Caraga execs to hold golf tournament for a cause
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, May 28 (PIA) --
An open golf tournament with a cause sponsored by the Association of Caraga
Executives (ACE), an organization of all regional directors and heads of
offices of government offices in the region, will be held on July 6 to 8 at
Pueblo De Oro Golf and Country Club (POGCC) in Cagayan de Oro City.
Proceeds of the Caraga Executives Open (CEO)
Golf Tournament will go to the Por Cristo Foundation, Inc., a home for
abandoned elders in the region.
According to Atty. Francisco Pobe, Caraga
Regional Elections Director and ACE President, the tournament will be using the
36-hole modified stable ford competition 75 percent of handicap; 2 days to play
(36 holes); best 18 holes score for two days to count.
Pobe added the Stableford points corresponding
to the player’s net scores are as follows: one point for one over par, two
points for par, three points for one under par, four points for two under par,
five points for three under par, six points for four under par and negative six
points for legitimate hole-in-one.
The tournament will be played in accordance with
the Rules of Golf of the Royal and Ancient Golf of St. Andrews/ the USGA/
applicable tournament and local rules of Pueblo De Oro Golf and Country Club.
Pobe further said the tournament is open to all
amateur golfers who have the June 2012 “handicap” (HDCP) certified by their
club. Players must indicate their category as men’s, seniors, or ladies upon registration.
Seniors must be 55 years old and above. One category per registration is
required.
Also, Pobe said players must pick up their balls
after putting one over par, to hasten the play and to avoid disqualification.
They must also use blue tees for men, white tees for seniors, and red tees for
ladies.
The June 2012 official handicap of the club
shall be used. Non-POGCC members must submit handicaps/index duly certified by
their Club Secretary of Manager. Players who cannot submit a handicap will automatically
be assigned a “zero” handicap.
The tournament committee reserves the right to
adjust the handicap of players as it deems fit in the best interest of the
tournament. Lower handicap must be used for those players who are members of
two or more clubs, except for POGCC members.
Winners in the different categories will be
receiving trophies, such as the player with the lowest gross; lowest net; Class
A, B, C, and D Champions; and Seniors and Ladies with their runners-up.
(RER/PIA-Caraga)
Archeologists to resume excavation of remaining
Balangay boats in Butuan
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 28 (PIA) -- Six field
archeologists from the National Museum of the Philippines in Metro Manila
arrived here recently to resume the excavation of the remaining six out of nine
balangay boats in Ambangan, Barangay Libertad, this city; three had already
been excavated in the late 70s.
Erlisa Magdale, museum guide and curator of the
Caraga region’s national museum said the field archeologists were given one
month to finish the excavation of the remaining balangay boats in Barangay
Libertad believed to be the site of the old Butuan River where these Balangay
boats traversed, and used by the neighboring empires and islands to trade with
the natives.
The new excavation activity was made early this
year following the excavation mapping conducted in December 2011 with personnel
from the National Museum, Magdale said.
The realization of the project was made possible
because in the entire Asian region, it is only in the Philippines, particularly
in Barangay Libertad, where Balangay boats were discovered and excavated.
There were actually nine balangays recovered
here but only three were already excavated. The first balangay, now preserved
and displayed in the National Museum-Caraga established right at the excavation
site in Purok Ambangan, Brgy. Libertad, was radiocarbon tested and was dated to
year 320 AD.
The second boat was dated 1250 AD, and is now
located at the Maritime Hall of the National Museum in Manila. The third
balangay was transferred to the Butuan Regional Museum and is still preserved.
The six other boats, which are yet to be
excavated, remain in their original waterlogged condition which is proven to be
the best way to preserve the said artifacts. These are the boats which the
archaeologists will excavate.
The first wooden watercraft excavated in
Southeast Asia, the balangay is only found in the Philippines where a flotilla
of such prehistoric wooden boats exists. Examination and extensive
investigation reveals that the extant boats found in the excavation site date
back to 320 AD, 90 AD, and 1250 AD.
The discovery of the balangay boats made
Butuanons claimed that “In the beginning, there was no Philippines but there
was already Butuan,” thus tagging the city as “The Ancient Kingdom of Butuan.”
Because of these historic events, the Balangay
Festival was adopted by the city government to promote this historic city in
Northeastern Mindanao region, and is held every month of May, in time with the
city’s annual fiesta celebration in honor of patron saint – St. Joseph the
Worker.
