Friday, 18 September 2026

DSWD Caraga delivers P23.2M in livelihood grants, UPLIFT aid to Agusan Norte

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga delivered various social protection and livelihood assistance to communities in Agusan del Norte during the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat cum AguSerbisyo held on September 14 in Barangay Taod-oy, Magallanes.

The assistance included P23.2 million in livelihood grants for seven Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) associations, 916 feeding utensils for children beneficiaries, and financial aid for 657 UPLIFT  (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) beneficiaries from Magallanes.

These interventions support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to strengthening social protection programs and promoting inclusive and sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable families under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.

Through the SLP, DSWD Caraga, represented by Chief Administrative Officer Ramil Taculod, facilitated the ceremonial turnover of livelihood grants amounting to P23.2 million to seven SLP associations in the province. The assistance aims to help beneficiaries establish, develop, and sustain livelihood activities that can generate income and improve their economic well-being.

The grants are expected to give the associations with resources to strengthen their livelihood enterprises and create opportunities for their members to achieve greater self-reliance.

DSWD Caraga also facilitated the ceremonial turnover of a certificate to the provincial government of Agusan del Norte, headed by Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, confirming the provision of 916 feeding utensils for children beneficiaries of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in two municipalities of the province.

The SFP provides food augmentation to eligible children enrolled in child development centers, helping address their nutritional needs and support their health and well-being.

Also during the activity, the second batch of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) under the UPLIFT Program officially commenced for 657 beneficiaries from the Municipality of Magallanes. Each beneficiary received P2,000 in financial assistance to help address immediate household needs and provide support to individuals and families experiencing crisis.

Among those who received assistance was the partner of Julieta Yoyos of Barangay Caloc-an, Magallanes, whose family benefited from the program. She said the assistance helped them meet their daily needs, including providing school allowances for her children.

The delivery of these interventions demonstrates the government’s continuing efforts to ensure that social protection and livelihood programs reach vulnerable communities and provide assistance responsive to their needs.

The Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat cum AguSerbisyo brought together national government agencies and local government units to deliver essential services and assistance directly to communities in Agusan del Norte. 

Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante expressed her appreciation to the national government for bringing essential services and assistance directly to the province, noting that the Handog ng Pangulo provides an important opportunity for Agusanons to access government programs that respond to their livelihood and social protection needs. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)

Friday, 18 September 2026

‘Panagtigum’ brings government health information closer to Bislig communities

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — Bringing accurate, timely, and accessible information on government programs and services closer to the people, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga through the Surigao del Sur Government Information Center, and the city government of Bislig through the City Information Office recently conducted the ‘Panagtigum,’ strengthening the city’s community health advocacy awareness.

Panagtigum, a Bisaya term for gathering or coming together,  served as a platform for government communicators, community leaders, youth representatives, media practitioners, and other stakeholders to exchange information, clarify concerns, and strengthen their role in connecting communities with government services.

The convergence, held on September 9 at the Bislig City Cultural and Sports Center, brought together barangay information officers (BIOs), barangay council members, Sangguniang Kabataan officials, student leaders, information officers from various city government offices, media partners, and stakeholder-leaders.

The forum featured discussions on government programs and services, particularly in the health sector, while providing participants an avenue to clarify issues and address common misconceptions that may prevent individuals and families from accessing available assistance.

The activity highlighted the importance of effective public communication in ensuring that government programs reach their intended beneficiaries. Beyond simply disseminating information, community-based communication helps people understand what services are available, who can avail of them, and where and how they can access these services.

PhilHealth clarifies benefits

Among the key discussions was the clarification of PhilHealth benefits by Juliet A. Golez, chief social insurance officer of PhilHealth, who emphasized that PhilHealth services extend beyond hospitalization.

“One of the most common misconceptions is that PhilHealth can only be used for inpatient services or when a person is already admitted to the hospital. Many people believe they can only avail of PhilHealth when they are sick,” Golez said.

She explained that platforms such as Panagtigum are important in correcting misinformation and encouraging PhilHealth members to maximize preventive and primary healthcare services, particularly through the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP).

“We are conducting this forum to address these misconceptions. Many Filipinos die without ever consulting a doctor. Through PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program or YAKAP, every member is assigned to a primary care provider regardless of their membership status,” she said.

Golez added that Bislig City has seven accredited YAKAP facilities where qualified members may choose their preferred primary care provider. These facilities offer services such as medical consultations, laboratory examinations, medicine dispensing, and other primary healthcare benefits covered by PhilHealth.

She encouraged participants to make use of these services, stressing that early consultation and access to primary healthcare can help prevent illnesses from progressing into more serious medical conditions.

The discussion also underscored the broader role of health information in empowering Filipinos to make informed decisions about their health and maximize government programs intended to provide accessible healthcare.

PHO highlights accessible health services

Meanwhile, the Surigao del Sur Provincial Health Office (PHO) highlighted its key services and how these contribute to accessible healthcare for communities. Doctor Oscar de Jesus, provincial health officer, discussed three major components of PHO services: capacity development, preventive and outpatient services, and water analysis.

