Geo-SAFER Mindanao program launching set in Butuan
City
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) – The Department of
Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging
Technology and Development (DOST-PCIEERD)-funded research program entitled
“Geo-informatics for the Systematic Assessment of Flood Effects and Risks
towards a Resilient Mindanao" (Geo-SAFER Mindanao) will be launched on
Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at the LMX Convention Center in this city.
“The event will showcase the new program which aims
to continue the detailed flood hazard mapping of Mindanao using the Light
Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology,” said Engr. Meriam Santillan, project
leader of Geo-SAFER Agusan.
Santillan also said that the activity aims to
acknowledge the committed partner agencies and the local government units from
different parts in Mindanao. “We encourage them to work with us in building and
delivering Geo-informatics-based tools and solutions to enhance flood disaster
management and mitigation in this part of the country,” she said.
DOST Sec. Fortunato Dela Pena will give a message
during the activity, it was learned.
The Geo-SAFER Mindanao Program intends to continue
the Phil-LiDAR 1 Program through the coverage of the remaining flood hazard
maps in the country using the LiDAR technology and is implemented by five
Higher Educational Institutions in Mindanao.
Accordingly, the said program aims to establish the
MinDSET Center (Mindanao Data Science, Engineering and Technology Center), an
online facility meant for the collaboration and access of scientific data among
stakeholders and end-users of the program. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
CARAT Expo 2017 scales up for increased
productivity in Caraga region
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) – With an aim to promote,
strengthen and mainstream the agri-aqua produce and trade industry in Caraga
region, the Butuan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc.
(BCCCIFI) is all set for this year’s Caraga Agricultural Trade and Marketing
Exposition or the CARAT Expo 2017
It will be a 6-day event slated on August 8-13,
2017 to be held here with a theme, “Zoom up Caraga! Responding to challenges in
agri-aqua productivity, responsible mining and progressive entrepreneurship.”
Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga regional
director Abel James Monteagudo said during a press conference that they are
glad to be part of the CARAT Expo 2017 activities and he hoped to build a
continuing strong partnership with the Chamber of Commerce in working together
to level up the agriculture industry in the region.
Meanwhile, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) Caraga regional director Juan Albaladejo reassured that the
bureau shares an affirmative effort in maximizing its resources in pushing
forth the valuable programs and projects in fishery and aquatic field.
“Some 200 lobster cages are now existing in Dinagat
Islands,” mentioned Albaladejo.
Programs in Science and Technology (S&T) are
also given a boost in the region, underscored Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) Caraga regional director Dominga Mallonga. She also said that
they are into innovations that work for the environmental management and the
Caraga State University has its ongoing research and development undertakings.
A technology for the treatment of household waste
is being piloted in Siargao according to Mallonga. Said innovative technology
is very useful such that bacteria on wastes will be reduced. “It will
definitely help preserve and protect the environment from pollution and
degradation,” added Mallonga.
As to disaster risk reduction and management
innovation, DOST Caraga will be launching one of the outputs of the Caraga
State University during the S&T Week which will be celebrated on the same
dates.
As mentioned also by Mallonga, DOST has its
harmonized National Science and Technology Agenda which include Reseach and
Development (R&D) efforts for food, agri-aqua, among others. They are also
pushing the universities to take advantage of the support coming from the
department since its budget has increased to address the needs of the region.
“We are encouraging the Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs)/State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to take advantage of
the support coming from DOST. They should come up with a research and/or
project that is of advantage to the region's environment and sustained
progress,” emphasized Mallonga.
Mallonga also said that a state-of-the-art
equipment that will help Caraganons in improving and developing the quality of
their products will be launched in August 8, 2017, in the city.
“We are in full support to the activities of the
Chamber of Commerce. It is really an opportune time because the department will
also be holding the Science and Technology Week wherein the advance technologies
will be featured in the exhibits," she added.
