RIACAT-VAWC Caraga sets activities for 2017 Women’s
Month celebration
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA) – The Regional
Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their
Children (RIACAT-VAWC) Caraga has planned various activities for this year’s
Women’s Month celebration in March.
According to Jessie Catherine Aranas, Social Worker
III of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and focal person
for RIACAT-VAWC disclosed that the committee has initially planned various
activities for the said celebration.
“The kick-off ceremony of the 2017 Women’s Month
celebration is set on March 6, 2017 with the conduct of motorcade within the
city thoroughfares, to be followed with a short program and photo gallery booth
display at the Robinsons Place, Butuan City,” bared Aranas.
It was also learned that there will be an
orientation in the different local government units in Caraga on women’s laws
and child pornography training for social workers and prosecutors on March
13-17, 2017.
“The LCAT-VAWC monitoring is also set in March and
onwards while the RIACAT-VAWC strategic planning is happening in April as post
Women’s Month activity. We will also be coordinating with other agencies in the
conduct of their respective activities for the said celebration,” Aranas added.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
CHR Caraga to hold dialogue on re-imposition of
death penalty
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA) – The Commission on Human
Rights (CHR) will be holding the Community Based Dialogue on the re-imposition
of the death penalty on February 9, 2017 at Grand Place Hotel and Restaurant,
this city.
CHR-Caraga regional director Atty. Jerefe
Tubigon-Bacang, said the activity seeks to raise the level of public awareness
and understanding on the death penalty and its implications, and create a
platform for the CHR’s campaign against the death penalty.
“Through this activity, it will also provide a
venue for dialogue among stakeholders on the need for cooperative efforts to
promote right to life, and encourage and build constituencies who will campaign
against the death penalty through the ‘Universities/Schools Against Death
Penalty’ mechanism,” added Bacang.
The good director also emphasized that the CHR, the
National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) of the country is mandated to protect,
promote and fulfill human rights and to monitor Philippine Government’s
compliance on international treaty obligations on human rights.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Government reiterates grant of health privileges,
benefit for senior citizens
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN, Feb. 2 (PIA) – To give full support to the
improvement of total well-being of the elderly and to provide a comprehensive
health care and rehabilitation system for disabled senior citizens to foster
their capacity to attain a more meaningful and productive ageing, the Office of
Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) Caraga further promotes awareness on the
additional health privileges and benefits of elderly persons.
In accordance with the Republic Act No. 9994,
otherwise known as “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” senior citizens
shall be entitled of 20 percent discount and exemption from the value added tax
(VAT).
“Medical and dental services in private facilities,
diagnostic and laboratory tests, such as, but not limited to x-rays,
computerized tomography scans and blood tests that are requested by a physician
as necessary for the diagnosis and/or treatment of an illness or injury are
subject to the 20 percent discount and VAT exemption. Likewise, professional
fees of attending physicians in all private hospitals, medical facilities,
outpatient clinics and home health care facilities shall be subject to the 20
percent discount and VAT exemption,” elaborated Dr. Rene Vargas, OSCA - Butuan
Federated President.
Apart also from the free of charge in government
facilities, all indigent senior citizens shall be covered by the national
health insurance program of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PhilHealth).
Senior citizens who are qualified to become a
member of PhilHealth are those Filipino citizens who are residents of the
Philippines, aged sixty years or above and are not currently covered by any
membership category of PhilHealth; qualified dependents of senior citizen
members who are also senior citizen themselves; and qualified dependents of
members belonging to other membership categories, with or without coverage who
are senior citizens themselves.
Senior Citizens who are gainfully employed or who
remain to have regular sources of income shall continue to pay their premium
contributions to PhilHealth under the applicable membership categories.
There are two options to enroll as a Senior Citizen
member of PhilHealth. One is through Office for the Senior Citizens Affairs
(OSCA) and the other is through PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office
(LHIO).
Accordingly, in hospitals with installed health
care institution (HCI) Portal, Senior Citizens only need to present their
senior citizen card, MDR or any accepted proof of identity and age. The
Hospital shall print a PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Form (PBEF). A PBEF that says
“YES” means that the patient is entitled to the benefits and shall serve as a
basis for automatic deduction.
“In case the hospital has no HCI portal installed,
or the PBEF says “NO”, or the senior citizen was not able to enroll before
discharge, the following should be attached to the usual claim documents: duly
accomplished PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) and an acceptable proof
of status as a senior citizen, including but not limited to the Senior
Citizens' Identification Card,” said Dr. Vargas.
He added that the Department of Health (DOH) shall
also administer free vaccinations against influenza virus and pneumococcal
disease for indigent senior citizens.
“These are just among the many programs that our
government delivers to the senior citizens. They or their family members can
contact or visit the OSCA office nearest to them to know more of the services
they are entitled with, including the privileges on social services, housing,
access to public transport, social pension, social safety nets, and additional
government assistance, among others,” stated Dr. Vargas. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
256 workers in the informal sector in SurSur town
receive financial aid from DOLE
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 2 (PIA) – Some
256 workers in the informal sector from Hinatuan town were the direct
beneficiaries of the financial assistance from the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE)-Caraga.
According to Romelyn Bactol, DOLE Integrated
Livelihood Project and Emergency Employment Program Focal Person, the financial
assistance was turned over to the local government unit of Hinatuan amounting
to P2.5 Million intended for the five projects of the informal sector workers
association.
One of the five projects identified is the
acquisition of additional equipment and vermin facility for the improvement of
production of organic fertilizer through vermin culture and composting of the
Hinatuan Skilled Workers Association (HINASKI) with P834,900.00 worth of
financial assistance.
