NYC partners with PIA for SK, Barangay elections
advocacy campaign
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 5 (PIA) – The National Youth
Commission (NYC) has partnered with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
Caraga for the advocacy campaign on Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay
Elections in October 2016.
Jigs Pasamba, Presidential Staff Officer
IV/Northeastern Mindanao Clusterhead of NYC said that the commission, together
with the member agencies of the Regional Youth Advisory Council (RYAC) will
coordinate with PIA in the information dissemination of advocacy materials to
the different sectors along with media partners.
“Many of our youths do not have that enough
knowledge about the SK. And with the coming SK and barangay elections, there is
a dire need for us to intensify our campaign on SK so our youths will see the
advantage of being in the political field. It is important that they get
involve and let their voices be heard, as they are the future of our next
generations,” expressed Pasamba.
Pasamba also highlighted that with PIA as partner,
the advocacy campaign on SK and barangay elections will be inculcated among
young ones. She also revealed that those (youths) who will be interested to
join the political arena will undergo trainings so they will be equipped on
parliamentary procedure of governance, among others.
Meanwhile, the PIA Caraga headed by regional
director Abner Caga also expressed its commitment to provide continued
communication support to NYC, RYAC and other concerned agencies for the same
purpose.
Sangguniang Kabataan ("youth council" in
English), commonly known as SK, is a council for youth in each barangay in the
Philippines. It was put "on hold", but not quite abolished, prior to
the 2013 barangay elections. In January 2016, the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform
Law was signed into law, which made some significant changes to the SK and
schedules new elections for October 2016.
The SK Chairman leads the Sangguniang Kabataan
council. A Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) composed of representatives
of different local youth groups supports the SK and its programs.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
PIA Caraga promotes transparency, upcoming events
now posted in FB page
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 5 (PIA) – As the information arm
of the government, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga continuously
innovates and updates the public on relevant information, issues and concerns,
as well as upcoming events.
The PIA Caraga Updates, which is the official
regional Facebook (FB) page of the agency has recently been verified by
Facebook as a legitimate account. The
said FB page has been established/registered sometime in April 2011 and has
already 8,156 page likes and counting as of reporting time.
According to PIA Caraga regional director Abner
Caga, it is but proper to also update the public on the invitations received by
PIA on the upcoming events of the different partner agencies and other
stakeholders that have national interest and are open to public.
Dir. Caga emphasized that people should also know
that the government agencies are conducting activities from time to time where
they can witness, participate and get involve in such activity.
“Posting of upcoming activities as per invitation
from other agencies should also be timely so people can mark their calendars
ahead of time and be able to participate and contribute significant ideas,”
said Caga.
Caga further highlighted that PIA Caraga provides
communication support to government agencies’ endeavors and will continue to
explore, innovate and initiate significant platforms that will enhance
communication processes and working relationship between the public and the
government.
“If they have inquiries regarding our posts in
Facebook, they may just send us a personal message and we will respond as soon
as possible. We can also refer them to the concerned agency for more
information about such activity,” Caga added.
Other provincial Facebook pages of PIA Caraga
include the following: PIA Agusan del Norte; PIA Agusan del Sur, PIA Surigao
del Norte, PIA Dinagat Islands and PIA Surigao del Sur. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Lady rep optimistic for socio-economic development
in Agusan Sur
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, July 5 (PIA) – “Because of my long
standing belief with Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative’s (ASELCO) principles
and ideas, I declare my strong support to your mission of providing effective
and efficient power generation services for the socio-economic growth for all
Agusanons,” undercored Agusan del Sur 1st district representative Ma. Valentina
Plaza.
This was her positive inspiring remark as she
addressed the officers, members, consumers, owners and employees of ASELCO
during its 34th Annual General Assembly held recently in Agusan del Sur.
According to Cong. Plaza, despite the power crisis
which the Mindanao region has experienced before, she is with full confidence
that the cooperative’s board of directors, management and staff of ASELCO are
all working together to achieve a common goal to benefit the member-consumers
and the entire province in general. "Your effort to deliver service
through excellent customer service and the improvement of the distribution
lines are highly commendable,” she said.
