Tandag City provides
aid to 34 families hit by TS Auring
By Nida
Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 27 (PIA) -- Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel led
on Thursday the distribution of assistance to 34 families at the City Hall
Motorpool, which houses were reportedly damaged due to heavy rains and gusty
winds brought by Tropical Storm Auring last week.
Based
on the report, each family received P10,000.00 as cash assistance from the city
government.
Aside
from the financial assistance, the beneficiaries also received
kitchenwares/utensils, vitamins, t-shirts, facemasks, and food packs from the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga.
In his
online post, Vicente Minguillan of Barangay Bungtod, one of the beneficiaries,
extended his appreciation to Mayor Pimentel for the immediate assistance given
to them.
On Feb.
24, around 1,060 families from Barangay San Agustin Sur also received food
packs in collaboration with the city government, Vonric Event Services, and the
Office of Sen. Bong Go.
Meanwhile,
290 family-residents of Purok Cabugan, and 121 family-residents of Purok
Moonglow, all in Barangay Bag-ong Lungsod also received the food packs from the
city government.
During
the relief distribution, the City Health Office also conducted an information
education campaign on leptospirosis prophylaxis post-exposure and COVID-19
vaccination, following the minimum health standard. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Dinagat cops plant
300 seedlings as part of 'Plant-A-Tree' program
SAN
JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Feb. 27 -- The personnel of the Police Provincial Office
(PPO) in Dinagat Islands recently conducted a tree-planting program at Sitio
Iring-iring, Barangay Wilson, San Jose, this province.
A total
of 300 fruit-bearing seedlings were planted as part of their advocacy in
environmental protection and preservation and exemplifying one of their core
values of “Makakalikasan” and adopt a program dubbed as “PLANT-A-TREE PROGRAM:
THE PNP’s New Normal of Disaster Preparedness and Response.”
The
activity served as the contribution of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in
promoting environmental protection and preservation and the new normal of
disaster management and to showcase the importance of promoting environmental
conservation in Dinagat Islands.
This
also acknowledges the importance of cooperation in order to achieve the goals
of PNP Chief PGen. Debold M. Sinas in the protection and preservation of the
environment and natural resources.
Dinagat
Islands Police Provincial Director PCol. Germano P. Mallari emphasized that
through the conduct of the tree planting activities, the provincial office will
be able to promote the preservation of the environment as it is equivalent to
the protection of human life. (PPO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
Bridging knowledge,
closing the gap: IPs in agriculture
By Kent Warren H. Fugoso
Leaning
towards development for the ancestral domains of the Indigenous Cultural
Communities (ICCs) / Indigenous Peoples (IPs), the Department of Agriculture
(DA) – Caraga through the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K),
mobilizes its efforts in creating a livelihood and agricultural productivity
program that will touch into four components such as Social Preparation,
Production and Livelihood, Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development, and
Project Management. The project will also provide capacity building that will
link the IP community to credit facilities and crop insurance. All of these
will be catered through the targeted Community Needs-Assessments (CNA).
‘No One
Left Behind’
The
4Ks, which commenced last 2020, is intended for the IPs to throw light on norms
that they are the “left behind” sectors in the society. The year 2020 has an
allocated budget of P13.7 million while 2021 has P14.9 million.
“Our
IPs have massive spaces and lands for agricultural products but it is not
productive. This is the reason why this initiative is lodge under the DA, of
course in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
to safeguard the customs, traditions, values, beliefs, and interest of the
communities,” said Edelmira Luminarias, DA – Caraga 4K Program Focal Person.
Before
the implementation of the project, a joint special order with the DA and NCIP
was established to work hand-in-hand.
‘Checking
the validity’
The
project will cater to IP farmers and fisherfolk of recognized Indigenous
Political Structure (IPS) by the NCIP, who has a Certificate of Ancestral
Domain Title (CADT), Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CALT), and
Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claims (CADC). In addition, they should also be
registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
“The
reason, why we need to look thoroughly at the recognized members of the IPS, is
because there are some who are claiming to be a member of an IP community and
recognized by the NCIP so that they can avail of the benefits. They must be
registered in the RSBSA so that they will be insured under the Philippine Crop
Insurance Corporation (PCIC),” Luminarias said.
