DAR, LGU ink MOA for 'LinkSFarM' Project in AgSur
By Jennifer P. Gaitano /Rechel D. Besonia
VERUELA,
Agusan del Sur, Aug. 9 – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Agusan del
Sur, together with the local government unit of Veruela, and La Fortuna
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LAMUPCO) - a recipient Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
(ARB) Organization of LinkSFarM project, signed a two-year Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) on August 2, 2018 at the KALAHI Farmers Center in Veruela, this
province.
LinkSFarM,
a partnership project that links agrarian reform beneficiaries to better market
connections, integrates the supply chain and utilizes the eight steps in
agro-enterprise clustering approach to increase the production and income of
ARBs and their household through agricultural extension, marketing assistance,
and capacity building.
In her
message, Veruela Municipal Mayor Myrna Mondejar, challenged the farmers to take
care of the project because this will help them as they venture into another
livelihood and generate more income as farmers.
“I am
so thankful that DAR has eyed the needs of our farmers here in Veruela, which
is to find the right market for our locally-produced goods,” she said.
Sangguniang
Bayan (SB) member Salimar Mondejar, SB member Adelo Micutuan, Municipal Agriculturist
Susan Chavez, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Leoncio Bautista
Jr., Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Fe Mosquera, Municipal Agrarian
Reform Program Officer Vilma Romero, Provincial LikSFarM Point Person Engr.
Gudy Centina, LinkSFarM MEL2A Point Person Wiluna Orongan, PARCOMM Member
Ruperto Bacudan and LAMUPCO Chairman Reynaldo Maido also attended said
activity.
It
was learned that before the MOA signing proper, LinkSFarM Point Person Engr.
Gudy Centina conducted an orientation about the project and highlighted the
obligations of DAR in the project implementation and monitoring as well as the
part of the LGU in assigning an Agro-Enterprise Facilitator (AEF) who will
provide technical assistance to the partner ARBO/AE clusters and update to the
LGU management on the progress of the project. Also discussed was the role of
the ARB Organization or the LAMUPCO as partner farmers.
Likewise,
former Mayor Salimar Mondejar, now member of the Sangguniang Bayan in Veruela
promised to personally help the department in monitoring the project so that it
will not go into waste.
“We
are so privileged to have been given this opportunity. Together, we will not
let this chance fail. We must put our heart into it because this will bring
forth better opportunities in the future,” said Mondejar, as he challenged
LAMUPCO.
On
his response, LAMUPCO Chairperson Reynaldo Maido thanked DAR in helping banana
farmers like them to have a better market of their produce.
“Salamat
sa DAR sa pagsalig ug tabang para kanamo nga mga mag uuma sa saging (Thanks to
DAR for the trust and the help they extended to us banana farmers),” he said.
“For
years, the department had continuously find avenues to help our people. We help
them engage in business to become self-reliant. I am hoping that the farmers in
Veruela will emulate us by taking the government’s assistance seriously,” bared
PARPO II Leoncio Bautista, as he ended the activity with a message. (DAR-Agusan
del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Military widow receives rice vending livelihood assistance from DOLE
PROSPERIDAD,
Agusan del Sur, Aug. 9 - The Department of Labor and Employment-Agusan del Sur
Provincial Office (DOLE-ADS-PO) has recently released rice vending livelihood
assistance worth PhP20,000.00 to the bereaved family of late Corporal (Cpl)
Manser T. Morgadez.
It
can be recalled that it was November last year (2017) when Josel D. Morgadez
wrote a letter to the Office of the President requesting employment and
livelihood assistance.
Josel
Morgadez is the widow of late Cpl Manser T. Morgadez of the Philippine Army who
died on October 22, 2017 due to cerebro-vascular disease hypertensive
intracerebral hemorrhage after providing route security to Loreto Mayor Ligaya
L. Otaza at Brgy. San Isidro, Loreto, Agusan del Sur.
In
her letter, Morgadez stated that she could hardly meet the needs of her family
after the death of her husband.
As
part of DOLE’s commitment to assist the Killed-in-Action and Wounded in-Action
(KIA/WIA) casualties and their beneficiaries, a livelihood assistance is given
to qualified immediate family members of AFP and PNP KIA-WIA.
“Daghan
kaayong salamat sa inyong gi hatag nga grant sa akoa. Salamat kay bisan wala na
ang akong bana naa gihapon mga tao sama ninyo nga andam mo suporta sa among
pang adlaw-adlaw nga panginahanglan. Kaning Livelihood assitance nga inyong gi
hatag, akoa kining palambuon og padaghanon isip usa ka Negosyo. Daghan kaayong
salamat sa inyo ug sa Ginoo (Thank you so much for the grant you have
given to me. Even though I lost my husband, there are people like you who
support those who are in great need of daily subsistence. I will ensure the
success of this livelihood assistance you have given. I thank you and the Lord
for everything),” said Morgadez.
