FNRI-DOST sets Reg’l Dissemination Forum on 2015
Updating Survey
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 17 (PIA) – The Food and Nutrition
Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) is
set to hold the Regional Dissemination Forum on the 2015 Updating Survey on
October 25, 2016 at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, this city.
“The FNRI-DOST will be holding this year a series
of dissemination fora on the results of the 2015 Updating on the Nutritional
Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups. The Updating survey is
a follow-up survey conducted every two to three years in between the National
Nutrition Surveys (NNS). The NNS is conducted by the Institute every five years
as part of its mandate to provide official statistics on food, nutrition and
health status of the country,” disclosed Mario Capanzana, FNRI-DOST director.
Capanzana also highlighted that the fora aim to
inform key stakeholders in the government and private sectors involved in food,
nutrition and health programs on the initial results of the updating survey.
“These will include sat and dissemination on 1) anthropometry; 2) adult health
and nutrition; 3) food security; 4) households’ and members’ participation in
selected nutrition and related government programs; 5) maternal health and
nutrition; 6) socio-economic status; and 7) infant and young child feeding
practices,” he said.
The fora will also provide a venue for inquiries
and sharing of experiences and recommendations of possible action points for
application of th survey results in local policy-making and program planning.
Capanzana further explained that each regional
forum will be attended by about 50 to 130 participants including members of the
Regional Development Council (RDC), Provincial Governors, Provincial Nutrition
Action Officers (PNAOs), Mayors, Municipal/City Nutrition Action Officers,
representatives from the non-government organizations (NGOs) in the region
involved in food, nutrition, and health as well as selected media and
information officers.
Also, the forum is anchored on the theme “Kumusta
na ba ang kalagayang pang-nutrisyon ni Juan at Juana.” It will consist of two
parts: Part I is presentation of results of the various survey components, and
Part II is workshop on the formulation of an action plan and policy
recommendations aimed at solving the identified nutrition problems in the
region. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA chief bares opportunities for Caraganons
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 17 (PIA) – In time with the
Regional Consultation with Industry and TVET Stakeholders here, Sec. Guiling
Mamondiong, director general of Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) bared good news and opportunities for Caraganons.
With the new administration, the secretary
emphasized that there is an increase in the number of scholarship grants along
with other services and programs of the agency for Caraga.
“There is more opportunities for all, especially
with the government’s provision of scholarship. Some 30,000 scholarship grants
are ready for this year, much higher compared to the previous year’s 17,000 for
Caraga region. It could possibly increase, if necessary,” disclosed Mamondiong.
TESDA will also give priority to the Indigenous
Peoples (IPs) youths for the scholarship grants and other relevant skills
trainings.
Sec. Mamondiong also reiterated the online
registration of those who are interested to avail of the skills training in
their office to ensure that those deserving applicants could really avail of
the program of TESDA and will not be put to waste.
On the displaced OFWs, Mamondiong encouraged them
to visit TESDA offices in their respective areas to avail of the special skills
training for them as part of the reintegration program of TESDA so they can
continue their livelihood.
The secretary, further stressed that a dialogue
with the industry and TVET stakeholders is very important to address the needs,
issues and concerns that exist in the region. This is why TESDA has gathered
different sectors to really provide the immediate needs of the region in terms
of employment, tourism, and agro-industrial activities, among others.
He added that they are mandating their employees to
become trainers in their respective area of responsibility to cover the number
of trainees who would like to avail of the skills training especially with the
number of illegal drug surrenderees who are subject to be trained as part of
their rehabilitation. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
SCCI receives outstanding chamber award
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct.
17 (PIA) - The Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (SCCI) was
awarded as the 2016 Most Outstanding Chamber in Mindanao for the Provincial
Level Category during the 42nd Philippine Business Conference held recently at
Marriott Hotel, Pasay City.
SCCI President Concepcion “Ciony”
Paqueo said the chamber was awarded for its commendable efforts in accelerating
business growth in the province of Surigao del Norte and by its leadership and
dynamism, strong advocacy programs, increase on its membership base, and
effective delivery of services to its members.
“This award will not be possible
without the full support of the officers, the board of directors, the members
and the secretariat," Pacque said.
"Also, with the strong
collaborative efforts with the provincial government headed by Governor Sol F.
Matugas, city government headed by Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas, and with our local
and foreign partners in continuing the advocacy for economic development and
poverty alleviation. Our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to all of us,”
Paqueo added.
