Habitat beneficiaries plant hundreds of trees in 2
SurSur villages
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 24 (PIA) – Beneficiaries of
Butuan Habitat for Humanity (BHFH) Incorporated together with
student-volunteers and residents of Barangays Upper Talisay and Loyola, both in
Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur planted on Monday assorted tree seedlings to beautify
and create a more environmental-friendly atmosphere in their respective
areas.
Despite the scorching heat of the sun, the
officials of BHFH and residents of barangay Talisay conducted a tree planting
activity in the morning while barangay Loyola in the afternoon of the same day.
The group aimed also to increase the number of trees in the area.
The residents of Brgy. Talisay aimed to plant a
total of 300 assorted tree seedlings while 200 in Loyola.
BHFHI immediate past president and now treasurer
Nora Rama, who personally joined the group expressed that Butuan Habitat is
very happy to see the willingness and interest of the beneficiaries to plant
trees in their area that will not only cause good result to their community but
will also help them in their livelihood.
“May the beneficiaries give value to what they
have started planting and continue to do the same regularly. They will soon
harvest what they have planted,” added Rama.
Atty. Abdussabor Sawadjaan Jr, regional head of
Habitat for Humanity Philippines – Davao and Caraga regions also graced said
activity and assessed the condition of the households in the two barangays.
“I’m happy to see you all again especially the
children getting involved in our tree planting today. Thank you also to our
volunteers from Butuan City who came here early just to join us in this
endeavor,” said Sawadjaan.
According to Brgy. Captain Celso Tambasacan in
Upper Talisay, he intended to increase the number of trees in their barangay and
promote healthy environment.
"I personally planted a total of 36 Talisay
trees. All of these planted trees will give us shed and will help prevent
landslide in our area. This is the first time that we conducted the tree
planting here in Upper Talisay. In order to sustain the growth of the trees, we
will be assigning households to their area of responsibility where they will
ensure its growth," disclosed Tambasacan.
Also, Edilberto Cacho, chairman of the Loyola
Dream Housing Cooperative in Brgy. Loyola said that the 200 tree seedlings
planted by the residents will serve as wind breakers especially during
disaster.
“Thank you very much for giving us your time and
effort in visiting us here in our place and we are very fortunate that you were
able to join us in our tree planting. The Habitat for Humanity Philippines has
been our partner ever since and we are very lucky,” shared Cacho. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
BIR Caraga announces tax collection goal for 2015
By Malou Pizarro-Apego
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 24 (PIA) - The Bureau of
Internal Revenue (BIR) Caraga region announced it has been tasked to collect a
total of P4.954, 691,000.00 tax collection goal for year 2015.
During the launching of the "Angat Pa
Pinas" tax campaign for this year’s filing of Income Tax Returns, BIR
Caraga regional director Norberto Vitug said this year’s goal is higher by 16.6
percent over last year.
Vitug further revealed that BIR Caraga region
posted a total tax collection of P4.019 billion or P4,019,690,000.00 from a total goal of P3.8 billion or P3,
806,532,369.00 last year.
Vitug also said that the actual tax collection of
Caraga region could have reached P4.3 billion or P4, 364,952,473.00 had the tax
collections from mining companies not been remitted to the national government.
In effect, Vitug said, Caraga region actually has
an excess tax collection in 2014 amounting to P172, 262,473.00 M or 4.11
percent.
For this year’s campaign, the BIR intends to
achieve the collection goal through the withholding taxes of the national
government agencies (NGA’s), local government units (LGU’s), Government Owned
and Controlled Corporations (GOCC’s), private individuals and corporations as
well as from voluntary compliance and enforcements. (Radyo ng Bayan
Butuan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Surigao Norte joins ecotourism workshop
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 24 (PIA) –
The provincial government here recently took part during the two-day National
Ecotourism Strategy (NES) Action Planning Workshop held at Mazau Island Resort,
Butuan City.
Provincial Tourism officer Arturo Cruje said the
provincial administration has recognized the importance of shifting the tourism
development direction to ecotourism transformation which is more sustainable
and community-based.
He said that the report of the World Tourism
Organization (WTO) revealed that in developing countries like the Philippines,
ecotourism is universally the leading source of economic growth.
According to Cruje, the National Ecotourism
Strategy (NES) and Action Plan will wind up in 2022. This is an integrated
management plan that provides comprehensive direction for the future of
ecotourism in the country.
Cruje said that its formulation is mandated under
Executive Order No. 111 establishing the guidelines for ecotourism development
in the country. It was officially adopted and launched during the World
Ecotourism Congress held in Cebu City in February, last year.
