Monday, November 9, 2015

DTI holds online business registration training in Surigao Norte town

By Rodrigo R. Matabaran

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Nov. 9 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office conducted a training on Online Business Registration at Claver Municipal Hall on Nov. 4, 2015 for their Business Permit Licensing Office (BPLO) staff.

The activity is undertaken in preparation for the operationalization of Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) funded online business registration project of the Claver municipal government in coordination with DTI.

According to DTI provincial director Celestino L. Negapatan, once fully operational this month, the project will enable the processing of DTI Business Name registration certificate right at the BPLO office of the municipality.

Hence, business applicants will no longer travel to the city just to apply for business name before applying business permit with the local government unit.  Owners of single proprietorship establishment in the neighboring municipalities and barangays may also avail of this business name registration service, Negapatan said.

This initiative also aims to reduce the cost of doing business particularly that of the small entrepreneurs and further improve the business registration mechanism of the municipality.

Director Negapatan and Claver mayor Eddie P. Gokiangkee pushed for the implementation of the said project along with its effort to improve the LGUs competitiveness.

In 2015, Claver showed significant improvement in the cities and municipalities competiveness index (CMCI) ranking of which it is placed the 51st most competitive among 462 1st and 2nd Class municipalities throughout the country. In 2014, it is ranked 82nd among 399 municipalities that participated CMCI.

The training was attended by Business Permit Licensing Officer Paul Niño D. Yu and some LGU staff. (SDR/DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

AFP pours in additional battalion to SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 9 (PIA) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has added another battalion to its strength in Surigao del Sur.

Lt. Col. Gaspar Panopio, 2nd Special Forces Battalion commander of the Philippine Army (PA) has already paid a courtesy call on Governor Johnny Pimentel on Wednesday.

In fact, he was also able to attend the closed-door meeting called by the governor with both officials of the AFP and PNP on the updates of the manhunt operation against Lumad slay suspects—Loloy Tejero, Bobby Tejero, and Garito Layno—all facing murder and other related criminal charges at the Lianga Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Earlier, while waiting for the governor to arrive, Col. Isidro Purisima, 402nd Infantry Brigade commander, told media that aside from 2nd SF battalion, two companies of army Special Forces, respectively from 7th and 9th had already been under him.

These “SF companies” had been tasked as “maneuvering forces,” he added.

It was learned that the new battalion, which came all the way from Bohol province, would set up their headquarters in Barangay Tina, San Miguel town, 31 kilometers south, this city.

With this new development, the province is now home not only to 36IB and 75IB, but also to 2nd Special Forces battalion apart from the two SF companies, it was learned. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA Surigao del Sur)

P200K bounty up for each primary suspects in Lumad slay in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 9 (PIA) – A P200,000 reward each for the capture of three suspects on the September 1 Lumad killings here was set.

The announcement came from Governor Johnny Pimentel himself during the brief visit of the clergies of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI)  last week although he did not categorically state the amount.

He also told the visiting clergies about the dismal performance of both the PNP and the AFP here with the joint Task Force Bangkaw tasked to go after Loloy Tejero, Bobby Tejero, and Garito Layno, all facing three counts of murder, arson, grave coercion, and robbery.

He said that more than 60 days had already passed but the suspects had remained scot-free since the incident happened.

The governor was also requested by the visiting church people during their Mindanao Bishops’ Conference here to narrate the whole story of how the “evacuees” came about.  It had drawn empathy.

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the reward, both P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero and Col. Isidro Purisima of the PNP and AFP, respectively, replied that the bounty raised would help the joint effort track down the suspects. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Friday, November 6, 2015

DTI Surigao Norte spearheads consumer education seminar cum Bagwis awarding

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Nov. 6 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte provincial office conducted recently a one-day Consumer Education Seminar cum Bagwis awarding held at Parkway Hotel, this city.

The topics that were discussed include consumer rights and responsibilities presented by DTI Trade and Industry Development Specialist (TIDS) Josephine D. Gabutin, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Integration by DTI senior trade and industry development specialist Engr. Ma. Theresa Z. Calang and other relevant concerns confronting consumers in a liberalized trading environment.