This year, the city government declared
“Balangay Festival Silver Year” after former President Corazon C. Aquino
declared the balangays of Butuan as National Cultural Treasures through
Presidential Proclamation No. 86, dated March 9, 1987.
As per Proclamation No. 1, series of 2012 signed
by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr., March 9, 2012 to March 8, 2013 was
declared Balangay (wooden boats) Festival Silver Year. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
P99.4-M dev’t fund to support Agusan del Norte
projects
By Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, May 28 (PIA) --
Agusan del Norte recently reported that the 20 percent Development Fund (DF) of
the province has reached to P99.4 million this year to finance its social
development, economic development, and environmental management projects.
Accordingly, projects of the provincial
government were already lined up for fund support which is allocated by the
executive and legislative departments.
Under the Social Development Projects, P1.1
million is allocated to finance portable water supply projects; P8.5 million is
for the conversion of health centers, hospitals, and new equipment; P25.6
million, to establish the Manpower and Human Resources Development and
Productivity Enhancement Centers; and P1.2 million, to buy lands for the
informal settlers who were victims of calamities in the province.
For economic development, P3.2 million has been
set aside for livelihood and entrepreneurship projects; P46 million, to support
infrastructure; and under environmental management, P2.4 million has been
allocated for the construction of drainage, canals, flood controls, and shore
protection; while reforestation and urban greening projects get P1.1 million.
With this development, the provincial government
said that they have used the fund in accordance with the law of 20 percent
Development Fund. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
.
CSC 112th anniv promotes heroism in public
service
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, May 28 (PIA) --
The 112th anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service Commission (CSC) is set
to promote, showcase, and celebrate heroism in public service and to highlight
stories of triumph and sacrifice of the men and women in government.
In a press statement, CSC chairman Francisco
Duque III said the month-long celebration, with the theme “Kawani, Ikaw Ay
Isang Lingkod Bayani,” will feature six events all of which enjoin all
government agencies to take part in the conduct of the specific activities.
First on the list is the R.A.C.E. to Serve II
Fun Run which is slated on September 8, at 5:00 a.m. at the Quirino Grandstand,
Luneta, Manila. The activity will officially commence the 2012 anniversary
celebration.
From the success of last year’s fun run, CSC is
making this year’s run bigger and better. The run is now open to all government
employees and private individuals who are Filipino citizens, the CSC said.
The categories are for the men and women in
three-, five-, and 10-kilometer distances. First placers will receive P3,000,
P4,000 and P5,000, respectively. Second placers will receive P2,000, P3,000 and
P4,000, respectively, while prizes for the third placers are P1,000, P2,000 and
P3,000, respectively.
Registration period is from June to August at
the CSC National Capital Region and all its field offices. Registration fee is
P150 per runner.
The Honor Awards Program (HAP) Rites for the
2012 Presidential Lingkod Bayan, Dangal ng Bayan, and CSC Pagasa awardees,
serve as the culmination of the search for Outstanding Public Officials and
Employees.
The awards, as provided by laws, are conferred
by the President and slated in September at the MalacaΓ±an Palace. Heads of
government agencies, especially those with 2012 national winners, are expected
to attend the rites.
To advocate Filipino culture and the arts, the
CSC will once again be launching the government choral competition as a
follow-up to last year’s choral competition. Each choral should have 20 to 30
members who are state workers, and not under job orders and contracts of
service.
Winners will receive P100,000 while the first,
second, and third runners-up will get P70,000, P50,000 and P30,000 cash prizes.
The other four finalists will also get P15,000 each. Announcements on the
registration deadline and regional finals will be made on the CSC website and
the official Philippine Civil Service Anniversary blog
www.celebratepcsa.wordpress.com.
“Give it Your Best Shot!” Nationwide Photography
Contest for Government Employees is designed to promote the Lingkod Bayani
concept among civil servants by capturing through photographs the essence of
public service at its best in the Filipino’s everyday life.
The photography contest is open to all public
servants or government employees regardless of appointment status, except
employees of the CSC and all other government employees affiliated with the
National Press Club (NPC) and Press Photographers of the Philippines (PPP).
First, second, and third place winners will be
awarded with P20,000, P10,000 and P5,000, respectively. A consolation prize of
P1,000 will also be given to the top 10 finalists.
