Surigao Norte initiates PopDev events
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Nov. 2 – With an aim to gauge
people’s understanding on population, reproductive and health issues, Surigao
del Norte local government held a province-wide population development (PopDev)
quiz and essay writing competition on October 26 at the Provincial Convention
Center.
There were eight participants from Department of
Education (DepEd) Siargao Division and 12 from the mainland DepEd Division who
figured during the popquiz. Around 19 schools from the island also took part
during the essay writing contest while 35 contestants hailed from mainland
DepEd Division.
Andre Calaque, advocacy officer of the
Anti-Trafficking Division reminded the youth to combat teenage pregnancy and
pre-marital sex by embracing meaningful advocacies like birth control, family
planning and population control.
Also, Dr. Dominique Larong, Jr. of DepEd stressed
the crucial role of young individuals in the national development and that they
need to be given appropriate information and awareness to realize their
potentials as agents for change.
For popquiz, in the mainland DepEd Division,
Patricia Mae Galagal from Gigaquit National School of Home Economics was
proclaimed winner along with her coach, Rosillo Apatan. Janiel Grace Jerusalem,
together with coach Lilibeth Leopoldo, of Alegria National High School placed
second. Trailing behind in the third spot was Lady Mae Galula of Tubod National
High School, accompanied by coach Josephine Bordas.
In Siargao Division, the following won: Jancris
Espin, for the first prize, under the supervision of coach Aijy Mar Tesiorna
from Oguing National High School in Del Carmen; Marsha Ella Macerin of Siargao
National High School in Dapa, coached by Jane Nicayas, as second place and
Keith Marian Antipasado ranked third along with her coach, Jose Zandy Tiu of
Gen. Luna National High School.
For the essay-writing tilt, Princess Alne Baygan of
Tubod National High School earned the first spot. She was coached by Josephine
Bordas. Keyrol Van Biol of Surigao del Norte National High School seconded
beside Dr. Robin Santillan, coach. Shadowing in third place was Aryl Ruaya of
Placer National High School, in the company of his coach Romy Tombaga.
For Siargao Division, Kimberly Rasonable of Burgos
National High School got the first place, through the guidance of her coach,
Lalaine Arcena. Bethel An Escamilla of Gen. Luna National High School, came in
second, with coach Sandy Tiu. Anna Marie Resaure of Union National High School,
in Dapa, emerged third with mentor, Josephine Polvoroza. (VLG/PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
SSS bags 2017 government best practice award
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 2 – The Social Security System
(SSS) bagged the 2017 Government Best Practice Award (GBPR) from the
Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) for its implementation of the
AlkanSSSya Program to intensify social security coverage among informal sector
workers (ISWs).
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel
F. Dooc received the award on October 11, 2017 with other recipients namely,
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 9, the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 5, and the City Government of Valenzuela.
“From the 15 entries submitted by government
institutions and local government units, we are greatly humbled that DAP has
commended our innovative and strategic approaches to make AlkanSSSya Program
more sustainable for our growing number of members in the informal economy,”
Dooc said.
Launched in 2012, the SSS AlkanSSSya Program is an
“out-of-the-box and wholesale approach to cover workers in the informal sector
as well as to develop their financial discipline of saving.” As of June 2017,
AlkanSSSya has 1,395 program partners – 402 in National Capital Region (NCR),
583 in Luzon, 215 in Visayas and 195 in Mindanao Region.
In a span of six years, the program has expanded
its membership among Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA),
barangay employees, community-based organizations, market vendors, farmers,
jail inmates, jeepney operators and drivers, cooperative members, golf club
caddies/umbrella girls, and pedicab operators and drivers.
During the final presentation of the pension fund’s
entry titled "AlkanSSSya Program: Towards Intensified Coverage of the
Informal Sector", SSS Senior Vice President for Administration Group and
concurrent officer-in-charge for Public Affairs and Special Events Division May
Catherine C. Ciriaco emphasized that convenience, affordability, and
sustainability are the program's three salient features that led to its
successful implementation.
“As we recognize the vulnerability of informal
sector workers in terms of their nature of work and irregularity of income, the
SSS established an integrated payment system which makes payment of
contributions simple and affordable. Similar to piggy banks, members can save a
part of their daily income for as low as P12 per day in personalized metal
compartments installed in locations accessible to them so that they can
complete their monthly contributions to SSS,” Ciriaco said.
The six-year implementation of the microsavings
scheme resulted in additional membership of over 100,000 with an equivalent
collection of P537.31 million as of June 2017.
With the significant results achieved by the
AlkanSSSya Program, SSS was also awarded by the International Social Security
Association (ISSA) and ASEAN Social Security Association in 2015 for promoting
inclusive growth among informal sector workers.
The SSS Chief also cited their next steps in
achieving the overall sustainability of the program such as aggressive
information campaign among the informal sector and by introducing new
registration and payment platforms.
