Caraga region set to host Kakao Konek 2017
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 21 (PIA) - In advancing the cacao
industry in the region, it’s all systems go for Caraga region’s hosting of this
year's Mindanao Kakao Konek 2017 slated here on September 13-14.
Around 500 delegates are expected to participate in
this biggest annual event of the country where the cacao value chain players
discuss pressing issues and prospects from macro to micro industry.
Some of the topics that will be tackled during the
event include the increasing global demand for cocoa products and how the
Philippines can fill the supply gap, farmers’ access to credit and financing,
product standards and certificates and significance of climate change to cacao
farming.
As explained during the recent 91st Caraga Regional
Development Council (RDC) Meeting, here, there has been renewed interest in
cacao growing given the increasing demand for cacao beans in 2020. It is
forecasted that will be a global production shortfall of one million metric
tons. The Philippines committed to supply 10 percent of 100,000 metric tons and
this gave birth to the Philippines’ Cacao Challenge that aims to produce
100,000 metric tons of fermented beans by 2020. Caraga region committed to
produce two percent of the national commitment, which is equivalent to 2,000
metric tons of fermented cacao beans by 2020.
It was also pointed out that the Philippines is
among the countries in Asia that is seen to have a competitive advantage for
cacao production given its strategic location and growing condition. Data will
tell that despite this competitive advantage, cacao production in 2014 was
5,427.66 metric tons from an area of 12.037.79 hectares, which is not enough
even to supply local requirements. Mindanao accounts for 90 percent of the
national cacao production with Davao region contributing 89 percent while
Caraga region contributed one percent.
The RDC secretariat bared that advancing the cacao
industry in the region offers a bright prospect for the development rural areas
in terms of optimal utilization of land resource, employment creation and income
generation.
The Kakao Konek 2017 creates interest and draws in
marketers and investors for the agricultural sector particularly the cacao
industry, thus, facilitating the expansion and opening of new opportunities
from production to marketing.
The Kakao Konek 2017 has a registration fee of
P1,500 per delegate. A separate registration fee will also be collected for the
exhibitors and sponsors. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Tandag City is all set for 10th Charter Day celeb
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 21, 2017 (PIA) –
The city government here headed by mayor Alexander Pimentel is all set for the
10th Charter Day celebration on June 22-23, 2017 with the theme, “Pahinumdum ug
Pagpasalamat.”
The Charter Day activities will begin with a
Zumbaruga early morning at the Vicente L. Pimentel (VLP) Sr. Boulevard followed
by a motorcade at 8:00 a.m.
The Drum and Lyre Corps Competition dubbed as
"Laguboh" will then follow in two different categories, a.)
elementary and b.) secondary. A medical/dental check up/Libreng Gupit for the
senior citizens dubbed as “Kumusta Lo ug La” will also be held at the city
gymnasium.
On day 2, the activities lined up include a foot
parade or “Karahikas,” Holy Mass and charter day program, which will take place
at the city gymnasium.
Other activities set during the anniversary day
are: release of funds for livelihood projects to identified people’s
organization; turn over of the Day Care Centers in barangay Bontud and San
Agustin Norte; turn over of Health Centers to Barangay Buenavista and Salvacion
and the turn over of the Bahay Pag-asa situated in Barangay Rosario, this city.
The said event will culminate on Friday night with
a “Hudyaka” featuring: Comedian Pooh, singer-performer Roxanne Barcelo and 6
Cycle Mind Band plus the Rave Band from Cebu. Activities will then end with the
fireworks display at the VLP Boulevard. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DTI conducts consumer education to senior citizens
in Tandag City
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 21 (PIA) – The
Department of Trade and Industry Surigao del Sur (DTI-SDS) Provincial Office,
in collaboration with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO)
recently conducted a consumerism seminar to the senior citizens held at the
Office of the Senior Citizens Association, this city.
In a press statement released by the DTI-SDS
provincial office, the said activity was tackled on the salient features of the
DTI-Department of Agriculture Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No.12-01 series
of 2012 – Granting Special Discounts to Senior Citizens on the Purchase of
Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities.
