Friday, December 20, 2019

Blue alert raised in Caraga due to 2 LPAs

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA) -- Caraganons are to expect a rainy Christmas in the region, as reiterated during the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) conducted by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) Caraga on Friday at the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga Regional Office, this city.

Two low pressure areas (LPAs) are currently monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), one of which has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and is situated 605 km east-south east of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur, as of 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Heavy rain is expected to fall in the region on Saturday, December 21. However, the chances of the said LPA turning into a tropical storm is slim, said PAGASA.

The second LPA, currently located 2,375 km east of Mindanao, is yet to enter PAR. According to Lance Galanida, Chief Meteorologist of the PAGASA Butuan, the likelihood of the said weather disturbance to actually pass through PAR is still in question hence the on-going monitoring by their agency.

In response to the current weather situation in the region, RDRRMC Caraga and OCD Caraga Regional Director Liza Mazo declared a blue alert status, of which she instructed responsible line agencies to cooperate in the close monitoring of the weather. PMaj. Marife Farol of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga assured the present members that the police force in the region is as vigilant and ready to respond in case of calamities.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga has also prepared their office for relief operations. Around 8,988 family food packs that contain rice, corned beef, sardines, and coffee are now stored in their warehouses while 6,100 food packs were distributed to local government units: 3,000 the Surigao provinces, 2,500 in Dinagat Islands, and 600 in Agusan del Sur.

Medicines worth P317,382.27 have also been prepared by the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga and are ready for distribution.

Dir. Mazo then advised the public to cooperate and prepare, especially when preemptive evacuation is necessary. (PIA-Caraga)

45 Agusanon students pass Japanese language, culture program 

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA) -- A total of 45 students graduated from the Japanese Language and Culture program of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) held on December 16 here. The said program is one of the seven courses under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), the enrollees of which are supported by the provincial government of Agusan del Norte.

Overseas job opportunities are expected to provide employment for the Agusanons hence the creation of the Basic Japanese Language and Culture, it was learned.

“I hope that you will use what you learned for the improvement of your individual lives,” said Gerry Joy S. Laurito, provincial administrator of Agusan del Norte who represented Gov. Dale Corvera during the graduation ceremony.

The TWSP is one of the initiatives under the AGUSAN UP!, an eight-point development program of the provincial government.

One of the major targets of the province's development agenda is the provision of 30,000 quality jobs before the year 2027. At present, over 3,000 are unemployed, 14,000 are underemployed, and an estimation of 13,000 are expected to join the labor force in the next eight years, said Laurito.

The provincial government allotted P2-million to provide financial aid to the scholars of the TWSP this year. Funding for the future batches of scholars will continue, Laurito further stated.

In addition to the Japanese Language and Culture program, six more courses are available under the TSWP, namely Computer System Servicing NCII, Visual Graphic Design NCII, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NCII, Events Management Services NCIII, and Driving NCII. (with reports from J-anne Mag-aso and Angel Lyn Gaviola, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA Caraga)

DA Caraga turns over P9M slaughterhouse

By Fretcher Magatao

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 20 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the region turns over the P9 million “AA” Slaughterhouse Building to the Municipality of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte last December 17.

The building project that can cater to up to 50 hogs per day is funded under the Department’s Bottom-Up Budgeting.

“With the new facility, consumers in Nasipit and the neighboring areas are assured of clean and safe meat,” said Mayor Enrico Corvera.

Corvera added that the municipality will make sure to maintain the facility and its equipment, sufficient water supply, and proper waste disposal management.

Dr. James Cabrera from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) said that an abattoir that is given an "AA" grade by the NMIS is allowed to market its products anywhere in the Philippines.

Cabrera explained that the priority of NMIS is to strengthen meat inspection in all local government units in the country.

“We will constantly monitor this facility and make sure that the sanitary condition is well-maintained,” said Dr. Cabrera.

