Mining firms in Caraga campaign for environmental protection
By Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 13 (PIA) -- As part of the
culmination activity of the Environment Month celebration this year, the Mines
and Geosciences Bureau Regional Field Office 13 (MGB-Caraga) conducted the
succulent dish gardening and environmental video-making contests.
These were participated and supported by several mining companies in the
Caraga region wherein the winning entries will be utilized as information,
education and communication (IEC) and advocacy materials for environmental
protection and preservation.
The CTP Construction and Mining Corporation won the first place for the
succulent dish gardening competition followed by Taganito Mining Corporation in
second place and Mindanao Mineral Processing Refinery Corporation for the third
place.
Meanwhile, for the environmental video making contest, the Agata Mining
Ventures, Inc. got the first place; MMPRC as the second-place winner and
NAC-Hinatuan Mining Corporation garnered third place.
According to MGB-Caraga regional director Engr. Glenn Marcelo Noble,
their agency is encouraging the mining firms to help in improving the lives of
the host and neighboring communities.
“MGB targets Caraga region to become the center and model for
responsible minerals industry. Apart from the contribution of the mining
institutions in the economy, they have also helped the affected communities
during this time of the pandemic,” said Noble.
The Caraga-based mining firms have spent around P140 million as
assistance to the frontliners, host communities and non-impact communities
through their Social Development and Management Program (SDMP).
The mining firms have also pooled their resources together for the
establishment of the first molecular testing laboratory for coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) in the region.
“The mining firms here have manifested their concern to the community
members. They promote the principle of people empowerment and give the
necessary aid as a form of strengthening their hopes in overcoming the crisis
brought about by the pandemic,” said Noble. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
OCD-Caraga distributes PPE to frontliners
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, July 13 (PIA) -- With the rising number of coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) - Caraga
accelerated the response action and in facilitating the distribution of
personal protective equipment (PPE) to the frontliners.
The sets of PPE were turned over to local government units,
hospitals, and government lines agencies such as Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) - Caraga as communication frontline agency.
“Right from the start of the operation in the region against COVID-19,
OCD continuously provides PPE as well as fuel to concerned agencies. These PPE
sets were turned over to the LGUs and especially to the national and local
hospitals in the region that operates specifically against COVID-19,” said
April Rose Ann Sanchez, information officer of the OCD-Caraga.
The OCD-Caraga has also provided fuel to the vehicles designated to
fetch and transport the locally stranded individuals and returning overseas
Filipinos (ROFs) to their respective provinces.
“We provide fuel to the private and LTRFRB buses that cater the transfer
of these locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to and from Cagayan de Oro, Davao
City and those coming to Butuan City,” said Sanchez.
Prior to the implementation of the moratorium of flights and mercy
voyage which started on June 22 until July 4 of this year, the Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Caraga has already recorded more
than 4,500 inbound LSIs while there are also over 4,200 outbound LSIs, and more
than a thousand ROFs have arrived in the region.
Meanwhile, the returning seafarers expressed their appreciation for the
assistance provided by the government and for their safe return in the region
after being stranded in Luzon for many weeks due to the pandemic.
OCD-Caraga also gave a stern reminder to all Caraganons. “For
Caraganons, we are still appealing to you the way the One Caraga Shield has
appealed even before - to keep safe and be conscious and wary especially that
Butuan City has declared a local transmission of COVID-19. So keep safe and be
responsible enough to follow the guidelines imposed by the authorities,” said
Sanchez. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Agusanon 4Ps benes come together to make a difference in community
BUTUAN CITY, July 13 - “Mas maayo nga mutabang ta, kaysa kita ang
tabangan. Swerte na kaayo kami kay nahimo ming membro sa 4Ps ug naa kami madawatan,
samtang ang uban wala (It is better that we help rather than us being extended
the help. We are very fortunate enough to have been part of the 4Ps, and that
we receive the grants, compared to those who are not).”
