SurSur guv extends support to Army
By Nida Grace B. Patosa
TAGO, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 4 (PIA) – The
provincial government of Surigao del Sur has donated four hectares of land in
Dayoan, Tago, Surigao del Sur to house the permanent camp of the 402nd Infantry
Brigade of the Philippine Army.
This was revealed by Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente
Pimentel, Jr. recently here. “This is my way of expressing my gratitude to the
Philippine Army, for the sacrifices they have given in protecting the Filipino
people in general, and for securing the province of Surigao del Sur from
lawless elements in particular," said Gov. Pimentel.
The official recalled that when he first won as
governor in 2001, the peace and order situation was shaky and the province
became the hotbed of communist insurgency.
“Aside from extorting 'revolutionary taxes' which
is nothing but a euphemism, for protection money, from private corporations and
contractors, incidents of burning of hauling trucks and other construction
equipment and cutting or uprooting of plated banana trees were being
perpetrated by the communist groups,” the governor said.
In partnership with the military and police, the
people of this province gradually gave their support to the government
initiatives, and several programs and projects have already reached even in
far-flung areas, the governor said. "Slowly, public and private
investments started to come in," Pimentel noted.
Meanwhile, Governor Pimentel said he is supporting
the marching order of President Rodrigo Duterte to use all military assets
against communist groups, as “we remain hopeful that a parallel track for
peaceful resolution remains to be an option in the negotiating table.”
(PIA-Surigao del Sur)
AgNor coop's credit line up to 250%
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 4 - The Baleguian Organic Farmers
Irrigators Association (BOFIA) in Jabonga town has expressed gratitude to the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Norte for this year’s
approved credit line increased under the credit program called APCP (Agrarian
Production Credit Program).
In the first semester, its credit line approved
reaches to P5 million up about 250 percent from the P2 million granted in 2016.
Recognized as the outstanding organization in 2016
benchmark for its excellent performance and impressive growth, BOFIA represents
the fastest growing agrarian-organization in Agusan del Norte for its
micro-lending under APCP.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Andre
B. Atega, CESO V, said that BOFIA’s economic success is made possible through
financial discipline system implemented which resulted to a 100 percent
repayment of loans to its members.
According to APCP Point Person Luningning B. Ycoy,
the loan assistance for BOFIA’s Integrated Rice Production benefits 63 members
who are also covered by crop insurance package in partnership with the
Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
Ycoy said that BOFIA was granted an initial release
of P900,000 last March 2017, benefitting 24 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)
covering an area of 36 hectares and the second released amounting to P1,452,500
last April with 27 ARBs benefitted, covering an area of 51 hectares.
Winefredo Maldo, an agrarian reform beneficiary and
the Chairperson of BOFIA, said that its member’s income now increased because
of low-interest rate compared from informal moneylenders such as traders and
input suppliers.
According to Maldo, his fellow farmer-beneficiaries
are now able to support their children to school. Some said that they can now
buy their household needs, and able to purchase agricultural inputs.
“Nagpasalamat kami ni President Duterte ug sa iyang
tinugyanan sa ahensya nga si DAR Secretary Rafael 'Ka Paeng' Mariano, na usa
usab ka mag-uuma, usa ka tawo nga maantigo nga mosabot sa panginahanglanon sa
mga mag-uuma (we are just thankful to the President Duterte for appointing DAR
Secretary Rafael 'Ka Paeng' Mariano, who is also known for being a farmer, for
his initiative to meet the needs of the farmers,” Maldo said in a vernacular.
The program is a joint credit and capacity
development initiative among the DAR, Department of Agriculture and Landbank.
It is designed to respond to the credit needs of agrarian reform beneficiaries
(ARBs) for various economic projects such as agricultural crop production,
agri-enterprise, and livelihood projects. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)
Bislig joins ASEAN landmark lighting
BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 4 (PIA) - Mark
your calendars and catch another history as the city of Bislig, the only city
to represent the entire Caraga Region, underpins its name to be part of this
year’s ASEAN’s landmark lighting on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2017 at the Herculano
BasaΓ±ez Boulevard (Baywalk) bearing the theme, “Under one light we are one
ASEAN."
