San Miguel Brewery Inc. is holding their 2nd year of the National Beer Drinking Contest – Northern Mindanao media on Saturday night at Ghana, The Site, Rosario Arcade, LKKS, Cagayan de Oro City.
Scribes, broadcasters, and internet bloggers will have the actual feel of the biggest speed beer-drinking contest in the country that turns 12 this year. This year’s media edition started off with the NCR leg and was likewise brought to Angeles, Legazpi, Bacolod, Cebu, and Davao.
Teams composed of five members from various media outlets and organizations will try to beat last year’s record, compete for the pride of the groups and regions they represent and win more than P100,000.00 worth of cash and San Miguel Beer items, and the bragging rights of being the fastest, meanest beer drinker in the world of multimedia. Top three winning groups will each receive cash prizes of P30,000, P25,000, and P20,000, respectively. Fastest individual beer-drinkers will also be determined in a fun-filled party with free-flowing beers and music. San Miguel Beer sports icons are also expected to join the fun.
Last year’s winning team composed of Abac Cordero (Philippine Star); Ted Melendres (Philippine Daily Inquirer); Tina Maralit (Manila Bulletin); Nick Giongco (Manila Bulletin) and Nick Cortez of Malaya ruled the beer-drinking platform clocking one minute and 20 seconds. Bobby Jerezo (11.37 seconds) and PDI’s Francis Ochoa (10.56 seconds) hold the fastest individual beer-drinkers for Pale Pilsen and San Mig Light, respectively. All-time individual fastest drinking record is being held by Bombo Radyo Iloilo’s Cham Jover, gulping smoothly one bottle of San Miguel Pale Pilsen in just six seconds.
On the 12th year of staging the most prestigious beer drinking contest in the country, more than P2 Million worth of cash and San Miguel Beer promotional items await the winning teams. It kicks off with the media edition, followed by the SMG-wide employee edition. The NBDC will culminate with the staging of the Consumer Edition late this year that engages at least 300,000 beer drinkers annually.
Try-outs for the consumer edition are now on-going until October 31, 2011. For more details, call (02) 632-2337 (BEER) or text 0922-632-2337and log on to www.smbtakesyoutothephilippines.com.ph.
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GSIS offers new programs for future member-retirees
by Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, June 17 (PIA) –- Soon-to-be retirees of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) have all the reasons to smile with the new programs offered by the state’s leading insurer.
During the forum with the government information officers held recently in one of the local convention centers here, Ms. Amor Taccad, Corporate Services Officer II of GSIS Public Relations and Communications Office said GSIS recently revised the Claims and Loans Interdependency Policy (CLIP) to Choice of Loan Amortization Schedule for Pensioners (CLASP).
Taccad said the revision of the program aims to make it less burdensome for prospective retirees to settle their outstanding obligations.
The GSIS official further said the GSIS will stop deducting housing loan obligations from the retirement benefits of its members.
Instead, she said, the management will review the policies and procedures on the administration of their housing loan accounts and provide a settlement option beneficial to both the member-borrower and the GSIS.
In a related development, Taccad announced that GSIS is conducting monthly pre-retirement counseling seminars at their respective filed offices nationwide to help ease the transition.
She said during the seminar, they are discussing various retirement modes and teach the future retirees how to compute their retirement claims under each retirement law.
Through the seminar, Taccad said that the GSIS hopes that they can help the future retirees choose the most beneficial retirement option suited to their lifestyle.
The information officers’ forum was attended by some 80 information officers of the regional offices of Caraga Region. (PIA-Caraga)
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Surigao del Sur joins nat’l fun run for education
by Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Surigao del Sur is set to spearhead the National Fun Run for Education here in time with the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal on Sunday, June 19.
With the theme, “Every Runner, A Finisher; Every Finisher, a Winner,” the event will start at 5:00 am at the Tandag City Boulevard and will end at the Provincial Sports Complex.
Dr. Gregoria Su, DepEd OIC Division Superintendent has high hopes that all sectors in the community will join and support the endeavor through a minimum registration of P20 per participant and/or other pledges as agreed upon during the previous meetings.
