Caraganons gear up for ASEAN multi-sectoral forum
in Butuan City
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) – As an endeavor in
keeping the people to be well-acquainted on the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) and its socio-economic impacts, Caraganons from all levels of
society will come together for the ‘ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Forum’ to be held on
April 11, 2017, 1:00 p.m. at the Convention Hall of Watergate Hotel, here.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga-led
ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Forum will be participated by some 500 youth/indigenous
people, information officers and representatives of local government units and
national line agencies, student leaders and educators, religious group
representatives, community movers and media practitioners.
According to PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga,
the activity also aims to drum up support to Philippines’ chairmanship of the
ASEAN this year. “PIA, as the government’s information arm, wants to share how
the Filipino can keep advantage from being citizens of an ASEAN member
country,” said Caga.
Topics that will be discussed in the said forum
include Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN 2017, positive impact of the ASEAN and
how this opens opportunities for all Filipinos, as well as the challenges and
accomplishments of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Executive Order, and
Ambisyon Natin 2040, among others.
Philippine Information Agency Director General
Harold Clavite and Deputy Director General Gregorio Angelo Villar will
personally grace the event.
The ASEAN’s 50th Founding Anniversary this year is anchored
on the theme, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World”.
“It is hoped that as we work together using the
awareness on how Filipinos can participate in and benefit from the programs,
policies and services of the government and the ASEAN, we can best define our
roles in pursuing the goals for sustainable development,” underlined Caga.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga RDRRMC spearheads 1st Quarter NSED in Bislig
City
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Apr. 5 (PIA) – The
Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)
spearheaded the conduct of the 1st Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake
Drill (NSED) 2017 in Bislig City.
The earthquake drill was held at Bislig Central
Elementary School and Bislig Central Special Science Elementary School with the
presence of Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga Regional Director Rosauro
Arnel Gonzalez Jr. and Bislig City Mayor and City DRRM Council Chairperson
Librado Navarro with the regional evaluators.
Around 1,100 students and teachers from Bislig City
have joined the simultaneous drill performing the “duck, cover, and hold.”
According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Abel de Guzman, the activity is in line with
the ongoing efforts of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
(NDRRM) to educate the public on what to do if major tremors will hit the
country.
"The NSED aims to enhance the level of
alertness as awareness before, during and after disaster or calamity,"
said.
Based on the report received from the PDRRMO -
Surigao del Sur, a total of 7,021 participants from nine local DRRMOs of the
province participated in the activity, they are the cities of Bislig and
Tandag; the towns of Lanuza, Bayabas, Lianga, Carrascal, Cantilan, Marihatag;
and for the provincial level: the Police Provincial Office (PPO), 402nd
Brigade, and Department of Public Works and Highways-1st District. (PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
Butuanons to pay tribute for PH heroes
By Janen Lumandas
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - In line with the 'Araw
ng Kagitingan' commemoration on the 9th of April every year, the city
government of Butuan will have a half-day tribute on Sunday to honor the memory
of heroes who made an impact on our country.
The event will take place at the Butuan City
Library at 7:00 a.m. Public servants and other private employees and guests are
expected to participate in the activities prepared for the celebration.
'Araw ng Kagitingan' has been celebrated annually
throughout the country to give recognition to World War II veterans and the
Filipino heroism displayed during the Bataan death march. (PIA-Caraga)
DAR AgNor personnel, women-farmers attend GAD
symposium
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - The Provincial Agrarian
Reform Office in the Province of Agusan del Norte, in coordination with the
Gender and Development (GAD) team recently conducted a Gender Sensitivity Cum
Entrepreneurship Seminar here.
The seminar participated in by all provincial
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) personnel led by Provincial Agrarian Reform
Program Officer II Andre B. Atega and selected women farmer-beneficiaries in
the province.
The activity is in line with the nationwide observance
of the month-long celebration of the women’s month with the theme, “We make
change work for women.”
Provincial GAD point person Ellen J. Torralba said
the activity aimed to promote self-reliance for women agrarian reform
beneficiaries. The seminar shared inputs on how they can actively make
decisions for themselves, for community and able to participate for
organization-building efforts.