SCCI also received a plaque of
appreciation for successfully hosting the 25th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon)
last August 24-26, 2016 held at Gateway Hotel, this city. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
Provincial athletic meet opens in
Tandag
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 17
(PIA) – Thousands of delegates from the municipalities of Surigao del Sur will
be heading to the city as they vie for supremacy in the Annual Provincial
Athletic Meet slated from October 17 to 21 here.
In a letter sent to Philippine
Information Agency, the venue of this year’s activity will be held at the
Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU) Main Campus, this city. Other
identified venues include Tago town and Barobo town for the swimming
competition.
The week-long event will feature a
number of sports disciplines, which will be held on the following venues:
Futzal (girls) secondary; Softball - Elementary and Secondary; Volleyball (Boys
and Girls) Secondary; and Special Games at SDSSU grounds, Tandag City; Table
Tennis (Boys and Girls) Elementary and Secondary at SDSSU Gym, Tandag City;
Gymnastic (Boys and Girls) Elementary and Secondary and Taekwondo (Boys and
Girls) Elementary and Secondary will be held at Gamut Gym, Tago; Sipa/Sepak
Takraw at Victoria Basketball Court, Victoria, Tago; Tennis (Boys and Girls)
Elementary and Secondary will be at DPWH Tennis Court, Tandag City; Volleyball
(Boys and Girls) Elementary – Falcon Memorial Elementary School, Tago.
The said event will culminate on
Friday, October 21. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
TESDA chief assures training for drug surrenderees
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 17
(PIA) – Sec. Guiling A. Mamondiong, Director-General of the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Tuesday said that the
agency is willing to provide skills training to drug surrenderees.
Speaking before the local tri-media
during the press conference held in one of the local convention centers here,
Sec. Mamondiong said this is one of the priority programs of the agency in
support to the program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The official explained that with the
increasing number of drug surrenderees, the Duterte administration is keen on
empowering them by providing skills training that will change their lifestyle.
“The skills trainings that they will obtain will allow them to change their
lives for the better,” the official said in Tagalog language.
When asked how this process will be undertaken,
the official said those surrenderees who need to be rehabilitated must
undertake the rehabilitation first. “After the period of rehabilitation and
found out that they are already okay, then that’s the time that TESDA will come
in and provide them the skills training according to their choice,” Sec.
Mamondiong said. (TESDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Rep. Barbers says rehabilitation is key to
eradicate drug problem
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 17 (PIA) –
Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers of Surigao del Norte emphasized the importance of
legislating the proposed establishment of rehabilitation centers—even though
there is an existing law prescribing for the construction of at least one
facility in each province—due to its funding component.
“Although it is provided in Section 75 of Republic
Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 on the need to
establish at least one treatment and rehabilitation center in each province,
the cost of constructing, operating and managing these facilities must be taken
into consideration. The funding needed for the implementation of the proposed
bills, if passed into law, shall be included in the General Appropriations Act
which Congress’ legislates,” Barbers said during the meeting of the Committee
on Dangerous Drugs on the establishment of rehabilitation centers.
Barbers also supports the proposal of the Dangerous
Drugs Board to prioritize the establishment and maintenance of outpatient drug
treatment and rehabilitation facilities. Data from the 2015 United Nations
World Drug Report shows that of the 715,699 individuals who surrendered as of
September 20, 2016, only 0.6 -1 percent of them require in-patient care in
treatment and rehab centers.
“The 99 percent, who may be introduced by
out-patient facilities, must be given more importance because they are those
individuals who require immediate medical intervention,” he said.
“Rehabilitation is better than punishment. We must
treat them as patients—not criminals. We must give these individuals the
opportunity for rehabilitation and eventual reintegration to the community,”
Barbers added. (SDN-2nd District Congressional Office/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
TESDA Sec vows more scholarship slots for Caraga in
2017
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 17 (PIA) – In
line with the free education program of the present administration, Sec.
Guiling A. Mamondiong of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) said the scholarship slots for Caraga region next year will
double.
This development came after the local
tri-media here asked the TESDA chief on what changes the Caraganons will expect
from the Duterte administration.
Sec. Mamondiong said this year 11,334
slots were given to Caraga and next year, a total of 30,000 slots will be
allocated in the different scholarship programs of TESDA.
The two regular scholarship programs
for which the agency has been providing are the Private Education Students
Financial Assistance (PESFA), and the Training for Work Scholarship Program
(TWSP).
