Caraga
nutrition advocates intensify campaign against malnutrition
By
Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, July 24 (PIA) - The nutrition advocates from government agencies, media
and private stakeholders in the region known as Caraga Movers convened on Thursday
for its meeting held at Almont Hotel's Inland Resort, this city.
The
National Nutrition Council (NNC) under the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga
organized said activity. The group discussed nutrition updates and Philippine
Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017-2022.
Leah
Vina Vargas, nutrition officer III of NNC-DOH Caraga reiterated that the Caraga
Movers is a multi-sectoral organization envisioning an empowered and
resourceful society through nutrition.
In
her discussion on the 2017 Nutrition Month celebration and its objectives,
Vargas cited that one of the objectives of this year's campaign is to help the
citizens identify the healthy foods that will give them good diet and nutrition
and prevent unhealthy foods being sold in the market.
“The
National Nutrition Council’s 2017 Nutrition Month theme: “Healthy Diet, Gawing
Habit – For Life!” It is a call for all Filipinos to start the consumption of
healthier foods and discourage them from eating unhealthy diets that has never
been stronger and louder,” Vargas relayed.
Also,
Aldrin Atienza, nutrition officer of NNC-DOH Caraga highlighted the importance
of a healthier diet. He emphasized that "our body has specific needs,
people should therefore eat with balance, variety and moderation."
“People
should eat the right quantity of food, reducing food waste. We should be able
to control ourselves from eating too much food,” reminded Atienza.
Meanwhile,
Karlyn Rose Panes, nutrition officer of NNC-DOH Caraga also stressed that
eating unhealthy foods easily leads people to have non-communicable diseases
and may shorten life span. “We should observe right eating habits and choose to
live longer,” she said.
This
years’ Nutrition Month celebration is aimed to promote healthy diets to
contribute to the reduction of overweight, obesity and non-communicable
diseases. It also teaches the public on how to better discern between healthy
and unhealthy foods for better food choices; and encourage food industry
including farmers, producers and distributors and food establishments to
produce and make available healthier food options to consumers.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DOST
Caraga announces scholarships for junior college students for SY 2017-2018
By
Meriam B. Bouquia
BUTUAN
CITY, July 24 - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Caraga) is now
accepting applicants for the 2017 Junior Level Science Scholarships (JLSS) for
Third Year College Students.
This
year’s JLSS Program has three (3) categories: Republic Act (RA) 10612, which
aims to strengthen the country’s science and technology education by
fast-tracking graduates in the sciences, mathematics and engineering who shall
teach science and mathematics in secondary schools throughout the country; RA
7687 – awarded to poor, talented and deserving students who belong to families
whose socioeconomic status do not exceed the set values of certain indicators;
and Merit – awarded to students with high aptitude in science and mathematics
and are willing to pursue careers in the fields of science and technology.
The
implementation of RA 10612 supports the execution of Section 8 of the K to 12
law which urges the hiring of teachers from among the graduates of science,
technology, engineering and mathematics courses.
The
selection of DOST scholars is through a written examination which will be held
on November 19, 2017 (Sunday) at identified testing centers all over the
country. To be eligible to take the scholarship
examination, applicants must have the following qualifications: Natural-born
Filipino citizen; Incoming regular 3rd year college student in an identified
priority S&T course for SY 2017-2018; Have a general weighted average (GWA)
of at least 83% or its equivalent in his/her first and second years in college;
Qualifier of the 2017 JLSS Examination.
Qualifiers
of this scholarship program will receive the privileges following the existing
financial assistance of the RA 7687 and RA 10612 scholars. They will be entitled to subsidy for tuition
fee and other school fees, monthly living allowance for 10 to 11 months, book
allowance, and more during the last 2 or 3 years of their undergraduate
studies.
Application
forms are available at the DOST Caraga Regional Office, CSU Compound, Ampayon,
Butuan City and DOST Provincial Offices in Patin-ay, Agusan del Sur, Surigao
City, Bislig City Tandag City, and San Jose, Province of Dinagat Islands and can be downloaded at http//www.sei.dost.gov.ph.
Deadline
for submission of application form and supporting documents is on September 22,
2017.
For
inquiries, please visit or call DOST-Caraga @ telephone no. 342-6225 (DOST-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
DTI
intensifies entrepreneurship, consumer advocacy for students in Surigao Norte
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 24 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) Surigao del Norte provincial office has intensified its entrepreneurship
and consumer advocacy through the conduct of two Entrepreneurship and Consumer
Education Seminars (ECES) in the municipality of Bacuag and Surigao City.