Winning photos will be used for various
publications and marketing collateral of the CSC as well as exhibited in
selected government galleries. As incentive to participants, all entries will
have the chance to be featured in the various materials of the CSC and other
government agencies.
As a continuing event, this year’s essay writing
contest aims to foster a deeper understanding among civil servants on the
existing and emerging challenges to public service as they work for a gender
responsive, accessible, courteous and effective public service.
The competition also aims to create value by
reflecting on the realities of women and men in Philippine society, both for
the contestants and the readers of the winning essays.
To be eligible for the contest, participants
should be government employees except those under job orders and contracts of
service. Also, CSC employees and their relatives within the third degree of
consanguinity or affinity are disqualified to participate. The top three
winning entries has a corresponding cash prize of P30,000, P20,000 and P10,000,
for the first, second and third places, respectively.
As a special treat for government employees, the
CSC will be partnering once again with government agencies and private
companies to provide special treats for government employees such as free rides
on public transportation and discounts on department stores.
Having these events that are already lined-up,
Duque informed all CSC Regional and Field Offices as well as government
agencies to have the option to do their own version of the Fun Run. All
nationwide contests will require the assistance of CSC Regional Offices and
Field Offices.
For information and queries, contact the Public
Assistance and Information Office thru telephone number 931-4180. Queries may
also be emailed at csc_pr@yahoo.com, or text by keying in TEXTCSC_, and send to
0917-8398272. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
60 barangays undergo e-CBMS training
By Rex Diaz
BASILISA, Dinagat Islands, May 28 (PIA) -- A
total of 60 barangays in Dinagat Islands have benefited from an eight-day
training and workshop on e-Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS) updating
Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR/CCA) in
Surigao City recently.
The event was in response to the Department of
the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) comprehensive program, Enhancing
local government units’ (LGU) capacity on Climate Change Adaptation and
Disaster Risk Reduction Management. The program seeks to diagnose, evaluate,
assess and check the capacity and resources of LGUs in terms of disaster
preparedness, institutional capacity- orientation-briefing on DRR/CCA,
mainstreaming DRR/CCA into the Local Processes and Systems; and Infrastructure
Audit and Financial Resources.
The activity was also participated by selected
Provincial Planning and Development Office personnel, Municipal Planning and
Development Coordinators, and technical staff of the five municipalities of the
province, namely: Basilisa, San Jose, Dinagat, Loreto and Cagdianao with the
enumerators from their respective barangays.
The training was facilitated by e-CBMS technical
team from the Province of Agusan del Sur. (RER/FEA/MPDC-Basilisa/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
ASEAN invites youth to join drawing contest
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, May 28 (PIA) --
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat is inviting all
young people from ASEAN member-states to participate in the “ASEAN Drawing
Contest,” highlighting the 45th ASEAN founding anniversary celebration.
Anchored on the theme, “ASEAN: One Community,
One Destiny,” the activity will be held on May to July 2012. The contest
promotes youth artistic talent and highlight what unites youth around the
region. It also promotes reflection and understanding of youth on ASEAN
community-building and integration efforts towards the ASEAN Community by 2015,
one community and one destiny, as well as to encourage youth participation in
ASEAN activities, a press statement from ASEAN said.
Nyan Lynn, deputy secretary-general for ASEAN
Political and Security Community said the competition aimed to raise awareness
about ASEAN among its youths and encourage their participation in the
celebration of its 45th anniversary slated on August 8, 2012.
Lynn also said the activities target young
nationals from all ten ASEAN member-states in two categories. The first
category covers young people aged of six to 12, while the second category will
cover teens aged 13 to 18 years old.
Further, Lynn emphasized that in order to reach
out to as many youth participants as possible in all the ten ASEAN countries,
the competition will be held in two rounds. The first round will be held at the
national level, while the second round will be conducted regionally.
Participants will submit their works and
drawings to the ASEAN national secretariat in their country of residence. Each
ASEAN national secretariat will then choose one best drawing from each age
category to be submitted to the ASEAN secretariat for a region-wide contest.
The two selected drawings from each ASEAN member
state will be uploaded using social media such as Facebook, Flicker and Twitter
for public viewing. Two final winners from the two categories will be selected
by the general public by clicking the ‘Like’ button on the ASEAN secretariat’s
Facebook page.