Dr. Su stressed, proceeds and donations from the event will go to the improvement of the public schools in the province. (Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA Surigao del Sur)
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DILG to implement billion trees program on Arbor Day in Surigao Sur
by Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 16 (PIA) –- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Office in Surigao del Sur will undertake a "billion trees program" on Arbor Day, June 25, through the assistance of the provincial, city and municipal officials.
DILG Provincial Director Pedrito Alacaba said the billion trees program, which aims to combat the peril of global warming,is in accordance with DILG Memorandum Circular 2011-21 issued by Interior and Local Government Sec. Jessie Robredo on February 9.
Based on said Circular, barangay officials are enjoined to participate by producing 25,000 seedlings to be distributed to residents for a simultaneous nationwide planting in their own lots or other areas, preferably denuded lands to be designated by the concerned Sangguniang Barangay.
Said local government units are even advised to pass an appropriate ordinance directing all homeowners and building owners to plant trees. (Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA Surigao del Sur)
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Rehab of Wawa Bridge nears completion
by Connie R. Calo
BUTUAN CITY, June 17 -- The rehabilitation of Wawa Bridge in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur will be completed soon. This was learned from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office XIII after Secretary Rogelio L. Singson ordered that all carry-over projects must be completed by the middle of this year.
Sec. Singson said this must be done in order to give focus on the implementation of CY 2011 projects; otherwise, targets envisioned for a better Philippines by the Aquino administration will be jeopardized.
The department targets that by 2014 all national arterial roads are paved and all bridges along the national road are repaired and/or completed by 2016. The DPWH 13 has 68 projects under the CY 2011 Regular Infrastructure Program for a total appropriation of Php 2,387,000,000.
“With an accomplishment of 85.51 percent as of May 31, 2011, repair works, which includes reinforcement/replacement of structural steel component, repair/replacement of dilapidated 228.20 l.m. concrete deck slab, asphalt overlay, painting and electrical lighting and bank protection structure, will be completed on June 30, 2011 as targeted.” Construction OIC-Chief, Engr. Maribeth Burgos announced. (DPWH-13/PIA-Caraga)
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PNoy to stand pat on illegal log ban
by Diamond Year Cupay
BUTUAN CITY, June 17 (PIA) -- “The President is firm on his decision to pursue the total log ban,” Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said today during the Communication and News Exchange Forum held in Philippine Information Agency, Quezon City.
Paje said Executive Order 23 signed by President Benigno Aquino III aims to implement a total log ban in the country.
However, Paje said that the total log ban is being implemented together with Executive Order No. 26 or the National Greening Program to respond to the needs of the wood industry for raw materials. The NGP is also in line with the government’s effort to ensure food security and poverty reduction.
He said program not just aims to take care of the environment but also to teach the people in the community about the benefits of planting trees and different kinds of crops such as coffee, cocoa, mango, and durian.
This will provide income to people especially the upland farmers, while taking care of the environment, he said. (PIA-Caraga)
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DA implements 50% reduction in irrigation service fee
by Imarc Verga
BUTUAN CITY, June 17 (PIA) -- With the high irrigation service fee of the Lower Agusan River Pump Irrigation System (LARPIS) collected from farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is implementing a 50 percent reduction in irrigation service charge.
During the Communication and News Exchange Forum held on Friday at the Philippine Information Agency in Quezon Cit, DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is conducting an ongoing program to lower the irrigation service charge for the farmers.
“The National Irrigation Agency has an on-going subsidy scheme program that provides a reduces the cost by 50 percent of irrigation fee," Usec. Puyat said.
A farmer-leader said that the irrigation service fee costs P9,350 per hectare per annum which farmers can hardly afford. (PIA-Caraga)
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NEDA chief to RDC-Caraga: “Concentrate on key infra interventions”
by Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, June 17 (PIA) – National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General and Secretary for Socio Economic Planning Cayetano Paderanga, Jr. recently said that Caraga Region should concentrate on some of the key infrastructure interventions that the region needs.
