Saturday, September 4, 2021

PCOO’s communications academy to break ground this September

MANILA - Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Saturday announced that the construction of the Government Strategic Communications Academy will finally begin this September.

The first state-of-the-art training facility for government media workers and information officers is set to be built within the compound of the Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Secretary Andanar bared that the PCOO project will be breaking ground this month, along with its partner agencies, including the local government of Manolo Fortich, the NBSC, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“The first Government Communications Academy will finally have its groundbreaking ceremony this September. It will focus on teaching communications to our information officers from the barangays to those in the national government agencies,” he said. This would also be open to media workers in the private sector who want to take part in the training programs.

“Training programs include broadcasting and writing, among others. This profession is a vocation. It’s really something that you do because you believe in public service, in informing the people through development communication,” he added.

The GCA was supposed to start construction last year, however funds and other documentary requirements were yet to be complied with until now.

Secretary Andanar said that big-ticket projects under the PCOO would have not been realized without the support of the President. Among these is the Mindanao Media Hub in Davao City, the first government media hub outside of Metro Manila. A Visayas Media Hub will also be constructed with its initial budget already approved.

“We will finally have a Government Communications Academy and this is because of President Rodrigo Duterte, who supports all of our programs,” he said.

He went on to enumerate other initiatives of the PCOO, especially on policy development. The agency is firm on promoting the welfare of media workers in the country and has been one of the partners in pushing for the passage of a Media Workers Welfare bill.

Other policies passed at the legislative branch are the Freedom of Information Bill and the People’s Broadcasting Corporations Bill. ###

Friday, September 3, 2021

Esperanza, Agusan del Sur sustains local economy amid pandemic

MANILA – The local chief executive of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur said on Friday, September 3, that the local economy of the town is alive amid the global health crisis, mainly engaging in farming and agriculture.

In an interview during the Network Briefing News, today hosted by Presidential Communications Sec. Martin M. Andanar, Mayor Leonida Manpatilan said that farming and agriculture keep them on track in sustaining the local economy as the entire nation is still grappling against COVID-19.

“Esperanza is engaged in farming and cultivated agriculture and forest land considering that their major crops are rice and corn. We also have a plantation of rubber, fruits, coffee, and there is also livestock," she shared.

Among major agricultural crops being cultivated there are bananas, rice, and corn which are being delivered to Davao City, Cagayan De Oro City, and even in Metro Manila via vessels.

There are also direct buyers who visit the town during harvest time.

Established in 1521, Esperanza is one of the oldest towns in the province. It is a first-class municipality known as the "Tilapia Capital of the Province" and "The Home of Cultural Diversity". 

‘Culture of Indigenous Tribe’

During the interview, Sec. Andanar also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to talk with fellow government workers about the indigenous cultural communities, wherein Esperanza town has three tribal groups: Higaunon, Manobo, and Banuaon.

“Sa ating diskusyon sa LGU officials kung saan naroon ang ating indigenous cultural communities ay nakikita ko na napakarami pang matututunan ng mga Pilipino sa inyong mga katutubo. [And in some of our discussions with LGU officials where  the indigenous cultural communities are located, I see that Filipinos can learn a lot more from indigenous people,” the PCOO chief said.

Mayor Manpatilan shared that Esperanza is rich in culture as she is advocating to promote and conserve the culture of indigenous tribes in her jurisdiction.

“Before the pandemic, we have the Nalangdang Festival wherein all the three tribes will meet together to have festivities where they can show their talents and the culture of their individual tribes,” she said. 

COVID-19 Response

As of now, 37% of the target priority group of the town have been vaccinated, and the municipal health team will begin vaccination for the A4 group or economic frontliners this week, according to Mayor Manpatilan.

The local chief executive expressed her thanks to the national government for its continuing assistance to Esperanza LGU, most especially in its COVID-19 response.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa malaking tulong ng ating Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte. In the midst of the pandemic, makikita natin ang kanyang support, sa kabila ng buong bansa ay naghihirap pero mararamdaman natin kung ano nga ba iyong tulong galing sa nasyonal, [I am grateful for the great help of our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. In the midst of the pandemic, we can see his support, despite the fact that the whole country is suffering, we can feel the assistance of the national government],” she said.

She hopes that the Malaybalay Bukidnon Road will be finished before the end of President Duterte’s term.

