Friday, May 22, 2020

Caraga LGUs gear up implementation of 'Balik Probinsya Program'

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, May 22 (PIA) -- The local government unit (LGU) of San Fancisco in the province of Agusan del Sur has recorded more than 40 individuals who were fetched at the provincial boundary from the nearby provinces. They comprised the third batch of the list of stranded local individuals, and have undergone the required health protocols and other preventive measures of the said LGU.

With the help of the PHILTRANCO, the company provided several bus units that were used by the respective LGUs in fetching the stranded individuals and these buses also complied with the required protocol including social distancing for its passengers.

The LGU-La Paz of said province was also able to fetch stranded locals from the high risk areas of the country and brought them back to their hometown in Caraga region. The establishment of quarantine facilities is also underway.

More than 100 individuals have also returned safely to the municipality of Trento, Agusan del Sur through the help of the LGU, and facilitated the conduct of rapid testing to each of them.

Allen Joe Lumanta, information officer of LGU-Trento also reminded stranded local individuals to closely coordinate with their barangay officials before returning or traveling back to their hometown.

“To all the stranded Trentohanons, please closely coordinate with your respective barangay so they could also help facilitate your safe return. The local government unit will also do its part in ensuring your safety and will facilitate the processes on the health protocols that you have to undergo when you reach our town,” said Lumanta.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Caraga also continues to implement the government’s “Hatid Estudyante Program”, wherein more than 500 students who comprised the first batch were able to benefit the said program and safely returned home. These were the students of the Mindanao State University (MSU) from the cities of Marawi and Iligan.

LTFRB-Caraga regional director Ma. Kristina Cassion emphasized that this program really helps the students who were stranded since march of this year due to COVID-19 pandemic. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

IP community receives relief goods in SurSur town

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 22 -- The far-flung community of Sitio Lucnodon, Barangay Mahaba in Marihatag town, this province, an identified Peace and Development Zone (PDZ) barangay, received the relief goods amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, information officer Lee Escobal of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) confirmed.                   

Escobal said the relief-giving activity is a partnership from TESDA Surigao del Sur headed by Dir. Rey Cueva, Philippine Army, the local government unit of Marihatag led by Mayor Justin Marc Pelenio and the TVET Association of Surigao del Sur (TVETASS) through the M&N Patorgo Ventures led by their President, Margaret Pacita Patorgo-Nunnink.

A total of 50 Indigenous People (IP) families or 300 individuals received the relief goods comprising of 10 sacks of rice, 250 tins of canned goods (sardines, and corned beef), 150 packs of instant noodles, and 450 pieces of eggs, which were all sourced out from the aforementioned partnerships.  (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Operasyon ng ARBOs sa Caraga, patuloy kahit may banta ng COVID-19

By Nora C. Lanuza

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Mayo 22 -- Kahit may banta ng coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sa rehiyon ng Caraga, patuloy pa ring kumikita ang mga Agrarian Reform Beneficiries Organizations o ARBOs. Ito ay batay na rin sa record ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Patuloy ang paghatid ng ARBOs ng kanilang mga produkto kagaya ng bigas, gulay, itlog at marami pang iba sa iba’t ibang market centers ng rehiyon lalo na’t nakaquarantine ang mga tao. Base sa record ng DAR noong Mayo 8, 2020, umabot sa P51,803,696 ang naging kita sa buong rehiyon.

Sa probinsya ng Agusan del Norte na may 1,430 ARBs umabot ito ng P16,855,740.70; Agusan del Sur na may 9,895 ARBs ay umabot sa P32,867,466.30; sa Surigao del Norte at pati na rin ang probinsya ng Dinagat Islands na may 201 ARBs ay umabot din sa P1,304,081.20; at ang Surigao del Sur na may 446 ARBs ay umabot din sa P776,408.00 ang kita.

