By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 15 (PIA) –- More than 500
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Caraga Region have undergone training to
avail the P2 billion reintegration program of the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA).
This was learned from Ritchel Molero,
OWWA-Caraga information officer.
She cited that since the implementation of the
program, no OFW from the region have benefitted yet from this national
government-initiated program aimed to assist the OFWs and their beneficiaries
to establish entrepreneurship and business opportunities for livelihood.
However, the official said when the program was
already implemented here in the region, more than 500 OFWs and their families
have already undergone entrepreneurial training and development (ETD).
Molero further said the training is one of the
requirements so that qualified applicants can avail the program where they
(OFWs) can borrow money from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
Part of the reintegration preparedness includes
trainings on value formation, financial literacy, EDT, techno-skills and
capacity building trainings.
The official also said requirements of the more
than 500 OFWs who have qualified from this region were already submitted to LBP
and PNB for further verification and approval. Molero added these banks will do
the final approval of the application, as well as to identify the amount that
will be granted to the applicant.
To date, Molero said the banks are still on the
process of verifying the loan application and hopefully the grant will be
released the soonest possible time.
Because of this, OWWA-Caraga is already
coordinating with their officials in the central office so that they will
directly coordinate with the said banking institutions so that loan
applications of OFWs in the region will be approved immediately.
In this way, Molero said OFWs in Caraga Region
can benefit this program of the Aquino government that will surely help them
and their family in alleviating poverty, thus decreasing poverty incidence in
the region.
The P2 billion Reintegration Fund for enterprise
development is a loan facility, in cooperation with the LBP and the DBP, where
a member or their legal dependent can avail of P300,000 to P2 million loan
grant. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA-Agusan del Norte continues to implement
scholarship program
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 15 (PIA) –- To assist poor but
deserving students to obtain technical education, the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Caraga Region continues to implement
scholarship program, offering the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP).
TESDA Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Dr.
Florencio Sunico, Jr. said their office can only accommodate 400 slots and is
open to high school graduates who are at least 18 years old.
The official also said qualified scholars can
only choose four courses as these are the only courses that are available or
offered in the region. These are: agro-forestry, hotel management,
construction, and electronics.
Scholars must finish their chosen course on the
specific period and must undergo assessment after finishing the course or
training for free.
According to TESDA, TWSP is a facility to
provide the necessary supply to address the skills demand of the industries.
Specifically, it aims to provide skills and
competencies to job seekers through appropriate training programs that directly
connected to existing jobs for immediate employment.
It also seeks to empower private education and
training institutions to offer relevant training programs that meet job
requirements.
Aside from high school graduates, this is also
open to those employed but ready for a career change, underemployed or
unemployed, with or without experience and ready to undergo training in the
selected priority sectors and other sectors with identified highly critical
skills requirements.
For 2012, MalacaΓ±ang proposed a P2.725-billion
budget for the agency, which is about P93 million less than its 2011
appropriations.
But TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said
that despite the reduced budget, they aimed to provide as many as 1.3 million
individuals with various technical vocational training education and
training-related services.
TESDA’s two scholarship programs –TWSP and the
Private Education Student Fund Assistance (PESFA) – gets P700 million and P200
million, respectively, TESDA said. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
Social Dev’t Committee elects new chairperson,
co-chair
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 15 (PIA) -– Member-agencies of
the Regional Development Council – Social Development Committee (RDC-SDC)
elected a new chairperson and co-chair during its 2nd quarter meeting held recently
in one of the local convention centers here.
Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) Caraga Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat was elected as the new
chairperson and Department of Health (DOH) Caraga Regional Director Ariel
Valencia as the co-chair.
During the RDC-SDC Reorganizational Meeting on
September 28, 2010, former Regional Director of DOH-Caraga Dr. Leonita Gorgolon
was elected as chairperson and Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) Caraga Regional Dir. Florencio Sunico Jr. as the
co-chairperson.
However, Dir. Sunico was transferred to Iloilo
City in June 2011 and Dir. Jabagat of DSWD was consequently elected as co-chair
while on March 5, 2012, Dir. Gorgolon was also transferred to San Fernando as the
new regional director of DOH Region III relinquishing the Caraga post to Dr.
Valencia, the new regional director.
As one of the sectoral committees of the RDC,
the SDC holds a significant role as the clearing house of the RDC for areas on
social concerns in the region. As such, it has to be effective and efficient
through having a full set of officers and secretariat staff, among others.
Hence, the RDC-SDC has now elected the new
chairperson and co-chair who will then serve for the remaining term of former
chairperson Dir. Gorgolon.