There are three categories of slaughterhouses under NMIS guidelines: Class Triple-A or top-grade abattoir that can supply both domestic and international markets; Class Double-A or the slaughterhouse that can supply all over the country, and Class A or the slaughterhouse that can only supply the local city or municipality.

“The slaughterhouse can boost the local meat industry as more investors will be enticed to use the facilities of the municipal slaughterhouse,” said BUB Focal Person Edelmira Luminarias.

With its bigger space, the slaughterhouse can now accept more animals for slaughtering and this would mean an increase in the local government’s income from the slaughterhouse operations. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)

Army, partners bring Christmas closer to conflict-affected communities

By Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan

MARIHATAG, Surigao del Sur, Dec. 20 --  “Despite any conflict, there is still a room for peace and love within everyone’s heart.”

This was the statement Lt. Colonel Joey Baybayan,  Commanding Officer of the 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion, after the successful gift-giving activities in Kilometer 9, Diatagon, Lianga and in Caras-an, Tago, Surigao del Sur and in Magsaysay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur from December 14-17.

Sitio Supon of Barangay Magsaysay, Sitio Simowao (Kilometer 9), Diatagon and Barangay Caras-an are homes for Indigenous Peoples (IPs), mostly Manobo tribes. Caras-an is approximately 50 kilometers away from the municipality proper of Tago. All barangays are traditional routes of Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs).

                                                  

“No road is long and no mountain is high if we are sincere to bring sustainable and genuine peace in these conflict-affected areas,” Lt. Col. Baybayan said.

The collaborative efforts of the various agencies and private organizations exemplified the Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

The 7th Special Forces “Spartan” Company; 8th Special Forces “Dragoons” Company; 9th Special Forces “Hounds” Company; 41st CMO Company; PNP personnel; local government units (LGUs) of Prosperidad, Tago and Lianga; Philippine National Red Cross Agusan and Surigao del Sur Chapters; ACDI Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative; Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association, Inc (AFPMBAI); Rotary Club San Francisco Chapter; DSWD Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth; Propelling our Inherited Nation Through our Youth (POINTY) Agusan and Surigao del Sur Chapters; and the Bureau of Customs produced and distributed the goods, mostly toys, school supplies and Noche Buena packages to around 1,000 beneficiaries.

“There is no substitute for your families, we call on the remaining NPAs to surrender and think about their families. To live life in peace with your families despite the hardships in life is better than living with corrupt NPA leaders and terrorists because they never value family as they continually recruit minors and take them away from their parents,” Lt. Col. Baybayan ended.

Meanwhile, NPA terrorists attacked the government forces, civilians, including children, in an ambush last December 13 in Borongan, Eastern Samar, leaving 3 killed and 14 seriously injured. This caused the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to condemn the NPA terrorists and outraged the LGU of Borongan. NPA terrorists involved are allegedly minors and were recruited from various schools through alleged NPA-linked militant front groups and party lists. (3SFBn/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

 Caraga region’s poverty incidence declines in 2018

By Paul Edward B. Castillo

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 20 -- The full year 2018 poverty incidence among population for Caraga Region displays an improvement of 9.0 percentage points from the 2015 figure of 39.5 percent.

The 30.5 poverty incidence among population for the full year of 2018 released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), roughly translates to 822,800 Caraganons living below the poverty threshold of the region estimated at P11,482, on average, for a family of five per month in 2018. This is 192,200 less poor Caraganons than what was recorded in 2015.

In addition, Caraga region also experienced improvement in terms of subsistence incidence among population or proportion of Caraganons, whose income is not enough to meet even the basic food needs, which registered at 10.2 percent in 2018.

This is an improvement of 7.1 percentage points from 17.3 percent in 2015. The region’s monthly food threshold for a family of five was estimated, on average, at P7,349.

