Starting January 15, 2009, all those applying for a new business name or those renewing an existing name will only need to pay a registration fee of One Hundred Fifty Pesos [PhP 150.00]. This is 50% lower than the original fee of PhP 300.00.
With the looming financial crisis that is feared to result in the displacement of Filipino domestic and overseas workers, the temporary reduction of business name registration fees hopes to encourage new entrepreneurs to start new business activities and generate employment.
Business name applicants from Butuan City and Agusan del Norte may proceed to the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center [NERBAC] located at the East Wing, 3rd Floor, D&V Plaza Corporate Center, JC Aquino Avenue, Butuan City.
Applicants anywhere in the region may also register online via www.bnrs.dti.gov.ph. (DTI-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Of the six producers from the region who qualified for the NTF 2009, four will be joining for the first time.
The local producers who will feature their products include Adolph Coco Beads and Helping Hands from Agusan del Norte and Butuan City, Sunrise Corn Coffee and Sinai Sibagat Weavers Association from Agusan del Sur, Bislig City Integrated Coconut Processing Plant and De Lara Agsam Novelites of Surigao del Sur. They will be joined by 200 other exhibitors from all over the country.
Alex Tan of the Philippine Chamber of Handicrafts, Inc. and Socrates Apollo Botictic of the Center for International Trade Exposition and Mission came to Caraga to evaluate the Department of Trade and Industry’s endorsed producers.
The so-called Regional Merchandise Trips done last January 19-20, 2008 gave producers the final go signal for the National Trade Fair [NTF] 2009. From the usual product development activities conducted for each region in preparation for the NTF each year, this time, Regional Merchandise Trips were conducted instead.
DTI gets ready for Caraga’s 14th Founding Anniversary celebration
The Department of Trade and Industry [DTI] Caraga Region is joining the other agencies in the preparations for the week-long celebration of Caraga’s 14th founding anniversary this February 18-23, 2009.
This year’s theme is “Building on New Breakthroughs at 14.”
DTI’s participation will be via its One Town One Product [OTOP] Exhibit and Selling Fair and Industry Cluster Exhibit at the Balanghai Hotel, Butuan City. This fair will showcase the best products from the different towns of the region such as fashion accessories, gifts, home furnishings and food products. The Industry Cluster Exhibit, on the other hand, will feature the industry potentials of the thirteen [13] priority clusters in the region – namely abaca, seaweeds, banana, oil palm, coconut, high value crops, tourism, Information Communication & Technology or ICT, processed food, mining, arts & crafts, wood and moringa.
Aside from these regional activities, the different DTI Provincial Offices will also be conducting other activities in their respective provinces. These include Business Opportunities Fair, Business Trainings and Seminars, Business fora, Advocacy Forum on the Local and Regional Economic Development Program, Provincial OTOP Summit, Provincial OTOP Fair and Product Launchings.
The Caraga Region is created through Republic Act No. 7901 on February 23, 1995 and now covers five provinces – Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Province; and three cities – Butuan, Surigao and Bislig. (DTI-13/ PIA-Caraga)
DTI gears up for 2009, strengthens network with partner agencies
“DTI-Caraga must continue to work hard to help the region realize its potentials.” This was Director Brielgo O. Pagaran’s challenge to his fellow workers during the first Regional Expanded Management Committee Meeting conducted last January 27-28, 2009.
During the two-day meeting, a review on DTI-Caraga Provincial Offices’ 2009 targets was done.
More importantly, to respond to the urgent marching orders of DTI Secretary Peter B. Favila, the different units also discussed different strategies and activities to contribute to the national government’s call for a comprehensive livelihood and emergency employment program.
The identified areas for collaboration with these agencies included expansion of entrepreneurship advocacy by inviting business education students to the annual Caraga Business Conference, hand-in-hand promotion of the Caraga-manufactured products with the promotion of the region’s tourism destinations, provision of technical and marketing assistance to agri-business entrepreneurs, skills enhancement trainings for globally-competitive workers and provision of information.
Having mapped-out the strategies and identified the areas for interfacing with some of its partners, DTI-Caraga is hopeful that it will achieve this year’s bottomline targets of P1.68 B investments generated, P307M domestic sales , 7,900 assisted MSMEs and 11,760 jobs created. (DTI-13/ PIA-Caraga)
DENR launches hunt for timber smugglers in CARAGA Region
BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is conducting a massive search for the areas where timber smugglers are operating to pin them down and stop their nefarious operations.
This was cited as a major objective of the anti-illegal logging campaign in Caraga Region this year.
Caraga DENR Regional Executive Director (RED) Edilderto Buiser launched the search in pursuance of the priorities of DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza Jr. in the region, which focus on the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources.
In his first management conference in 2009 with his forestry officials in the region, provinces and city in the regional office here, RED Buiser has also issued instructions to his senior forestry officers to identify the persons behind illegal logging activities in their areas to enable them to check their movements.