“Sana matapos na yung access roads para magaan yung biyahe at paglalakbay, lalo na sa pag-transport ng farm products namin, [Hopefully, the access roads will be finished to make trips easier, especially for the transportation of our farm products],” she concluded.

Friday, September 3, 2021

ANDANAR GRATEFUL FOR PRIVATE MEDIA PARTNERSHIP: HUWAG NATING MALIITIN ANG MEDIA

MANILA - The government’s partnership with private media emphasized the greater role of information dissemination efforts in saving lives during this pandemic, according to Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Adanar on Friday.

“Limitado po ang government media. Pero dahil sa crisis communications policy natin na Laging Handa ay nagawa po nating maiparating at maturuan ang ating mga kakabayan na kailangan mag-mask, maghugas ng kamay, at mag-physical distancing [The government media has limited reach but with our crisis communications policy, Laging Handa, we are able to reach more people and remind them to mask up, wash their hands, and observe physical distancing],” he said during an interview during the National Press Club’s Report to the Nation Media Forum.

As an initiative to reach more audiences and to deliver timely news on the COVID-19 situation of the country, the PCOO partnered with the NPC and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in 2020, allowing government programs to be aired on the platforms of the private media partners, and relay important messages of the government.

Secretary Andanar said that media workers should not be undervalued, considering that in times of crisis they are among essential workers toiling to provide information to the public.

“Just imagine kung wala yung KBP. Siguro marami namatay dahil hindi natin alam yung new normal. Wag nating mamaliitin ang media kasi kung kailangan niyo ng balita kami ang hahanapin niyo [Just imagine if we didn’t have the KBP. More people would have died because they did not know the new normal. Let’s not underestimate the media because when you need news, you will look for us],” he said.

The PCOO chief also thanked the NPC and the KBP for their continued support of the government and for “carrying the torch of press freedom”.

“Napakalaking tulong ng National Press Club at KBP sa ating gobyerno to remind us kung saan nagkamali at kung ano yung dapat baguhin. I believe that freedom of the press should really be respected, and should really be fostered [The National Press Club and KBP helps to remind us of our missteps and what else needs to be changed. I believe that freedom of the press should really be respected, and should really be fostered],” he said.

Friday, September 3, 2021

SECRETARY ANDANAR: PCOO ENGAGEMENT IN POLICYMAKING EXPANDED PROMOTION OF PH DEMOCRACY

MANILA - Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday said that the agency’s engagement in policy development is their responsibility and another means of further promoting democracy in the country.

“We dipped our finger in policymaking because we believe that it is our responsibility to fight for our advocacy as a communication department. And for me, as a technocrat, that is my advocacy to leave something that is worthy for the Filipino people,” he said in an interview, hopeful that the lawmakers will approve PCOO’s budget proposal for the next year.

He said that there is no reason for the legislative body not to approve their budget, noting that they are undertaking various projects alongside other government agencies.

Secretary Andanar highlighted the policies and reforms that the PCOO has implemented that transformed the way information is delivered to the public, likewise policies that put stress on protecting the welfare of media workers.

Among institutional reforms made during this administration is the creation of the national communications policy, which harmonized the content and messaging of government media. The said policy also gave birth to PCOO’s crisis communications plan Laging Handa.

More government media facilities are also being built outside of Metro Manila, as part of its efforts to strengthen regional reporting. These projects include the Mindanao Media hub, Visayas Media Hub, Government Communication Academy, and the construction of new regional offices of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

The PCOO is also spearheading the implementation of the Freedom of Information Program and the promotion of transparency among offices in the Executive Branch. They are also pushing for the FOI Law that will expand its reach to all branches of government.

“These are ideas we thought about, we fought for because we are seeing these as strategies that will improve our communications channels,” he said.

Secretary Andanar also highlighted the creation of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), which greatly helped in facilitating the decision on the infamous Maguindanao Massacre case that killed over 30 journalists and media workers.

The said decision was even pointed out by the UN as significant progress of the Philippines in protecting journalists.

UNESCO’s 2020 Director-General Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity showed that “significant progress was made” by the country in the case of the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre, where the court convicted 43 individuals behind the attack.

According to Secretary Andanar, there is also a pending bill filed on the creation of a People’s Broadcasting Corporation that will encompass radio and television broadcasting.

Aside from these, the Media Workers Bill is already pending in the Senate. The Bill aims to ensure that media workers shall be paid the basic compensation package that will include adequate compensation for hazardous media coverages and guarantees the security of tenure.

