Parents from Butuan
barangays tackle mental health, responsible parenting
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 1 (PIA) -- Despite of their busy schedule from
work, household chores and other activities, parents from various barangays of
this city convened recently for the 27th National Family Week celebration this
month of September.
Issues and concerns on mental health and responsible parenting
were discussed during the event.
Through the invited guest speakers from the different concerned
government agencies, parents gained more knowledge on significant family
concerns, including how to positively discipline their children.
Ellen Malalom, who has 10 children, was among the participants who
shared her parental experiences, as well as the challenges that confront her
family.
She said, becoming a parent is not easy especially that she has 10
kids to raise and feed daily. She further relayed how she was disheartened when
some of her kids were once among the “child at risk” or those minors who escape
from home and live on the streets.
“I’ve overcome depression and I hope other parents who are also
suffering from it could change their perspective on how they view life despite
of the challenges. Parenting is never easy. We should give our best to provide
our family’s needs and during tough times, we should show our children that we
care and love them, instead of making them feel they add burden to our
shortcomings,” said Malalom.
Luzvilla Fortun, focal person on family, women and community
section of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) in Butuan, stressed
the importance of giving quality time and constant communication to every
member of the family in order to prevent any misunderstandings and to resolve
any family issues.
“We regularly conduct counseling to the parents in the different
barangays and discuss with them how we could intervene as our way of helping
the family cope with any anxiety or family problem,” Fortun said.
Meanwhile, Edilyn Pujadas, focal person for family sector of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga emphasized the need
to promote mental health and wellness in the family, as this was the commonly
raised issue including depression among members.
“The DSWD and other government agencies have programs and services
that will address family issues, and we are ready to help them anytime,” said
Pujadas.
In line with this, the Regional Inter-Agency Committee for
Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) Caraga continues to conduct activities that will
strengthen family ties and relationship, as well as community development.
The annual celebration is pursuant to proclamation no. 60 dated
September 28, 1992. It is the government's policy “to fortify solidarity in the
family and actively work for its total development.” (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Drug rehab center sa
AgSur bukas na
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Oktubre 1 (PIA) -- Matapos ang mahigit isang
taon mula nang masimulan ang konstruksiyon ng Drug Abuse Treatment and
Rehabilitation Center ng Department of Health (DOH) sa Barangay Alegria, San
Francisco sa probinsya ng Agusan del Sur, natanggap na rin ng rehab center ang
certificate of completion noong August 23, 2019.
Kaya naman puspusan ang ginawang paghahanda ng mga kawani ng
Department of Health (DOH), lokal na pamahalaan ng Agusan del Sur at iba pang
kinauukulang ahensiya.
Sa opisyal na pagbubukas ng rehab center, handang-handa ang mga
doktor at nurses na aalalay sa pagpapagaling ng mga biktima ng ilegal na
droga.
Ayon kay Dr. Melhammid Tomawis, chief of hospital II, nasa 150
pasyente ang kapasidad ng rehab center, 100 nito para sa mga lalaki at 50 naman
sa mga babae. Ito ang pinakamalaki sa Caraga at pinakaunang rehab center sa
Mindanao na tumatanggap na ng babaeng pasyente. At bago matapos ang taong ito,
nasa 100 ang kanilang target na mapagamot.
Dito sa Mindanao, Caraga pa lamang ang mayroong rehab center na
tumatanggap na ng babaeng pasyente.
Nabigyan naman ng malaking pag-asa ang mga Agusanon na sa
pamamagitan nito, mas mapapadali na ang pagpapagaling ng mga biktima ng ilegal
na droga at hindi na rin kailangan pang pumunta sa malayong lugar dahil nasa
probinsya na mismo ang rehab center.