However, despite the decline in figures, Caraga Region’s poverty incidence among population of 30.5 percent is still relatively high compared to the country’s poverty estimates of 16.6 percent in 2018. Among other regions, Caraga ranks as the 4th poorest region following Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 61.3 percent; Zamboanga Peninsula with 32.7 percent; and Eastern Visayas with 30.9 percent.

Among the regions in Mindanao, Caraga ranks third poorest following BARMM and Zamboanga Peninsula while SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) ranks fourth poorest with 28.2 percent, followed by Northern Mindanao Region with 23.0 percent and Davao Region with 18.9 percent.

On a positive note, the 2018 poverty and subsistence incidence among population of 30.5 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively, exceeded the targets set in the Updated   Caraga Results Matrices, the accompanying document of the Midterm Updated Caraga Regional Development Plan 2020-2022, which targeted 34 percent for poverty incidence and 13.15 percent for subsistence incidence in 2018. Such positive results indicate that the region is on track in achieving the poverty targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of reducing by half the proportion of population living in poverty and eradicating extreme poverty for all by 2030. (NEDA Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

Trabaho gilantaw alang sa migradwar nga 45 scholars pagkat-on sa Nihongo

By J-anne Mag-aso/Angel Lyn Gaviola

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Disyembre 20 -- Migradwar niadtong Disyembre 16 ang 45 ka suportado sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte nga scholars sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) sa kurso nga Basic Japanese Language and Culture, usa sa pito ka mga kurso ubos sa Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) niini.

Ang TWSP usa sa mga mahimong dakung kabahin unya sa kampanya sa kalambuan ubos sa AGUSAN UP!, ang walo ka punto nga agenda sa Team Agusan del Norte ubos sa administrasyon ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera.

Usa sa mga gipunting nga resulta sa mga kalambuan nga ipahiluna ubos sa AGUSAN UP! mao ang pagmugna og 30,000 ka de-kalidad nga trabaho pag-abot sa 2027. Kapin sa 3,000 sa gipunting nga makatrabaho mao kadtong mga unemployed karon, ang dul-an sa 14,000 mga underemployed ug ang laing kapin sa 13,000, mga bag-ong mosulod sa labor force sa mosunod nga walo ka tuig.

Ang gilantaw nga makamugna unya sa trabaho mao ang mga ekonomikanhong kalihukan ubos sa magkalambigit nga mga proyekto Plant! Plant! Plant! diiin gipunting nga 125,000 ektaryas ang matamnan ug sa Process! Process! Process diin labing ubos 20 ka mga manufacturing projects nga mo-proseso sa mga abot sa uma ang ipahuluna.

Apil usab sa mga gilantaw nga momugna ug mga kapangitaan, ilabina karon nga yugto diin nagsugod pa lang ang AGUSAN UP!, mao ang mga trabaho sa gawas sa nasud, usa sa gipunting nga adtoan sa mga gradwado sa bag-ohay pa lang gihimo nga Basic Japanese Language and Culture.

“Hinaut unta nga gamiton ninyo ang inyong naantiguhan aron molambo ang tagsa-tagsa ka estado sa inyong kinabuhi”, sumala pa Gerry Joey S. Laurito, provincial administrator sa Agusan del Norte nga nag-represent kang Gob. Corvera sa graduation ceremony.

Ang probinsya naggahin og P2 milyones alang sa mga scholars sa probinsya sa TWSP ning tuiga. Padayon kining pondohan ubos sa administrasyon ni Gob. Corvera, sumala pa kang Laurito. Naay pito ka kurso ang TSWP. Ang uban mao ang Computer system Servicing NCII, Visual Graphic Design NCIII, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NCII, Events Management Services NCIII, Driving NCII. (Agusan Up, Agusan del Norte/PIA Caraga)

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Caraganon IP youth passes army course class

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 19 -- A Manobo youth, who once served as a Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary (CAA), successfully graduated from the Candidate Soldier (CS) Course Class of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division (4ID), Philippine Army on December 14 at the division's training school at Camp Osito, Bahian, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Private Marvin T. Banglid, 23, a Manobo from Brgy. Kasapa-1, Loreto, Agusan del Sur, served the military as a CAA for five years before joining the course. To inspire fellow indigenous people (IP) youth to serve the country and their people was his motivation for finishing the course.