Cong. Plaza also cited that since electrification
system has become a part of modern life and has many uses in the day-to-day
life, it has a significant role in pursuing progress of her province and
country. “Think of a world without electricity, all the inventions that uses it
such as computers, machines in factories, appliances, modern medicines and surgery,
modern transportation and communication, and other electricity dependent
operations and systems will be compromised without a stable supply of energy,”
said Cong. Plaza.
The lady representative is confident that
socio-economic boost of the province is feasible as the stakeholders continue
to revolutionize the method of providing reliable power source.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte joins observance of National Disaster
Consciousness Month
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 5 (PIA) - The
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Surigao
del Norte joined in the observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month
(NDCM) this whole month of July.
This year’s observance in anchored on the theme,
“Kahandaan at Pagtugon sa Sakuna, Tungkulin ng Bawat Isa.”
PDRRMO Officer Ramon Gotinga said that the
activities of this month-long observance are the council’s way of bringing
awareness to the people about disaster, global warming and Climate Change.
He said that the council spearheaded the kicked-off
activity on July 1 that started with the holy mass at 8:00 a.m. followed by a
motorcade around the city and a symposium.
Other upcoming activities include bloodletting, mangrove
planting, coastal clean-up, disaster summit, Incident Command System executive
course, information drive on Climate Change Adaptation, video making contest,
and closing ceremony.
“We hope that through these activities which aimed
at increasing awareness, more people especially the schools and others
stakeholders in the province will participate,” Gotinga said.
The NDCM celebration is in connection with
Presidential Executive Order No. 137 that designates the month of July as
National Disaster Consciousness Month in order to heighten public awareness on
the importance of disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
(SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Agusan Sur solon recognizes ASELCO’s
accomplishments
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, July 5 (PIA) - In celebration of the
34th Annual General Assembly of Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative (ASELCO),
Inc. held recently and simultaneously in different municipalities and city
within the province of Agusan del Sur, 1st district representative of Agusan
del Sur Ma. Valentina Plaza extended her gesture of appreciation for the
organization’s another milestone in the attainment of continued success in the
field of electrification system.
“ASELCO deserves a meaningful celebration. It plays
an important role in addressing energy crisis and ensuring least cost and
stable supply of electricity to all Agusanons,” said Cong. Plaza.
Anchored on this year’s theme, “ASELCO:
Transforming Lives, Pushing Progress,” Cong. Plaza bared that it imposes a
great challenge to all as the growth of the economy drives the demand for
electricity, “thus, a government that successfully implements a program to spur
economic program will drive up the demand for electricity,” she said.
Cong. Plaza added that the electricity demand is
projected to grow more and more to cater the basic needs like education,
health, entertainment and communication, comfort and protection, convenience
and productivity.
“Electricity improves children’s study condition
during the evening, enhances the flow of information to rural households, and
improve the productivity of small and big businesses,” emphasized Plaza.
Among the activities during the event were the
awarding of plaques of recognition and giving of cash incentives to the best
performing barangay power associations; awarding to local government units
(LGUs) who promptly pay its power bills; awarding for the support extended to
the cooperative during the conduct of medical and dental missions.
It concluded with the usual conduct of business
meeting among the attendees which include the following agenda: presentation of
the multi-year capital expenditure projects of the cooperative for calendar
year 2017-2019 and discussion of the group insurance for member-consumer-owners
(MCOs), followed by an open forum and a raffle draw activity. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DAR spearheads landowners forum and investment
counseling in SurSur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
LIANGA, Surigao del Sur, July 5 (PIA) - The
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Provincial Office of Surigao del Sur
recently conducted the Landowner’s Forum and Investment Counseling held at
Brgy. Kansilad in this town.
According to DAR Information Officer Myra Yu, the
participants in the said forum were all landowners whose landholdings were
covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program through Voluntary Offer
to Sell (VOS).
The said activity serves as the venue for the
landowners in discussing issues with DAR and line agency officials on matters
relating to the processing of their covered landholdings.
