World TB Day set to launch in Buenavista
By: Nora CL Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 23 (PIA) – The Agusan del Norte Provincial Health Office will launch the “World TB Day” on March 25 in barangay Sacol, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
According to provincial health officer Dr. Elizabeth N. Campado, the launching of the “World TB Day” with the theme “Isulong ang Laban sa TB, Malusog na Kabataan, Pag-asa ng Bayan” is aimed to increase awareness on tuberculosis in adults and children especially those who are TB-symptomatics.
Prior to the launching, a motorcade will be conducted around barangay poblacion in the municipality of Buenavista. Press conference will then follow after the launching.
The launching will be attended by the municipal officials of Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, barangay Sacol officials, grades 5 and 6 pupils of Buenavista Central School, rural health unit personnel, Department of Education (DepEd) principals, supervisors, and nurses and municipal health officers and provincial health nurses of the neighboring municipalities of Carmen and Nasipit, adult and children TB-symptomatics, media and health officers.
According to research, Tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of several million people each year, mostly in developing countries. (PIA-Caraga)
BIR-Caraga chief sees log ban to affect revenue collection in 2011
By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, March 23 (PIA) – Following the implementation of total log ban, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region No. 17 Director Norberto Vitug said revenue collection for 2011 in the region will be greatly affected.
In a discussion recently with the local tri-media here, the region’s revenue chief said with the log ban, “many companies will be closed, and unemployment rate will definitely surge high which will result to low revenue collection,” Vitug said.
However, Vitug said BIR will double-time their efforts to recoup whatever deficiencies of tax collection to achieve their collection target in 2011.
“We will try all our efforts so that we will replenish this one… recoup whatever revenue losses we have because of the log ban,” the BIR Director said.
Meanwhile, Dir. Vitug said that like with the other regions, those who were into government contracts and big corporations are the main contributors of huge amount of taxes.
When asked if these taxpayers are paying correct taxes over the years until at present, Vitug, said BIR sees to it that these taxpayers are paying the right amount of taxes.
With the log ban now affecting thousands of workers in the entire Caraga Region, Vitug said, BIR is exerting its efforts by intensifying the campaign to taxpayers to pay their taxes honestly and earnestly.
The 2011 Tax Campaign is anchored on the theme: “Buwis Mo Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” (Your Tax for a New Philippines).
There are 22 days left before the deadline for the payment of taxes. To avoid rush and penalties, Vitug called the public to file their income tax promptly. (PIA-Caraga)
Butuan to host Mindanao youth congress
By: Nora CL Molde
BUTUAN CITY, March 23 (PIA) – The city government of Butuan is set to host the 1st Mindanao Youth Congress on Good Citizenship.
The congress aims to instill into the mind and heart of the youth the value of morality, nationalism, patriotism, and love for others through series of lectures and workshops to teach on good citizenship; inspire and empower all Filipino youths of every age and situation in life to live in concrete action at all times the Filipino values enshrined in the Preamble of the Philippine constitution.
It is also aimed to create a Mindanao-wide youth alliance on good citizenship to support the claim of the Philippine government on good governance through good citizenship; and talk on about the Presidential Proclamation 248 otherwise known as Good Citizenship.
The congress is organized by the Philippine Society of Young Good Citizens (PSYGC), Caraga Youth Leaders’ Network and United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines-Caraga in cooperation with the National Youth Commission (NYC).
The congress with the theme “Kabataan Mindanawon, ako ang pag-bag-o” will be conducted in one of the convention center of the city on May 6 to 8, 2011.
A registration fee of three thousand seven hundred pesos will be charged from each participant inclusive of accommodation, congress kits and materials, meals and certificate of participation. (PIA-Caraga)
PDIC to conduct forum for Banco Filipino depositors in Butuan
By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, March 23 (PIA) –- The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) will conduct depositor’s forum to be participated in by all Banco Filipino clients of this city tomorrow, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in their branch office at San Jose corner A.D. Curato Sreet.
The forum is aimed to inform the depositors of the real situation of the bank. The forum will also serve as a venue for depositors for their queries of their bank accounts.
It can be recalled that PDIC, the state deposit insurer took over the bank on March 17, the same day the BSP declared the thrift bank close after withdrawals were not serviced and checks not funded.
The Banco Filipino branch here has served Butuanons and the neighboring provinces for more than three decades now. (PIA-Caraga)
NFA Butuan assures enough rice supply
By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, March 23 (PIA) – National Food Authority (NFA) Agusan del Norte Manager Victoria Doray recently said Butuanons should not worry on the continuous price increase of commercial rice in markets.
The official said NFA has enough rice supply until September this year, not to include the rice that were imported from other countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.
The official also said they are not overstocking rice supply as these may expire and will be partially or be fully damaged.
In related development, Ms. Felisa Correos, Regional Economist of NFA-Caraga said iron fortified rice (I-rice) is already available in the market region-wide.
It can be recalled that on Tuesday, March 15, NFA-Agusan del Norte launched the I-rice. The other provincial offices of NFA-Caraga also launched the mixture of white milled rice and I-MIX or iron premix processed through fortification in separate days last week.
