PCOO chief
distributes relief goods to media workers in Caraga
By Venus L. Garcia
Bulk of rice grains were delivered by a supplier from Cagayan de Oro
City to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga Regional Office on
Wednesday. The 500 packs were prepared and scheduled for distribution to the
recipient media workers across the region.
This is the second region in Mindanao to benefit the relief assistance
that the PCOO chief has personally extended out from his own pocket. The first
was allocated for Region 10.
In this challenging time, Sec. Andanar recognized the invaluable
contributions of the frontline media members who have risked their lives from
exposing to the unseen virus just to carry out their duty of gathering relevant
data and informing the public effectively.
Sec. Andanar said that the modest assistance he supplied may somehow
help in providing temporary relief to the media beneficiaries. He said that
acts of compassion and kindness should also dominate as the world battles
COVID-19.
“We pray that our fellow journalists will continue to be motivated to
perform their duties as truthful and responsible despite the threat posed by
COVID-19. Your safety is also our primordial concern. We could not afford to
see you in a critical situation when there is something that we can really do
to keep you safe and secure,” said Sec. Andanar.
Moreover, Sec. Andanar also reiterated the call for cooperation of
everyone as it is crucial to human survival. “Compliance to the guidelines is
important. I encourage you all to please follow the plea of our government to
stay at home, to wear a mask, and to follow social distancing,” he emphasized.
As the head of the Laging Handa communications crisis center, Sec.
Andanar encourages the public to be more vigilant and to stay updated with the
latest news and information.
Apart from providing special COVID-19 coverage programs on Cabinet
Report, Mediaman’s Mancave Podcast and PTV’s Alerto, Sec. Andanar can also be
heard providing COVID-19 related updates as the host of the Laging Handa
Network Briefing and Laging Handa Public Briefing, telecast at 8:00 a.m. and
11:00 a.m., respectively, via People’s Television Network, Radyo Pilipinas and
livestreamed in all PIA Facebook pages. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA Caraga extends
additional support to COVID-19 frontliners
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, April 23 -- Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA)-Caraga extended its support to coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) frontliners in the city by donating recently additional 142 face shields
and 200 washable face masks, this time, for police officers.
Following the directives of TESDA Sec. Isidro S. LapeΓ±a and TESDA-Caraga
Regional Director Ashary A. Banto, TESDA-Agusan del Norte Acting Provincial
Director Liza B. Budtan and TESDA-Caraga Acting Regional Operations
Division (ROD) Chief Novielita A. Dispo hand-over the said PPEs to
PNP-Caraga through PCol. Jimili L. Macaraeg, Acting Deputy Regional Director
for Administration; and PCol. Ruben B. Delos Santos, Chief of the Regional
Community Affairs and Development Division.
The facemasks were produced by Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries
(NMSF) headed by School Administrator Romel M. Natad.
It can be recalled that early this month, same PPEs were also
turned-over to medical frontliners of Butuan Medical Center thru NMSF and the
ATSBAN, a TVET organization in Agusan del Norte. (TESDA Agusan del
Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, April 23 (PIA) -- After a month of being under the imposed
enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the threat posed by the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19), the transport sector who were greatly affected by the
suspension of operations has asked the help and assistance from the government.
They said that no matter how hard they try to survive daily, they still
feel how difficult it is without having any livelihood to sustain their needs.
Jose Evagelous Lawenko, chairperson of Diamond Transport Service
Cooperative (DATSCO) in Butuan City was one of those being affected in the
transport sector. He called on the concerned government agencies to help
address the issues and concerns, as well as financial assistance to support the
needs of their respective family.
“I am really saddened on the current crisis that we all experience this
time especially that our drivers no longer have job due to the ECQ, that’s why
I am appealing to all the government agencies concerned to help the transport
sector cope with life by provision of any available assistance,” said Lawenko.
He added that with the meager savings they have in their cooperative,
they have decided to utilize it to buy the basic commodities and distributed to
their driver-workers. However, they stressed it would not be enough to sustain
each of their family’s needs.