These were the words of the 41-year old parent leader and daycare
worker, Rona Fuentes. She is one of the 16 parent leaders of the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Barangay Sampaguita, Veruela, Agusan del Sur.
When the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) took its toll in the
country, several Local Government Units provided relief assistance to its
constituents. The BLGU of Sampaguita did the same when they delivered
half-sacks of rice to every household in their barangay.
Lacking manpower, some of the 4Ps parent leaders volunteered to deliver
the goods to their community.
Though the “new normal” scenario was still slowly sinking into their
system, just like wearing face masks and maintaining physical distance, they
all were convinced that the need to be together and do something tangible and
real was something they needed to do.
A similar situation happened in Barangay DoΓ±a Telesfora, Tubay, Agusan
del Norte, wherein a group of Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT)
beneficiaries also felt the bayanihan spirit which is innate to Filipinos
especially during times of hardship and challenges.
“Naningkamot gyud mi na mag-solicit sa mga kaila, kaparentehan, ug
batchmates namo nga pwede makaabag luyo aning COVID-19 nga krisis (We took the
initiative to solicit from our colleagues/batchmates and relatives who were
generous enough to help amid this global crisis),” Jerama Daug, one of the
active MCCT-IP Parent Leader said.
Daug asked the other members to provide a list of families
(non-Pantawid) of their respective purok or sitio who were not able to receive
the Social Amelioration Program subsidy of the government. By aiding a little
amount of love and compassion, they were able to distribute rice packs to 100
families in their barangay.
In the region, a total of 188,467 4Ps beneficiaries received the
emergency subsidy under the SAP. This is a provision of the government through
the Department of Social Welfare and Development to aid the most affected
families because of COVID-19.
The pandemic awakened a very unique spirit of community that has been in
the Filipino culture for centuries. Truly, finding resources is not a big issue
when done by willing and compassionate individuals and groups, who are willing
to extend their hands, regardless of their differences.
“Grabi ka mahinungdanon ang among panagkita. Bisan og nabag-uhan mi sa
pag-social distancing, kay sauna magkumustahay ug magginaksanay gayud mi, pero
nalipay gihapon kay nagkakitaay mi (It was a meaningful get together. Although
maintaining the social distancing is awkward, because we always greet with a
handshake or a warm hug, but we are still glad to see each other),” Fuentes
added.
More than the cash grants that they are receiving, the volunteer work
gave them an opportunity to develop their capacities as beneficiaries such as
decision making and planning. For this, they always considered themselves
fortunate. (Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Agusan del
Sur)
PSA, DSWD Caraga to partner for National ID system project
BUTUAN CITY, July 13 -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Caraga
region has tapped the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in
the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) implementation, by accessing the
latter’s Listahanan database.
Hermilando N. Paque, Jr, PSA Registration Officer I and Marjon C.
Dalagon, Administrative Assistant II recently visited the Field Office to discuss
the Listahanan Data Sharing Guidelines which is currently managed by the
National Household Targeting Section (NHTS) of the Department.
Aldie Mae A. Andoy, OIC of the Policy and Plans Division –
Officer-In-Charge, and Listahanan Regional Field Coordinator explained
process and requirements in accessing the Listahanan database to the PSA
representatives as compliance to Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of
2012. This includes the forging of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between PSA
and the Department, as well as series of inspection meetings to ensure that the
2nd party is capable of handling and protecting sensitive personal information
contained in the Listahanan Database.
Listahanan is an information management system that identifies who and where
the poor are in the country. It contains demographic and socio-economic status
of the identified poor households. It also provides complete information on
poor households who will become beneficiaries of the different anti-poverty
programs and services of the government.
