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa,
Ikaw Na!,” aims to pay tribute to all women leaders who passionately led and
continue to advance women’s advocacies.
“Their key roles and accomplishments in
leadership, power and decision-making will be highlighted in order to influence
and break the conservative mindset and belief that politics and leadership are
not for women. The celebration will also be a perfect time to drum up the call
for 'Juanas' to run in public office since the last quarter of 2015 is the
period of filing of candidacy for 2016 election,” said Pintor.
Pintor further revealed that based on statistics,
disparities among women and men in elective posts and in traditionally
male/female dominated agencies in government are still evident. Somehow, women
are still a minority in top level positions in such agencies as public works,
national defense and law enforcement.
“With this, we are encouraging more women
participating in elective posts to really manifest what we believe women can do
for our country. This will also break the mentality that women are only good in
household works,” stressed Pintor.
Proclamation No. 224 series 1988 declared the
first week of March each year as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day; Proclamation No. 227 series 1988 provided for the
observance of the Month of March as Women’s Role in History Month; and Republic
Act 6949 series 1990 declared March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
News Feature: Pantawid beneficiary increases
income through ice trading
By Ryan M. Tapayan
SIARGAO ISLANDS, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 27 (PIA)
– Self-Sufficient Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary from the islet of Sta. Felomena,
Dapa, Surigao del Norte is now hailed as the sole supplier of ice in the said
islet.
Living in an islet where fishing is the main
source of income makes refrigeration a great need, a necessity to the fisher
folks.
“Dako jud ang tabang aning ref labi na gayud sa
amo nga naga-imbak pud ug isda. Halin kaayo ang ice diri sa among lugar kay
kasagaran sa mga lumulupyo diri, mangingisda man (This refrigerator has helped
our family a lot; especially to people who also preserve fish. In our place,
ice is so viable because most of us here are fishermen)," Jodelyn happily
shared.
Jodelyn D. Espaldo is one of the self-sufficient
Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in the locality.
Jodelyn is married to Edwin Espaldo and is blessed with daughter named
Einjehl Ann Espaldon.
“This kind of income generating activity
[refrigeration] has helped Espaldo’s family a lot. It also helps almost 30
households in their community. On our records and based on assessment, their
income increases to five percent out from their original monthly income
amounting to 7,000php,” shared Geneline Plaza, Municipal link for Dapa.
Aside from their refrigeration business, the
couple also engage themselves to other money-making activities like sari-sari
store, pump-boat driving, fishing, and joins also in bigasan sa bayan.
“Paningkamot jud ang susi aning tanan. Pinaagi sa among
panag-tinabangay, isip magtiayon, nakab-ot namo karon ning gamay ug malahutayon
nga kalambuan (Combined effort is the key to what we have now. Together as a couple, we achieved this little
but continuous development)," Jodely added.
Now, the couple is inspired to continue life
amidst constant challenges. With hope and vigor, Espaldon family will soon
inspire others to do well on investing from life, a life that echoes
development.
Espaldon family is one of the 196 self-sufficient
household beneficiaries in Dapa, Surigao del Norte. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
Butuan City rules in CRAM 2015
By Beatriz A. Torio
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 27 (PIA) –
Butuan City racked up 75 gold, 35 silver and 44 bronze medals and bagged the
overall title in the Partial Medal Court Tally, as of February 26, 4:00 p.m.
Among the 18 varied games played in CRAM’15
(Caraga Regional Athletic Meet) held here namely, archery, arnis, badminton,
billiards, boxing, chess, football, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table
tennis, taekwondo lawn, tennis and valleyball, rounding out the top five out of
the 12 divisions were Butuan City (75-35-44), Surigao del Sur (36-30-55),
Agusan del Sur (35-26-43), Surigao City (30-26-35) and Surigao del Norte
(18-27-31).
With sheer athleticism, Butuan City was dominating
it over the annual gathering of determined individuals who competed against
each other and for a chance at immortality. The team tried hard to defend their
title as the Over-all Champion of last year’s CRAM.
Weather condition did not even impede the conduct
of various games during the CRAM. All players together with their coaches were
ready to stupefy their opponents.
Each one has great determination to bring home the
bacon to their respective divisions. (NGBT/DepEd, Division of SDS/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
DTI-Surigao Norte turns over geonets production
facility to Claver coop
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 27 (PIA) –
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has turned-over several units of
weaving and twining machines as Shared Service Facility (SSF) for Geonets
Production to the Claver Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(CLACOFARMCO) at their plant site in Sitio Pangi, Brgy. Daywan, Claver, this
province.