The DATSCO and the rest of the transport sector also hope that they
could also receive aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Meanwhile, Dir. Maria Kristina Cassion of the Land Transportation
Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Caraga, revealed that they are
constantly coordinating with their head office, along with the DSWD and other
concerned government agencies for any available assistance they could give for
the transport sector.
In the conduct of “Libreng Sakay” or free ride for the health workers
and other frontliners, Dir. Cassion also appealed to the stakeholders for help
through gasoline support for the said operation and food for the drivers who
operate the shuttle services.
“We are calling on all our partner stakeholders in the region to help
us, as we try our best to reach out to the transport sector that is also
greatly affected by this COVID-19 pandemic. We also recognized those who have
already extended their support not only for the sector but also for the
frontliners,” Cassion underscored.
Currently, there are already three confirmed COVID-19 cases in Caraga
region. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DOH confirms 3rd
COVID-19 case in Caraga
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 23 (PIA) -- Caraga region now holds three confirmed
cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as confirmed by the Department
of Health (DOH) Caraga in their public briefing on Wednesday, April 22.
The patient is a ten-year-old Filipino female from Butuan City who did
not exhibit signs and symptoms of the disease and had no travel history locally
and abroad. However, she was in close contact with an individual who attended
the Araw ng Dabaw six-cock-derby at the New Davao Matina Gallera, Davao City.
The third confirmed case was among the six samples in the third batch of
the Rapid Antibody Tests conducted by the city government of Butuan. After
having tested positive for an antibody test, the samples were subjected to
real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmatory test, where the five
other samples yielded negative results.
At present, the patient remains asymptomatic.
While the first confirmed case had a travel history in Manila, the
remaining two cases originated from exposure to individuals who attended a
recent event in Davao City. As such, local authorities are closely monitoring
the transmission status in the city.
Meanwhile, DOH Caraga regional director Dr. Jose Llacuna, Jr. lauded the
efforts of local government units in the region, particularly of Butuan, for
their swift response on the matter.
In addition, he reminded the public once again to maintain strict
compliance to health and safety protocols of the authorities. Dr. Llacuna, Jr.
also emphasized the need for greater cooperation from the people by reporting
to the health authorities when close contact with persons with travel history
occurred.
“Now more than ever, everyone of us should lend our cooperation, working
together as a team unified with a common purpose which is to end the battle
against COVID-19,” he affirmed.
The health agency is currently awaiting for the results of the fourth
batch of samples that were sent to the Southern Philippines Medical Center
(SPMC) on April 21. (PIA-Caraga)
DA’s 'Kadiwa on
Wheels' rolls in various Butuan villages
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, April 23 (PIA) -- The local residents in the different
barangays of this city are delighted to learn about the operation of the
“Kadiwa on Wheels” by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga wherein they
could buy vegetables, meat products, fish, milk and other basic commodities
inside their barangay.
The said agriproducts are cheaper than those being sold in the markets,
hence, these would be more convenient and accessible for the local residents in
Butuan City while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is still in effect.
To ensure that social distancing is always observed, each barangay has
started implementing the color coding scheme where the “Kadiwa on Wheels” are
also seen at the covered courts of every barangay.
According to Rolando Apit, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture
in Barangay Pangabugan, anyone from their barangay is allowed to buy the said
products which are readily available at the “Kadiwa on Wheels” in their
area, as long as they wear face mask and observe social distancing to protect
them from the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are thankful to DA for initiating this activity in our barangay for
us to have easy access on the basic commodities,” cited Apit.
Sheila Roperos, who is residing in Barangay Bading, expressed
that this effort of the government lessens their burden in going to the public
market while the ECQ is being implemented.
“This is very helpful for us since we need not go to the public market
and buy food for our family,” Roperos said.
Lynn PareΓ±as, chief of Agribusiness and Marketing Division of the
DA-Caraga bared that the “Kadiwa on Wheels” is intended to help not only
the consumers, but also the farmers and entrepreneurs on who continue to work
for their livelihood. (JPG/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
By Vanessa P. Sanchez
BUTUAN CITY, April 23 -- In the midst of the country’s battle with a
health crisis brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), vegetable
production could be one saving grace in preventing people from going hungry.