Morgadez
is now a public servant after winning in the recent election as Barangay Kagawad
in Brgy. Poblacion La Paz, Agusan del Sur. (DOLE-13/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Ambulant vendors benefit from DOLE’s 'Negosyo Kariton' grants
PROSPERIDAD,
Agusan del Sur, Aug. 9 - The Department of Labor and Employment-Agusan del Sur
Provincial Office (DOLE-ADS-PO) has recently released PhP460,000.00 worth of
"Negosyo sa Kariton" (Nego-Kart), including cart accessories to 23
ambulant vendors in the municipality of San Francisco, this province.
The
livelihood project given to the beneficiaries is under the DOLE-Integrated
Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), which aims to help the
informal sector workers in the entire region to generate income through this
program from the department.
The
project was implemented with the collaboration of DOLE, Philippine Employment
Service Office (PESO), and the local government unit of San Francisco, Agusan
del Sur.
“Daghang
Salamat sa DOLE Agusan del Sur sa inyong gi hatag nga Nego-Kart para namong mga
vendors. Dako kaayo ning tabang para sa among panginabuhian og para sa kaugmaon
sa among tag-sa tag-sa ka pamilya. Amoa kining pa lambuon og ampingan sosama sa
inyong pag serbisyo sa mga taong nanginahanglan sa inyong tabang. Dili sakto
ang pag pasalamat lamang para ma suklian ang mga taong nagpaluyo ani nga
programa (Thank you so much to DOLE Agusan del Sur for giving
Nego-Karts to vendors like us. This is a big help for us and for the future of
our families.
We
will ensure the success of this undertaking and will take care of it in the
same way that you have taken care to reach out to us. Giving thanks is not
enough to return back the favor to people behind this program),” said Necelym
Signar, one of the beneficiaries.
Also,
Jocelyn L. Bastareche, DOLE Agusan del Sur provincial head, provided a short
background of the project and simple inspirational message to the recipients as
well as an overview of how DOLE put an effort in giving decent jobs.
“I
would like to thank DOLE for funding the Nego-Karts. This is a big help for the
vendors to improve their livelihood,” said Mayor Jenny D. De Asis of
LGU-San Francisco. (DOLE-13/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Caraga gov’t agencies, NGOs amplify call vs human trafficking
By Mike Ariel Plaza
BUTUAN
CITY, Aug. 9 - “It takes a community to prevent trafficking in persons from
happening.”
This
was said by Hon. Judge Isabel Corazon Plaza, keynote speaker of the celebration
of the 2018 World Day Against Trafficking (WDAT) organized recently by the
Regional Inter-agency Committee Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women
and their Children (RIACAT-VAWC) at the Agusan del Norte Capitol Gym here.
In
her speech, Plaza stressed how fighting against human trafficking continues to
be a struggle but with the help of RIACAT-VAWC member government agencies and
non-government organizations in the region, she hopes that the call to end
human trafficking will become more “resounding.”
“Trafficking
in persons is not only a national problem; it is a global one. They call it
modern slavery but I would like to call it the worst kind of business a person
can think of,” Plaza said.
DSWD-Caraga
OIC Regional Director Mita Chuchi Gupana-Lim, who also chairs RIACAT-VAWC, said
that in ending human trafficking, the agencies need the cooperation of all the
citizens to report existence of this crime in their localities.
“We
want to emphasize that all of us can do something to stop trafficking in
persons,” Lim said, urging everyone to report to the proper authorities any
form of trafficking that they observe in their neighbourhood as “this terrible
crime cannot be solved by one agency alone.”
“If
we are not going to do something, one of us or a member of our family could be
a victim because this is happening everywhere. We should do something. We
should do something more. We shouldn’t be just complacent. We should be
observant,” Plaza emphasized.
‘Be
wary’
During
the program, two victim-survivors of trafficking, who are both former overseas
Filipino workers gave their testimonials.
Elsie
Saguso and Rosejean German of Butuan City were both victims of illegal
recruitment.
Saguso
who worked in Saudi Arabia was maltreated and was unpaid by her employer for a
year.
“Wala
koy contact sa akong mga anak ug gipatrabaho ko sa laing balay nga walay
suhol (I was not allowed to contact my
children and I was made to work in other households without being paid),”
Saguso said while narrating how she spent days looking for food in trash bins
as this was not provided by her employer.
“Halos
ikamatay na nako ang sakit sa akong lawas (I almost died because of physical pain),” she said.
German,
on one hand, worked underpaid for more than a year in China with two different
employers without day-off.
“Niabot
ang panahon nga nadakpan ko sa Immigration ug nadetain for 45 days (I was
caught by the Immigration and got detained for 45 days),” German said.
Saguso
and German said that people should be wary in applying for jobs abroad.
