Caraganons
participate in advocacy walk for 2020 Women’s Month
By
Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, March 4 (PIA) - Wearing their colorful shirts, the government employees,
with the representatives from the private sector, academe, and women
organizations brought along with them their information materials and convened
early morning on Monday for the kick-off activity of this year’s Women’s Month
celebration in Caraga region.
All
have actively participated in the advocacy walk from the Capitol grounds going
to the Guingona Park of Butuan City.
Said
activity was aimed to level-up the awareness of every Caraganon on the rights
of women and children and prevent them from being victims of any form of violence
and abuse.
Men
have also joined the event as an expression of their support to all women in
the region and the world.
Carl
Van Lucero, who joined and witnessed the camaraderie of women and men through
the kick-off activities, recognized the valuable contribution of women in
nation-building. He also emphasized that change should really work for women.
“We
continue to support women and their rights, and their great contribution to the
communities. I hope that we would also be able to help them and let change work
for them,” cited Lucero.
Police
Staff Sergeant Christine Taub also bared that the Philippine National Police
(PNP) personnel in different communities are ready and taking measures to
ensure the protection of the locals especially the women and children.
“The
PNP personnel in the barangays are very willing to help especially women should
there be any violation committed by perpetrators against them,” Taub said.
Meanwhile,
Atty. Jerefe Tubigon-Bacang, regional director of the Commission on Human
Rights (CHR)-Caraga and chairperson of the Regional Gender and Development
Committee (RGADC), emphasized that said celebration is for everyone and not
only for women.
“We
celebrate Women’s Month because it is for everyone. We celebrate as women and
men also celebrate with us for the progress and development of all women,”
bared Bacang.
She
further urged every family to apply shared responsibility such as doing
household chores, instead of letting women at home do it themselves. She also
elaborated that gender equality and mainstreaming should be observed and
practiced everywhere. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
PhilHealth urges
Caraganons to avail benefits under UHC law
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN
CITY, Mar. 4 (PIA) -- With the implementation of the Universal Health Care
(UHC) Law in the country, the Philippine Health Insurance Company (PhilHealth)
Caraga urged Caraganons to enroll in order to avail the benefits covered by the
law.
In the
recent media forum conducted by the agency in Watergate Boutique Hotel with the
Philippine Sweepstakes Charity Office (PCSO) and the Department of Health (DOH)
in Caraga, the benefits of the said law were discussed, such as the objective
of the government to provide better financial assistance to Filipinos in
accessing medical services.
According
to Jane Santos of PhilHealth Caraga, around 1.2 million Caraganons, equivalent
to almost 82 percent of the total population of Caraga, are set to be covered
by the law's benefits. At present, over 9,500 members have already benefited
from UHC law.
Kate
Atenta, a Caraganon, is relieved that such a law has been created. It will
greatly benefit people like her who are unable to provide finances to avail
access to quality medical services.
“Such
law will be of great assistance to people like me who are minimum wage earners.
Such initiative is a testament of the government’s compassion for its people,”
she added.
At
present, PhilHealth Caraga is aiming to accommodate more members to avail the
UHC law which is why for PhilHealth member Mariel Calo, who has also availed
the Zero Balance Billing, information drive is crucial in the effective
implementation of the law. For her, the mandate of the law holds great promises
for the future of health care services in the country, especially for Filipinos
who barely earn a decent income.
"The
benefits of the program should be availed by every Filipino. Disseminating
information should not only be through social media, but also through the TV
and radio, and even through distributing flyers and placing posters in places
with a huge crowd,” she suggested.
The
Universal Health Care Law, or the Republic Act No. 11223, aims to improve the
health care system in the country by extending financial assistance in medical
care to all Filipinos, financially-able and otherwise. The said law took effect
on February 20 on the previous year. (PIA-Caraga)
Religious leaders
join interfaith dialogue to end local communist armed conflict
BAYUGAN
CITY, Agusan del Sur, March 4 – The religious leaders were united in an
interfaith dialogue and discussed the role of the religious sector in the Whole
of Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s Sectoral Unification
and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) Clusters held
recently at the Kalinaw (Peace) Building, 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion
in Barangay Noli, this city.
Lieutenant
Col. Sahisa T. Adzramen (Chaplain Service), 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division
post-Islamic Chaplain; 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion (3SFBn)
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Col. Joey Baybayan INF (GSC) PA with religious
leaders from the Catholic, Islam, United Church of Christ of the Philippines
(UCCP), Seventh-day Adventist Church and Iglesia Independiente Filipina (IFI)
attended the event.
