BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) is targeting at least 3,800 micro enterprises before the end of the year, a government official on Thursday said.
Under the Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP) of the DTI, the government is pushing local micro individual borrowers to be more “innovative” after learning series of livelihood trainings to be more productive in the coming years.
“We are conducting more series of training activities to hit our target goal this year under the RuMEPP promotion program,” said DTI Region Xlll Regional Director Brielgo O. Pagaran.
He said the DTI is stepping up its rural micro enterprise trainings, seminars, outreach implementation entrepreneurship and business opportunities.
Other trainings and seminar include “Magnegosyo” technology and livelihood modules, meat processing, “Kabuhayan” business counseling and assistance technology, crafts training, agri-business model, savings trainings, pangasius (cat fish) industrial development program and several other agri-business methods.
Pagaran said these trainings and seminars under RuMEPP program is a big help to small business entrepreneurs in the Caraga region.
The government’s RuMEPP program is to reduce poverty in the countryside through increased economic development, job creation and additional rural incomes for poor households, he said.
The region’s DTI chief also said the program also aims to increase the volume of finance available to micro enterprises and to provide efficient, cost effective and demand-responsive business development services to rural micro enterprises.
RuMEPP is a seven-year U.S.$ 22.826-million program assisted by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IPAD), with DTI as the lead implementing agency.
“It help poor entrepreneurs and rural families by providing technical and financial support for micro enterprises which can in turn benefit other poor families through job opportunities,” added Pagaran. (muc/PIA-Caraga)
500 youth leaders’ 3-day confab set in Caraga region
BUTUAN CITY – At least 500 youth leaders coming from the four provinces and six cities in Northeastern Mindanao will converge in this region’s capital city next month for a three–day 1st Caraga Youth Leaders Convention 2010 at downtown hotel and convention center, it was learned Thursday.
The participants during the July 16 to 18 youth leaders convention will come from the Sangguniang Kabataaan (SK) presidents, high school and college student government and private presidents, editors from various colleges and universities, youth leaders from the business sector, muslims, lumads and church youth leaders, it was also learned.
The theme for this year’s 1st Caraga Youth Leaders Convention 2010 is, “Caraganon Youths: Agents of social transformation towards 1st World Philippines Initiative”.
Partner organization of the said three-day convention are the regional offices of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA), Global leaders Education (GLE) and United Nations International and National Youth Councils.
“Every committee of the said big confab is moving and everything is already set,” declared Caraga Youth leader founding chair and president Rex F. Ybanez.
He said some guests coming from the national, regional, city and provincial in the government and private sector have also been invited as resources speakers during the event.
Some topics to be discussed during the convention are peace for Mindanao, environmental concern due to global warming and climate change, participation of the youth in nation building, and future of the youth in the coming century.
In another development, the National Youth Commission (NYC) is pushing for the extension of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps as it has increased the participation rate among school children.
NYC chairman Undersecretary Christopher Lawrence Arnuco bared that this program has been assessed to be reaping good fruits in the education system.
"Contrary to other program which are dole-out in nature, 4Ps cash transfer provides economic freedom to families and results to rising enrollment of children in school," Arnuco said.
The poverty alleviation program of the government, the 4Ps is providing conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve health, nutrition and education particularly of the children aged zero to 14. (muc/PIA-Caraga)
CoPIPAGV turns over 4 computer sets to Surigao del Sur
By: Nida Grace B. Tranquilan
Tandag City, Surigao del Sur (June 4) - The Comprehensive Pilot Intervention Plan Against Gender-Based Violence (CoPIPAGV 13) Program recently turned-over four sets of computer to Surigao del Sur held at the Provincial Conference Room, Capitol, this city.
DSWD-Caraga Division Chief for Technical Assistant Angelita Amista said the computer sets will be used for data banking purposes for Gender-Based Violence cases.
The program identified five municipalities and two cities as target areas, and 3 barangays per municipalities and cities in this province. These are the following: City of Bislig and Tandag, Municipality of Carrascal, Tago, Hinatuan, Lingig and San Miguel.
