Caraganons set to celebrate Mindanao Week of Peace
2017
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 28 (PIA) – The Diocese of Butuan,
through the Caraga Conference for Peace and Development (CCPD), in cooperation
with Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Caraga and peace advocates in the
region, will once again gather hundreds of Caraganons to celebrate the annual
Mindanao Week of Peace on December 1-6, 2017 with the theme, “Owning Mindanao
History for Peace and Development.”
Rev. Fr. Carlito Clase, executive director of CCPD
said that Caraga region as predominantly inhabited by Muslims, Christians and
Lumads is not spared from peace challenges. “It also has its share of peace
issues concerning conflict between Christians and Lumads, ‘redos’ of lumads, insurgency
and other forms of criminality,” Clase said.
“These social and cultural issues became a concern
among peace advocates in the region,” he added.
After Marawi siege victims and survivors were
traumatized by the attacks of the ISIS-inspired Maute terrorists, followed by
the announcement of liberation from the declaration of Martial Law, Mindanaoans
were given a stronger reason to celebrate peace in its territories.
“Let us show our strong support of affirmation and
commitment to the Diocese’s collective effort in attaining a harmonious way of
living in the region,” encouraged Clase.
The week-long activity is composed of the following
lined up activities: Peace Forum on Countering Violent Extremism, ecumenical
gathering in commemoration of the 500-year anniversary of the Protestant
Reformation, indigenous peoples (IP) dialogues, youth summit, dialogue among
stakeholders with topics on extortion and revolutionary tax. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Butuanons to join ‘zumbAIDS’
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 28 (PIA) – Butuanons will
participate in a combined fitness and awareness activity dubbed “zumbAIDS” on
December 1, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. to be held simultaneously at the Guingona Park,
Caraga State University (CSU) grounds, J. Rosales Avenue (DBP to Watergate) and
Libertad Sports Complex in this city, as part of the annual observance of World
AIDS Day.
The zumbAIDS is an innovative activity of the local
government of Butuan through the City Health Office and Butuan Medical Center,
in partnership with Caraganon i-Care Inc., a support group for people living
with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS).
According to Anthony Torralba, HIV focal person of
the Butuan City Health Office, this will also promote healthy lifestyle,
including regular exercise regardless of HIV status, elevate voluntary
counseling and testing, and encourage involvement of everyone, as we rally
together to help end the prevalence of AIDS.
“We now have the opportunity to change the course of
the epidemic. This brings with it the obligation to ensure that our resources
are being used in the most efficient and effective ways and are having the
greatest possible impact. The best way to honor people living with HIV and
those we’ve lost is to achieve the greatest possible impact in all the works
that we do to end the epidemic,” said Torralba.
Prior to the zumbAIDS, a week-long mobile voluntary
counseling and testing took place that started on November 24, 2017. A team of
HIV counselors and HIV proficient medical technologists, peer educators and HIV
advocates is conducting the said testing.
World AIDS Day is one of the eight official global
public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along
with the World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week,
World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day and World
Hepatitis Day.
The government stakeholders, health officers,
private organizations and individuals around the world often observe the day
with education on AIDS prevention and control. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DTI monitors establishments in Surigao City
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Nov. 28 – A team
from the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) of the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) Manila conducted a monitoring and enforcement visit in various
business establishments in the city and the towns of Placer and Claver.
The team purposely monitored and looked into
various products under mandatory standards sold by local business entities.
Various establishments having displayed the
products lacking necessary product quality marks or certifications were issued
with a notice of violation and were directed to submit a written formal
explanation.
In this light, DTI Provincial Director Celestino L.
Negapatan reminded the local business community to ensure that the products
they were selling comply with the required products quality certification from
the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), whether their products are electrical
supplies, appliances or construction materials such as cement and steel bars,
among others.
“This is to ensure the safety of the consuming
public who will buy said products,” said Negapatan. (DTI-SDN/PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
Surigao Norte town opens new tourist attraction
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Nov. 28 - In line
with the advocacy of the provincial government of Surigao del Norte to put into
action a full-blown infrastructural growth all across Siargao and mainland
Surigao del Norte, Bacuag municipality mayor Mokee Cebedo led the recent
opening of the Octopus Islet Adventure and hanging bridge.