First
Lieutenant Krisjuper Andreo J. Punsalan, 3SFBn Civil-Military Operations
Officer, oriented the participants in the Whole-Of-Nation Approach to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict as a peaceful concept to end any armed conflict by
focusing on peace and development interventions in conflict-affected areas to
address root causes of conflict and in advocating the E-CLIP to induce peaceful
surrenders.
Punsalan
also encouraged the participation of the religious sector in Deradicalization
program for former rebels through values formation, and strengthening of
spiritual dimensions to denounce violence in resolving conflict, the promotion
of Family and reconciliation, and the conduct of intensified information drives
among youth ministries and their respective members to protect the religious
and other faith-based organizations from communist and other terrorist groups’
infiltration which can destroy their credibility and corrupt their faith.
LTC
Adzramen further emphasized that a true religious leader who believes in God
leads his followers to the path of peace and the goodness of life.
“Ang
tunay na alagad ng Panginoon ay hindi kumakanlong ng kasamaan at kaguluhan.
Kung ang tao ay naging masama, tungkulin nating akayin sila pabalik sa
kabutihan at ibalik sa tamang landas para hindi na ulit sila maligaw (The real
follower of Christ are those who do not engage in wrong doings to cause
conflicts. If an individual has become the person he/she shouldn’t be, it is
then our responsibility to help them be at the right path and never let them do
the same mistake again),” the chaplain said.
LTC
Baybayan called on the participants to promote reconciliation to end conflict
and prevent the unnecessary loss of lives. “We greatly hope that you could help
us promote peace and reconciliation to induce more peaceful surrenders. The
country has already suffered enough and as the President said, we cannot afford
to pass this communist armed conflict to the next generations,“ he said.
Meanwhile,
the Sectoral Unification, Capacity Building and Empowerment Cluster of
Executive Order No. 70 shall engage, unify, capacitate, empower and mobilize
all sectors (including the religious sector) of society to be free and
resistant to Communist Terrorist Groups’ (CTG) mass base building operations
and infiltration activities, to reinforce good governance, enduring peace and
sustainable development. (KAP/3SFBn/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
AgNor bags
international award on RABMis
BUTUAN
CITY, Mar. 4 -- The Province of Agusan del Norte coveted one of the highest
awards on Rabies Management Information System (RABMis) during the 11th
International Conference on Environmental and Rural Development held in Siem
Reap, Cambodia held on February 28 - March 1, 2020.
Dr.
Joseph P. Dargantes, Veterinarian IV of the Provincial Veterinary Office and
the representative of the province, was awarded the Excellent Paper Award
during the said international conference.
Dr.
Dargantes presented his paper “Integration of Rabies Management Information
System (RabMIS) through One-Health Approach into the Rabies Prevention and
Control Program in the Province of Agusan del Norte, Philippines: An
Evaluation.”
Attended
by more than 100 researchers all over the world, the main objective of the
conference was to discuss and develop sustainable and effective processes and
strategies for sustainable rural development taking into account the
agricultural and environmental aspects in developing countries.
The
paper presented was the research study of Dr. Dargantes when he obtained and
graduated his master’s degree at Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand last
June 2019. The research was funded by GREASE (Gestion des Risques Emergents en
Asie du Sud-Est) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International
Development (CIRAD).
Rabies
Management Information System (RabMIS) is a novel initiative by the Provincial
Government of Agusan del Norte in its record-keeping of pertinent data of its
rabies program. It was co-developed by Mr. Paul Cupay of Management Information
System (MIS) of the province. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Selebrasyon sa
Women’s Month, sinimulan sa Caraga
By
Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD
NG BUTUAN, Marso 4 (PIA) - Suot ang kanilang makukulay na t-shirts at dala ang
kani-kanilang information materials, maagang nagtipon ang mga kawani ng
gobyerno kasama ang private sector, women organizations at academe para sa
kick-off activity ng Women's Month sa Caraga region.
Sa
isinagawang Advocacy Walk mula kapitolyo hanggang sa Guingona Park sa lungsod
ng Butuan, target nitong mapalawak pa ang kaalaman ng bawat residente ng Caraga
ukol sa karapatan ng kababaihan at mawakasan ang anumang uri ng karahasan at
pang-aabuso sa sektor.
Lubos
naman ang suporta ng mga kalalakihan sa taunang selebrasyon. Isa si Carl Van
Lucero sa mga bumati sa mga kababaihan at kinilala ang malaking kontribusyon
nito sa pag-unlad ng bawat komunidad.
“Patuloy
kaming sumusuporta sa mga kababaihan at sa pagsulong ng kanilang mga karapatan.
