BUTUAN CITY (June 12) – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary and Caraga Cabinet Officer for Regional Development Joseph Ace Durano emphasized the role of the youths in building a better country in the future.
In his keynote speech highlighting the opening ceremonies of the “Kalayaan 2009,” commemorating the 111th year of the Philippine Independence here, Sec. Durano pointed out the important role to be played by the youths of today and the future generations, after witnessing the astounding performances of the elementary pupils and high school students.
DOT Secretary and Caraga Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) Joseph “Ace” Durano (2nd from right) leads the celebration of the 111th Philippine Independence Day in Butuan City Rizal Park on Friday, June 12, 2009. With Sec. Durano reciting the “Panunumpa sa Watawat” (from left to right): DOLE-Caraga Regional Director Chona Mantilla, DOT-Caraga Regional Director Leticia Tan, Butuan City Councilor Atty. Josephine Marticion-Salise, and Butuan Vice Mayor Dino Claudio Sanchez. (PIA-Caraga... more photos at PHOTO RELEASES...) “Ang performance sa atong mga kabatan-onan karong buntaga naga-aghat kanato ug ato na’ngh makita kung unsa ang mahimong kaugmaon sa atong nasud nga Pilipinas. Mao nga atong ampingan ang atong mga kabatan-onan.” (The performance of our youths this morning tells us what future lies ahead for our country. So, we have to take care of the youths.), Sec. Durano said.
Sec. Durano also led the ceremonial hoisting of the flag assisted by some local officials of the city headed by Mayor Democrito Plaza II who is represented by Vice Mayor Dino Claudio Sanchez. Some regional heads of offices also joined the Secretary.
Prior to the opening ceremonies, a motorcade was conducted with government offices participating. The motorcade started at the city’s Sports Complex – about four kilometers from the city’s Rizal Park – the venue of the Opening Ceremonies.
Special Education (SPED) pupils of Butuan Central Elementary School (BCES) introduced the keynote speaker, DOT Secretary and Caraga Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) Joseph “Ace” Durano through a Speech Choir performance. Sec. Durano lauded the pupils on the unique way of introducing a keynote speaker. In his speech, Sec. Durano said “This is the most unique way of introducing a speaker. Congratulations and thank you for your introduction. How I wish I can bring you so that you will introduce me in all my speaking engagements.” This was held during the “Kalayaan 2009” celebration in Butuan City on Friday (June 12, 2009), in commemoration of the 111th Philippine Independence Day celebration. (PIA-Caraga... more photos at PHOTO RELEASES...)
During the program, series of cultural performances were presented by students of Agusan National High School (ANHS) and pupils of Butuan Central Elementary School (BCES).
Sec. Durano was introduced in a “unique” way through a Speech Choir performance of BCES Special Education (SPED) Class, where the Secretary was overwhelmed with the kids’ performance, receiving an overwhelming applause from the crowd estimated at 2,000.
This year’s celebration of the 111th Philippine Independence is anchored on the theme: “Kagitingan, Kagalingan at Kasipagan tungo sa tunay na Kalayaan”.
DOT Secretary and Caraga Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) Joseph “Ace” Durano delivers his Keynote Speech before the crowd of 2,000 of all sectors witnessing the “Kalayaan 2009” in Butuan City, held in commemoration with the 111th Philippine Independence Day Celebration on June 12, 2009. Sec. Durano pointed out the important role to be played by the youths of today and the future generations, after witnessing the astounding performances of the elementary pupils and high school students in their intermission numbers. (PIA-Caraga... more photos at PHOTO RELEASES...)
After the opening ceremonies, Sec. Durano proceeded to Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort where the Awarding Ceremonies of employment contracts, livelihood funding checks, and Pangulong Gloria Scholarship coupons took place. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)
Mega Jobs Fair highlights Kalayaan 2009 celebration in Butuan
BUTUAN CITY (June 12) – In time with the 110th Philippine Independence Day dubbed as Kalayaan 2009 celebration here, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Caraga Region, being the lead agency in the conduct of the celebration, spearheaded a mega jobs fair today (June 12) in one of the local convention centers here.
