SurSur Lumads flee due to threat from armed men
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Dec. 8 (PIA) – Around
20 indigenous people (IP) families fled from their homes after the New People’s
Army (NPA) rebels allegedly threatened the community of Sitio Lagangan, Brgy
Caras-an, Tago, Surigao del Sur on Monday, December 4, 2017.
According to 402nd Civil Military Operation Officer
Captain Al Anthony Pueblas, the Lumads belonging to the Manobo tribe left their
homes and sought shelter with their relatives in Brgy Caras-an, Tago town.
One of the evacuees, a certain “Inday” (not her
real name), said that the rebels had always been a threat to their lives.
"Nagpaila sila nga sundalo sa kabus apan
sukwahi kini sa ilahang gipakita sa amoa. Binulan kini silang nagapangayo sa
amo ug butaw. Tanang nagpangidarun ug kinse anyos pataas matag bobong ila
kining gipangayuan ug singko pesos kada bulan. (They introduced themselves to
us as soldiers but they did not act like soldiers. They have been asking for
revolutionary tax from us monthly. They are asking above five pesos every month
from Lumads who are 15 years old and above)," Inday said.
Pueblas said the rebels continue to disrespect and
violate the rights of the Lumads to live peacefully.
Meanwhile, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tago
headed by Mayor Rogelio M. Pimentel, together with the security forces and
other concerned agencies, convened and discussed the situation to help the
evacuees.
“The NPA had violated the Comprehensive Agreement
on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) again. They [NPA] should respect
the rights of our Lumad brothers and the CARHRIHL, of which they were
signatory. The Philippine Army will take appropriate action on this. We will
not allow these NPAs to displace the normal lives of our Lumad brothers,” said 402nd
Brigade Commander BGen. Franco Nemesio Gacal. (w/ a report from 402nd
Brigade/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Nasipit regulates dispensing of pharmaceutical
products
By Jessica O. Mellejor

NASIPIT, Agusan del Norte, Dec. 8 – The
municipality of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte is now regulating the dispensing of
pharmaceutical products to avoid misuse and to promote responsible use of
medicines in the said municipality, based on the approved Municipal Ordinance
No. 010, series of 2017, authored by Sangguniang Bayan Member Benjamin S.
Selim.
Under Section 2 of the said ordinance, it shall be
unlawful for any person, partnership, or corporation, to display and sell any
drugs, medicines and other health products, unless such display and sale is a
duly licensed drug store or pharmaceutical company and with the prescription of
a qualified medical practitioner.
This is in line with the Republic Act (R.A.) no.
9711, otherwise known as the 'Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009,' which
provides that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the authorized agency
to give license to all establishments to manufacture, import, export, sell,
offer for sale, distribute, transfer, and where applicable, to use, test,
promote, advertise, and/or sponsor health products.
The municipality is imposing the following
penalties for any act of violation to the said ordinance: 1st Offense –
reprimand; 2nd Offense – a fine of P2,000 and confiscation of pharmaceutical
products; and 3rd Offense – a fine of P2,500, confiscation of pharmaceutical
products and cancellation of Business Permit.
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The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved said
ordinance through Sanggunian Resolution No. 277-2017 and with the efforts of
Vice Governor Ramon A G. Bungabong. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Tagalog News: Kahalagaan ng mga kabataang katutubo sa pagsugpo ng insurhensiya, tinalakay
Ni Nora C. Lanuza Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Dis. 8 (PIA) – Sa pangunguna ng 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) at 4th Infantry Brigade ng Philippine Army, mahigit 80 kabataang katutubo ang lumahok sa ginanap na 1st Indigenous People Youth Leadership Summit (IP YLS) sa lungsod ng Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.
Sa loob ng tatlong araw, nagkaroon ng iba't ibang gawain ang mga nagsipaglahok upang malaman nila ang kanilang kahalagahan sa kanilang lokalidad at kani-kanilang mga komunidad.
Ibinahagi rin ng 29IB ang kahalagaan ng mga kabataan sa pagsugpo ng insurhensiya at kung paano sila maging isang productive citizen.
Ayon kay 402nd Brigade Commander Col. Nemesio Gacal, ang YLS ay isang paraan upang ang mga kabataang katutubo ay maging alerto laban sa insurhensiya lalo na’t sila ang pangunahing target ng recruitment ng New People's Army (NPA). Kailangan nilang malaman na apektado sila sa problemang ito upang mamulat rin sila sa katotohanan na maraming problemang pinagdaraanan ang ating bansa, at na malaki ang maitutulong nila sa paglutas ng mga ito.
Sa ginawang Summit, nalinawan din ang puso’t isipan ni Monica Zambon, isang Mamanwa mula sa Brgy. Mahayahay ng Kitcharao.
Ayon kay Monica, hindi dapat nagpapadala ang mga kabataan sa anumang impluwensya sa kabila [NPA]; dapat pinapairal ang tama at maganda upang umunlad ang ating bansa. Dagdag pa niya, naniniwala pa rin siya na ang kabataan ang siyang pag asa ng bayan. (NCLM, PIA-Agusan del Norte)
