Friday, February 8, 2019

River cleanup sa SurSur, dinagsa ng mga volunteers

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

Isinagawa ng DENR at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno ang isang simultaneous river cleanup sa ilog ng Tabon and Mangagoy  sa lungsod ng Bislig. (Photo: CENRO Bislig City)

LUNGSOD NG TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Pebrero 8 (PIA) -- Dinagsa ng mga volunteers ang isinagawang simultaneous river cleanup ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) dito sa probinsya ng Surigao del Sur.

Napag-alaman mula sa tanggapan ng Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) na pinamumunuan ni Jose Flavio Concha na tatlong ilog sa probinsya ang nilinis ng mga volunteers.

Ang PENRO-Surigao del Sur at CENRO-Cantilan ang nanguna sa isinasagawang paglilinis sa ilog ng Cantilan na may habang isang kilometro sa hilagang bahagi ng probinsya. Nilahokan ito ng mahigit 700 estudyante mula sa Surigao del Sur State University-Cantilan Campus, pamahalaang lokal ng Cantilan, at iba't-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at iba pang mga stakeholders.

Sa katimogang bahagi naman ng probinsya, ang aktibidad ay pinangungunahan ng CENRO Bislig sa pamumuno ni Victor Sabornido kung saan nilinis nila ang mahigit dalawang kilometrong haba ng Tabon at Mangagoy Rivers sa lungsod ng Bislig. Dumagsa naman ang mga sumuporta sa nasabing aktibidad na nakilahok mula sa: Bislig City Local Government Unit, Mangagoy at Tabon Barangay Council, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 75th Infantry Battalion, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management Penology (BJMP), Tabon Maximino Estrella National High School (TMENHS), REACT Kamayo Group and iba pang stakeholders.

Ang CENRO-Lianga naman na pinamumunuan ni Cliff Abrahan ang nanguna sa pagpatutupad ng nasabing aktibidad sa bayan ng Lianga na isinasagawa sa Ban-as River na sinusuportahan naman ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Lianga, iba’t-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, non-government organizations at mga stakeholders sa nasabing lugar.

Samantala, hindi lang sa araw na ito isinasagawa ang paglilinis ng ilog sa probinsya. Noong Enero 29 ng taong kasalukuyan, inilunsad ang parehong aktibidad ng CENRO-Cantilan kung saan nilinis nila ang Manlico River sa bayan ng Cortes. Umani naman ito ng suporta mula sa lokal na pamahalan ng Cortes, Barangay ng Manlico at residente ng nasabing barangay. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Caraganons to join simultaneous river clean-up drive

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) - Local communities, government employees, students and volunteers from all over Caraga will spur a ‘riverlution’ for cleaner bodies of water through a simultaneous River Clean-Up activity on February 8, 2019.

The massive clean-up drive, spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Caraga, is part of the ensuing activities after the launching of the Rivers for Life Advocacy campaign of the agency that calls for action to mobilize and promote citizen participation in its effort to revitalize rivers, noting that pollutants from agricultural, domestic and industrial activities end up contaminating rivers.

“As stewards of the environment, everyone is encouraged to join said activity. We should be passionate in taking initiatives that will ensure cleanliness of our water resources. And we can simply start from making it free from trash and other pollutants,” said DENR-Caraga regional director lawyer Felix Alicer.

Several sites were identified where the activity will be conducted.

In Butuan City, it will be at Ambangan and Montilla Boulevard Creeks.

“This water resource is tied to this city’s rich history and also plays a major role in managing and regulating flood waters in the city, being a tributary to Masao River,” Alicer said.

Other sites include Cabadbaran River in Cabadbaran City and Minabang Creek, San Francisco in the province of Agusan del Norte.

For Agusan del Sur province, it will be at the Taglatawan River in Bayugan City, Co-o Creek in Bunawan, Malihaw Creek in Del Monte, Talacogon, and Bacay River in Veruela.

Dinagatnons and Surigaonons are also encouraged to proceed with the clean-up activity at the Navarro River, Tubajon, province of Dinagat Islands; Kinabutan and Sabang Dos Rivers in Surigao del Norte province; and at the Cantilan, Lianga and Tabon Rivers in Surigao del Sur province.

Participants may wear comfortable clothes and footwear appropriate for the activity.

