FSUU set to conduct 3rd Mindanao Peace Conference
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) – The Father Saturnino
Urios University (FSUU) will be holding the 3rd Mindanao Peace Conference with
the theme, “Peace and Culture: Cultivating Peace through Deeper Understanding,”
on November 21-22, 2017 in this city.
The conference is the final part of a trilogy of
peace conferences aimed towards bringing together voices from both inside and
outside the academe, especially voices that are often marginalized in
conversations about peace and culture.
According to Rev. Fr. Randy Jasper C. Odchigue,
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research of FSUU, the first day of the
conference will highlight music, arts and cultural dance workshops, live
performances, and an Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Forum to make participants aware of
the experiences of IPs in pursuing peace and preservation of culture.
“A Junior Scholars Forum will also be conducted to
provide a platform for undergraduates and beginning scholars to present their
works and share their thoughts related to the theme,” said Odchigue.
On the second day of the conference will be the
plenary talks and paper presentations by established scholars.
Atty. Maisara Dandanum-Latiph, Commissioner of the
Bangsamoro Transition Commission and Professor Antonio Gabriel Laviña, Executive
Director of the Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University are the invited
keynote speakers. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Butuan LGU surpasses revenue collection performance
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 16 – The Butuan city government
has surpassed its performance in 2016 by posting a collection performance of
106.95 percent from January to October 2017, compared to the same period last
year. The performance translated to a revenue collection of more than P446
million as of October 2017.
The surpassing of the collection performance of the
City Treasurer’s Office was primarily due to the increase in the business tax
collection in which they have already attained their target as early as
October.
Revenue on business tax already reached more than
P205 million and account for 43 percent in the total revenue collection of the
city.
According to Acting City Treasurer Hernando G.
Curilan, Jr., one of the reasons in the attainment of their target was their
aggressive tax collection campaign.
The Business Process Licensing Office (BPLO) also
contributed to this increase with their aggressive campaign against
establishments that do not possess business permits. (Butuan City
PIO/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte LGU holds values formation seminar
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Nov. 16 - A three-day Values
Formation Training and Orientation under Service Oriented Leadership (SOL),
aligned with the provincial government of Surigao del Norte core competencies
dubbed “Ang Bag-ong Surigao,” was conducted at the Provincial Go Negosyo
Training Center on November 8-10, 2017.
In his opening address, Atty. Premolito Plaza,
provincial administrator, said that values are subjective, depending on our
upbringing, understanding and distinguishing right from wrong. He said that
Capitol employees must at all times maintain professionalism, decency and hard
work. He also explained the hierarchy of needs based on the precepts of Abraham
Maslow which ultimately drives 5S: self-preservation, security, social
fulfilment, self-accomplishment and self-actualization.
"To realize these, rank-and-file personnel and
technical staff must be productive, since there is no monopoly of
knowledge," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Atty. Zander Plaza explained the
overview of the training, as well as the in-house and external training
programs respecting organizational needs, lack of mechanisms, productivity
level and return of investment.
Assistant Provincial Human Resources Management and
Development Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Edna Note, who facilitated the meaningful
event, also talked about the effective grievance mechanisms, house rules, and
expectations that concern participants, facilitators, training modules and the
training environment.
Provincial women’s training coordinator Florian
Trinidad also lectured on the 1995 Philippine Plan for Gender and Development
by virtue of Executive Order No. 273 and pursuant to Art. 2, Sec. 14, of the
1987 Constitution, which provides that women's rights must be sustainable, free
from violence, respected, and equitable. She also differentiated gender
(cultural) from sex (biological) after detailing the issues faced by the
women's sector such as multiple burden, canalization, and discrimination, among
others.
Provincial Development Coordinator Arturo Cruje
also shared his inputs about the provincial directions and targets in
consonance with the HEALS PLUS (Health, Education and Environment, Agri-Aquaculture,
Livelihood and Tourism and Social Service, Spirituality, Senior Citizens and
Security) program that must be fully implemented starting the year 2018.
Cruje also borrowed the words of Harry Kemp, who
asserted that 'the poorest of all men are not without cent, but the poorest of
them all are those who do not have dreams.'
Cruje further revealed that the poverty incidence
of the province dropped rapidly and dramatically from 48 percent in 2006, to 32
percent in 2015, and further to 26 percent in 2016, based on the official data
released by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). Cruje said that
much still needs to be done, but the best is sure to come. (PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
Weaving the tapestry of success
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 16 – “In the tapestry of life,
we’re all connected. Each one of us is a gift to those around us; helping each
other be who we are, weaving a perfect picture together.”
This is the perfect quote for the Benchmarking and
Skills Training in Weaving with Yakan Weavers of Albarakkattu Multi-Purpose
Cooperative that was held on October 16-19, 2017 in Albarakkattu, Zamboanga
City, led by Gemma L. Clarin and Efren L. Lascuña of the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI)-Strike Team.
Seven Manobo delegates from the Mt. Mayapay Tribal
Council of Butuan City actively participated in the skills training.
The yakan weavers of the Albarakkattu Multi-Purpose
Cooperative, in return, were very enthusiastic in sharing and explaining the
craft to the participants. The experience was indeed a very educative one for
the participants, who even had the chance to try weaving the cloth themselves.
The knowledge that they have gathered from the experience definitely ignited a
spark in their hearts and minds for their upcoming endeavor in weaving and
basket making.
As they left for their journey home, the tapestry
of success was surely shared to the seven participants and the thread of
entrepreneurship linked on to the new group of weavers of the Mayapay Tribal
Council, through the efforts of the Strike Team of the DTI-Strike Program. (DTI-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)