“I am humbled with our government’s endless service to my people and I wish to repay it with by serving the military,” he said.

Banglid is one of the 243 CS who were promoted to new privates after completing the 24-week Basic Military Training (BMT) and Jungle Warfare Mountain Operations (JWMOC) and are now ready to serve the people of regions 10 and Caraga.

Over 88% of the total graduates are from the said regions while the remaining 12% came from regions 1, 7, 8, 9, and 12.

Batches 608 and 609 of 2019 also take pride in their IP candidates who endured immense hardships to pass the course class and help oversee the welfare of the IPs in the country.

Commander of the 4ID MGen. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal congratulated the batches for having completed the course and imparted a piece of advice to the new batch of military personnel to ‘prepare to assume different roles’ in the attainment of peace and development.

“The Philippine government and your fellow countrymen are expecting a lot from you. You are now catalysts for change. Let this serve as a reminder for you to find the courage and discipline to do what is right and just,” he added. (with a report from 4ID, Philippine Army/PIA-Caraga)

Manobo youths: We need DepEd schools for IPs

By Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Dec. 19 -- A young resident of Sitio Simowao (Kilometer 9), Diatagon, Lianga Surigao Del Sur wishes that a Department of Education (DepEd) operated school will be constructed in their place. The young resident emphasized during his speech at the closing ceremony of the 3rd Lianga Youth Leadership Summit (YLS), recently held at the 9th Special Forces “Hounds’ Company, 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion (3SFBn) headquarters in St. Christine, Lianga town.                    

 “I strive hard to finish school and help my family because I know that the communist New Peoples Army (NPA) terrorist-influenced areas find it hard to prosper. We wish that a DepEd school will be constructed here in our sitio,” said Jackyboy Salinas, a young resident of Sitio Simowao (Kilometer 9).

Of the 95 YLS participants, eight of them were from the conflict-affected indigenous peoples (IP) community of Kilometer 9 who joined for the first time.

In their problem tree and root cause analysis workshop, they identified the issues that greatly affect the youth in their community which include quality education and insurgency.

Salinas, a product of Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (ALCADEV), and his fellow YLS graduates who are currently secondary school students said that it would be better if IP DepEd schools are established. Some of the ALCADEV and Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) graduates find it hard to transfer to other DepEd schools because their papers are not valid and are non-accredited.

The reason why communist-influenced militant groups hamper the educational intervention of DepEd in conflict areas is because their schools, TRIFPSS and ALCADEV, will become irrelevant and will die a natural death. Most of the IPs, when asked, wanted to transfer to the DepEd-accredited IP government schools once these become readily available in their sitios,” said Col. Allan Hambala, 401st Infantry Brigade commander.

Meanwhile, the DepEd said that they will include Kilometer 9 as a beneficiary of their Last Mile School Program to address gaps in isolated, disadvantaged areas and to offer a far better quality of education than the ALCADEV and TRIFPSS which are non-DepEd accredited and alleged NPA-linked schools. (3rd SFBn/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

AgNor town conducts RICO program

By Atty. Mary Christine Anthonette M. Salise-Punzalan

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 19 --  The municipality of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte conducts its second Renewed and Intensified Community Outreach (RICO) Program at Sitio Tabon, Barangay, Aclan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

The RICO Program was first launched in Barangay Jaguimitan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte last December 11, 2019.  More than 550 households benefited from different government services.

The outreach program in Barangay Aclan catered to more than 300 households in the said barangay and its neighboring sitios.