‘Benefits
from the component’
The 4Ks
anchor its benefits from four different components allotting different scope of
interventions. For the Social Preparation, the scope of interventions includes
validation of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan
(ADSDPP), Community Needs Assessment, Registration of IP Farmers to RSBSA,
Registration of farmers to the PCIC, and identifying the specific interventions
for capability building and conduct of training.
After
determining the social preparations, component two focuses on the provision of
support services and livelihood assistance. Production of support services
includes quality seeds, organic and inorganic fertilizers, pre-and-post harvest
equipment, tools and machinery, breeder animals to name a few. Component two also
targets to improve access of technology through the conduct of technology
demonstration projects as a show window of technology through approaches like
‘learning by doing’ and ‘to-see-is to-believe’ for easy adoption of technology.
Component
three will focus on the marketing assistance and enterprise development which
is in coordination with DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division as
key players. Technical assistance and literacy training take place to access
finance, markets, services, and partnerships outside the ancestral domains.
This component also aims to match the market and create linkages and a farm
consolidation approach as well as value-adding of their products.
The
last component will be the Project Management implementation, coordination and
provision of logistics are ensured and appropriately conducted. “Consultation
in every Ancestral Domain is necessary so that we can keep up with the
effects of the implementation. We have to hold onto our aim to provide
initiative but in accord with their customs and tradition,” Luminarias
said.
‘Target
communities’
For the
year 2020, DA-4Ks identified 10 recipients of the 4K Program Intervention.
Three IPOs from Agusan del Norte, three from Surigao del Sur, one from Surigao
del Norte, two from Surigao del Norte, and one from Butuan City.
For
2021, as of the latest data, DA-4Ks listed three recipients from Agusan del
Sur. These are IPOs from Rosario, Bunawan, and Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.
“For
the list of recipients, we already incorporated the farm clustering approach so
that these selected recipients will feel better access to resources,
technologies, and markets basing on their specific sectors,” Luminarias
said.
‘Closing
the gap, Opening better opportunities’
The
never-ending story of the IP communities revolves around being deficit in terms
of capital and financial capacity, technical knowledge to produce quality
agricultural products, lack of marketing skills, and lack of confidence. All of
these dilemmas create gaps that hinder these communities to function well in
the agriculture sector.
But as
the saying goes ‘alone we can do so little, together we can do so much,'
there’s always a better chance to change the usual. With their expertise and
historical legacies, bonded with government support and interventions, they
will no longer be the ‘left behind.’ (DA RAFIS-13/PIA Caraga)
DTI conducts price
monitoring in Surigao Norte town
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 27 -- True to its advocacy to protect the
consumers, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte
Consumer Protection Unit recently conducted the Price Monitoring in the
Poblacion area of Claver town.
The
Price Monitoring Team of DTI headed by Provincial Director Elmer M. Natad
together with Trade and Industry Development Specialist Rennel Dalagan, Price
Monitor Staff Roxan Ocho, Anamae Apao and Negosyo Center Claver Staff Melanie
Ogalde conducted price monitoring on five retailers and five hardware/construction
suppliers.
Natad
said the basic necessities and prime commodities under the jurisdiction of DTI
were closely monitored from time to time to prevent unnecessary and uncalled
for increase in suggested retail price.
He said
these items under DTI's BNPC list are composed of processed and manufactured
foods such as: noodles, coffee, soap, salt, sardines, other select canned
goods, among others and specific list of these items can be viewed at DTI’s
website at www.dti.gov.ph.
Manatad
added that letters of inquiry were issued to establishments who deviate using
the SRP or price trends and they will be made to explain in writing how their
price came to be above what was set within five days of notification. (Negosyo
Center Claver, DTI-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Surigao Norte
stakeholders unite vs NPA terrorists’ extortion
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 26 -- Eighteen project engineers and in-charge of
the constructions companies and several personnel of the local government units
(LGUs) within the area of responsibility of the 30th Infantry (Fight On)
Battalion (30IB), Philippine Army attended the first Contractors and Business
Establishments Security Forum held at the 30IB headquarters in Brgy. Mahanub,
Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte on Feb. 19.
