AgSur pre-marriage counselors complete 3-day
refresher course
BUTUAN CITY, July 2 (PIA) – The Pre-Marriage
Counseling (PMC) team of various towns in Agusan del Sur completed a three-day
refresher course conducted by the Commission on Population (PopCom) - Caraga on
June 23-25.
The training was organized by the Provincial
Government of Agusan del Sur in order to hone PMC counselors in developing and
maintaining a responsive mechanism for an effective implementation of the PMC
program in their locality - such as conducting PMC sessions for engaged couple
applicants; and advocating for more effective implementation of said program to
ensure continued awareness and support for the program.
PopCom Caraga regional director Alexander A.
Makinano underscored the significant role of these trained PMC counselors for
they provide engaged couples with critical information about marriage and
relationships, responsible parenthood, maternal and child health, family
planning and home management. “Engaged couples should ideally gain a lot of knowledge
on how to make the marriage successful and how to nurture the family,” added
Makinano.
Based on the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01
Series of 2010 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),
Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), and Commission on Population (PopCom), the PMC team is composed of
Population Officer, as team leader; Pre-Marriage Counselors from the
City/Municipal Health and Nutrition Office, City/Municipal Social Welfare Development
Office, City/Municipal Population and Development Office, City/Municipal
Agriculture Office, Department of Education City/Municipal District Office, and
civil society and faith-based organizations – as members of the team.
(PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
“See for yourself. The records are clean,” says
DENR Caraga chief
By Eric F. Gallego
BUTUAN CITY, July 2 (PIA) – “See for yourself, the
records are clean.”
This was the statement of Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga regional director Nonito M.
Tamayo as he has took exception to a “highly-speculative” perception of some
sectors about the special retrieval permit granted by the DENR to certain
lumads as “a maneuver of corrupt DENR officials, local politicians and illegal
loggers to circumvent Executive Order 23.”
“The retrieval of those typhoon Pablo-damaged logs
in Esperanza and La Paz, Agusan del Sur have undergone thorough process,
inventory and evaluation for a period of time before Sec. Paje gave the go
signal. We are hiding nothing. Every individual who are interested to examine
the records and documents of the DENR on this matter are free to do so,”
stressed Tamayo.
He has likewise rebuked criticism about the
program. “Unless these speculations are backed up with hard evidences and
proofs, those fabricated reports must be stopped, otherwise, it will only
destroy the reputation and integrity of the agency undertaking a program that
seeks to help the poverty-stricken lumads in the countryside,” Tamayo said.
The DENR has placed safeguards in the retrieval
process of these typhoon-damaged logs to discourage irregularities while
transport is in progress until the forest products reach an authorized wood
processing plant.
Forest Officer Romeo Luengas of the DENR
Enforcement Division said that only accredited wood processing plants are
authorized to buy those logs otherwise they are declared illegal. The proceeds
are placed on a trust funds being managed by the local officials.
Luengas said the retrieval permit has been
classified “special” because it is only good and applicable for 6 months
duration which started on January 3, 2015 and ends on June 30, 2015.
There were however, some leaders of the lumads who
have suggested that the privilege be extended for a brief period after its
deadline but the DENR official is firmed about the instructions. “There will be
no extension,” Tamayo said.
“The lumads were given time to extract and dispose
all the inventoried typhoon-damaged logs found in their ancestral domain and
the DENR believes the IP leaders are capable of doing the job given such a
short period,” Tamayo said.
The operation is strictly monitored by DENR
officer for Agusan del Sur Roberto Oliveros with OIC, CENR Officer Jerome Albia
of Bayugan City and OIC, CENR Officer Luis Gonzaga of Talacogon in coordination
with the local executive officials and the leaders of the lumad.
The Memorandum of Agreement made among the LGU officers
of Esperanza , La Paz, NCIP, DENR, DSWD and leaders of the IPs in the concerned
area has stipulated that only those typhoon-damaged logs which were inventoried
by the DENR team are allowed to be disposed.
A total of 12,171.45 cubic meters were inventoried in Esperanza and
15,884.75 cubic meters in La Paz.
The leaders of the lumads particularly Datu Sagani
Sumobol, Datu Mandumaguing, Datu Saludyuan Laguinao, Datu Makalantas Langbayan,
Datu Makatumpag Santos Sag-or, Jr., Barangay Captain Salug Amando M. Balan,
Barangay Captains Erwin Dumaguing, Polimer O. Pincalan, Gala P. Lindahug and
Gregorio L. Quinamapy have proposed to utilize the trust funds from the
proceeds of the typhoon-damaged logs deposited at the bank in several projects.
These are the development and other livelihood programs as identified in the
Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plan (ADSDPP) of the
lumads, the mini-nursery of high-value crops, reconstruction of multi-purpose
hall, reforestation, construction assistance and purchase of farm postharvest
facilities. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
PopCom Caraga heightens male involvement on family
health
BUTUAN CITY, July 2 (PIA) – Another KATROPA
(Kalalakihang Tumutugon sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya) Session
was initiated recently by the Commission on Population (PopCom)-Caraga among
the 70 husbands and community leaders from selected barangays and offices of
this city.