“When we exit this [office], I believe that PCOO will be standing up, will be rising, and will be walking with their heads high because this administration made so much improvement for our department and our way of working,” he added.

Friday, September 3, 2021

AgSur LCE highlights IPs’ culture in Esperanza

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – As she introduced the municipality of Esperanza in the province of Agusan del Sur and its potential tourist spots during the Network Briefing News hosted by Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Friday, Mayor Leonida Manpatilan also highlighted the rich culture and tradition of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

The lady mayor said that the municipality has three IP tribes, namely the Higaonon, Manobo and Banwaon. "They are the first inhabitants of this municipality. We are also the hometown of the Golden Tara, which is now secured in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. It was found here in the creek of Esperanza,” she said.

“In terms of the culture of the tribes, we are really rich in culture. As a Higaonon myself, I have been willing and very eager to promote and conserve the culture of the tribe considering that we are still very unique. Years before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Higaonon, Manobo and Banwaon tribes usually gather every year to celebrate the Nalandang Festival, wherein these three tribes showcase their talents and the culture of its individual tribes," Manpatilan added.

When asked about the status of its local economy in the municipality, Manpatilan said that Esperanza is engaged in farming and cultivating agriculture and forestland, considering that the major crops are rice and corn; and there are plantations of rubber, as well as individual planters of rubber, fruits, coffee, and livestock.

“Because we are landlocked, we have fish pens with tilapia as our one town, one product (OTOP). The bananas reach Manila because it is brought to the Nasipit port in Agusan del Norte province, and our corn and rice also reach Davao and Cagayan de Oro City,” Manpatilan added.

Also, when it comes to peace and order situation, Mayor Manpatilan said that of the 19 identified barangays as New People’s Army (NPA)-infiltrated areas, they are already cleared last year and are included in the list to receive the benefits from the ELCAC (Ending Local Communists Armed Conflict) funds.

“We have not totally gotten rid of insurgency, but there are already 19 identified infiltrated barangays declared as cleared and they will receive due benefits from the ELCAC funds. There are still splinters left in the mountains because Esperanza has a wide expanse of mountains. The government also continues to intensify the campaign against insurgency through a whole-of-nation approach,” Manpatilan said.  

Manpatilan expressed her gratitude to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his administration for all the support they have extended to the different LGUs including Esperanza amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She also asked the national government to help fast-track the accessibility of the Malaybalay road to Bukinon from Esperanza, so farmers and local entrepreneurs in the area could easily mobilize and bring their products to different markets. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

 

Friday, September 3, 2021

AgSur LGU residents responsive of government’s vaccination program

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – The local residents in the municipality of Esperanza in the province of Agusan del Sur have been receptive of the government’s vaccination program, according to Mayor Leonida Manpatilan during the Network Briefing News hosted by Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Friday.

“The locals in the municipality are willing to receive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines to protect them from the spread of the deadly virus. So far, all the vaccines which were delivered to the municipality have already been consumed, and vaccination of eligible priority A4 is ongoing,” said Mayor Manpatilan.

The lady mayor said that among the target priority groups, the municipality had already vaccinated 37%.

As the municipality is mostly composed of Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Manpatilan revealed that the Higaonons and the rest of the tribes are well informed by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) in their barangay about the importance of the vaccines and encouraged them to get vaccinated to ensure the protection of the whole IP community.

“All barangay officials and BHERTs are already vaccinated because they are part of the A1 and A2 priority groups. We are thankful for their active support and cooperation for the fulfillment of our goal in achieving herd immunity in our country,” Manpatilan said.

Esperanza is situated along the southern part of Caraga region, 45 kilometers northeast of the municipality of Prosperidad, the capital of Agusan del Sur. It is 58 kilometers south from Butuan City and bounded in the north by Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, and a portion of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur; in the south by San Luis; in the west by the province of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental; and in the east by Bayugan. 

“We have 47 barangays and we can be reached by buses, passenger jeeps, and service vehicles,” added Manpatilan. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

 

Thursday, September 2, 2021

BAUNGON, BUKIDNON ATTRACTS MORE INVESTORS

MANILA - The municipality of Baungon, Bukidnon is slowly opening up to more investors, as more people coming from the highly urbanized city of Cagayan de Oro are contemplating on moving back to less crowded communities, Mayor Gio Dahino said on Thursday.