Speaking before the members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) during the special full council meeting held in one of the local convention centers here, Paderanga urged the council members to identify infrastructure interventions needed in all areas of the region.
The NEDA chief also enjoined the legislative as well as the national and local government executives to join hands to get some infrastructure investments and realize those infra interventions.
Meanwhile, the official said that Caraga Region or the Northeastern Mindanao will be the key area for the Philippine Tourism Plan. Because of this, he added, the tourism industry will also consider things for the development of tourist destinations in the region.
Paderanga also said officials in Caraga Region must consider to “exploit” the agricultural potential of the region.
“We must take advantage of the richness of agricultural products that the region has,” Paderanga said.
Meanwhile, Paderanga also asked the RDC members to make sure that the region’s mining industry will become a responsible part in the development process to make it sustainable.
DG Paderanga graced the meeting where newly-sworn RDC chairperson and Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol F. Matugas was formally presented to the council members. (PIA-Caraga)
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Tagalog News: Mga nagawa ng DAR inilahad
by David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hunyo 17 (PIA) -- Sinabi ni Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Paysal Tumog na sa loob ng 23 taon ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)- Agusan del Sur ay nakapag likom at naipamahagi ito ng 119,205 hektaryang lupa sa mga magsasakang benepisaryo ng DAR sa buong lalawigan. Sinabi rin ni PARO Tumog na mahigit kumulang mga 60 porsyento ng lupang kanilang nalikom ay galing sa alienable and disposable land na pag-aari ng pamahalaan; at ang natirang 40 porsyento ay nakuha sa pamamagitan ng Land Bank of the Philippines, na sya ring nag takda ng halaga ng mga ito.
Ayon kay Cristino Sampoton, isang kawani sa DAR, nahigitan nila ng 103 porsyento ang target na 4,257 hektarya nang maipamahagi ang 4,380 hektaryang lupain sa 2,656 na agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB).
Sinabi naman ni Eliseo Bastarech ng DAR, hindi lamang paglilikom at pagpamahagi ang kanilang tungkulin. Kasama din ang "land tenure improvement" na nangangalap ng pondo para suportahan ang mga ARBs, tulad ng mga programang imprastrakturang ng pagsasaka na nagkahalaga ng P300 milyon, at ang Minssad (Mindanao Sustainable Settlement Area Development) na nagkahalaga ng P800 milyon para sa anim na mga bayan tulad ng San Luis, Talacogon, Prosperidad, San Francisco, Veruela and Bunawan.
“Ipinatutupad din namin ang stratehiyang agrarian reform community (ARC) para lubusang magamit ang kukonting pondo para maipakita ang komprehensibong program ng agraryo. Ang ARC ay binubuo ng mga barangay sa isang bayan kung saan ang mga benepisaryo ay binibigyan ng tulong pang agraryo. Mula noong 1993 hanggang ngayon, ang tanggapan namin ay nakabuo ng 24 na ARCs,” sabi ni Bastarech.
Isa pang programa ng DAR ay ang agrarian justice na binubuo ng "agrarian legal assistance" at ang "adjucation of agrarian cases."
Ipinagmamalaki naming na umabot kami sa ganito ka tagal sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa mga magsasaka. Umaasa kaming marami pang taon ang aming mararating at siniseguro naming palagi kaming handang magbigay ng aming serbisyo sa mga magsasaka,” sabi ni PARO Tumog. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
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Tagalog News: RDC Chair tinanggap ang hamon para sa mas mabuting Caraga Region
ni Diamond Year Cupay
BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 17 (PIA) -- Sinabi kamakailan lamang ng bagong pinuno ng Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) at Gobernador ng probinsiya ng Surigao del Norte Dr. Sol F. Matugas na handa siyang humarap sa mga pagsubok ng posisyon, at umaasa na maganda ang hinaharap kapag may isang malakas na alyansa ng RDC.
Sa isang pagpupulong ng buong konseho ng RDC, binigyang diin ni Gov. Matugas ang kahalagahan ng bawa’t isa sa kaunlaran ng Caraga Region.