“Masayang malaman na mayroon na tayong rehab center dito sa Agusan
del Sur dahil yung mga nalulung sa ilegal na droga ay magagamot na dito, at
hindi na kailangan pang pumunta ng Davao o sa ibang lugar para magpagamot,”
pahayag ni Gebert Son, residente ng San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa gobyerno dahil binibigyan talaga nila ng
atensyon ang problema sa illegal na droga,” sabi ni Richel Robles, residente sa
San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Binigyang-diin din Agnes Cullantes, Drug Abuse Prevention and
Treatment coordinator ng DOH-Center for Health (CHD) Caraga na hindi sila
tumitigil sa kanilang adbokasiya at aktibidad sa mga barangay upang tuluyang
malayo ang mga residente sa masamang naidudulot ng ilegal na droga.
Hinimok naman ni Gobernador Santiago Cane ang lahat na makiisa sa
gobyerno at tumulong sa pagsugpo ng ilegal na droga. Mahigpit rin ang kaniyang
direktiba sa mga law enforcers sa paghuli sa mga sangkot nito. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Badjaos get free
food, haircut this Maritime week
By Nole C. Nusog
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 1 -- For this year’s
celebration of the Maritime week, a community of Badjaos got themselves a treat
when members of the Surigao Port Community led by the Philippine Ports
Authority (PPA) conducted on Thursday, September 26, 2019 community service at
their settlement in Canlanipa, a coastal barangay in this city.
The Badjaos were treated with hot arroz caldo and a team of
hairdressers offering free haircuts.
Over a steaming cup of the popular chicken rice porridge, tribe
elder Dahilah Ahmad said that her fellow Badjaos were rather surprised and yet
grateful for the treat since it is not every day that people make an effort to
visit them as a community and recognize them as a group or tribe.
"It's usually only during election campaigns or the holiday
season that they actually get to have things or food given to them," Ahmad
added.
Commonly found at harbor waters of most major seaports in the
country, the Badjao's nautical, itinerant lifestyle has earned them the
nickname ‘sea nomads’ or ‘sea gypsies.’ Traditionally, the Badjaos lived on
houseboats moving through the sea to fish and dive for pearls, sea urchins
and/or coins thrown by passengers on board ships at the ports.
Today, with the crackdown on coin diving at ports and strict
implementation of security regulations at harbor waters of port zones, the
Badjaos now mostly live at coastal settlements like the one in Barangay
Canlanipa.
Around 200 families were given the arroz caldo treat while a
hundred individuals availed of the free haircut.
A joint effort of the PPA Port Management Office in Surigao, the
Philippine Coast Guard Surigao del Norte Station, Maritime Industry Authority
(MARINA) 13 and the Philippine Navy 72nd Naval Group Reserved, the feeding
program/free haircut initiative is part of the activities held in celebration
of the 24th Maritime Week 2019. (SDR/PPA-Surigao/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
28 NPAs, supporters
in Tandag give up arms
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 1 (PIA) -- A total of 28
Communist New People's Army terrorists (CNTs) composed of regular members,
Milisya ng Bayan affiliates, and mass supporters voluntarily surrendered to the
Community Support Program (CSP) team of the 36th Infantry “Valor” Battalion
(36IB) in Sitio Banahao, Barangay Maitum, this city on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019,
an army official confirmed.
According to 36IB Civil-Military Operation Officer Lt. Jonald
Romorosa, the said surrenderees are all residents of Sitio Banahao. Romorosa
claimed that the CNTs manipulated the IP community of their ideology and
propaganda.
"The CSP team unmasked the propaganda and deceptive strategy
of the CNTs on the ground, through the immersion efforts of the troops,"
said Romorosa.
Alias Lim, a former Squad Leader of Squad 2, Platoon 2 of the
weakened Guerilla Front 30, said he suffered so much hardship from the
organization (CNTs). He then called for the CNTs to stop the propaganda to
their community. He also urged them to lay down their arms and abandon their
futile struggle against the government.
Meanwhile, 36IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad
said the mass surrender in Surigao del Sur is the result of the military’s
relentless combat operation against the CNTs and the immersion of the CSP Teams
to the CNT-affected areas.
