Caraganons observe 18-Day Campaign to end VAW
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 28 (PIA) – Caraganons from the
different sectors will be holding activities in line with this year’s
observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) from
November 25 to December 12, 2016.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga will be
launching its campaign initiative to end VAWC dubbed ‘Orange Your Icon’ within
the duration of the campaign. It seeks to promote a VAW-free community in the
tourism sector.
Accordingly, the advocacy initiative aims to raise
awareness and consciousness in ending VAW through “oranging” famous and
prominent tourism sites or attractions in the country. This creative advocacy
effort also hopes to convey a message that the DOT together with its
stakeholders in the industry encourages gender-responsiveness in Philippine
tourism, which among others endeavors to promote safe and non-exploitative
tourism activities.
Also, on December 12, 2016, different sectors will
convene for the culminating activity of said campaign and will start with a
thanksgiving mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, this city, followed with the conduct
of motorcade within the city thoroughfares, and program proper at Robinson's
Place Atrium. A dance flash mob will also be held at the same venue. (JPG/VLG,
PIA-Caraga)
Mindanao Week of Peace kicks-off in Butuan City
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 28 (PIA) – As the Mindanao Week
of Peace (MWOP) celebration opens this year, the Caraga Conference for Peace
and Development (CCPD) through convenor Most Rev. Juan de Dios Pueblos
spearheaded the 'Healing Prayer for Peace' at the Guingona Park on Saturday,
this city.
Individuals from religious groups, representatives
from the government and private sectors, and media personalities joined in the
gathering to reaffirm a hope of achieving a common aspiration to live in unity,
harmony and peace with one another regardless of religious belief, culture and
status in life.
This year's weeklong MWOP celebration is anchored
on the theme, "Protect and Respect Life” which will run from November 26
to December 2, 2016. Stakeholders took their part in the candle lighting
activity to profess conviction in achieving peace and unity not only in the
continents of Mindanao but of the entire nation.
In giving the statement of purpose of the activity,
Pastor Nolan Lloren emphasized that people have to acknowledge the holy spirit
and plead to the Almighty Father for healing of the nation, and ask for the
mercy and grace to find in each person's heart the real essence of peace in
order to bring forth to others the same message.
Lloren also cited instances wherein Butuan City was
spared from different calamities and he attributed it mainly to the strong
faith and devotion of the townfolk in bringing harmony.
Meanwhile, in behalf of Butuan City mayor Ronnie
Vicente Lagnada, vice mayor Jose Aquino relayed that the MWOP celebration is
envisioned to turn chaos and conflicts into peace and harmony – an instrument
for genuine transformation.
Lagnada further urges everyone to do their share in
attaining lasting peace despite cultural diversity as Mindanaoans deserve to
have a tranquil and orderly land, a peace-loving people with common
aspirations.
In recognizing God as the supreme being, the source
of life and peace, an interfaith prayer was also offered. It aims to empower
people to live in law of love to sustain peace and prosperity.
Also, a bike for peace dubbed ‘Sikadayahan’ started
its lapse with a route from Guingona Park, Bancasi Rotonda back to Guingona
Park. It was a one-of-a-kind event participated in by energetic and skilled
local motorcyclists advocating for peace.
The Movie for Peace Contest, a project initiated by
the Caraga Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) was also officially launched
during the opening ceremony of the MWOP. According to Merle Dawn Comidoy of the
GIZ-Coseram, out of the nine entries, six were chosen to compete for the final
round of judging. Entries will be uploaded at the ‘PIA CARAGA’ youtube acccount
for viewing wherein most viewed movie will also be awarded on December 1, 2016.
“Through the week-long observance, the bishops,
ulama, imams, priests, pastors and religious men and women of Mindanao hope to
raise the consciousness of the people of the need to work together to attain
our dream for peace in the spirit of solidarity,” said Most Rev. Pueblos.
(VLG/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
25 individuals undergo substance use disorder
training
By David M Suyao
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 28 (PIA) - Twenty
five persons from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO),
Moral Recovery and Value Formation Section (MRVFS), Substance Use Recovery and
Enlightenment (SURE) program and graduates of the Out-patient Drop-in Center
(ODIC) from the municipalities of Bunawan and Talacogon of this province
started to undergo trainings on substance use disorder courses since November
6, 2016 in order to augment the workforce of SURE program of the provincial and
local governments in rehabilitating, treatment, recovery and enlightenment of
those who are victims of illegal drugs.
In a report laid down by SURE training facilitator
Patricia Plaza, the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) had entered
into cooperation with the Living Free Foundation, an education provider of
Colombo Plan International Center for Credentialing and Education (ICCE) in
order for them to educate the identified service providers of the SURE program
to make sure they will be efficient and effective in extending services to the
victims of illegal drugs so that in return, they will be advocates against
addiction themselves someday.
“We expect that from these trainings, we will be
able to produce recovery coaches who are equipped with the knowledge and skills
to advocate against addiction and who are 'homegrown' addiction counselors for
the province,” Patricia Plaza said.
On November 7–9, the Universal Treatment Curriculum
1 – Physiology and Pharmacology of Addiction started with discussion on
Foundational Course, the overview of the Physiology of addiction as a brain
disease and the pharmacology of psychoactive substances and the identifying the
classification of different substances.
On November 10-15, the discussions focused on
Universal Treatment Curriculum 2 with component on the overview on recovery and
recovery management, and learning the principles of recovery and defining the
recovery-oriented system. The Curriculum 4 – Basic Counseling Skills for
Addiction Professionals was also taken up with discussing on skills based
course, overview of the helping relationship, intentionality or focus, in
counseling; core counseling skills; basic motivational interviewing and
psycho-educational group skills on November 16-19.
Meanwhile, on November 28 to December 1, topics
will be focused on Curriculum 1 – Developing Community-Based Support System
will be taken up, with discussion on learning the knowledge and skills on
peer-led and community-based interventions to those serving in the community as
recovery coaches.
On December 6-9, the Universal Treatment Curricula
8 – Ethics will take place discussing on Foundation Course and Professional
conduct and ethical behavior, confidentiality, ethical principles and
professional codes of ethics, ethical decision-making and supervision and
ethical practice.
Finally, on December 13-16, Basics of Recovery
Coach will be taken up for participants who wish to become recovery coaches and
to learn the basics of treatment interventions.
Four professionals and experts in the field of
addictions are the resource trainers in this activity. They are Malyn
Cristobal, Master Global Trainer, family therapist, 21 years in the field of
addictions; Aimee Manda, Psychologist, ICAP in the field of addictions
professional for 12 years and Mark Larry Chua, ICAP II, SURE Director, Master
Global Trainer, 14 years in the field of addictions professional and Living
Free Foundation Inc.
It can be recalled that PGAS, thru its chief
executive Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza has been religiously supporting the all out
war against the use and trade of illegal drugs nationwide.
PGAS is the first and only province that
established the Outpatient Drop-in Center while formulating the Substance Use
Recovery and Enhancement (SURE) program whose aim is to help drug abuse victims
recover and become productive citizen and enter into partnership with 401st
Infantry Brigade for the establishment of rehabilitation center inside the
401st Infantry Brigade compound while envisioning that this training will
become major component for sustainability of the SURE program. (PPIO-Agusan del
Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