With most of the country placed on enhanced quarantine, some businesses
were closed and a number of people lost their jobs and their means of providing
for their families’ needs.
To address the situation and prevent people from going hungry, the
Department of Agriculture (DA) implemented the Ahon Lahat Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS
COVID-19) or Plant Plant Plant Program.
Under the program, the department encourages the public to have their
own food production initiative by having vegetable gardens in their backyards.
In support of this, the DA has been distributing vegetable seeds to individuals
and organizations who expressed interest to engage in vegetable gardening. Some
vegetables may already be harvested one month after planting so it ensures food
availability in the coming months despite the crisis situation.
In Caraga, 530 kilograms worth P3.1 million of vegetable seeds from the
buffer stocks of the previous year have been distributed so far. This is on top
of this year’s buffer and regular procurement of vegetable seeds which will
amount to P11.1 million as well as the emergency procurement worth P1.4 million
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The most commonly grown vegetables in Caraga are the lowland type such
as eggplant, ampalaya, squash, and okra. As per data from the department, the regular
vegetable production for this year is projected to be increasing. Eggplant is
projected to have the biggest total production at 2,973 metric tons from March
to September. This is followed by squash which is set to have a total
production of 1,331 metric tons for the same period. Ampalaya is projected to
have the third biggest production at 772 metric tons.
But with more and more people taking on vegetable gardening as a
productive way to utilize their time during this quarantine and as a food
source initiative, these figures may still increase.
DA – Caraga High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) Coordinator
Marco Antonio C. Morido said that more lowland vegetables are grown in the
region since more lowland areas have been developed here.
Meanwhile, the most consumed vegetables in the region are eggplant,
squash, mongo, and ampalaya. Per capita consumption of eggplant is at
0.39 kilograms per month, 0.37 kilograms per month for squash, 0.19 kilograms
per month for mongo, and 0.17 kilograms per month for eggplant.
According to the World Health Organization, the recommended intake for
vegetables is 400 grams per day which means that Caraganons do not meet the recommended
daily vegetable consumption. However, with the health crisis now, more people
are inclined to eat healthy and nutritious foods and are thus turning to
vegetables with some even planting their own in their backyards.
“With more people planting vegetables in their own backyard, we can
ensure food sufficiency and security even as we are facing a crisis. This way,
we don’t have to rely on the produce of the farmers alone, but individuals can
already contribute to our production. Moreover, we are also encouraging the
public to also plant indigenous vegetables like malunggay and alugbati since
indigenous vegetables are also rich in nutrients and there many sources of
planting materials for these,” Morido said.
The Plant Plant Plant Program is the DA’s response to COVID-19 that aims
to give immediate interventions for food production and availability,
accessibility, affordability, and food price stabilization. (DA13-RAFIS/PIA
Caraga)
LUNGSOD NG TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Abril 23 (PIA) -- Bilang
pagtugon sa panawagan ni Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police
General Archie Francisco Gamboa sa inilunsad na “Bayanihan Fund
Challenge,” isang milyon ang agad nalikom ng Police Provincial Office
sa Surigao del Sur na pinamumunuan ni Police Col. James Goforth.
Bukod sa pinansiyal na tulong, gumawa din ng inisyatibo ang mga
kapulisan sa probinsya sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng food packs sa mga
pamilyang mahihirap o nasa laylayan ng lipunan. May 100 pamilya ang
benepisyaryo sa barangay La Purisima sa bayan ng Cagwait, samantalang 50
pamilya naman sa Boniao Village, Telaje ng Tandag City, ayon pa kay PCol.
Goforth. Bawat food packs ay naglalaman ng limang kilong bigas, limang canned
goods, kalahating dosenang itlog, milo, biscuits, at detergent soap.
1-milyon nalikom ng
PPO SurSur, bilang suporta sa PNP Bayanihan Fund Challenge
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
LUNGSOD NG TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Abril 23 (PIA) -- Bilang
pagtugon sa panawagan ni Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police
General Archie Francisco Gamboa sa inilunsad na “Bayanihan Fund
Challenge,” isang milyon ang agad nalikom ng Police Provincial Office
sa Surigao del Sur na pinamumunuan ni Police Col. James Goforth.
