Caraga MSMEs apply
for SBWS
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 5 (PIA) -- With an aim to help the struggling workers
who are greatly affected by the community quarantine due to the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, more than 2,500 business owners in Caraga
region have filed their application for the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS)
program offered by the government.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue here in Caraga has already started early
of May the evaluation of the applications of the micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) that have complied with the requirements for SBWS and
some have already benefitted from the kind of support.
It intends to provide assistance to an estimated 11,000 workers
regionwide.
“What’s important is their compliance with the Social Security System
(SSS) and BIR which means they are registered members. As far as BIR is
concerned, we did a verification of the filing of their tax returns, payment of
taxes, filing of an annual alphabetical list of employees, and payment.
Employers must have regularly paid the SSS remittances of the employees,” said
BIR-Revenue District Office No. 17 Director Jose Eric Furia.
According to Furia, qualified employees of eligible small businesses
shall be given a wage subsidy of P5,000 for up to two months to help mitigate
the impact of the quarantine.
“The employer should coordinate with the SSS, as the SSS will be the one
to release the amount. We have to ensure the on-time release following a strict
screening process,” said Furia.
The joint memorandum of agreement of the Department of Finance, BIR and
SSS disqualifies employees who work from home and those part of the skeleton
workforce, as well as the employees on leave for the entire duration of the
enhanced community quarantine, whether with or without pay.
Furia said that small businesses registered with the SSS and BIR which
have no unpaid taxes or SSS contributions were given priority.
“This is really a big help for our employees, as it would at least aid
in meeting their daily needs for food and other necessities such as medicine,”
said Felix Benolirao, proprietor of an air conditioner and refrigerator repair
center.
The wage subsidy was released in two tranches. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DA-Caraga releases
P4.1-Million worth of farm machineries
By Aurelius P. Arais
BUTUAN CITY, June 5 (PIA) -- In leveling-up rice farming in the region,
the Department of Agriculture (DA) - Caraga has recently delivered 50 units of
Pre and Post-Harvest (PPHF) Equipment and Machinery to the province of Agusan
del Sur.
The said farm equipment amounting to P4.1-million was delivered to
Agusan del Sur Pagkain ng Bayan Compound in Bayugan City to ease the burden of
the farmer recipients in claiming their farm implements due to travel
restrictions brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The 53 units of PPHF equipment includes rice thresher, pump, and engine
set with complete accessories, transplanter, rice reaper, and granule
applicator cum seed spreader.
Around 49 farmer association-recipients will benefit from the said
equipment.
“The Provincial Agriculture Office of Agusan del Sur will be the one to
arrange for the delivery of the said equipment to the farmer recipients,” said
Engineer Rene Morales, RAED chief.
The said farm implements were funded through the DA-Rice Program-Regular
Fund in support to agricultural modernization, helping the farmers attain DA’s
twin goal- Masagang Ani Mataas na Kita.
Prior to the distribution, DA Caraga conducted a training on the
operation and maintenance of Farm Machineries for an efficient and optimum use
of the equipment.
DA Caraga Regional Director Abel James I. Monteagudo earlier instructed
all his units to facilitate the fast distribution of farmer’s interventions to
help attain the food sufficiency goal of the Department especially in this time
of the pandemic.
Together with the other interventions such as free seeds and fertilizer,
loans, and training, it is expected that each rice farmer will increase their
yield by 1-2 metric tons per hectare.
Aside from equipment and machinery for rice, another batch of equipment
for corn and cassava, and high-value crops farmers were on the pipeline for
delivery.
Under Secretary William Dar’s eight paradigms of agriculture,
modernization is on top of the list. (DA Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
17 ROFs, 128 LSIs
return home in Bislig City
BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 5 -- Seventeen returning overseas
Filipinos (ROFs) and 128 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) arrived in Bislig
City, as of June 2, 2020, through the Balik-Probinsya Program.
They were successfully fetched by the vehicles sent by the city
government of Bislig at the province's pick-up points, in close coordination
with the Provincial Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Surigao del Sur, and
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)-Caraga.
The ROFs from Manila have undergone and completed the health screening
protocols, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test and mandatory
14-day facility-based quarantine, and all yielded negative before they were
transported.
Upon arrival in Bislig City, they underwent health risk assessment,
thermal scanning, and checking of documents conducted by the health
professionals from the City Health Office-Bislig. They were ferried to their
respective homes and were advised to strictly observed another 14-day home
quarantine period as added precautionary health measure.