The
seminar was conducted under the Consumer Advocacy in Negosyo Center for Young
Associates (ALCANCYA), a project aims to provide basic understanding on
entrepreneurship, consumer rights and responsibilities to senior high school
students.
The
seminar in Bacuag was held recently in Bacuag National Agro-Industrial School
with a total of 177 students attending while that in Surigao City it was held
at Caraga Regional Science High School (CRHS) attended by students from CRHS
and Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS) with 77 participants who are
also joining the three-day event on ASEAN Youth Business Forum and Trade Expo.
Technical
staff from Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) of DTI Surigao del Norte composed of
Trade and Industry Development Specialists Josephine D. Gabutin, Lourdes A.
Chua, and Supervising Trade and Industry Development Specialists Rodrigo R.
Matabaran, conducted the said seminar and assisted by Sheila Pagapong and Joana
Villamor both Negosyo Center Business Counsellors.
Schools
administrators and teachers of said schools appreciated the efforts of DTI in
conducting the seminar which they believe the students gained knowledge that
can help them make a well informed decision in their day to day affairs
especially when they buy products as well as on future plans to pursue possible
entrepreneurial endeavors. (DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
SSS,
NG release more than P4.6B for educ loan program
BUTUAN
CITY, July 24 - State-run Social Security System (SSS), in partnership with the
National Government (NG), has disbursed more than P4.61 billion for its
education beneficiaries since it rolled out the Education Assistance Loan
Program (EALP) in 2012.
SSS
President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said around 81,200
student-beneficiaries have benefited since the program began.
“The
program only started five years ago and we have already served more than 73,000
members and their beneficiaries. This partnership with the national government
is really meant to help our members finance the educational need of their
immediate family members,” Dooc said.
“We
wish that the program fund will continue to revolve among our member-borrowers
and future beneficiaries. So we also ask our successful beneficiaries, those
who have already completed either a college degree or vocational course, to pay
their respective loan amounts. Loan payment is also easy with up to 18 months
of grace period from the last release of loan proceeds,” he added.
From
the 7, 542 beneficiaries in 2012, it increased nearly 11 times to reach the
present number of beneficiaries.
For
the said beneficiaries, total disbursement was recorded at P4.61 billion this
year from the P900.55 million on the pilot year. SSS and NG shared equally the
disbursed amount to members.
Dooc
clarified that SSS does not receive any subsidy from NG, contrary to recent
news reports.
“We
wish to clarify that SSS does not receive any subsidy from the national
government. EALP is the only SSS program that has a counterpart funding from
the national government and this is a loan program for our members,” Dooc said.
“All
expenses of SSS including benefit payments like pension and operating expenses
are sourced from the collection and investment income,” he explained further.
Recent
data from the Bureau of Treasury showed that in May, SSS received P73 million
of assistance from the national government as part of its share to the
Education Assistance Fund Program (EAFP).
The
amount disbursed by the government was requested by SSS in advance in
anticipation of the expected number of applications for the incoming semester,
said Dooc.
Under
the EAFP, SSS is allowed to provide educational loan assistance to its members
with a total fund allocation of P7 billion; P3.5 billion of which will be
financed by the national government as approved by then President Benigno
Aquino III and the other half from SSS.
EAFP
loan beneficiaries can be SSS members including their legal spouses or
children. While unmarried members can have their siblings, including
half-brothers or half-sisters as beneficiaries. To qualify for the loan,
members must not earn more than P25,000 a month.
At
present, the EALP fund has already been allocated to member-beneficiaries.
However, SSS still receives applications to the loan program on a waitlist
basis. Only when a member-beneficiary has dropped or graduated from school will
there be an opening for a new loan applicant.
“As
I have mentioned earlier, the fund of this program is a revolving fund. We have
to wait for the repayments from our successful beneficiaries which will be used
for future loan releases,” Dooc said. (SSS/PIA-Caraga)
Feature:
Shining a light on safety in SurSur
By
April Mae N. Waban & Marko Davey D. Reyes
A
smile as bright as the sun lit up the faces of barangay officials and community
volunteers of Antao, Carmen, Surigao del Sur as they gleefully show their
newly-installed 28 units solar powered street lights.