Yu said that the representatives from the line
agencies like Provincial Assessor's Office, Provincial Treasurer's Office and
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) – Land Valuation Office gave some inputs
that enlightened the landowners in terms of tax clearances and fees including
the mode of valuation on their properties applied for VOS.
It was also learned that the representative from
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) gave an orientation and encouragement on
how to invest and engage in business related to agricultural production thus
maximizing their retention areas.
Meanwhile, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program
Officer II Benjamin M. Mataksil made clarifications with the landowners that
DAR is an implementing agency of CARP as mandated under Republic Act (R.A.)
6657 and amended by R.A. 9700 to cover and distribute private agricultural
lands. The office is just following what is stipulated in the laws, he added.
(NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DOT awards achievers on tourism program
implementation in Caraga
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 5 (PIA) – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Caraga
honored on Monday the individuals and institutions who have exemplified
excellence in implementing the region's tourism projects and programs held in
time with the opening of the 3rd Caraga Regional Tourism Stakeholders Summit
here.
The awarding ceremony was led by Department of
Tourism (DOT) Caraga regional director Letecia Tan and Surigao del Sur Governor
Vicente Pimentel Jr.
The Most Outstanding Tourism Officer was given to
Roselyn Armida Merlin of Surigao City. She was also an awardee of Caraga Region
as the Most Outstanding Officer in 2008 and 2013 and was also elected as
National President for the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines
last 2008.
Tandag City Tourism Officer Florence Abis was
awarded with Most Promising Tourism Officer.
The Most Outstanding Local Government Unit was
received by the municipality of Mainit, Surigao del Norte with its known
tourist destinations such as the Kasili Resort, Mapaso Wellness Resort and
Togonan Falls.
Meanwhile, the Surigao City Tourism Council bagged
the Most Outstanding Tourism Council award for being the most active council in
the whole region in terms of tourism programs and projects.
Johann Jake Miranda of the Tavern Hotel in Surigao
City, an advocator of Green Tourism and Halal certified, was awarded as the
Most Outstanding Private Sector, while Hotel Tavern Surigao was awarded as the
Most Outstanding Hotel in the region.
Rosario’s Seafood Restaurant and Grill House in
Butuan City was awarded as the Most Outstanding Restaurant, while the Most
Outstanding Resort was given to Almont Hotel and Inland Resort in Butuan City.
The Most Outstanding Cultural Artistic Group was
awarded to Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Dance Company of Butuan
City.
For the Most Outstanding Travel Agency, the award
was given to One Corporate Grand Tours Incorporated, while the Most Outstanding
Tour Operator was awarded to Surigao Travel Activity Recreation Shop. The Most
Outstanding Tour Guide was awarded to Leah Modalo, a known designer and creator
of souvenir items. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
More than 2,000 drug pushers, users surrender in
SurSur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 5 (PIA) – A
total of 2,267 illegal drug pushers and users in the province of Surigao del
Sur voluntarily surrendered and signed an affidavit of undertaking in time with
the simultaneous launching of “Oplan TokHang” (Toktok-Hangyo) on Monday, July 4
here.
In a press statement released by the Police
Provincial Office (PPO) of Surigao del Sur, those who surrendered undergone the
documentation process through interview, mugshot, fingerprinting, drug
examination and lecture on ill effects of dangerous drugs with the presence of
the Municipal and Barangay officials, Philippine Army counterpart, representatives
from the religious sector and other stakeholders.
According to PCI Noel Naranjo of PPO-Police
Community Relations, the implementation of “OPLAN TokHang” to the two cities
and 17 municipalities of this province was ordered by PPO-Surigao del Sur provincial
director PSSupt. Romaldo Bayting calling all chiefs of police to intensively
implement to their respective area of responsibility especially to the
identified drug-affected barangays the said program.
It was learned that the “Oplan TokHang” is the first
approach of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign Plan
(Project Double Barrel) under the new administration.
It was done through constant coordination with the
Municipal/Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (M/BADAC) and the conduct of the
house to house visitation to the suspected drug users/pushers were pleading
them to stop their illegal activities.
Meanwhile, the PPO here is still urging the public
to cooperate and participate to sustain these significant achievements against
illegal drugs. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