Free legal services, operation tuli, provision of food packs, distribution of seedlings, release of COMELEC IDs, medical-dental services and all other services were provided by the LGU and its partner national government agencies.

"This is our way of winning back the lost trust of the people to the government, making the constituents feel loved and cared by government officials," said Mayor Enrico R. Corvera.

"If we have to make this monthly, we will, just to change the way people living in the mountainous areas define public service," he added. (DILG Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Model farm sa bulanghoy gikasa na

By Angel F. Gaviola

MUNISIPYO SA LAS NIEVES, Agusan del Norte, Disyembre 19 -- Gisugdan dinhi niadtong Disyembre 16, pagpahiluna ang mahimong model farm sa bulanghoy, usa sa mga crops kansang kalambuan tutokan sa probinsya ubos sa AGUSAN UP!, ang kampanya sa kalambuan ubos sa administrayon ni Gobernador Dale B. Corvera.

Sa panagtigum nga gihimo sa Barangay Lingayao, ang sentro sa model farm, mikomiter ang grupo sa mga mag-uuma og kinatibuk-an 30 ektaryas nga himoong uma sa bulanghoy, ang magsilbing unang tikang sa pagpatuman sa maong proyekto.

Sa maong panagtigum gilatid usab sa mga lumilihuk sa gobyerno sa serbisyo sa agrikultura sa munisipyo, sa probinsya ug sa rehiyon sa Caraga ang mahimo nilang mga serbisyo pagpatigayon sa maong model farm.

Mitambong usab sa maong tigum ang representante sa mag-uuma sa bulanghoy sa silingang lungsod sa Esperanza, Agusan del Sur nga mipaambit sa kakulang sa suplay sa produkto sa nahimo nilang merkado ug andam ang iyang grupo nga paliton ang tanang ani sa mahimong model farm.

Isip suporta sa model farm, gipadayag ni Francis Louie Parina sa Department of Agriculture sa Caraga nga mopadangat ang iyang buhatan sa gikinahanglang planting materials ug inputs

Sa bahin sa munisipyo, tabangan sa buhatan sa agrikultura niini ang mga mag-uuma pag-organisa ug pagpalig-on sa ilang organisasyon, sumala pa ni Leonito Pasquito, ang Municipal Agriculture Officer.  Motabang usab ang munisipyo pagproseso og loan gikan sa banko o gikan sa mga kooperatiba nga mahimo nilang conduits.    

Sa bahin sa probinsya, nakatakda usab nga suportahan sa Provncial Agriculture Office ang pagpataas sa katakus sa mga mag-uuma pagpadagan sa model farm. Mopahiluna usab kini ug  lain pang mga model farms sa ubang lungsod,  sumala pa ni Miguel Velasco, ang corn and cassava production coordinator sa probinsya.

Kalambigit sa AGUSAN UP!, gipasabot ni Orencio Corvera Jr., ang nagsilbing consultant sa maong kampanya sa paglambo, nga gawas sa suporta sa model farm sundan sa programa ang mahimong sustinidong paglambo sa industriya sa bulanghoy. Iyang gibutyag nga ubos s AGUSAN UP! gipunting nga 3,000 ektaryas ang matamnan sa mosunod nga walo ka tuig ug makamugna gyod og processing plant sa probinsya mismo sama sa paggama og harina, feed processing ug paggama ug uban pang produkto gamit ang bulanghoy. (AGUSAN UP, Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Pagproseso sulbad sa mga mag-uuma sa lubi sa barat nga presyo

By Angel F. Gaviola

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Disyembre 19 -- Aron masulbad ang kasamtangangang barato kaayo nga palit sa lubi, gisugyot sa mga organisasyon sa mag-uuma nga nagsandig sa maong industriya nga maghiusa, magtampohay og kapital ug makig-alayon sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte ug ubang ahensya sa gobyerno pagtukod og kaugalingong  integrated coconut processing plant ubos sa proyektong 'Process! Process! Process! sa AGUSAN UP!'.

