DSWD, DILG to give death benefits to relatives
of deceased indigent senior citizens
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 6 (PIA) -- To continuously
provide the welfare for senior citizens, the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) signed a joint memorandum circular for the implementation of the Death
Benefit Assistance amounting to P2,000 to the nearest surviving relative of a
deceased indigent senior citizens.
This is in compliance to Republic Act 9994 or
the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
According to Ms. Wilma Geralla, focal person of
DSWD-Caraga, the joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 issued on January 13, 2012 between
Honorable Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of DSWD and the Honorable Secretary
Jesse M. Robredo of DILG is hereby issued for strict implementation concerning
the implementing guidelines on the death benefit assistance to the nearest
surviving relative of the deceased indigent senior citizen.
“This joint Memorandum Circular is applicable to
all local government units nationwide, and shall cover the death benefit
assistance to the surviving legal spouse of the deceased senior citizen.
Provided that in case where the legal spouse is already dead, the death benefit
assistance shall be accorded to the nearest surviving relatives in the
following order of degree of kinship: a) Children; b) Parents; c) Siblings; d)
Grand-parents; e) Grand-children; and f) Uncles and Aunts,” relayed Geralla.
In the event that no one from the
above-mentioned relatives are still living, the benefactor, whether related or
not to the senior citizen, who provides care or who gives any form of
assistance to him/her, and on whom the senior citizen is dependent on for
primary care and material support, as certified by the City or Municipal Social
Welfare and Development Officer (C/M SWDO) shall be the one to receive the
death benefit assistance.
Geralla further said that the death of the
indigent senior citizen shall be reported immediately to the Office of the
Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) by the legal spouse who survives the deceased
senior citizen; or where no spouse who survives the decedent, by any of the
nearest surviving relative who took care of the deceased according to order of
degree of kinship with the deceased indigent senior citizen as provided under
Section 1 of this joint Memorandum; or in the absence of the nearest surviving
relative, by the benefactor of the deceased indigent senior citizen.
Also, the OSCA, through the C/M SWDO shall
maintain copies of records of the deceased indigent senior citizens. A photo
cop of the death certificate of the deceased senior citizens should also be
maintained by the OSCA, for reference purposes.
Meanwhile, the following original and/or
certified true copy of the following documents shall be required from the
nearest surviving relative or benefactor of the deceased indigent senior
citizens to facilitate the provisions of the death benefit assistance, to wit:
1) Copy of the death certificate of the deceased indigent senior citizens; 2)
Any valid government ID of the claimant (i.e. postal ID, drivers license; GSIS
or SSS ID); 3) Senior Citizens ID; and 4) Certification from the barangay.
For more details, DSWD and DILG encouraged the
general public to visit their offices and hoped for strict implementation by
the LGUs. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
New DENR-Caraga head formally presented to RDC
members
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, July 6 (PIA) -- The new regional
executive director (RED) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) in Caraga Region was formally presented to members of the Regional
Development Council (RDC) today during the 71st RDC meeting held in one of the
local convention centers here.
RDC Chairperson and Surigao del Norte Governor
Sol F. Matugas formally introduced Marlo Mendoza who is also the department’s
assistant secretary, saying that with the issue that the region is facing with
regards to the anti-illegal logging campaign of the government, Dir. Mendoza is
here in the region for a very important mission.
For his part, RED Mendoza pointed out that one
of his marching orders from Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III is to closely
coordinate and work with the RDC and how to revitalize the wood industry.
“To be honest with you, one of the marching
orders from the President is for me to look for strategies or measures in order
to revitalize the wood industry here in Caraga Region in the midst of the
issues of illegal logging operations that is going on here in the region,”
Mendoza said.
With this, RED Mendoza also emphasized that with
the implementation of EO 23, declaring a moratorium on the cutting and
harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the
anti-illegal logging task force, that as of June 2012, the DENR and LGU-Butuan
were able to dismantle 14 small sawmills and were able to apprehend
illegally-cut logs.
Mendoza further said these illegally-cut logs
will be donated to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the construction of
additional chairs.
In response to the power situation in Mindanao,
RED Mendoza said forest-based industry is dependent to electricity. Because of
this, he said the DENR will also work closely with public and private
stakeholders for a possible establishment of mini-hydropower plants in Caraga
Region.
Meanwhile, RED Mendoza also announced that the
Anti-Illegal Task Force that is based in Manila is moving their office here in
Caraga Region following the direction of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, to intensify
the govt's campaign against illegal logging.