The
sub-project amounting to P933,760 was completed through the concerted efforts
of the community and funded through the Department of Social Welfare and
Development’s (DSWD’s) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and
Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program.
For
several years, residents of Barangay Antao relied on gas lamps and regular light
bulbs not just to light up their homes but also their streets at night.
Although they had existing street lights, these were only installed in Purok 5
which is one of the most interior parts of the barangay.
Since
the barangay had a limited budget or Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share,
there would not be enough resources to fund the installation of street lights
to all 6 Puroks. As night falls, roads and other pathways in the barangay
become less visible and accessible thereby increasing the risk of accidents and
crimes.
In
fact, robbery after dark was not uncommon in the village as offenders take the
opportunity of the lightless streets, thus, their barangay officials decided to
enforce a curfew. However, this was not still enough to ensure the safety of
the residents. They thought improving their street lighting would help them
address this. When the Kalahi-CIDSS program came into their municipality, the
community lobbied the street lights project as the program uses the Community
Driven Development (CDD) approach.
Kalahi-CIDSS’
CDD approach helps strengthen community participation by providing
opportunities for communities to partake in community development activities.
With this approach, communities are made to determine their needs, recommend a
solution to answer these and implement the sub-projects themselves. Barangay
Antao was one of the barangays chosen for prioritization with their proposed
sub-project. Now, with their improved street lighting, about 236 households in
barangay are expected to benefit from safer streets and prevent accidents
during the night. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Former
Cong. Aquino named father of Agusan del Norte
By Jay Vincent V. Demain
BUTUAN
CITY, July 24 - The provincial government of Agusan del Norte named the former
Congressman Jose C. Aquino as the Father of Agusan del Norte when it celebrated
its 50 year founding anniversary last June 12-17, 2017.
Through
Provincial Resolution No. 174-2017, provincial officials recognized the efforts
of the late Congressman Aquino of the Congressional District of the then
province of Agusan del Norte when he authored Republic Act 4979 - the law that
divided the lone province into two provinces, namely: Agusan del Norte and
Agusan del Sur that Congress enacted on June 12, 1967.
Provincial
Board Member Elizabeth Marie R. Calo, author of said resolution, said that it
is but fitting to honor the initiative of the former congressman that made
history in the creation of the province of Agusan del Norte.
Honorable
Aquino, before he was elected as Congressman in the 6th Congress from 1965-1969,
also served as the Governor of the province of Agusan from 1964-1965 and the
last Governor before the province was divided.
With
its 50 years of existence from its creation up to this moment, the province of
Agusan del Norte has grown into a progressive province and still continues to
envolve and achieve significant milestone as a leading agri-forest and and
service provider in Caraga.
The
separation of Agusan del Norte paved the way for a more focused governance
administration and implementation of plans, programs, projects and activities
for the development and welfare of the province and its constituents. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Agusan
del Norte entrepreneurs: There is more to techno upgrading in DOST
By Aliana Gene Sarmiento
“SETUP
is bringing technology and innovation closer to us, the local entrepreneurs” –
Lourdes Manulat of ILM Trading, entrepreneur and SETUP client.
The
Training on Innovation and Product Development for micro, small, and medium
enterprises (MSME) in Agusan del Norte organized by the Provincial Science and
Technology Center-SETUP recently kicked off at Almont City Hotel, Butuan City.
The
Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) is a nationwide strategy
of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to assist and encourage
S&T innovations among qualified MSMEs. Eighteen SETUP clients in Agusan del
Norte attended the said training as part of SETUP activities to equip them with
needed skills for productivity and competitiveness.
According
to Ricardo N. Varela, Assistant Regional Director of DOST-Caraga, it is part of
DOST’s mandate to assist in the socio-economic growth of Filipinos. Providing
technology upgrading opportunities to MSMEs means more jobs and income for the
locals. Aside from acquiring new equipment, SETUP clients also receive free
trainings, technical assistance and others. The participants applauded the
efforts of the Provincial Science and Technology-ADN for making the assistance
fast and hassle-free in their part.
The
two-day training facilitated by Prof. Richard S. Celeste, a business management
expert and entrepreneur from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of
Technology, focuses on three aspects: developing the skills of the participants
in identifying new and creative products; developing a more customer-centered
approach in business,and; encouraging innovation and collaboration in their
respective companies. Earlier in the training, the participants made their own
innovative products out of plastic straws, bottles and papers and prepared
their own product presentation.