During the acceptance, Mayor Alexander Pimentel here said that he will support the program for the benefits of the Tandaganons.
Meanwhile, Project Development Officer Jojie Ann Climaco discussed the short overview of CoPIPAGV. According to her, CoPIPAGV program is a three-year plan with the goal of improving the health condition of women, adolescents and girls through improved preventive measures, support services and reintegration of victims/survivors of violence against women and children in the Caraga Region. It is supported by the the Agencia EspaΓ±ola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID). (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DepEd implements WHO child growth standards
By Michael A. Imbo
BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) is now implementing the adoption of World Health Organization Child Growth Standards on the opening of the school year 2010-2011 as embodied in Memorandum Order 24, series of 2001.
Usec. Vilma Labrador signed memorandum 165 series 2010 addressing to all regional directors, school division, city superintendents heads, public and private elementary and secondary schools.
Usec. Labrador said that the additional information prefer the nutritional assessment of elementary and secondary students.
The school nurses and teachers are fully responsible in the conduct of such assessments. The school heads are also tasks to provide height and weight balance scale.
For pre-elementary pupils aged from 5 years old and below (World Health Organization (WHO) weight for age tables shall be used, Health and Nutrition Center (HNC) Nutritional Status (Nut Stat) form 3 shall be used in reporting.
Students 16 to 19 years old will also used another WHO-BMI form 1 and 2.
The Division and District offices are requested to submit a nutritional status reports to the provincial and Municipal Nutritional Committee.
Meanwhile, the Regional Health and Nutrition Unit (RHNU), Division Health and Nutrition section (DHNS) shall also responsible in trainings of all personnel in division and school teachers.
The effective result and studies of the assessment must be used in reference and develop the baseline to end malnutrition and poverty of the country. (PIA-Caraga)
109 farmer-beneficiaries get land titles in Kitcharao and Jabonga town
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Norte issued land titles in the municipalities of Kitcharao and Jabonga under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform (CARPer) held at Barangay Beltran, Jabonga on May 24, 2010.
Some forty (40) farmer beneficiaries from Barangays Bangayan and San Isidro of Kitcharao and sixty-nine (69) farmers beneficiaries from Barangays Beltran and Maraiging of Jabonga received Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) covering a total area of 73.9060 hectares for the municipality of Kitcharao and 85.0077 hectares for Jabonga.
DAR CARAGA Regional Director Faisar A. Mambuay, CESO IV, personally handed-over the Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to the Farmer-Beneficiaries with the assistance of DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Andre B. Atega, CEO VI.
RD Mambuay congratulated the new landowners and expressed gratefulness to the implementers of CARP in the province of Agusan del Norte.
PARO II Atega commended the new landowners for the land they can now call their own and urged them to make use of the opportunities it offers by working hard to make the lands productive and enjoy the benefits.
It was attended by Local Chief Executive, Hon. Mayor Aristotle E. Montante of Kitcharao and Hon. Mayor Glecerio M. Monton of Jabonga.
A huge wave of farmer-beneficiaries attended and voiced their desire to thank DAR for its commitment to improve the living condition of the farmers to become successful.
According to the data reflected in the summary of CLOA for distribution in the province of Agusan del Norte, the agency has already distributed a total of 25,692.0467 hectares or 69% accomplishment versus the working scope of 37,396.6674 hectares, involving 14,266 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, leaving a Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD) CARPer Balance of 11,704.6207 hectares, or 31% to be distributed to an estimated of 6,487 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the next five years. (Gil E. Miranda, DAR-Agusan del Norte/ PIA-Caraga)
CRSAFP needs researcher, writer, broadcaster, graphic artist and IT specialist
The 5th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines immediately needs skilled professionals, college graduates to be part of the military organization.
“We are currently in need of researchers, writers, graphic artist and IT specialist to be enlisted personnel of Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy. We are giving them chances to have a stable jobs and regular members of the AFP” Col Leopoldo R Galon Jr. PA, Group Commander of 5th CRG, CRSAP revealed.