A total of 86 participants joined the said seminar including consumers in various walks of life, academe, students, proprietors and managers of business establishments, private sector and government employees, senior citizen, women's group representatives and consumer organizations.

An open forum was conducted wherein issues that confront consumers were tackled including concerns on the availment of senior citizens privileges, not giving of loose change to customers, complaints regarding on-line purchase among others.

In the afternoon session after the presentation of Bagwis program by DTI trade and industry development specialist Lourdes A. Chua, the recognition of Bagwis awardees followed.

Bagwis is an award system of DTI to establishments who are religiously attending consumer needs and promptly address complaints.

In behalf of DTI provincial director Celestino L. Negapatan, supervising trade and industry development specialist Rodrigo R. Matabaran handed the award to the following establishments on their respective categories:

For bronze awardees: Rose Pharmacy, Absolute Essential Traders, Botica Lina, Riverside Hardware, E.C. Nickel Drug, Wrench Enterprises, Bohol Dry Goods Store, Parkway Department Store, while the silver awardees are Eduhome Enterprises and Gaisano Capital-Surigao.

Surigao del Norte Consumers Organization president Col. Nestor Mindaña (ret), in his closing remarks, expressed appreciation to the organizers and participants of the activity as he stressed the importance for consumers to assert their rights as provided for under existing laws including the Consumer Act of the Philippines. (SDR/DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Cebuano News: 20 ka mga baroto giturn-over sa duha ka barangay sa Surigao

Ni Mary Jul Escalante

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Nob. 6 (PIA) – Mokabat sa 20 ka mga baroto ang gitunol ngadto sa Barangay Cabongbongan ug San Isidro niadtong Nobyembre 4, 2015 ning syudad.

Ang maong pagbendisyon ug pagtunol gipangulohan ni Gobernador Sol F. Matugas bisan paman sa kaulanon sa panahon personal gyud nga gibisitahan sa gobernador ang maong mga barangay.

Napulo ka mga kantidad P15,000 ka pesos matag usa ang gitunol ngadto sa baranagay Cabongbongan ug napulo usab ngadto sa baranagay San Isidro.

Ang maong proyekto ubos sa programa sa gobernador nga gitawag “Baroto sa Barangay” alang sa kapanginabuhian sa mga lumulupyo sa maong barangay diin dako kaayo kini ug tabang sa panginabuhi sa matag pamilya.

Sa susamang adlawa gipahigayon usab ang panambay sa barangay nga gipangulohan ni Dra. Isabel Makinano ug Dra. Cossette Seguis.

Sa ilang mga mensahe mapasalamaton gyud og dako si Punong Brgy. Evelyn Torejas ug Punong Barangay Rose Pasilan sa mga baroto nga gitunol sa gobernador ug sa panahon nga gigahin niini aron nga mabisitahan gayod ang ilang mga barangay.

Sa maong okasyon nag apod -apod usab ang gobernador og mga foodpacks ngadto sa mga lumulupyo sa duha ka mga barangay ingon man usab cash pahalipay para sa mga senior citizen, barangay health worker (BHW) ug mga barangay tanod. (SDR/PIC-SdN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Thursday, November 5, 2015

DTI AgNor awards Bagwis Seal of Excellence

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) – The Provincial Office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Norte awards the Bagwis Seal of Excellence for Consumers for the year 2014 and 2015 to select business establishments in the city and the province of Agusan del Norte.

The awarding was held during the culmination activity of this year’s Consumer Welfare Month celebration in one of the malls here.

According to DTI Agusan del Norte provincial director Gay A. Tidalgo, the award was given to establishments in recognition of their commitments to consumer welfare, responsible business practices and social responsibility.

The Bagwis Award also known as the Certified Establishment Program of DTI aims to recognize business establishments that upholds the rights of consumers and practice responsible business through substantial compliance of Fair Trade Laws and setting up of a Consumer Welfare Desk (CWD) which provide information to consumers and a mechanism for speedy resolution of consumer complaints, Tidalgo added.