It is suggested for the participants to bring a garbage bag/rice sack, face mask, hand gloves, rake, shovel, bolo, long stick with nails (1x2x8), drinking water and personal reusable containers. (VLG/DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Caraga cops deployed for BOL plebiscite in Lanao del Norte

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 6 - Police Regional Office 13 (PRO13) deployed 384 strong Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel in Lanao del Norte to secure the 2nd Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) Plebiscite held today.

The police personnel comes from the Mobile Forces of PRO13 composed of 12 Police Commissioned Officers and 372 Police Non-Commissioned Officers who are deployed in different parts of Lanao del Norte, said PRO13 Regional Director PCSupt Gilberto DC Cruz..

Most of the troops will secure polling centers, some will be on standby as quick reaction teamsand others will form as personnel at Command Post of PRO13.

The BOL Plebiscite will cover the 39 barangays in the town of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Pigkawayan and Pikit in North Cotabato and towns of Baloi, Munia, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal in Lanao del Norte. (PNP Caraga/PIA Caraga)

447 AgSur trainees graduate from TESDA's skills training

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

PROPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Feb. 6 (PIA) - Director-General Isidro Lapeña of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) witnessed the recently-held graduation ceremony of some 447 trainees who are now graduates of the skills training they have availed under the various scholarship programs of the agency.

In his message, Lapeña emphasized that there is a need to increase people’s awareness on the existing skills training and scholarship programs of TESDA, so more people could also benefit from it and could have the chance to experience a better life with their family.

He said this is one way of inspiring other people to visit and approach TESDA and avail of any skills training and enhance their own skills.

Lapeña clarified that anyone could apply for any training offered by the government. He also advised the graduates to visit their local TESDA offices to assist them in their job hunting opportunities here and abroad.

Meanwhile, in time with the graduation ceremony of the trainees, DG Lapeña also led the inauguration of the newly-built administration building of the Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT) in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur worth P3.8-million.

It was learned that the said building was completed thru the Training-cum-Production Program of TESDA Caraga. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

AgNor guv to ink MOA with DILG for halfway house project

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 6 -  The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte recently approved the availment of  a financial assistance in the amount of Php5-million from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office XIII for the construction of a halfway house (livelihood center) for former rebels and Militia ng Bayan Members.

Provincial Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba was authorized to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with the DILG for the immediate implementation of the program.

This was approved through Sanggunian Resolution No. 418-2018, authored by Vice Governor Ramon AG. Bungabong during their 113th regular session.

The program is under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which is a national government’s peace and development framework, implemented by DILG.

The DILG was tasked to oversee the said program designed to respond and strengthen the needs of the rebel returnees and Militia ng Bayan Members.

This is also in line with Executive Order No. 3, series 2001 that calls for a comprehensive, integrated and holistic peace process to address the internal armed conflict and ensure the safety of former rebels, as well as providing for a community-based assistance in response to their social and psychological rehabilitation needs.

The program aims to improve the socio-economic conditions through focused delivery of services; enhancing capacities of national government agencies and local governments for pursuing conflict-sensitive, peace-promoting and gender-sensitive approach to development; and empowering communities and strengthening their capacities to address issues of conflict and peace through activities that promote peace and social involvement towards community development.

Local officials believed that the livelihood center will greatly help change the lives of former rebels and ready to return to the community. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

SP AgNor approves solo parent ordinance

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 6 - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte recently approved Provincial Ordinance No. 515-2019 that establishes programs for the implementation of Republic Act 8972, otherwise known as the The SOLO PARENTS' Welfare Act of 2000, in the province of Agusan del Norte and for other purposes.

Under the ordinance, authored by Provincial Board Member Elizabeth Marie R. Calo, benefits and privileges of solo parents were itemized.

The provincial government now has a Comprehensive Package of Programs, Services and Benefits for solo parents and their families to include: livelihood development services which include free trainings on livelihood skills, basic business management, value orientation and the provision of job placement; provision of seed capital/financial assistance for starting up a small-scale business in the amount of not less than Php10,000.00; and counseling services which include individual, peer group or family counseling that will focus on the resolution of personal relationship and role conflicts.

It also includes the parent effectiveness services which cover the provision and expansion of knowledge and skills of the solo parent on early childhood development, behavior management, health care, rights and duties of parents and children; critical incidence stress debriefing which includes preventive stress management strategy designed to assist solo parents in coping with crisis situations and cases of abuse; special projects for individuals in need of protection which include temporary shelter, counseling, legal assistance, medical care, self-concept or ego-building, crisis management and spiritual enrichment.