As the newly elected chair, Dir. Jabagat
expressed her acceptance and commitment to her new tasks and stressed that she
will do her best. Dir. Valencia also thanked the members for trusting him and
takes the role as an opportunity for him to help improve and sustain the
programs on social development for Caraga.
The RDC-SDC is in support to the Aquino
administration’s Philippine Development Goals 2011-2016 on social development.
(RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DepEd-Caraga boosts teachers’ skills for K to 12
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 15 (PIA) -- As support to the
Aquino administration’s Philippine Development Goals 2011-2016, the Department
of Education (DepEd) Caraga is strengthening skills of teachers in the region
to cope with the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program.
Teachers for the basic education are currently
undergoing simultaneous training on the program's curriculum, Conchita Ubay,
elementary education chief, said during the 2nd Quarter Meeting of the Regional
Development Council – Social Development Committee (RDC-SDC).
“DepEd is holding a mass training for Grade-1
teachers on the implementation of K to 12 Basic Education Program. It starts
today up to May 28, 2012. The training is being conducted in different venues
spearheaded by the different Division Offices of Caraga Region,” said Ubay.
The K to 12 Basic Education Program aims to
upgrade the education system in the Philippines to make it competitive with
other countries in the world.
In implementing the program, the following
phases have been adopted: a) Universal kindergarten was offered starting school
year 2011-2012; b) New curriculum for incoming Grade 1 as well as for incoming
high school students (Grade 7 of HS Year 1) will be offered starting 2012-2013;
and c) Senior High School education will be provided by school year 2016-2017.
The key roles in the implementation of the K to
12 Basic Education Program is played by DepEd together with the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) and TESDA.
The local government units, private sector,
government agencies, civil society organizations and other concerned parties
are expected to take the challenges on the roll out of the program.
(RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Conversion of 3 Surigao del Norte state HEIs to
a university, pushed
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 15 (PIA) -- The Regional
Development Council – Social Development Committee recently approved the
endorsement of the proposed integration and conversion of the Surigao State
College of Technology (SSCT) in Surigao City; Surigao National College of
Science and Technology (SNSCT) in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte; and Surigao
del Norte College of Agriculture and Technology (SNCAT) in Mainit, Surigao del
Norte into a Surigao del Norte State University.
The SSCT has already presented its proposal
during the RDC-SDC 1st Quarter Meeting on January 30, 2012 held at the
Goat2geder Restaurant here. After the comments of the SDC were taken by the
SSCT, the proposal was supposed to be presented during the SDC Special Meeting
on February 21, 2012 but was deferred for presentation during the 2nd Quarter
SDC Meeting.
The proponent was required to undertake and
incorporate the recommendation in their proposal before the body can finally
endorse it to the RDC for appropriate action.
The RDC recommended the following to the SSCT:
1) 10-year investment plan for research and extension, including details; 2)
Result of consultation with other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) within
the province regarding the proposal; 3) Result of the consultation with the
state colleges that will be amalgamated with the SSCT; 4) Profile of the
faculty and staff; 5) Investment per student/per capita cost of production; 6)
Core competencies per campus/niche of each campus; and 7) Full documentation of
the proposal.
The proponent has complied with the details and
recommendations required by the body during the 2nd Quarter Meeting held Monday
at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.
Thus, the Social Development Committee approved
the endorsement of said proposal to the Regional Development Council.
SSCT President Dr. Gloria Gemparo reiterated
that the main mission of their institution is to provide relevant, high quality
and sustainable instruction, research, production and extension programs and
services within a culture of credible institutional governance.
With this development, the SSCT is hoping for
the final approval of its proposal in the national level. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
.
DAR projects turned over to beneficiaries
By Genalin P. Luis
BUTUAN CITY, May 15 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III (ARISP-III) had its formal turn-over of some two sub-projects recently.
The recipients were Dacutan Purok-5, Sta. Fe Farm to Market Road (FMR) and the Potable Water System (PWS) level II at Catmonon, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, with Brgy. Sta. Fe, Catmonon and Dacutan (SACADA) ARC.
Projects are funded by the government of Japan through Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) with Yukihiro Kawahara as a consultant team leader vis-a-vis, the government of the Philippines and Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.
The Dakutan to Sta. Fe FMR has a total project cost of P36,272,163 million that covers 5.135-kilometer concrete road benefiting 5, 578 farmers, of whom 443 are agrarian reform beneficiaries of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The project started last June 16, 2011. The potable water system level II (PWS), on the other hand, commenced its construction last July 11, 2011 which has a total project cost of P4,482,630 with 187 number of household served.