Some 20 active officers and members of the
Federation of Senior Citizens Association (FSCA) of this city attended the
seminar, it was learned.
DTI Consumer Welfare Division Chief designate
Emmanuel Disca elaborated the “No Return, No Exchange” policy, and Deceptive
Sales Acts and Practices.
Meanwile, CSWD Senior Citizens focal person Merlita
Cabrera, on her closing statement, expressed an appreciation to the DTI and
requested to conduct the same seminar to another batch of senior citizens
associations in this city.
The conduct of consumerism seminar is the DTI’s
strategy aims to intensify the consumer protection through consumer information
and education. (with a report from DTI/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Butuan completes water resource projects
By Regal C. Oribia
BUTUAN CITY, June 21 (PIA) – As part of the
strategic framework to establish a sustainable water resource, the City
Engineering Office - Waterworks Section of the city government of Butuan bared
per record the successful completion of two water resource projects in
barangays Antongalon and Pinamanculan, this city.
A water pump amounting to P10,000 was put up for
the Home for the Boys in barangay Antongalon to support their household,
recreational and other needs for supply of water. This is where the then street
children were housed and taken cared of by the city government.
Also, water resource lines and electric motor pump
with pressure tank that costs a total of P25,760 were installed at the Bood
Promontory in barangay Pinamanculan.
Both projects are potentially useful in addressing
the need for continuous supply and source of clean and safe water.
(RCO/PIA-Caraga)
P103M FMR to boost agriculture in Surigao Norte
By Fretcher D. Magatao
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 21 (PIA) -
The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP)
in Caraga recently conducted a pre-construction conference for the 9.4 km
rehabilitation/concreting of Magsaysay – Bobonaon Spur Sta. Cruz – Paco Farm-to-Market
Road (FMR) in Mainit, Surigao del Norte amounting to P103 million.
The concreting of the road could benefit five
barangays with coconut as their main agricultural crop. “Farmers in the
barangays are already excited for the start of the construction of the project
since this has been the dream of the residents in the community,” said Mainit
Mayor Crisanta Mondano.
Mondano said that farmers in the area have
committed to planting more crops if there is already a road where they can
easily transport the commodities.
“These farmers are truly industrious, they work
hard for their family, but there are times that discouragement comes because
their products got damaged after transporting through the bumpy and narrow
road,” Mondano added.
The Municipality of Mainit is rich with coconut
trees which is one of the priority commodities of the project. “The
municipality is ranked second among all municipalities in the province
according to the expanded vulnerability and suitability assessment (E-VSA)
result for coconut. Thus, PRDP’s intervention will be established here,” said
Deputy Project Director Jodel Tabada.
The Infrastructure Component aims to put in place
strategic and climate-resilient rural infrastructure facilities along the value
chain of a particular commodity to achieve its maximum value and increase the
profit of the players in the industry.
PRDP sees the needs of the community and plans for
interventions based on the results on its science-based tools. It works out to
put in place climate resilient FMRs, bridges, communal irrigation and potable
water systems. (RPCO-13/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Authorities nab rebel instructor in Surigao City
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 21 (PIA) - An
alleged political instructor was recently apprehended by the joint elements of
the Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) here.
Civil Military Operations officer 2Lt. Jonel
Castillo of the 30th Infantry Battalion, PA identified the suspect as Rovelyn
Mahimay a.k.a Apple/Apo, "one of the best political instructors at Medic
Samahang Partido sa Platon (SPP) 1, Guerilla Front (GF) 30, Northeastern
Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC)."
She was apprehended by virtue of warrant of arrest
on June 15, 2017 in Sitio Tumanday II, barangay Rizal, this city.
“The subject person was presently in Surigao City
to stabilize the IPO (Ideological, Political, Organizational) works of the SPP
1, GF-30 NEMRC and to train medics of the NPA platoons in Surigao del Norte,”
Castillo said.
The authorities recovered from her position one
improvised explosive device (IED) with blasting cap and detonating cord.
Castillo, further said the subject person has a
pending case of two rebellion and one frustrated murder and is now at the
custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-13. (30IB, Phil.
Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Over 10K farmers to benefit from PRDP’s agri
enterprises in Mindanao
By Jay M. Rosas
DAVAO CITY, June 21 - Around 10,000 more
farmer-beneficiaries are expected to directly benefit from approved enterprise
development projects under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural
Development Project (PRDP), a recent report revealed.
Under PRDP’s Investment for Rural Enterprise and
Agricultural Productivity (I-REAP) portfolio, a total of 43 subprojects with a
total cost of P184.21 million have been approved to date with one ongoing
subproject in South Cotabato, the Cassava Granules Production and Marketing
Project.
Around 10,930 farmer beneficiaries from 110
cooperatives who act as proponent groups and impementers of the project will
benefit from the subprojects.
Forty-one (41) subprojects with a total cost of
P151.14 million have been issued the No Objection Letter (NOL) 1 which means
the these projects are now approved.
While one project – the P4.98-million Rubber
Expansion and Marketing Project in North Cotabato – issued with NOL 2. A NOL 2
issuance means that the project can proceed to procurement process.
“We are doubling our efforts to move all the
approved enterprise projects into its procurement stage within the year so that
the farmer-beneficiaries can start reaping the project gains,” PRDP Mindanao
project director Ricardo OΓ±ate Jr. said.
He said that all enterprise projects aim to
increase the incomes of the farmers and to enhance their productivity by
strengthening market linkages.
Enterprise projects are classified into small,
medium, and micro or startup enterprises.
Region 12 has been issued with NOL 1 for four
enterprise subprojects with a total cost of P56.98 million for coffee, coconut
and abaca, while three enterprise subprojects in Region 11 are given NOL 1 with
a total cost of P25.08 million for its champion commodity cacao.
Region 13 has also been issued NOL1 for its abaca
enterprise with P22.89 million. Region 9 has one NOL 1-approved subproject with
a cost of P13.40 million for cacao.
In Region 10, aside from the P8.78-million NOL
1-approved subproject in Lanao del Norte, 31 microenterprises with a total of
P43.38 million have been issued NOL 1 in Bukidnon. These approved subprojects
have been classified under microenterprises that addresses the El NiΓ±o-affected
areas.
Around 18 of the 27 Mindanao provinces have
enterprises subprojects both approved and pipelined or those undergoing review.
According to PRDP Mindanao I-REAP component head
Basila Siago, PRDP assisted in the forging of 30 marketing agreements between
proponent groups and buyers, including two international buyers.
“While we help our cooperatives achieve increase in
production of their yield, it is equally important to ensure that there is a
ready market for their products,” she said. (PRDP Mindanao/PIA-Caraga)
OWWA Caraga sets 22nd Migrant Workers Day
BUTUAN CITY, June 21 - The Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) in Caraga said that it is all systems go for the
celebration of the 22nd Migrant Workers Days or the “Araw ng Pasasalamat,"
which will be held on Thursday, 13th of July 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
at Claver Municipal Convention Hall, Claver, Surigao del Norte.
Among the highlights of the annual
institutionalized activity is the "PINOY AKO, PINOY TAYO" Dance
Contest for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Family Circles. The contest
shall be comprised of 5-10 participants per family circle coming from the
different municipalities in the region.
A beauty and health care clinic will be open for
the participants where they can relax and pamper themselves while enjoying the
activity. Parlor games and fun activities also await the participants, which
will be sponsored by our social partners.
A number of raffle draw prizes are also waiting for
the lucky winners during the event.
It can be recalled that the previously slated
Migrant Workers Day 2017 Celebration was postponed due to the ongoing crisis in
Marawi City. Several OWWA Caraga personnel were sent to reinforce OWWA Region X
in the expeditious release of assistance to the victims, it was learned.
Interested participants may visit the nearest
Public Employment Service Office (PESO) or make contact with OWWA Regional
Welfare Office-13 with telephone numbers (085) 342-6178/815-1894 and mobile
numbers 09399259895/09173150590 for further information regarding the activity.
(JPIM, OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