Napag-alaman mula sa kay PCol. Goforth na ang isang milyon na kanilang
nalikom ay nagmula sa boluntaryong kontribusyon ng mga kapulisan sa buong
probinsya ng Surigao del Sur na binubuo ng dalawang component cities at 17
munisipyo.
Sa panayam kay PCol. Goforth, sinabi niya na ang kanilang nalikom ay
naturn over na sa Police Regional Office ng Caraga sa Butuan City.
Bukod sa pinansiyal na tulong, gumawa din ng inisyatibo ang mga
kapulisan sa probinsya sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng food packs sa mga
pamilyang mahihirap o nasa laylayan ng lipunan. May 100 pamilya ang
benepisyaryo sa barangay La Purisima sa bayan ng Cagwait, samantalang 50
pamilya naman sa Boniao Village, Telaje ng Tandag City, ayon pa kay PCol.
Goforth. Bawat food packs ay naglalaman ng limang kilong bigas, limang canned
goods, kalahating dosenang itlog, milo, biscuits, at detergent soap.
Samantala, bilang paghahanda, naglalaan na nang espasyo ang Police
Provincial Office ng Surigao del Sur ng “isolation area” para sa mga posibleng
magkakaroon ito ng “suspect case” sa COVID-19. As of April 21, nanatiling
COVID-19 free pa ang buong pwersa ng kapulisan sa Surigao del Sur, ayun pa sa
opisyal. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DA Caraga distributes
corn seeds for backyard gardening
By Aurelius P. Arais
BUTUAN CITY, April 23 - Securing food is everybody’s concern.
Aside from ensuring peace security, Caraga Region’s army personnel are
now engaged in food security mission.
In support of their endeavor, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga
turned-over vegetable and corn seeds recently at 52nd Engineer (Kaayadan)
Brigade, Philippine Army, Patin- ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
Lt. Col. Rodel Pangilinan, commanding officer of the 544th Engineer
(Pioneers) Battalion accepted the seeds for their garden inside the camp
handed-over by DA Caraga through Regional Technical Director Rebecca Atega with
program coordinators Marco Antonio Morido and Melody Guimary of High-Value
Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and Corn Program, respectively.
DA Caraga will also turn-over corn seeds to the 402nd Brigade at
Bancasi, Butuan City and will be conducting a briefing on corn, cassava, and
vegetable production for the army personnel.
Guimary said that aside from the army, the DA corn program will also
allocate seeds for the civilian households who are willing to plant corn in
their backyard.
“We have remaining seeds from our regular seed support distribution
early this year. We will repack them into half kilos each for those willing to
plant corn,” Guimary said.
The half kilos corn seed is good enough to at least 200 square meters
lot area or it may be used also as an intercropped to vegetables.
She said that based on the remaining stocks inventory, they may able to
distribute soon of up to 700 packs of .5 kilo corn seeds.
“Our seed household distribution is part of our support of the Plant
Plant Plant Program under the Ahon Lahat Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 (ALPAS
COVID-19),” Guimary explained.
Aside from seed distribution for households, DA Caraga’s corn program is
also proposing a reprogramming of the P7.5 M budget for food production support
amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Once duly approved, the fund will be used for additional corn seed
procurement including pesticides and production of bio-control agents,” Guimary
said.
Secretary William Dar appealed to the public that while staying at home
due to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), they will utilize their time for
productive activities such as urban gardening to ensure a steady supply of food
for the family. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
'Kadiwa on Wheels' ng
DA umarangkada sa iba’t ibang barangay ng Butuan
By Nora C. Lanuza
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Abril 23 (PIA) -- Umarangkada na sa iba’t ibang
barangay dito sa lungsod ang Kadiwa on Wheels ng Department of Agriculture (DA)
Caraga upang dalhin ang sari-saring ani ng mga magsasaka at produkto ng mga
entreprenuers.