For the year 2014, DTI awarded Bronze award to the three business establishments of the province, namely: VROSS Meat Shoppe, Ochoa Avenue and Arujville, Libertad branches and Orlyns Department Store and General Merchandise and one Silver award to Princity Inc, in Cabadbaran City.

This year, another Bronze award was awarded to Greater RJ Appliance and Trading Corporation and PMDC Enterprises – Cabadbaran City branch.

As of November 2, 2015, a total of 53 business establishments in the city and Agusan del Norte had already been awarded with the Bagwis Seal of Excellence since its 2009. (NCLM, PIA-Agusan del Norte)

AgNor Solon, DepEd to hold 8th CPDC

By Remelie V. Cedro

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) – The Office of Representative Lawrence Lemuel Fortun of the First District of Agusan del Norte (Butuan City and Las Nieves) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepED) will hold its 8th Caraga Parliamentary Debate Championship: Law Fortun Cup (8th CPDC: LFC) on November 13-15, 2015.

The activity is the region’s largest gathering of high school and college students to discourse on contemporary issues affecting the locality, country and the global community and will focus on the issues knitted with good governance, sustainability, and resilience.

The venue of this year’s activity is at Saint Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT), this city. (DepEd Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

SurSur reinstated BIR chief to “open cases” to resuscitate dull tax collection

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 5 (PIA) – As last ditch effort, the Revenue District Office 106 (RDO 106) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Surigao del Sur has planned to “open cases” of taxpayers in order to recover from dull period of tax collection for the rest of calendar year 2015.

Amanoding Ismail, reinstated revenue district officer (RDO), admitted it had been more than two years of getting shortfall in tax collection here, pointing out, however, that revenue collection as compared to the same period of last year had always been remarkable.

“Starting this week, except private and state employees, letters would be sent out to various taxpayers who are engaged in business—may they be corporations or individuals—asking them to settle their obligation,” he stressed.

“This is also one way of informing the taxpaying public of my comeback,” the BIR provincial chief added.

Ismail said that his office would get to refer from the listings provided by the Revenue Data Center in Davao City in opening cases over tax obligations starting from Income Tax Returns (ITR) of 2010 or similar ones until the present.

“There are about 168,000 various tax returns,” he said, adding that its about 90 percent accurate.

Meanwhile, BIR Revenue District Office 106 (RDO 106) under Monib Dimakuta, who was relieved of his post recently, earlier admitted that failure to hit the monthly collection goal here had always been the case since the start of 2015.

On the other hand, the former RDO said they had always exceeded the tax collection for the same period of last year.

For 2015, the BIR here is aiming to hit a tax goal of P745,763,000. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur) 

DepEd Butuan tops regl consumer quiz bowl

By Remelie V. Cedro

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) Butuan City Division has won this year’s Regional Consumer Quiz Bowl.

Spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga Region, the activity is part of the celebration of this year’s Consumer Month with the theme “Consumer Protection in the ASEAN Economic Community.”

It was participated by all first place winners from all Schools Divisions Consumer Quiz Bowl in the region.

Anessa Tiburon from Agusan National High School under the Butuan City Division bagged the first prize, the second place went to Princess Orchids Lumpas from Jagupit National High School under the Agusan del Norte Division. The third place went to Opie Mae Angelie Encabo from Danipas National High School under the Bislig City Division.

All winners received cash prizes, medals, certificates, plaques and some giveaways from the sponsors. (DepEd Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

DOST XIII calls for 2015 inventions contest, exhibit entries

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga encourages local researchers, inventors, and innovators from the academe, public and private organizations, and all other individuals able to devise new science and technology outcomes to join the 2015 Regional Inventions Contest and Exhibit (RICE). The activity will be held in the city on November 24-26, 2015.

In line with its continuous efforts in maximizing the capability and productivity of local inventors/innovators, the 2015 RICE aims to expose new technological advancements formulated and developed by local researchers, useful in the development of communities in the region. This will also promote the commercialization of inventions and technologies.

Winners for this regional activity will serve as finalists who will vie for the major awards to the national invention contest in July 2016.