“Provided and reinforced by recently crafted
policies such as the new Tourism Law (Republic Act 9593), the Philippine
Development Plan (PDP), and the recently formulated National Tourism
Development Plan (NTDP), among others, the formulation of NES and Action Plan
is necessary for ecotourism growth which does not discriminate the potential
stakeholders from the leading addressees,” said Cruje.
Cruje further said that in order to jumpstart the
necessary changes which are relevant to society in general, the NES offers
fresher mandate to promote and implement ecotourism programs and projects,
taking into consideration the “Marajaw Turismo” roadmap of Governor Sol
Matugas. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
SurSur DILG enjoins holding of Barangay Assembly
Day
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 24 (PIA) – The
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Surigao del Sur has
enjoined every barangay in the entire province to conduct a “Barangay Assembly
Day” for the first semester of CY 2015 on March 28, Saturday, citing
Proclamation No. 260 dated September 30, 2011.
Pedrito Alacaba, DILG provincial director, cited
Memorandum Circular No. 2015-24 dated March 5, 2015 issued by Secretary Mar
Roxas for compliance and guidance of all concerned elected officials in all
levels of local governance including the DILG regional directors and the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional governor.
Meanwhile, Alacaba reminded barangay officials to
prepare for the activities to be undertaken, particularly on the Delivery of
the State of Barangay Address (SOBA); Discussion on barangay compliance to DILG
Memorandum Circular No. 2014-81 dated July 15, 2014; Discussion on issues and
concerns affecting the locality; and Invitation of faith-based organization to
attend and participate.
Under each major activity is inclusion of relevant
information which has bearing on the respective locality and governance, the
DILG chief pointed out.
However, he said other activities may also be
undertaken if concerned officials deemed it wise to do so.
Moreover, the DILG chief also reminded all
concerned to exert effort to drum up support for the significant occasion.
Failure to conduct a barangay assembly has a
corresponding administrative sanctions, warned Alacaba. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Surigao Norte town getting ready for online
business registration
By Rodrigo R. Matabaran
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 24 (PIA) -
The municipality of Socorro is now getting ready to register business names
after the training on Online Business Registration conducted by the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) on March 17, 2015.
They will be using the public page of the Enhanced
Business Registration System (EBNRS) at the DTI official website.
Based on the business name law, otherwise known as
Act No. 3883, the business entities more particularly the single proprietor
establishments should register their business names with DTI. This is a basic
requirement before applying for a business permit from the local government.
At present, Bucas Grande Island entrepreneurs will
have to spend P400.00 for transportation alone in going to the city to have
their business names registered with DTI.
Realizing the need to help the local business
community be able to reduce their cost of doing business, Socorro Mayor Denia
F. Florano decided to implement the online business name registration service
that will be duly supervised by the Business Permit Licensing Officer Jackee
Lou Odessa T. Dacera.
The online business name registration service will
be undertaken at the municipality’s Community Electric Center (CEC) facility.
Since the municipal government will be charging a
local processing fee to defray incidental operating expenses, this requires a
municipal ordinance before the actual implementation.
Once the Sangguniang Bayan of Socorro can formally
enact the required legislation, the online business name registration service
can immediately be availed by the local business sector. (SDR/DTI-Surigao del
Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
SurSur offers free blood-chem, prostate exam as
part of Women’s Month celeb
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 24 (PIA) –
Capitol employees of Surigao del Sur may avail of blood chemistry and other
laboratory tests, free of charge, at the Adela Serra-Ty Memorial Medical Center
(ASTMMC), this city.
Mila Arreza, Gender and Development (GAD) focal
person, announced on Monday before fellow employees during the regular flag
ceremony program at the capitol lobby here that the provincial government
headed by Governor Johnny Pimentel has sponsored a free blood chemistry
examination which forms part of the ongoing Women’s Month celebration.
This year’s celebration carries the theme “Juana,
Desisyon Mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawa’t Isa, Ikaw Na!”
The GAD focal person said an initial number of
capitol employees have already availed of the free offer, adding assurance that
further arrangement is being undertaken to put everything in place for all
concerned.
Cost of blood chemistry test will be charged
against GAD fund provided by the provincial government, she said.
Blood chemistry refers to a laboratory test which
is used to assess a wide range of conditions including the function of organs,
it was learned.
Arreza also added in jest that men are no longer
taken for granted as they were in the past as far as Women’s Month celebration
is concerned since they can already book themselves in this kind of tests and
similar laboratory examinations.
She particularly advised men aged 60 and above to
undergo mandatory prostate examination, which is one of the free services.
