DSWD celebrates 64th anniv, awards partners in
Caraga
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 18 (PIA) - The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga celebrated on Tuesday its 64th
Anniversary with the theme, "DSWD @64: Tuloy sa Pagbangon at
Pag-Unlad," held at Almont Hotel's Inland Resort, this city.
Partner stakeholders from various sectors, as well
as the DSWD performing employees received awards in different categories dubbed
"Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon (PaNata Ko) sa Bayan."
Angelita Amista of DSWD Caraga acknowledged all
the participants which include the local officials from the different
municipalities in the region, media partners, and civil society organizations.
She further cited how its partners extended effort in the success of all its
activities for the communities.
Mita Gupana-Lim, assistant regional director for
operations of DSWD Caraga also expressed her warm welcome to all the
participating agencies and partners. She thanked everyone for their presence
and asked for their continued support as DSWD will be doing and giving more
programs for the vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, DSWD Caraga regional director Minda
Brigoli recalled how the department has accomplished its targets for the past
years and emphasized quality management and services to the public.
Brigoli also signed the DSWD Field Office Caraga
Quality Policy, as the department aims to be International Organizations for
Standardization (ISO) Certified by October 2015.
"Caraga is one of the three identified pilot
field offices targeted to be ISO certified by October this year, and we are
embracing this challenge," announced Brigoli.
Brigoli further encouraged her personnel to be
more productive in their field of work/tasks assigned and give their best services
to their clientele. "Public office is a public trust and that is why we
are holding on to our thrusts and mandates and doing our best to provide the
people of our programs and services. We will always be the public trust that
you expected from us and we will continue to give the best services to the most
vulnerable people in the communities," announced Brigoli.
These are the following awards in different
categories under the theme 'PaNata Ko sa Bayan', which partner stakeholders
received: 1) Salamat Po Award; 2) Gawad sa Makabagong Teknolohiyang Panlipunan;
3) GAPAS Award; 4) Gawad Ulat; 5) Prestige Award; 6) KAKAYAHAN Awards; and 7)
Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance.
Separate awards were also given to DSWD Caraga
employees under the following categories: Regular personnel; Project-based
staff; and Loyalty Award. Regional director Minda Brigoli recognized the
valuable efforts of her working staff in the delivery of the department's
programs and services in the region.
Meanwhile, among the awardees, the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) Caraga was included. On behalf of PIA-Caraga regional
director Abner Caga, deputy regional director Fryan Abkilan received the 'Gawad
Ulat' (Most Supportive Beat Report - New Media) Award.
Brigoli thanked PIA-Caraga for its unwavering
support through positive news and cost-free publication of DSWD's programs,
projects and services. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor boosts livestock industry
By Aimee B. Sienes
LAS NIEVES, Agusan del Norte, Feb. 18 (PIA) - The
provincial government of Agusan del Norte is boosting its livestock industry by
upgrading and re-stocking its Small Ruminant Production Center in Barangay
Maningalao, this municipality.
With the help from the Department of Agriculture -
Regional Field Office XIII (DA-RFO), the provincial government will be
receiving two heads carabaos (caraheifer), 10 heads upgraded cattle (heifer),
22 heads purebred goats (two buck, 20 doe) and three heads swine (one GP boar,
two PS Gilts) as breeding stocks.
Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell “Angel” M.
Amante-Matba pushed for the realization of this project, which is in line with
the development agenda of the province on agriculture and to improve its
livestock industry to achieve self-sufficiency of marginal farmers.
The 16th Sangguniang Panlalawigan, headed by vice
governor Ramon AG. Bungabong, authorized gov. Matba to sign the Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) with the DA-RFO for the implementation of the said project through
Sanggunian Resolution No. 017-2015, authored by provincial board member Antidio
B. Amora.
Under the said MOA, the province shall facilitate
the submission of documentary requirements to the DA-RFO to effect fund release
and conduct assessment and evaluation of the identified recipients based on the
minimum requirements.
The province shall also assist in the monitoring
and evaluation of the project, observe proper utilization of the funds and
compliance with the provisions stipulated in the MOA, and to administer and
manage the breeding stocks provided by DA-RFO. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
TESDA-13 to offer free assessment to state workers
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 18 (PIA) – Government workers
can avail of free assessment during the weeklong celebration of the
establishment of Caraga Region from February 23-27, 2015 in different
assessment centers in the region.
The announcement was made by Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Caraga Regional Director Dr. Forencio
F. Sunico, Jr. during Monday’s press conference of the Regional Coordinating
Committee (RCC), an organization spearheaded by the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) with its attached agencies as members, including TESDA.
Dir. Sunico added the assessment is TESDA-Caraga’s
contribution to the anniversary celebration of the establishment of the region
which provides opportunity to government workers to be assessed and awarded
with TESDA National Certificates (NCs) in case they will pass in different
qualification skills.