“The CNT operating in the province of Surigao del Sur is on
the verge of collapse as they are continuously losing mass base support. We are
expecting more to surrender from this development where the community started
to realize the CNTs' deception and their futile armed struggle,” said Lt. Col.
Trinidad. (With a report from 36IB-CMO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
5th Caraga mining confab opens in
Surigao City
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 1 (PIA) -- The city of
Surigao has once again hosted the 5th Caraga Mining Symposium and Safety
Competition on Sept. 26-27, 2019 at the Grand Convention Center of the
Philippine Gateway Hotel here.
The two-day event with the theme, “Mining Industry: A catalyst for
Economically Sustainable and Environmentally Resilient Communities” was made
possible through the cooperation and partnership of the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau (MGB) 13, Chamber of Mines Caraga Region, Inc. (CMCRI), Philippine Society
of Mining Engineers, Caraga Mine Safety and Health Council, Caraga Mine
Environment Management Council, and Community Relations and Education
Development Officers Organization.
CMCRI President Engr. Corsino L. Odtojan said the two day-event
aims to intensify public awareness of the positive contributions of the mining
industry in terms of establishing sustainable and resilient communities that
can withstand the present and future economic and environmental challenges.
On his part, Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers
enjoined the mining sector to be pro-active and institute more improved
planning and development strategy and see to it that the people living in the
mining communities are properly involved in all development processes.
“It is also essential for the mining companies and other mining
players to efficiently implement the so-called Social Development Management
Program (SDMP) as a way of giving back its share from the mining and
subsequently help improved the well-being of the people,” Barbers added.
Caraga Region, particularly Surigao del Norte, has been known as
the mining capital in the country since out of 50 metallic mines operating in
the Philippines, 25 operate in Caraga Region with one of two nickel processing
plants and one of two gold processing plants are also in the region.
Various activities such as motorcade, exhibit/booths, Sumba,
variety show contest, press conference, fire drill, rescue, and transfer relay
were conducted during the event attended by the officials from the local
government units, academe, non-government organizations, National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples, and mining companies. (Susil D. Ragas/PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
AgNor town, Army
partner in delivering social services
By 1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang
BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Oct. 1 -- The 23rd Infantry
Battalion (23IB), Philippine Army in partnership with the local government unit
of Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, conducted recently an outreach program to
the Higaonon tribe in Sitio Bokbokon, Brgy Lawan-lawan, Las Nieves, Agusan
del Norte with the theme, “Panguyamo para ho kalandag daw kalambuan (Caring for
peace and development).”
The activity aims to deliver social services to the Geographically
Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas of the said municipality. The services
provided are free registration of Certificate of Live Birth; Marriage, Death,
Delayed, Senior Citizen Registration; Philhealth membership; free medical
consultation; tooth extraction; circumcision; haircut; distribution of free
medicines, dental kits, used clothing, food packs, slippers, free ice cream,
and snacks. It also included the awarding of sprayer item to the tribal leaders
and tree planting activity.
More than 300 leaders and members of the Higaonon Tribe under the
Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) 118 benefitted from the said
activity.
Datu Ronald S. Manhumosay, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory
Representative (IPMR) of Las Nieves extended his gratitude to the efforts of
the local government unit and the 23IB for bringing social services to the IP
community. "We are thankful to the government and the 23IB for giving
importance to the IP community by providing and bringing basic social services
closer to us and for maintaining peace in our community.
We will support them in ending insurgency problem,” said
Manhumusay.
"We created LENYCARES to bring the services of the government
closer to the people. This is the result of our continuous efforts with the
23rd Infantry Battalion in eliminating insurgency in the locality. Moreover,
this is our way of implementing Executive Order Number 70 or the
whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace,” said
Las Nieves Mayor Avelina Rosales. (CMO Officer, 23IB, PA/PIA Agusan del
Norte)