“The participants, despite coming from different
backgrounds were able to integrate under a common objective for improving the
welfare of all rural women in the community,” Torralba said.
The morning session was presented by the resource
person, Commission on Human Rights Caraga regional director Atty. Jerefe T.
Bacang who discussed, among others, the topic on basic concept on gender and
development and emphasizing the women’s rule in nation building.
In the afternoon, the discussion on
Entrepreneurship skills training took place with invited resource speaker from
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga Region Irene L. Macheca who
presented business planning ideas and latest trends in business.
With this intention to enhance the well-being of
women, the agency is hopeful that the inputs will have a long term benefit to
emancipate the oppressed women against violence and discrimination. (DAR-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Caraga RDRRMC holds 1st quarter full council
meeting in 2017
By April Rose Sanchez
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - The Caraga Regional
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) held its 1st Quarter
RDRRMC Full Council Meeting on Tuesday in one of the convention centers here.
As the RDRRMC institutionalizes the four DRRM
Committees, the agenda for the full council meeting were presented per
committee/thematic area.
The agenda of the meeting included the Seasonal
Weather Outlook for the 2nd Quarter by PAGASA; Update on the Harmonization of
Vulnerability Assessment Tools (VATs) and Presentation of Disaster Prevention
and Mitigation Committee Road Map for 2017 by the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST); updates of the Regional Disaster Preparedness Plan (RDPP)
and presentation of Disaster Preparedness Committee Road Map for 2017 by the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); After Action Review on
recent weather disturbances and 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Caraga Region and
Presentation of Disaster Response Committee Road Map for 2017 by the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA)
Report on various weather disturbances and 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Caraga
Region and presentation of Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery Committee Road
Map for 2017 by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); and the
significant accomplishments and milestones of the province of Surigao del Norte
and Butuan City for the 1st Quarter.
The meeting was presided by the RDRRMC Chairperson
and OCD Caraga Regional Director Rosauro Arnel Gonzales,Jr. It was attended by
the members of the RDRRMC Executive Committee (Dir. Dominga D. Mallonga, DOST
Caraga Regional Diector and Vice Chairperson for Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation; Ray Gregory Jaranilla of DILG Caraga as Vice Chairperson for
Disaster Preparedness; Angel Bert Casimillo of DSWD Caraga as Vice Chairperson
for Disaster Response; and Assistant Regional Director Roy Kantuna of NEDA as
Vice Chairperson for Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery), RDRRMC
member-agencies including representatives from Civil Society Organizations
(CSOs) and Provincial and City DRRM officers.
The six agencies that complied with the
Implementation of the Disaster Capability Assessment Checklist for All RDRRMC
Members, Associations and Organizations pursuant to RDRRMC Resolution No. 1
series of 2015 entitled “A Resolution Enjoining All Member Agencies,
Associations and Organizations of the RDRRMC to Undertake the Disaster
Capability Assessment” were awarded with Plaque of Recognition during the
meeting. The checklist is a self-assessment tool to evaluate the disaster
preparedness capability of all RDRRMC member agencies, associations and
organizations. This is also to determine whether government agencies are
compliant to the provisions of RA 10121 particularly on Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management (DRRM). These agencies were DILG, DOST, Department of
Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippine National Police and
National Telecommunications Commission.
The next full council meeting is scheduled in June
2017. (OCD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
USS Fitzgerald arrives in Subic Bay
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - The Arleigh Burke-class
guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) arrived in Subic Bay on
Saturday for a brief port call that highlights the strong community and
military connections between the Philippines and the United States.
The ship’s crew will use the stop to conduct some
minor repairs with the assistance of Philippine companies.
The United States and Philippines continue to build
upon their 70-year history of partnership through defense cooperation, port
visits, and military training activities.
The American and Philippine militaries have worked together on areas of
mutual interest including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,
counterterrorism, cyber security, and maritime security.
USS Fitzgerald is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th
Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the
Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Embassy/PIA-Caraga)
