Quake infra damage: P1.9M in Surigao Norte
By Fryan E. Abkilan
SURIGAO CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- The 7.7
earthquake that jolted some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao on Friday night
has caused around P1.9 million damage to infrastructure and property in Surigao
del Norte, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
said.
In its 6 a.m. Monday damage report, NDRRMC said
a small house collapsed at Barangay Punta Bilar, three tension rods at the
ceiling of the provincial gym were destroyed although no structural damage
occurred, while several cracks were seen in a wall near the stairs of a hotel,
all in Surigao City.
In Socorro town, two houses were partially
damaged. Socorro Municipal Agriculturist Edilito Sangco also reported that
although there was a stampede at the municipal gym where the opening night of
the Siargao Division Math Festival was held, he said there were “no injuries so
far.”
A public market in the municipality of San
Isidro was declared “not safe for regular operations” after six of its columns
were damaged. Several cracks in the flooring of their municipal gym were
visible.
In Tagana-an, three houses collapsed and the
town’s municipal and multi-purpose buildings developed several cracks. Also,
although the Taganan-Libas concrete road showed cracks, it is still passable.
NDRRMC also reported that the boat landing at
Barangay Alipao in Alegria was damaged and its riprap collapsed.
In Gigaquit, cracks were seen on the walls of
the municipal town house and the entire wall of the rural health unit.
A column and a beam of a reservoir at Gigaquit
Central Elementary School also developed several cracks.
Cracks were also observed on the walls of seven
residential buildings, municipal, barangay, and school buildings in Tubod town.
There were also cracks at the national bridge at Barangay Del Rosario, still in
Tubod.
In Sta. Monica town, the NDRRMC said the walls
and floors of the municipal hall and gym have developed cracks. Seawalls in
Placer and Gen. Luna also developed several cracks.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
reported no damages in Siargao Airport, but they have requested the Department
of Transportation and Communications to conduct further assessment to ensure
the stability of the runway. Siargao Airport is located at the town of Del
Carmen. (RER/FEA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DTI-Caraga briefs tri-media on the Helmet Law
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- The Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga headed by Regional Director Brielgo Pagaran
briefed the local tri-media on Republic Act No. 10054 known as the “Motorcycle
Helmet Act of 2009,” held Monday at the DTI-Caraga conference room, this city.
Atty. Maria Aurora Curaza-Maquiling of
DTI-Caraga, in coordination with the Land Transportation Office/Department of
Transportation and Communications (LTO/DOTC) said, starting January 1, 2013,
they will strictly implement the Motorcycle Helmet Act with corresponding
penalties to motorists who will violate this law.
Maquiling also clarified that said law does not
exempt "habal-habal" (motorcycles with more than five passengers)
drivers/riders, but only tricycle drivers.
“Drivers of tricycles are exempted from
complying with the mandatory wearing of motorcycle helmets as provided in this
Act,” said Maquiling.
Also, DTI-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director
Gay Tidalgo said private motorists with surnames that start with letters “A –
F” will now be accommodated in the whole month of September for the free
stick-on of ICC stickers to helmets; “G – O” on October; and “P – Z” on
November, while on December, DTI will be busy for the corporate requests for
ICC stickers.
DTI also relayed that with this law, any person
caught not wearing the standard protective motorcycle helmet in violation of
this Act will be punished with a fine of P1,500 for the first offense; P3,000
for the second offense; P5,000 for the third offense; and P10,000 plus
confiscation of the driver’s license for the fourth and succeeding offenses.
A fine of not less than P10,000 but not more
than P20,000 will be charged to any seller and/or dealer who violates Section 5
of this Act while any person who uses, sells and distributes substandard
motorcycle helmets or those that do not bear the Philippine Standard (PS) mark
or the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) certificate will be punished with a
fine of not less than P3,000 for the first offense and P5,000 for the second
offense, without prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394
or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines.”
DTI also said tampering, alteration, forgery,
and imitation of the PS mark and ICC certificates on helmets will be punished
with a fine of not less than P10,000 but not more than P20,000, without
prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394 or the “Consumer
Act of the Philippines.”
It was also learned that only those previously
used helmets are to be sticked-on by the DTI provincial offices while those
helmets purchased on August 1, 2012 onwards must have already the ICC stickers
from the supplier.
With this, DTI-Caraga is calling on the
motorists to comply with the law for their own safety. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Opapp holds series of activities for Peace Month
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Sept 3 (PIA) --
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) will hold a
series of activities with government agencies, non-government organizations,
and private stakeholders this September with the observance of Peace Month.
