Caraga biz sector
joins fight vs COVID-19
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 21 (PIA) -- Different organizations in the business
sector in Caraga are taking part in the fight against the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) in the region.
Since the declaration of the health crisis, around 70 percent of the
establishments in the provinces of Agusan have suspended operations
temporarily.
However, according to Joey Tan, president of the Filipino-Chinese
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (FCCCII) Agusan chapter, business
establishments in the Agusan provinces will continue to operate amid the
crisis, so long as supplies will continue to arrive.
In addition, while operations continue, he urged fellow entrepreneurs to
help their employees by providing access to employee benefits such as the
providing 25 percent of their 13th-month wage and extension of cash advance
credit.
“Our employees are just as affected by this pandemic. We can always
extend more than giving grocery packs,” the organization’s president added.
Meanwhile, other entrepreneurs have partaken in the 'bayanihan'
activities in Butuan City.
Frederick Blancas, owner of a local clothing rental shop, has initiated
a cause to produce needed equipment for the front-line workers in the city such
as face shields and suits. These were distributed to the public hospitals such
as the Butuan Medical Center (BMC) and the Agusan del Norte Provincial
Hospital.
His initiative encouraged private organizations and individuals in the
city to participate. The Butuan Global Forum, Inc., an organization of
Butuanons residing nationwide and across the globe, donated P40,000 while
artists, whose art pieces were donated to Blancas for auction, were able to
offer P30,000.
Government agencies and education stakeholder such as the Association of
Technical and Vocational of Butuan City and Agusan del Norte (ATSBAN),
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga, and the
Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF) has also taken part in the cause.
A team of seamstresses has also volunteered. While some work without
monetary compensation, others are given ample sums of money for allowance.
Furthermore, they also provide food packs to frontline workers
designated at the city’s checkpoints.
Since Blancas is a member of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (PCCI) – Butuan, Kirby Go, president of the organization, encouraged
other business owners in the city to unite and take part in the initiatives in
the business sector.
Business owners who are not yet a member of PCCI are also encouraged to
register to strengthen the unity of the business community and provide coherent
relief interventions in future calamities.
“Our unity will definitely bear better interventions in turbulent times
such as this pandemic,” he added.
For donations, Frederick Blancas can be messaged on his personal social
media account at https://tinyurl.com/y9zkntz8. (PIA-Caraga)
DOST-assisted
farmers’ coop helps secure food for Butuan residents during pandemic
By Aliana Gene E. Sarmiento
BUTUAN CITY, April 21 - Filipinos love rice. It is a staple to every
fulfilling meal. However, with the current public health crisis requiring everyone
to stay indoors, many families could not make proper livelihood thus affecting
them financially. Food security is very crucial especially this time of the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
A DOST SETUP (Department of Science and Technology's Small Enterprise
Technology Upgrading Program) adoptor and a farmer-millers cooperative in
Butuan City stepped up to help Butuanons have enough food on the table.
The Butuan Agusan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BAFMPC) partnered
with the local government unit of Butuan for a food security program and has
committed to provide quality milled rice during the quarantine. As of April 18,
2020, BAFMPC has served a total of 2,100 bags or 105,000 kilos of rice
distributed to six barangays including Taguibo (500 bags of rice), Sumilihon
(800 bags), Los Angeles (400 bags), Sto. NiΓ±o (100 bags), Baobawan (100 bags),
and Ambago (200 bags).
BAFMPC, formerly known as Los Angeles, Damoog, Mangabao (LADAMA)
Multi-Purpose Cooperative, started its operation in 1988 as an irrigator’s
organization offering rice production services, lending, and palay trading to
its members. After 20 years in rice farming and milling, BAFMPC acquired a
state-of-the-art Multi-pass Milling Facility with complete accessories for rice
polishing and whitening through the SETUP. The project costs Php 2,971,000.00
and since then has greatly impacted the operations of the firm.
From 20 bags of grains per hour and only up to 60% recovery rate, the
cooperative now mills 40-60 bags of grains per hour or approximately 400 bags
per day, with 67% recovery rate of rice after milling. The increase in the
production volume helped increase the income of the coop and the farmers.
Through the program, the cooperative also availed of the Manufacturing
Productivity Extension (MPEX) consultancy program and technology training which
helped them improve their product, plant layout, business operations and
marketing strategies.
BAFMPC also assisted its members through the distribution of food packs
containing 3 kilos of rice, canned goods and other grocery items. A total of
2,000 food packs were given to 800 regular and 1,200 associate members of the
cooperative.
The manager, Manuelito Suan, said that it is the responsibility of the
cooperative, and as farmers, to ensure that people have food to eat this time
of crisis. It is also one way to promote the products of the farmers and their
role in food security. The firm continues its operation to support the need,
especially during the quarantine.
BAFMPC is the 2019 Best SETUP Adoptor for Agusan del Norte and among the
finalists at the regional level. (S&T Promotions Unit, DOST Caraga/PIA
Agusan del Norte)
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Abril 21 (PIA) -- Maliban sa mga personal protective
equipment na patuloy na ipinamamahagi ng Caraga State university o CSU sa mga
frontliners sa iba’t ibang parte ng rehiyon, isang instant arrozcaldo o
InstaCaldo na naman ang kasalukuyan ginagawa ng CSU Food Innovation Center
(FIC) upang ipamahagi sa mga medical frontliners dito sa lungsod.
Unibersidad sa Butuan
namahagi ng donasyon, pagkain para sa frontliners
By Nora C. Lanuza
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Abril 21 (PIA) -- Maliban sa mga personal protective
equipment na patuloy na ipinamamahagi ng Caraga State university o CSU sa mga
frontliners sa iba’t ibang parte ng rehiyon, isang instant arrozcaldo o
InstaCaldo na naman ang kasalukuyan ginagawa ng CSU Food Innovation Center
(FIC) upang ipamahagi sa mga medical frontliners dito sa lungsod.
Ayon kay CSU president Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, ang nasabing InstaCaldo ay
isang inisyatibo ng unibersidad upang matulungan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga
frontliners sa panahon ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Dagdag din ni CSU FIC director Genesis Jared Cutamora, ang naturang
InstaCaldo ay kanilang ituturn-over sa DOH Caraga na sila ring magbibigay sa
mga medical frontliners.
Ang InstaCaldo ay malaking tulong sa mga frontliners upang mabawasn ang
kanilang oras sa paghahanda ng kanilang mga Pagkain at ito rin ay may kompleto
at masustansyang sangkap na kanilang kailangan.
Sa kasalukuyan, maliban sa InstaCaldo, namahagi din ang CSU FIC ng mga
manna bar at vegetable salad mix sa mga frontliners.
Ang CSU Food Innovation Center ay pwedeng magpreserba o mapanatili ang
kalidad ng isang produkto sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga kagamitan.
Samantala, mga grupo din ng mga chemists ng CSU ang gumagawa ng mga
disinfectant solutions para sa mga pampublikong lugar, palengke, hospitals, at
maging mga opisina upang mapanatili ang kaligtasan laban sa COVID-19. (NCLM,
PIA Agusan del Norte)