In order to attract more jobs, increase business
opportunities and improve the transportation systems of the place, Cebedo led
the launching of what is dubbed as a fascinating ride of eight tentacles. This
would mean a total make-over of Brgy. Bitaug.
Part of its development is the establishment of
zipline, great services of the bamboo cottages and restaurants.
By 2018, Cebedo envisioned to build a spectacular
avatar with a swimming pool. This would achieve what the Guiness Book of World
Records has in store, with a special touch of Little Baguio.
In addition, a 7-storey statute of Virgen del
Rosario will also be built at the hilltop.
Cebedo desires to supervise the implementation and
realization of these ambitious projects for the people to enjoy the progress in
the locality.
He seeks to fully expand the municipality and
endeavors to put up the Metro Pension Hotel equipped with an amusement and
entertainment facilities.
With this upcoming development, the local official
assures the public that the rates remain affordable for the general public.
(PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
San Luis rattan "bukag" weavers try their
hands on oil palm strips
SAN LUIS, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 28 – Members of the
San Jose Coco Farmers Association and bukag (rattan) weavers in this town
participated in a three-day training on handicraft production using oil palm
strips, a substitute material.
Some of the participants were skilled weavers who
supply rattan baskets to the cities of Bayugan and Butuan.
Liza Maynagcot from the Municipality of Trento
served as the trainer.
Maynagcot is considered one of the pioneering oil
palm strips weavers. She owns Liza Palm Strips Handicrafts and has been
awarded, together with designer Gina Bagasbas who also hails from Agusan del
Sur, with the Editors' Choice Award for bags, baskets and other housewares made
from oil palm strips during the October Edition of Manila FAME.
Manila FAME is a premier lifestyle trade and
exhibit show organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions &
Missions (CITEM).
The November 22 to 24 training was conducted as
part of the bottom-up budgeting (BuB) project-Furniture Development and
Production of Gifts, Decors, Toys and Housewares Utilizing Rattan, Baloy, Nito
and Agsam, of the local government unit (LGU) of San Luis.
It is also hoped that the output of the
participants will be displayed in the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Store, which
is another San Luis BuB project.
The Department of Trade and Industry-Agusan del Sur
(DTI-AdS) is also hoping that the trainees will become part of the network of
palm strips weavers who can help Maynagcot in possible volume orders as a
result of her exposure in Manila FAME.
The training was conducted at the barangay social
hall and was facilitated by DTI-AdS BuB Officer for San Luis Reonel Aninon, BuB
Staff Shan Tutor, and Negosyo Center (NC)-Talacogon Counsellor Louida Legaspi.
(DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DTI AgSur biz development team, producers learn
branding concepts
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 28 – Fourteen
(14) of the province's producers and graduates of the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME)
program joined what was originally planned as a staff capability building on
branding held at SAFRAGEMC Hall, San Francisco, this province.
This turned out providential as the trainees were
able to discuss the branding concepts and principles via "live"
cases.
The rest of the class includes the Department of
Trade and Industry-Agusan del Sur (DTI-AdS) three business development staff
and 14 Negosyo Center (NC) counselors.
Clark Nebrao, Philippine Center for
Entrepreneurship (PCE)-accredited KMME mentor served as resource person and
mentor.
Nebrao is also a member of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN).
He pointed-out that businesses normally focus only
on production and processing and are not interested in obtaining a brand name
for their product until such time that the name that they have been using for a
long time is already owned by a competing producer.
"If you could explain your brand in seven
seconds, that means you have a strong brand," Nebrao added.
The participants learned branding musts and the 5Ps
of an irresistible product:
"identifying your People or market their needs and wants,
understanding the Pain of the market, creating the solution or Promise, the
uniqueness, being the market guide or leader in the Process, and having a Price
based on your product's value."
They also learned the latest market trends on
packaging, intellectual property registration and its importance, and
barcoding.