Applicants must possess the following requirements; for the writer/researcher and writer/broadcaster must be a Political Science, Mass Communication, Development Communication or Journalism graduate. Must have outstanding writing, editing, database management and research skills, and professional writing experience in journalism. For a graphic artist must possess a college degree in graphic design, creative multimedia or similar course and for an IT Specialist must be a Computer Science/Information Technology graduate or a degree holder in graphic design and creative multimedia.
“The quota allocation by the AFP is an opportunity for various aspiring youth and fresh graduates to have a stable job and practice their fields of education. It is their chance to be part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines skilled men and women in uniform. They can have a lifetime stable job and at the same time they can serve the Filipino people. All applicants are welcome” Col Galon added.
The 5th CRG, CRSAFP encourages all interested applicants to submit their resume and supporting documents to 5th CRG, CRSAFP headquarters inside Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Camp Panacan Davao City. (Leopoldo R Galon Jr., COL (GSC) PA Group Commander/ PIA-Caraga)
Farmers and Fisherfolks Month in Caraga Region
Highlights Celebration with a Forum on Climate Change
Hailed as the backbone of the country, farmers and fisherfolks alike were given due recognition especially in the month of May for the Farmers and Fisherfolks Month celebration.
This year’s theme “Magsasaka at Mangingisda Sama-samang Harapin ang Hamon ng Climate Change Gamit ang Makabagong Teknolohiya “ seems so fitting as different LGUs become aware of the effects on climate change to the agriculture sector. Thus, in this year’s commemoration, discussion on climate change has been the focus. In Caraga Region, various local government units (LGU) conducted activities in line with the celebration for the year 2010.
Last May 5, 2010, Carrascal in Surigao del Sur celebrated it with a grand parade and various contest participated in by different farmers and fisherfolks association.
Local Chief Executive Alfred Arreza said that the economy of Carrascal relies mainly on farming and fishing activities thus they are given priority by the local government through the Municipal Agriculture Office under the leadership of Municipal Agriculturist Edgardo P. Intano.
It was the 5th Farmers and Fisherfolks Month Celebration of the town.
Meanwhile on May 18, the LGU of San Francisco, Surigao del Norte conducted its Joint 23rd Municipal Agriculture & Fishery Council (MAFC) Day and Farmers & Fisherfolks Month at the Municipal Gym.
As Municipal Agriculturist Marieto Clerigo said, San Francisco is the only town that has consistently celebrated the Farmers & Fisherfolks Month annually.
Among of the highlights of the activity was the Agro-Trade Fair which was participated in by the different barangays of the said town.
The participants displayed various products in their barangay wherein Barangay Banbanon was adjudged as the winner.
The City of Cabadbaran also took part in the celebration last May 26 through a Farm Family Forum in which DA-13’s Regional Technical Director for Administration, Finance & Regulatory Teodora P. Fiel, DVM graced the occasion.
In her address, RTD Fiel lauded the officialdom of Cabadbaran LGU led by Mayor Dale Corvera for conducting such activity which is an indication of a strong commitment of the town to empower the farmers and fisherfolks. She also acknowledged the efforts done by the Office of the City Agriculturist through CA Floreza D. Montalban and staff for being the led of the said occasion.
On the other hand, in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, a culminating activity to commemorate the Farmers and Fisherfolks Forum was conducted wherein Municipal Agriculturist Lyrio R. Campos presented the programs and projects implemented by Barobo LGU though the Municipal Agriculture Office. The participants were given time to exchange views and ideas thus the forum served as a consultation between the local officials of LGU in to further improve local governance.
A mass dog vaccination against rabies was also conducted during the event to curb the reported rising problem of dog bites in the municipality. There was also an agrivan showing of the different agricultural technologies through the DA-RAFID. (Aurell P. Arais/ Vanessa P. Sanchez, RAFID-DA 13/ PIA-Caraga)
