Surigao City village SK enjoins youth for gov't initiatives vs pandemic
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 12 (PIA) -- The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of
Brgy. Mabua in Surigao City enjoins the youth to take part in government
initiatives amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
During the Bisaya Gyud program episode on Saturday, November 7, with
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar,
Martin Dela Cruz, chairman of SK – Brgy. Mabua chapter said that despite the
pandemic, various initiatives have been launched by and for the youth.
In addition to providing relief goods to the village residents, they
also made sure to allocate some for the youth.
They also launched various activities to commemorate the Linggo ng
Kabataan held in August.
“Various contests were launched by the group such as a TikTok
competition, spoken word poetry, and a singing contest,” the youth leader said.
In support to the implementation of distance learning, they also created
the ‘SK-Wela Tabangan Program’ aimed to look for donors to support Mabua
Elementary School and Ipil National High School, where most children in the
village are enrolled, in their needs to effectively implement the new modes of
learning in the present school year. Furthermore, they also launched a free
online tutorial service dubbed as ‘Sangguni ng Katalinuhan’ or ‘SK’.
“We stand by the belief that the youth is the hope of this nation and
providing education is crucial for empowering them. This is our way of lending
additional help for learners in our area, especially since learning is now
taking place in their homes and teachers cannot facilitate them in going about
with their school work,” Dela Cruz said.
The project is still in its infancy, with only a few volunteers working
for its cause. The SK leader said they are still looking for other
personalities they can tap to partake in this initiative.
When asked about the some of the challenges they face in the
implementation of the said project, stability of the internet connection in
their area is a primary concern. Nonetheless, they are doing their best to
persevere just to lend assistance to the learners in Brgy. Mabua.
At the end of his guesting, SK chairperson Dela Cruz urged his fellow
youth to be more adaptive to the present circumstances and persevere despite
the challenges.
“I understand that all of us are experiencing difficulties due to this
health crisis, especially since we, the youth, are expected to experience life
outside the comfort of our homes at this point in our life. However, we also
have to put in mind that everyone’s life is at stake here and our safety is paramount
given the circumstances. We must always keep in mind that this health crisis
spared no one so must, therefore, do our part to get by with the situation,” he
said.
‘Bisaya Gyud’ is a weekly public service and entertainment program
hosted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary
Martin Andanar aired on select radio stations across the country and streamed
live on its official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/bisayagyudph,
every Saturday.
The program was initially launched to provide assistance to
underprivileged Bisaya and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). At the height of
the pandemic, the program also devoted its episodes to addressing various
issues of the Bisayas concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic.
Its 'Operation Tabang' is launched to extend medical and food assistance
to Bisaya all over the country, especially those who suffered greatly due to
the health crisis. The program also launched its Bond Paper Gift project, which
aims to assist schools in rural areas in effectively implementing distance
learning by providing reams of bond papers to be used for the production of
learning materials.
The program also explores Bisaya music and artists, and features Bisaya
success stories. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
SEC calls on public to join fight vs scams in First Investor Protection Week
By Neil Maynard C. Conde
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 12 -- The Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) is rallying the public to join the fight against investment
scams, as it spearheads the first Investor Protection Week from November 9 to
13.
The Commission will celebrate Investor Protection Week to promote
investor education amid the rising number of unauthorized investment-taking
activities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the SEC has issued advisories against more than 100 groups
and individuals soliciting investments without the necessary license, almost
double the total number for the whole of 2019.
The Commission has likewise issued cease and desist orders and
revocation orders against entities engaging in fraudulent investment schemes,
including Boss Network, Forsage and Fast Track Worldwide, Inc.
The SEC has charged 32 individuals in seven cases for violations of
Republic Act No. 8799, or The Securities Regulation Code, and in two cases for
violations of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Section 8 of the Securities Regulation Code provides that securities
shall not be sold or offered for sale or distributed within the Philippines,
without a registration statement duly filed with and approved by the SEC.
Ponzi and pyramid schemes are among the most common types of investment
fraud in the country, according to the SEC.
In a Ponzi scheme, scammers guarantee ridiculously high returns to
attract more investors. They pay the promised profits to earlier investors
using the money placed by newer members.
Meanwhile, pyramid schemes require members to recruit people into the
group in exchange for fees. As in Ponzi schemes, they rely on new members’ contributions
to pay out the promised returns to older investors.
