DAR starts work for road and water project in
Tagbina
By Joie L. Ceballos
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 8 – Coffee farmers in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur
will no longer have a hard time transporting their products months from now as
the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) commenced work for the concreting of
road from Sitio Mabuhay to Kahayagan.
A groundbreaking ceremony led by DAR 13 Regional
Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob and Tagbina Mayor Generoso Naraiso was held on
February 6, 2018 in Brgy. Kahayagan, Tagbina, Surigao Sur.
Aguhob said that the 4.67-kilometer road concreting
is funded under the DAR Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for
Rural Growth and Development (ConVERGE).
“This road project amounting to P30.9 million is
expected to aid the value-chain process of the coffee products in Tagbina,” he
added.
Naraiso thanked the DAR in behalf of the people of
Tagbina. “Out of 19 municipalities in Surigao del Sur, it is our Tagbina who is
blessed to have this road and water project," he said in his message.
In the same occasion, the groundbreaking for the
Extension of Level II Potable Water System in Sitio Mabuhay was also held.
According to Aguhob, the water system project is
helpful in the production and processing cycle of the coffee.
In his message, Surigao Sur PARPO II Benjamin
Mataksil encouraged the beneficiaries and the community to take care of the
project. “Let us work together so that these projects will help realize the
dreams of Tagbina coffee farmers for a better quality of life,” he stressed.
Arlyn Ruiz, chairwoman of the Kahayagan Water
System Sanitation Association (KAWASA) said that the water project will greatly
help not only in their livelihood but more so in their day to day living.
She added that with easier household chores, they
will have enough time to attend to their children and their livelihood.
Seventy (70) households, in addition to the
existing 300 households, will benefit the P2 million water expansion project.
For Carmelita Samoya, member of the Mabuhay
Kahayagan Coffee Growers Cooperative (MKCGC), the road project, which they have
been dreaming for a long time, will greatly help them in their coffee
production and processing business.
“Finally, we can now experience a better road.
Thanks to the DAR,” Sayoma said.
The MKCGC started with 140 member-farmers who were
recipients of land award from the DAR in 2010 but have started growing coffee
since 1965.
Under Project ConVERGE, the MKCGC will be the lead
organization of the Coffee Production, Rejuvenation, Processing and Marketing
project.
Project ConVERGE is jointly funded by the
Government of the Philippines represented by DAR and the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD). (JLCeballos, DAR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Gov’t allocates 140M for irrigation system in
Agusan del Sur

BUTUAN CITY, Feb 8 (PIA) – With the assistance of
the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS), a funding worth P140 million for
calendar year 2018 was allocated for Sta. Josefa Pump Irrigation System (SJPIS)
in Agusan del Sur.
It is intended for the improvement of the
facilities from earth to line canal, to minimize the leakage of irrigation
water, particularly at the different lateral canals along service area of the
irrigation system.
A comprehensive inspection, particularly the pump
irrigation system in the municipality of Sta. Josefa, was conducted by Atty.
Jann Roby Otero, OCS assistant secretary, together with Engr. Madante Ganotisi,
National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Caraga acting regional manager, and
Engr. Elmer B. Felizarta, officer-in-charge of SJPIS.
The group visited four sites to see the status of
the irrigation facilities and the damaged canal caused by Tropical Depression
Vinta.
After the inspection, Felizarta presented the
system status where there were eight irrigators associations already organized
with 307 members. The system, if fully functional, could serve almost 2,500
hectares based on the design.
Otero added that he will personally monitor the
completion of the project to ensure that it will be completed based on the
target. (NIA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Teachers’ Congress set in Surigao del Norte
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 8 – Over 6,000 teachers and
school administrators are expected to join the province-wide Teachers’ Congress
set on February 16, 2018 to be held at the Surigao del Norte Provincial
Gymnasium.
Gov. Sol Matugas of said province will unveil the
proposed Provincial Division Office and the Teachers’ Training Center in
Siargao. She will also lead the launching of the Provincial Online Education
and the ceremonial distribution of umbrellas, bags and laptops.
Part of the event will be the Schools Excellence
Award and Awarding of Outstanding Educators to be presented by Department of
Education (DepEd) Caraga Regional Director Beatriz Torno and be assisted by
Schools Division Superintendent Nelia Lomocso of the DepEd-Surigao del Norte
Division. The outstanding Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) will also be
recognized.
Meanwhile, actor-singer Sam Concepcion and Keiko
Necesario were also invited to take center stage and showcase their
performance.
It can be recalled that DepEd appointed Concepcion
as the 'Youth Role Model and Spokesperson' while the National Book Development
Board (NBDB) named him as the 'Get Caught Reading’ campaign Ambassador.
As the DepEd’s mouthpiece for the youth, Concepcion
initiated drives and promoted meaningful co-curricular activities in line with
the "SAMa SAMa saEskwela" project among other life-changing projects.
By personally touring the entire country,
Concepcion visited 50 schools and immersed with 100,000 students on its first
month and had been to various points all over the Philippines like Pampanga,
Bohol, Laguna, Cebu City, Cagayan De Oro City, and Davao City.
In his talking engagements, he continually stressed
the value of literacy, English proficiency, enriching one's capacity, and
excelling in school.
Conception was also given a representative role by
the Department of Tourism (DOT) to the Korea World Travel Fair. United Nations
Youth Association of the Philippines (UNAP) also conferred upon him the
prestigious UNAP 'Outstanding Youth Leader Award' at the MalacaΓ±ang Palace.
The Teacher’s Musicale Concert will likewise
feature the ‘kundiman’ and popular music beside Philippine folk dances and
modern bop. To cap the grand celebration is the fellowship to enjoy the camaraderie
of participants. (VLG/PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