“It is a very exciting time for us tsaka marami-raming trabaho na rin ang nabibigay sa ating mga kababayan sa Baungon [It is a very exciting time for us and we have provided more jobs for our people here in Baungon],” he said during the Netwrok Briefing News with host Presidential Secretary Martin Andanar.

Baungon is a fourth-class municipality mainly run by its agri-industrial economy.

“Yung sa munisipyo po natin ngayon ay lumaki’t lumaki na ang industriya natin. Sa ngayon may poultry, piggery at dalawang flour processing plants tayo. May pineapple plantation tayo ng Dole at Del Monte, mayroong din yung corn at tsaka banana plantations natin [Our industry here is growing. Right now we have poultry and piggery farms. We also have two flour processing plants operating in our municipality. We have pineapple plantations operated by Dole and Del Monte, as well as corn and banana plantations,” Mayor Dahino said.

“The good news is pumapasok na po ang ibang industries katulad ng First Gen Hydro Power Plant. This is a 34-megawatt power plant na nakikita nating mag-function by 2025 [The good news is more industries are coming to our municipality just like the First Gen Hydro PowerPlant. This is a 34-megawatt power plant that we are hoping to function by 2025],” he added.

He also mentioned other long-term plans of the local government including the anticipated residential and commercial projects with private partners.

According to Mayor Dahino, the value of land there is now drastically increasing every year, as more industries are moving up to their area, along with the construction of public infrastructures easing connectivity between Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

“If you buy a piece of land here, expect that its value will increase by 20-30% in a year, especially near highways because Baungon is a beneficiary of Build, Build, Build,” he said.

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Army hails opening of new FMR in Butuan City

BUTUAN CITY --  The 402nd Infantry “Stingers” Brigade (402Bde), Philippine Army on Tuesday participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Barangay Camayahan, this city.

The activity was led by the Assistant Secretary for Public Safety and Security Alexander L. Macario of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada of Butuan City; and Regional Director Lilibeth Famacion of DILG Caraga. 

Col. Adonis Ariel G. Orio, the Commander of 402Bde, also witnessed the formal opening of the new road project. The barangay officials of Camayahan, together with community leaders, Indigenous People leaders, and representatives from the different people’s organizations were also present during the ceremony.

“The FMR will provide the residents of Barangay Camayahan a direct link to the market and trading centers in Butuan City and to the other towns in Agusan del Norte. The road is vital to the farmers in the area,” Col. Orio said.

Barangay Camayahan is among the farming communities in Butuan City where farmers are engaged in the production of palay, corn, vegetables, and varieties of high-value crops. Around 350 families from Barangay Camayahan will directly benefit from the road project.

The new FMR, with a length of 1,043 meters has a total budget of PHP20 million under the Local Government Support Fund – Support to Barangay Development Program LGSF-SBDP. The said project is among the 13 FMRs that will be implemented in 14 barangays of Butuan City under the LGSF-SBDP with other projects such as two (2) school buildings, six (6) water and sanitation projects, one (1) health station, and one (1) electrification project.

These SBDP projects are manifestations of the sincerity and commitment of the government to bring development to communities affected by armed conflicts caused by the presence of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG). These projects are the product of the convergence of efforts of government agencies and other stakeholders under the Whole-of-Nation approach of the administration of Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“Far-flung communities have suffered enough from the terroristic activities of the CTGs for years. The conflicts caused by these insurgents also hindered government development initiatives such as roads and other important infrastructures,” Col. Orio said.

The 402Bde, especially the operating units under its command in Butuan City and the rest of Caraga Region will work hand-in-hand with its partner agencies to fully implement SBDP projects that are essential to the lives of the people in communities, he added.

“The different operating units of the 402Bde will work with your leaders and other community stakeholders to realize the completion of SBDP projects. Together, we can defeat the evils of insurgency brought by the CTGs. Our unified efforts will bring in sustainable development and lasting peace, not only in Barangay Camayahan but also to the other communities in Butuan City and the rest of Caraga Region,” Col. Orio said. (Cpt. Jonald D. Romorosa, CMO Officer, 402^nd Infantry Brigade/PIA Agusan del Norte)

 

Thursday, September 2, 2021

AgSur tightens health protocols as COVID-19 cases surge

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – With the high number of cases recorded in the province of Agusan del Sur, the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force led by Governor Santiago Cane, Jr., has tightened the implementation and monitoring of the health protocols to prevent the transmission of the dreadful coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“On August 25, I called for a provincial IATF meeting, and after reviewing the data, we decided to elevate the quarantine classification from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) because of the increase in cases,” said Governor Cane.