Ayon pa kay DAR Caraga Director Leomides Villareal, patuloy nilang tinutulongan ang mga ARBOs ng rehiyon, upang patuloy din silang kikita kahit paman sa COVID-19 pandemic.

Dagdag pa ni Villareal, walang putol ang tulong at aktibidades na ibinibigay ng DAR sa mga ARBs kahit paman may COVID-19 pandemic. Maliban sa social amelioration ng gobyerno nagbigay din ang DAR ng food packs sa mga ARBs at patuloy din ang pagbibigay ng mga pahiram sa tulong na din ng Department of Agriculture at iba pang ahensya.

Nagbigay din daw ang mga ARBs sa mga local government units ng kanilang mga produkto kung kaya’t mas lalong tumaas ang kanilang mga kita dahil sa kanila kumukuha ang mga ito. (NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Mga estudyante sa MSU nga mipauli sa Agusan del Norte negatibo sa COVID-19  

By Angel F. Gaviola/Angelito U. Cagulada

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Mayo 22 -- Negatibo sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sa rapid test nga gihimo sa 39 ka mga estudyante sa Mindanao State University-Marawi og MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology nga nanguli sa probinsiya sa Agusan del Norte niadtong Sabado, Mayo 16.

Kini ang gikompirma ni Dr. Odelio Ferrer, hospital chief sa Provincial Health Office, nga maoy nagdumala sa rapid testing pag-abot gyod sa mga estudyante.

Ang pagpailawom sa mga estudyante sa rapid test kabahin sa mga protocols nga nasabutan sa dili pa sila i-intrigo sa ilang mga local government units alang sa pagpauli sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka lungsod.

Ang 39 ka estudyante sa Agusan del Norte kabahin sa 377 ka estudyante sa Caraga nga na-stranded sa ilang eskwelahan sulod sa kapin na sa duha ka bulan tungod sa gipatuman nga enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) sa Region BA-ARMM, sa lockdown sa mga borders nga ilang maagian, apil na ang border sa Caraga ug Region 10 nga nahimutang sa Carmen, Agusan del Norte.

Nasayran gikan kang Gerry Joey S. Laurito, provincial administrator sa Agusan del Norte, nga 66 gyod ka estudyante sa probinsya ang gilantaw nga sakay sa maong biyahe. Apan 39 lamang ang kumpirmadong nakauli. Nagpabilin ra matud pa ang uban sa MSU-Marawi.

Nakauli ang mga estudyante tungod sa Balik Estudyante sa Caraga, inisyatiba sa pipila ka ahensya ug mga LGU sa rehiyon, apil na ang probinsya sa Agusan del Norte ubos ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera nga maoy chairperson sa Regional Development Council ug sa Regional Task Force on COVID-19 One Caraga Shield.

Mosuma sa 22 ka mga bus sa Bachelor Express ang mikuha sa mga estudyante sa taas nga biyahe gikan sa Marawi City ug Iligan City.

Sa iyang Facebook post niadtong Mayo 17, gipasalamatan ni Gob. Corvera ang mga ahensya ug opisyales nga mitabang aron mapahigayon ang inisyatiba sa pagpauli sa mga estudyante. (Agusan up, LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Wednesday, May 20 , 2020

Hydroponics, a good way to be productive during community quarantine

 

By Vanessa P. Sanchez

 

BUTUAN CITY, May 20 -- In the midst of a global pandemic, a man turns a negative situation into a positive one.

 

With the city of Butuan placed under community quarantine, forcing people to stay at home to prevent the spread of the COVID 19, Bryan Tingas turned into backyard vegetable gardening to put his time to good use.

 

Tingas said that when the community quarantine was implemented last March, their office also implemented a work from home policy. It was then that he decided to utilize the vacant space in their yard to have a vegetable garden.

 

Since the space is limited, he also used some empty containers and planted them with vegetables. In addition, he put up his own hydroponics, a method of gardening that uses no soil, but instead grows plants in a solution of water and nutrients.