Commemorating the ASEAN’s 50th founding
anniversary, the activity aims to raise the level of public awareness on the
importance and benefits of the ASEAN community. This celebration will be held
simultaneously in the capitals of the ASEAN member states namely: Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, and
Brunei, which will be participated by the 50 key cities of the Philippines with
their historical landmarks chosen by the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG).
The program will commence with a loud siren of
“Pamukaw” at 5:00 a.m. at Barangay Mangagoy and Poblacion. “Kanami Hinang Art
Exhibits” will follow at 1:00 p.m. presenting different interesting arts of the
city. Immediately, at 3:00 p.m. “Pakuga sa Dakbayan” motorcade will tour around
Poblacion, Mangagoy, and Tabon with BCNHS DBLC. Then, “Pabibo Lyre Band
Exhibition” at 4:30 p.m. will be done showcasing the enthusiastic lyre bands.
Additionally, the “Pasundayag” and “Kawadang sa
Karsada” will take place at exactly 5:00 p.m. The event continues, as 50 chosen
landmarks of the Philippines, in which Bislig City is one, will execute the
most awaited lighting of ASEAN lantern simultaneously.
The lighting ceremony will start at exactly 7:00
p.m. to be led by Cong. Johnny T. Pimentel, Gov. Vicente T. Pimentel, Jr., City
Mayor Librado C. Navarro together with the City Councilors, and the DILG
Director Olivia P. Bagasbas that will surely lighten up the said venue and the
entire Philippines as a whole.
These 50 chosen landmarks are in consonance with
the 50th ASEAN golden anniversary celebration. Lastly, at 7:30 p.m. “Pasiga
Fireworks Display, Pabibo Dance and Music Concert” will entertain the people.
Furthermore, the event will definitely feature the best of Bislig’s arts,
talents, and skills as lots of activities await everyone who wants to party and
celebrate ASEAN’s golden anniversary. (with reports from LSElechicon,
KACPoliran, NBBanda/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Soldier wounded while securing tourist destination
in Agusan del Sur
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 4 – A soldier of
the 3rd Special Forces Battalion was hurt during an encounter with the New
People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Brgy. San Lorenzo of this town at 4:00 p.m. on
August 2, 2017.
The troops were on patrol near Bega Falls, a
popular tourist spot in Brgy. Mabuhay, Prosperidad when they chanced upon the
NPAs after responding to reports from residents that the rebels were extorting
from them.
Private First Class Jordan Padua was wounded during
a 10-minute running gun battle while pursuing the escaping NPAs who managed to
occupy a vantage position to cover the withdrawal of their wounded
comrades. PFC Padua was immediately
extricated from the area and was brought to D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital, Patin-ay,
this province, for medical treatment.
Bega Falls, a popular tourist destination in the
province is frequented by both local and foreign vacationers. The NPA’s extortion activities in the area
has threatened the security of both the tourists and residents making gainful
living; thus, prompted the soldiers to conduct constant patrols to ensure its
viability as a tourist attraction.
Col. Andres Centino, 401st Brigade commander,
recognized the importance of Bega Falls to the Province of Agusan del Sur as a
tourist destination and a source of livelihood to the residents of this town.
He pledged the continuing support of the Brigade in making the area safe. “We
will continue to support the Government Projects and Programs in securing
communities particularly tourist destination areas as these will help uplift
the economic conditions of the populace once developed,” he underlined. (401st
Brigade, Phil. Army/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
News Feature: KMME Module 6 mentor tells mentees:
Know your supply and value chain, know your business
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 4 - When and
how many to produce? What is the best mode in delivering products? What will
you do when suppliers cannot provide the raw materials needed for your
business?
These and more accordingly are the possible
problems mentees will encounter in operating their businesses.
The solutions to the same were discussed with the
mentees by Pierre Carlo Curay, mentor for the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Module 6
on Supply and Value Chain Seminar held recently here.
“BUSINESS is a SUPPLY CHAIN itself. The supply
chain is the whole business operation process. Knowing your supply chain is
knowing your business. Entrepreneurs should optimize the management of supply
chain in delivering what the customers want, when they want it, with lesser
expense,” said Curay, the module mentor.