The forum,
organized by the Army’s 30IB under the supervision of the 901st Infantry
Brigade, in partnership with several local government units (LGUs) in the
province of Surigao del Norte, was aimed at enhancing the coordinative
mechanism among economic stakeholders, LGUs, and the security sectors by
emphasizing “shared security responsibility” concept.
This is
to ensure that implementation of all government projects and economic
activities are unhampered and uninterrupted as an offshoot to the communist
terrorists' threats and intimidation usually resulting to sabotage and
destruction of company properties particularly those in the remote areas.
Salient
points of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) was presented to the participants in
order to raise awareness on their rights and protection as non-combatants
against all attacks and human rights abuses where most of them already suffered
the cruelty and abuses from these communist terrorists.
The
CARHRIHL was an agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the
National Democratic Front of the Philippines (Communist Party of the
Philippines, New People’s Army CPP-NPA-NDF) to ensure the protection of
civilians against all forms of human rights abuse.
An
information briefing on the concept of shared security responsibility was also
presented by Lt. Col. Ryan Charles G. Callanta, commanding officer of the 30IB,
to the concerned stakeholders (construction companies, communities, LGUs,
Integrated Territorial Defense System (ITDS), and security sectors in which
each component has separate but equally important roles and responsibilities to
ensure that peace and security are maintained and implementation of government
projects within the area will be attained.
In his
message, BGen. George L. Banzon, commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade,
assured the attendees that securing and protecting the entire province’s
economic activities are among the topmost priorities of the entire 901st
Infantry Brigade together with its two infantry battalions and the PNP.
“Extortion
is a lifeblood of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG). If we work together and
stop the extortion scheme of the communist terrorists in Surigao del Norte, it
will be a significant blow to its weakening posture. I, therefore, encouraged
all of us to work together and do our respective part in this specific
endeavor. If we can do this, then we can expect that peace, progress, and
development will take its full throttle in this part of the country. Lastly, I
thanked everyone for giving us your time,” underscored BGen. Banzon. (30IB,
Phil. Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DAR Project ConVERGE
provides abaca production, enterprise skills trainings
By Gil
E. Miranda
BUTUAN
CITY, Feb. 27 -- In an effort to help abaca farmers increase their income, a
total of 868 abaca-farmers were beef up with series of capacity building that
reached up to 35 series of sessions implemented under the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte’s Project Convergence on Value Chain
Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE).
The
participants were composed of some 352 agrarian reform beneficiaries, 516
small-holder farmers, 78 Indigenous People (IPs) consisting of 47 women and 31
males. Of the total count of 868 participants, 488 or 56% are women involved.
PARPO
II Andre B. Atega, CESO V, lauded the performance of the project ConVERGE team
citing the last year 2020 accomplishment that aimed to support the value chain
implementation of the abaca farmer-groups to raise their living standards.
Under
the project, the series of trainings comprised of Abaca Production Technology,
Fiber Craft Trainings and Equipment, Value Addition and Diversification-Abaca
Pulp and Paper, Market and Investment Facilitation, Rural Finance Facilitation
and Ginger production, among others, he said.
Project
Coordinator Annelyn R. Chan of DAR Planning and Monitoring Evaluation Unit
(PMEU) said, that out of 18 trainings targeted last year, the project reached
up to thirty-five trainings or 194% in its performance in advancing the
endeavors of abaca farmer-organizations that could bring positive long-term
results to improve productivity and income.
She
noted that the project ConVERGE was able to deliver last year’s target
trainings despite the government act their restrictions due to coronavirus
disease 2019 pandemic. The project did not cease to provide support to the
abaca farmers.