 

Tingas said that he thought of having the hydroponics since this planting method is less laborious and does not require a lot of time for management which he said would be good once work resumes and he would have less time to tend to his garden. “With hydroponics, there is no need to water the plants daily so you save time as well as water,” Tingas shared.

 

He said that he researched on the internet on how to establish hydroponics. He then prepared the needed materials such as the styrofoam boxes, paper cups, the nutrient solution, seeds, and the nets he used for shading. Tingas said that the roofing or shade is necessary if you are planting leafy vegetables to protect them from too much heat. He also said that he did not spend much on the materials since he just asked for the Styrofoam boxes from fruit vendors. 

“Although the space is limited, I was still able to plant various vegetables, you just need to be resourceful in doing things,” Tingas said.

Tingas said that their garden has served as their own food source. “We have since been harvesting vegetables from our garden and I am glad that I am able to support the food security advocacy of the Department of Agriculture,” he said.

Moreover, Tingas said that he hopes to inspire other people to also have their own backyard vegetable gardens so that they too can provide nutritious and chemical-free foods for their families. (DA Caraga-RAFIS/PIA Caraga)

Coop gives food aid to ‘Pakyawan’ workers, janitors at Surigao port 

By Noli C. Nusog

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 20 (PIA) -- Continuing the ‘Bayanihan sa Pantalan’ spirit, dockworkers hired on ‘pakyawan’ basis and janitors serving the port of Surigao and the Lipata Ferry Terminal get food packs from the Philippine Ports Authority Surigao Employees Service Cooperative (PPA SESC).

As operations of motor launches plying the island routes are transferred from the city boulevard to the port of Surigao for the safety and security of island-bound cargo and passengers in the light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) crisis, additional dockworkers were hired on ‘pakyawan’ basis to augment existing cargo handling manpower.

PPA SESC Business Manager Roed Pomoy said that this undertaking is in line with the cooperative’s social responsibility program and sourced from its community development fund.

“Extending the cooperative’s help to co-workers particularly to our janitors and ‘pakyawan’ workers is unanimously agreed by all of our members in support of the ‘Bayanihan sa Pantalan,'" Pomoy said. (PPA-PMO/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

PMO Surigao turns idle areas to vegetable gardens

By Noli C. Nusog

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 20 -- To somehow ease concerns over food security amidst the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), idle areas at the Port of Surigao were turned into vegetable gardens to produce healthy food and vegetable products.

Launched over the weekend, the pilot site at the Surigao Baseport is just the first of the many vegetable gardens planned to be establish at idle areas in ports under the Philippine Ports Authority - Port Managment Office (PPA-PMO) Surigao.

With no less than PMO Surigao Acting Port Manager Froilan Caturla as lead ‘farmer,’ the Surigao Baseport garden is initially planted with eggplants, string beans, spring onions and lemon grass.

He added that putting up gardens is good for the environment too, aside from the benefit of having a ready supply of nutritious food.

“This greening project is also a great help for us in attaining safe and healthy environment since plants lessen carbon dioxide and produce more oxygen. More oxygen means cleaner air,” Manager Caturla said. (PPA-PMO/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Pedicab drivers benefit from PNP’s 'Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko' program

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, May 19 (PIA) -- A total of 26 “padyak” or pedicab drivers have benefited from the relief goods distributed by the Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office (ADS-PPO), under the “Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko” or “My Fellow, My Responsibility” Program of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

This program aims to help the drivers and their family cope with their daily needs of food supply amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The beneficiaries were delighted to receive the food packs which were personally handed to them by the PNP personnel. They were also thankful for the assistance since there would now be available food for their respective families.

They were thankful to the PNP for their assistance even if they too are affected by the crisis and are busy securing people’s safety against lawless elements and invisible enemy - the COVID-19.

Police Colonel Ringo Zarsozo, provincial director of PNP-Agusan del Sur and Police Captain Joselito Delos Santos led the distribution of food packs to the driver-beneficiaries.

