DTI gears up to upgrade LGUs' competitiveness index
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 19 (PIA) – In order to be at par
with the standards instated by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has stepped up to the challenge of
improving the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) with the
conduct of a province-wide roadshow on March 13, 2018.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas suggested the
conduct of seminar workshops in every municipality so they can submit
expeditiously all the reportorial qualifications and inputs.
The target for the roadshow is 100 percent local
government units (LGUs) participation and 100 percent data generation.
In so doing, all the concerned LGUs can come up
with innovative strategies to improve their showing and entice more foreign
investors to do business.
Competitiveness is the ability of locality to
produce and provide goods and services efficiently. Local competitiveness is
how a city or municipality knows its resources and how it uses these to improve
its standard of living.
Scores will be determined by the values of the
actual data, as well as the completeness of the submitted data. The higher the
score of a municipality, the more competitive it is.
Surigao del Norte currently ranks third in the
Northeastern Mindanao Region. It scored 34.19 just a notch below Agusan del
Norte which is 35.17.
Overall, the most competitive is Quezon City,
followed by Manila and Davao.
DTI said that "the problem with some
municipalities is the fact that they were not able to furnish them a faithful
copy of their reports, pertinent data and other attached documents that is why
the score earned by the province may not reflect what is happening on the
ground."
One case in point is General Luna, which is a
booming municipality due to the influx of foreign tourists and beach resorts,
but because it has not forwarded to DTI the germane data on investment, there
was no way to rectify the scorecard.
This year's CMCI starts in February until August
2018. (JGAPlatil, PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Siargao launches food security project
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 19 (PIA) – To ensure that Siargao
Island will be self-sustainable in terms of its food and fishery supplies,
despite the growing number of consuming public, the innovative social
enterprise AGREA and United States conservation group RARE worked together with
the local government unit through Surigao del Norte 1st district representative
Francisco Jose 'Bingo' Matugas II with the launching of Siargao Food Sustenance
and Security Project and an organizational meeting held on February 8-9, 2018
at Kapitolyo nan Siargao in Dapa, Surigao del Norte.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas, municipal
mayors and agriculturists, agricultural technologists, the peasant community
and fisherfolks attended the events.
"This representation seeks to develop the
human capital of Siargao in line with the agri-aquaculture aspect of the HEALS
PLUS Development Roadmap of the provincial government," said Matugas.
AGREA is an agro-social enterprise that aims to
eradicate poverty among farming and fishing families in order to alleviate the
effects of climate change and espouse food sufficiency in the Philippines,
while RARE is an international conservation group which promotes sustainable
fishing through a program called Fish Forever.
It focuses primarily on a two-pronged approach,
designating managed access areas and protecting marine sanctuaries of
"no-take zones."
AGREA's chief executive officer Cherrie Atilano and
RARE Dir. Adonis Sucalit presented and discussed the details of the
collaboration with local leaders in the fields of agriculture and aquaculture.
Also tackled were the issues and challenges facing
the agriculture sector, farming community, fishing industry and coastal
resource management.
As the assistant majority leader of the lower house
and as the overall vice chair of the National Committee on Natural Resources as
well as the National Committee on Information and Communications Technology,
Cong. Matugas underscored the importance of implementing programs that would
ensure food sustainability. (JGAPlatil, PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
SurSur Athletes of two schools divisions wrap up
training for 2018 CRAM
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 19 (PIA) – After
completing a four-day in-house training in Hinatuan National High School on
February 15 to 18, athletes coming from the Department of Education (DepEd)
Division Office of Surigao del Sur would now proceed to their billeting
quarters at Libertad National High School in Agusan del Norte to take some more
time to acclimatize themselves at the playing venue in Butuan City between
February 19 to 24, according to Antonio Salazar, physical education supervisor
(PES) here.
"With 625 athletes in tow, the entire
delegation headed by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Marilou Dedumo would
total to up to 800 individuals to include coaches and chaperons," he
said.
Meanwhile, DepEd Tandag City Delegation has still
two days to go to conclude their five-day in-house training before getting into another set of a
three-day camp training in Agusan del Norte. Estelito Orozco, DepEd Tandag City
Sports Coordinator, explained that the purpose of which would be to get used to
the playing field in Butuan City, the host for the 2018 Caraga Regional
Athletic Meet (CRAM).
Also, the sports coordinator, confirmed that they
would be billeted at Agusan del Norte National High School.
With 423-strong delegation of athletes and
officials, Tandag City Division Office is headed by Schools Division
Superintendent Dr. Gregoria Su. However,
it was made clear that players would only tot up to 350 all in all, some 130
for elementary and 220 for secondary.
Dr. Beatriz Torno, DepEd Caraga Regional Director,
told Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel, Jr. in her letter of invitation
dated January 30, 2018 that the conduct of the 21st CRAM was set on February 24
to March 1, 2018. (Radyo Pilipinas-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
TESDA chief to attend NISP forum in Butuan
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 – Secretary Guiling “Gene” A.
Mamondiong of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
will attend today, Feb. 19, the National Integration Scholarship Program (NISP)
in this city.
In an interview with the local tri-media here,
Mamondiong emphasized that as per Directive of President Rodrigo Duterte, there
is a need to give opportunity to the marginalized sectors like the indigenous
peoples (IPs) in support to the flagship program of the present administration.
Mamondiong added that though TESDA have already
made significant contribution in empowering the IPs in the previous years, this
program will continue so that peace and development will be achieved throughout
the country.
The forum is anchored on the theme:
"Pagpagahum sa Tribuhanong Katilingban pinaagi sa Lahiusahan alang sa
Kalinawan ug Kalambuan,” (Empowering Tribal Community through Unity for Peace
and Development), and is participated by 136 chieftains of the Northern
Mindanao Region and the Caraga Administrative Region. TESDA Region X Director
Tarhata Mapandi also led the IPs of the Northern Mindanao Region. (RERoperos,
TESDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA Sec. vows more skills training for IPs, rebel
returnees
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 – Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong
said that the agency will provide more skills training for indigenous peoples
(IPs).
Speaking before the IP chieftains in Northern
Mindanao and the Caraga Region during the National Integration Scholarship
Program Forum held here on Feb. 19, Mamondiong said this is the directive of
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The official added that rebel returnees are also
included in this program. “TESDA will be coordinating with concerned government
agencies for the realization of the program such as the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), Land Bank of the Philippines (LPB), Department of Agriculture
(DA), and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR),” he said.
After the skills training, Mamondiong said the
successful trainees will be provided with livelihood opportunities. “Through
the convergence of different government agencies, peace and development will be
achieved,” he added.
When asked how to avail the program, the TESDA
chief said this can be realized through the scholarship programs of TESDA. “For
details regarding this, just keep in touch with TESDA Provincial Offices in
your respective areas,” Mamondiong said.
The theme of the forum is “Pagpagahum sa
Tribuhanong Katilingban pinaagi sa Kahiusahan alang sa Kalinawan ug Kalambuan”
(Empowering Tribal Community through Unity for Peace and Development) and is
participated by 136 chieftains of the Northern Mindanao Region and the Caraga
Administrative Region. (RERoperos, TESDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