The observance is anchored on the theme, “Ako.
Ikaw. Tayo. Magkakaiba, Nagkakaisa sa Kapayapaan.”
The announcement was made during the Regional
Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Meeting chaired by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand
Amante Jr.
Eric Dela Torre, Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan
(Pamana) Mindanao Director of Opapp said that in partnership with the People
Power Volunteers for Reform and the Philippine Football Federation, a football
clinic was held by the Philippine Azkals team members, as well as an opening
ceremony with children from various localities in National Capital Region held
in the morning, and Football Peace Cup exhibition game in the afternoon at the
UP Diliman Football Field and Sunken Garden or Philippine Army Field at the
Fort Bonifacio, as the observance of the Peace Month kicked-off on September 2.
A photo exhibit featuring the peace gains under
the Aquino administration and Opapp’s milestones will also be displayed on the
following schedules: September 2 to 8, SM Megamall; September 7 to 9,
Robinson’s Galleria; September 9 to 15, SM Mall of Asia; Sept. 14 to 16,
Shangri-la Mall; September 16 to 22, SM City North Edsa; September 23 to 29, SM
Fairview; and September 28 to 30 at Glorietta.
On September 14, a campaign dubbed “I am for
Peace” will also be launched. The campaign aims to build a new and wider
network of constituency supporting the government’s efforts on peace. This will
be launched in a simple ceremony with the various partners of Opapp.
The different components of the campaign will
also be launched, namely: peace ambassadors; champions for peace; business
partners for peace; I choose peace (i am for peace); and product peace.
Also, a festive celebration of the International
Day of Peace dubbed, “Ka-peace-tahan” is also set on September 21 at the SM The
Block North Edsa, Quezon City.
With this, the following will be conducted: job
fair by the Department of Labor and Employment; Serbisyong Bayan booths for
Bureau of Internal Revenue, Technical Education Skills Development Authority,
Department of Health, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Foreign
Affairs, National Statistics Office, Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance
Corporation, Government Service Insurance System, Home Development Mutual Fund
(HDMF) or known as Pag-IBIG Fund, Land Transportation Office, and Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) recruitment; and cultural performances and
presentations during the opening program.
The “Team-Up for Peace” is set on September 23
at the Tagaytay Highlands, where a golf fundraising event targeted for Pamana
areas in Bicol Region is to be organized.
Culminating the observance of the Peace Month is
the holding of four simultaneous Peace Concerts in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao,
and NCR. The concerts are organized in partnership with Rock Ed Philippines
featuring local bands and artists in the country. A special feature also
includes the participation of Peace Ambassadors.
With this development, Opapp also encouraged the
local government units to initiate their own activities in line with the said
observance. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
PNPA cadets from the region calls on more youth
to enter academy
By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Sept 3 (PIA) --
Two female cadets from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) visited
Caraga Region to promote the country’s premiere public safety institution for
more prospective scholars for the opening of the school year.
The 21-year-old Cadet First Class Breccia Ruth
Deloso of Lauraville Subd., Ochoa Ave., Butuan City and her classmate Cadet
First Class Meldith Love Duero Almeda, of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, both
members of the PNPA’s “Tagapamagitan Class 2013” arrived at Camp Rafael C.
Rodriguez, Brgy. Libertad, this city, Friday afternoon, to conduct information
and promotional tour to some universities and other local learning institutions
here, to encourage more prospective youths to enter the academy.
Deloso said that those who enter Philippine
National Police Academy are considered government residential scholars. They
will be staying at the academy until the completion of their course, receiving
benefits and allowances befitting a government scholar.
The PNPA is under the oversight of the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and is run under the
auspices of Philippine Public Safety College. It offers the Bachelor of Science
in Public Safety, offering course of instructions or subjects similar to those
which were offered in typical colleges or universities.
During summers however according to her, they
have to undergo specialized trainings like for example the “Special Weapons and
Tactics” (SWAT), PNP Scout Trainings, Special Counter Insurgency, Waterborne,
Air-to-Ground Seminar or the Jungle and Environmental Survival Training.
During their third Class cadetship, they will
undergo the police intervention course and character development program. They
are also privileged while in the academy, to have their regular Sunday worship
based on their respective religious affiliations and trainings on society
building, she added.
She said, as government scholars, they receive
P24,000 per month while on training, P7,000 of which they can spend on whatever
expenses during their studies. The rest of the amount are kept and can be
withdrawn upon graduation from the academy.