The official added that in the month of August, the cases in Agusan del Sur reached almost 1,000 based on RT-PCR results; its quarantine and isolation areas, private and government hospitals were being filled up and have zero available COVID-19 beds.

“With this, I issued an executive order placing Agusan del Sur under MECQ which took effect on August 27 until September 11, 2021 with specific orders for the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and all mayors and barangay officials to implement the provisions of Executive Order No. 21,” Cane added.

The official also recalled that last June, the national IATF placed Agusan del Sur under MECQ, and in July it was placed under GCQ, which somehow made people relaxed while in August, that was when the daily cases started to rise. 

“If the cases go down, we might revert back to GCQ or continue with MECQ, or worse, ECQ if we cannot stop the increase in cases despite the MECQ protocols we are implementing. The national IATF announced that for August we should be under GCQ but locally we decided otherwise because we can not put the province under GCQ because of the rising cases,” said Cane. 

Cane also expressed his appreciation to the Department of Health (DOH). “The DOH has been doing a very good job to protect our people in the country. I really appreciate their efforts in Caraga region and I hope they stay focused in protecting the people in the communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the vaccination roll-out, Cane revealed that as of August 27, the province had a total of 58,856 people fully vaccinated; in the A1 group, 98.24% have been fully vaccinated, with a targeted population of 14,716 while 13,248 or 90% have had the first dose.

“For the A2 group, 49,009 is the target population and 18,356 or 37.45% have had their first dose and 21,651 or 44.18% have had their second dose. For the A3 group, the target population is at 43,384 and those who’ve had their first dose is 19, 037or 43.88%; fully vaccinated is at 37,617 or 86.71%. For the A4 group, we have a targeted population of 220,000 and 6,541 or 2.97% had their first dose already and only 5 are fully vaccinated," he said.

"We have no specific program to incentivize people to get vaccinated because your health is very important to have a healthy community; if we incentivize this, it’s like only the government is interested in their good health; the interest for good health should emanate from each and every individual,” added Cane. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

 

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Andanar hopes for continuity of government media reforms, institutionalization of legacy campaign

MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Thursday said that he is hopeful that succeeding leaders of the country will adopt the reforms made under PCOO and its attached agencies.

Secretary Andanar was discussing over a radio interview on DXAZ FM Kidapawan City’s morning program the accomplishments of the PCOO which included technological changes that allowed government messages to become more accessible to the public.

He further stressed that communications campaigns such as the Duterte Legacy information drive should be institutionalized.

“Sana itong ganitong klaseng legacy campaign ay ma-adopt ng susunod ng administrasyon, kumbaga this should be institutionalized because ito naman ay responsibilidad ng gobyerno ang i-report ang lahat ng mga nagawa ng pamahalaan [I am hoping that this kind of legacy campaign will be adopted by the next administration and this should be institutionalized because it’s the responsibility of the government to report their accomplishments],” he said.

The PCOO chief said that this is one way to promote transparency, as it openly tells the public where the taxes they are paying are being spent.

“Importante nga from those reports you can have a sound judgement on how to perhaps measure the achievement of the government sa iyang mga promises o sa iyang mga saad atong 2016 [It is important that from those reports you can have a sound judgement on how to perhaps measure the achievement of the government, especially on fulfilling of promises that were made in 2016],” he added.

8 million Filipinos reached online

Secretary Andanar also mentioned that upgrading the capacity of the PCOO and its attached agencies in terms of public information drive allowed them to reach at least 8 million Filipinos online.

“Mayroon tayong ginawang technological introductions and improvements sa ating mga government communication agencies, gaya ng pagpapalakas ng ating mga social media platforms ng PTV, PCOO, RTVM, PIA, at Radyo Pilipinas. ‘Pag pinagsama-sama mo ito ay mayroong halos 8 million followers tayo [We made technological introductions and improvement in our government communication agencies, such as utilizing the social media platforms of PTV, PCOO, RTVM, PIA, and Radyo Pilipinas. We are able to reach almost 8 million followers, if we sum up all these platforms together],” he said.