"Environment preservation and forest protection must join together, and this must be continued without letup," RED Buiser said.
RED Buiser ordered field personnel to identify and locate those behind timber poaching.
Early this year, RED Buiser reshuffled the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer, warning them that they are accountable for whatever environmental violations that may happen in their respective municipalities and provinces.
“I will ensure that the full force of the law will be meted out against anyone who will violate the environmental laws because the certainty of punishment is the best deterrent to the commission of a crime,” RED Buiser said. (Louie Ceniza, CCPD/ PIA-Caraga)
POLICE REPORTS
By PO3 Arturo Suganob Campania and PO3 Philip Amer Posas Mazo
Arrest of wanted persons
On February 13, 2009 at 5:00 in the morning at Purok-4, Barangay Bilay, Butuan City, suspects identified as Mingoy Tolido, 42 years old, married and resident of said place; and Carmelito Rodriguez y Logueber, 45 yrs old, married and res of Don Francisco, Butuan City were arrested by Tracker team of Butuan City Police Station 4 led by PSINSP Ronaldo V Plaza by virtue of warrant of arrest (WOA) under CC number 13240, for the crime of murder, issued by Hon Judge Eduardo S Casals of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 1, dated February 3, 2009, with no bailbond recommended.
Arrested persons were brought to Butuan City Police Station-4 for documentation and proper disposition.
Around 10:30 in the morning at Purok-4, Barangay Libertad, Butuan City, Tracker team of Butuan City Police Station 3 led by PINSP Nestor Delin arrested the suspect identified as Bernie Balana, 27 years old, married and resident of said place.
Arrested person is now detained at Butuan City Police Station 3 for documentation and proper disposition.
Arrested person is now under the custody of 143rd RMG Company for documentation prior to torn over to the issuing court. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Report on illegal fishing
On February 12, 2009 at 5:00 in the afternoon at the Municipal Water of Barobo, Surigao del Sur, joint elements of 1406th PPMG led by SPO3 Elecito Rivas and elements of Barobo Municipal Police Station led by SPO1 Roger Rivas conducted seaborne patrol which resulted to the interception of the suspects identified as Leonico Cumahig Namoc, 47 years old, married; Randy Rivas Godito, 25 years old, married; Arman Curada QuiΓ±onez, 42 years old, married; Romeo Albete, 12 years old, minor; Ronald Plaza QuiΓ±onez, all were residents of Barobo, Surigao del Sur.
Confiscated fish were brought to Department of Agriculture (DA) Office for examination and found positive of dynamite explosion. Arrested persons are now under the custody of Barobo Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
Apprehension of suspect and recovery of carnapped motorcycle
On February 12, 200 at 8:00 in the evening, PNP elements of Butuan City Police Station 3 apprehended the suspect identified as Roger Torralba, 38 years old, married and resident of Purok-6, Bayugan 3, Rosario, Agusan del Sur.
Follow-up operation by member of SOTF led to the recovery of said carnapped motorcycle at Agusan del Sur PPO which was turned over to the buyer identified as Talong Jabana of Barangay Consuelo, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, who admitted that he bought said motorcycle last February 5, 2009 from the suspect.
Apprehension of robbery suspects
On February 13, 2009 at 11:00 in the morning at Phase II, Block 1, Lot 19, Cinderella South Villa, Barangay Villa Kananga, Butuan City, elements of Theft and Robbery Unit of Butuan Ctiy Police Office led by PCINSP Gleen N Egloria apprehended the suspects identified as Jourlan MaraΓ±an, 27 years old, single and resident of Cadunan, Mabini, Comval Province; and Piyoy Acsava, 24 years old, single and resident of Tagum City.
All items were stolen from Rogelio MaraΓ±an, brother of the suspect.
Report on accidental rifle grenade explosion
On February 14, 2009 at 3:30 in the afternoon at Sitio Tandawan, Barangay Loyola, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, an old man and two kids were wounded after a rifle grenade exploded outside the house of the above place.
The three were brought to Hinatuan District hospital for treatment while both minors were referred later to DO Plaza Memorial Hospital due to critical conditions but Abrynx Canedo died thirty minutes after arriving at the hospital. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
PNP probes shooting incident
On February 14, 2009 at 11:30 in the morning at the National Highway Narra Avenue, Barangay Taglatawan, Bayugan City, a certain Arlie Bihag, 30 years old and a resident of Purok-1A Barangay Taglatawan, Bayugan City was shot by the suspect identified as Junaris mahinay Bacus, of legal age, resident of Barangay Tabon-tabon, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur over a heated argument ensued between the two.
Suspect was also a security guard of Sarah Gem Pawnshop shot his issued caliber .38 to the victim wounding the victim in his stomach.
Responding PNP personnel from Bayugan City Police Station arrived at the scene and conducted investigation and hot pursuit operation. After a while, suspect voluntarily surrendered to the police station together with the firearm used in the shooting. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)