The LSIs were also subjected to health risk assessment upon arrival and
a mandatory home quarantine for the person with travel history from low-risk
areas, and facility-based quarantine for the person with travel history from
high-risk areas with COVID-19 positive cases with local transmission.
Also, the LSIs and OFWs who have shown COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival
shall be brought to Bislig District Hospital for further medical check-up and
intervention.
The LSIs and OFWs who are still on home and facility-based quarantine
are closely monitored by the health workers and barangay officials.
The Balik-Probinsiya Program is still accepting applications subject to
the availability of the city's quarantine facilities. (City Info
Office-Bislig/PIA-Bislig City)
PHilMech sets
distribution of first batch of farm machines under RCEF
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 5 -- The Philippine Center for
Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) is ready to distribute the
first batch of farm machines under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund
(RCEF) as it successfully conducted the bidding for such.
PHilMech Executive Director Dr. Baldwin G. Jallorina, Jr. said the first
batch of farm machines to be distributed under the RCEF is worth approximately
P2 billion, which is part of the first P5 billion allocated under the fund for
mechanization of rice farms.
Under Republic Act 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law, P10 billion
will be allocated every year for the next six years from 2019 for RCEF and will
be allocated as follows: P5 billion for farm mechanization; P3 billion for
high-yielding seeds; P1 billion for credit support; and P1 billion for training
programs.
“The P2-billion worth of farm equipment bidded out and awarded forms the
first batch to be awarded to qualified farmer cooperatives and associations
(FCAs) under the mechanization component of RCEF. The next batch of farm
equipment to be bidded out will amount to P3 billion. PHilMech conducted an
exhaustive evaluation of qualified FCAs before the bidding was conducted
starting late last year,” he added.
Forming the first batch of equipment successfully bidded out were
four-wheel tractors, rice combine harvesters, rice reapers, precision seeders,
walk-behind transplanters, riding-type transplanters, hand tractors, floating
tillers, mini rice threshers, mobile rice mills and rice mills.
Except for the four-wheel tractors, rice planter/seeders and rice
combine harvesters, the rest of the equipment bidded out were
locally-fabricated.
However, PHilMech made sure that the four-wheel tractors and rice
combine harvesters would be sourced from respectable and established global
brands. “This is also to make sure that the funds allocated for the
mechanization component of RCEF will be well-invested in quality equipment,”
Jallorina said.
A total of 495 four-wheel tractors, 356 rice combine harvesters and 576
hand tractors are set for distribution to qualified FCAs. Also set for
distribution are: 103 rice reapers; 52 precision seeders; 106 walk behind
transplanters; 118 riding type transplanters; 347 floating tillers; and 46 rice
mills.
The next batch of equipment may include mechanical dryers and other
types of farm equipment needed in the rice value chain.
PHilMech estimates that farm mechanization can lower the cost of
cultivating palay (unmilled rice) by P1 to P2 per kilo. At present, the cost of
producing a kilo of palay in the Philippines is P12.72 per kilo while it is
P6.62 in Vietnam and P8.86 in Thailand.
Besides evaluating the FCAs, PHilMech also conducted training for
trainors who would impart knowledge on the importance of farm mechanization and
maintenance procedures for agricultural equipment to the farmers and
cooperatives/associations qualified to be beneficiaries under RCEF’s
components. (DA-PHILMECH/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Senior Citizens sa
bayan ng Cabadbaran binigyang ayuda ng LGU
By Nora C. Lanuza
LUNGSOD NG CABADBARAN, Agusan del Norte, Hunyo 5 (PIA) -- Sa gitna ng
banta ng coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), patuloy ang lungsod ng Cabadbaran
sa pamimigay ng financial assistance sa senior citizens na may edad 90 sa
ilalim ng Milestone Award ng local government unit.
Ang bawat benepisyaryo ay binigyan ng tig-P50,000 at sa panahon na
umabot sila ng 100 taon, bibigyan na naman sila ng dagdag ng P50,000.
Ayon kay Cabadbaan City mayor Judy C. Amante, mabibigyan lamang ang mga
senior citizens kung sila ay aktibo sa kanilang nga aktibedades sa loob ng
limang taon.
Isa si lola Rita Feliscio sa mga kwalipikadong milestone awardees ng
Cabadbaran City. Isa siyang 90 ng barangay sais na tumanggap din ng P50,000.