Mendoza added this showed that the Aquino
administration is serious to uphold what was stipulated under EO 23. Because of
this, Mendoza is calling the support of the RDC in an effort to uphold and
strictly implement the anti-illegal campaign of the national government. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
ASESDC recommends immediate stoppage of illegal
mining operation in Agusan del Sur
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, July 6 (PIA) -- The Agusan del
Sur Environment and Sustainable Development Council (ASESDC) recommended to
Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza the immediate stoppage of a mining
operation in Barangay Das-agan, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
According to Ranulfo Paler, Provincial
Environment and Natural Resources Office – local government unit of the
provincial government (PENRO-LGU), the mining operation allegedly financed by
some Chinese nationals operates without proper permit and is practicing the
open-pit operation using heavy equipment that can cause great damages to the
area and neighboring areas.
In a meeting held on July 4, Paler presented to
members of ASESDC photos on how the mining firm operates. The soils are moved
by a backhoe and pressurized volume of water is spread in the loose soil,
allowing the soil to flow down toward low-laying areas where they are gathered
for processing.
Within the very large ruined area, big and small
fallen trees are scattered, including other forest products. Paler said wild
animals and birds can no longer be seen within the area.
Paler added that prior to the meeting of the
ASESDC, Mayor Jenny de Asis of San Francisco wrote a letter addressed to Plaza
asking for help in stopping the operation of the mining firm, and the
impounding the equipment be effected. Plaza then ordered the ASESDC to review
the case reported by de Asis.
In a motion by ASESDC member Danilo Lastimosa
duly seconded by Dr. Rex Linao, a resolution was passed recommending to the
provincial governor the immediate stoppage of the mining operation in Barangay
Das-agan and the impounding of their equipment, while investigation will be
done to those involved in the said illegal mining operation.
Upon the approval of the resolution by Plaza, the
help of police being one of the members of ASESDC will be called in order that
the resolution be served and acted immediately. (RER/DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Malacanang sends Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force
Kalikasan to Mindanao
By Eric Gallego
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, July 6 (PIA) -- The
members of the “ Anti-illegal logging Task Force Kalikasan” sent by Malacanang
have arrived Tuesday in this city to crack down on illegal loggers in Mindanao.
“Our mission is to stop illegal logging
activities and hopefully encourage the people living in the uplands to become
productive and less dependent on forests,” Retired Marine General Renato
Miranda, head of the Task Force told local newsmen here. “This is not my war,
but a commitment for the future generation,” he said.
The task force has the full support of the
Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Criminal Investigation
and Detection Group (CIDG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Coast
Guard, the Department of Justice Environmental Court, Department of Interior
and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon JP Paje.
Miranda, who led a failed coup against then
President Gloria Arroyo on February 2006 has asked the people and the local
government unit down to the barangay officials in the region to extend their
full support and cooperation in the extensive anti-illegal logging operations
to be conducted by the Task Force to put an end to the destruction of forest by
illegal loggers.
“We do not want a repeat of killer floods
spawned by typhoon Sendong in December 2011 that hit the cities of Iligan and
Cagayan de Oro and claimed the lives at least 3,000 people because of
deforestation“, Miranda said.
“The President is serious in stopping illegal
logging” he said.
He said the “Task Force Kalikasan” has
established its base in Butuan City for strategic reasons. Miranda, however,
said he is employing a three-pronged approach in the extensive anti-illegal
logging operations by the Task Force in the Southern Philippines.
The operation in the forest areas shall be
classified into the cutting, production and transportation category, each shall
be operated by certain group of experts. For instance, he said, while the
military and PNP are operating in the anti-illegal logging campaign, another
group shall work with the community to improve their living condition by
generating income through agriculture and other livelihood projects.
He said that “as possible, we want to prevent a
tree from being cut-down.”
The success of this operation will depend much
on the participation of the non-government organization, the religious sector,
LGU, the police and the military, Miranda added.
President Benigno Aquino has transferred the
office of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force to Butuan City from Manila to
show that he meant business following the seizure of some P16 million worth of
“hot logs” purportedly shipped from Davao at Pier 16 to the Manila North Harbor
early this week.
EO 23 declares a moratorium on the cutting and
harvesting of timber in natural and secondary forests nationwide. It also
creates an anti-illegal logging task force, chaired by Environment Secretary
Ramon JP Paje, with the interior secretary, defense secretary, the Armed Forces
Chief and the Philippine National Police Chief as members. (NCLM/DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
Prov’l gov’t sets disaster protocol
By Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, July 6 (PIA) -- The Provincial
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Agusan del Norte
recently convened different stakeholders from government and private sectors to
present the council's Operation Center Protocol.