The producer-MSME participants came from the
province's two batches of the KMME. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
SurSur Foreshore TWG undergoes orientation
By Johny Natad
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 28 – The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga has organized an
orientation for the members and representatives of Surigao del Sur Joint
Provincial Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Provincial Foreshore
Development and Management Plan (PFDMP) held at Shacene Pension House and
Restaurant, this city.
DENR Surigao del Sur Technical Services Division
Chief Federico Senoc, Jr. commended the active participation of the local
government units (LGUs) and government line agencies and encouraged full
support and involvement in coming up with the master plan.
“We encourage you, as our development partners, to
actively work with us in DENR for the formulation of the foreshore development
and management plan of Surigao del Sur,” Senoc said.
“The PFDMP master plan will be materialized with
your active contribution, support and participation as the experts in your
field and areas of concerns relative to the development of the plan,” he added.
The orientation of the TWG covered a detailed
presentation about foreshore by Forester Resurrecion C. Maxilom; rationale on
the formulation of the PFDMP by DENR Caraga Assistant Chief on Licenses Patents
and Deeds Division Mila J. Garcia; roles of TWG by Engr. Leah Lou Asis; and
discussion of some issues and concerns relative to foreshore planning.
Surigao del Sur’s Joint TWG for the PFDMP was
organized by DENR Caraga through DENR Regional Special Order No. 2017-621 which
was signed by Dr. Charlie E. Fabre on October 30, 2017. The TWG was tasked to
carry-out effective and successful formulation of the PFDMP relevant activities
and come up with the PFDMP master plan of Surigao del Sur.
The working group is composed of the technical and
legislative representatives from the provincial government, 17 coastal cities
and municipalities of Surigao del Sur, and other national government line
agencies involved in foreshore or costal management. Specific offices
representatives includes the planning and development, environment and natural
resources, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, engineering, disaster and risk
reduction, and local sanggunian on environment.
The Joint TWG is expected to assist and provide
technical assistance to the DENR personnel (profiling, maps, etc.) that might
be vital for the preparation of the PFDMP; review outputs/deliverables of the
Planning Specialist and provide inputs and recommendations; participate in
planning write shop and consultation workshops and other activities that
require their technical assistance; facilitate final drafting and packaging of
the plan; and coordinate with the LGUs in the adoption of the plan.
Provinces of Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands
are the pilot areas in Caraga region for the formulation of the foreshore management
and development plan. DENR will be organizing series of planning workshop and
relevant activities for the PFDMP. (PENRO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Surigao Norte bags best PopDev implementer award
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Nov. 28 – In line
with the collective long-term vision for the country through the adoption of
"Ambisyon Natin 2040,” the province of Surigao del Norte won as Best
Regional Implementer of the Philippine Population Development and Management
Program.
For search this year 2017, the province scored
56.35 points, besting others such as the Dinagat Islands which came in second
at 53 points, and Agusan del Sur which emerged in the third spot at 50.1
points. Surigao del Sur, meanwhile, got 41.75 points while Agusan del Norte
earned 23.5 points.
Categories focused on by the award-giving body were
Responsible Parenthood-Family Planning, Adolescent Health and Development,
Population and Development Integration and Special Population Group.
Commission on Population (POPCOM) Caraga Regional
Director Alexander Makinano said that the contribution of local government
units (LGUs) in the implementation of the country's birth control, family
planning and population management shall always be recognized by the national
government.
"LGUs excelled in the implementation of the
population program in their respective locality, as determined after a
comprehensive assessment and validation conducted by POPCOM,” said Makinano.
However, Makinano stressed that the results of the
assessment must be a guiding light for LGUs to sustain its efforts in
addressing the problem down to the grassroots.
"We must ensure that no one is left behind in
getting reproductive health information and services," he underscored.
Conferment of such kind of award is POPCOM's way of
extending appreciation to all workers in the enforcement of programs and
projects relative to the attainment of its thrusts and directions which embody
the Filipino aspirations.
"It is very important to recognize the
endeavor and spirited inputs of program partners and stakeholders to put into
action the Philippine Population Management Program. Recognizing them publicly
of the efforts they have done is the key to serving better and be a great
example and inspiration to others," said Makinano. (PGO-SDN/VLG/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