Governor Adolph Edward G. Plaza and Cong. Ma. Valentina G. Plaza from the province of Agusan del Sur assisted by Mayor Leonida P. Manpatilan of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony held in the project sites.
In his message, Plaza stressed that people in the barangays should join hands together to have a progressive community.
“These projects were the result of unity and cooperation among the residents of SACADA-ARC. You should sustain these projects, maximize its use to produce high-valued crops,” he further said.
Mayor Manpatilan gladly accepted the projects.
“With these projects, let us double our efforts to become the rice basket of Agusan del Sur. These projects are indeed very helpful in the lives of the farmers, ” she added.
She expressed gratitude to the DAR management and the ARISP III for making the lives of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries better.
Consultant team leader Yukihiro Kawahara of JICA by way of support also shared that they are ready to assist the government and the farmers in the best possible way they could.
“This is just the beginning. What is important is how you utilize the projects and make your lands productive to gain a better quality of life,” he said in his message.
“For twelve long years of waiting, finally the projects were realized. Let us be thankful to God above all for these blessings and to all our stakeholders and partner agencies that become instruments in making our dreams possible," Cong. Plaza also shared.
With the said projects, the residents of SACADA-ARC can now transport their farm products to the market place without hassles. In the same reason, they need not walk few kilometers everyday just to fetch clean, safe drinking water. Water-borne diseases will also be minimized accordingly.
Also present in the above turn-over ceremony were ARDO Alejandro Otacan of DAR Regional Office, PARO II Paysal B. Tumog and PARO I Myrna R. Ferrer of DAR Provincial office, Ms. Imelda Lamboon of Central Project Management Office of ARISP, representatives from DPWH and other government officials. (RER/NCLM/DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Caraga)
DAR turns over P3.8-M potable water system
By Myra Q. Yu
SURIGAO DEL SUR, May 15 (PIA) -- The Department
of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently handed over a potable water system (PWS)
Level II project worth P3.8 million to Adlay, Carrascal, this province.
Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel led the
turnover ceremony together with Vice Mayor Alfred Arreza, DAR Assistant
Regional Director for Operations Alejandro Otacan, Provincial Agrarian Reform
Officer Benjamin Mataksil, DAR officials, Municipal Engineering Office staff,
PARCCOM representative and Barangay Adlay officials.
Said project is funded under Agrarian Reform
Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP III) by the Japanese Government through
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in partnership with Local
Government Unit of Carrascal.
The project will cater to 773 households of
Barangay Adlay. The operation and maintenance of the PWS is a joint venture of
Barangay Adlay and the Adlay Water System and Sanitation Association (AWSSA).
In his speech, Vice Mayor rreza expressed his
gratitude to DAR and ARISP for the realization of said project.
"It’s been years that people of Adlay have
difficulty on their source of potable water and now it is finally
answered," Arreza said.
Meanwhile, Gov. Pimentel encouraged the
recipients to be responsible enough in handling the project and suggested as
well to give contribution that will serve as common fund for the maintenance.
Likewise, ARDO Otacan is impressed for the
continued support extended by the Local Government Units for the success of the
projects’ implementation.
This accomplishment is another milestone for
DAR-Caraga being the lead agency of this project and with the LGU as the
implementing agency. (RER/NGBT/DAR-Surigao del Sur/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
OWWA chief to OFW dependent scholars:
"Bring honors to your parents"
By Ritchel Molero
BUTUAN CITY, May 15 (PIA) –- Overseas Workers
Welfare Administrator (OWWA) Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon challenged
overseas Filipino workers (OFW) dependent-scholars not only to finish their
education but to graduate with honors and exemplary recognition to inspire the
youth and bring honor to their parents.
During her recent visit here to award the
scholarship grant amounting to P220,000 in time with the commemoration of the
30th anniversary of OWWA, the official challenged the scholars to graduate Cum
Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude.
"Study hard... inspire each other and the
youth around you. Bring honors to your OFW parents. There is no better gift you
can ever give to them, than this,” Dimzon said.
Three wives of OFWs were also provided with
death and burial assistance which totaled P460,000. “We know no amount of money
is equivalent to anybody’s life, but this is only one of the myriad services
OWWA is providing you in your state of loss and grief. The cash assistance we
are giving you is “little” but we are hopeful that this will help you start and
augment your earnings in the near future,” Dimzon stressed.
Luciana Cortes, one of the death insurance
beneficiaries is thankful for OWWA benefits. Her husband, Albino Cortes, died
of Acute Massive Aspiration Syndrome in Papua New Guinea on Feb. 26, 2012.