Categories of the said activity include: Outstanding Invention (TUKLAS Award); Outstanding Utility Model; Outstanding Industrial Design; Outstanding Creative Research; Outstanding Student Creative Research for College (SIBOL Award); and Outstanding Student Creative Research for High School (SIBOL Award).

Interested participants can download entry forms, rules, and criteria at http://www.tapi.dost.gov.ph or contact DOST Caraga office at Tel. No. (085) 341-9551 and email dostcaraga@yahoo.com.

Deadline of submission of entries will be on November 13, 2015. (DOST-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

ANGELL awards winners

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 4 (PIA) – The “Accelerating New Dimension on Good Governance and Excellence in Local Leadership” (A.N.G.E.L.L.), an award-giving body of the province of Agusan del Norte under the leadership of governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba holds its 3rd year awarding ceremony on Thursday in one of the convention centers here.

Now on its 3rd year, the A.N.G.E.L.L. awards winners to the 11 categories, to include the Best Performing Barangays; Most Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa; Best Performing Barangay Peace and Order Committee; Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars; Most Functional Nutrition Councils (MELLPI mechanism); Best Ecological Solid Waste Mgt. Implementers among Public Central Elementary Schools; Most Disaster Resilient LGUs of the Province (GAWAD KALASAG mechanism); Most Child-Friendly LGUs (CFLGA mechanism); Local Legislative Award; Most Functional Anti-Drug Abuse Councils; Best Office; & Outstanding Employee of the Year 2015-2015.

The following are the winners of this year’s ANGELL program with corresponding cash prize:

BEST PERFORMING BARANGAYS

- Rural Category

1st -  Soriano, Cabadbaran City (P1 Million)

2nd  - Ata-atahon, Nasipit (P500,000)

3rd - La Paz, Santiago (P300,000)

- Urban Category

1st - Poblacion 2, Tubay (P1 Million)

2nd - Sto. Rosario, Magallanes (P500,000)

3rd - Poblacion 2, Nasipit (P300,000)

 MOST OUTSTANDING LUPONG TAGAPAMAYAPA

- Lupon City Category

1st - Mabini, Cabadbaran City (P50,000)

- Lupon 1st to 3rd Class Category

1st - Macalang, Buenavista (P50,000)

2nd - A. Beltran, Jabonga (P30,000)

3rd - Casiklan, Las Nieves (P20,000)

- Lupon 4th to 6th Class Category

1st - Tagmamarkay, Tubay (P50,000)

2nd - Poblacion, Carmen (P30,000)

3rd - Poblacion, Kitcharao (P20,000)

BEST PERFORMING BARANGAY PEACE AND ORDER COMMITTEE (BPOC)

1st -  Mabini, Cabadbaran (P50,000)

2nd - Tagmamarkay, Tubay (P30,000)

3rd - Poblacion 1, RTR (P20,000)

OUTSTANDING BARANGAY NUTRITION SCHOLARS

1st - Jenieve L. Montilla, Tagbuyacan, Santiago (P10,000)

2nd - Merlita C. Delapa, Cabayawa, Tubay (P7,000)

3rd - Nelita B. Lozano, Ata-atahon, Nasipit (P5,000)

MOST FUNCTIONAL LGU NUTRITION COUNCILS (MELLPI Mechanism)

1st – Nasipit (P50,000)

2nd - Las Nieves (P30,000)

3rd – Tubay (P20,000)

BEST ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTERS AMONG PUBLIC CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

1st - Santiago Central Elementary School (P7,000)

2nd - Buenavista Central Elementary School (P5,000)

3rd - Cabadbaran South Central Elementary School and Bangonay Central Elementary School (P3,000 each)

MOST DISASTER RESILIENT LGUs (GAWAD KALASAG Mechanism)

- Barangay Category Winners

1. Humilog, RTR (P25,000)

2. San Roque, Kitcharao (P20,000)

3. Canaway, Kitcharao (P15,000)

- Municipal Category Winners

1. Carmen (P100,000)

2. RTR (P75,000)

3. Jabonga (P50,000)

- School Category

1. Carmen National High School (P15,000)

MOST CHILD-FRIENDLY LGUs (CFLGA Mechanism)

1st -  Cabadbaran City (P100,000)