Under the ordinance, the employer shall provide for a flexible working schedule for solo parents who are working, provided, that the same shall not affect individual and company productivity, and provided, further, that any employer may request exemption from the above requirements from the DOLE on certain meritorious grounds; and non-discrimination by employer against any solo parent employee with respect to terms and conditions of employment on account of his/her status.

In addition to leave privileges under existing laws, parental leave of not more than seven working days every year shall be granted to any solo parent employee who has rendered service of at least one year; and can be availed of either in consecutive or non-consecutive days which shall not be convertible to cash.

The province shall provide the following educational benefits such as scholarship programs for qualified solo parents and their children in institutions of basic, tertiary and technical/skills education; and non-formal education programs appropriate for solo parents and their children.

Solo parents shall be given allocation in housing projects and shall be provided with liberal terms of payment on said government low-cost housing projects in accordance with housing law provisions prioritizing applicants below the poverty line as declared by the NEDA; a comprehensive health care program for solo parents and their children; and provision of medical assistance for hospitalization and medicine.

The ordinance applies to any solo parent residing in the province of Agusan del Norte for at least six months with valid solo parent ID. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Authorities recover anti-tank IED in SurSur town

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

MARIHATAG, Surigao del Sur, Feb 6 (PIA) – The authorities safely recovered an anti-tank Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the national highway of Brgy. Amontay, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur on February 1, 2019.

Authorities unearth an anti-tank Improvised Explosive Device along the national highway of Brgy. Amontay, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur on February 1, 2019. (Photo credit to: Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office)

The IED has a dimension of 8 inches diameter and 1 foot height with wiring and blasting cap and weigh up to seven kilos.

Police Provincial Office (PPO) Director PSSupt. Francisco Dungo Jr. said that the information was given by a former rebel (FR) who returned to the fold of the law last January.

After knowing the report, Police Regional Office 13 Regional Director PCSupt. Gilberto Cruz immediately requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to excavate the area considering the risk to the motorists in case of accidental detonation.

Based on the report, the excavation started on January 28, 2019 by the PNP explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit/K9 group in cooperation with the DPWH and the Philippine Army.

PPO Surigao del Sur turned over the anti-tank IED to Philippine Army for disposition. (PNP/PIA Surigao del Sur)

Tagalog News: 447 TESDA trainees sa Agusan del Sur nagsipagtapos

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Pebrero 6 (PIA) - Personal na dinaluhan mismo ni Director General Isidro Lapeña ng Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) ang graduation ceremony kamakailan ng 447 trainees mula sa Agusan del Sur matapos sumailalim sa iba’t-ibang pagsasanay sa ilalim ng iba’t-ibang scholarship programs ng ahensya.

Hinimok ni Lapeña ang mga trainees na ibahagi o ipamalita sa kanilang mga kapamilya’t kakilala ang kanilang karanasan habang ang mga ito ay sumailalim sa iba’t-ibang pagsasanay.

Ayon kay Lapeña, kailangang malaman ng ibang mamamayan na may ginagawa ang pamahalaan upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga nais sumailalim sa pagsasanay at makapaghanap ng trabaho upang mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kaniyang sarili at pamilya.

Ito rin ay isang paraan na magbibigay inspirasyon sa iba na sila’y lumapit rin sa TESDA upang makapagsanay at mapaunlad ang sariling kakayahan.

Sinabi rin niya na kahit na sino ay pwedeng sumailalim sa mga pagsasanay na inihahandog ng pamahalaan. Hinimok din nito ang mga nagsipagtapos na lumapit sa tanggapan ng TESDA upang sila’y matulungan naman makapaghanap ng trabaho.

Samantala, kasabay ng nabanggit na graduation ceremony ng mga trainees, pinasinayaan din ni Lapeña ang katatapos lang na administration building ng Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT) sa Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur na nagkakahalagang P3.8-million.

Ang nasabing building ay nabuo dahil sa Training-cum-Production Program ng TESDA Caraga. (JPG/TESDA-13/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Monday, February 4, 2019

Gov’t agencies express support to TESDA-Caraga

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 4 – Government agencies in Caraga region have expressed their continuous support to the programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

During the graduation ceremony of the 477 trainees of the TESDA Skills Training Program held Wednesday in Agusan del Sur, key officials of the different government agencies gave their support to the agency in the presence on TESDA Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña.

Donald Seronay, assistant regional director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Caraga said that since the inception of TESDA in the region, DILG has been regularly supporting the programs of the agency.