As of writing there are 2,620,637 followers in PCOO’s official Facebook page; 214,150 followers for PIA Central office; 292,094 for RTVM; 577,689 on Radyo Pilipinas; 4,382,246 for PTV-4; 289,927 for PNA; and 65,117 of the Bureau of Communication Services. These do not include other regional and provincial counterparts of the agencies.

Secretary Andanar stressed that this is part of the formed national communications policy that not only increased the presence of the government in the public’s eyes but also harmonized the flow of information much needed by the people.

“Nagkaroon po ng Integrated News Team, meaning pinagsama natin ang lahat ng mga platforms of the government. Nasa iisang direksyon lang po ang lakad natin sa government communication [We have an Integrated News Team, meaning we harmonized the platforms of government and we are walking in the same direction ],” he said.

Thursday, September 2, 2021

PSA holds Data Dissemination Forum on Population Counts in SurSur

By: Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)- Surigao del Sur Provincial Office spearheaded recently the Provincial Data Dissemination Forum on Population Counts, this city.

PSA Supervising Specialist Marito Elisan, in his presentation, discussed the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (CPH), which aims to provide the government planners, policymakers, and administrators with population and housing data on which to base their social and economic development plans, policies, and programs.

PSA Chief Statistical Specialist Ruel Dres said the data have already been approved and declared as official by virtue of Proclamation No. 1179 signed by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte last July 6 of the current year.

The enumeration of the 2020 Census of population and housing was conducted by PSA from September 1, 2020 to December 3, 2020 with May 1, 2020, as reference date, Dres said.

Based on the data presented, the total population of the Philippines reached 109, 035, 343.

Caraga Region has 2,804,788 total population, larger by 208,000 than the 2015 population, 376,000 larger than the 2010 population.

The region is composed of the five provinces and one Highly-Urbanized City as follows:

·     Agusan del Norte (387,503)
·     Butuan City (372,910)
·     Agusan del Sur (739,367),
·     Dinagat Islands (128,117),
·     Surigao del Norte (534,636), and
·     Surigao del Sur (642,255).

Surigao del Sur's total population has been recorded, larger by 50,000 than the 2015 population, according to Dres.

Surigao City is the top populous city in the region with 171,107, followed by Bayugan City with 109,499, Bislig City with 99,290, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur with 88,321, and San Francisco, Agusan del Sur with 80,760.

While two towns in Surigao del Sur are included in Caraga's 10 least populous cities/municipalities, Bayabas was ranked as 5th with 8,979, and Carmen town ranked as 10th with 11,720.

Barangay Mangagoy in Bislig City was ranked as the most populous barangay in the Caraga region with 30,541.

The said forum was participated by the City and Municipal Planning Officers and some representatives from the office of the City/Municipal Registrar, and other stakeholders, and selected media partners. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Consolacion, Cebu targets herd immunity by November 2021

MANILA - The municipal government of Consolacion in Cebu is targeting to reach herd immunity among its constituents before Christmas, Mayor Joyjoy Alegado bared on Wednesday during the Network Briefing News.

“Actually our team really has a target of November in reaching herd immunity with 2,000 jabs per day. If we could really achieve that we will be able to reach herd immunity before Christmas,” he told Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar.

To be able to attain this, the local government is already looking for more strategies to make the vaccine accessible to the people, noting that the number of people who are coming to the jab sites is dropping.

According to Mayor Alegado, they are studying the possibility of replicating the drive-thru vaccination sites currently done in Metro Manila. He also cited the ‘Bakuna Nights’ strategy for the benefit of the working class. He added that they will be starting with their barangay rollout this week.

“Maybe people do not want to travel anymore so we will be the ones going to the barangays and we will also be doing house-to-house vaccination among those who are bedridden individuals including their families,” he said.

He said that the said barangay and house-to-house rollout will be part of their information drive as well, since vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge for the LGU.

Mayor Alegado said that they are planning to incentivize the vaccination program in order to encourage other residents to get vaccinated.

We’re almost finished with those who have registered and that is still a meager amount, and we really need to add more people to get the jabs. With that, we are hoping that our numbers of vaccinated individuals will increase,” he said.

The local chief executive also expressed his gratitude to the national government for assisting their town during the pandemic and extending the programs and projects of President Duterte, especially the Build, Build, Build.