2nd – Magallanes (P75,000)

3rd - Tubay and Nasipit (P50,000 each)

LOCAL LEGISLATIVE AWARD (LLA)

- Municipalities Category:

1st – Kitcharao (P15,000)

2nd – Santiago (P10,000)

3rd – Nasipit (P5,000)

- City Category:

1. Cabadbaran City (P10,000)

MOST FUNCTIONAL ANTI-DRUG ABUSE COUNCILS (ADACs)

- Barangay Category:

1. Poblacion, Carmen (P15,000)

2. Ata-atahon, Nasipit (P10,000)

3. San Antonio, RTR (P5,000)

City/Municipality Category:

1. Santiago (P75,000)

2. RTR (P50,000)

3. Las Nieves (P25,000)

BEST OFFICE 2014-2015

- Provincial Assessor's Office (P20,000)

OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2014-2015

- Mr. Oscar P. Tuyor (P10,000)

Each of the winners received a plaque in a form of an angel.

During the awarding ceremony, governor Matba proudly recalled that the province ranks number one in the entire Caraga region for being a competitive province and ranks number seven in the entire country.

This year’s awarding ceremony was facilitated by the Provincial Office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) headed by provincial director Romeo Solis and staff in coordination with the provincial government with the help of the members of the Technical Working Group.

Local government officials and employees, national government agencies heads of offices and representatives, and barangay officials attended the awarding ceremony. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

DTI Surigao Norte accepts business name registration application at Claver BPLO

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 4 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte provincial office will be accepting business name registration today, November 4, 2015 at the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) of Claver town, this province.

DTI provincial director Celestino L. Negapatan encouraged those new applicants and existing business establishments of which Business Name Certificates are due for renewal this month until January of 2016 to apply and make use of this opportunity.

Business name certificates can be renewed in advance-three months or 90 days before the expiry dates.

Interested parties including those in the neighboring municipalities may coordinate with Paul Niño D. Yu, business permit licensing officer of Claver.

DTI staff is coordinating with Claver BPLO in today’s undertaking in helping the local entrepreneurs.

The following are the business name registration fees according to the business territory and geographical scope of operation: barangay P200 and P15.00 for documentary staff, city/municipality P500 and P15.00 documentary stamp, regional P1,000 and P15.00 documentary stamp, and national P2,000 and P15.00 documentary stamp.

For new business name registration applicants are required to bring original copy of identification documents. (SDR/DTI-SdN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

DepEd Butuan chief confirms extension of SHS early registration

By Remelie V. Cedro

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 4 (PIA) – Department of Education (DepEd) Butuan City Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Arsenio T. Cornites, Jr. has confirmed the extension of the early registration for Senior High School (SHS).

According to SDS Cornites, the extension of the registration aims to ensure that incoming SHS students are enrolled come June 2016.

The new registration period of the SHS will be on November 13, 2015 instead of October 19.

Also, the extension will help incoming SHS students to fully decide on what SHS track they are going to choose, said Cornites. Choosing of tracks should suit to the interest of the students, he added.

The four major tracks in the SHS Program are Academic, Technical-Vocational Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design.

The SHS early registration, according to Cornites is open to high school graduates prior to the full implementation of the K to 12 Program, passers of the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) and Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Examination for Junior High School level. They may register in any of the schools offering SHS. (DepEd Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

SurSur DRRMO chief: Typhoon Yolanda leaves an unforgettable lesson

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 4 (PIA) – Abel de Guzman, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) here said Typhoon Yolanda had indeed taught not only Filipinos but the whole world in general life’s most unforgettable lesson.

He pointed out that because the country had been so used to being hit by typhoons, strong and weak alike prior to Typhoon Yolanda, the general public were not that so seriously concerned about “disaster preparedness,” saying majority would only act during crunch time.

"Worse, most of us had been taking things for granted," De Guzman, a former Red Cross chief in the province, added.

However, since Typhoon Yolanda had “mangled and tangled” Tacloban City and neighboring areas in particular, everybody seemed to have been awakened by what happened, De Guzman explained.