With this, Sunico said workers in the government
who want to acquire NC in the qualification skills they want will have the
opportunity to enjoy free assessment and be certified by TESDA.
Sunico explained though TESDA is regularly
offering free assessment to industry workers, “we are expanding the program to
allow government workers to avail of such assessment for free.”
The TESDA chief of the region enjoined interested
state workers to contact the Provincial Offices of TESDA for more details and
to fill-up application form. “For those who are interested, just contact the
provincial offices of TESDA in your respective provinces and fill-up the
application form,” Sunico added.
TESDA-Agusan del Norte can be contacted thru (085)
342-0085; TESDA-Agusan del Sur at (085) 343-7278; TESDA-Surigao del Norte at
(086) 826-2591; TESDA-Surigao del Sur at (086) 211-3957; and TESDA-Provincial
Office thru mobile no. 09161626348.
On February 23, 1995, former President Fidel V.
Ramos signed into law Republic Act 7901 creating Region XIII to be known as the
Caraga Administrative Region.
The law was authored by former Congresswoman Charito
B. Plaza of the First Congressional District of Agusan del Norte together with
the Representatives of the different Congressional Districts of Agusan del Sur,
Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Employment rate up in Caraga Region - DOLE
By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 18 (PIA) - The employment rate
in Caraga region goes up during the start of the last quarter last year while
the unemployment and underemployment declined during the same period, according
to a top labor regional official here.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga
regional director Atty. Johnson G. CaΓ±ete during the monthly press forum with
the local media here on Monday disclosed that at the start of the last quarter
of last year (October) compared to the start of the third quarter (July), data
from the Labor Force Survey (LFS) shows that the employment rate here in the
region goes up from 94.4 percent (on July) to 95.8 percent (in October) last
year. Canete also said that the unemployment rate declined from 5.6 percent (in
July) to 4.2 percent (in October). The underemployment also went down from 26.3
percent (in July) to 22.0 percent (in October).
Part of the forum was the update given by each
attached agencies of the DOLE.
According to CaΓ±ete, the reports from DOLE's attached
agencies and the other government line agencies also support the facts and
figures of the LFS latest survey result. The official added that the visible
manifestations of these are the constructions seen everywhere in the region,
the establishments of banks, the most recent of which was the Central Bank
Butuan branch, the establishment of subdivision and housing projects, business establishments, mining
industries and many other indicators.
"Even the business sector here such as the
chambers of commerce and industries can attest that business here in the region
is doing well," Canete said.
The media forum was followed by the Regional
Coordinating Committee (RCC) meeting chaired by Atty. CaΓ±ete, attended by other
officials of DOLE's attached agencies. (PNA/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA offers P60M scholarship package for 2015
By Malou Pizarro-Apego
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 18 (PIA) - At least P60 million
scholarship package will be offered by the Technical Education and Skill
Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga to all the Caraganons for the year 2015.
TESDA Caraga regional director Florencio Sunico
Jr. said, included in the P59.697 million scholarship package is the P40.5
million appropriation for the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP),
P9.1 million for the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) and
P10M for the Special Training for Employment.
Sunico also bared a 100 percent increase in the
budget for TWSP for 2015 from only P20 million last year to more than P40
million this year.
Sunico adds more than 9,500 students will be able
to take advantage of the Special Training for Employment Program where each
student will stand to benefit an average of P6,213 from the fund.
Meanwhile, as part of its 20th anniversary
celebration, TESDA Caraga announces its offering of free assessment to
government workers.
Sunico said, the free assessment is open to
drivers, welders, mechanics and other government employees who want to acquire
a certification from TESDA. (Radyo ng Bayan Butuan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
CCC, GIZ build eco-town in Siargao
By John Glenn A.Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 17 (PIA) -
In consonance with the National Climate Change Action Plan for this year 2015
up until the year 2028, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) has identified
pilot areas for the implementation of the Eco-town Framework in Siargao Island.
The framework’s objective harmonizes with the
vision of Governor Sol Matugas in line with her environment advocacy dubbed
“Kalimpyo, Kahapsay Surigao” to build adaptive capacities of communities and
ecosystems by ensuring ecological stability and economic resiliency.
Poverty incidence, presence of climate related
risks, and the presence of key biodiversity areas are the three criteria set
for the selection of areas for the implementation of the framework.
Meeting the criteria, Siargao Island, specifically
the municipalities of Del Carmen, Pilar, San Benito, and San Isidro have been
identified as pilot areas for the implementation of the Eco-town Framework and
were granted local subsidies from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fΓΌr Internationale
Zusammenarbeit).
The eco-town framework component includes resource
assessment, vulnerability assessment, environment and natural resources
accounting, enhancement of existing plans, application of climate adaptation
support service, designing of financing schemes, and application of climate
change adaptation and mitigation measures.