Kini ang nahimong resolusyon tubag sa kakulian nga giatubang karon sa mga maglulubi kansang mga lider mitambong sa konsultasyon kalabot sa AGUSAN UP!, ang kampanya sa kalambuan sa probinsya ubos sa administrayon ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera.

Walay pag-ubos ang taas nga sa presyo sa oil, sumala pa usa ka lider sa mga mag-uuma sa lubi. P50 gihapon ang kilo niini karon samtang ang tibuok lubi naa lang sa P2-3 ang kilo, iyang dugang.

Sa maong presyo sa lubi, igo ra sa magkatkat ang mahimo nilang halin, dugang sa ubang mag-uuma nga apil sa maong konsultasyon.

Ang Agusan del Norte naay 37,415 ektaryas nga kalubian karon. Nag-okupar kini sa 77% sa kayutaan pang-agrikultura sa probinsya ug nagpakita kini sa kadaghan sa mga mag-uuma nga apektado sa ubos nga presyo niini.

Apil sa resolusyon sa mga mag-uuma sa lubi mao ang pag-intercrop sa ilang kalubihan og cacao o saging aron mokita ang  ilang luna og dugang. 

Ang sugyot sa pagmugna og integrated coconut processing plant apil sa unang mga proyekto nga tutokan ubos sa 'Process! Process! Process! sa AGUSAN UP!' nga programa. Suportahan usab niini ang intercropping sa cacao ug saging.

Ubos sa AGUSAN UP! gipunting nga mosaka ang bahandi nga mamugna sa probinsya aron modaku ang kita sa mga lumulupyo niini pinaagi sa pagproseso sa mga abot sa uma. Gipunting usab nga motaas ang kita sa matag ektarya sa uma sa probinsya gikan sa kasamtangan nga P56,000 ngadto sa P100,000 matag ektarya ug ang intercropping maoy usa sa mga nakitang pamagi niini. (AGUSAN UP, Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

25 former rebels finish training in automotive servicing

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 17 -- Former rebels have successfully finished their training in Automotive Servicing NC I.

The development came after a total of 25 former rebels received their Certificate of Training during the graduation ceremony on Thursday, December 12 at the camp of the 23rd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army in Brgy. Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.

In his speech, Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Molina, Jr., commanding officer of the 23rd IB emphasized that the training offered by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through the Agusan del Norte Provincial Office paved a venue for the former rebels in achieving a long and lasting peace and development.

The official likewise expressed his thanks and gratitude to TESDA for the continuous partnership. He also explained that the government is not an enemy of the people, but rather a partner in attaining peace and development.

Molina further shared the quote of former United States President Benjamin Franklin which says, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Thus, he said teaching and telling is not enough for every graduate to experience.

“More importantly, after they will be equipped with the knowledge and skills that they need, we really have to involve them so that they will be able to practice what they have learned,” he added.

In a response message from the graduates, alias Dave who is one of the graduates said that he has already realized that what the leftists have taught them is not true.

“Karon pa nako nasabtan nga ang gipang-tudlo nga doktrina sa amo didto sa kabukiran usa diay ka dakong sayop. Maayo gyud diay ang atong gobyerno ug ang atong mga opisyales adunay taas nga panglantaw alang sa malahutayong kalinaw ug kalamboan.

 Daghang salamat sa tanan nga mga ahensya sa gobyerno nga mitabang kanamo aron mabag-o ang among kinabuhi (Now I understand that the doctrines that were taught to us in the hinterlands are not true. Our government and its officials have vision towards lasting peace and development. I would like to express my sincerest thanks and gratitude to all government agencies who have helped us in transforming our lives)," he said.

The graduates were recipients of Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), one of the scholarship programs of TESDA under the leadership of Sec. Isidro S. Lapeña for special clients that include former rebels, drug surrenderers, indigenous peoples (IPs), persons with disabilities (PWDs), inmates, among others.

