DTI-Caraga to kickstart ‘OTOP Next Gen’
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) – The drive for
inclusive local economic growth through programs for micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) is set to roll out dubbed One Town One Product Next Generation (OTOP
Next Gen) in Caraga region.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga
Regional Office is undertaking activities that include: a) briefing by the
Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) with DTI trade promotion officers and
local designers; b) conduct of an intensive product clinic and assessment for
MSMEs) in processed food and wearables/home-style known as OTOP Next Gen
screening, assessment and triage (SAT) sessions.
“We are also going to conduct a press conference on
June 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Nasipit Hall of Almont Inland
Resort to further explain the concept of the program as well as to cover a
memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing for yet another program by DTI,
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) with RISPhilippines for Rural Impact Sourcing Everywhere
(RISE) Caraga,” said DTI-Caraga regional director Brielgo Pagaran.
DTI-Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary
Demphna Du-Naga and officers from the DCP will join the panel with DTI-Caraga
officers.
The OTOP Next Gen program aims to level up local
products and services. Building from the gains of the initial OTOP program of
the DTI, and with local MSMEs with viable products, this project aims to offer
a package of public-private assistance to have significant improvement and
innovation in the areas of quality, design, standards compliance,
marketability, production capability, brand development, among others.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Agnor PDRRMC readies NDCM celebration; bares lined
up activities
By Nora C. Lanuza Molde
BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) – In celebration of this
year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM), the Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Agusan del Norte has lined up a
month-long activities this July.
PDRRMC chairperson and governor Ma. Angelica
Rosedell M. Amante-Matba enjoined the stakeholders to join in the celebration
that will kick-off with a thanksgiving mass, a motorcade at the municipal
gymnasium of the Nasipit, Agusan del Norte on July 4.
Also on same day, different contests to be
participated by different schools will be held at the municipal gym, to
include: Jingle contest, Poster making contest, On-the-spot Essay Writing
Contest, Quiz Bee Competition, and Video Clip Making contest.
During the celebration, an orientation on Republic
Act 10821 also known as “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, Civil
Society Organization and Youth Forum" will be held at the provincial
training center here.
In barangay Pinana-an, Las Nieves, Agusan del
Norte, a Comprehensive Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Training is also scheduled on July 11-13 to be participated by the community
members and barangay council.
A DRRM advocacy for the Bureau of Local Government
Finance employees is also set on July 12.
Radio groups and Provincial RETT members will also
be joining the two-day Agusan del Norte on Air Training on July 12-13 at the
provincial training center.
One of the highlights in the celebration is the
Provincial Fire Olympics to be participated by the different barangays and
municipal fire brigades at the capitol commercial complex on July 14.
Also, a five-day simulation drill is set on July
18-22 to barangay Tagbongabong, RTR; barangays San Roque and Bangayan in the
municipality of Kitcharao; ba rangays Caloc-an and Sto. NiΓ±o in Magallanes, all
in the province of Agusan del Norte.
To test the response capacity and capability of the
youth, different school youth organizations and emergency response teams from
the different schools of the province will undergo a Rescue Exercise in
Buenavista on July 27-29.
To culminate the month long celebration, a program
will be held at the Robinsons Atrium here on July 29.
This year’s celebration carries the theme, “4Ks:
Kamalayan sa Kahandaan, Katumbas ay Kaligtasan.” (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DA launches loan program in Surigao Norte town
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 28 (PIA) –
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched its Production Loan Easy Access
(PLEA) Program on June 23, 2017 in Malimono town. The launching was graced by
DA Secretary Emmanuel PiΓ±ol.
According to Secretary PiΓ±ol, the program will have
an initial credit fund of P15 million, which will be downloaded to the Malimono
Multipurpose Cooperative and will serve as the lending conduit for the
municipality.
He said that the fishing and farming municipality
will serve as the pilot areas of the program since small farmers and fishers
need adequate, fast convenient and affordable credit in order to finance their
production requirements thus raise production and incomes; and in effect, it
will help provide sufficient and affordable food not just for the people in the
municipality but for the province as a whole.
“Not just in Malimono, but other municipalities in
the Philippines also feel the same sentiment that they are not being reached
and served by most banks. Consequently, many of the small farmers and fishers
do not have access to credit from formal sources and are therefore depending
miserably on informal sources that charge high interest rates,” said Sec.
PiΓ±ol.
Secretary PiΓ±ol emphasized that he has been going
around the country visiting remote areas like Malimono under his “Biyaheng
Bukid” in order to hear from the farmers and fishers themselves about their
problems and requirements.
He said through his “Biyaheng Bukid,” the PLEA was
designed to address the financial needs of marginalized farmers for a fast and
affordable credit for agri-fishery production especially among those in remote
and less productive areas.
Secretary PiΓ±ol explained that the program will be
implemented by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), an attached
agency of the DA through cooperatives and non-government organizations (NGOs)
as lending conduits.
PiΓ±ol further said that the loans under the PLEA
program do not need a collateral. The maximum loanable amount a farmer or
fisherman can borrow is P50,000 depending on the activity and commodity being
produced.
“The loan is payable within a period ranging from 2
to 10 years with an interest rate of 6 percent per annum. Loans released under
the said program are also covered with crops insurance by the Philippine Crop
Insurance Corporation (PCIC),” PiΓ±ol added. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
PIA Caraga holds ASEAN info caravan to students in
Butuan
By Regal C. Oribia
BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) - Hundreds of students
from the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) gathered recently at the FSUU
Morelos Campus here for the ASEAN Information Caravan 2017.
The caravan aims to deepen appreciation of the
public about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN and the
benefits it would give them in their daily lives.
"This is part of the government's effort to
intensify the information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign about
ASEAN. We want to communicate the opportunities and benefits of ASEAN to the
Filipinos," said PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga.
During the info caravan, Jennifer Gaitano of
PIA-Caraga shared the privileges, benefits, significance, as well as the
importance of being a member of the ASEAN community.
Meanwhile, Rica Ella Batino, 4th year Business
Administration student, said the activity helped her understand the significant
role of ASEAN in the country. "I need to strive hard in my education for
me to be more globally competitive," she said.
Also, Dr. Emiliana Lozano, dean of Business
Administration Program, thanked PIA Caraga for granting their request to be
their resource speaker on ASEAN.
She noted that thru this activity, the students can
have a deeper understanding of the employment opportunities in neighboring
countries and the advantages that the ASEAN brings to its citizens.
(FEA/RCO/PIA-Caraga)