The project activities for eco-town framework
implementation will start with the Project Orientation and Public Hearing of
the Municipal Fishery Code, Procurement of Equipment, Coastal Fisheries and
Marine Resources Assessment, Social Preparation: Participatory Rural Appraisal
and Community Organizing, Formulation of Municipal Fishery Code, Harmonized
Fisheries Ordinance. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Dinagat Islands PDRRM council conducts
full-council meeting
By Ma. Jane A. Mayola
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Feb. 18 (PIA) - The
Dinagat Islands Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(PDRRMC) recently conducted its full-council meeting held at Dinagat Islands
Multi-purpose Cooperative (DIMPC) Function Hall, Barangay Poblacion, this
municipality.
During the meeting, National Power Corporation
(NAPOCOR) representative Reynato Mira reported a total of 11,483,760 kWh of
energy consumed in the year 2014 which exceeds 629 kWh to the contracted
11,482,760 kWh.
He said that this year, the contracted amount of
power to the province has increased to 12,656,410 KWH.
Mira assured that there will be enough power to
sustain the needs of the province and that NAPOCOR is a partner in the
province's thrusts for development and progress.
Meantime, the representative from the Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also reported that road inconveniences will
be expected in the province this year due to the enforcement of different
contractors in the implementation of their P1.4 million Road Concreting Project
from the municipalities of Dinagat to Loreto.
Council members also discussed several topics like
establishment of a 24/7 functional Temporary Operation Center, budgeting and
reprogramming of the LDRRM Trust Fund, and preparation for the conduct of 2015
search for Gawad Kalasag-Provincial Level. (SDR/PIC-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat
Islands)
DAR-AgNor inks MOA to provide production credit
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 18 (PIA) - The Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) Agusan del Norte signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
with the Land Bank of the Philippines Butuan Branch to approve the proposed
“Rice Production” of Baleguian Organic Farmers Irrigator’s Association (BOFIA)
in Jabonga under the DAR’s Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) in a
ceremony held recently at BOFIA Multi-Purpose Building in Baleguian, Jabonga,
Agusan del Norte.
BOFIA chairman Wenifredo Maldo lauded DAR for the
opportunity in accessing credit with LBP under DAR-DA-APCP program. “We are
thankful to DAR and its partner agencies for allowing us to avail its credit
program. We are looking forward in doing our best to be a borrower with good
standing with LBP,” chairman Maldo said.
Beneficiaries Development and Coordinating
Division (BDCD) officer-in-charge chief CARPO Raul Hermoso urged the BOFIA
members to pay diligently and make use of the loan to increase its income by
improving productivity in the farms.
Hermoso disclosed that the Agrarian Production
Credit Program is the special program of DAR to help the farmers for crop
production to the qualified ARB organization.
LBP lending department manager Engr. Jimmy P. Arco
said the production loan will benefit BOFIA and some of its farmers-beneficiary
members whose agricultural-land was awarded under the DAR’s land distribution
program. APCP is the convergence initiative of DAR, DA and LBP to pool
resources and expertise to assist ARBs in the form of credit, development
assistance and marketing support.
This program is in line with the national
government's initiative to uplift the economic condition of the farmers in the
agricultural sector. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
P78M worth of PAMANA projects to be implemented in
Butuan City in 2015
By Malou Pizarro-Apego
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 18 (PIA) - In continuous pursuit
of its peace-building initiatives, the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) is set to implement a total of P78 million infrastructure
projects in the city this year under the PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan
(Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program.
According to Engr. Roy Rosales of the City
Engineer's Office (CEO), these infrastructure projects will be implemented in
the barangays of Pianing and Bugsukan where P56 million has been allotted for the
concreting of a 4.8 kilometer Pianing Farm to Market Road (FMR) and
construction of a 20 meter single lane bridge while P22 million is allotted for
the concreting of a 2 kilometer Bugsukan Farm to Market Road (FMR).
Rosales revealed the Pianing FMR will traverse
Purok 1C, 2, 4 and 5 while the Bugsukan FMR will start from Purok 7 Barangay
San Agustin, Taligaman to Purok 7, Bugsukan.
DILG city director Romeo Solis said the city
became a recipient of the PAMANA Conflict Area Program of the Office of the Presidential
Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) after it was identified by the Technical
Working Group (TWG) composed of the DILG, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
Philippine National Police (PNP), the local government unit (LGU) and other
agencies.
Solis bared a workshop, which aimed to identify
conflict areas, was held where the proposals came from the LGU while the
prioritization of the projects came from the TWG in consultation with the LGU
and ultimately approved by the OPAPP.
Solis further revealed that the said projects are
just phase one and more projects are set to be implemented in the city in the
near future. (Radyo ng Bayan Butuan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