The PDRRMO chief said even if Surigao del Sur was just slightly affected when Typhoon Yolanda made landfall in the eastern Visayas region on November 8, 2013, response during disasters had started to become much better—preparations had evolved to something different as compared to the pre-Yolanda era, citing construction design, time of preparation, warnings, and more.

“Not only that, right information dissemination had been observed, enforced/preemptive evacuation carried out; there had been contingency planning on top of preparations for ‘worst case scenario,’” De Guzman remarked.

Moreover, he said that DRRMOs had been institutionalized.

The traumatic experience brought about by Typhoon Yolanda had made us realize that preparedness has always been key to survival at all times, De Guzman stressed.

Meanwhile, since monsoon rains had started to affect the province, he advised the general public to take the necessary precautions. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

TODA OFC members participate in financial literacy seminar, simple business plan making

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 3 (PIA) - Enthusiastic for their first organizational development training, some 50 members of Talacogon Overseas Filipino Workers and Dependent Association (TODA) actively participated in the Financial Literacy Seminar and Simple Business Plan Making carried out recently by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office 13 in partnership with Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative Inc. (AOWCI).

In her discussion on Financial Literacy, Christy Mae Espejon of AOWCI gave emphasis on the value and concept of saving, investment, and budgeting of OFW’s income. Espejon also facilitated several exercises to elaborate her discussion among the participants.

Likewise, other topics during the seminar such as Migration Realities and Simple Business Plan Making were tackled by OWWA personnel. 

“We are indeed grateful that after we have been organized months ago, our request to have this kind of informational training was finally realized with the help of OWWA,” expressed TODA president Fernando Otaza in local dialect.

OWWA Caraga responded to the request of TODA members in consonance with its relentless endeavor to provide reintegration services among OFW organizations and capacitate them with various organizational developmental trainings.

OWWA Family Welfare Officer Ronilo Maningo, who assisted the organization on the process of establishing their organization, asserted that the said training is only the first of the series of trainings intended to strengthen and develop the OFW Family Circles (OFC) towards becoming self-reliant organizations. 

“Hopefully, for 2016 program planning we can encompass Talacogon OFC along with other OFW organizations to have the set of training programs,” bared Maningo. (OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

SurSur nears threshold of food scarcity to feed 3,000 evacuees

By Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 3 (PIA) – Amid the mounting problem of “sanitation and hygiene” exacerbated by the start of the downpour of monsoon rains five days ago, Governor Johnny Pimentel revealed that funds for the food provisions intended for some 3,000 evacuees who continue to take shelter at the Surigao del Sur Sports Center would only last until the mid of this month of November.

He said during the flag ceremony program on Monday “We are now looking for other donors.  I called up other institutions—BDO will be coming over, so hopefully makatabang sila (they can be of help).”

Governor Pimentel pointed out that “An ato food provisions from the provincial government mokabat pa nan two weeks.  So kutob November 15 pwede pang makaya pa nato yaon. . . after that wala na’y atong. . .(Our food provisions from the provincial government will only last for about two weeks.  So until Novermber 15, we can still afford to feed them. . . after that we have no more).”

However, the provincial chief executive expressed optimism his administration could still hold on.

“We hope we can find a solution,” he stressed.

Pimentel cited another worry, saying that “because five days na ang ulan. . . sigurado ako yaon mga bata ngad-on magsugod na pagpangasakit.  And then,  not only that, we have 89 pregnant women na kauban nila.  An 19 nanganak na.  You can just imagine katignaw ngad-on. . .(because of the five-day downpour of rain. . . I’m pretty sure children out there will start to get sick.  And then,  not only that, we have 89 pregnant women among them (evacuees).  Nineteen of whom had already given birth.  You can just imagine how chilly their situation is out there. . .)”

Meanwhile, the governor admitted that early on there had been quite a number of donors on basic needs, but as usual they only gave once.

Likewise, Governor Pimentel, disclosed the BFP-Tandag City had already given up on supplying water using their “fire trucks.”

However, he was so thankful that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had taken over the job using a similar truck for water supply that can address the problem on “hygiene and sanitation.”