The meeting aimed to develop partnership between
different agencies to respond to the community in times of calamities by means
of developing an alert and verification protocol, protocol and issuance code
alert and activation memorandum, and response protocol.
The code alert system is as follows:
Code White corresponds to low pressure
area/tropical depression or public storm signal #1;
Code Blue for public storm signal #2 with five
or more casualties/mass injuries/fire; and
Code Red for public storm signal #3 with 100 or
more casualties/mass injuries.
According to Governor Erlpe John Amante, the
provincial government has already purchased emergency and rescue equipment
worth P8.4 million.
He added this will be used especially in coastal
municipalities prone to flash floods and landslides.
Amante also emphasized that the best way to face
calamities is to be prepared. He further said one way of doing it is to better
equip the local government units in different municipalities to be able to
respond to emergency situations.
Meanwhile, PDRRMC also proposed an infra-project
to be funded under the 5 percent local disaster risk reduction and management
fund to be used in four aspects namely, preparedness, prevention and
mitigation, response and rehabilitation.
With these developments, Amante reiterated the
importance of the member agencies in facilitating the community in their
preparation for calamities, especially during the actual situation.
(RER/DSM/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: Local na pamahalaan ng Butuan
naghahanda para sa Nat’l Literacy Awards evaluation
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Hulyo 6 (PIA) -- Ang lokal na
pamahalaan ng Butuan ay naghahanda para sa gagawing evaluation sa National
Literacy Awards.
Ayon kay Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr., ang lokal
na pamahalaan ng syudad ay nagbigay ng kautusan sa mga kawani nito upang
maghanda para sa kinakailangang dokyumentasyon para sa evaluation kung saan
darating ang mga national evaluators sa susunod na linggo dito.
Aniya, ang pamahalaan ng syudad ay napiling
nominee sa ilalim ng Oustanding Local Government Units award category.
Ang parangal na ito ay ibibigay sa syudad at
munisipalidad na nagawa ng palisiya, programa, at mga proyekto na naaayon sa
literacy development at may positibong tugon sa kanilang mga barangay at sa
dekalidad na pamumuhay ng mga tao.
Ang mga nominado ay i-evaluate ayon sa mga
sumusunod na kriterya: rationale of the program, implementation of program and
project management, management and leadership, at program/project impact.
Sa pagpapa-implementa ng program at project
management, kinakailangan na mayroong kahit dalawang literacy programs/projects
na naisagawa ng nominadong LGU. Ang programa at proyekto ng ibang ahensya ay
kailangan na kaagapay ng ibang lokal na pamahalaan.
Sinabi din ni Amante na ang mga evaluators ay
susuri-in din ang programa at proyekto at kung paano ito namonitor at
na-evaluate.
Kung management at leadership ang pag-uusapan,
ani Amante ang mga nominado ay kailangan na naka-implementa na ng advocacy at
social mobilization schemes, budget and financial statement, at kailangan din
na may maayos na database management.
Sa pamamagitan ng leadership qualities criteria,
ang local chief executive at ang mga opisyal ay dadaan din sa isang evaluation
ayon sa kanilang competence at ability sa pagbibigay ng clear direction,
interpersonal relations and teambuilding capacity, ability to make critical
judgment and decisions, presence of a working board, financial system and
participatory decision-making.
Dahil dito, si Amante ay umaasa na ang
pamahalaang syudad ay makakapasuk sa kriterya na inihanda ng national committee
at mananalo sa nasabing kategorya. (RER/DSM/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: Aquino gilantaw ang maayong
kaugmanon sa agriculture sector human ang mga reporma sa gobyerno
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Hulyo 6 (PIA) -- Si Pangulong
Benigno S. Aquino III miingon nga ang sektor sa agrikultura sa nasod daghan na
ang nahimo sulod sa duha ka tuig, samtang iyang gihangyo ang publiko sa padayon
nga pagsuporta sa mga reporma nga gihimo sa iyang administrayon alang sa
katawhang Filipino ug alang sa nasod.
“Kung may isa man pong sektor na talagang
sumasalamin sa kung gaano kaepektibo ang ating krusada sa tuwid na daan, ito ay
ating sektor ng agrikultura, sa pangunguna ng Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka,” ang
Pangulo miingon sa iyang mensahe atol sa Makina-Saka 2012 Agri-Machinery
Roadshow didto sa Pasay City, kagahapon Huwebes.
“Talaga naman pong sa pamumuno ng ating Kalihim
Proceso Alcala, ang dating pambansang kamalig na pinagmumulan ng kaliwa’t
kanang anumalya, ngayon ay bukal ng mabubuting balita.”