The jobs fair was categorized into three: Overseas Employment, Local Employment and Employment in Government Agencies.
In the overseas employment, 13 companies participated the activity to hire competent applicants to compliment their manpower needs. These companies are: Concentrix; Kabayan Ko Overseas Manpower Placement; MHHR – Manpower & Placement Recruitment Agency; Pacific Mediterranean Agency; Zontar Manpower Services, Inc.; Fil-H
R; PERT/CPM; Active Works, Inc.; Altaka Manpower Services, Inc; Philquest International Agency; Green World; Ed Frobon; and GBMLT.
The Mega Jobs Fair that was conducted in time with the 110th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Butuan City on June 12, 2009 was composed of three employment types: Overseas Employment, Local Employment, and Employment in Government Agencies. (PIA-Caraga)
Also, 11 companies extended their services to cater applicants in the local employment. It is composed of Al Alamia; Green Bank of Caraga; Jollibee Butuan; Equi-Parco Contruction; Dunkin’ Donuts, Bayantel Communications; Gaisano Mall; V-Ross Meatshop; Casilayan Softwood Development Corporation; LC Ting Construction; and Agusan Plywood Corporation.
Meanwhile, 13 government agencies also heeded the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to counter the global financial crisis through the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP). These agencies are: National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); NERBAC-Caraga; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); DOLE-Caraga; Social Security System (SSS)-Butuan Branch; Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); Home Development Mutual Fund (PagIbig Fund); National Statistics Office (NSO); PhilHealth; National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC); and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).
In a statement, DOLE-Caraga Assistant Regional Director Romeo Cagas said that the jobs fair will continue until Sunday, May 14 at DOLE-Caraga Regional Office. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)
DOT Chief leads Butuan CLEEP awarding on Independence Day 2009 celebration
BUTUAN CITY (June 12) – In support to the efforts of the national government in mitigating global financial crisis through the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP), Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary and Caraga Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) Joseph “Ace” Durano led the awarding of CLEEP Projects, Certificates of Employment, and Certificates of Scholarships/Trainings highlighting the Kalayaan 2009 celebration in this city, commemorating the 111th Philippine Independence Day today (June 12) in one of the local convention centers here.
DOT-Caraga awarded a total project amounting to P582,000 under the Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-Tourism (GREET).
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also awarded 35 employment contracts under Executive Orders 782 and 783 directing all government agencies to allocate part of their budgets for employment initiatives to address the global downturn. They also awarded 16 livelihood funding checks amounting to P1.8 million.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-Caraga awarded two employment contracts, the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte – 200 employment contracts, Department of Agriculture (DA): 2 livelihood projects, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA): 27 employment contracts.
DOT-Caraga Secretary and Caraga Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) Joseph “Ace” Durano awarded the check worth P100,000 to Caraga Travel Links as one of the beneficiaries of the Grassroots Entrepreneurs for Eco-Tourism (GREET) during the Awarding Ceremonies in time with the 111th Philippine Independence Day Celebration held at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort in Butuan City Friday (June 12). (PIA-Caraga)
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) presented that the regional office has hired 49 new contractual employees.
Moreover, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) awarded 39 employment contracts.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also hired four CLEEP Augmentation Projects and 20 employment contracts under the CLEEP program. They have also hired five financial analysts.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, on the other hand, hired 18 personnel under EO 782. Department of the Interior and Local Government also awarded two employment contracts while Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Caraga awarded 10 employment contracts.
Other agencies who joined the awarding ceremonies are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with five employment contracts; Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) – 67 scholarships; Department of Education (DepEd) – 48 employment contracts; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) – 15 employment contracts. They also awarded 750 Pangulong Gloria Scholarships; Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) – 2 employment contracts; and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) with six employment contracts.