The training provider is Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF), a TESDA-administered school in Matabao, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. (TESDA Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

8,000 ektaryas gi-enrol sa mga mag-uuma sa 'Plant! Plant! Plant Project sa Agusan Up!'

By Annalie Jean A. Mag-aso

BUTUAN CITY, Disyembre 17 -- Dul-an sa 8,000 ektaryas ang gi-enroll sa Plant! Plant! Plant! Project sa AGUSAN UP! sa inisyal nga panagtagbo tali sa mga mag-uuma ug sa panggamhanan sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte paghisgut sa kampanya sa kalambuan ubos sa administrasyon ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera, niadtong Disyembre 11.

Ang labing lapad nga luna gi-commit sa mga mag-uuma nga tamnan og cacao, usa sa siyam ka crops nga tutokan sa supporta sa probinsya ubos sa maong proyekto. Mokabat sa 4,563 ektaryas ang gi-commit nga area alang niini.

Ang laing crop nga buot gahinan sa mga mag-uuma sa og daku-dakung luna sa ilang yuta mao ang abaca nga naay 1,666 ektaryas.

Ang ubang crops nga buot nilang itanum sa ilang yuta mao ang saging, lubi, kape, mangga, rubber, bulanghoy ug falcatta.

Ang AGUSAN UP! mao ang walo ka punto nga development agenda sa probinsya ubos sa pagdumala ni Gob. Corvera ug sa suporta ni Congresswoman Angel Amante-Matba ingon man sa Sangguniang Panlalwigan niini sa pagpangulo ni Bise Gob.Ramon A.G. Bungabong.

Usa sa upat ka flagship programs sa AGUSAN UP! mao ang AGUS 3Ps o Plant and Process for Prosperity. Ubos sa maong proyekto ipursige usab ang kampanya alang sa pagproseso sa mahimong abot unya sa uma o ang Process! Process! Process! Project.

“Kinahanglang usbon na nato ang atong mindset,” pasabot ni Gob. Corvera sa kapin sa 1OO ka representante sa 88 ka organisasyon sa mga mag-uuma nga mitambong sa maong gihimong konsultasyon. “Kung kaniadto mananum kita aron kaonon, karon mananum kita isip negosyo. Agri-business na ang atong mindset” pasabot ni Gob. Corvera.

Dugang sa gobernador nga dili usab igo nga mananum lang. Iyang giawhag ang mga mag-uuma nga dungan sa pagpananum magtibnabangay ang mga mag-uuma pagmugna og mga industriya diin ibahug ang abot sa uma aron mas daghan ang makatrabaho ug mas modaku ang bahandi nga mamugna sa probinsya.

Ubos AGUSAN UP! ipadangat sa probinsya ang supporta sa pag-organisa sa mga mag-uuma, pagpalambu sa ilang organisasyon ug pagpalig-on sa ilang katakus pagpadagan sa ialng operasyon.

Ipahiluna usab sa probinsya nga mapadangat ang serbisyo sa pagmugna og mga nurseries, demo farms ug common service facilities. 

Ipadangat usab sa probinsya ang technical assistance pag-develop og mga proyekto ilabina sa mga processing projects.

Apil usab sa serbisyo mao ang fund facilitation o ang pagsilbing tulay sa probinsya tali sa mga mag-uuma ug sa mga tigpadangat og pinansyal nga serbisyo sama sa mga kooperatiba ug mga bangko.

Mahinumdoman nga 3O ka mga kooperatiba ang gi-facilitate sa probinsya nga makigtagbo sa Land Bank of the Philippines ug Development Bank of the Philippines niadtong Disyembre 9 ug sa maong panagtigum mi-commit sila nga mahimong kaabag sa probinsya pagpadangat og pinansyal nga serbisyo sa mga moapil sa kampanya sa kalambuan ubos sa AGUSAN UP! (Agusan Up, Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)