According to Police Captain Delos Santos, their personnel and officers had contributed from their own pocket and were able to collect the certain amount and bought some basic commodities intended for more than 100 indigent beneficiaries, who are affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

“This is a concerted effort of our personnel and officers through their financial contribution that enabled us to buy the basic commodities which we intend to distribute to the indigent-families in our area of responsibility,” bared Delos Santos.

The official added that while they perform their duties and responsibilities as frontliners, they also help those who are in need especially in this trying times.

The team would also distribute some relief goods to the indigent families in the different barangays within their area of responsibility. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Higit P100,000 halaga ng smuggled na kahoy, nakumpiska sa Rosario, AgSur

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Mayo 19 (PIA) - Sa isang retrieval operation kasama ang militar at Philippine National Police (PNP), nakumpiska ng mga kawani ng Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) ang 42 piraso ng illegally-cut lauan flitches o kahoy na nagkakahalaga ng P118,625.

Natuntun ito sa libilib ng Sitio Kosep, Barangay Bayugan 3 sa Bayan ng Rosario, Agusan del Sur.

Ayon kay CENRO Jerome Albia ng Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, ang mga nakompiskang lauan na kahoy ay nasa kanilang kustodiya na ngayon sa barangay kalingayan sa bayan ng bunawan.

Pinasalamatan din ni Albia ang kawani ng Municipal Environment Office dahil sa kanilang aktibong partisipasyon sa isinagawang retrieval operation.

Binigyang-diin din niya ang suportang ipinakita ng mga mamamayan sa nasabing komunidad na may malaking kontribusyon sa matagumpay na operasyon.

Samantala, ayon naman kay Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix Alicer ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga, inutos na niya ang agarang imbistigasyon dito at nang makasohan ang nasa likod ng ilegal na gawaing ito.

Dagdag ng opisyal, mula Enero hanggang Abril ngayong taon, nasa mahigit 200,000 board feet ng illegally-cut logs at lumber products na ang kanilang nakumpiska at ito ay aabot na sa mahigit P8-milyong halaga.

Kasabay nito, may 23 kaso na ang nai-file sa korte kung saan 40 na indibidwal ang humaharap sa mga kasong ito dahil sa paglabag nila sa forest protection laws ng bansa. (JPG/DENR-13/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

‘Sinugbuanong Bisaya Dialect Day’ isaulog sa Cabadbaran

DAKBAYAN NG CABADBARAN, Agusan del Norte, Mayo 19 -- Isaulog na sa dakbayan sa Cabadbaran sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte ang ika-21 sa Pebrero kada tuig isip “Sinugbuanong Bisaya Dialect Day” human gipalabang sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang City Ordinance No. 2019-037 atol sa ilang ika-38th nga sesyon regular bag-ohay pa lamang.

Isaulog kini aron mapreserbar ang maong diyalekto nga maoy gigamit sa kadaghanan sa mga lumulupyo sa siyudad sa Cabadbaran.

Ang maong diyalekto kabahin usab sa kurikulum sa tanang pampublikong eskuylahan ug gigamit kini sa pagtudlo basi sa order sa Department of Education kun DepEd.

Ubos niini nga lakang, nga gipangusgan ni Sangguniang Panlungsod Member Leo Dale A. Corvera, ang LGU sa Cabadbaran, sa pakigtambayayong sa mga ahensya, magsaulog pinaagi sa pagpahigayon og kompetisyon sa akademiko ug non-akademiko sama sa ‘Balak’ (Poetry), ‘Pakiglantugi (Debate), ‘Pagsibya sa Radyo (Radio Broadcasting), ‘Sinugbuanong Bisaya Essay Writing, Pagmugna ug Pagsulat og Awit (Song Writing), Pag-awit (Singing Contest), Interpretative Dance of Cabadbaran songsug uban pa.