“The
provision of abaca production technology trainings provided focused on good
agricultural practices in partnership with the PhilFIDA, which coached the ARB
Organizations on how to improve fiber quality attributed to a higher price and
income,” Chan said. (DAR Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Government enlightens
AgNor residents on NPA's deception
KITCHARAO,
Agusan del Norte, Feb. 27 -- To enlighten the residents about the tactics
of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs), the 29th Infantry (Matatag Fighters)
Battalion (29IB) in collaboration with the Kitcharao Municipal Police Station,
Municipal Local Government Unit of Kitcharao, and its Barangay Local Government
Units recently led the conduct of an Information Education Campaign (IEC) in
Brgy. Mahayahay, Sangay and San Roque of Kitcharao, this province.
Under
the IEC, CMO Officer of 29IB, 1st Lieut. Edmar C. Colagong discussed the
Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the Republic Act (RA) No. 11479, a law whose intent
is to prevent, prohibit, and penalize terrorism in the country. He also tackled
the Executive Order No. 70 Series of 2018 (EO 70) which seeks to
institutionalize the Whole-of-Nation Approach. This approach makes possible the
participation of many government agencies and units by harmonizing government
development efforts and services to support, facilitate and pursue the
country’s peace agenda.
PLt.
Allan Rey Daag, Chief of Kitcharao Municipal Police Station discussed RA 10168
otherwise known as the “Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of
2012”. The said law was created to "reinforce the country’s fight against
terrorism by criminalizing the financing of terrorism and related offenses, and
preventing and suppressing the commission of offenses through freezing and
forfeiture of properties or funds while protecting human rights."
During
the IEC, the CNTs' recruitment process was highlighted. The lecture enlightened
the public regarding how these terrorists persuade and deceive their ‘to-be
members’ to join the armed struggle.
According
to Lt. Col Aristotle F. Antonio, Acting Commanding Officer of 29IB, they will
do their best they can, using all the means they have to save their
constituents who have been blinded and fooled by these CNTs. “We will never get
tired, no matter how many IEC assemblies we have to organize so long as we do
not miss the opportunity to reach out to those who have lost their way because
of the duplicitous ways and dangerous lies of the devils disguised as the
CNTs,” he said.
“My
dear fellows, especially the youth, wake up and hearken to the voice which
leads you to that which is right and not the voice that will drag you to a life
of misery. Listen to us and don’t trust the NPA's lies,” Antonio added. (29th
Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Soldiers, CTG clash anew in Surigao del
Norte
By Cpt.
Joash Pramis
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 27 -- The army troops and communist terrorist
group (CTG) clash anew in Sitio Barubangkaw, Barangay Taganito, Claver, Surigao
del Norte, Thursday morning, February 25.
Based
on the report, the encounter ensued between operating troops of 30th Infantry
Battalion (30IB) and members of SYPC2, GF16 under a certain “Jelong” when the soldiers
responded to the reports about the presence of the said armed group in the
area.
The
said firefight lasted for about 10 minutes and resulted in the seizure of one
M14 rifle, assorted magazines, ammunitions, personal belongings, hammocks, and
assorted medicines.
There
was no casualty recorded on both sides while the pursuit operation is still
ongoing.
According
to Lt. Col. Charles Ryan G. Callanta, commanding officer of the 30IB, they
immediately launched the operation when they received the information regarding
the whereabouts of the CTG.
“We are
determined to go after the CTG because we want to ensure the safety and
security of the locals specifically the indigenous peoples. The initial
information revealed that the CTG was monitored for their foraging activity
targeting the IP communities within the area," Lt. Col. Callanta said.
Meanwhile,
BGen. George L. Banzon, commander of the 901st Infantry (Fight’Em) Brigade,
expressed his gratitude to the residents who gave their full trust and untiring
support to the soldiers by giving timely information that led to the successful
operation.
“As we
always say, the information coming from the localities are very vital. The
outcome in the recent incident clearly manifests that we can promptly act on
the arising situation if the community willingly cooperates. Our main objective
is to prevent this armed group from entering the community and disrupting their
lives,” he said.
BGen.
Banzon denounced the CTG for pestering the IP communities. He said that such
was a clear violation and great disrespect on the rights and culture of the
indigenous people.
He,
however, gave the assurance that the operating troops will continue to be
relentless in conducting security operations so that the communities will be
safeguarded from the threat of the CTG who capitalizes violence to pursue their
agenda. (901st Infantry Brigade/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
