Gov’t agencies gear up campaign vs human
trafficking, illegal recruitment in Caraga region
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) -- The
Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking - Violence Against Women
and their Children (RIACAT-VAWC) Caraga has geared up its campaign against
trafficking in persons (TIPs) and illegal recruitment following the number of
cases recorded in the region which already reached to 490 since 2011.
As part of their activities for
the World Day Against Trafficking, the committee conducted an orientation on
the prevention of human trafficking and anti-illegal recruitment with different
sectors in Caraga held recently in this city.
Based on the data released by
RIACAT-VAWC Caraga, most of the victims are aged 18-30 years old and
perpetrators are not related or acquaintance of the victims.
The number of cases on human
trafficking this year is lower compared to the previous years' data. However,
government agencies levelled up their efforts to intensify the campaign to
prevent such cases.
Ritchel Butao of the Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) also tackled how to prevent illegal
recruitment to overseas workers.
She also reminded the Caraganons
who want to work abroad to be very cautious, alert and meticulous in choosing
their recruitment agencies so they will not become victims.
Atty. Rechell Bazar-Apao of the Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE) further warned recruiters on the possible
cancellation of their license or suspension of operation once they are proven
to be involved in illegal recruitment.
For those recruitment agencies
that are not yet licensed, they would also face charges in court.
Meanwhile, the welfare of the
domestic helpers was given due emphasis as they are vulnerable victims of
trafficking in persons such as in forced labor, debt bondage, and slavery.
The victims were also urged to
raise their complaints or to report such incident to the RIACAT-VAWC, law
enforcement agencies or to social workers so that immediate and appropriate
actions be made to save them.
“We could not respond to human
trafficking victims if there is no report or complaint, that’s why we need the
help of the public in this fight against trafficking in persons and illegal
recruitment in the region,” said Catherine Aranas, social worker officer of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga and focal person for
RIACAT-VAWC. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Dar urges farmers to collectivize to be
empowered
By Vanessa Sanchez
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 -- Be
active! Be part of farmers’ associations and cooperatives. This is the
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s message to the farmers and fisherfolk
during his visit in Caraga on September 17.
Dar said it is high time that the
farmers and fisherfolk are empowered for them to become strong partners in big
businesses to improve their income and productivity.
The secretary added that the
department is not only focusing on high levels of productivity but is also
strongly promoting agribusiness because farmers should have higher incomes to
better meet their needs and have a better quality of life. He said that the DA
is aiming at making agribusiness as a way of life.
“This is not only looking at
productivity but value-adding, processing, manufacturing, and markets. This is
the new way with which we are now developing the countryside,” Dar said.
He also shared that at present,
the farm family annual income is at P108,000 and that the DA intends to double
this in the next five years.
In addition, he said that the DA
in coordination with various stakeholders is doing their best to assist the
farmers and fisherfolk in their endeavors to help lift them out of
poverty.
The secretary was in the region to
turn-over P50 million worth of agri-fishery projects and livelihood assistance
to farmers and fishers’ groups of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del
Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands.
The interventions awarded include
eight hauling trucks for various cooperatives and inputs for Grow Out
Production of Bangus in Cage Project, Grow Out Production of Tilapia in Pen
Project, Polyculture of Bangus and Mangrove Crab in Pond Project, and seaweed
farming. The turn-over ceremony was held at Masao Fish Farm of the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Butuan City. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
BFAR-Caraga holds orientation on new fishery
management framework
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte,
Sept. 19 -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Caraga region
recently held a series of orientations on the new Fisheries Administrative
Order (FAO) 263, which establishes fisheries management areas (FMAs) for the
conservation and management of fisheries in the Philippine waters.
The multi-sectoral orientation was
held in Butuan City for FMA 9 and Surigao City for FMA 8, on August 28 and 29,
respectively.
Serving as resource speaker during
the two-day activity was Napoleon Lamarca, senior aquaculturist from the
Capture Fisheries Division of BFAR Central Office, who discussed the key points
of the FAO 263; the science and concepts of ecosystem approach to fisheries
management (EAFM); and the history, development and rationale of fisheries management
in the Philippines.
"We are now moving towards
EAFM, finding a balance between human well-being and ecological well-being
through good governance. We need cooperation among all sectors and coordination
across municipal jurisdictions to have a common direction towards managing and
conserving our resources," Lamarca said.
The FAO 263 seeks to provide
a science-based and participatory governance framework for the management of
these FMAs.
"With the FMA, it would be a
science-based and participatory approach among the local government units
(LGUs) and the different sectors in the preservation, conservation, and
management of our fishing grounds. Hopefully, through this (FMA), overfishing
will be addressed," said Omnia Olama, the acting chief of the regional
bureau's Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division.
Meanwhile, BFAR-Caraga regional
director Visa Tan-Dimerin noted the importance of strengthening the fisheries
and aquatic management councils (FARMCs) in all levels of local governance.