Ang nasangpit nga maa kalihokan subay sa United Nation Education Scientific and Culture Organization (UNESCO) Proclamation nga kada 21st day sa Pebrero isip selebrasyon sa International Mother Language Day, nga gisaulog kada tuig sa tibook kalibotan aron ma-promote ang kaalam sa mother tongue ug cultural diversity.

Ang maong ordinansa naaprobahan pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 187-2020 sa pagpangamahan ni Bokal Rodulfo A. Pitogo, tsirman sa Committee on Education and Culture. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Programang 'Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko' ng kapulisan, naipaabot sa padyak drivers sa AgSur

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Mayo 19 (PIA) -- Sa pakikipag-tulungan ng iba't-ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan sa probinsya ng Agusan del Sur, namahagi ang Police Provincial Office (ADS-PPO) ng relief goods sa may 26 na pedicab drivers sa ilalim ng kanilang programang “Kapwa Ko, Sagot Ko.”

Layon nitong matulungan ang mga drivers at kanilang pamilya na magkaraoon ng karagdagang makakain ngayong may pandemya.

Lubos naman ang kasiyahan at pasasalamat ng mga benepisyaryo na patuloy na nagsusumikap upang may maipakain sa kanilang mga pamilya.

Pinangunahan mismo ni Police Colonel Ringo Zarsozo,  provincial director ng PNP-Agusan del Sur at Police Captain Joselito Delos Santos ang pamimigay ng relief goods.

Ayon kay Police Captain Delos Santos, mula sa kontribusyon ng kanilang mga personnel, nakalikom sila ng pundo at nakapaghanda ng mahigit 100 food packs para sa mga kababayang indigents na lubos na naapektuhan ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

“Mula sa kontribusyon po ng ating personnel at officers, nakalikom po kami ng pera pambili ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng ating mga idigent na pamilya sa ibat-ibang lugar upang matulungan sila sa pang-araw araw na pagkain nila,” ani ni Delos Santos.

Dagdag pa ng opisyal, bagamat abala sila sa paganap ng kanilang tungkulin bilang frontliners, hindi rin aniya nila nakakaligtaan ang pagtulong sa mga mas nangangailangang mamamayan.

Mamimigay rin sila ng relief goods sa mga mahihirap na pamilya sa ibat-ibang barangay sa kanilang nasasakupan. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Monday, May 18, 2020

AgSur farmers serve food amid COVID-19

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has started, and with the imposed community quarantine, one scene has been common -- some food shelves in the grocery stores were empty as people flock to buy food for their families.

As regular shoppers stock rice, bread, meat, and other commodities, farmers are in the fields, planting and harvesting the nation’s food supply often without sick pay or health insurance.

The farmers face the same daunting difficulties as those in the front lines. Behind every grain and food in our table are farmer's blood sweat and tears. They sacrifice their lives for us to survive. And yet, they are the ones who are most affected at this trying time.

The worst humanitarian crisis in the world today is upsetting, well beyond the immediate health threat. It is evolving day by day with an undefined future, subverting the economy at large and pushing more farmers closer to the edge.

The dropdown of buying price of commodities, the impeded movement caused by lockdown, the submission to health protocols at the checkpoints, the difficulties of securing food pass, the absence of a potential market, are but some of the few struggles our farmers have to face nowadays.

The La Fortuna Multipurpose Cooperative (LAMUPCO) in Veruela, Agusan del Sur, under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) has an existing contract with Andres Soriano Memorial Hospital in Bislig City for the supply of rice, hence, they are ensured of a market that is much secure than the others.

However, with the existing situation nowadays, the coop fear for the effect of the crisis, especially with the established health protocols at the checkpoints.

“Dako jud ang among kabalaka sa primero tungod wala kami kabalo kung makalusot pa ba me ug ma deliver ba namo ang among bugas paingon sa Bislig (We are really worried at first because we never know if we can pass through and deliver rice to Bislig),” chairperson Reynaldo Maido said.