Lubos ang pasasalamat ng kanyang pamilya, dahil malaking tulong ito sa
araw-araw nyang pangangailan at para sa patuloy na pagpapanatili ng mabuti
nitong kalusugan.
Ayon pa kay mayor Amante, balak na babaan ang edad ng makakatanggap ng
milsetone award upang mas marami ang makinabang dito.
“Balak na naming babaan ang edad ng pwedeng tumanagap ng Milestone Award
sa edad na 87 upang mas mapakinabangan pa nila ang kanilang matatanggap na
ayuda,” ayon kay mayor Amante.
Dagdag ni mayor Amante, ang Milestone Award ay nagsimula sa taong 2013
sa panahong mayor pa ang kasalukuyang gobernador ng probinsya na si Dale B.
Corvera at patuloy itong ipinapatupad sa kasalukuyan.
Sa kasaluyan, may 16 na ang nabigyan ng milestone award sa Cabadbaran at
patuloy pa rin ang pagvavalidate ng City Social Welfare and Development office
sa maging kwalipikadong senior citizens.
Samantala, maliban sa mga lolo't lola, patuloy rin ang suporta ng
lungsod ng Cabadbran sa mga fronliners para sa tuluyang pagsugpo ng
COVID-19 sa lugar.
Nagbigay ang LGU ng mga personal protective equipment at maging
financial assistance para sa mga kwalipikado. (NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)
P500M proyektong imprastraktura prayoridad nga ma implementar sa Agusan Norte
DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Hunyo 5 -- Prayoridad karon sa lokal nga
panggamhanan sa Agusan del Norte pinaagi sa Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO)
ang pag implementar sa 22 ka proyektong imprasraktura nga mokabat sa
kinatibuk-ang kantidad nga P529,443,602.967.
Sa pakighinabi sa AgNor Bulletin kang Engr. Lilian T. Bokingo, Acting
Chief PPQCD, nasayran nga ang maong mga proyekto basi na sa gipahigayon nga
Bids and Award Committee (BAC) activities nga gipadangat sa pre-bidding
conference kaniadtong Mayo 26, 2020 nga napahitabo sa BAC Office, Capitol
Compound, syudad sa Butuan.
Nauyonan sa BAC nga gitambungan nila ni Engr. Bokingo, Mr. Junie T.
Vinatero, Department Head sa Provincial Assessor’s Office (PASSO) ug si Mr.
Kyle Durangco, Environment Specialist sa Provincial Planning and Development
Office (PPDO) nga ma-implementar na niining tuiga ang gihisgutan nga mga
proyekto atol sa Pre-Bidding Conference nga mao ang mga mosunod;
1. Construction of Municipal Hospital perimeter fence sa Jabonga
Municipal Hospital - P3,000,000.00
2. Pag-uprade o pag improbar sa NRJ Triangulo, Punta Beach Provinciall
Road sa Nasipit – P44,000,000.00;
3. Upgrading/Improvement of Culit- Pag-ao -Jaguimitan Prov’l Road -
P118,000,000.00;
4. Construction of Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement sa Tagbuyacan,
Santiago- P1,000,000.00;
5. Construction of X-Ray Building sa Las Nieves - P5,000,000.00;
6. Construction of Gymnasium and Evacuation Center Phase II of Las
Nieves-P15,000,000.00;
7. Proposed Construction of GSO Bodega - P1,500,000.00;
8. Construction of New Bohol Riverbank Slope Protection sa Barangay
Sangay, Buenavista - P18,000,000.00;
9. Upgrading/Improvement of Sanghan-A. Luna Bay-ang Prov’l road,
Cabadbaran- P82,264,892.00;
10. Upgrading/Improvement of Alubihid-Manlangit Provincial road Phase II
sa Buenavista- P20,000,000.00;
11. Upgrading/Improvement of DoΓ±a Rosario-Del Pilar-Bayabas Bongogon
Road, Tubay-Cabadbaran City- P170,000,000.00;
12. Upgrading/Improvement of Seawall Phase II, Sta. Ana, Nasipit -
P10,000,000.00;
13. Concreting of Sta. Ana Brgy. Road Phase II, Nasipit -P2,156,487.59;
14. Rehabilitation of Drainage and Construction of Slope Protection
along Sta. Ana Brgy. Road, Nasipit - P3,108,231.38;
15. Rehabilitation/Improvement/Construction of CASOSES and CCNHS
Drainage System, Cabadbaran City - P5,000,000.00;
16. Construction of Provincial Jail Multi- Purpose Covered Court
Libertad, Butuan City - P5,000,000.00;
