Caraga ConsumerNet plans activites for the
Consumer Welfare Month
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 26 (PIA) -- In preparation for
this year’s Consumer Welfare Month celebration in October, the Consumer Network
(ConsumerNet) member-agencies led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Caraga have planned various activities for the event.
This was confirmed during the special meeting of
member agencies held recently at the DTI-Caraga, this city.
Elmer Natad of DTI-Caraga said that on October
1, during the kick-off ceremony for the Consumer Welfare Month celebration, the
ConsumerNet member-agencies will be signing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at
the D&V building grounds here.
“This is a refresher to all member-agencies to
remind them of their functions in implementing the laws for the welfare of the
consumers,” said Natad.
Along with the MOA signing is the conduct of the
two-day Diskwento Caravan to be held at the same venue.
Government agencies and local tri-media will
also be participating in the motorcade.
Natad added that the celebration will culminate
with the conduct of the "ConsumerNet Meets the Public" on October 31
at the Luciana Convention Center here.
Target participants to the forum are
representatives of consumer organizations in the region, youth organizations,
senior citizens, government employees, transport groups and academe, among
others.
It will also serve as a venue for the target
participants to raise their issues and concerns, suggestions and
recommendations with the presence of the concerned government agencies and
partner stakeholders at the forefront in providing the welfare of the
consumers.
Also, the ConsumerNet will be conducting a quiz
bowl during the culmination day with students from different schools in the
region as the participants of said activity.
Meanwhile, the DTI-Caraga reminds the public
know their rights as consumers and asked for their full support and cooperation
on the programs and services provided to them by the government. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Forum on DRR-CCA kick-off convergence for Agusan
River Basin Management
By Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa
BUTUAN CITY, August 26 (PIA) -- The Regional
Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) for
the Agusan River Basin Management has kicked-off the convergence of Local
Government Units (LGUs), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers
(DRRMOs), Regional Line Agencies (RLAs), the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
of Regions 11 and 13.
The alliance building was held recently at the
Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.
The Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and Local Government Academy (LGA) in partnership with the
Agencie EspaΓ±ola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and
the Office of Senator Loren Legarda have forged this effort in order to harness
alliance building and initiate convergence towards a harmonized effort in the
development, administration and proper management of the Agusan River Basin.
The collaborative approach is aimed at building
disaster-resilient local communities and governments.
Despite the untimely death of the late DILG
Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, who was supposed to grace the event, the activity
pushed through with a special tribute presentation in honor of him. The
participants to the regional forum provided a grand standing applause as DILG
Region 13 Director Lilibeth A. Famacion recalled and revived his outstanding
contributions and exemplary service, particularly Secretary Robredo’s marching
orders in imposing the total log-ban and in apprehending those connected with
the illegal logging activities in Caraga Region.
Director Famacion said that this regional forum
on DRR-CCA collaborative workshop of the Agusan River Basin is an offshoot and
one of the series of activities of the TAPATAN on disaster preparedness –
initiated by the late Secretary Robredo in order to prepare communities in
disasters.
“Let us make sure that all of the efforts of our
late Secretary will not be in vain and we will continue this advocacy to
achieve our vision of building disaster resilient communities and local
governments”, said Director Famacion.
Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. said
that it is very timely and appropriate for Butuan City to have the
collaborative workshop because the city is always at risk for flooding every
year.
“Thus, there is a need for collaboration with
the LGUs along the river basin and I am hopeful that all of us here who are
present will achieve convergence to unify our plans,” Mayor Amante .
Senator Loren Legarda sent her senatorial staff
to document the outputs of the convergence for this will be valuable in her
proposed Philippine River Basin System Administration Act of 2012. Senator
Legarda was not able to grace the activity and was instead represented by her
Chief of Staff Emmanuel de Guzman.
A common action agenda among the participants
was initiated during the collaboration workshop by signing the pledge of
commitment as a start of the convergence efforts in planning for the
administration and management of the Agusan River.
This will open the road for harmonized actions
to mitigate and prepare for climate change and disasters. The workshop attempts
to draw a draft on the Agusan River Basin’s management mechanism, governance
structure, financing scheme and performance monitoring/evaluation. DILG 13
OIC-Asst. Regional Director facilitated the workshop and presented the
synthesized output. As a result, it was the Mindanao Development Authority
(MinDA) who is tasked to organize different stakeholders for the creation of
Agusan River Basin Office.
“LGUs must adopt River Basin-Based Comprehensive
Land Use Plan (CLUP) and strive to synchronize development agenda with other
LGUs. LGUs must enforce environmental protection, environmental monitoring
systems for floods and other hazards and proper solid waste management. LGUs
must lead multi-stakeholder planning and management,” said University of the
Philippines Los BaΓ±os (UPLB) Chancellor Dr. Rex Victor Cruz.
Dr. Aser Javier of UPLB stressed that the common
goal is to reduce the vulnerability of communities and achieve a sustainable
development. “This can be done in a holistic and multi-stakeholdership process,
which is to build up alliance and strengthened cohesive partnership”, added Dr.
Javier. (NCLM/DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