Kinikilala din namin ang kanilang malaking kontribusyon sa kaunlaran ng bansa,”
ani ni Lucero.
Pagtitiyak
naman ni Police Staff Sergeant Christine Taub na nakaantabay at nakahanda ang
kapulisan sa bawat komunidad para masigurong ligtas ang lahat lalu na ang
kababaihan at bata.
“Handa
ang ating kapulisan na rumesponde sa ating mga kababaihan sakaling may mga
report ng paglabag sa kanilang mga karapatan at seguridad,” pahayag ni Taub.
Binigyang-diin
naman ni Atty. Jerefe Tubigon-Bacang, regional director ng Commission on Human
Rights (CHR)-Caraga at chairperson ng Regional Gender And Development Committee
(RGADC) na ang nasabing taunang selebrasyon ay para sa lahat at hindi lang para
sa mga kababaihan.
“Pinagdaraos
natin ang Women’s Month dahil para ito sa lahat. Ang mga kalalakihan naman ay
sumusuporta sa lahat ng kababaihan at nakikiisa sa kaunlaran ng sektor,” sabi
ni Bacang.
Hinimok
din niya ang bawat pamilya na magtulungan sa bawat gawain sa bahay at wag lang
iasa sa mga babae. Maging ang pag-alaga sa kalikasan sa pamamagitan ng hindi
pagamit ng single use plastic. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
CNTs, front groups
continue to deprive SurSur IPs of education, social services in SurSur
By Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 4 -- The residents of Sitio Simuwao (Kilometer 9),
Diatagon, in Lianga town sought refuge in Sitio Neptune (Kilometer 6) near the
military detachment as they reported intimidation and harassments by the
Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) and Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa mga
Sumusunod (MAPASU) on February 28 to postpone the scheduled ocular inspection
of the proposed Department of Education (DepEd) indigenous peoples (IP)
government school site.
The
DepEd IP schools will replace the inactive, non-DepEd accredited and alleged
communist-influenced school of Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur
(TRIFPSS).
“There
are upcoming Serbisyo Caravans and other implementation of development programs
like the establishment of DepEd accredited IP schools. As usual, the CNTs
resorted to intimidation by threatening defenseless residents and even Lianga
Local Government Unit officials to delay the implementation," said Lt.
Colonel Joey Baybayan, 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion Commander.
It can
be recalled that Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel has offered MAPASU
leaders to have its schools accredited by the DepEd during the dialogue at
Sitio Simuwao last 2019 in the presence of Bayan Muna representatives and their
allied religious groups. The governor pledged unequivocal support just to make
these schools accredited as he shared his concern for the education of the
students of these schools and fully agreed with the need for the government to
uplift the quality of learning.
However,
such plea fell on deaf ears as the MAPASU leaders insisted to operate on their
own as they fear that having their schools accredited by the government would
make the affected residents and the students realize their continued
exploitation on them to become agents of violence, killing and
nation-destruction.
“This
is a crucial point. This kind of situation will define the character and
leadership of our fellow local government officials and will test their
commitment to End Local Communist Armed Conflict through delivering basic
social services despite CNTs threats. We, in the military, will always be on
our foot to perform our duty to assist them as we have the oath to protect the
state, the country, and the people. We are always ready to answer the call of
duty to support the implementation of EO 70 just to end this conflict in our
area of responsibility,” said Colonel Allan Hambala, 401st Infantry
Brigade Commander.
"The
government wants to put up a DepEd-accredited school to provide quality
education for IPs and deliver social services to address the root causes of
insurgency.
Yet,
MAPASU, the Communist NPA terrorists and their allied groups continuously
prevent it by any violent means such as their recent attack on defenseless
civilians. This situation only made the people and the nation more aware that
it is they who deprive the IPs of quality education, not the government. Their
actions contradict their placards’ battle cry during their scripted rallies
which says, 'IP has the right for free and quality education,'” said LTC
Baybayan.
The
members of MAPASU consolidated in Sitio Han-ayan (Kilometer 16) while
threatened KM 9 residents proceeded to Sitio Neptune, where a CAFGU detachment
is established, along with their relatives to seek for safety and protection
against the CNTs and MAPASU leaders’ continued harassment. (CMO-3SFBn/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
Pagproseso sa tuba sa nipa ngadto sa suka ug
laksoy iasdang sa mga mag-uuma sa Magallanes
MAGALLANES,
Agusan del Norte, Marso 4 -- Iasdang sa mga mag-uuma sa Magallanes, Agusan del
Norte ang laing paagi sa pagkutsitsa sa tanom nilang nipa nga maoy nag-unang
tinubdan sa ilang panginabuhian ug buot kini nilang himoon ubos sa Process!