“Under CapDev, the PHO conducts assessments to identify health needs and improve the delivery of health services,” De Jesus said.

He also highlighted the availability of preventive and outpatient services, noting that patients, including those discharged from hospitals, can access free services through the Malasakit Program, helping reduce the financial burden of healthcare on individuals and families.

The provincial health officer further shared that the PHO conducts water analysis at minimal and affordable fees to help communities assess the safety and quality of their water supply.

These services demonstrate the importance of making health information understandable and accessible at the community level, particularly for residents who may be unaware of government programs available to them.

Strengthening grassroots communication

Discussions during Panagtigum also reinforced the critical role of local communicators in bringing government information from national and local institutions to the grassroots.

With the barangay information officers and other community-based information partners serving as frontline channels of information, the activity emphasized the need for clear, accurate, and timely messaging, especially on programs and services that directly affect people’s lives.

Through stronger coordination among government offices, barangays, information officers, youth leaders, and media partners, public information can reach more communities and help bridge the gap between government programs and the people they are intended to serve.

The initiative reflects the broader government thrust of bringing public services closer to the people, not only by delivering programs but also by ensuring that citizens have the information they need to understand, access, and benefit from these services. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)  

Friday, 18 September 2026

119 jobseekers turned employees at Trabaho Agad job fair, Handog ng Pangulo in Caraga

By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Jobseekers across Caraga gained access to new employment opportunities as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga and its field offices across the region, joined the nationwide rollout of Trabaho Agad job fair during the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat caravan on September 14.

The Trabaho Agad job fair convened 66 local employers offering about 2,000 vacancies and 11 overseas employers presenting around 5,480 job openings. Out of the 756 registered applicants, 119 were hired on the spot, underscoring the fair’s direct impact on jobseekers.

The implementation was made possible through close collaboration with the provincial governments of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands, working hand in hand with their respective public employment services offices (PESOs) to strengthen local coordination and bring government assistance closer to communities.

DOLE Caraga Regional Director Jason P. Balais officially opened the job fair at the Robinsons Place Butuan venue, thanking participating employers and the national government. “We thank the employers who participated in this job fair opening doors for our jobseekers to hopefully find employment here. And we also thank the President for providing us with the opportunity to extend our services through the conduct of this Trabaho Agad job fair,” Balais said.

Among those hired was Herwin P. Pinachos, a resident of Magallanes, Agusan del Norte, who secured a position as a forklift operator in a local company. “I would like to sincerely thank DOLE Caraga and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for making this Handog ng Pangulo and Trabaho Agad job fair possible, especially for us who have long been seeking employment,” Pinachos shared.

The activity highlighted the government’s continuing efforts to deliver accessible employment services and strengthen livelihood opportunities for workers and jobseekers across Caraga.

Beyond immediate job placements, the initiative underscored the vital role of providing sustainable employment opportunities to Caraganons, especially amid ongoing economic challenges and the looming threat of calamities. By opening doors to decent work and income sources, programs like Handog ng Pangulo and Trabaho Agad help families build resilience, stability, and hope for a more secure future. (NJGD, PIA Caraga with a report from DOLE Caraga/Photo courtesy of DOLE Surigao del Sur)  

Friday, 18 September 2026

Surigao Norte residents benefit from ‘Handog ng Pangulo’ services 

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — The “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” initiative delivered worth millions in financial aid, agricultural machinery, and public services to the residents of Surigao del Norte on  September 14 at the provincial gymnasium in Surigao City.

Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin of the Department of Finance and Assistant Secretary Jim G. Coleto of the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board led the event, emphasizing the national government’s commitment to ensuring social equity and economic progress across the province.

In his message, delivered by Provincial Administrator Rise Faith Recabo, Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon S. Barbers reassured everyone that the provincial government of Surigao del Norte remains fully committed to working hand in hand with national line agencies, ensuring that every policy, grant, and support program downloaded to the province will continue to benefit every household, both in the mainland and island municipalities. 

The Department of Trade and Industry turned over P4,050,000 worth of shared service facilities (SSF) marketing support and a trade fair system to the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, alongside P4,026,000 for bangus production and processing to the Perlas ng Silanganan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PERLASCoop).

To help strengthen farming operations, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over a 4-wheel drive farm tractor with rotary tiller and trailer worth P1.4 million to Rural Improvement Club Producers Cooperative (RICPROCO) of Barangay Capalayan, Surigao City. 

Affordable rice at P20 per kilogram was also offered to resident-attendees to ease household expenses.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed financial aid to 1,533 beneficiaries under the program on Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT). 

The Department of Labor and Employment released P4.9 million to 1,052 TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) beneficiaries, P905,022.24 in Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) salaries, and P422,155.25 in Government Internship Program (GIP) stipends. Livelihood assistance went to the towns of Placer (P798,050) and Alegria (P650,900). Additionally, 21 applicants were hired on the spot during the simultaneous job fair. 