Pimentel told capitol employees that pending solution to the demands, particularly the capture of the three suspects behind the killings of Emerito Samarca, Dionel Campos, and Bello Sinzo, nobody would know when the evacuees could get back home to their respective communities. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Two displaced Caraganon OFWs repatriated

By Jean Pearl I. Millones

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 3 (PIA) - On November 1, 2015, Sunday, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office Caraga extended repatriation services to OFWs Gemma T. Guinanas and Shella Lane C. Dalagan.

The 32-year old OFW Gemma T. Guinanas is a resident of Brgy. Pianing, this city.  Guinanas, a first timer, left the country sometime in July 2015 and served as a household service worker in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

However, her employment lasted only for three months after she ran away from her employer to escape from the maltreatment of her female boss. She sought shelter at the Philippine Embassy and was housed at the Bahay Kalinga of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh.

Before departing from the country to work abroad, aspiring OFWs are required to undergo the Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for contract familiarization, profile of the country of destination, stages of the OFWs life, health and safety, airport procedures and government programs and services.

On the other hand, OFW Shella Lane C. Dalagan is not new towards overseas work. She has already worked in Qatar in 2011 but did not finish her contract. A health condition prevented her from carrying out her work and compelled her to return home in Carmen, Agusan del Norte.

The pressing educational needs of her daughter, now a third year college student, forced Shella to go back overseas. She left for Dubai on December 2014. Her employment sailed smoothly until the same ill health she once had recurred. Her employer took her to her foreign agency after which she was sent back to the Philippines.

OFWs Gemma and Shella were assisted by OWWA personnel at the Manila International Airport and were accommodated at the OWWA Halfway House while their papers were processed for travel to Butuan City.                                                        

The two were escorted by the OWWA Caraga personnel to their homes as part of the repatriation program of the agency. They were likewise introduced to the Balik Pinas!, Balik Hanapbuhay!, a reintegration program which provides livelihood assistance of Php 10,000.00 for displaced and distressed OFWs. (OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

LCEs, info officers and media gather for PhilHealth SHInES in Caraga

By Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 3 (PIA) - A huge success.

This is how the recently concluded Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHInES) in Caraga can be described, if one goes by the number of participants who attended the activity. The two-day orientation held at the Almont Inland Resort, this city brought in some 400 participants from the local government units, media, academe, national government agencies and non-government organization-partners, region-wide.

About 27 media practitioners from different tri-media outfits, 58 information officers of government and non-government offices, and representatives from civic organizations and the academe attended the SHInES for the multi-sectoral audience held on the first day.

The SHInES for Local Chief Executives (LCEs) gathered almost 250 participants that included 15 mayors and representatives from the different LGUs in the region, and the governor of Agusan del Norte.  PhilHealth officers and staff members from various Local Health Insurance Offices in the region also came to learn more about new developments and updates on membership and benefits.

PhilHealth Caraga Regional Vice President for Caraga Johnny Sychua welcomed the participants to the SHInES for media and gave a rundown of the topics to be discussed.  “We want to share with you the importance of this activity, why we are conducting this for all of you, since you are our partners in sharing the right information to our members,” Sychua said.  He added that, “our agenda include IECs on ALAGA Ka series, ReachOut, and other relevant activities that we regularly conduct.” 

PhilHealth’s executive vice president and chief operating officer Ramon Aristoza, Jr. urged the media “not only to help PhilHealth in promoting the National Health Insurance Program but also help us curb and report fraud.”  He said that this activity brings in the intended participants as advocates of the program.

During the SHInES for LCEs, Governor Ma. Angela Rosedell Amante-Matba of Agusan del Norte enthusiastically shared how the provincial government was able to make the no balance billing (NBB) really work in local government-owned Cabadbaran District Hospital, citing success factors such as prudent use of the revolving fund as well as retraining of hospital employees to make them more efficient in assisting PhilHealth members.  The governor challenged her colleagues in the region to do the same and implement the no balance billing in hospitals in their respective localities to help alleviate the financial woes of poor patients.“I challenge other LGUs to implement the no balance billing for poor patient-members in their area,” Matba said. 