Moreover, more than 60 Caraganon participants of
the Entrepreneurial Development Training were encouraged by Admin. Dimzon to
invest and engage in business emphasizing that being an OFW is not a lifetime
job. (RER/NCLM/OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
DAR to implement ARCCESS in Agusan del Norte
province
By Gil Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, May 15 (PIA) -- The Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) has implemented the Agrarian Reform Community
Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) program.
This, after President Benigno S. Aquino III and
DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes expressed intention to improve the lives of
the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), through the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program Extension with Reform (CARPER) by adopting this new strategy -
the ARCCESS program.
According to Agusan del Norte Provincial
Agrarian Reform Officer Andre Atega, this program will contribute significantly
in improving farm productivity and in turning ARBs into entrepreneurs.
Also, ARCCESS Program Coordinator Raul N.
Hermoso said that among the projects lined up for establishment in the program
after assessment and validation are Tagabaca Grains Center for TAGABACA
Multi-Purpose Cooperative at TAGABACA ARC and Integrated Rice Production and
Marketing for Baliguian Irrigators Association (BIA) at CLIMBBB ARC.
“In Sanghan ARC, AvanceΓ±a Beneficiaries Farmers
Multi-Purpose Cooperative, (ABFMPC) submitted a proposal Rice Production and
Palay Trading for ARCCESS funding. Proposal is already reviewed at the DAR
regional office and now being forwarded at national level for approval,”
Hermoso said.
He added that after the needs assessment, DAR
will hire an accredited professional service provider that will come from
private sectors and non-government organizations (NGOs) to coach the ARB
Organization in day-to-day business operations of common service facilities and
in organizational strengthening activities.
Hermoso further said ARCCESS is a package of
interventions to raise farm income and farm productivity and improve rural
enterprises to become commercially viable.
Meanwhile, Ester Cabalan, DAR-Agusan del Norte
OIC-Chief of the Beneficiaries Development & Coordination Division (BDCD)
said that DAR, in partnership with the Surigao del Norte College of Agriculture
and Technology (SNCAT) has conducted a needs validation to determine specific
interventions that DAR will provide through ARCCESS.
ARCCESS will be implemented as
public-private-partnership where DAR will tap the expertise of the private
sectors and other private institutions to provide professional services to ARB
organizations and link these organizations to agri-markets. (RER/NCLM/DAR-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: Aquino nalipay sa plano sa mga
transport groups nga paubsan ang pamasahe
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Mayo 15 (PIA) -– Gikalipay ni
Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang lakang sa mga grupo sa transportasyon nga
boluntaryong ipaubos ang mga pamasahe sa pampublikong transportasyon human ang
pinakadakong rollback sa presyo sa gasolina karong tuiga.
Sa iyang mensahe atol sa National Transport
Conference nga gipahigayon didto sa Marikina Hotel ug Convention Center
kagahapon Lunes, ang Pangulo miingon ang lakang sa grupo sa transportasyon maoy
simbolo sa ilang kaluoy ngadto sa kalisod nga gisagubang sa mga yanong
katawhang Filipino.
“Saludo ako sa ginawa ninyong rollback sa
pasahe; sa pagbalik ninyo nito sa 8 pesos, mula sa 8.50,” matud sa Pangulo.
Iyang gidayeg ang transport groups, nga
gipangulohan sa 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK) ug mga miyembro niini
alang sa hiniusang tabang niini aron paubsan ang pamasahe.
“Walang pilitan, walang tulakan, walang
bangayan—nagbukal po ito sa pagkukusa, nagbukal ito sa malasakit ninyo sa kapwa
Pilipino. Kabaligtaran nga po ng 1-UTAK ang utak-alimango; nakatuon kayo sa
kolektibong pag-angat ng sambayanang Pilipino,” matud pa niya.
Atol sa maong kalihukan gipresentar sa mga
miyembro sa 1-UTAK sama sa Federation of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association
of the Philippines, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of
the Philippines, ug ang Liga ng Transportasyon at Opereytor sa Pilipinas, Inc.,
ang usa ka manifesto ngadto kang Pangulo isip simbolo sa ilang gikasabotan sa
gilayon nga pagpaubos sa pamasahe.
Ang Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board kagahapon Lunes miingon nga ang minimumfare nga P8 moepekto
karong adlawa Martes, Mayo 15, human kini mipirma sa mando alang sa awtomatik
na rollback sa mga pamasahe sa jeepney, nga gipatas-an ngadto sa P8.50 niadtong
niaging Marso. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