“We cannot achieve program sustainability without
our member’s high level of appreciation on the long-term benefits of being an
SSS member. That’s why we are continuously creating innovations as we aim to
bring SSS closer to all working Filipinos regardless of their economic class.
We’re also planning to enhance our policies and guidelines in selecting
organized groups to ensure the overall sustainability of the AlkanSSSya
Program,” Dooc concluded. (SSS/PIA-Caraga)
AgSur’s KBP Hour Teleradyo tackles benefits,
privileges of senior citizens
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 2 – In its recent
simulcast, the weekly Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Agusan del
Sur and Surigao del Sur Chapter Hour discussed the senior citizens act and the
privileges and benefits of the said concerned sector.
Cerila Inson and Jardynne Narvasa of the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Sur-Consumer Protection Unit provided
inputs on the discounts the senior citizens can avail in buying basic
necessities and prime commodities as provided in the Joint Administrative Order
No. 17-02 series of 2017, of DTI, Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department
of Energy (DOE). Products added for discounts include Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(LPG) and kerosene.
Also present during the regular radio program aired
from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. from its “home” provided by the Agusan del Sur
Electric Cooperative (ASELCO) were special guests Ludivicio Viajar, Federation
President of Senior Citizens in Agusan del Sur and Cerconcesion Rufila,
Municipal President of the Senior Citizens in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Viajar mentioned that their members already enjoyed
the discount on utilities, which are reflected in their power and water bills.
They now are also receiving their social pension.
Media present were station managers Maximo Tutor of
dxSF-FM, Alfredo Lobog of dxAK-Bunawan, and Jordan Udtuhan of One Radio-Bayugan
City. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
AgSur consumer group does ‘Green Learning Tour,’
visits two green practitioners
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 2 – As part of
the activities for the celebration of Consumer Welfare Month, the Pagpakabana
sa Katungod sa Konsumador sa Agusan del Sur (PAKKADS), the consumer group in
the province, staff from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Francisco and
media officers of the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) visited
two green practitioners/producers in the province.
The Department of Trade and Industry Agusan del Sur
(DTI-AdS) facilitated the learning tour to the Foundation for the Development
of Agusanons, Inc. (FDAI) and the Kaagap Development MultiPurpose Cooperative
(KaagapMuCo).
The two producers have been selling their produce
within and outside the province.
They are also known advocates of greening practices
for the health of the consumers and the preservation of the environment.
FDAI thru Hygeia Integrameds Center is producing
and selling powdered herbal products like salabat, turmeric, tanglad, sambong,
black rice and virgin coconut oil.
KaagapMuCo also produces virgin coconut oil,
geonet, organic fertilizer, biologs, copra and bio-fuel.
DxDA Station Manager Alfredo Plaza, said with his
exposure to these government assisted projects, he could say that if there is
unity and hard work, then there is no reason for hunger to be happening.
Rev. Solomon Bilaoen, President of PAKKADS noted
that although the tour was only brief, it gave him lots of learning.
The group of senior citizens, on the other hand
expressed their appreciation for the learning visit as it reminded them how
they grew their food before.
Cerila P. Inson, Jardynne R. Narvasa and Gideon B.
Ursos represented DTI AdS. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DTI-AgSur conducts monitoring of Christmas lights,
other products under mandatory certification

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 2 – Monitored
Christmas lights and other products under mandatory certification are found
compliant on product standard (PS) markings.
This has been noted during the product standards
monitoring conducted in the municipality of San Francisco, this province.
Products monitored include Christmas lights,
cement, electrical plugs, sockets, compact fluorescent lamps, electrical tape,
switches and desk fans. All of these products were found to be bearing the
corresponding PS or import commodity clearance (ICC) markings.
The monitoring team was composed of the Consumer
Protection staff from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga
Regional and Agusan del Sur (ADS) Provincial Office.
The team checked and monitored products subject for
certification by the Bureau of Product Standards to ensure they are safe for
consumers’ use.
DTI AdS will conduct other rounds of PS monitoring
in other business centers in the province. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del
Sur)
Over 4,000 cops deployed in Caraga for Undas 2017

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 2 – More than 4,200 police
officers in Caraga were deployed to the streets, churches, cemeteries and other
places of convergence to secure the celebration of All Saints' Day and All
Souls’ day.
A total of 4,034 cops from the Philippine National
Police (PNP) unit regionwide and 265 uniformed personnel from the headquarters
of Police Regional Office (PRO)-13 and national support units were deployed to
provide maximum security coverage and public safety services.
“We ensure that the holiday runs smoothly in
partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs), other government agencies,
communities, force multipliers and other stakeholders. Let us work together to
make these occasions more peaceful and safer,” PCSupt. Rolando Felix, PRO-13
Caraga Regional Director, said earlier during the send-off ceremony at the
regional headquarters.
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The deployed cops conducted foot and mobile
patrols, served as road safety marshals, established and manned police
assistance hubs and intensified intelligence and counterintelligence monitoring
to maintain peace, order and security in the whole region. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
