DOLE, LGU Carrascal open 80 slots for summer jobs
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 9 (PIA) – The
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Caraga and the local government
unit of Carrascal will offer summer jobs to some 80 poor-but-deserving
students.
Dubbed as Special Program for Employment of
Students (SPES), the program is intended for those interested students who are
willing to work for 22 days.
The initiative is open to all qualified high
school, college or vocational students aged 15-30 years old, including dropout
students who are willing to continue their studies.
Under the SPES, the DOLE will shoulder the 40
percent of the salaries of the beneficiaries, while their employers--government
agencies, such as local government units, and private companies and other
sponsor-institutions will pay the 60 percent. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SurSur administrator bares NPAs’ widespread
extortion
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 9 (PIA) –
Provincial Administrator Efren Rivas here told Capitol employees on Monday that
extortion activities by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels had already “gone very
far.”
Citing Tandag City Mayor Alexander “Ayek” Pimentel
as his source of information, the administrator said that even stall holders at
the newly opened Tandag City Public Market had not been spared of the
collection for revolutionary taxes.
Rivas, in passing, mentioned that not only
businesses here were being milked regularly but even the poor folks in the
countryside.
The provincial government here holds a flag
ceremony program every Monday where every office under its arm has a turn to
report any information, updates or accomplishments. Last Monday, March 6, the
Provincial Accounting Office was the program host and the administrator was
called to give a message.
In a separate interview, Mayor Pimentel did not
mince words in confirming about what he disclosed, saying he was just airing
the sentiments of his constituents.
If during the 80’s or 90’s, people here were giving
out financial aid for the rebels’ cause; to impose the same right now could be
against their own volition or freewill, he explained.
In the meantime, Mayor Pimentel could only make a
wish that “revolutionary taxes” being imposed must stop. He likewise said that should President
Rodrigo Duterte give a green light for the peacetalks to resume, scrapping this
levy must be included among the main agenda.
When pressed about the extent of revolutionary
taxes on businesses in his city, the mayor quickly replied “all!” Worse, Pimentel pointed out that businesses
here had to pay taxes not only for government but also for the rebels,
stressing on what seemed to be “double taxation.”
This scheme was not only taking place in Tandag but
province-wide, he added.
For PSSupt. Romaldo Bayting, PNP provincial
director here, his office would always be ready to press charges against the
rebels should any victim come out with a complaint.
The provincial police chief also made a remark that
this illegal act was putting the rebels on the losing end as they had already
morphed themselves into criminals.
On the other hand, Col. Franco Nemesio “Jojo”
Gacal, 402nd Infantry Brigade commander based in the province, hailed Mayor
Pimentel on the exposΓ©.
The army official clarified that not only did Mayor
Pimentel brought out the matter during the “February 28 Peace Forum” here, he
was also told about what the rebels had been doing.
Gacal bared that stall holders at the Tandag City
Public Market were allegedly being taxed P50 on a daily basis. Like Mayor Pimentel, the brigade commander
believed that this activity was being carried out province-wide. In fact, Col. Gacal said that toll collection
had been taking place “nationwide.”
He also said that it was good that the issue was
made public for it to be openly discussed.
Gacal agreed that if the leftist groups were indeed
pro-people, they would surely turn away from taking advantage especially of the
poor. (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
POPCOM Caraga calls for women empowerment
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 9 (PIA) – The Commission on
Population (POPCOM) Caraga joins the entire bureaucracy in the continuing
campaign to empower women through socioeconomic advancement in celebration of
this year’s Women’s Month.
Under the theme for this year’s event “We Make Change Work for Women”, POPCOM
quoted that women should be active drivers in bringing about positive changes,
and that they should also reap from development efforts. This can be made possible by empowering women
– enabling them to meaningfully engage with other development stakeholders, and
by fully implementing the Magna Carta of Women.
The provision of basic education for all boys and
girls is a goal that can be advanced through the empowerment of women, training
teachers to be gender sensitive, promoting the value of making school of
sage vehicle in postponing early
marriages and childbearing by promoting universal access to reproductive
health.
In its advocacy campaign, POPCOM clearly emphasizes
that freedom from violence, especially for girls and women is a core right and
essential to the ability to lead a productive life.
POPCOM Caraga Regional Director Alexander A.
Makinano points out that POPCOM is working closely with the Local Lady
Legislators League for the possible conduct of Regional Summit on Reproductive
Health to generate support from the
legislators particularly on the following measures : Executive Order No. 12
–Attaining and sustaining Zero Unmet Need for Modern FP; HB 4742 – Establish a
national policy in preventing teenage pregnancies & institutionalize social
protection for teenage parents; HB 4689 – Establishment & operation of
population offices mandatory.
“With the endorsement of the local legislators to
the various measures, including that of the Regional Development Council, it
will create positive change in the lives of every woman and will spell a
difference,” says Makinano.
To recall, RDC-Caraga adopted the following
measures in response to the growing incidence of teenage pregnancy in the
region: Resolution No. 38, series of 2014 – Requesting the LGUs to pass an
ordinance requiring boarding house operators to secure business permits;
Resolution No. 39, series of 2014 – Requesting the LGUs to pass an ordinance
regulating the access of teenagers to motels, hotels and beach cottages; and
Resolution No. 6 – supporting the conduct of International Men’s Day in Caraga
Region. (POPCOM-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
IFAD project ConVERGE seen to boost farmers’ income
in Agusan Norte
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 9 (PIA) - The Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Norte intensifies its effort to advance the
implementation of Project ConVERGE (Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for
Rural Growth and Empowerment) under the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) framework.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Andre B.
