DSWD's Tindahan Natin Project assisted 34,827 families in Surigao Norte
SURIGAO DEL NORTE (16 March 2009) - Some 34, 827 families have benefited from the Tindahan Natin outlets established throughout the province.
Latest report from the Provincial Social Welfare & Development Office (PSWDO) revealed that it has already set up around 206 outlets provincewide.
The Tindahan Natin program is a hunger-mitigation project jointly implemented by the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for poor families’ access to cheaper rice and noodles and other staple food. The program is part of President Arroyo’s commitment in her recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) to alleviate poverty in the country.
All Tindahan Natin outlets were distributed in the municipalities based on the economic status and need of the communities and are generally found in depressed communities. They sell basic food items like rice and noodles at prices lower than those in regular retail outlets.
“The good thing about this Tindahan Natin Outlet is that it also provides jobs and livelihood to those who are engaged in the grains business,” said Mrs. Rosemarie Catelo, PSWDO of the province.
To date, the province has 206 operational Tindahan Natin outlets, of this number, 39 are funded by DSWD while 167 outlets are self-funded. Each DSWD-funded operator loaned Php 20,000 from DSWD in the form of goods (rice). As of February 2009, a total of P518, 520.70 were already given to the beneficiaries of Surigao del Norte. (Fryan E. Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Caraga Link soon to be accredited
BUTUAN CITY (16 March 2009) – “Caraga Link will soon be accredited.” This is revealed by Director Marilyn Pintor of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) here recently.
Caraga Link is an organization form under the auspices of the CHR aimed at promoting the rights of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
“Basically, Caraga Link is organized to help promote the rights of the IDPs. It aims to address the violations of the IDPs rights during war, disasters and other emergencies,” explained Director Pintor of CHR.
Ms. Teresita CaΓ±as, the current President of Caraga Link added that the organization was formed last 2005 due to recurrent atrocities in Lianga, Surigao del Sur which resulted to massive displacements.
“At the height of evacuations in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, the commission feels the need to organize a committee that would secure the rights of the displaced persons. Thus on September 2005, we have had an election and come up with the Caraga Link organization,” recalled Ms. CaΓ±as, Caraga Link President.
One of the foremost concerns of the organization is the inclusion of the IDPs rights during contingency planning.
“It is our primary goal to urge development planners and those concern to include the IDPs rights in contingency planning. This way, their (IDPs) rights will be protected and ensured,” says Director Pintor of CHR.
The organization’s plans for 2009 include stakeholders training with the Barangay Human Rights Action Officer (BHRAO). Other plans include human rights lectures at vulnerable areas - cities and municipalities where there are usual displacements. (Lovely Laudette Gamba, PIA-13)
BFAD bares additional labeling requirement for food supplement
BUTUAN CITY (16 March 2009) – The Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD), an attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga Regional Office conducted the consultative meeting with food supplement manufacturers, distributors and advertisers on the labeling requirement for food supplement, and related matters, held recently at the DOH-Caraga Regional Office, this city.
Food and Drug Regulation Officer (FRDO II) Perla Alvizo discussed Memorandum Circular No. 25, s. 1992 – Additional Labeling Requirement for Food Supplement.
Ms. Alvizo said that food supplement as defined under Administrative Order No. 62 series of 1968 refers to those used for supplementing of fortifying the ordinary or usual diet with any vitamin, mineral or other dietary property.
“Any such particular use of a food is a special dietary use, regardless of whether such food also purports to be or is presented for general use”, FRDO II Alvizo said.
Alvizo added “to ensure that such products are not commercially sold or advertised with therapeutic claims, the Bureau of Food and Drugs has been requiring applicants for registration to print on the label the word “No approved therapeutic claims”.
Meanwhile, Food and Drug Regulation Officer (FRDO III) Fatima Lozada said “in pursuant to Article 85, one may consider a food to be mislabeled if its labeling or advertising is false or misleading in any way”.
“The names and quantity of fortifying ingredients and the percentage composition of the food should be indicated on the label”, FRDO III Lozada added.