“We are very grateful here in Consolacion for all that our President has done for our country, most especially in this time of the pandemic. I know it’s not easy to handle such a huge problem being experienced by the whole world. But in spite that we were still able to save lives and more importantly, the economy is still alive,” he said

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

PCOO’s Freedom of Information asserts support President Duterte’s anti-corruption vow

MANILA – Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Wednesday affirmed the commitment of the Duterte administration in fighting corruption in government, which is supported by the agency’s Freedom of Information (FOI).

In his daily engagement with provincial media, Secretary Andanar had the chance to discuss on 103.9 iFM Baguio’s I sa Umaga program the achievements of the current administration which are in line with the promises made by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Anti-corruption is one of the top agendas of the President that is gaining ground through various policies implemented by the national government, including the implementation of the FOI and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

“In terms of the anti-corruption bid, many oligarchs that were publicly named by the President were forced to pay their overdue taxes. There were also government officials and employees that were dismissed for engaging in fraudulent activities. We are able to support these through the creation of the Freedom of Information and the strengthened Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).” Secretary Andanar said.

The Executive Order No. 2 which operationalizes Freedom of Information in the executive branch was signed by the President on July 23, 2016. This policy has further promoted transparency as it allows full public disclosure of government transactions involving public interest.

PCOO serves as the coordinator of all government agencies to ensure that the FOI Program is properly implemented. To date there are over 70,000 requests logged in the e-FOI platform from 530 government agencies across the country, including local government units (LGUS).

President Duterte is known for publicly dropping the names of government officials that are allegedly involved in corruption, even including those who have supported him in his leadership.

Earlier, he also warned businesses who still had liabilities with the government, such as tobacco conglomerate Mighty Corporation which availed of a tax settlement, and Philippine Airlines (PAL) which also settled its P6-billion unpaid air navigational charges to the government in 2017. ###

 

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Groundbreaking sa kalsada sa Barangay Sangay ug Guinabsan sa AgNor gihimo

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN -- Gilusad niadtong Agosto 26 ang Upgrading o Improvement sa Farm-to-Market Road sa Barangay Sangay ug Barangay Guinabsan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte sa usa ka seremonya nga gipangunahan nila ni Gobernador Dale B. Corvera ug Kongresista Angel Amante-Matba. 

Gawas niini, ongoing gihapon sa probinsya ang Php118 milyones nga upgrading/improvement sa Culit-Pag-ao-Jaguimitan Provincial Road sa Nasipit, proyekto nga gisugdan ni kanhi Gob. Amante-Matba nga kongresista sa iduhang distrito sa probinysa na karon. 

Ang mga proyekto sa Guinabsan ug Sangay kabahin sa gipundohan ubos sa Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) - Support to Barangay Development Program alang sa fiscal year 2021 nga nagkantidad og Php20 Milyones matag barangay ubos sa National Task Force-End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Sa 167 ka barangay sa Agusan del Norte, 33 na-identify ug gideklara na nga “insurgency cleared barangays” nga apil sa mga matagaan og Php20 milyones nga pundo ug apil ang Barangay Sangay ug Guinabsan niini.

Sa iyang mensahe, gipadayag ni Gob. Corvera ang iyang kalipay nga gideklara ang mga barangay sa Sangay ug Guinabsan nga “insurgency cleared” na.

Iyang dugang nga sunod sa maong deklarasyon mahimong hugot pa ang panaghiusa sa mga local ug nasudnong ahensya pagpadangat og mga serbisyo. 

Pasabot sa gobernador nga kapin sa 50 ka tuig na ang problema sa insurhensiya sa nasud ug iyang nakita nga ubay-ubay na sa mga barangay ang nahimong “insurgency cleared” dala sa hiniusang pagpadangat sa lokal ug nasudnong ahensya og mga serbisyo ubos sa “whole of nation approach” nga gimando ubos sa Executive Order No. 70 sa kasamtangang administrasyon. 

“Adunay Executive Order No. 70 (diin) ang tanan nga ahensya sa gobyerno, naghiusa ug nag deliver og mga services sa mga kabarangayan mao nga karon mga kaigsuonan makita ninyo nga naa gyod ang gobyernno kanunay naghatag og serbisyo kaninyo,” sumala sa gobernador.

Sa ilang bahin, mapasalamaton kaayo Kapitan Roldan Dalagan sa Sangay ug si Kapitan Mariano Galinato sa Guinabsan maong proyekto.