The provincial government here accounts for some
1,000 employees. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SurSur army battalion cites gains in CLIP
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 24 (PIA) – As
the 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB) of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the
Philippine Army (PA) continues its campaign to win peace primarily through
Community Organizing for Peace and Development (COPD) by offering the
Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP), its effort, like any other army
front liners, has started to gain ground, according to Capt. Al Anthony
Pueblas, its civil military operations (CMO) officer.
On March 20, Friday, during the DILG-OPAPP meeting
held at the conference room of the Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) here,
eight former rebels (FRs) were given checks of P15,000 immediate cash
assistance and P50,000 livelihood assistance under the Comprehensive Local
Integration Program (CLIP).
The meeting called by DILG Caraga regional
director (RD) Lilibeth Famacion was attended by Governor Johnny Pimentel as
well as high ranking police and military officials and other representatives of
government member-agencies.
The awarding of checks spearheaded by RD Famacion
and assisted by 36IB commander Lt. Col. Anastacio Suaybaguio, Jr. and 75th
Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Haron Akaz highlighted the whole affair,
said Pueblas.
Also, during the occasion, three high powered
firearms were surrendered. Ariel Balili turned over one AK 47 and one M16
rifle; Jemuel CaΓ±ete also handed in one M16 rifle, he said.
Of the eight FRs, four have been surrenderees to
the 36IB under Lt. Col. Anastacio Suaybaguio Jr.; the rest to the 75th Infantry
Battalion (75IB) under Lt. Col. Haron Akaz, it was learned.
Pueblas identified the FRs who surrendered to
their battalion as Rotchap Bangoy aka “Jay,” a squad leader of platoon 1 of the
New People’s Army’s (NPA’s) Regional Sentro de Grabidad (RSDG) of the
Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC); Gilbert Gardigo, now deceased
after a short stint as Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) being a casualty in an
encounter last year with former comrades;
Jayson Tumanan aka Mac-Mac of Guerilla Front-4B (GF-4B) of the
Northcentral Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC); and Marilyn Umba aka “Shani,”
a former member of Guerilla Front 30 (GF-30), which operates in the first
district of Surigao del Sur.
Surrenderees to the 75IB were also named: Jomarie Secuya, Gedailyn Megallen, and
Rosemarie Pandita.
However, the DILG bared the 8th FR in the list as
certain Rene Betos, which Pueblas failed to mention.
Likewise, the CMO officer clarified that since FR
Gardigo has already died, it was her elder sister Fe, who received the cash
assistance due him.
Pueblas claimed that “CLIP is a joint program of
the DILG and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
that seeks to contribute toward achieving the goal of permanent and peaceful
closure of all armed conflicts with non-state armed groups,” adding that “it specifically
aims to facilitate the mainstreaming of FRs as productive citizens and enhance
capacities of local government units (LGUs) and National Government Agencies
(NGAs) in the implementation of the same.”
Meanwhile, he pointed out that Lt. Col. Suaybaguio
has continued to call on the rebels to return to the mainstream of society.
“To the rebels, lay down your arms and live
peacefully with your families. Take advantage of the government’s integration
program because it will provide you with an opportunity to return back to your
families and communities and together we shall solve our problems the peaceful
way,” said Pueblas quoting their battalion chief. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
CESB confers CESO III rank to DILG 13 chief
By Bryan F. Edulzura
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 24 (PIA) - The Department of the
Interior and Local Government Region (DILG) 13 director Lilibeth A. Famacion is
now Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) III. The Career Executive Service Board (CESB)
published the list last March 17, 2015 in the CESB website.
“We are very proud of our regional director
because CES eligibility is very difficult to obtain. Not everyone in the government service is
qualified to take this eligibility, much more in passing it. The battery of tests
is similar to passing through a needle’s eye,” said Lolita Savaria Go, DILG
union president.
“It only shows the caliber and capacity of the
Regional Director in managing the Department,” she added.
“With this recent development, we believe that we
truly live up to the expectation of our clients (Local Government Units) and
significantly contribute to the goals of the National Government,” said OIC
assistant regional director Donald A. Seronay.
The CESB, the governing body of the CES was
created through Presidential Decree No. 1 dated September 24, 1972. CES
eligibility is conferred to government employees (career and non-career) who
are appointed as Division Chief position (SG) 24 or higher and has at least two
(2) years of managerial experience (as pre-requisite) and passed the CESO eligibility four-stage tests.
DILG Region 13 (Caraga) has three other CESOs
namely: Pedrito P. Alacaba, provincial director of Surigao del Sur with CESO V
ranking; and Romeo A. Solis, provincial director of Agusan del Norte and
concurrent city director of Butuan City with CESO V ranking. Meanwhile, LGOO
VII Charissa T. Guerta, chief of Local Government Capacity Development Division
(LGCDD) of the DILG 13 Regional Office is also CES Eligible. (DILG-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