With these information, BFAD is closely monitoring food supplement products sold out in market. (Jennifer P. Gaitano, PIA-Caraga)
SUDLON SKA gained 200K from “SEA-K “: PROGRAM
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (16 March 2009) - Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Program of the Arroyo administration improves the lives of some depressed barangay in Surigao del Sur.
Governor Vicente T. Pimentel, Jr. said recently, “The amount of P1.680 million was released to different cooperatives and associations beneficiaries for various livelihood projects under Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) Program”.
Sudlon Sa Kaunlaran Association (SKA) composed of 30 members, an organization found in a mountainous and depressed area of Barangay Sudlon, Barobo of this province avails the SEA-K program under the present administration.
The said organization was known actively participated in some various activities within their municipalities.
Romeo Lozada of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office here said, it was year 2006 when the association avails its first released amounting to P80,000, a revolvement settlement fund payable after 104 weeks or 2 years, released by the Local Government Unit of this province.
Sudlon SKA members generated the money thru money lending to its members, some government employees and farmers in the said barangay.
Two years after the Sudlon SKA gained P200,000 as a profit that the members equally divided for them to start for their own business to augment their daily income.
Lozada added, recently after they paid the P80,000, the Provincial Government released another P100,000 for them to continue for what they had started.
The program aimed to enhance the socio economic skills of the poor families through the organization of community based associations for entrepreneurial development. (Nida Grace B. Tranquilan, PIA-Surigao del Sur)
“Food Supplements do not cure any disease”, says BFAD
BUTUAN CITY (16 March 2009) – The Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD) of the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga Regional Office warns public that “food supplements do not cure any disease” during the consultative meeting with food supplement manufacturers, distributors and advertisers on the labeling requirement for food supplement, and related matters at the DOH-Caraga Regional Office, this city.
BFAD firmly informs the food supplement manufacturers, distributors, advertisers, and especially consumers on the pertinent Provisions of Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) covering advertisements of foods, drugs, devices, and cosmetics.
Food and Drug Regulation Officer (FRDO II) Leslie Cimagala said “dahil sa dumaraming bilang ng mga “food supplements” sa pamilihan at sa mga patalastas o mga patutoo tungkol sa mga diumano’y epktong medical ng mga ito, mahigpit na pinapayuhan ang publiko na ang mga produktong ito ay nagbibigay lamang ng karagdagang nutrisyon at walang pakikinabangang medical o sa madaling salita, ang mga ito ay hindi nakagagamot”.
FRDO II Cimagala also said “walang sapat na siyantipikong pag-aaral o katibayan na makapagpapatunay na ang mga ito ay makapagpapagaling ng isang partikular na sakit o karamdaman”.
Meanwhile, Florminda Tejano, BFAD Chief Administrative Officer said “Ang publiko ay pinapayuhan na ang pag-inom o paggamit ng “food supplements” bilang kapalit ng regular na medikasyon para sa isang karamdaman ay hindi tamang gawi at maaaring makapagdulot pa ng mas malubhang kumplikasyon o karamdaman”.
BFAD-Caraga is hoping for the active participation of the public regarding this matter, and also encourages them to take extra care in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. (Jennifer P. Gaitano, PIA-Caraga)
SEA-K program benefits 785 Surigaonons
SURIGAO DEL NORTE (16 March 2009) - The Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Program currently implemented in the province has changed the lives of less fortunate Surigaonons thru micro-enterprise.
According to Mrs. Rosemarie Catelo, Provincial Social Welfare Officer of the province, the said program is a community based credit assistance launched in 1996 by the Department of Social Welfare and Development using the people's organizations to be uniformly called SEA-Kaunlaran Groups or Associations as credit channels.
The initial amount granted ranges from Php 4,000.00 – Php 5,000.00 with a maximum amount of Php 100,000.00 depending on the project they are going to engage with, without interest. Beneficiaries are engaged in different skills like broom making, bagoong making, piggery, buy and sell, batya making, fishing, tinapa making, as well as bakery, sari-sari store, and carinderia.
Catelo revealed that 785 beneficiaries from the 16 municipalities of the province have availed of the said program.