The PESFA scholarship program was
established through Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8545, otherwise known as the
Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education
(GASTPE) Act. PESFA offers educational grants to qualified and deserving
college freshmen both in degree and non-degree courses. The
program seeks to extend financial assistance to marginalized but deserving
students in post-secondary non-degree courses; promote TVET; contribute to the
development of a competent skilled workforce; and assist private institutions
in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of enrollees to their
course offerings.
The PESFA directed the beneficiaries on
the choices of careers to the critical skills requirements of in-demand jobs in
the labor market. It also allows for equity distribution of the opportunities
made available through government subsidies.
Meanwhile, the TWSP provides immediate
interventions to meet the need for highly critical skills. The program has
two-fold objectives: 1. To purposively drive TVET provision to available jobs
through incentives and appropriate training programs that are directly
connected to existing jobs for immediate employment, both locally and overseas
and; 2. To build and strengthen the capacity and capability of TVET
institutions in expanding and improving the delivery of quality, efficient and
relevant training programs that meet job requirements, including programs for
higher levels of technology.
The program was launched in May 2006
with funding from the Office of the President and mainstreamed in the regular
budget in 2008. This program is a response to the clamor of industry to address
the critical skills shortages in priority sectors, particularly the Business
Process Outsourcing, metals and engineering, construction and tourism, among
others.
Another scholarship, the Special
Training for Empoyment Program (STEP) is a community-based specialty training
program that seeks to address the specific needs of the communities and promote
employment particularly through entrepreneurial, self-employment and service
oriented activities. Aside from free training and competency assessment,
scholars will receive starter toolkits and training allowance of P60.00 per day
during the entire duration of the program. Said allowance will be released
directly to the scholars at the end of the training which they may use as a
seed capital to start their livelihood undertakings.
In pursuit of attaining the Philippine
Development Plan’s goal of inclusive growth and poverty reduction, and
promoting good governance at the local level, the Human Development and Poverty
Reduction Cluster (HDPRC), through the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) Oversight
Agencies, shall implement the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB). This program seeks to
increase citizen’s access to local service delivery through a demand-driven
budget planning process and to strengthen government accountability in local
public service provision.
The BuB oversight and participating
agencies are tasked to ensure the implementation of priority poverty reduction
projects as identified at the city/municipal level through the BuB
participatory planning and budgeting process.
It is an approach to the preparation of
agency budget proposals, taking into consideration the development needs of
cities/municipalities as identified in their respective local poverty action
plans that shall be formulated with the strong participation of basic sector
organizations and other civil society organizations. (TESDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
MinDA signs deal with PCCI to enhance
trade in Mindanao
PASAY CITY, Oct. 17 (PIA) – An
agreement aimed to encourage investments in Mindanao was signed by the Mindanao
Development Authority (MinDA) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
industry (PCCI) during the recently concluded 42nd Philippine Business
Conference (PBC) held at the Marriott Hotel’s Grand Ballroom here in this city.
Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, MinDA
chair and PCCI President George Barcelon signed the Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU), which calls for the two organizations to work together to promote
investments and formulate policy agenda that will enhance trade and business in
the island-region of Mindanao.
MinDA is a sub-national government
agency mandated to promote, coordinate, and facilitate socioeconomic in
Mindanao, while the PCCI is the country’s largest business organization.
“In carrying out our commitments for
Mindanao, we will focus on the conduct of policy dialogues, the development and
implementation of trade and investment promotion activities, and the
implementation of training, exchange of information and other capacity-building
programs,” said Secretary Alonto.
He explained that formulating the
policy agenda for Mindanao, will involve the PCCI local chambers, industry and
trade associations, and key business stakeholders in the island-region to
ensure that prevailing concerns affecting the business sector will be
thoroughly reviewed and discussed.
“We will also conduct business
matching-related activities with the PCCI and the Investment Promotion Desk of
Mindanao’s Local Government Units (LGUs), particularly in keeping the relevance
of the Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) and the participation of Micro
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the overall trade and business
development of the island-region,” said Secretary Alonto.
He added that capacity-building
programs that will facilitate the exchange of information leading towards trade
promotion and investment generation will be conducted as well through the
signed MOU.
Secretary Alonto, who visited Makassar
in Indonesia to participate in the recently concluded 3rd BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT
Trade Expo, Conference, and Business Matching said that one of the aims of the
MOU is to push for the active participation of Mindanao in the BIMP-EAGA and
other similar sub-regional platforms.
BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam
Indonesia Malaysia the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, while IMT-GT stands
for Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Triangle. The BIMP-EAGA was launched in
1994 as a key strategy to accelerate social and economic development of less
developed areas in participating countries. The IMT-GT on the other hand was
formed in 1993 with similar goals of promoting trade, investment, and tourism
in less-developed states and provinces in Sumatra, Indonesia, Peninsular
Malaysia, and Southern Thailand. Both sub-regional groups aim to harness
private sector leadership in initiatives to promote cross-border investments
and improve connectivity.