However, prior to the scheduled delivery, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Agusan del Sur through the instruction of PARPO II Jamil P. Amatonding Jr. has helped the coop secure their food pass.

"We are reminded by DAR Regional Director Leomides Villareal upon instructions of  Secretary John R. Castriciones, in line with the call of President Duterte for food sufficiency and lessen the burden of the farmers in selling their farm produce," he said.

The implementation of food passes is to ensure unhampered delivery of food and other agricultural commodities to various areas and markets amid the enforcement of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

“Daku kaayo ang among pasalamat sa tabang sa DAR aron kami makakuha ug food pass para ma deliver namo ang among bugas sa Bislig, mapadayon ang income sa among kooperatiba ug makatabang pud me ug dako ngadto sa hospital (We are thankful to DAR for helping us in securing our food pass so that we can continue to deliver rice to Bislig and maintain the coop’s income, at the same time we can be of help to the hospital),” said LAMUPCO Chairman Reynaldo Maido.

It can be recalled that on March 25, 2020, LAMUPCO was able to deliver a total of 66 sacks of rice to Andres Soriano Memorial Hospital (ASMH) in Bislig City, 50 sacks to Barangay LGU of La Fortuna and 200 sacks for Barangay LGU of Sampaguita and Poblacion, Veruela, Agusan del Sur.

PARPO Amatonding said that the department will never stop extending help to the farmers especially in this trying time. “We would like to assure our farmers that we value their heroic deeds despite the hurdles and that we are behind them as they exist to feed the world,” he said. (Rechel D. Besonia, DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Health worker in Caraga tested positive for COVID-19

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, May 17 (PIA) -- A health worker in Caraga tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), as confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga.

The patient is a 37-year-old female and a health worker in Caraga Regional Hospital (CRH), one of the two COVID-19 referral hospitals in the region.

The number of cases in the region has now totalled to four. The first three cases have recovered from the disease.

The health department reports that the patient remains asymptomatic and is now isolated and admitted to the said hospital for needed observation, monitoring, and follow-up tests.

The CRH is now ensuring the full implementation of conducting tests to at-risk health care workers that have been exposed to the disease, as mandated by the DOH Department Memorandum 2020-0180. The DOH National has also extended human resource augmentation and will be deploying 19 health workers in the said health facility.

Meanwhile, the latest batch of the samples of suspected cases in the region has tested negative. The 15 suspected cases are presently admitted to CRH, Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, Butuan Medical Center- Annex, D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital, Manuel J. Santos Hospital, and Nasipit District Hospital. (DMNR/PIACaraga)

60,000 Caraga farmers to benefit from DA’s rice resiliency project

BUTUAN CITY, May 17 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) accelerates its support to boost rice productivity in the Caraga region under the  Rice Resiliency Project (RRP).

As part of the DA's Plant, Plant, Plant Program (Agri-4Ps), also known as the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat kontra COVID-19, the RRP targets to increase the local rice production amid global trade uncertainties brought about by the pandemic.

For the year 2020, Caraga region is expected to increase its yield by at least 0.58 metric tons per hectare or an equivalent of 55,295 metric tons yield increment with the ₱207 million allocations under the RRP.

Around 60,000 local rice farmers in the region will benefit the intervention. Three subprojects of the project will be implemented including the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Enhanced, the Expanded Inbred Rice Production, and the Expanded Hybrid Rice Production.

Rice farmers registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) will be able to avail of the farm input subsidies under RRP.

"COVID-19 is a major threat to our food security, but DA took the challenge to continue to implement resiliency programs and projects. The distribution of high-yielding seeds and fertilizers is strategically distributed by the five provinces in the region in coordination with the local government units," said DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo.

Under RCEF Enhanced, areas in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur will receive inbred certified seeds. A total of 96,116 bags of fertilizers will be distributed to complement the distribution of inbred seeds covering the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) targeted 48,058 hectares of rice areas.