Assisting Sec. Durano in awarding the beneficiaries are DOT-Caraga Regional Director Leticia Tan, DOLE-Caraga Regional Director Chona Mantilla, National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Carmencita Cochingco, DBM-Caraga Regional Director Joecel Obenza, and DENR-Caraga Regional Executive Director Edilberto Buiser, among others. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)
Surigao City joins in nationwide celebration of 111th Independence Day
Surigao City (12 June) - The city of Surigao joins today, June 12 with the rest of the cities and provinces all over the country in the observance of the 111th Independence Day Celebration with the theme “Kagitingan, Kagalingan at Kasipagan Tungo sa Kalayaan.”
At exactly 7:00 o'clock in the morning today, the activity started with a unison prayer by different religious sects in the city followed by the singing of the national anthem and raising of the Philippine flag in front of the City Hall with Mayor Alfonso Casurra, Gov. Robert Ace Barbers, Vice-Gov Noel Catre, Vice-Mayor Rico Salvador Sering, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and Sangguniang Panglusod (SP) Members.
The ceremony was highlighted by a short message of Mayor Casurra as he thanked the Almighty Father for the good weather in Surigao. “Atong pasalamatan ang atong labaw nga makagagahum sa paghatag niining maayo kaayo nga buntag. Kay kagahapon ug niadtong miaging adlaw kung sa inyong mahinumduman, kusog ang habagat, nag-uyan pero kuman, arang kagana an ato adlaw.”
Mayor Casurra gave an overview of the Surigao City Citizens Manual, aimed at curbing the problem of red tape in the local government. This manual, which is the first in Caraga Region, hopes to educate the public on the day-to-day operations and procedures of transacting business with concerned department/offices in the city government.
With this development, Casurra is very optimistic that it will eventually minimize the incidence of corruption as the transaction manual will also accustom the transacting public to government procedures.
Gov. Barbers, in his Independence Day message, said “the Philippine Independence Day marks the day when our forefathers have declared war and independence for our nation.”
He then urged not just the officials but everybody to declare war against poverty, illiteracy and injustice. “Today as we celebrate the 111th Independence Day I urged everybody to declare war starting today. Each and everybody must declare war against the bondage of poverty, war against illiteracy, war against injustice.”
The program ended with a wreath laying ceremony which was participated in by heads of the government agencies, private sectors who took turns in offering flowers at the statute of Dr. Jose Rizal in the Luneta Park. (Fryan E. Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)
War vs corruption, poverty, illiteracy and injustice call of Independence day observance in Surigao Norte
Surigao City (12 June) – In a brief but meaningful observance of the 111th Independence Day celebration here in the city, local officials called on the people to waged war against corruption, poverty, illiteracy and injustice.
Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra in his short message emphasized the war against corruption as he presented to the Department of the Interior and Local Gov’t and Civil Service Commission the Surigao City Citizens Manual aimed at curbing the problem of red tape in the government.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Ace Barbers, in his opening message recalled the city’s historical event. “Kining atong dakbayan, usa ka lugar diin adunay historical event na nahitabo. Alang sa kasayuran sa tanan, ang Surigao del Norte dihang dapita sa Ipil ug Punta Bilar diha mismo kada tuig atong gisaulog ang commeration of the Battle of Surigao Strait. (Our city is a place where there is a historical event happened. For the information of everyone, the province of Surigao del Norte somewhere in Ipil and Punta Bilar, every year we commemorate the Battle of Surigao Strait.)”
“And that commemoration is our manifestation sa atong (in our) history. The commemoration of the Philippine Independence Day marks the day when our forefathers have declared war and independence for our nation.”
He then urged everyone to declare war against poverty, illiteracy and injustice. “Today as we celebrate the 111th Independence Day I urged everybody to declare war starting today. Each and everybody must declare war against the bondage of poverty, war against illiteracy, war against injustice.”
These are the wars according to Gov. Barbers that the people must have to fight and face today.
He also challenged everyone to prepare a better future for all the children. “For this is our obligation in the next generations to come,” Barbers said.
“As a leader in my own right, I will try my best and to the best of my ability, to fight these wars with our mentor and hopefully these wars that we declare must imbibe in the minds and hearts of every Filipino.”
Barbers acknowledged the complexity of these wars but with the strong union and with the unity among the people, “we will definitely win these wars,” he concluded. (Fryan E. Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)