"If your FARMC is strong and that you are able to represent your cause,
the local legislative body will listen to you," she said.
Dimerin also encouraged the
participants to speak out their minds and ideas, and called for strong support
among the key stakeholders. "Let our minds be aware and our hearts be
touched by our cause for our seas," Dimerin said.
The orientation convened
representatives from different sectoral groups such as municipal fisherfolk,
commercial fishers, aquaculture stakeholders, traders, integrated FARMC,
non-government organization, academe, and LGUs.
Pursuant to its mandates, the FAO
263 delineates the Philippine waters into 12 FMAs wherein Caraga region is
geographically covered by FMAs 2, 8 and 9.
As such, the event was conducted
to facilitate the selection of the sectoral representatives among the key
stakeholders for the establishment of the regional technical working group for
FMAs 8 and 9. (BFAR-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
BFAR-Caraga conducts fish handling workshop
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte,
Sept. 19 -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - Caraga
conducted recently a two-day seminar-workshop on the proper handling of fish
and fishery products and the management and operation of the Community Fish
Landing Center (CFLC) in Tubajon, province of Dinagat Islands.
The training oriented the
personnel of the local government unit of Tubajon and 30 other participants
representing the five fisherfolk organizations from the municipality on the
CFLC guidelines to make it fully operational.
The CFLC will not only serve as a
trading hub for fresh catch and processed products but also as a training
center for skills development. It will further become an information hub for
registration and licensing of fishers, boats, and gears.
Part of the activity was a series
of lectures on the proper handling of tuna, shrimp, seaweed, and bivalve in
order to extend its shelf life and retain the desirable quality and nutritional
value.
The Bureau also aimed to empower
the marginalized sector, especially the fisherfolk’s wives to become partners
in economic upliftment in the area by formulating fishery-based food products.
The BFAR Caraga team, led by its
training division chief Anna Melissa Talavera, with the support of regional
director Visa Tan-Dimerin, has also been conducting a similar training to other
five municipalities in the region, namely Malimono, Mainit, Magallanes, Libjo,
and Marihatag since July. (BFAR-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Kabataan pinaalalahanan na maging alerto laban sa pangrerecruit ng NPA
sa mga unibersidad
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Setyembre 19
(PIA) -- Sa patuloy na kampanya ng gobyerno laban sa pangrerecruit ng mga
makakaliwang grupo sa mga estudyante sa ibat-ibang unibersidad sa bansa,
pinaalalahanan ni National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr.,
ang lahat ng sektor na maging alerto at tumulong sa paghadlang ng gawaing ito
ng Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Ayon kay Sec. Esperon,
binibigyang-halaga ng administrasyong Duterte ang edukasyon lalo na ang
kinabukasan ng mga kabataan. Dahil dito, binibigyan ding prayoridad ni
President Rpdrigo Duterte ang mga programa, proyekto at mga oportunidad sa mga
kabataan na umunlad.
“Ang pangulo mismo ang nanguna sa
pagpapatupad ng libreng tertiary education sa lahat ng state universities. Nais
ng pangulo na makapag-aral ang mga kabataan at umunlad,” sabi ni Sec. Esperon.
Nanghihinayang naman ang opisyal
sa mga kabataang nalinlang ng mga makakaliwang grupo at hindi na nakapagtapos
ng pag-aaral. May mga minor de edad na din ang napabilang sa mga nagbalik-loob
sa gobyerno.
“Mayroong karamihan sa kanila ay
Grade 3, Grade 5. Kung sana nabigyan lang ng pagkakataon ang mga ito na
makapag-aral, naranasan din sana nila ang magandang buhay. Dahil din ditto, mas
pinalawak pa natin ang alternative learning systems at mga skills trainings ng
Technical Education and Skills Development upang maka-capacitate din sila,”
dagdag ni Esperon.
Sinabi rin ng kalihim na mas
maunlad na sana ang mga probinsya ng Caraga kung hindi lang dahil sa gulong
idinudulot ng CPP-NPA, maging ang pangbibiktima at pag-aabuso nila sa mga
Indigenous Peoples at magsasaka.
Kaya naman, mas paiigtingin pa ng
Regional Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) ang mga
inisyatibo at aktibidad kasama ang ibang sektor ng rehiyon para masugpo ang
insurhensiya sa barangay level.
Samantala, dapat din daw na maging
tapat at seryoso ang mga opisyal sa barangay sa pagtulong sa gobyerno na
makamit ang pangmatagalang kapayapaan at pag-unlad ng bansa.
“Pupuntahan namin yung mga
barangay kapitan at opisyales. Napaka-importanteng sila ang kasama natin at
nakikita naman na yung mga barangay kapitan natin ay tutulong sa inisyatibong
ito,” sabi ni Esperon. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
