AgSur LGU showcases IPs’ products during Kaliga-on Festival
By
Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, May 14 (PIA) -- Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,
the local government unit of San Luis, Agusan del Sur led the celebration of
the Kaliga-on Festival with the presence of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who
actively participated in showcasing their locally-made products, rituals, and
ethnic dances, among others.
She
added that this year, this festival becomes more meaningful as the IPs and the
LGU work together to maintain the real essence of this celebration amid the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“In San
Luis, we have the Talaandig, Banwaon, Manobo tribes so we tried to have even a
simple celebration because what's important is that we showcase and preserve
our culture,” added Corvera.
The
lady mayor also highlighted the LGU’s One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) Pasalubong
Store, where different products including the work of the IPs are displayed.
“This
was supposed to be opened last year but because of the pandemic, it was prolonged.
We have an association that was given the opportunity to display their
products, including rattan bags and baskets. This is what we are piloting now,
and the store is open to everyone. With this, we are also inviting all the
small businesses here in San Luis to display their products,” bared Corvera.
The
Kaliga-on Festival is celebrated every 15th day of June. It is a festivity of
thanksgiving and praising the ‘Magbabaya’ for the good harvest, abundant
blessings, and a gift of life. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Caraga’s first monolithic dome now underway
By Vanessa
P. Sanchez
BUTUAN
CITY, May 14 -- Taking one step closer to realizing the establishment of the
first monolithic dome in the region, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga
and the local government unit (LGU) of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur conducted
a groundbreaking on May 7 this year.
The
groundbreaking signals the official start of the construction of the monolithic
dome cold storage facility in the said town.
Cold
storage is a facility that is like a large refrigerator that helps in keeping
the freshness of the perishable goods such as vegetables and fruits by slowing
down the deterioration process which prolongs its shelf life for several weeks
and thus decreasing losses.
The
monolithic dome cold storage and packing facility is an air-tight,
super-insulated, and disaster-resistant structure that offers absolute
protection against calamity.
It will
be constructed on a 1,000 square meter land area in Barangay 1 in the town of
San Francisco.
The
project is under the DA-Caraga’s High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).
It costs P25,000,000.00 with P20,000,000.00 funded by the DA-Caraga and
P5,000,000.00 as the LGU of San Francisco’s counterpart.
Municipal
Mayor Solomon Rufila said he is thankful that the efforts of the LGU to help
uplift the lives of the farmers are paying off. He said he is
thankful for the cold storage project which the farmers of the town would
really benefit from.
On the
other hand, DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director Nicandro M. Navia, Jr. said
that San Francisco is a strategic area for the project and that hopefully, the
facility will really aid the farmers as well as the advancement of the
agriculture sector. (DA 13–RAFIS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Online caravan on updated PDP to be launched in Caraga
By Rhea
Mae C. Mendez
BUTUAN
CITY, May 14 (PIA) -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
will conduct the Caraga leg of the virtual caravan on the updated Philippine
Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 on May 18, 2021, via Zoom teleconference and
Facebook Live to strengthen stakeholder engagement and gain wider support for
the PDP.
The
updated PDP 2017-2022 is anchored on the 0+10 Socioeconomic Agenda of the
Duterte Administration and the first medium-term plan geared towards the
AmBisyon Natin 2040, which envisions a middle-class Philippines with a life for
all that is “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag.”
This
employs a whole-of-society approach for economic recovery amidst the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic while staying on course in
achieving the Filipino dream.
Participating
Caraganons are to gain awareness on how the updated PDP 2017-2022, as a
national blueprint for development, takes into account both the medium-term
needs and the long-term aspirations of the Filipinos. The event hopes for
participants to realize that each one can do something purposeful and
contribute solutions to the challenges that we face in attaining our
aspirations. Hence, the Caravan is dubbed, “Tayo Na, Bumangon Para sa
AmBisyon,” which is a call to action – let’s get up and go for our ambition.
No less
than Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua will grace the
event to give the rationale of conducting the caravan. The strategies embodied
in the updated PDP 2017-2022 will be discussed by NEDA Undersecretary for
Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon. Two reactors from Caraga will share
their thoughts on the PDP and how said Plan has helped in providing direction
in their respective sectors. After which, the participants will be asked to
express their support for the Updated PDP and AmBisyon Natin 2040 by committing
positive actions in their respective sectors.
For Caraganons who are interested to participate in the Caravan, please register at https://forms.gle/nsXK27JPUQif5Swr6 and follow the NEDA Caraga Facebook Page www.facebook.com/neda13caraga for updates. The NEDA would like to encourage each Caraganon to pause and reflect: “Ano ang taya ko para sa AmBisyon?” (NEDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
DTI spearheads LPCC
consultative meeting in Siargao
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 14 -- The provincial office of the Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) in Surigao del Norte through its Consumer Protection
Unit recently spearheaded the conduct of the Local Price Coordinating Council
(LPCC) Consultative Meeting in Dapa and General Luna town in Siargao Island.
DTI
Provincial Director Arnold Faelnar said that in the interest of public service,
and in the light of the implementation of suggested retail prices (SRPs) of
Basic Needs and Prime Commodities (BNPCs), all local government units (LGUs)
are strongly encouraged to strengthen and amplify their Local Price
Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) to address or forestall and to monitor
exorbitant, excessive and unreasonable price increases of essential and prime
commodities. Such action is urgent considering the magnitude and the depth of
harsh impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the
country.
He said
that both municipalities have expressed their commitment on reactivating their
LPCCs, creation of monitoring task force, enforcement of regular monitoring and
consistent coordination with the implementing agencies (IAs) to establish
harmonious execution of power and functions of the LPCCs.
“The
above activities recently conducted in Siargao Island municipalities generally
aimed to strengthen partner government agencies, stakeholders and citizen-based
organizations in efforts to shield consumers from possible price hikes and
profiteering," said Faelnar. (DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)