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Alexander A. Padilla mentioned that “for the last seven months we have been going around the country to conduct this activity to really impart the importance of the new NHI Act of 2013 which espouses a paradigm shift in the implementation of the program.” The PhilHealth chief also shared that “five years ago, PhilHealth was giving out P300 to P400 million a week but at present, we are paying about P1.7 billion a week in reimbursements.” With this trend, PhilHealth benefit payments may reach around P100 billion at the end of this year.    

Padilla urged the LCEs to go beyond the election fever and “be responsible for those who are enrolled in their LGUs and push for the enrollment of Barangay Health Workers and Nutrition Scholars for them to be part of the program.” Making reference to the policy on Accredited Collecting Agents for PhilHealth, the PhilHealth Chief said that the local government units are the perfect collection windows through which premium payments from all PhilHealth members in their localities may be received.

The SHInES aims to further the knowledge and awareness of PhilHealth’s external partners on the NHIP to make them strong and effective advocates of the program. (PhilHealth/PIA-Caraga)

Monday, November 2, 2015

DPWH bares ill-effect of mass evacuation on construction industry in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 2 (PIA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) First Congressional District Office here bared the ill-effects of mass evacuation on the construction industry.

About 2,675 evacuees have chosen to stay in the meantime at Surigao del Sur Sports Center since they fled their homes at Kilometer 16, Sitio Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town on September 1.

District Engineer (DE) Joseph Calderon said some projects of the DPWH here might not be completed as planned since concerned contractors had found a valid excuse to do so, citing peace and order problem in the area.

The DPWH district chief admitted some truth to the complaints as they themselves could not start the preliminary detailed engineering activities for the planned construction of the P40 million concrete bridge at Sitio Magkahunao, Barangay Buhisan in San Agustin town, 64.36 kilometers south, this city.

DE Calderon claimed apprehension to send his men to do the initial work in the area because of lingering insurgency problem.

He expressed belief that the lumad mass evacuation was insurgency-related.

Meanwhile, Calderon said that, as usual, his office had been used to putting up motorists’ assistance centers along the national highway here for the observance of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.

“Our primary purpose is to ensure that the national highway is passable all times,” he stressed.

The DPWH district chief added that three assistance centers would be set up somewhere in the towns Lianga, Barangay Gamut, Tago, and in Carrascal. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

SurSur DRRMO confirms “acceptance culture” in disaster-prone areas

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 2 (PIA) – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) here has confirmed that people in disaster-prone areas are already used to living with either natural or manmade calamities.

Abel De Guzman, PDRRMO executive officer, explained that concerned communities had already identified “hazard specifics,” which out of these, a contingency plan adaptable on the ground had been devised.

During calamities and disasters, whatever, local government units (LGUs) through their respective DRRMOs are normally on the frontline to ease off the burden while the PDRRMO, which is the umbrella organization, functions as overseer and consolidator.

De Guzman said right now the province had been faced with a manmade disaster, citing the mass evacuation of some 3,000 individuals taking shelter at the Surigao del Sur Sports Center, in particular, as an offshoot of the murder of three lumads in Kilometer 16, Sitio Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town on September 1. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Surigao Norte heightens security plan for holiday season

By John Glenn A. Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Nov. 2 (PIA) - The provincial government here headed by Governor Sol F. Matugas recently conducted a consultative and coordination meeting in relation to the upcoming holiday season together with the members of the security and police force on October 29, 2015.

In her message, Gov. Matugas said the rumors on terrorists aiming to foment and sow chaos and mayhem in the province especially Siargao Island in time for the holiday season, must be looked into and fully investigated by the intelligence operatives.

“Let us not leave any stone unturned. It is better to keep our eyes open and remain on the look-out than be overwhelmed by anxiety. As the old saying goes, better safe than sorry. Be with me in this mission to guard our province from evil attempts to undermine our shared efforts for the progress of the Surigaonon community. Our journey toward a law-abiding and peace-loving society is our honest drive toward ‘Marajaw Surigao.’ We cannot tolerate any group who seek to destroy the foundations that we shape together,” said Matugas.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, provincial and city civil security unit, and other concerned agencies. (SDR/PGO-SdN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)