OWWA holds financial literacy training for
distressed, displaced Caraga OFWs
By Jean Pearl I. Millones
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 13 (PIA) - In a bid to promote
and provide alternative livelihood support and reintegration to its member-OFWs
who have gone through various adversities during their employment abroad, the
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) conducted an Entrepreneurship
Development Training (EDT) and Financial Literacy to Balik Pinas! Balik
Hanapbuhay! applicants on October 12, 2015 at OWWA Training Hall, this
city.
The Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay! Program grants
a non-cash livelihood assistance of P10,000.00 to provide immediate relief to
displaced member-OFWs. The assistance
consists of techno-skills and/or entrepreneurship training, starter kits and
other incidental services that will aid the beneficiary towards self or wage
employment.
The target beneficiaries who were displaced by
hostilities, wars/political conflict in the host country, victims of illegal
recruitment or human trafficking who were repatriated before finishing their
contracts may avail of the program only once provided they apply within one
year after return to the country.
As one of the availment requirements, the 37
applicants were provided with a one day entrepreneurship development training
and financial literacy which was carried out by the OWWA personnel. The
training intended to provide the participants with the basic concepts of
efficient budgeting, financial management and saving approaches.
Furthermore, the OFWs are assisted in identifying
their prospect business venture adhering to the priority projects including, but not limited to, health and
wellness, house repairs, food processing, handicraft, goods under the One Town,
One Product (OTOP) scheme and agriculture-related projects.
Apart from the Certificate of Attendance to the
Entrepreneurship Development Training (EDT), the applicant must also submit a
Simple Business Plan which was also part of the training. He/she must also
provide proof of repatriation or return to Philippines; e.g. passport or travel
documents; airline ticket.
After they have completed the training and
submitted all the necessary requirements, the beneficiaries are then advised to
keep in contact with the agency for the processing and procurement of their
starter kits. (OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
SurSur PNP assures peace and order as COC filing
begins
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 13 (PIA) – The
Philippine National Police (PNP) in Surigao del Sur has assured maintenance of
peace and order as the five-day schedule for the filing of Certificate of
Candidacy (COC) starts on Monday, October 12.
P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero said security to
COMELEC offices had already been beefed up province-wide, taking the cue from
the command conference called upon by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) a
couple of weeks ago.
The provincial police chief pointed out that all
PNP units here had been reminded of their task ahead.
The PNP expected trooping of candidates to file
their respective COCs from time to time until it comes to the crunch, Verdadero
remarked.
In the meantime, the Provincial Police Office
(PPO) bared that no election-related incident had been reported so far. (NGBT/Radyo
ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Known bets file COCs on first day in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 13 (PIA) –
Prominent candidates, mostly under the administration Liberal Party (LP), have
already filed their respective Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) at the
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office here during the first day of the
filing schedule, which will run from October 12-16, 2015.
Atty. Ernie Palanan said the first day of COC
filing at his office seemed to be no eventful day as there were no fanfares.
A total of 11 candidates for the various posts at
the provincial level made it to the COMELEC provincial office with incumbent
Board Member Dr. Mariano Atacador, who is seeking a third term, as number one
on the list.
Governor Johnny Pimentel told capitol employees
during the regular Monday flag ceremony program that the LP slate had started
the day with a Mass at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral, this city.
He then bared the complete LP bets at the
provincial level as well as their mayoralty candidates, citing that all
incumbent mayors were in LP now, to include first district congressman Philip
Pichay, who would run as first term mayor in Cantilan town.
Carrascal Mayor Vicente Pimentel, Jr. would be
their gubernatorial bet, the governor said, referring to his eldest brother, a
former governor, who was his predecessor.
Besides, he also named another elder brother, Tandag City administrator,
former mayor Alexander “Ayek” Pimentel, making a comeback.
A different story unfolded at the city election
office here contrary to the ambiance at the provincial level. The first filing
day at the city office was indeed marked by an all-out festive mood for the
administration party led by mayoralty candidate Ayek. A drum & bugle corps accompanied the
“eager administration bets” as they went around the city streets beforehand.
During the first filing day, LP provincial chair
Governor Pimentel, who decided to make a bid for the congressional seat in the
second district of the province, was fifth on the “COMELEC log” to file his COC
at 9:40 a.m. (NGBT/Radyo g Byan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DTI-BPS releases Philippine National Standards on
plastic shopping bags
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 13 (PIA) –
The Department of Trade and Industry - Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS)
has issued the Philippine National Standards (PNS) on the specifications of
plastic shopping bags, which is a flexible plastic material used for containing
and transporting goods.
The PNS 2097:2014 provides the general
characteristics, safety and labelling requirements for plastic shopping bags.
It applies the terms and definitions of
biodegradable, biodegradable plastic, compostable plastic, composting,
degradable plastic, oxidatively degradable plastic, plastic, polymer, and
recyclable.
The PNS 2097 lists the maximum allowable
concentration of heavy metals and other toxic hazardous substances and the
degradation requirements of a plastic shopping bag.
The BPS Technical Committee on Packaging and
packaging materials or BPS/TC 40, in collaboration of the BPS Technical
Committee on Plastics and plastic products or BPS/TC 45 prepared the said PNS.
In preparation of PNS 2097:2014, the said
committees referred to the following PNS: PNS 2102:2013-specifications for
compostable plastic; PNS 2104:2011- standard specification for plastics that
degrade in the environment by a combination of oxidation and biodegration; and
PNS/BHT ISO 8124-1:2008 – safety of toys – safety aspects related to mechanical
and physical properties.
The DTI-BPS, as the National Standards Body, is
the Philippines’ member to the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO). (SDR/DTI-SdN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Tagalog News: Mga magsasaka sa Surigao del Sur,
tumanggap ng lupa mula sa DAR
BUTUAN CITY, Okt. 13 (PIA) - Pormal ng ipinamahagi
ng Department of Agrarian Reform o DAR ang 1,715 ektaryang sakahan sa 802
magsasakang benepisyaryo sa bayan ng Hinatuan sa lalawigan ng Surigao del Sur.
Ayon kay DAR Caraga Regional Director Julita Ragandang,
personal na tinanggap ang Certificates of Land Ownership Awards o CLOAs ng mga
magsasakang benepisyaryo na nagpahayag naman ng kagalakan dahil natupad na ang
kanilang inaasam-asam na lupain sa ilalim ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program o CARP ng Pamahalaan.
Ipinaliwanag naman ni Hinatuan Mayor Candelario
Viola sa mga magsasaka na ang repormang pansakahan ay di lamang umano
pamamahagi ng lupa, naglalaan rin ang Pamahalaan ng mga programa at proyekto
para matulungan ang magsasakang umangat ang kanilang kabuhayan.
Pinaalalahanan naman ni Director Ragadang ang mga
magsasaka na maging responsable at gawing produktibo ang lupang naipamahagi sa
kanila dahil kasunod na umano nito ang mga suportang serbisyong ilalaan ng DAR
para mapaigi ang produksiyon sa lupa. (DAR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