Meanwhile, BCCCIFI president Roger Ramirez said
that trade fair, product exhibit, skills demo and competition, agricultural and
aquatic products demo, singing and dance contest, CARAT inspired fashion
designing and modeling contest, and the different programs will be held at the
Robinsons Place Butuan. Agricultural retailers and wholesalers, food producers,
agronomics, agriculturists, farmers, manufacturers, food traders, and exporters
will have the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate their produce.
To be highlighted also will be the hosting of the
21st Caraga Business Conference on August 11, 2017, which will be held at the
Grand Palace Hotel, this city.
“Apart from this year’s significant activities, it
will also be another exciting year in 2018 because Caraga region will be
participating and hosting the Mindanao-wide Food Summit in partnership with
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA),” said Ramirez.
Awarding of prizes to the winning individuals and
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) skills competition
winners, and giving of certificates to the partners and exhibitors will
conclude the week-long CARAT Expo 2017. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
AgSur producers rack up sales at the ‘Buy Caraga by
Caraga’ Trade Fair: Balanghai Edition
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 7 – Five food
producers of this province have generated some P655,038.00 sales during the
5-day "Buy Caraga, By Caraga" Trade Fair: Balanghai Edition recently.
The products sold were mangosteen tea, coconut
sugar, roasted corn, banana chips and tropical fruit wine. Of the combined sales, 19 percent were in
cash, 41 percent booked orders and 40 percent were under negotiation.
The top-seller was mangosteen tea contributing 77
percent to the total sales; banana chips placed second at 12 percent
contribution.
Participating producers include Janicahh Food
Products, Buena Palma Corp., Sunrise Corn Coffee, Guapz Snack Food Products and
Bundy Wine Products.
The Department of Trade and Industry-Agusan del Sur
Provincial Office has been continuously providing technical assistance to this
group and the rest of the province’s micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME)
sector in the areas of business licensing and other-related registration
processing and facilitation, pre-trade fair briefings/reminders, secretariat
and coordination support, consultancy and advisory services on product
packaging/labeling and trade fair participation.
The “Buy Caraga, By Caraga” is a regional fair done
twice each year. As in all other fairs, it allows producers to showcase their
new and existing products to a wider market that includes end-users and
institutional buyers, get exposure to market and competitors which give them
ideas on how to develop further their products and obtain direct feedback from
customers through offering free taste for food products.
Customer feedback most often becomes a basis for
further product improvement. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DTI conducts briefing on Price Act in AgSur town,
sees organization of local price council soon
VERUELA, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 7 - The Department of
Trade and Industry Agusan del Sur (DTI-AdS) Provincial Office recently
conducted a briefing on the Price Act to the chiefs of offices, some members of
the Sangguniang Bayan of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Veruela, as well as
non-government organizations (NGOs).
Those present include possible members to the
Veruela Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC), the executive order of which
for its formation is now on its first draft, as reported by the representative
of Mayor Myrna Mondejar - Fernand EscaΓ±o.
The session was conducted three days before the
lifting of the 60-day price freeze, which was imposed as a result of the declaration
of martial law. The Price Act or Republic Act 7581 provides that even if
martial law will be extended, the price freeze which was imposed for basic
necessities starting the day martial law was declared last May 23, 2017, will
only be limited to 60 days.
During the briefing, Cerila Inson of the DTI-AdS
Consumer Protection Unit mentioned that under this Law, the state has to ensure
the availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable
prices at all times without denying the legitimate business a fair return on
investment.
Implementing agencies like DTI, Department of
Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the
Department of Health have to do their respective functions to monitor prices,
analyze trends, ensure fair business, stability of prices and access to basic
necessities even and especially during calamities, emergencies, and state of
rebellion and/or during Martial Law.
In her message, DTI OIC-Provincial Director Brenda
Corvera also updated LGU-Veruela of the other programs of the DTI. She expressed her thanks upon learning that
finally, LGU Veruela will be forming its LPCC soon. Once established, this would bring the province’s
compliance in terms of having all LGUs with a working LPCC at around 86
percent. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan
del Sur)