“This is because we have seen the impact of the trainings to the Caraganons, giving them the opportunity to develop their skills and be productive society,” Seronay said.

PCInsp Venus Cale of the Philippine National Police underscored that TESDA has been their regular partner in the conduct of Community Operations for Peace and Development (COPD).

“With the partnership that PNP and TESDA has, we were able to conduct COPD to conflict-affected areas in the region,” she said.

Meanwhile, Agusan del Sur Board Member Santiago Cane said that for as long as TESDA will continue to create programs for his constituents, the provincial government thru Gov. Eddiebong Plaza will always support the agency.

“While TESDA-Caraga through the leadership of regional director Florencio F. Sunico, Jr. is implementing programs to equip Agusanons with skills, we at the provincial government are always here to back TESDA up,” he said.

With these developments, Sunico also expressed his thanks and gratitude to the different agencies through the officials present who have inspired TESDA to be the transformational leader in the technical education and skills development of the Filipino workforce. (TESDA Caraga/PIA Caraga)

P33.9M irrigation project boosts rice production in Agusan Norte

By Fretcher Magatao

NASIPIT, Agusan del Norte, Feb. 4 - The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) led by Deputy Project Director Jodel Tabada turned over the Php33.9 Million completed rehabilitation of Culit Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to the Culit-Kinabjangan Irrigators Association on January 30.

The improved and expanded CIS covers an influence area of at least 100 hectares mostly planted with rice benefits 140 farming households.

“The members of the association are grateful since all of the rice areas they have can now be watered,” said Pausto Empanado, Jr., President of Irrigators’ Association.

Empanado shared that the service area before can only reach up to 20 hectares since they were just relying on earth canal.

The potential service area was less utilized and farmers were just growing grass and plants to feed their goats, pigs, and cows.

“Now that the irrigation is completed, we want to utilize the potential service area of the project. We will prohibit the animals to stay and lay down in the irrigation canals. This is also our way of preserving the project,” said Empanado.

The municipality hopes that rice farmers’ production will be increased from 3 metric tons to 4.5 metric tons per hectare through the irrigation project.

Lydia Apatan, Municipal Project Management and Implementation Unit Head, said that the project can now provide a steady supply of water per cropping season so the farmers can maximize cropping intensity.

“The better production of rice farmers also means an increase in income which they can use for their farms and expenses for the family,” said Apatan.

Mayor Enrico Corvera said that the counterpart of the local government will surely reap better returns.

“This project required us a big amount as a counterpart, but the local government is confident that this will result in an increase in local revenue,” said Corvera.

DA-PRDP requires a 10 percent counterpart from the provincial or municipal local government where the infrastructure project is implemented.

The 80 percent of the total budget is coming from the World Bank and the other 10 percent is from the government of the Philippines.

The project has been partnering with the local government unit of Nasipit and the Irrigators’ Association in building the CIS infrastructure and facilities to raise the income, productivity, and competitiveness of the farmers in the countryside. (DA Caraga/PIA Agusan del Norte)

TESDA chief tells AgSur graduates to spread good news

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 4 - Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña of the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) on Wednesday told graduates of skills training in Agusan del Sur to spread the good news to their relatives, friends and townsmen on the achievements they have.

Speaking before the 477 graduates of the different skills training programs in the province of Agusan del Sur, the official enjoined the graduates to inform the public that they are now one-step closer in reaching their dreams.

Lapeña emphasized that good things happened during the conduct of the different trainings must be shared so that those who will hear it will be encouraged to take and enroll TESDA courses for free.

“May mga scholarship programs naman po tayong ini-offer. May scholarship program pa like the Private Education Students Financial Assistance (PESFA) na may allowance na ipinamimigay (There are scholarship programs that we offer. We have a scholarship program like the Private Education Students Financial Assistance (PESFA) where allowance is given),” he said.

Lapeña added that after finishing the training, the graduates will be given an opportunity to find a job that may extract their family from poverty.

The TESDA chief also informed the graduates that they may also come to TESDA to ask for help on where they can find a job that suits the skills they acquired.

“Hindi lang natatapos ang misyon namin sa TESDA sa pagbibigay ng training, tutulong din kami na makapaghanap kayo ng trabaho na akma sa inyong skills. (Our mission does not end in providing you trainings, we will also be helping you find a job that matches your skills)," he said. (TESDA-13/PIA-Agusan del Sur)