Upon graduation, one will receive the rank of an
“Inspector” (Lieutenant) and may choose to serve any of the tri-bureau services
under the DILG; the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) or the Bureau of
Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
To qualify for PNPA scholarship, a male or
female applicant has to be a natural-born Filipino citizen, of good moral
character, no financial obligations, single and no parental obligation, between
17-21 years old at the time of admission, preferably 5’4” in height for males
and 5’2” for females except for indigenous people. The weight must not be more
than or less than five kilograms of the standard weight corresponding to
height, age and sex, and at least high school graduate. He or she must be able
to pass the minimum required physical fitness exercises, must be physically and
mentally fit for cadetship training, have no criminal, administrative or civil
case and other derogatory record(s) and must not be a former PNPA cadet or the
other services academies.
The application for Cadet Admission Test can be
requested from any municipal, city, provincial or regional police offices or
can be downloaded at the www.pnpa.edu.ph. Accomplished application together
with a self-stamped window envelope can also be sent to the: The Director,
(Attention Registrar) Philippine National Police Academy, Camp General Mariano
N. Castaneda, 4129 Silang, Cavite.
The deadline for the submission of all
application will be on September 24, 2012 and the PNPA Cadet Admission Test
will be on October 28, 2012. Here in Butuan City the venue will be at the
Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU). (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: 3 proyekto magdadala nang
pagbabago sa isang barangay
Ni Alexis Cabardo
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Sept 3 (PIA) -- Tatlong proyekto
ang isasakatuparan sa Barangay Zilovia, Talacogon na magpapabago sa pamumuhay
ng mga residente duon.
Ang mga proyektong ito ay ang nakonkretong 100
metrong barangay roads, mga ilaw sa kalsada, at isang day care center.
Sabi ni Barangay Kapitan Ermesto Napao, ang mga
proyekto ay siyang pinakamahalaga para sa mga residente dahil ang Barangay
Zilovia ay isa sa pinakamaunlad na barangay sa bayan ng Talacogon kung saan
isang malaking kumpanya, ang Provident Tree Farms Inc. (PTFI) ay matatagpuan na
gumagawa at nagpoproseso ng posporo.
“Alam nating lahat na ang Barangay Zilovia ay
madaling bahain sa tuwing malakas ang ulan at bago marating ang sentro ng
barangay, maraming parte ng kalsada ay binabaha. Kami ay talagang natutuwa at
ang parting iyon ng kalsada ay nasemento na. Masaya rin ang mga residente rito
dahil nalagyan ng ilaw ang mga madidilim na kalye at ang lahat ng ito ay
gumagana. Kadalasan, para sa mga mauunlad na lugar gaya ng Zilovia, maraming
magnanakaw ang gumagawa ng kanilang krimen lalo na pag walang ilaw ang mga
kalye,” sabi ni Napao.
Sa kanyang maikling mensahe, sinabi ni Governor
Adolph Edward Plaza na ang 100 metro konkreto na daan ay simula pa lamang at
maraming proyekto pa ang darating sa Barangay Zilovia.
Hinamon din ni Plaza ang mga miyembro ng konseho
ng Barangay Zilovia na magsumite ng maraming panukala dahil ang pamahalaang
panlalawigan ay nagtabi ng pundo para sa mga nangungunang proyekto ng mga
batangay sa buong lalawigan bawat taon.
“Ako ay natutuwa sa sinabi ni Barangay Kapitan
Ernesto Napao na dahil sa proyektong pailaw sa mga lansangan, ang suliranin ng
pagnanakaw at panghoholdap ay nalutas na, at ako’y naniniwala na marami pang
kalseng krimen ang mabigyan ng lunas tulad ng walang pakundangang pagpatay sa
kapwa. Dahil sa pagpailaw sa mga kalye, hindi na masyadong matakot mag lakad
papunta sa kanilang trabaho an gating mga kababayan. At ang isa pang
importanteng proyekto na aking naisalin sa araw na ito ay ang day care center,
para sa mga batang mag-aaral para ma bigyan natin ng pagkakataon na matuto bago
pumasok sa isang pormal na pag-aaral,” sabi ni Plaza.
Sabi ni Barangay Kapitan Napao ang tatlong
proyekto ay nagkahalaga ng P2.2 million.
