Gov’t sector continues to support displaced persons
in SurSur
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 6 (PIA) – In response to the
struggles of those displaced communities who are affected by the armed conflict
in Surigao del Sur areas, the different concerned government agencies are
keeping the interventions of promoting the protection and provision of
assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs).
As explained by Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
Caraga regional director Atty. Jerefe Tubigon-Bacang during the 90th Regional
Development Full Council Meeting held recently in this city, per constitutional
mandate, the CHR continues to monitor the IDP situation in the region until
durable solutions will be achieved. “Apart from the security of IDPs in
bringing them back to their respective areas, it is also important to address
their residual needs and displacement-specific issues,” she said.
Bacang also underscored that individuals who were
displaced due to armed conflict are facing human rights, developmental,
humanitarian, including peace building challenges.
Meanwhile, in reaffirming its commitment of
contributing help to the IDPs, the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) Caraga has provided Food for Work amounting to P964,252 for 470 families
and Cash for Work for 567 families amounting to P2.38M. It has also provided
emergency shelter assistance of P5.67M, non-food items worth P6.57M, funds for
the supplementary feeding program (SFP) downloaded to municipal social welfare
development (MSWD) amounting P1.08M, and P15.8M have been allocated for
sustainable livelihood program to the five affected municipalities, namely;
Lianga, San Agustin, San Miguel, Marihatag, and Tago.
Also, the Department of Education (DepEd) has been
allocating nine schools for the areas of the IDPs in Surigao del Sur. DepEd
Caraga regional office, together with the Schools Division Office (SDO) of
Surigao del Sur, has to identify viable sites for the project. Come March 8,
2017, SDO of Surigao del Sur is set to conduct a consultative/coordination
meeting with the concerned indigenous people (IP) leaders, local government
unit (LGU) officials and DSWD-Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive
Integrated Delivery of Social Service (KALAHI-CIDSS) personnel on the said
school building project.
Under the Sagana at Ligtas na tubig sa Lahat
(SALINTUBIG) pogram of DILG-Caraga, P3M has been allocated for the construction
of water system in Brgy. San Isidro (sitios Lagdik and Kiwagan) while P1M is
allocated for Brgy. Diatagon (sitios Manluy-a and Neptune) to augment water to
the indigenous people schools. Said projects are under procurement.
“The government agencies work jointly in ensuring
the proper monitoring of the situation of IDPs, advocating in finding solutions
to various IDP concerns, ensuring to provide response activities, and
protecting their human rights,” said Bacang. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Women’s journey, inspiring stories highlight
women’s forum in Agusan del Norte
By Nora C. Lanuza Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 6 (PIA) – In line with the
month-long celebration of the Women’s Month, the Provincial Social Welfare and
Development Office (PSWDO) of the province of Agusan del Norte will conduct a
Provincial Women’s Forum on March 22 at the provincial training center here.
According to PSWDO chief Daisy Dimavivas, the said
forum will be participated by the women employees of the provincial government,
accredited women organizations, and league of local lady legislators (4L) of
the province.
Dimavivas added that the forum aims to celebrate
women's journey and share inspiring stories of change in their chosen
profession; encourage women to be empowered change agents; and be a venue to
inspire and appreciate each other with the hope of organizing a support group
for women to express themselves.
Also, during the forum, honorable Elizabeth Marie
Calo, SP member and chairperson on social services and gender and development
will give her welcome message and the governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M.
Amante-Matba will also deliver her message of inspiration to the women of the
province.
Women’s stories of inspiration will also be shared
to the participants by Cabadbaran City SB member Joan Monding and Atty. Allen
Gasulas of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Gasulas will
also hold the legal forum in the afternoon.
This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme
“Making Change Work for Women,” it captures two key foundations: Partnership
for change and full implementation of the Magna Carta of Women or Republic Act
9710, said Dimavivas.
Meanwhile, in the morning of March 8, a mass will
be offered at the Saint Joseph Cathedral to be followed by a motorcade from
Guingona Park to the provincial capitol covert court and conduct of a program
highlighting the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the Philippine
Commission on Women and the Regional Gender and Development Committee. In the
afternoon, women participants will also hold a ‘Kalandrakas sa Kababaihan’ at
the provincial capitol covered court in the city. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
5.9 magnitude quake hits Surigao City, neighboring
towns
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 6 (PIA) —A
magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Surigao City, some municipalities of Surigao
del Norte and neighboring provinces on Sunday morning, March 5, 2017 with one
reported casualty.
Phivolcs said the quake's epicenter was located 6
kilometers southwest of San Francisco (Anao-aon), Surigao Norte. The quake,
which was tectonic in origin, struck at a depth of 13 kilometers.