Process! Process! Project sa AGUSAN UP!, ang kampanya sa kalambuan sa Agusan
del Norte ubos sa administrayon ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera.
Bugtong
ang pagpawod lamang og nipa aron himuong atop sa balay ang kasamtangang gimugna
sa ilang abot nga nilapa sa 50 ektaryas nilang plantasyon sa nipa ug dili kini
igo aron isustenir sa inadlaw-adlaw nga panginahanglanon sa pamilya sa mga
sakop sa Bascaa Farmers Association sa Sitio Bascaa Brgy. Guiasan, Magallanes.
Sumala
ni Zenaida Tupas, presidente sa maong oganisasyon nga nakuha nila ang ideya nga
moproseso og mga produkto gikan sa mga abot sa nipa gikan sa konsepto sa
Process! Process! Process! ug madasigon kini nilang gihisgutan sa pagbisita sa
mga personahe sa AGUSAN UP! nga miadto sa ilang lugar alang sa ocular
inspection sa 31 ektaryas nga ilang gikometer aron tamnan og falcata, cacao,
mangga ug cassava ubos sa Plant! Plant! Plant! Project, laing proyekto sa
AGUSAN UP!
Sa
panaghisgut, gipadayag nila ang ilang interes nga mo-proseso og suka ug laksoy
gikan sa tuba sa nipa aron mahimo silang mas produktibo ug moangat ang kita sa
matag usa.
Dinhi
gihangyo nila ang probinsya pinaagi sa AGUSAN UP! nga tabangan sila aron
mahimong andam sa makuting proseso ug mga ekipos sa pagproseso sa nasangpit nga
mga produkto, lakip na ang mga pagabansay nga gikinahanglan sa trabahante.
(Agusan Up, LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Caraganons, hinimok na mag-enrol para sa UHC
law
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
LUNGSOD
NG BUTUAN, Marso 4 (PIA) -- Kasabay ng puspusang pagpapapatupad ng Universal
Health Care (UHC) Law sa bansa, hinimok ng Philippine Health Insurance Company
(PhilHealth) Caraga ang mga Caraganon na mag enroll upang makinabang sa mga
benepisyong handog nito.
Sa
isinagawang media forum ng ahensya sa Watergate Boutique Hotel kasama ang
kagawaran ng Philippine Sweepstakes Charity Office (PCSO) at nga Department of
Health (DOH) sa Caraga, binigyang-diin ang mga serbisyo ng nasabing batas, lalo
na sa pagbibigay ng tulong-pinansyal sa mga gastusin sa hospital.
Sa
pag-uulat ni Jane Santos, kawani ng PhilHealth, nakahanda na ang 1.2 million na
mga Caraganon o mahigit 82 porsyento ng populasyon sa rehiyon na makikinabang
sa UHC. Sa taong 2019, nakapaglaan na ng tulong-pinansyal ang ahensya sa halos
9,500 nito na mga miyembro na handog ng batas.
Malaki
ang pasasalamat ni Kate Atenta, isang Caraganon, sa tulong na maibibigay ng
batas, lalo na sa mga Pilipinong tulad niya na may pamilya at hindi kaagad
makakalaan ng pera pang gastos sa mga serbisyong medikal.
“Malaki
ang maitutulong ng batas, lalo na sa mga tulad namin na mahihirap lamang.
Patunay ito sa dedikasyon ng gobyerno na matulungan kami," aniya.
Para
naman sa miyembro ng PhilHealth na si Mariel Calo, isa sa mga nakinabang ng
'Zero Balance Billing,' mahalaga na maipaabot sa publiko ang impormasyon ukol
sa UHC, lalo na’t mas maganda ang mga oportunidad na maibibigay nito sa mga
mamamayang Pilipino.
“Iminumungkahi
ko po na mas mabuti ay hindi lang sa social media nila ipaabot ang impormasyon
ukol sa nasabing batas. Mas mainam na ipaabot din nila ito sa radio at sa TV,
at magpaskil ng mga karatula at flyers sa mga matataong lugar," dagdag
niya.
Isa din
sa mga pangunahing layon ng ahensya na madagdagan pa ang makabenepisyo ng UHC,
kung kaya’t nananawagan sila sa partisipasyon ng mga kawani ng media na ipaalam
sa masa ang naturang batas.
Layon
ng Universal Health Care Law, o Republic Act No. 11223, na maiangat ang health
care system sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaabot ng tulong pinansyal sa lahat
ng Pilipino, may-kaya man o wala. Naipatupad ang nasabing batas noong Pebrero
20 ng nakaraang taon. (PIA-Caraga)