The SSF Facility consists of 100 units twining
machines and 10 units of weaving machines that will be used in the production
of coconets or coco fibernets/geotextiles.
The total project cost is placed at P550,000.
Coconets are derived from the fibrous husks of coconuts. The fiber extracted
from discarded coconuts husks, which is commonly called coco coir, has to
undergo further twining and weaving for it to become a geotextile.
The coconets are laid on the sloping areas to
prevent the land from eroding and being washed away during rainfall. After
about three to six months, vegetation can already be seen in geonets covered
areas that makes the soil more stable.
On his inspirational message, DTI provincial
director Celestino L. Negapatan emphasized that the SSF project aims to improve
the production capacity and efficiency of the present operation of CLACOFARMCO
by way of providing necessary equipment.
He encouraged the cooperative to produce more
quality products using the machines they recently acquired.
On his part, Claver Mayor Eddie P. Gokiangke
assured the co-operator more support and assistance from the local government
unit.
He emphasized that the growth of the local coconut
industry will give positive impact to the community as it will increase the
income of the farmer-members.
SSF Coordinator, Ma. Theresa Z. Calang presented
and reviewed the provision of the SSF Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) emphasizing
to the proponent co-operator for them to effectively manage, operate and take
care of the shared service facility properly and in accordance with the
provisions of the MOA.
The launching and turnover ceremony of the SSF
facility was formally instituted with the signing of the Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) by director Negapatan and CLACOFARCO President Delfin Lopez,
witnessed by Mayor Gokiangkee.
The activity was attended by the officers and
members of the CLACOFARMCO, Daywan Barangay Officials, and representatives from
the local government of Claver, Philippine Coconut Authority and DTI.
(SDR/DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
RCC Caraga conducts competitiveness index roadshow
in Dinagat Islands
By Ma. Jane Mayola
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Feb. 27 (PIA) - The
Regional Competitiveness Committee (RCC) of Caraga Region in partnership with
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Dinagat Islands has recently
conducted the 2015 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index Roadshow
held here.
The said roadshow is a region-wide campaign and
information drive to all the municipalities and cities to participate and
support the 2015 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI).
This CMCI is an index obtained using three major
indicators such as economy, government, and infrastructure which will identify
the score or ranking of each participating local government units nationwide in
terms of competitiveness.
RCC focal person Brenda Corvera said that the CMCI
is very beneficial to the participating LGUs since it will establish awareness
and consciousness to their part, through these indicators, on what aspects they
need to empower in order to develop.
She emphasized that once the LGUs can determine
the gap they need to fill, then it will eventually lead to improvements
"then improvements will attract investors and will create
employment."
“Then, next to investor and employment is the
income generation of the LGUs," Corvera added.
The event was attended by all the LGU
representatives from the different municipalities in the province. (SDR/PIO-Dinagat
Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
SurSur BFP all set for Fire Prevention Month celeb
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 27 (PIA) – The
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Surigao del Sur headed by Fire Inspector
Rowella Dinolan is all set for the Fire Prevention Month celebration come
March.
With the theme “Kaligtasan sa Sunog: Alamin, Gawin, at Isabuhay Natin,” the
provincial fire chief stressed that everything has already been laid out as
planned for the month-long affair.
Citing a Memorandum issued on Janury 21, 2015 by
BFP Caraga regional director S/Supt. Leonides Perez together with the attached
copy of the CY 2015 nationwide program of activities coming from their national
headquarters, Dinolan assured to follow the information and guidance as framed.
She also made it a point to conduct the “Walk for
a Fire-Free and a Fire-Safe Nation” simultaneous with the nationwide schedule
at 5:00 a.m. on March 1 to be followed by the five-minute “blowing of horns of
all firefighting apparatus,” that will start at 12:00 noon sharp on the same
day.
Meanwhile, Dinolan said that other important
activities that their office is going to undertake are fire safety awareness
campaign, fire truck visibility, placement to heightened alert status and
intensive monitoring of fire prone areas, and the conduct of refresher training
course to all volunteer fire brigades, among other things. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SurSur power utility confident of power supply
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 27 (PIA) – Amid
reports of looming power crisis, Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II
(SURSECO II) headed by General Manager (GM) Engr. Iglorio Hinayon has shown
confidence about the supply service it caters to the entire 1st district of the
province.
Arlinda Yparraguirre, finance manager and
officer-in-charge (OIC), said power consumers have nothing to worry about since
management of the electric utility here has inked a power supply contract with
King Energy Generation, Incorporated (KEGI) last year.