According to Phivolcs, Intensity VI was felt in
Surigao City; Intensity IV in Limasawa and San Ricardo, Southern Leyte;
Intensity III in San Juan and San Francisco, Southern Leyte; Intensity II in
Gen. Luna, Surigao del Norte. Instrumental intensities: Intensity III - Surigao
City and Intensity I in Borongan, Eastern Samar and Palo, Leyte.
The recent quake is an aftershock of the 2017
magnitude 6.7 earthquake, said Phivolcs.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum
confirmed that at 12:06 p.m. on the same day, a 4.1 magnitude quake also hit
Surigao del Norte and Intensity IV was felt in Surigao City. The epicenter of
the quake was located 10 kilometers southwest of Libjo, province of Dinagat
Islands.
The Surigao City Emergency Rescue Team recorded a
total of 42 people injured with one casualty identified as Socorro Celis, 65
years old who died due to cardiac arrest right after the quake.
The quake was followed by trivial but scary
aftershocks.
As preventive measure, Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol
F. Matugas has declared the suspension of classes in all levels both private
and public Monday, March 6, 2017 in Surigao City and municipalities of San
Francisco, Sison, Tagana-an, Malimono and Mainit to allow the school
administrators to assess the condition of school buildings. (PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
Army troopers recover firearms, war materials in
Surigao Norte town
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 6 (PIA) -
Army troopers conducting pursuit operations against fleeing New People's Army
(NPA) rebels recovered one M16 rifle and other war materials Friday morning,
March 3, 2017 while scouring a previous encounter site in Brgy. Tinago,
Malimono town.
It can be recalled that last February 27, an
encounter between government troops and rebels wounded an army junior officer
when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by NPA terrorist group
blasted.
The encounter site was later found out by the
pursuing troops to be an NPA encampment and recovered the following war
materials: one M16 rifle with magazines and ammunitions, one AK47 magazine with
live rounds, four Improvised lamdmines, four rifle grenades, 13 backpacks,
hundreds of meters of electrical wires, one M14 bipod, dry cell batteries, one
NPA flag, 15 hammocks with 15 poncho tents installed, two UHF radios, seven
pairs of rain boots, two kerosene stoves, two cooking pots, 15 kilos of rice,
assorted medicines and medical paraphernalia, and subversive documents and
personal belongings left by the fleeing communist terrorists.
"Based from the recovered documents, it is
clear that the NPAs wanted to recover Malimono by force. They will again
terrorize the communities to force the poor farmers who are afraid for their
safety to give in to their extorsion activities," 2nd Lt Jonel Castillo,
30IB spokesperson based in Surigao del Norte said.
"The reported presence of NPA in Brgy Tinago
is a clear manifestation that the community have had too much of their abuses,
that is the reason why we immediately responded that resulted to an encounter
and wounding of our comrade. It is incorrect, however that we have soldiers
killed for we do not hide information about soldiers killed in line of duty
because this is honor that will be passed on to their families that transcends
thru generations," Castillo added.
"Last year we entered Malimono with strong resistance
from NPAs and their mass base, only to find out that their real intention are
the golds from small scale miners, and the logistical support extorted from
poor farmers. They deceived the communities of their propaganda while
preventing government services to reach the masses and the poor. During our
immersion, we have uncovered the real issues faced by the locals through Peace
and Development Outreach Program and these are now being addressed with the
help of other government agencies and Local Government Units," Lt Col Rico
Amaro, 30IB Commander said.
"The communities are pleading us not to leave
and defend them from the threats of NPAs. The communities are feeding us real
time information whenever the NPA presence are monitored by the locals. We are
thankful of their cooperation. Despite the wounding of our officer, we will
continue to protect this town with our lives from these terrorists who are
already facing criminal cases. We will be doing this as part of our duty and
for the children and the future children of this peace loving town," Amaro
added. (30IB-Phil. Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
AgSur town receives P1.5-M BuB fund for OTOP Store
Express
TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur, Mar. 6 – The Talacogon
town of this province will soon establish a One-Town-One-Project (OTOP) Store
Express, a facility that will introduce their local products to a wider market.
The project is under the Bottom-Up-Budgeting (BuB)
fund with a total amount of P1.5-Million.
DTI Agusan del Sur OIC-provincial director Brenda
Corvera released the funds to Vice Mayor Rodolfo Bosque, who received the check
in behalf of Municipal Mayor Jesryl Masendo of the local government unit (LGU) of
Talacogon. This was a side event during
the recently concluded Negosyo Center-Talacogon Stakeholders Meeting.
The project, which will be managed by the LGU is
expected to facilitate marketing of local products and encourage local
producers to increase production, enhance quality and get more buyers to be
able to hit bigger sales. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