All entries must be submitted to the ASEAN
National Secretariat in each ASEAN Member State by Friday, July 6, 2012. For
more inquiries and details, visit the ASEAN website at www.asean.org/20061.htm.
Registration form is also available and can be downloaded on the said website.
Interested parties may also contact the Public Outreach and Civil Society
Division, through Deborah Tomasowa (deborah.tomosaowa@asean.org) or Nuraini
Soulisa (nuraini@asean.org) of the ASEAN Secretariat
Entries will not be accepted after the deadline
and only one entry is allowed per participant.
Received entries will not be returned and will
be the property of the ASEAN National Secretariat and the ASEAN Secretariat,
for which, they reserved the right of usage of the drawings.
Winner of each category will receive
certificates signed by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, a cash prize of USD 500
each and ASEAN books and souvenirs. Other participants whose works are selected
to represent their respective countries will receive certificates for their participations
and USD 100. (RER/PIA-Caraga/ASEAN)
NYC, MinDA to tap youth in Mindanao peace, dev’t
efforts
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, May 28
(PIA) -- The National Youth Commission (NYC) has signed an agreement with
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to put the Mindanao Youth Agenda into
action and to encourage wider youth participation in Mindanao’s peace-building
and socio-economic development.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) is expected to
empower the Mindanao youth in realizing the changes they aspire, as the
government recognizes their potential to bring about change.
“The Mindanao Youth Agenda shall serve as NYC’s
banner program for the island-region,” said assistant secretary Earl Saavedra,
NYC commissioner for Mindanao in a press report sent to Philippine Information
Agency.
NYC has formulated a youth agenda to promote
peace, racial and cultural tolerance, respect for the environment and rights of
children, youth, women and the indigenous peoples.
Among the key features of the youth agenda is
the setting up of a youth desk in all government offices in Mindanao to cater
to their immediate needs in accordance with the mandate of each agency.
Saavedra said that with the MoA, the youth
agenda shall form part of the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework
Plan, which is the island-region’s peace and development roadmap for the period
2011 to 2030.
The Mindanao 2020 stipulates the participation
of the youth as an essential element for the success of various peace and
development interventions in Mindanao.
“Mindanao 2020 provides meaningful roles for the
children and youth in Mindanao,” said secretary Luwalhati Antonino, MinDA
chairperson.
Antonino added that the youth sector must be
actively involved in development initiatives in ways that fully recognize and
harness their potential intellectual and creative contributions.
“We cannot deny the fact that the youth accounts
for a sizable segment of our population,” said Antonino.
She said that young Mindanawons represent a
great deal of the island's labor force, making them the principal stakeholders
of any long term planning exercise. “They are indispensable in realizing the
visions and goals of Mindanao 2020,” said Antonino.
The MoA signing was one of the highlights of the
recently held Mindanao Economic Policy Forum that gathered at least 100
multi-sectoral participants to flesh out a development research agenda in
support to the Mindanao 2020.
This blueprint to Mindanao’s peace and
development envisions Mindanawons of all cultural or socio-economic backgrounds
to have attained a sustainably uplifted quality of life through their
collective achievement of a peaceful, developed, autonomous and integrated
Mindanao.
The formulation of the Plan took two years in
the making with the participation of government bodies, private sector,
non-government organizations, civil society, academe, interfaith groups, women
and youth.
Mindanao 2020 addresses various challenges and
opportunities in the island-region not only within the context of securing
peace amid a history of conflict, but also in harnessing its inherently rich
economic potentials for the benefit primarily of all Mindanawons.
(NCLM/MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: Red Cross ng Agusan del Sur,
pinarangalan
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mayo 28 (PIA) -- Tumanggap
kamakailan ng parangal ang Philippine Red Cross sa Agusan del Sur para sa
kanilang pag-abot at paglampas pa sa kanilang fund generation campaign target
para sa taong 2011.
Ang parangal na “Resource Generation Award of
Excellence” ay tinanggap ng ahensya mga tatlong linggo na ang nakaraan ni PRC
administrator Cristyll Basan.
Ito ay pinirmahan nina PRC secretary general
Gwendolyn Pang at PRC chairman at chief executive Richard Gordon. Ang mga
sangay ng PRC sa Rizal, Manila at Agusan del Sur lamang ang nakatanggap ng
naturang parangal.