“Sa
tanan nga gusto mag-abroad, gihangyo nako nga siguraduon ninyo nga ang inyong
agency ligal. Ayaw mo og adto kung walay kasiguradoan kay lisod didto (Those
who wanted to work abroad, please make sure that your recruitment agency is
legal. Don’t go if you’re not sure of the agency’s legality because life there
will be very difficult),” Saguso expressed.
DSWD’s
RRPTP
Both
victim-survivors were assisted by the Philippine government to fly back home
and were referred to the DSWD-Caraga through the Protective Services Unit’s
Recovery and Reintegration Program for the Trafficked Persons (RRPTP).
“Daku
akong pasalamat sa RRPTP sa DSWD kay ako nakauli nga maayo sa among panimalay.
Gihatagan ko nila og livelihood assistance ug educational assistance ang akong
mga anak (I am very much grateful of DSWD’s RRPTP because I was able
to come home okay. They provided livelihood assistance and educational
assistance for my children),” German said.
DSWD-Caraga
has served a total of 39 victim-survivors of trafficking from January to June
2018.
According
to Lim, 24 of these clients are from Agusan del Norte, six from Agusan del Sur,
four from Surigao del Norte and five from Surigao del Sur. Most of the victims
are females and are between 18 and 30 years old.
“These
are the only cases reported to us; we do not know yet of the many cases that
probably remain unreported,” Lim said, emphasizing the importance of making
acts of trafficking known for the authorities to respond to it.
Spoken
word, poster making
RIACAT-VAWC’s
celebration started with a “Bubble Walk for Hope” from Butuan City Guingona
Park to the Capitol Gym of Agusan del Norte where participants from member
agencies and organizations had a morning zumba cum foam party.
Competitions
on spoken word poetry for college students and poster making for high school
students were also held.
Winners
of the competition are as follows:
Spoken
Word Poetry
1st –
Ann Mae Monique R. Jongko (Father Saturnino Urios University)
2nd –
Donna Mae P. Magtibay (Caraga State University)
3rd –
Jexan Macate (Butuan City Colleges)
Poster
Making
1st –
Hannah Clarice P. Cagadas (Bayugan National Comprehensive High School)
2nd –
Earl Brian V. Corregidor (Tandag National Science High School)
3rd –
Jhanna Vanessa Marie E. Cañete (Gamut National High School)
All
the outputs of the competitions revolved around this year’s theme for WDAT,
“Better Lives thru Safer Migration, Stop Human Trafficking!" (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD-Caraga starts UCT registration for
Listahanan
By Abegail
R. Alvarez
BUTUAN
CITY, Aug. 9 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga,
through the National Household Targeting System (NHTS), started the
registration activities for the eligible Listahanan-identified beneficiaries of
the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program in Caraga Region.
The
registration activity is a process where the UCT beneficiaries will be enrolled
for cash card account opening from Land Bank of the Philippines where they will
receive their cash grant, as stipulated in Republic Act 10963 otherwise
known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
In
coordination with the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers
(C/MSWDOs), the department completed the registration of 82 barangays in Butuan
City at the identified registration sites. Meanwhile, the registration on
selected municipalities in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur is still on
going.
To
facilitate the said activities, Policy and Plans Division Chief Jean Paul S.
Parajes and Regional Field Coordinator Aldie Mae A. Andoy supervised and
monitored the registration sites with the augmentation from the barangay
personnel.
“We
were instructed by Regional Director Mita Chuchi Gupana-Lim to ensure orderly
conduct of this activity. That is why prior the registration, we have
coordinated with the Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs) who are hosting
the registration sites for logistics augmentation and manpower, which they
provided,” said Parajes.
Based
on the guidelines, the UCT beneficiaries are households that underwent updating
and validation process by the hired Listahanan UCT validators last April and
May region-wide. The data collected from the respondents were subject to Proxy
Means Test (PMT) where households belonging to 1st to 7th income
deciles were eligible for the program.
In
preparation for the payout, the DSWD hired notifiers whose tasks are to visit
the houses and inform the eligible households who are in the final list to
receive UCT cash grant. The notifier will hand the Notification Form to the
household and explain to them that they are qualified to receive the monthly
cash grant of PhP200 in CY 2018 and PhP300 in CY 2019-2020. The households will
also be given a Landbank Cash Card Enrollment Form and are required to comply
the requirements such as three pieces 2×2 photo ID, photocopy of valid ID and
other documents to support their identity. All forms will be submitted during
the registration schedule.
During
the registration, the hired verifiers will check the completeness and veracity
of the submitted documents. These documents will be forwarded to Land Bank to
facilitate their account opening.
After
which, the department together with the Land Bank, will conduct the payout
which is initially scheduled in August this year.
The
UCT Program is the biggest tax reform mitigation program under the TRAIN Law.
It seeks to provide cash grants to poor households and individuals who may not
directly benefit from the lower income tax rates but may be adversely affected
by the rising prices. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)