17. Renovation/ Improvement of Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) Bldg.
and Facilities - P6,000,000.00;
18. Construction of Mini Multi- Purpose Bldg. District 7, Brgy. Sacol,
Buenavista- P300,000;
19. Construction of MRDPEC Bleacher Stage and CR Casiklan, Las Nieves-
P3,000,000.00;
20. Construction of MRDPEC/Covered Court Brgy. Marcos, Magallanes-
P1,700,000.00;
21. Rehabilitation of Communal Irrigation Facilities (CIS) Baleguian,
Jabonga, Aclan-Nasipit, Rizal and Malpoc - P13,612,792.00; ug
22. Installation of Fire Alarm System With Siren and Water Sprinkler,
Kitcharao District Hospital- P3,000,000.00. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan
del Norte)
Mangrove sites sa
lungsod sa Magallanes gi-deklarang protected area
By Jessica O. Mellejor
DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Hunyo 5 -- Gi-aprubahan sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan
ug gi-deklara nga balido ang Municipal Ordinance No. 003-2020, gikan sa lungsod
sa Magallanes, ning lalawigan ang ordinansa nga nagdeklara sa tanang Mangrove
sites nga anaa sa river banks, creeks and coastal areas, nga protected area
atol sa ilang ika 8th nga sesyon regular.
Ubos sa maong ordinansa, sa pagpanginahan ni Sangguniang Bayan Member ug
kasamtangan Provincial Board Member Meriam G. Pagaran, gideklara niini ang
tanan mangrove area nga nahimutang sa kilid sa baybayon nga lugar, isip
protected area.
Matod pa ni Bokal Pagaran, ang lungsod sa Magallanes nahimutang sa
daplin sa baybayon ug giisip nga usa ka isla tungod kay kini gipalibutan sa
tubig mao nga kinahanglan protektahan ang mangrove areas.
Subay pa niini, nga ang Magallanes nga adunay daghan mangrove area
mapuslanon usab sa panginahanglan sa mga mangingisda, tigkolekta og kahoy alang
usab sa suplay sa kuryente ug pabrika.
Basi sa pagtuon ang usa ka gamay nga mga kahoy o mga kahoykahoy nga
nagtubo sa baybayon nga slated o brackish nga tubig makatabang kinig dako sa
mga lumolopyo sa Magallanes sa pagpanalipod sa mga baybayon suba, sapa ug
tributaries niini.
Gikonsidera usab ang maong lakang subay sa nahisgutan nga probisyon sa
Local Government Code of 1991 ug sa lokal nga balaod sa lalawigan.
Kini gi-aprubahan pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 216-2020, sa
paningkamot ni Provincial Board Member James T. Reserva, tsirman sa Committeee
on Environment and Natural Resources. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del
Norte)
Higit 2,500 MSMEs sa
Caraga, nag-apply sa SBWS program ng pamahalaan
By Venus L. Garcia
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 5 (PIA) -- Sa pagananais ng mga micro, small
and medium enterprises o MSME na matulungan ang kanilang mga empleyado na
apektado ang trabaho simula ng maipatupad ang enhanced community quarantine,
mahigit 2,500 business owners sa rehiyon ng Caraga ang nag apply para sa
programang Small Business Wage Subsidy o SBWS ng pamahalaan.
Simula pa lang ng Mayo ay maaga ng sinimulan ng Bureau of Internal
Revenue (BIR) Caraga ang pag-evaluate sa mga maliliit na negosyo na nagcomply
sa mga requirement ng naturang programa.
Target nitong matulungan ang nasa 11,000 na empleyado sa buong
rehiyon.
“Ang pinakaimportante dito ay mayroon silang compliance sa Social
Security System (SSS) at BIR. Ibig sabihin, rehistrad sila sa BIR and SSS. As
far as BIR is concerned, kailangan na nakapag-file sila ng tax returns, regular
ang pagbayad ng buwis, nakapag-file ng annual alphabetical list of employees,
at nagbayad ng SSS remittances ng mga empleyado,” sabi ni BIR-Revenue District
Office No. 17 Director Jose Eric Furia.