The Department of Agriculture awarded P2.1 million to the local government of Placer for 32 heads of breeder swine, feeds, and biologics. A one 4-wheel-drive tractor was turned over to the Claver Watermelon Growers Association, including the multi-commodity drying facility and fermentation facility to the Surigao Agri-Producers and Product Association.

The National Irrigation Administration handed over P200,000 in livelihood funds to the Patag-San Isidro Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc., and P225,820 to the Surigao Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc.

The Philippine Coconut Authority further distributed high-yielding coconut seedlings to local farmers, while the Department of Information and Communications Technology turned over the low earth orbit (LEO) satellite kits to the city government of Surigao to strengthen local emergency and remote connectivity.

Also, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Commission on Higher Education distributed stipends to 138 technical-vocational scholars and disseminated information, education, and communication (IEC) materials.

Meanwhile, Surigaonons availed themselves of medical consultations from the Department of Health,  along with PhilHealth’s YAKAP registrations, Philippine Statistics Authority’s national ID registration, free legal assistance from DAR, migrant worker assistance via OWWA, and processing through the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). 

Auxiliary support services were also provided by the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police, Department of Migrant Workers, Bureau of Fire Protection, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Transportation, and participating private institutions.

Tatay Edgar, a tricycle driver who availed of the P20 per kilo of rice and financial assistance from the DSWD, expressed gratitude for the support he received from President Bongbong Marcos through the different government agencies. “This aid is a huge help to my family’s daily needs, especially with the current crisis.”

The day-long caravan reflected the administration’s persistent vision to streamline government operations, cut red tape, and deliver impactful services directly to every Surigaonon. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte)  

Friday, 18 September 2026

‘Handog ng Pangulo’ caravan delivers agri support to Agusan Norte farmers

By Nora L. Molde 

BUTUAN CITY  (PIA) — More than P17.5 million worth of agricultural machinery and equipment was delivered to farmer organizations and local government units in Agusan del Norte, providing farmers with modern tools to improve productivity, reduce labor requirements, and strengthen farm and postharvest operations.

The assistance was provided during the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat held on Monday, September 14, in Barangay Taod-Oy, Magallanes, bringing government programs, services, and livelihood interventions directly to communities and beneficiaries.

The initiative supports the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in strengthening the agriculture sector through increased access to farm machinery, production inputs, technology, and other interventions, aimed at improving productivity, reducing production constraints, and supporting farmers’ livelihoods.

The provincial conduct of the Handog ng Pangulo was led by Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, in coordination with participating national government agencies and with the presence of the officials from the National Youth Commission (NYC), including Assistant Secretary Gervy M. Gumarit, Commissioner-at-Large; Assistant Secretary Juanquine Carlo Racho, Commissioner representing the Visayas; and Executive Assistants Julius Canal and Faith Grace Diocampo, representing President Marcos Jr.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga led the agricultural interventions, which included farming guidebooks, planting materials, and various machinery and equipment designed to address production, harvesting, and postharvest needs of farmers and agricultural organizations.

Among the major interventions was a P4.5-million Cattle Module turned over to the Municipality of Las Nieves, along with three units of corn combine harvesters, each worth P3.18 million, for the corn cluster areas of Madagayaung East Las Nieves EGA and Santiago.

The Vinapor Farmers and Livestock Raisers Association of Carmen, Agusan del Norte, also received a farm tractor worth P1.98 million, while the Sitio Antipolo Farmers Association of Buenavista received five units of multi-commodity drying facilities worth more than P1.4 million.

The Madagayaung East Las Nieves Corn Cluster Area, operating since 2019, now has more than 100 members and is among farmer organizations benefiting from the government’s agricultural mechanization support.

For Salvador C. Garcia, president of the Madagayaung East Las Nieves Corn Cluster Area, the provision of the corn combine harvester would make their work easier and help reduce losses during harvesting.

“Maminusan gyud ang among trabaho ug ang usik sa harvest (It will greatly reduce our workload and minimize harvest losses),” Garcia said, highlighting how farm mechanization can help farmers complete harvesting more efficiently while minimizing crop losses.

The interventions are expected to strengthen the capacity of beneficiary organizations and LGUs in farm production, harvesting, livestock activities, drying, and other postharvest operations, while reducing manual labor and operational constraints.

By providing farmers with appropriate machinery and equipment, the government is helping improve the efficiency of agricultural operations and enabling farmer organizations to better manage production and postharvest activities. These interventions can also help maximize harvests and contribute to more sustainable livelihoods in farming communities.

More than providing equipment, the Handog ng Pangulo caravan brings government assistance closer to communities, enabling farmers and other beneficiaries to access programs and interventions that can help improve livelihoods and make agricultural economies more resilient.

The activity formed part of the coordinated implementation of the Handog ng Pangulo serbisyo caravan, with various national government agencies working together to deliver direct assistance, information, and services to communities in Agusan del Norte. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)