Such schemes often deliver payouts at the start to please investors and
encourage them to invite more people to join. To create a semblance of
legitimacy, scammers tout products or services, which are either overpriced,
worthless or inexistent.
As part of its efforts to educate the investing public and keep them
falling prey to investment scams, the Commission advocated for the institution
of Investor Protection Week. On November 15, 2019, President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte issued Proclamation No. 846, declaring the second week of November of
every year as such.
The Investor Protection Week follows the celebration of World Investor
Week, a global campaign promoted by the International Organization of Securities
Commissions and held in October.
“Our fight against investment scams is anchored on the public’s
awareness and empowerment to spot, avoid and expose investment scams,” SEC
Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said.
“While we remain relentless in unmasking and busting investment scams,
we also encourage the public to always check with SEC before entertaining any
investment opportunity, especially when they are too good to be true.”
To expand the reach of its investor education programs, the Commission
gathered organizations from the public and private sectors alike to form the
SEC Campaign Network, which will be formally launched on November 9.
The Commission will also launch The SEC Academy, an online learning
resource center developed in collaboration with the Commission on Higher
Education and the Department of Education.
The SEC Academy will offer courses and learning modules for students and
educators, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs and those looking to invest in
securities, among others.
On November 11, the SEC a webinar for high school and college students
on doing business and investing safely in the Philippines was conducted,
live-streamed on Facebook.
The Commission, together with The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc., a
corporate governance forum was also conducted on November 12.
The SEC will close Investor Protection Week by recognizing its partners
in promoting ease of doing business, capital market development and investor
protection, as it celebrates its 84th Anniversary on November 13.
For more information, visit the official SEC Facebook page
at www.facebook.com/PhilippineSEC and website at www.sec.gov.ph.
(Information Officer, SEC/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
AgSur LGU hopes to level up with P392-M loan from Landbank
By Noelle B. Manansala
ROSARIO, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 12 – The local government unit (LGU) of
Rosario, this province has sought the assistance of Land Bank of the
Philippines (LANDBANK) to finance priority projects amounting to P392-million
under the Bank’s Restoration and Invigoration Package for a Self-sufficient
Economy towards Upgrowth for LGUs (RISE UP LGUs) Lending Program.
Part of the projects to be financed by LANDBANK for this 2nd class
municipality are the acquisition of heavy equipment, purchase of land for local
development, and construction of a public terminal and market.
“We are honored and excited to partner with the Rosario LGU as we see
their dedication in assisting our stakeholders, which are the farmers. We hope
that, in a way, this will contribute in cushioning the effect of this pandemic
to the local economy,” said LANDBANK Caraga South Lending Center Head Arnel M.
Caalim.
Additionally, the LGU is looking to purchase one six-wheeler and one
10-wheeler trucks for its logistical requirements, as well as a dump truck and
a garbage compactor with auto-loader for better disposal and segregation of
waste materials. The heavy equipment are seen to reduce operational expenses
and provide additional income to the local coffers as these can be rented-out
to neighboring LGUs.
Meanwhile, the development of their public terminal and market will also
help Rosario farmers augment their income since more consumers will be able to
reach them while cheaper market stall rentals can be offered to them.
“We would like to thank LANDBANK for being a partner of LGU Rosario in
pursuing our dreams especially in our quest for developmental projects that
will benefit our constituents, provide their basic needs, promote health and
public safety and hopefully improve our economic stability,” said Rosario
Municipal Mayor Jupiter Abulog.
A LANDBANK depositor since the 1990s, Rosario LGU is hoping to further
strengthen its partnership with the bank in terms of providing accessible
financial channels to their people.
“We are also looking forward to the installation of a LANDBANK ATM in
our office since this will be the first one in the entire municipality.
Currently, we still have to travel to our neighboring municipality if we want
to withdraw or deposit cash from the machine so this will really be helpful to
our people,” Mayor Abulog added.
RISE UP LGUs Lending Program is a new offering of LANDBANK to local
governments that aims to facilitate the regional and local development in its
area by integrating the different players in the agricultural value-chain, and
finance other innovative programs of LGUs which can bring back the confidence
of its constituents in the local economy.
Interested borrowers of the LANDBANK RISE UP LGUs Lending Program may contact the nearest open LANDBANK Lending Center or Branch nationwide, or call LANDBANK’s customer service hotline at (02) 8-405-7000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Free 1-800-10-405-7000. (LandBank/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