Sari-saring gulay, karne, isda, gatas at mga pang araw-araw ng
pangangailan ng bawat pamilya ay pwede ng mabili sa mga barangay na bibisitahin
ng Kadiwa on Wheels ng DA sa lungsod ng Butuan. Ang mga naturang agri products
ay mas mura pa kumpara sa mga nasa pamilihan.
Hindi naging suliranin sa mga fronliners at sa mga residente sa ibat’
ibang barangay ng Butuan City kahit paman nasa enahanced community quarantine
ang buong lungsod at may color coding scheme pang ipinapatupad sa bawat
barangay, dahil nasa barangay covered court na nila mismo matatagpuan at
mabibili ang kanilang pangangailangan sa araw-araw.
Ayon kay Kagawad Rolando Apit, ang committee on Agriculture chairman ng
Barangay Pangabugan, napakalaking tulong ang pagpunta ng Kadiwa on Wheels sa
kanilang lugar, dahil lahat ng kanilang mga residente ay pwedeng bumili dito
basta’t magsoot lamang ng face mask at gawin ang social distancing.
Mas pinadali na rin ang pagbili ng pangangailangan ayon kay Sheila
Roperos, isang ginang ng Barangay Bading na nakabenepisyo din sa nasabing
pamilihan.
Ang Kadiwa on Wheels ayon kay Lynn PareΓ±as, ang chief ng agribusiness
and marketing division ng DA Caraga ay isang tulong hindi lang para sa mga kunsomador
kundi lalo na sa mga magsasaka at mga entrepreneurs upang matulongang maibenta
ang kanilang mga ani at mga paninda at mga produkto. (NCLM/PIA Caraga)
Transport sector sa Caraga
region, humiling ng tulong sa gobyerno
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Abril 23 (PIA) -- Isang buwan nang ideklara ang
enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) ay humiling ng tulong sa gobyerno ang mga
apektado ng suspensyon sa operasyon ng mga pampublikong sasakyan.
Ayon sa sektor ng transportasyon, bagamat patuloy na nagsusumikap sa
harap ng krisis sa coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, hindi maikakaila na
apektado na ang kanilang hanapbuhay.
Isa si Jose Evagelous Lawenko, chairperson ng Diamond Transport Service
Cooperative (DATSCO) sa lungsod ng Butuan sa nanawagan sa lokal na pamahalaan
at mga ahensiya ng gobyerno at hiniling na matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga
drivers at operators ng public utility vehicles sa rehiyon.
“Nakakalungkot po talaga ang sitwasyon ng ating mga drivers at operators
sa transport sector dito sa Butuan, maging sa ibang probinsya. Walang-wala po
talaga sila ngayon. Sana po ay mabigyan ng ayuda ang sektor para maka-survive
po sa krisis na ito,” ani ni Lawenko.
Dagdag pa ni Lawenko, sa kaunting pundo na nailikom ng kanilang
kooperatiba, ginamit nila ito upang makapagbigay ng tulong sa kanilang mga
drivers subalit hindi ito sapat sa panggastos sa pangkain at iba pang pangangailangan
ng bawat pamilya nito.
Umaasa silang makakatanggap din sila ng ayuda mula sa Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE).
Samantala, sinabi naman ni Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board (LTFRB)-Caraga regional director Maria Kristina Cassion, na patuloy ang
kanilang koordinasyon sa kanilang head office, maging sa DSWD at iba pang
kinauukulang ahensiya para tulong sa transport sektor.
Sa isinasagawang libreng sakay para sa mga health workers at iba pang
frontliners, nanawagan din si Dir. Cassion sa mga stakeholders ng tulong sa
pamamagitan ng pagbigay ng gasolina para sa operasyong ito at pagkain para sa
mga drivers ng shuttle services.
“Nananawagan po kami sa lahat ng ating mga partner stakeholders na
tumulong po sa transport sector, at sa ating mga drivers na nagsasagawa ng
libreng sakay, maging sa ating mga frontliners. Magkaisa po tayong tulungan ang
mga nangangailangan at patuloy na labanan ang pagkalat ng virus,” sabi ni
Cassion.
Sa kasalukuyan, may tatlong kaso na ng COVID-19 ang rehiyon ng Caraga.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