With this number of beneficiaries, reports revealed that the total amount given as of February 2009 has reached to Php 5,399,650.00. And this fund has been distributed to the different municipalities, to wit: Malimono received Php 200,000.00 with 45 beneficiaries, San Francisco received Php 375,000.00 with 75 beneficiaries, Alegria received Php 357,000.00 with 75 beneficiaries, Tubod received Php 393,300.00 with 80 beneficiaries, Mainit received Php 1,224,350.00 with 250 beneficiaries, Tagana-an received Php 700,000.00 with 155 beneficiaries, Placer received Php 775,000.00 with 165 beneficiaries, Bacuag received Php 600,000.00 with 150 beneficiaries, Gigaquit received Php 200,000.00 with 50 beneficiaries, Claver received Php 150,000.00 with 30 beneficiaries, Sison received Php 425,000.00 with 85 beneficiaries, Dapa received Php 1,100, 000.00 with 225 beneficiaries, Burgos received Php 50,000.00 with 20 beneficiaries, Sta. Monica received Php 200,000.00 with 40 beneficiaries, Socorro received Php 500,000.00 with 110 beneficiaries, and Pilar received Php 575,000.00 with 115 beneficiaries.
With this amount, it has helped around hundreds of families to suffice their needs, she added. (Fryan E. Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Mt. Mayapay restoration drawing more volunteers
BUTUAN CITY (16 March 2009) – The Mt. Mayapay Rehabilitation Project achieved another milestone with more volunteers plating trees to rehabilitate the area. On February 28, about 1000 volunteers went up and shared their time to plant trees and help rehabilitate Mt. Mayapay. In coordination with DENR Caraga and NEDA Caraga, the activity was organized by Radyo Bombo Butuan which gathered representatives of various fraternities and sororities, civic sectors and non-government organizations, and students from different schools in Caraga. It is part of Radyo Bombo’s Plant-A-Tree Project with the theme, “Enriching Our Nature for the Benefit of Our Generation’s Future”.
Representatives from the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity expressed delight at the opportunity to renew linkages and fraternize with other organizations while working towards a common aspiration of rehabilitating Butuan City’s landmark, the Mt. Mayapay. Other volunteers expressed pride taking part in the rehabilitation project, and signified their continuing support to initiatives of government in rehabilitating the environment.
The Mt. Mayapay Rehabilitation Project was initiated with the funding support of Congressman Jose “Joboy’ S. Aquino II, 1st District of Butuan City and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte with additional funding from DENR Caraga.
Mt. Mayapay Task Force Chair and NEDA Caraga Regional Director Carmencita S. Cochingco conveyed gratitude and appreciation for the voluntary participation of all sectors. Specifically, she appreciated the efforts of Radyo Bombo for organizing the event. She added that this will serve as an eye-opener to other organizations to indulge in rehabilitating the environment for our future generations. (Archie R. Guzman, NEDA-13/ PIA-Caraga)
BFAD: “The advertiser is responsible for the acts of its advertising agency”
BUTUAN CITY (16 March 2009) - “The advertiser is responsible for the acts of its advertising agency”, says Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD) Caraga during the consultative meeting with food supplement manufacturers, distributors and advertisers on the labeling requirement for food supplement, and related matters, held recently at the DOH-Caraga Regional Office, this city.
Food and Drug Regulation Officer (FRDO III) Fatima Lozada discussed the pertinent Provisions of Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) Covering Advertisements of Food, Drugs, Devices, and Cosmetics.
According to Lozada “Pursuant to Article 50 (Prohibition against deceptive sales acts or practice), a deceptive act or practice by a seller or supplier in connection with a consumer transaction violates this Act whether it occurs before, during or after the transaction.”
“An act or practice shall be deemed deceptive whenever the producer, manufacturer, supplier or seller, through concealment, false representation of fraudulent manipulation, induces a consumer to enter into a sales or lease transaction of any consumer product or service”, Lozada further said.
Meanwhile, FRDO II Perla Alvizo also said “ the act or practice of a seller or supplier is deceptive when it represents that a consumer product or service has the sponsorship, approval, performance, characteristics, ingredients, accessories, uses, or benefits it does not have; and when a consumer product or service is of a particular standard, quality, grade, style or model when in fact it is not”.