The event specifically aimed to equip these men
with necessary knowledge and skills on maternal and child health in order that
they would be personally effective in making decisions about their family’s
health, personal development, and other related issues and concerns; and they
can be mobilized as advocates from the ground for the development of needed
policies and programs on Maternal Nutrition and Child Health Nutrition (MNCHN).
In his opening message, PopCom Caraga regional
director Alexander A. Makinano emphasized that involving males as advocates for
maternal health is considered a pioneering advocacy strategy that improve the
policy and program environment for maternal and child health and nutrition and
responsible parenting.
The term “katropa” connotes a group of male peers
who have developed sense of camaraderie. PopCom believes that mobilizing men
collectively for maternal health and responsible parenthood can make pregnancy
and child birth a joyous moment for women as well as their male partners,
instead of being situations where women have to risk their lives from the risk
of pregnancy and child birth. (PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
DTI launches Negosyo Center in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 2 (PIA) – The
Negosyo Center located at the provincial office of the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) in Surigao del Sur headed by Provincial Director Romel Oribe was
successfully launched on June 29 as set.
The activity was held at the space provided for
it, roomy enough to accommodate those who attended the event.
Although it did not go perfectly as planned since
the invited officials to grace the occasion did not make it due to equally
important earlier commitment, the void was not at all felt because of the
impact made by their respective representatives.
City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel sent Lorna Novo, city
cooperative officer; First District Congressman Philip Pichay chose Manuel
Acosta, his chief of staff to take his place; Governor Johnny Pimentel tasked
Board Member Eleanor “Neneng” Momo to represent him to the affair; and Senator
Bam Aquino, author of Go Negosyo Act, went for Luke Buniel, a Cantilan native,
to make his presence felt.
Novo, for and in behalf of Mayor Pimentel, said
that Tandag City has already what it takes to help facilitate the operation of
the Negosyo Center.
“This is the reason why our city mayor has adapted
the ‘one-stop-shop’ to ease the problem of having a hard time in getting
business permits,” she declared.
For Manuel Acosta, chief of staff of Cong. Pichay,
the establishment of Negosyo Center is a boon, saying that “the launch of
Negosyo Center, like the Surigao del Sur office of DTI, is very timely to
provide the entrepreneurs the necessary technologies and skills or simply
knowhow to run a small business in the area.”
“The Go Negosyo Act will bring government services
to the constituents; more so to businesses through the establishment of Negosyo
Centers in all provinces, cities, and municipalities,” Board Member Momo also
said for her part.
On the part of the representative of Sen. Bam
Aquino, Luke Buniel pointed out that the launch of the Negosyo Center here is
the 35th in the country. He said that
they are aiming about a hundred Negosyo Centers to be launched this year. But he was happy to note that DTI has set to
launch 140 of this nationwide.
“I think this is the 35th Negosyo Center for this
year. So we are targeting a hundred for
this year pero magaling yung DTI. . . 140 daw yung kaya nila. So that’s 40 percent beyond target,” Buniel
noted.
The senator’s alter ego admitted he was impressed
by the Negosyo Center here, adding “I hope the service will be as awesome as
the office!” He congratulated Oribe for
the job well done.
“Today we will be redefining entrepreneurial
development. Today we will be
reengineering the way we assist small and medium enterprises by launching the
Negosyo Center which is envisioned to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ and an interactive
help desk for SMEs to make their lives easier,” the DTI provincial director
stressed in his welcoming remarks.
For the closing remarks, DTI Caraga regional
director Brielgo Pagaran, aside from sharing important information relative to
bottom-up budgeting and other business and economics related facts, lauded
Senator Bam Aquino for his track record, citing in particular the authorship of
two laws--Go Negosyo Act and Lemon law. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
PDIC to pay depositors of the closed Siargao Bank
starting July 3
MANILA, July 2 (PIA) - The Philippine Deposit
Insurance Corporation (PDIC) will start servicing the deposit insurance claims
of depositors of the closed Siargao Bank (A Rural Bank), Inc. on Friday, July
3, 2015.
Servicing of claims for the bank's Head Office and
Mainit Branch will be conducted on July 3 and 6, 2015, 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.
The Head office is located at No. 03406 Jose C. Sering Building, Borromeo St.,
Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, while the Mainit Branch is at Palileo St.,
Mainit, Surigao del Norte. Meanwhile, servicing of claims for the bank's Dapa
Branch will be conducted at the bank's premises in Barangay 8, Dapa, Surigao
del Norte on July 3, 6 and 7, 2015, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Depositors with valid deposit balances of P50,000
and below, with complete mailing address found in the bank records or updated
through the Mailing Address Update Form, and without any outstanding obligation
with the bank do not need to file claims.