Ayon kay Furia, nakatanggap ng P5,000 ang mga kwalipikadong empleyado.
“Medyo pabilisan yung trabaho kaya masyadong mahigpit ang screening
natin,” sabi ni Furia.
Base sa joint memorandum of agreement Department of Finance, BIR at SSS,
hindi kwalipikado ang mga empleyado na naka work from home o kasali sa skeleton
force, at naka on leave habang ecq, may sahod man o wala. Ang mga empleyadong
may unsetted account or in-process ang SSS final claims ay hindi rin kasali.
“Malaking tulong talaga ito sa aming mga empleyado lalo na sa pang
araw-araw na pangngailangan nila gayong panahon ng pandemya,” sabi ni Felix
Benolirao, proprietor of an air conditioner and refrigerator repair center.
The wage subsidy ay naibigay ng dalawang tranches sa mga beneficiary.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Gob. Bag-ao personal
nga gisuta ang kahimtang sa mga Dinagatnons
By Susil D. Ragas
MUNISIPYO SA SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Hunyo 5 (PIA) -- Hugot sa
pakigbisog ang lokal nga panggamhanan sa Dinagat Islands nga matubag ang mga
yangongo sa mga katawhan ilabi na sa panahon nga gisagubang ang coronavirus
disease 2019 o COVID-19 pandemic diin ang labing apektado niini mao ang
panginabuhian sa mga mag-uuma ug mangingisda.
Gipangunahan ni Gobernador Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao ang personal
nga pagsusi ug pagbaktas sa unom ka kilometrong (6 km) kalay-on nga kabukiran
sa Barangay Nueva Estrella ngadto sa Barangay Del Pilar, Cagdianao niadtong
Mayo 29-31, 2020, ug aduna kini posibilidad nga mamahimong kalsada ug tulay nga
magkonekta sa mga kabarangayan ug diin gituhoang mas duol nga agianan sa mga
lumulupyo sa naasoy nga lugar. Kauban ni Gob. Kaka sila Board Member Noli Abis
(District 2), ug mga personahe sa Office of the Provincial Agriculturist
(OPAG), Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), Provincial Planning and
Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office
(PDRRMO), Provincial Information Office (PIO), Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), ug
Philippine National Police (PNP).
Atol sa pagbaktas sulod sa duha ka adlaw nasinati ni Gob. Kaka kung unsa
ka lisod ang agi-anan sa mga mag-uuma alang sa pagbaligya sa ilang mga
agriculture products ngadto sa public market.
Nahimamat usab niini ang pipila ka mga civil society organization diin
usa na niini ang Daisy Women’s Association nga gihatagan ug dugang pondo alang
sa ilang asosasyon aron makatabang sa pagpalambo sa ilang negosyo.
Nakigpulong usab si Gob. Kaka ngadto sa mga Barangay Officials sa
Barangay Del Pilar inubanan nila Board Member Abis, DENR PENRO Agapito T.
Patubo, Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Rico B. Galinato, Engineer LordIveen
Maybuena (PEO), Architect Divacouni Cogay (PEO), ug mga personahe sa DPWH aron
mahisgutan ang pipila ka mga proyekto ug programa nga nauyonan sama na lamang
sa pag-ayo sa pantalan, barangay multi-purpose gymnasium, pagtukod ug community
piggery ug communal garden nga pagapundohan sa Provincial Government alang sa
pagsuporta sa kalambuan sa komunidad.
Dugang niini, natuki usab ang padayon nga problema sa illegal logging
diin kini nahimoan ug lakang aron kini mapukgang sa hinanaling panahon. Lakip
usab sa pagtuki ang pagmugna sa bag-ong pamaagi ug sistema sa pagbaligya sa mga
kuhang marine products sa paghatud niini ngadto sa mamalitay sa Surigao nga
moagi sa protocol sa COVID-19.
Sa laing bahin, mapasalamaton si Gov. Kaka ngadto sa mga katawhan gikan
sa Upper Laguna ngadto sa Brgy. Del Pilar sa maayong pakig abi-abi sa iyang
pagbisita ilabi na nila Brgy. Kapitan Zacarias F. Gomamera, Efren M. Eupena,
Brgy. Kagawad Daisy M. Gillo, Fernando A. Alvarez, Amador O. Barraza, Francisco
C. Eupena, ug Morito Villanueva. (Dinagat Islands Provincial Information
Office/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