It was also learned that no publisher, radio broadcast, television licensee or medium for the dissemination of advertising shall be liable, under Article 124 (exemption from penalties) by reason of dissemination by him of any false advertisement unless he refuses on the request of the appropriate authorities, to furnish the name and post office address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor seller or advertising agency.
“This exemption shall not apply however, to the manufacturer, packer, distributor seller of the consumer product or service and the advertising agency responsible for the false and misleading advertising”, Lozada said.
BFAD-Caraga encourages the public to be vigilant and always check the labels of the consumer product or service if it corresponds to the disseminated or aired advertisements before buying it. (Jennifer P. Gaitano, PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano News: Prov’l Veterinary Office mopahigayon sa ilang anti-rabies campaign agig pagselebrar sa Rabies Awareness Month
SURIGAO DEL NORTE (16 March 2009) – Agig pagselebrar sa Rabies Awareness Month, ang Provincial Veterinary Office hugtanong mopatuman sa Provincial Dog and Rabies Control Ordinance aron sa paghatag ub bili sa seguridad ug proteksiyon sa tibuok katawhan sa probinsya. Mopahigayon ug usa ka Anti-Rabies Campaign ang probinsya uban ang tema nga, “Be a responsible pet owner; Vaccinate your dogs against rabies,” diin bakunahan ang tanang iro aron mapanalipdan ang tanan sa rabies.
Gi-awhag sa maong buhatan nga ang tanang pet owners sa siyudad ug sa tanang mga lungsod sa probinsya nga sila magmabinantayon sa rabies ug tungod niini, sila obligado nga iparehistro ug ipabakuna ang ilang mga iro, aron kini dili makahatag ug dakong peligro sa atong mga kaigsuonang Surigaonon, hilabi na sa mga kabatan-onan nga maoy paboritong kadula ang mga iro.
Sa maong pagrehistro, adunay balayronon nga pagakulektahon ang PVO sa kantidad nga Php105.00 sa matag usa niini diin ang 70 pesos mao ang Registration Fee uban ang dog tag, 20 pesos para sa Certification Fee ug ang 15 pesos para sa documentary stamp.
Malaumon si Gov. Robert Ace Barbers nga ang tanang residente nga adunay mga gibuhing iro magmadasigon sa pagkooperar sa moang kalihukan, aron mahilikay ang matag usa kanato gikan sa peligro kun kita mapaakan labi na nga mahal kayo ang pagpatambal niini, ug labaw sa tanan, mamahimo gayud nga tinuod nga “man’s best friend” ang atong mga iro. (PGO-Media Bureau/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano News: Presidente Arroyo ug 30 ka Kongresista kauban ang Ambassador sa Canada, Italy ug uban pa mubisita sa ipahigayon nga game fishing tournament
SURIGAO CITY (16 March 2009) – Nalipay ug daku si Kongresista Francisco ‘Lalo’ Matugas sa iyang pagkuyog-kuyog kay Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa gawas nasud kauban niya ang mga kongresista sa mga nagkalain-laing probinsya sa nasud ug mga miyembro sa gabinete.
Matud pa sa Kongresista matag abot nila sa laing nasud mismo si PGMA ang mighangyo sa mga Ambassadors nga mobisita sa isla sa Siargao aron sa pagsaksi sa ika-duha nga ipahigayon nga game fishing tournament karong umaabot nga bulan sa Mayo 7-9 sa lungsod sa Pilar karong tuiga.
Gidugang pa sa kongresista karong Marso 4 magsugod na sa paglanding ang eroplano sa isla sa Siargao ug magpadayon na kini sa isla sa Siargao paingon sa Manila.
Padayon usab nga gitrabaho ang Sayak Airport sa lungsod sa Del Carmen pinaagi sa pagtukod ug terminal airport aron maanindot tan-awon sa mga bisita unya atol sa paglanding sa depasaherong eroplano.
Daku nga pasalamat ni Kongresista Lalo Matugas ngadto kay Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tungod sa walay puas nga suporta sa isla sa Siargao pinaagi sa paghatag ug dakung pundo hilabina sa pagsuporta sa kalambuan sa turismo sa iyang pag-imbitar sa mga Ambassadors sa gawas sa nasud. (Surigao Balita/ PIA-Caraga)