Depositors with account balances of more than
P50,000, and those with outstanding obligations with the closed Siargao Bank or
with incomplete mailing address, or those who maintain the account under the
name of business entities, regardless of type of account and account balance,
are required to file their deposit insurance claims. The announcement on the
claims settlement operations of Siargao Bank is posted at its offices and in
the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph.
When filing claims for deposit insurance,
depositors are advised to personally present the original copy of evidence of
deposit such as Savings Passbook and Certificate of Time Deposit, and two (2)
valid photo-bearing IDs with signature of the depositor. Depositors who were
not able to come personally may file their claims through mail and enclose the
same set of documentary requirements.
Depositors who are below 18 years old should be
represented by a parent who should submit a photocopy of the child's Birth
Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or a duly certified
copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar as an additional requirement. The
parent should sign the Claim Form and the other requirements. Claimants who are
not the signatories in the bank records are required to submit an original copy
of a notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA). In the case of a minor
depositor, the SPA must be executed by the parent.
The procedures and requirements for filing of
deposit insurance claims are posted in the PDIC website,www.pdic.gov.ph. The
Claim Form and format of the SPA may also be downloaded from the PDIC website.
PDIC will not accept claims which are incomplete or lacking in requirements.
Depositors who are not able to file their claims
during the claims settlement operations period may submit their claims either through
mail to PDIC or personally at the PDIC Public Assistance Center, 3rd Floor, SSS
Bldg., 6782 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City starting on
July 16, 2015.
In accordance with the provisions of the PDIC
Charter, the last day for filing deposit insurance claims in the closed Siargao
Bank is on June 15, 2017. After this date, PDIC as Deposit Insurer, shall no
longer accept any deposit insurance claims.
The PDIC said that all valid claims will be paid.
For deposits to be considered valid, it must be recorded in the bank's records
and must have evidence of inflow of funds, based on the results of PDIC
examination. PDIC, as Receiver, has the authority to adjust the interest rate
on unpaid interests on deposits of a bank if such rate is deemed unreasonable.
For more information, depositors may contact the
Public Assistance Department at telephone numbers (02) 841-4630 to 31, or
e-mail at pad@pdic.gov.ph. Depositors outside Metro Manila may call the PDIC
Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-1-888-PDIC (7342). (PDIC/PIA-Caraga)
DILG holds PAMANA partners' forum
By Mary Jul E. Escalante
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 2 (PIA) -
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) organized a two-day
PAMANA-DILG Fund Partners' Forum Year 3 from July 1 to 2, 2015 held at the
Mazaua Island Resort, Butuan City.
The PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) DILG
Fund is the national government's peace and development framework to respond
and strengthen peace building, reconstruction and development in conflict
affected areas and is now on its 4th year of implementation.
It aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability in
conflict affected areas through community infrastructure and focused delivery
of social services.
A total of P1.7 billion has already been
implemented thru this facility in Caraga region.
Surigao del Norte shared the biggest allocation
for the year 2014 with a total cost of P210 million which is allocated for the
two bridges with one road component at LASICAM (Lahi, Sico-sico, Camam-oman)
area in the municipality of Gigaquit.
For this year, another P143 Million will be
implemented to include the P50 million-Camp Edward-Ferlda road in Alegria, P50
million-Sapa bridge in Claver, P40 million-Payapag-Little Baguio road in
Bacuag, P3 million-water supply in Pongtud, Lahi and Sapa.
The two-day activity was attended by the
provincial and city engineers, information officers, planning officers, PAMANA
focal persons, Phil. Army, Philippine National Police, OPAPP representative,
DILG, and other partners and stakeholders of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur,
Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
OWWA launches search for 2015 Model OFW Family in
Caraga
By Jean Mary G. Ronquillo
BUTUAN CITY, July 2 (PIA) - The Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office Caraga announces the
launching of search for Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA) in Caraga
region.
Now, on its 11th year, the annual MOFYA search is
designed to give due recognition to outstanding achievements of the Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families in promoting best practices in
managing family challenges albeit adverse effects of overseas migration on
family solidarity and cohesiveness.
Regional Director Samuel Madrid of OWWA Caraga is
encouraging the following sectors: Non Government Organizations (NGOs),
Peoples’ Organizations (POs), Religious Groups, Community based Socio-Civic
Organizations and Local Government Units (LGUs) to send their MOFYA nominees.
To be eligible for nomination, the family must be
headed by an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), land-based or sea-based, formerly
or presently working abroad with a formal or informal contract of employment or
work permit, and must have a proof of OWWA membership.
MOFYA nominees must conform to the following
criteria: (a) 50 percent for wholesome OFW family; (b) 20 percent for
civic/community involvement of OFW and family members; (c) 20 percent for
success in children’s or family member’s education; and (d) 20 percent for
success in managing family finances.
The selection process among MOFYA nominees will be
held on October. Two families coming sea-based and land-based categories will
be chosen as MOFYA regional winners and will represent the region to the
national search.
For more information about the program, kindly
visit the OWWA Caraga office at Nimfa Tiu Bldg. II, J.P. Rosales Avenue, Butuan
City or contact us at (085) 342-6178/2255989. (OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