Atega disclosed during the Monday convocation that the total estimated
allocation amounted to more than P354 Million based on the revised Feasibility
Study (FC) is now on finalization stage.
Since 2016, DAR-Provincial Project Management
Office in this province was conducting series of planning and information
gathering involving the local government units, stakeholders and the
participating ARBOs for the identification and selection of project
beneficiaries and specific project areas and appropriate interventions.
The project aimed to increase agricultural
productivity and promote marketing for abaca fiber industry through value-chain
enhancement for certain crops and products of the farmers in TUJAKITSAN cluster
(Tubay, Jabonga, Kitcharao and Santiago).
According to Planning Officer Annelyn R. Chan, “by
providing the ARBOs with this project
ConVERGE, an estimated of 3,350 Agrarian
Reform Beneficiaries in TUJAKITSAN cluster are expected to improve their
production and income.”
The TUJAKITSAN cluster consists of 20 participating
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) lead by San Isidro Upland
Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIUFMULCO) of Santiago town.
Based on the revised FS under Project ConVERGE, P33
million has been allotted for the farm-to-market road in Santiago that includes
the rehabilitation of Barangay San Isidro to Calasunahan and Sarog road; P199
million for Abaca Processing and Trading Operation; P77 million for the
Increase Agricultural Production; and P45 million for Capacity Enhancement of
the ARBOs. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
1 soldier killed, 1 injured in NPA attack in
Surigao Norte town
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 9 (PIA) - A
soldier was killed while another was wounded as government troops on the ground
responded to a planned NPA attack at around 9:00 p.m. on March 8, 2017 in Brgy.
Budlingin, Alegria town.
The 30-minute firefight has resulted to one
casualty on the government side (name not yet released prior notice to kin) and
several damages to civilian properties in the barangay.
Likewise, pursuit operations was launched by the
government troops to apprehend the perpetrators who were reported by civilians
to have sustained casualties.
"These NPA rebels clearly do not respect the
Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law
wherein civilian population and properties shall not be object to attacks. Despite
of the death of one of our soldiers, we will continue to protect and defend our
communities and continue to facilitate the entry of development," Lt. Col.
Rico Amaro, 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) Commander said.
He said the 30IB troopers deployed in Surigao del
Norte clarified that the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda - Lumad, Guerilla
Front 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee under a.k.a. Ricky was
behind the attack.
Amaro further said that it was the same group and
in the same barangay that abducted PFC Erwin Salan on January 29 as part of
natiowide series of the New Peoples Army (NPA) attrocities that prompted
President Rodrigo Duterte to withdraw the unilateral ceasefire and label the
rebel group as terrorist.
"Brgy. Budlingin is the center of IP
communities in Alegria, Surigao del Norte. It was the NPA that killed their
tribal leader last year who's making a stand against NPA recruitment of the
IPs. It was the constituents of the Brgy that wanted our soldiers to be present
in their community and conduct Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP) to
prevent the NPA recruitment of IP including minors and extorsion of Royalty
Fees received by IPs in the area," he said.
"Our IP communities have had too much of
exploitation from these criminals and we have a hero that just died last night
protecting our IP. We call on for the support of everyone, let us not allow our
peace loving IPs to be exploited and be trained by the NPAs to become
criminals. Let us all empower and protect them," Col. Amaro added. (30th
Infantry Battalion, Phil. Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
U.S. Embassy in the PH opens funding opportunity
for ‘YSEALI Summit 2017’
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 9 (PIA) - The Public Affairs
Section of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announces an open competition
for organizations interested in submitting a proposal for a cooperative
agreement to develop and implement the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative
(YSEALI) Summit, a five-day advanced leadership workshop in the Philippines.
The YSEALI Summit is tentatively planned for early October 2017.
During the 40th anniversary year of United States
(U.S.) – Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) relations, the 2017
YSEALI Summit will bring together approximately 250 YSEALI exchange program
alumni from ASEAN member countries for an advanced leadership workshop that
will equip participants with the knowledge, attitude, and skills to address the
complex and dynamic political, social, economic, and environmental issues that
the U.S. and ASEAN will confront in the next 40 years. The workshop will
develop participants’ leadership competencies in systems and design thinking,
dialogue and negotiations, initiating and sustaining collaborative action, and
other skills needed to advance participants’ leadership capacity and ability to
develop systemic, innovative, and collaborative solutions to complex and
dynamic problems. Participants will also discuss the role of youth and YSEALI
in addressing ASEAN’s challenges and goals and in strengthening U.S. – ASEAN
relations.
YSEALI is the U.S. government’s signature
initiative to engage emerging young leaders in ASEAN, specifically from Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
and Vietnam. YSEALI aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders
who work across national borders to solve common problems in the four pillars
of YSEALI – civic engagement, economic development, education, and environment
and natural resources management.
Detailed information about this notice of funding
opportunity and the application requirements can be found at
www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=292231. (U.S.
Embassy/PIA-Caraga)