“Mahalagang sabihin na kailangan natin ang isip an at puso ng isa’t isa upang maipagpatuloy ang pagbuo ng isang malakas at maunlad na Caraga Region na minsan nang inilarawan na pinakamahirap – mas mahirap pa sa ARMM,” ani Gov. Matugas.
Nanumpa bilang bagong RDC chair ng rehiyon si Gov. Matugas noong June 10, 2011 na ginanap sa palasyo ng MalacaΓ±ang na pinangunahan ng Pangulong Aquino na mismong pumili sa kanya upang mamuno sa nasabing konseho. (PIA-Caraga)
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Tagalog News: Real Property Tax Raffle Bonanza inilunsad ng Surigao del Sur
ni Imarc Verga
BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 17 (PIA) -- Handa nang ilunsad ng Provincial Government ng Surigao del Sur sa pamamagitan ng City Treasurer’s Office ang Real Property Tax Raffle Bonanza.
Ayon kay Cripa Geli, Assistant Provincial Treasurer ng lungsod, ang caravan ay may 19 na sasakyan na kumakatawan sa 17 munisipalidad at 2 lungsod na magiging representasyon ng okasyon sa pamamagitan ng Grand Parade na gaganapin sa pagbubukas okasyon sa Hunyo 17, kasabay sa selebrasyon ng ika-51 Araw ng Surigao del Sur sa Hunyo 19.
Nilunsad ng opisyal ang nasabing kaganapan na naglalayong hikayatin ang mga taxpayers na magbayad ng kanilang kasalukuyan at/o delingkwenteng mga bayarin. Ito ay magaganap sa Provincial Sports Complex pagkatapos ng parada bilang unang bahagi ng programa sa pagbubukas ng pagdiriwang, dagdag ni Geli. (PIA-Caraga)
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Tagalog News: Pangulong Aquino hindi babawiin ang total log ban – Sec. Paje
ni Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 17 (PIA) –- Sinabi ngayon ni Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje na hindi kailanman babawiin ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang panukala na nakasaad sa Executive Order No. 23 o ang total log ban.
Ito ang pahayag ng Kalihim matapos tanungin ni Joy Morano ng Radyo ng Bayan Butuan sa ginawang Communication and News Exchange (CNEX) Forum ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA) kung saan ang Butuan ay isa sa limang live points na isinahimpapawid sa buong bansa sa pamamagitan ng NBN at Radyo ng Bayan.
Ayon kay Paje, si Pangulong Aquino ay naninindigan na at hindi niya babawiin ang total logging ban. “Siya po’y naninindigan na at sinasabi niyang ito ang tamang soulsyon,” ani Paje.
Dagdag ni Paje, sinabi diumano ni Pangulong Aquino na kung may iilang nakakaramdam ng kahirapan, ito naman ay dahil sa direksyon ng pamahalaan na pangalagaan ang kalikasan tungo sa mga susunod na henerasyon.
Samantala, sinabi ni Paje na ang Pangulong Aquino ay may magandang solusyon sa problemang ito sa pamamagitan ng “National Greening Program”.
“Alam n’yo po, ang pagtatanim ng puno dito sa Pilipinas ay inaabot lang ng walo hanggang sampung taon. Kung tayo po ay nagtanim na noon, siguro in our lifetime, puwede tayong mag-harvest three times,” sabi ni Paje.
Sinabi rin ni Paje na nararapat lang na magtanim ng kahoy dahil madaling tumutubo ang mga ito dito sa bansa lalung-lalo na sa Mindanao.
Aniya, kailangang-kailangan diumano ang pagtatanim ng mga punongkahoy upang maiwasan ang mga pagbaha.
“Bakit naman po natin puputulin ‘yung natural forest na ‘yun naman ay para sa ating climate program at para sa susunod na henerasyon… kaya naman po binabaha na diyan sa Butuan at sa ibat’-ibang lugar dahil hindi po natin inaalagaan ang ating kagubatan,” dagdag ni Paje.