When asked to comment on what happened during the
aftermath of Tropical Storm (TS) Seniang since KEGI did not heed the call of
the SURSECO II management to supply the necessary electricity, Yparraguire said
it was lamentable but the same power supplier has already vowed to make up with
its shortcomings.
The OIC confirmed KEGI’s attention was called in one
of the SURSECO II’s board meetings early this year.
It will be recalled that TS Seniang hit the
province on December 29, 2014, but SURSECO II has immediately put back in place
its toppled power lines and other facilities, particularly in Tandag City and
other business centers in some municipalities, however, power supply only came
almost three days after.
Meanwhile, Yparraguirre also pointed out that
Surigao del Sur, particularly their service area, is not yet included among the
initially listed areas affected by the rotational brown-out in Mindanao. (NGBT/Radyo
ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Agusan del Norte leads CRAM Special Games
By Osias N. Manlucob
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 27 (PIA) – The
18th Caraga Athletic Meet (CRAM) revealed the Division of Agusan del Norte as
the frontrunner in the recently conducted Special Olympic Games held here with
their 11 gold medals, while Surigao del Norte and Butuan City Divisions came to
second and third ranks with four and three gold medals, respectively.
Although the performance of athletes in the
Special Olympics does not affect the overall standing of the participating
divisions in the CRAM this year, the conduct of the said athletic competition
is viewed significant by the participants and organizers.
“Children who are differently-abled still have
talents and they should be given equal opportunities just like other children,”
said Celsa Casa, EPS-1 and Information officer of Surigao del Sur Division, and
who has a niece who joined the Shot Put Competition in the Special Games.
According to some spectators, the awarding
ceremony on Wednesday gave a dramatic change in sports as special athletes
gained no restriction to showcase their abilities.
The platform for these special athletes does not
solely concerns sports but it is also aimed to changing the culture of
stereotyping athletes as only for some individuals. The Special Games empower
them to play harmoniously with others,” said Megenila Guillen, Co-chair of the
Committee on Communication, Media and Publication.
To show the advocacy of the host province and
divisions, the closing ceremony for Special Games was attended by the
Provincial governor Johnny Pimentel, vice governor Manuel Alameda Sr., and
Tandag City Councilor Imelda Falcon.
Champion athletes in the Special Games will
represent Caraga to the 2015 Palarong Pambansa on May, which will be held in
Tagum City, Davao del Norte. (NGBT/DepEd-Division of SDS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DENR exec congratulates Caraganons over
world-record breaking TreeVolution
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA) – The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 13 regional director Nonito M. Tamayo
congratulated the people as he expressed elation over the confirmation of the
Guinness World record-breaking “TreeVolution: Greening Mindanao.”
“We made it at the Guinness World Record due to
the overwhelming support provided by the people,” Director Tamayo said.
The Guinness World Record has recognized the
122,000 participants who simultaneously planted 2.29 million seedlings across
29 locations in Mindanao on September 26 last year, surpassing the previous
record of 1.9 million trees planted by India in 2011.
DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje had already sent his
congratulations earlier to the regional directors in Mindanao. He said the
record-breaking event was “a big step forward in restoring Mindanao’s
rapidly-dwindling forest cover and fighting climate change.”
In Caraga Region, at least 1,169.63 hectares were
planted with about 542,065 seedlings under the TreeVolution Greening Mindanao
in multiple locations.
“More than setting the now-confirmed world record,
we will always consider TreeVolution as a big step taken by Mindanao residents
themselves in re-greening their landscape to help mitigate climate change and
protect themselves against its diverse impacts,” Secretary Paje said.
Director Tamayo said this massive tree planting
activity held in various locations in Mindanao "gave us a strong message
that we can restore the dwindling forest through unity of the people.”
He said the National Greening Program (NGP) being
implemented over six years starting 2011 has a target of 1.5 billion tree
seedlings planted in 1.5 million hectares until 2016. As of January 2015, DENR
records show that around 1,005,013 hectares have already been reforested.
Director Tamayo thanked all those who participated
in the TreeVolution’s massive tree planting. He also lauded the commitment of
the governors, mayors, the private sectors, students, the teachers, government
employees, police and the Philippine Army who joined the event.
He said the trees, if cared properly, "would
grow and will benefit our children particularly on the impact of the climate
change." He said the importance of trees is that they sequester carbon
which greatly contributes to global warming and climate change. The trees also
stabilize soil, provide food and livelihood and recharge acquifers among its
many functions. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