Madelyn Alvizo, one of the mentees, expressed her
gratitude because, after the module inputs and several workshops, she now
understands and knows how to cope with problems like ensuring availability of
raw materials, the volume she has to produce and how to determine the re-order
point level of her production supplies.“
Alvizo is among the first batch of 25 pre-selected
micro, small and medium enterprise (MSMEs) or mentees in the province set to
undergo 10 modules before they can “graduate” upon completion of their business
improvement plans. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
AgSur Negosyo Center hosts DTI briefing for
business operators on trade, industry laws
TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 4 - “Daghan ko ug
nahibaloan mahitungod sa pagbutang ug mga presyo sa produkto nga among
gibaligya ug hilabina gayud sa paghatag ug ensaktong sukli sa customers (I’ve
learned a lot on how to put the right pricing of the sellable products, and
especially the giving of exact change to customers).”
This was the impression of Evelyn Durango of
Durango Store in San Nicolas, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur during the Business
Education Seminar (BES) recently conducted at the Negosyo Center in San
Agustin, Talacogon, this province.
The BES was conducted to brief the business owners
on business-related laws for compliance as well as to raise their awareness on
consumerism.
Provisions of the Price Tag Law (R.A. 71) and the
No Shortchanging Act of 2016 (R.A 10909) were discussed in detail to ensure
that the participants will be well-informed on their responsibilities and
obligations.
The Price Tag Law requires that all consumer
products sold in retail shall bear an appropriate price tag, label or marking
indicating the price of the item except for minute or tiny articles which only
requires price list or poster.
While the No Shortchanging Act of 2016 prohibits
the business establishments from giving insufficient or no change to consumers.
Penalties on violations were also discussed.
The business operators promised to do extra effort
to avoid violations on the said laws. DTI Agusan del Sur for its part commit to
conduct quarterly orientation on trade related laws in the municipality.
(DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
SSS to cover movie and television workers
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 4 - The Social Security System
(SSS) will soon cover 1,600 movie and television industry workers after signing
a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Katipunan ng mga Artistang Pilipino sa
Pelikula at Telebisyon (KAPPT) or the Actors Guild of the Philippines last
Friday.
The existing partnership dubbed as “ArtistaSSSya”
will work on the compulsory coverage and remittance of SSS contributions of
self-employed KAPPT members composed of actors, actresses, singers, producers,
stage personalities, commercial artists, and stunt men.
“Art is the highest form of expression so we should
take care of our people in the movie industry. We must ensure that they will
have a secure future especially when they retire,” said Social Security
Commission Chairman Amado Valdez who initiated the coverage of self-employed
KAPPT members.
Under the agreement, SSS will designate an Account
Officer (AO) who will conduct on-site registration of all qualified KAPPT
members. The AO will also facilitate all SSS transactions, such as processing
of registration forms; receipt of reports, application forms and other SSS
documents; and enrollment to the Unified Multi-purpose Identification (UMID)
Card.
KAPPT President Imelda A. Papin said that to
encourage SSS membership, the association will pay for the initial
contributions of its members.
“The board decided to pay the initial SSS
contributions of the first 250 active members to encourage others to join so
that each one of us can say na nakasandal na kami sa pader. It is a blessing
that SSS provided us an office which will be home of Filipino artists,” Papin
said.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel
F. Dooc called the MOA signing a celebration.
“Truth is, many of us Filipinos rely on our own
families for social security. It is high time that we change this mindset
because our family’s financials may be limited or have already dried up. But
with SSS, you are assured of assistance in times of contingencies. So today is
a celebration because we have come to realize the importance of SSS for social
security,” said Dooc.
The pension fund will conduct information seminars
and provide SSS reference materials to KAPPT to educate its members.
Orientations will be held to teach KAPPT members how to use the SSS online
facility to check their personal records as well as payment options.
Given their wide degree of influence, KAPPT will
act as advocate of social security protection by educating its members with SSS
programs, policies, benefits, and privileges using their website, social media
sites and newsletter. The organization is required to create an SSS corner in
KAPPT areas, districts, and chapters. (SSS/PIA-Caraga)