The Expanded Inbred Rice Production subproject is intended for the farmers not included in the RCEF program. Certified seeds for 6,030 hectares will be distributed to farmers alongside with 12,060 bags of fertilizer.

Provision of fertilizers to farmers who use good seeds or home-saved seeds is included about 3,824 bags will be distributed for 1,912 hectares rice area for this wet planting season.

Including in the intervention is the distribution of hybrid seeds under the Expanded Hybrid Rice Production subproject for 7,976 hectares with 23,928. This will be distributed strategically in suitable areas.

Further, the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) registered hybrid and inbred rice varieties recommended for the season and locality will be procured by the DA while the fertilizers will be obtained by the national office.

Achieving higher productivity in rice would entail the use of high-quality seeds and sufficient fertilization based on scientific soil study.

"Aside from the RRP intervention, the Department will also work to improve the support infrastructures for the rice farmers such as the small-scale irrigation systems, machinery, and post-harvest facilities and access to credit and financing to ensure the increased rice production in the region," said Director Monteagudo. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)

DOH confirms 4th COVID-19 case in Caraga

BUTUAN CITY, May 17 – The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga confirms the fourth COVID-19 case in the region based on the RT-PCR results received from the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

The fourth confirmed case is a 37 year old, female, and a health worker from Caraga Regional Hospital (CRH). Per hospital protocol, all health workers are required to undergo strict facility quarantine following the tour of duty from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) dedicated ward. The health worker remains asymptomatic after fourteen days of strict health facility quarantine but is now admitted to the said health facility for observation, monitoring and follow-up test.

“We are doing all means to protect, isolate and actively monitor the condition of the affected individual,” DOH Caraga Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. said.

Pursuant to DOH Department Memorandum 2020-0180, at-risk health care workers with no symptoms but has a relevant history of contact to COVID-19 will be tested. Thus, CHD-Caraga fully implemented such policy to protect health care workers and their families.

“Likewise, the DOH National has granted our request to provide nineteen health care workers in CRH as  human resource augmentation while we ensure that all health care teams have enough personal protective equipment,” the health chief stressed.

Meanwhile, 15 RT-PCR laboratory results from suspect cases are negative for COVID-19. These cases are from patients admitted at Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, Butuan Medical Center-Annex, D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital, Manuel J. Santos Hospital, Nasipit District Hospital, and Caraga Regional Hospital.

As of this time, DOH Caraga has already recorded a total of four confirmed COVID-19 cases in which the first three have already been discharged and recovered. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga)

Health worker sa Caraga, nagpositibo sa COVID-19; pang-apat na kaso sa rehiyon, naitala

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Mayo 17 (PIA) -- Isang health care worker sa Caraga ang nagpositibo sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), ayon sa Department of Health (DOH) Caraga.

Ang pasyente ay isang 37-year-old na babae at manggagawa ng Caraga Regional Hospital (CRH) na isa sa dalawang COVID-19 referral hospitals sa rehiyon.

Ito ang pang-apat na kaso ng COVID-19 sa Caraga region. Nakarecover na ang naunang tatlong kaso sa COVID-19.

Sa kasalukuyan, nananatiling asymptomatic ang pasyente and na isolate at na admit na sa naturang ospital para sa isasagawang obserbasyon, monitoring, at follow-up tests.

Dahil dito, sisiguraduhin ng CRH ang mandatory testing sa mga at-risk health care workers na naexpose sa sakit. Ito din ay bilang pagsunod sa DOH Department Memorandum 2020-0180.

Magbibigay din ng human resource augmentation ang DOH National at magdedeploy sila ng 19 health personnel sa naturang pasilidad.

Samantala, nagnegatibo naman sa confirmatory test ang 15 samples ng suspected cases sa rehiyon. Ang mga pasyente ay kasalukuyang naka admit iba’t-ibang ospital sa Caraga. (DMNR/PIACaraga)