Noong Disyembre ng nakaraang taon, ang PRC
Agusan del Sur administrator ay nakatanggap din ng parangal bilang pagkilala sa
kanilang napakahalagang kontribusyon sa pagtaas ng boluntaryong donasyon ng
dugo mula 80 porsyento hanggang 100 porsyento sa pamamagitan ng regular mobile
blood donation sa buong Agusan del Sur.
“Aming inihandog ang parangal na ito noong
Disyembre sa aming mobile collection team na pinamumunuan nina PRC Medtech
Julie Lapides at D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital medtech Napoleon Montejo para sa
kanilang walang kapagorang pagsisikap para maka kolekta ng dugo sa mga
nagbubulontaryong magbigay ng kanilang dugo sa pamamagitan ng mobile blood
collection,” Administrator Basan said.
Ayon kay PRC Medtech Julie Lapidez, nasa wastong
direksyon ang kanilang pagkokolekta ng dugo mula ng magsimula ang taong ito
dahil tumama na sa 42.16 porsyento ang kanilang nakolekta noong katapusan ng
Abril base sa kanilang talaan.
“Sa pamamagitan ng panlalawigang pamahalaan na
nagsasagawa ng medical outreach program ng halos tatlong bayan bawat buwan,
kami ay sasali upang mapadali at mapag isa ang pagbigay ng serbisyong medical
sa mga tao at ang pakipaghalubilo at pakipag ugnayan ng mga nagbibigay serbisyo
sa kanila,” Lapidez said.
Para sa buwan ng Mayo, tatlong bayan ang naka
lista kung saan gaganapin ang medical and dental outreach at ito ay ang mga
bayan ng Veruela, Del Monte sa Talacogon at Sibagat. Para naman sa buwan ng
Hunyo, iisa pa lamang sa ngayon ang naitala at ito ay ang bayan ng Loreto.
(DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano news: Sonia Brady maoy top choice isip
ambassador ngadto sa China sulti sa Palasyo
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Mayo 28 (PIA) -- Midepensa ang
MalacaΓ±ang kagahapon Domingo sa pagpili niini kang career diplomat Sonia Brady
isip ambassador sa nasod ngadto sa China og miingon nga ang siya halapad na nga
kasinatian isip opisyales sa Department of Foreign Affairs nga adunay igong
katakos nga modumala sa maong gimbuhaton.
Matud ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Abigail Valte nga si Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III piho nga nagpili kang
Brady kay siya adunay katakos isip “someone who could hit the ground
running."
“Sonia Brady was chosen because, if you
remember, the President said he wanted someone who could hit the ground
running, someone who is already familiar with the culture of the host country,
its politics, essentially the ways of the host country,” matud pa ni Valte.
“And if you look at the background of Ambassador
Brady, she is an old hand at foreign affairs, she formerly was our ambassador
to China in 2006 to 2010, and prior to that, her very first posting outside the
country was to Beijing, so she is someone who fulfills the requirements for the
post,” pagdugang pa niya.
Si Valte mipadayag og kumpiyansa nga sa iyang
mga kredensyal, si Bradly molusot gyud sa Commission of Appointments.
“Ambassador Brady is a career diplomat so we
don’t want to sound arrogant and say they will have no problem with her, but
with her extensive experience in foreign affairs and foreign relations we are
confident that she will ably answer the questions of the members of the
Commission on Appointments,” sulti ni Valte.
Si Bradley mialagad isip Philippine Ambassador
ngadto sa Beijing gikan niadtong tuig 2006 hangtod Enero 2010. Siya usab
mialagad isip Ambassador ngadto sa Thailand gikan niadtong tuig 2002 hangtod
2003, ug Ambassador ngadto sa Myanmar gikan niadtong tuig 1995 hangtod 1999.
Siya usab natudlo isip Undersecretary of Foreign
Affairs for Policy gikan Hulyo tuig 2003 ngadto 2006; isip special assistant,
unya assistant secretary sa Office of the Secretary for Policy and
Coordination; director sa Office of Asia Pacific; assistant, unya principal
assistant, ngadto sa Office of Political Affairs.
Si Bradley mikuha sa iyang Master of Arts in
International Relations degree gikan sa University of Southern California, B.S.
Foreign Service degree gikan sa University of the Philippines, ug AB Journalism
degree gikan sa University of Sto. Tomas. (RER/SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