“Nalipay gyod kaayo mi nga niabot ang panahon nga dugay ng pangandoy sa mga tao, dili lang kami nga mga barangay opisyal. Dako kaayao among kalipay, dili matukib gyud,” sumala pa ni Kapitan Dalagan.

Sumala ni Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion sa Department of Interior and Local Government [DILG]-Caraga nga maoy nagpahiluna sa maong proyekto sa bahin sa nasudnong buhatan mahuman sulod sa 115 ka adlaw human kini sugdi karong tuiga.

Mitambong usab sa maong okasyon sila si Vice Gov. Ramon Bungabong, Provincial Director Ellen Veede Chua sa DILG, RD Tarhata Mapandi ug PD Rey Cueva sa TESDA, PCol Martin Gamba, Col Adonis Ariel Orio, Board Members Elizabeth Calo, Dick Carmona, Rudy Pitogo, Datu Ampiyawan, Provincial Administrator Gerry Joey Laurito ug uban mga barangay officials. (Shena Mae Pabia ug Sonny Montilla, LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

 

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

PRDP trains beneficiaries to sustain excellent abaca fiber

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to uphold the production of high-quality abaca fiber in the Philippines through the conduct of training under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in partnership with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) on Aug 25-27.

As such, the San Isidro Farmers’ Cooperative (SIFAMCO) of Lianga, Surigao del Sur underwent a 3-day training in the San Isidro Upland Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIUFMULCO) in Santiago, Agusan del Norte, on Abaca Sorting, Grading, and Baling.

“Knowing to classify and sort abaca is very important for farmers so they will not be deceived during the selling and buying of their products,” said Wendelyn Mabuloc, Fiber Development Officer II of PhilFIDA and Provincial Fiber Officer of Agusan del Sur.

Mabuloc said that the training will help farmers to determine the different abaca fiber grades so they will be interested to produce the highest quality since it has the highest equivalent price too.

Furthermore, SIFAMCO participants had hands-on experience in SIUFMULCO’s warehouse. Luchie Mae Montero, Abaca Trading Head of SIUFMULCO taught the step-by-step process from proper classification, sorting, and grading, up to baling of abaca fiber following the national and international standards.

“SIUFMLCO has been implementing the Philippine National Standard of PhilFIDA. We are strict in sorting and grading our abaca since we want to maintain our good relationship with our customers. We don’t want to disappoint them. Our seller, such as SIFAMCO, should be aware of this so that our classifications match and we will not have a problem when their abaca arrives in our warehouse,” said Montero.

Farmers also identified the different classifications of fibers according to texture and color.

According to Ludovico Buaqueña, SIFAMCO Chairperson, while waiting for the completion of their warehouse funded by PRDP, such training is essential for their people.

“I think this training is one of the most important parts of abaca business that is why it is necessary to avoid mistakes and loss in profit,” Buaqueña said.

SIFAMCO, SIUFMULCO sign marketing agreement

As part of the assistance of PRDP, a Marketing Agreement between SIUFMULCO – the buyer of abaca fiber, and SIFAMCO – the seller of consolidated abaca fiber was crafted to ensure a stable market.

Since SIFAMCO is the seller, they are bound to meet the quality standards of SIUFMULCO, thus, training is needed to enhance their knowledge on abaca fiber classification, sorting, and grading.

SIFAMCO and SIUFMULO are two of the Proponent Groups of PRDP. SIFAMCO is provided with a storage building, stripping machine, and motorcycles worth P4M, to uplift their abaca fiber consolidation.

Meanwhile, SIUFMULCO availed a total of P31 Million worth of assistance for area expansion and needed infra support and equipment to improve product quality and increase productivity, as well as marketing support for an efficient delivery system to the buyers.

Both subprojects aim to develop the abaca industry in Caraga.

PH Abaca tops worldwide

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Philippines is the top producing country of abaca in the world. As of June 2020, it produced 18.06 thousand mt of abaca in 132,361.91ha. Bicol Region remains the top producer with 29.6%, followed by 19.7% in Eastern Visayas and 14.7% in Caraga.

Philippine abaca fiber has eight to nine classification grades compared to Ecuador, the top 2 producer which has only five. The country’s abaca can be used in various applications and possesses all the features needed for specialty paper. It is being exported and used in other countries such as Japan, United States, and the United Kingdom, for their food wrapper, car and submarine parts, steel piper, money, among others. (Zenny Awing, DA-PRDP13/PIA Caraga)