Dahil dito, sinabi ni Paje na ang direksyon ng pamahalaan ay ituloy ang “National Greening Program” at samahan ng ibang crops ng agrikultura katulad ng kape, cacao at ibang crops at sa ganun ay dito na aasa ang mga mamamayan sa mga produktong ito at hindi na sa kagubatan. (PIA-Caraga)
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Cebuano News: Pilipinas miapil sa 47 ka mga nasud aron magmugna og green fund mechanisms
ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Hunyo 17 (PIA) -- Ang Pilipinas miapil sa 47 ka mga laing nasod alang sa pagmugna ug mekanismo aron makasulod sa Green Climate Fund nga mo-ayuda pagtabang pinansyal sa climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives sa nagmalamboong kalibutan.
"Singapore and the Philippines are the only Southeast Asian countries that will be involved in this work," si Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice-Chairperson Mary Ann Lucille Sering miingon niadtong Huwebes atol sa gipahigayong programa nga “Talking Points” sa Radyo ng Bayan.
Siya miingon nga ang Pilipinas nailhan na sa mga climate change initiatives niini, nga maoy tinubdan sa mga pagdayeg gikan sa internasyunal nga komunidad.
Ang maong inisyatibo naglakip pag balaod sa Republic Act 9729 (Climate Change Act of 2009), pagpasiugda og alternatibong enerhiya ug lain pang low-carbon measures, paglakip sa disaster risk reduction sa lokal nga lebel ug pagmugna sa CCC nga maoy magkoordinar, mag monitor ug mag asister sa mga climate change-related nga mga programa ug aksyon sa gobyerno.
Si Sering miingon nga ubay-ubayng mga nasod ug partners na ang misaad og inisyal nga US$30 billion nga pundo, hangtod sa 2012.
"They're pledging to raise at least US$ 100 billion by 2020," siya miingon.
Siya miingon nga ang pagtrabaho sa maong mga mekanismo alang sa mga nasangpit nang mga programa mahuman karong tuiga o sa 2012.
Ang Pilipinas usa ka nagmalamboong nasod uban ang daghang polusyon o ang gitawag nga emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) nga binuga sa mga sakyanan ug pabrika nga maoy makapa-aghat sa climate change o pabag-o bag-ong klima.
Si Sering miingon nga ang Pilipinas nagpabilin pa gihapong usa sa mga nasod nga apektado sa climate change, mao nga ang gobyerno aktibo gayod sa mahinungdanong paghagbas sa GHG emissions sa debelop nga mga nasod.
Usa sa mga sangpotanan sa climate change nga una nang gitumbok sa mga eksperto naglakip sa pagtaas sa sea level ug pagdasdas sa nagkadaghang dautang panahon.
Ang CCC motabang sa mga lokal government units (LGUs) sa tibuok nasod aron pag preparar ug haom nga mga climate change action plans.
Ug ang maong mga plano magtinguha pagtabang pauswag sa kalig-on sa LGUs batok climate change.
Si Sering usab miingon nga ang CCC molantaw usab kung unsaon sa mga LGUs sa Pilipinas nga maka kuha og pundo alang sa maong climate change inititiatives.
Siya miingon ang Pilipinas una nang mihanyag ug proposal para sa langyaw’ng pundo alang sa climate change-related nga mga inisyatibo nga naglangkob sa technical assistance ug capacity-building.
Ang maong proposal posibleng ma-aprubahan sa dili madugay, ingon ni Sering, kini base sa iyang mga pakig-diskusyon tali sa Europa uban ang laing mga parte kabahin na sa maong butang.
Ang pundong hinabang nga mokabat sa tulo ka milyon nga Euros gamiton kini para pagsuporta sa mga nagkalain-laing climate change adaptation ug mitigation measures sa nasod, siya miingon.
Siya midumili una paghinganlan sa mga grants source niini, apan, nanagana nga hulaton usa ang resulta sa maong proposal.
Ang climate change adaptation measures maoy makahatag ug katakus sa nasod nga makasugakod sa climate change. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