“MinDA and the PCCI have been
collaborating for so many years now, particularly the advancement of policy
recommendations for Mindanao through the conduct of the MinBizCon,” said
Secretary Alonto while adding, “the private sector is a strong partner of MinDA
in efforts to modernize the region’s agri-based industries and accelerate
development in logistics, power, infrastructure, resource management and
tourism.”
In the 25th MinBizCon held in August at
the Gateway Hotel in Surigao City, Barcelon acknowledged the role of Mindanao
in helping the country achieve broad growth across all sectors and said that
“Mindanao today day is a far-cry from the old Mindanao that we know.”
He said “all eyes are now on the region
as it transformed into an economy that is ripe for the picking. It plays a
significant role in the country’s economic and social development, being
strategically located in the East Asian economic corridor.”
Barcelon added that Mindanao plays a
key role in unlocking ASEAN’s potential as the turning point of transforming
the Philippines from middle- to high-income through increased trade and
investments with its nearest ASEAN neighbors – Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.
He commended the island-region’s
economy which grew by 7.4 percent in 2014 that contributed 20.7 percent to the
Philippine economy in the same year, with its robust agricultural produce,
supplying most of the world with banana, pineapple, and tuna.
(MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte solon urges LGU to check
if commercial buildings are complying with parking, building permit
requirements
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct.
17 (PIA) – Second district representative Robert Ace Barbers urges local
government units (LGUs) to check if owners of commercial buildings are
complying with parking and building permit requirements; and to exhaust all
means to alleviate traffic congestion.
The legislator notes that noncompliance
contributes to the country’s horrendous traffic situation in highly-urbanized
areas as clients and customers of establishments are forced to park on streets,
which are supposedly dedicated for moving vehicles.
“Building owners should provide ample
parking spaces for their tenants and must strictly comply with building permit
and parking requirements. The problem is, as I have observed, madaming mga
establisyemento ngayon ang nagsusulputan pero wala namang parking spaces, at
kung meron man, it’s still not enough to cater to all their clients,” said
Barbers.
In order to multiply their profit, some
businesses have altered their approved structural plans and have rented out the
spaces intended for parking.
“Inspect all these commercial buildings
and if LGUs discover that owners refused to comply with the requirements,
penalize them! Revoke their building and occupancy permits,” the Barbers
expressed.
Consequently, the Surigao del Norte
lawmaker also moved for the speedy passage of Sidewalks and Public Roads Use
Act. House Bill 2561, which was filed in August, seeks to regulate the use of
sidewalks and public roads. The city or municipal government will be
responsible for the implementation of the provisions of this Act.
While awaiting enactment of the said
legislation, Barbers urges all local governments to take a hardline stance on
the campaign to free main and secondary roads of illegally parked vehicles,
saying that the traffic problem is expected to hit new heighs at the onset of
the Christmas season.
“We want to exhaust all possibilities
in order to lessen our traffic woes, especially now that Christmas is
fast-approaching. Local governments should take the initiative to rid streets
in their respective localities of parked vehicles and other obstructions that
hamper the flow of traffic. Traffic along major thoroughfares are worsening
because secondary and even tertiary roads are clogged,” Barbers stated.
“Kaya naman nakiki-usap tayo sa mga
lokal na pamahalaan na mahigpit na ipagbawal ang illegal parking. Gayun din,
humihingi tayo ng kaunting disiplina mula sa publiko. As long as we’re helping
each other, we can be sure that the road to progress will be one that will be
easier to traverse.” Barbers added. (SDN-Second District Congressional
Office/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Surigao Norte starts medicine
assistance distribution to senior citizens
By Arlene C. Tongco
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct.
17 (PIA) – The provincial government of Surigao del Norte through the
Provincial Social Services Office (PSSO) has started its distribution of the
medicine assistance for Senior Citizens ages 80 years old and above.
A total of 1,119 senior citizens in the
municipalities of Siargao Island and 1,837 senior citizens in the mainland
municipalities benefited the program.
The said initiative was conceptualized
by Governor Sol Matugas and supported by Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr.
and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan by virtue of Republic Act 9994
also known as “An Act Granting additional benefits and privileges of Senior
Citizens.”
The project is also in consonance with
the HEALS plus agenda of the province. (PSSO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
