DSWD-Caraga conducts writeshop to IOs, some media members
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga conducted recently a two-day writeshop for development of radio plugs to information officers (IOs) and some members of the media held in one of the local hotels here.
According to DSWD-Caraga Regional Information Officer Leah Quintana, the participants served, not just as participants but as resource persons during the writeshop activity.
“The radio plugs focuses on messages about anti-violence against women and children,” Quintana added.
Also, Comprehensive Pilot Intervention Plan Against Gender-Based Violence (CoPIPAGV) Project Development Officer for Surigao del Norte - Mr. Adelito Mendoza, bared that CoPIPAGV is a partnership between the Agencia EspaΓ±ola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and the DSWD.
Mendoza said that the project hopes to improve the health conditions of women, adolescents and girls through improved prevention, assistance and reintegration of victims/survivors of Violence against Women (VAW) in Caraga Region.
“Specifically, the project aims to provide support to the prevention of violence against women, adolescents and girls through increased awareness of communities; improve assistance service to women, adolescents and girls who are victims/survivors of VAW through the conduct of specialized training, provision of resources and coordination between and among agencies and other entities; and facilitate social integration and related socio-economic aspects of victims/survivors of VAW,” Mendoza said.
Meanwhile, at the end of the training, the participants were able to produce three (3) radio plugs on VAWC that will be aired in some of the radio stations in the region.
With this initiative by DSWD and partner agencies, the public will be able to learn about the laws supporting VAWC, and that they would help prevent such violence by reporting it ahead to authorities. (PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte School Board Teachers to receive 100% increase
by Fryan E. Abkilan
Surigao del Norte – A total of 82 school board teachers in the entire Surigao del Norte and Siargao DepEd Divisions will be hired under the School Board Program for a P3,000 increase in their monthly salaries, Gov. Sol Matugas said during the launching of Kapihan sa Kapitolyo held Friday, July 9, 2010 at the Provincial Convention Center.
Gov. Matugas, a former DepEd Regional Director which she served for 43 years, bared that education is one of her administration's priority concerns.
Gov. Matugas announced that teachers will now be receiving P6,000/month, a 100% increase from their previous P3,000 monthly salary plus another P1,000 for chalk allowance to be given every December.
“We have allocated P4 Million worth of funds for the Local School Board. What I did with the money is that I created 82 positions and I raised their salaries from P3,000 to P6,000 and every December under my watch they will receive a chalk allowance amounted to P1,000,” said the lady governor.
Matugas also said that next year another round of increase for the school board teachers will be given. “In the coming year, I would like to level that off to P10,000 because I know teaching is so difficult. Teaching must be given priority concern of this administration.”
With this, Matugas is hopeful that DepEd in Surigao del Norte will now emerge as a number one performer in the country. “I want DepEd in Surigao to be the number one performer in the country. If I made Region VIII number one, why can’t I make Surigao del Norte number one.” (Surigao del Norte)
Diamond Troopers Vow to Continue Pursuit for Peace
Cagayan de Oro City - MGen Mario F Chan AFP, Commander, 4ID related that the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division will continue its military operations after the conclusion of Operation Left Hook in a press conference recently held at the Officer’s Club House, Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City.
Operation Left Hook was a month long operation conducted by the Diamond Troopers in the quad boundaries of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur from June 01 – 30 2010. These operations composed of both combat and humanitarian activities such as Medical, dental and relief operations. Worthy of mentioning are the successful Joint Civic Action Programs in Brgy Camam-onan, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte and Brgy. Lobo, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur which recorded over 1 027 beneficiaries.
The continued efforts of the diamond troopers and other stakeholders in the area produced the following results: nineteen (19) CT camps discovered, four (4) CTs who surrendered, recovery of voluminous subversive documents, detonating and bomb making devices, unearthing of supplies buried for future use such as rice, salt, soap and fuel, but more importantly producing a steady rate of communities assisted with the conduct of Civic Action activities.
The conclusion of the said activity was capped with the awarding of ten (10) representatives from the different battalions and line companies with the Military Merit Medal to the following officers and enlisted personnel: MAJ Vicente Ballesteros, CPT Benjo Cadungan, 1LT Euford Sennido, 1LT Ian Christopher Molina, 1LT Orly Brigoli,1LT Rheygie Cabrera, 1LT Joemar Baredon, MSgt Anastacio G Tabanao. Likewise, the Military Commendation Medal was also awarded to two officers for exemplary performance as commanding officers of support units during the conduct of Operation Left Hook.
“It doesn’t mean to say that it is over. We say that objective in that specific area has been achieved. Our continuing mission is the protection our people and the stability of the region, “MGen Chan concluded. (LTC TRIUMPH DOMINIC G BAGAIPO (OS) PA, 4th CMO Bn, 4ID, PA/ PIA-Caraga)
Troops recover firearms, CTs continue to flee
Cagayan de Oro City - Troops from the 401st Infantry Brigade were able to recover three (3) high powered fire arms in the vicinity of Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, July 2, 2010.
Said troops were on routine patrol in the said area when they located one (1) M16 rifle, one (1) Garand rifle, and one (1) Carbine rifle. These firearms were recovered at the premises of one of the members of the Militia ng Bayan belonging to the Local Terrorist Group 19 A of the CPP – NPA. This person stated that Local Terrorists left him the firearms for safe keeping.
“The continued operations prevent CTs from launching the undertakings they had intended to employ and has deprived them of the resources needed for their activities” said MGEN MARIO F CHAN AFP, Commander, 4th Infantry Division.
Moreover, MGen Chan stressed that the results of the Operation Left Hook, a campaign plan that was launched early June and ended on the same month, encouraged many concerned citizens to be more cooperative in supporting 4ID’s goals, hence the increased number of surrenderees and surrendered and/or recovered firearms. Additionally, the relentless combat operations done by the Diamond Troopers made the CTs on the run that’s why they resort to leaving their firearms to their supporters to avoid being encountered. (LTC TRIUMPH DOMINIC G BAGAIPO (OS) PA, 4th CMO Bn, 4ID, PA/ PIA-Caraga)