According to NFA, fortified rice helps to replace nutrients lost during milling process. (PIA-Caraga)
DILG RD says Reg’l GIS to contribute to region’s development
By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, March 23 (PIA) -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Atty. Rene Burdeos on Tuesday said the establishment of the Regional Geographic Information System (RGIS) is is seen to contribute to the development of the region.
Dir. Burdeos, who is also the President of the Association of Career Executives of Caraga region said RGIS is a significant milestone in the history of Caraga Region which has been described recently as the poorest region of the country. He added the RGIS will be an effective tool in the performance of the duties and functions especially of the heads of the government line agencies.
Burdeos also said with RGIS, information which are vital for the government’s operation such as responding to crimes, responding to disasters and preventing disasters,will be easily accessible
He cited as an example that when data on the crime volume of the region is needed the agency will ordinarily call up the PNP regional office. “But with this technology, our efforts would be easier since the data are already stored in a database, ready for retrieval anytime, anywhere,” the DILG Director said.
For local government units Burdeos said, there are data in the municipalities that are not available in their level such as data on the forest coverage and vulnerability of the areas to earthquakes. These data are available at the national agencies such as the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other agencies.
The project he says, is a symbiotic relationship between national government agencies and the LGUs. “The center will effectively provide us the needed information and data for planning purposes,” Burdeos said.
The Regional GIS is funded by the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), primarily aims to support mechanism by strengthening the linkage and sharing of data and information by and among the government stakeholders in Caraga Region.
With the RGIS now operational, KOICA deployed two Korean Overseas Volunteers (KOVs) with expertise on GIS and computer programming to man the system. Accordingly, KOICA extended funding support of about US$50,000 for the procurement of GIS equipment.
The Regional Center is housed at the Regional Office of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) here in Caraga Region at J. Rosales Avenue, this city. (PIA-Caraga)
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BFP sets Firelympics 2011 in Surigao City
By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, March 23 (PIA) – In celebration of the Fire Protection Awareness Month, the Regional Office of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) formally opened the annual Firelympics in Surigao del Norte Provincial Gymnasium on Tuesday.
In a phone-patch interview with SFO2 Bomen Lofranco, Chief, Public Information Service of Butuan City Fire Station, he said 22 delegate-athletes of Butuan City Fire Station proceeded to Surigao City to compete in different fields of sports discipline such as Basketball-Men, Volleyball-Women, Dart and other indoor games.
Lofranco also said that this year’s Firelympics will have 22 delegate-athletes from the Regional Office, Agusan del Norte with 20, Surigao del Sur – 22, Surigao del Norte – 22, Agusan del Sur – 12, and Surigao City – 21 delegate-athletes.
Lofranco said the last Firelympics was held long ago with Butuan City Fire Station winning the overall championship plum.
With Butuan City declared as Overall Champion in the recent Palarong Pampook 2011 which was also held in Surigao City last week, BFP-Butuan is also hoping that they can bring home the bacon for the city, and defend the title they won during the previous years.
The activity is in line with the sports development program of BFP as the bureau is geared towards the development of firefighters physically and mentally.
This year’s Fire Prevention Month celebration is anchored on the theme: “Kahandaan sa Sunog, tungo sa Kaunlaran.”
BFP-Caraga Regional Office is located at Maharlika Highway, Brgy. Rizal, Surigao City. The regional office is one of the few government regional offices situated outside Butuan City, Caraga Region’s regional center. (PIA-Caraga)
200 tombs in Surigao Sur, washed away to sea; spread of diseases feared
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 23 (PIA) – A spread of disease is feared to follow as graves from Tago Public Cemetery, just eight (8) kilometers south of Tandag, Surigao del Sur were swept away to the Pacific Ocean last week.
According to Rodrigo Gordo, Sanitary Inspector of Provincial Epidemiology and Surveilance Unit (PESU) team of the Integrated Provincial Health office (IPHO) here, about 200 tombs with cadavers or skeletal remains had been washed to the sea by tidal surges during a flashfloods on March 17-18.
However, initial report indicated that the problem with the said cemetery, located just along the shore, started way back in January flood.
The IPHO has recommended to concerned Tago officials to conduct disease surveillance and monitoring. Apart from other recommendations, it has also urged a swift action to take care of the other human remains left in the affected area.
Gordo and his team were ordered by provincial health Officer Dr. Romeo de los Reyes to conduct an immediate investigation, assessment and validation on what happened. (Greg Tataro, Jr. /PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Surigao Norte intensifies environmental protection
SURIGAO CITY, Mar. 23 (PIA) -- Governor Sol Matugas intensifies its environmental protection campaign by launching the “Kalimpyo, Kahapsay, Surigao” recently at the Luneta Kiosk which was followed immediately by a simultaneous clean up in the main city thorough fares.
Provincial Environment Management Officer In-Charge Ivonnie B. Dumadag said the program in consonance to the province-wide campaign under the HEALS program, underscores cleanliness and proper waste management of the province of Surigao del Norte. Furthermore, it encourages people province-wide to participate in environmental protection in the hope that community partnership will make a difference to improve the environment.