Another one is the meat processing project for the
Upper Talisay Habitat Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (UTHAREBECO)
amounted to P143,960.
Other project identfied was the acquisition of
Coconut Handicraft Mechanization Equipment for the Dugmanon United Coconut
Farmers Association (DUCOFA) worth P440,350.
They have also included the acquisition of rice
harvester for Sasa United Farmers Association worth P960,000.00; and the
provision of tools and equipment for use in coco handicrafts production and
marketing to New Guiwan Association of Coconut Farmers and Handicrafts Workers
worth P173,750.00, respectively.
A total of 16 livelihood projects have already been
assisted and monitored by the DOLE and the Public Employment Service Office
(PESO) of Hinatuan from 2013 up to 2016. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Feature: Army 402 Bde cites ATR for feat
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 2 (PIA) – Following
the Army Transformation Roadmap (ATR) with the end in view of joining the ranks
of “A world-class army that is a source of national pride,” the 402nd Infantry
Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) here under Col. Franco Nemesio “Jojo” Gacal
has been gaining ground towards that “2028 Vision.”
Captains Herald Amarga and Regie Go, respective
Personnel and Civil Military Operations (CMO) Officers of the same brigade,
said that since year 2010, they had already started “to pursue the ATR.”
Cpt. Amarga, for his part, being the focal person
to get the job done, stressed that they had been slowly morphing into a unit
guided by “Good Governance, ” and on the right track of achieving the best of
both worlds of “Organizational Excellence” and “Leveling-Up Capability.”
When asked to elaborate, Go added that they had to
have “Optimum engagement and collaborative partnership with stakeholders,”
keeping in mind that “civilian authority is supreme over the military.” Hence, “provinces in their area of
responsibility (AOR) had to be normalized as far as insurgency problem is
concerned with the respective Local Government Units (LGUs) leading in peace
and development efforts,” Cpt. Go went on to say.
On the other hand, Cpt. Amarga took pride in saying
that the brigade had already attained the next higher steps of having “A
disciplined and motivated Army capable of addressing all internal security
threats” as well as “A well-equipped Army that has established a respectable
image in Southeast Asia” during the last six years.
During the last two years, the feat accomplished by
the brigade and the fate earned on the endeavor was mostly attributed to the
then Commander Col. Isidro Purisima, who was recently promoted to Brigadier
General early this year, Amarga recalled.
By now, the brigade personnel officer said that in
order to succeed, recruitment of individual army personnel carries a vital
role, adding that a recruit must meet the new qualification standards set by
the organization of, at least, possessing a certified skill by the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). On the said concept, both army officers
agreed that their unit also deserved only the “best and brightest,” citing that
“Core Values” had to be deeply anchored on “Honor, Patriotism, and Duty.”
Earlier,
Amarga said that they would continue to carry out their “Mission” now
under the ATR being crafted with the “Core Purpose” of “Serving the People,
Securing the Land!” (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Summit to enhance regional ecozones dev’t in
Mindanao
DAVAO CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA) – More than 200 key
representatives from the government, private sector, and other institutions
convened here on Thursday to finalize integral steps necessary in accelerating
regional economic zone development initiatives in Mindanao.
Dubbed as the “Mindanao Ecozone Summit,” the
two-day event, held at the Grand Regal Hotel will highlight the collaboration
between the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Philippine Economic
Zone Authority (PEZA) through the signing of a memorandum of agreement that
will encourage concerned agencies to participate in the promotion and
development of ecozones within the island-region.
“MinDA sees ecozone development as an imperative
measure that will bolster inclusive socioeconomic growth in the region,” said
MinDA Chairman Secretary Datu Hj. Abul Khayr Alonto.
He explained that MinDA and PEZA are looking at a
holistic approach in ecozone development in which Mindanao’s agriculture and
its component sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture will play key roles in
Mindanao’s overall development.
“If I am to envision the island-region’s
development in the next 10 to 20 years, I see agriculture cooperatives and
agri-based industries as the most prominent drivers of Mindanao’s economy,” the
Secretary said.
He added that it couldn’t be overstated that
agri-based cooperatives have the capacity to improve the lives of smallholder
farmers and their families.
“Agriculture cooperatives after all are the pillars
of development and food security,” he said.
One of the potential areas targeted for ecozone
development is Tawi-Tawi with its high potential for agriculture and
aquaculture development, particularly seaweed.
With the influx of agri-based ecozones, Secretary
Alonto hopes that this will strike a “balance between large plantation and
smallholder farming” wherein farmers can fully reap the long-term benefits of
such initiatives.
As of April 2016, there are 81 identified economic
zones in the island-region covering various sectors such as agro-industry,
manufacturing, tourism, and Information Technology, among others.
MinDA is also looking into the establishment of key
infrastructure and connectivity networks as they play a vital role in ensuring
the seamless flow of economic activities in the proposed ecozones.
Through the Mindanao Development Corridors, a
spatial approach to development, MinDA will work with concerned agencies in
making sure that all interregional roads, gateway ports and airports, as well
as other logistic facilities are in place.
Some of the early gains of this strategy include
the scheduled launching of the Davao-Gensan-Bitung shipping route, which will
expedite travel time for goods between Indonesia and the Philippines from five
weeks to three days.
“We are counting on this new route to entice more
locators in our Economic Zones, especially from our neighbors in the Brunei
Indonesia Malaysia and Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area and the larger ASEAN
market,” Secretary Alonto added.
The program is also looking into the development of
the Mindanao Railway Project, a trans-regional, high-speed railway system
linking all key cities in the island-region.
The project was recently identified by the national government as one of
the top priority projects for Mindanao.
(MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