The PSA requested the list of poor families/households as they plan to
start the pre-registration of the PhilSys project on September this year. PSA
is targeting to provide one hundred forty thousand (140,000) Caraganons with
the National ID by the end of the year.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into law the R.A. 11055, also known
as the “Philippine Identification System Act”. The act mandates the issuance of
a national ID that will serve as valid proof of identity for all Filipino
citizens and resident aliens. The law tasks PSA as responsible for the overall
planning and management of PhilSys. (Social Marketing Section,
DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Rapid test now required for all travellers to SurSur town
CARRASCAL, Surigao del Sur, July 13 -- As the number of coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Caraga region increase and cases of local
transmission are recorded, the municipality of Carrascal has issued Executive
Order No. 24, series of 2020 requiring a negative result on either Rapid
Antibody Test (RAT) or Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
to all non-Surigaonons entering the municipality.
Effective July 8, 2020, the Carrascal Primary Health Care Facility will
start to accommodate rapid testing with a fee of P1,500 per test/person. Rapid
testing is exclusive to all Carrascalanons, except for private employees in
companies with Carrascal as their principal address.
The employees from private companies/offices located in Carrascal can
avail of the rapid testing, provided that they can present an official travel
order and a company ID.
Those Carascalanon patients undergoing dialysis and other regular
treatments and subject for medical emergencies and referrals are exempted from
rapid testing, provided they are issued a doctor's referral.
All individuals who wish to avail with other medical interventions such
as regular or follow-up check-ups are required to undergo the rapid testing and
comply with regular travel documents needed.
As contained in the EO, the rapid testing schedule is from 1:00 P.M. to
3:00 P.M., Monday to Friday. The said facility will strictly implement 10 tests
only per day. The rapid test result is valid for seven days only.
All individuals who wish to avail are advised to secure first the
medical certificate from the Municipal Health Office (MHO) and Travel Authority
to be issued by the Carrascal Municipal Police Station (MPS) before proceeding
for the rapid testing.
All applicants who wish to travel outside the province are reminded that
the municipality of Carrascal would only issue travel documents for essential
travels. (LGU-Carrascal/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Pagbibigay ng PPE ng OCD-Caraga sa frontliners, pinalawak pa
By Venus L. Garcia
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 13 (PIA) -- Sa harap ng pagtaas ng kaso ng
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pinalawak pa ng Office of Civil defense
(OCD) - Caraga ang pamamahagi ng personal protective equipment o PPE sa mga
frontliner.
Kabilang sa mga nabigyan ng PPE ay ang mga local government unit,
ospital, at iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan gaya ng Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) at Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) - Caraga bilang communication frontline agency.
“Right from the start of the operation in the region against COVID-19,
OCD continuously provides PPE as well as fuel to concerned agencies. Ang PPE ay
binibigay natin sa mga LGUs especially to the national and local hospitals in
the region na nag-ooperate specifically against COVID-19,” sabi ni April Rose
Ann Sanchez, information officer ng OCD-Caraga.
Bilang lead agency ng Caraga Regional Task Force Against COVID-19 at
bahagi ng Caraga Regional Task Group for Repatriation, patuloy din ang serbisyo
ng OCD-Caraga at iba pang ahensiya ng lokal na pamahalaan sa one-stop-shop ng
lahat ng port of entry sa rehiyon.
Naglaan naman ang OCD-Caraga ng krudo para sa mga sasakyan na sumusundo
sa locally stranded individuals at returning overseas Filipinos.
“We provide fuel to the private and LTRFRB buses that cater the transfer
of these locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to and from Cagayan de Oro, Davao
City and those coming o Butuan City,” sabi ni Sanchez.
Samantala, nagpasalamat ang seafarers na taga-Caraga sa tulong ng
pamahalaan upang silay makauwi sa kani-kanilang probinsya matapos mastranded sa
Luzon dahil sa pandemya.
May paalala naman ang OCD-Caraga sa kanilang mga kababayan. “Kaya para
sa mga Caraganons, we are still appealing to you the way the One Caraga Shield
has appealed even before na sundin natin ang protocol at preventive measures
upang makaiwas sa nasabing virus lalo na na mayroon ng local transmission
sa Butuan City. So keep safe and be responsible enough to follow the guidelines
imposed by the authorities,” sabi ni Sanchez. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