It also aims to raise the community’s awareness on environmental matters, particularly, proper waste management, it also encourages policy support from local government units relative to environment protection, decrease the litter problem among urban and rural as well as coastal and non- coastal communities all over the province, encourage community participation thru involvement in the clean up drive, and increase community awareness in the problem of pollution and its negative effect to the environment.
On the other hand, the PEMO also created the Kalimpyo, Kahapsay Surigao Project Team which will act as the lead body in the planning and implementation of the different cleanliness campaign in the province. The team is composed of agencies/organizations which includes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepED), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the academe, religious and private sector, socio-civic organizations, people’s organization and NGO’s among others.
A separate launching program will be conducted in the different municipalities in the province to be initiated by the Municipal Mayors. (Surigao Norte Prov’l Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
RCDA prepares PWDs for NDPR Week celeb
By: Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, March 23 -- The Regional Council for Disability Affairs (RCDA) Caraga composed of various agencies with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga Regional Office as the lead agency, is spearheading the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week celebration with this year’s theme: “Making rights real for Filipinos with disabilities” come July 17-23, 2011.
Ms. Flerida Labanon, Regional Program Coordinator of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) said that as agreed by the RCDA members during its recently held meeting, the Department of Labor and Employement (DOLE) will award some “Kabuhayan Starter Kits” to PWDs; Department of Health (DOH) with other line agencies will conduct free medical mission for PWDs; and a sportsfest will also be conducted during the NDPR week celebration.
Labanon added that the NDPR Week is an annual celebration of the national government being spearheaded by then National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons (NCCDP) by virtue of Proclamation No. 1870 issued in June 22, 1979 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Subsequently, in August 19, 2000, President Joseph E. Estrada issued Proclamation No. 361 superseding Proclamation No. 1870 wherein the celebration of that weeklong event was spearheaded by the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, the forerunner of NCCDP and now the National Council on Disability Affairs.
“This public policy aims at paying tribute to millions of Filipinos nationwide and recognizing their valuable contributions in nation-building. Its primary objective is to stimulate public awareness on disability problems and concerns particularly issues on disability prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The observance of this event is being commemorated on July 17-23,” said Labanon.
Labanon further said that in order to highlight the nation’s efforts towards disability prevention and rehabilitation leading to the effective integration of persons with disabilities into the mainstream of society as mandated under Republic Act No. 7277 otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Administrative Order No. 35 in May 3, 2002 “Directing All Departments, Bureaus, Government-Owned and/or Controlled Corporations, Government Financial Institutions, Local Government Units, State Universities/Colleges and Schools, and Other Government Agencies/Instrumentalities to Promote and Conduct Relevant Activities During the Annual Observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.
Meanwhile, Ms. Marieta Jandayan, President of Differently-abled Women Network (DAWN)-Butuan; Board of governor for Caraga of the kapisanan ng may Kapansanan (Kampi) Inc.; and Treasurer of Caraga Association of Differently-abled Persons (CADAP) stressed that the Women with Disabilities Day will kick-off on March 28, 2011 with a motorcade, thanksgiving mass and proper program. (PIA-Caraga)
RCDA strengthens programs for PWDs
By: Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 23 (PIA) – The Regional Council for Disability Affairs (RCDA) Caraga with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga Regional Office as the lead agency strengthens its programs for the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) by addressing issues and concerns that affect their welfare.
In a meeting held recently at the DSWD-Caraga Conference Room, this city, RCDA members encouraged the local government units (LGUs) to widen their campaign for registration of PWDs not only through the “online registration” considering that not all LGUs have access to internet so that all PWDs will be issued their identification cards. The registration will also enable the PWDs to enjoy the privileges provided to them by the government like the 20 percent discount enjoyed by the senior citizens as well.
Meanwhile, the members will meet again to discuss further the lined up activities for the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week celebration and with the other issues and concerns to continuously develop government’s programs for the PWDs. (PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano News: Walk for TB Free suportado ni Mayor Jun Amante
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 23 - Mupahigayon og usa ka Walk for TB Free karong Marso 24, 5:30 sa buntag, ang Opisina sa City Health Office (CHO) inabagan sa DOH-Caraga 13 ug World Vision dinhi sa dakbayan sa Butuan.
Kini nga kalihokan pagatambungan sa mga empleyado sa Syudad, mga Health Workers, Nurses, Midwifes og mga estudyante.
Sugdan ang maong Fun Walk sa Butuan Doctors College ug Rizal Park og mag-abot ang duha ka grupo sa City Hall Grounds diin aduna usab Hataw for the Cure.
Ang maong aktibidad nagdala sa tema nga “Isulong ang laban sa TB: Malusog na Kabataan Pag-asa ng Bayan atol sa kasaulogan sa World Tuberculosis Day.
Hugot kini nga gisuportahan ni Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr.sa tumong nga mamahimong TB Free ang dakbayan sa Butuan.
Giawhag ang katawhan nga musalmot niini agig pakita og suporta sa maong kalihokan. (Jovelyn Cataluna Mejorada, Butuan City-PIO/PIA-Caraga)