Ang pagsalin ng mga proyekto ay siyang nagbigay
kulay sa pagdiwang ng kanilang kapistahan sa Barangay Zilovia. (DMS/LGU-Agusan
del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Tagalog news: Kooperasyon ang kinakailangan ng
mga pangunahing lungsod laban sa lindol
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Set. 3 (PIA) -- Kailangang
tulung-tulong ang bawat pamilya, komunidad, at ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan ng
Metro Manila para sa paghahanda sa mga lindol, ayon sa opisyal ng palasyo,
matapos ang malakas na lindol na naganap sa gitnang bahagi ng bansa noong
Biyernes.
Sinabi ni Abigail Valte na ang kahandaan ng
Metro Manila para sa isang malakas na lindol ay nakadepende sa kooperasyon ng
bawat pamilya, dagdag pa ang importansya ng disaster preparedness drills.
Sinabi din niya sa publiko na tignan ang
kanilang mga bahay at mga estraktura ng mga tanggapan upang malaman ang
katatagan ng mga ito.
Sinabi rin ni Valte na sinumulan nang i-evaluate
ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang structural integrity ng
mga gusali ng pamahalaan matapos ang malakas na lindol na tumama sa Japan.
Matapos din ang lindol na ito, ang mga lokal na
pamahalaan ay naatasan ding tignan ang kanilang mga gusali upang siguruhing
sila ay handa sa malalakas na lindol.
“Huwag nating kalimutan ang mga natutunan natin
mula din sa Japan pagkatapos noong naging trahedya sa kanila. Sana hindi
matigil ang preparedness awareness, hindi kung kalian lang nagkaroon ng
ganitong pangyayari. Sana tuluy-tuloy ‘yan,” aniya.
Hinggil naman sa naging responde ng pamahalaan
sa lindol na nangyari noong biyernes, ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan ay madaling
nakakuha ng impormasyon sa mga apektadong lugar, ani Valte.
Nakipag-ugnayan din ang pamahalaan sa regional
na tanggapan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) upang
siguruhin ang madaliang pagresponde sa oras na humingi ng tulong ang LGUs.
Isang lindol na may lakas na 7.6 ang tumama sa
Samar coast noong nakaraang biyernes, kung saan isang tao ang patay matapos
madaganan ng lupa ang kanilang bahay sa isang landslide. Nawala din ang
kuryente sa ilang lungsod.
Inilikas ang mga residenteng nakatira sa mga
coastal area kasabay ng malakas na lindol ngunit ilang residente ang bumalik
rin sa kani-kanilang mga bahay pagkatapos ng lindol, habang karamihan naman ay
nanatili sa evacuation centers. (RER/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: Aquino gipasabot ang importansya
sa edukasyon aron makab-ot ang national progress
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Sept 3 (PIA) -- Gipasabot ni
Pangulong Aquino ang pagkamahinungdanon sa edukasyon ug adunay igong-kahibalo
nga katawhan sa pagmentinar sa kauswagan ug kalamboan sa nasod nga maoy unod sa
saad sa gobyernong Aquino ngadto sa katawhang Filipino.
Sa iyang mensahe sa ngadto sa Children’s Museum
and Library Inc. sa ilang ika-33rd Annual National Grade School Convention of
(High School) Junior Members and Teacher Advisers, niadtong Sabado, gibatbat ni
Pangulong Aquino ang pagkamahinungdanon sa kanunay nga paghatag og advanced
methods nga kahibalo ug bag-ong mga pamaagi aron iseguro ang ilang kahibalo.
“Education is one of the cornerstones of our
society, and an educated citizenry is the pillar of our institutions. Now, in
this globalized milieu, it is important that we keep our people abreast of new
technologies and modern pedagogical approaches, to be at par with the rest of
the world. Your two conventions serve as a venue for your students and teachers
to uphold the responsibilities that go with availing yourself of our
increasingly interconnected global milieu,” matud sa Pangulo.
“May your participants continue to demonstrate
their passion and excellence in their endeavors, and may they be able to
nurture their creativity and critical thinking as they take part in our shared
task of maintaining our country’s pride in the community of nations,” matud pa
niya.
Giseguro ni Pangulong Aquino ang walay puas nga
mga paningkamot sa gobyerno aron makab-ot ang nasyunal nga kalamboan, samtang
iya usab giawhagan ang katawhan sa paghimo sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka mga
responsibilidad aron maabot kining maong tumong.
“We in government remain steadfast in fulfilling
our objective of positive national transformation. Let us pursue our collective
dreams and embody the ideals of hope, confidence, excellence, and
integrity—values that will serve as our tools in securing a globally
competitive Philippines,” dugang pamahayag ni Pangulong Aquino. (RER/SDR/PIA-Surigao
del Norte/PCOO)