“Most
of our local entrepreneurs give less prioritization on the importance of
innovation and product development. To be competitive and more profitable, they
needed these two,” said Ednon John Aparicio, Project Assistant for PSTC-ADN
SETUP Program.
Interested
clients and entrepreneurs can visit their respective provincial science and
technology centers in the region to know more about the program. (DOST/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Tagalog
News: Budayaw Festival gaganapin sa Mindanao
Ni
Regal C. Oribia
LUNGSOD
NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 24 (PIA) - Sa pagtataguyod na mapanatili at mapaunlad ang
sining at kultura sa ating bansa, gaganapin ang kauna-unahang Budayaw Festival
sa Mindanao na may temang “taking pride in the creative diversity of the Brunei
Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)
region.”
Ang
nasabing aktibidad ay gaganapin ng limang araw sa General Santos city at
Saranggani province ngayong darating na September 20 hanggang 24.
Ayon
kay National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) chief Adelina Suemith
na ang salitang budayaw ay mula sa pinagsamang mga salita mula sa lengguwaheng
bahasa “Budaya” na ang ibig sabihin ay pamana at kultura, at salitang Filipino
na “dayaw” na ang ibig sabihin naman ay maganda at mabuti.
Sinabi
rin niya na nasa 50 communities sa buong bansa ang inaasahang dadalo sa
nasabing festival at isa sa mga gaganapin ay ang mga traditioanal games ng
bawat bansa na gagawin ng isang araw. Bukod pa rito, nagpa-abot din siya ng
mensahe sa department of education na sana ay mapasama na ang mga tradisyonal
na larong pinoy sa asignatura ng Physical Education.
Dagdag
pa niya, mahigit kumulang 75 na partisipante ang dadalo mula bansang Malaysia,
150 naman sa bansang Indonesia at 40 sa bansang Brunei Darussalam at nilinaw
din nito na ang nasabing festival ay hindi isang kompetisyon kundi ito ay isang
paraan sa pagbahagi ng kaalaman, sining, kultura ng bawat miyembro at
pagtaguyod ng kapayapaan lalong lalo na sa lugar ng Mindanao.
Ang
Pilipinas din umano ang nagboluntaryo upang manguna sa gaganaping festival
dahil sa bansa ginanap ang ika-limampung anibersaryo ng Association of
Southeast Asian Nation o ASEAN. (RCO/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog
News: NEDA Caraga nanguna sa paglunsad ng regional development plan sa isla ng
Dinagat
LUNGSOD
NG SURIGAO, Hulyo 24 (PIA) - Inilunsad kamakailan ng National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga kasama ang mga miyembro ng Caraga Regional
Development Council (RDC) ang Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2017-2022 na
ginanap sa Ecleo-Macapagal gymnasium, bayan ng Dinagat, sa Dinagat Islands.
Ang
matagumpay na paglunsad ay pinangunahan ni NEDA caraga regional director Mylah
Faye Aurora CariΓ±o, Dinagat Islands provincial administrator Gwendolyn
Ecleo-Pols, congresswoman Arlen “Kaka” Bag-ao, at mga opisyales ng nasabing
bayan.
Sa
kanyang mensahe, ipinaliwanag ni NEDA Caraga director CariΓ±o na ang RDP
2017-2022 ay inaprubahan noong Marso a-dose nitong taon at pinagtibay sa
pamamagitan ng Regional Development Council Resolution no. 8, series of 2017.
Ayon
pa kay Carino, ang RDP ay nakasentro sa 0-10 point Socioeconomic Agenda ng
Duterte administration tungo sa tagumpay ng Ambisyon Natin 2040 na “Matatag,
Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay.”
Binigyan
diin ni director CariΓ±o na sa taong 2022, nilalayon ng RDP na ang buong rehiyon
ng Caraga ay magiging fishery, agro-forestry, mining, at eco-tourism o FAME
center ng bansa.
Samantala,
inihayag naman ni provincial administrator Ecleo-Pols ang kanilang malaking
pasasalamat sa NEDA Caraga at sa lahat ng government line agencies sa suportang
ibinigay sa local government unit (LGU) ng Dinagat Islands.
Napakalaking
tulong umano ito para sa mga Dinagatnons upang mapaunlad ang lalawigan ayon sa
programa ng pamahalaan lalung-lalo na sa fishery at eco-tourism. (VLG/SDR/PIA-Caraga)