Ubos sa Administrasyong Aquino, mikunhod na ang
gidaghanon sa pag-angkat og imported rice sa niaging tuig gikan sa 1.3 million
metric tons ngadto sa 850,000 metric tons, ug dugang pa niini karong tuiga, ang
nasod moangkat lamang og 500,000 metric tons alang sa kinatibuk-ang konsumo sa
nasod.
Ang departamento sa agrikultura naglaom usab nga
makaangkon sa nasod ang rice-sufficiency sunod tuig ug posible nga ang nasod
makasugod na pagpadala og bugas ngadto sa laing mga nasod kung dili maapektuhan
sa daot nga panahion ang ani sunod tuig.
Ang gobyerno namuhunan usab sa sektor sa
agrikultura aron makunhoran ang kausik, sulti sa Pangulo. Sa niaging tuig ang
gobyerno migahin og P1 bilyon aron ipalit sa mokabat 2,300 ka mga units sa
postharvest machineries ug uban pang ekwipo.
Alang karong tuiga, gipatas-an sa gobyerno ang
budget ngadto sa P2.6 bilyon aron ipalit sa 7,000 ka mga farm machineries nga
ipanghatag ngadto sa mga organisasyon sa mga mag-uuma ug mga lokal nga
pangagamhanan libot sa nasod, sulti sa Pangulo.
Ang gobyerno namuhunan usab sa irrigation system
sa nasod aron mapauswag ang food production, dugang pa niya.
Giangkon usab sa Pangulo ang panginahanglanon
aron mapauswag ang research ug paglambo sa nasod, ingon nga ang mga state
colleges ug universities ug ang Department of Agriculture kinahanglan
magtambayayong aron tabangan ang mga agriculture professionals, farmers ug
growers sa paggamit sa bag-ong mga technolohiya ug mga pamaagi sa pag-uma.
“Hinihimok din po natin ang pribadong sektor na
patuloy na makibalikat sa pagpapayabong ng ating agrikultura. Ang
pagbabayanihan natin ang susi upang matiyak ang pangmatagalang seguridad sa
pagkain, gayundin sa mas matatag na ekonomiya ng bansa,” siya miingon.
“Nananalig ako na ang tagumpay ng Makina-Saka
2012 ay magiging isang dambuhalang hakbang tungo sa mas moderno, mas
kapaki-pakinabang at mas matatag na sektor ng pagsasaka,” dugang pa sa Pangulo.
Iya usab giyahangyo ang mga Filipino nga
palig-onon ang diwa sa pagtinabangay aron hatagan og gahom ang ilang isig
katawo ug iyang gipasabot nga matag liso sa reporma nga itanom karon
makabenipisyo kini sa sunod nga mga henerasyong Filipino.
“Samahan po ninyo ako --- Ituloy po natin ang
pagtahak sa tuwid na landas, at atin pong pitasin ang mas mayabong na bukas,”
siya miingon.
Mitambong usab sa maong kalihukan kagahapon sila
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Science and Technology Secretary Mario
Montejo, Cambodian Ambassador to the Philippines Hos Sereythonh ug si Palo,
Leyte Mayor Matin Petilla. (RER/FEA/PIA-Surigao del Norte/PCOO)
Cebuano News: Sec. Alcala mohurar sa bag-ong mga
opisyales sa PAFC
Ni Tess Balomaga
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Hulyo 6 (PIA) -- Si
Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala gikatakdang mohurar sa
bag-ong mga napiling opisyales sa Surigao del Norte Provincial Agri-Fishery
Council (PAFC) atol sa iyang pagbisita didto sa Siargao Island karong Hulyo 13,
2012.
Ang manumpa nga bag-ong mga opisyales sa PAFC
mao sila: Dr. Elvira A. Egay, isip Chairman; Vice Chairman (private sector)
Pablo Escarro; Vice Chairman (gov’t sector) Gromyko Geraldino; Secretary
(LGU-based coordinator) Sancha R. Napalan; (DA based coordinator) Dr. Marlo I.
Sepe; Treasurer Lucio Birad; Auditor, Bebiano Toca; PRO, Nelson Morales ug mga
sectoral representatives: Perfecto Lisondra sa Crops; Inocencio Aragon sa
Livestock; William Angob sa Industrial/HVCDP; Gregorio Bantilan sa Fisheries;
Fortunato Salvacion sa Agri. Mechanic; Roland Eguna sa Youth Sector ug Ramon
Carlota sa Organic Agriculture.
Ang PAFC gimugna aron tumong ug tuyo niini ang
pagmonitor sa tanang mga proyekto sa buhatan sa Provincial Agriculture ug
daghan pang uban. (SDR/PGO-Prov'l Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
