PIA News Service - Thursday, September 20, 2012

DTI-Caraga spearheads celebration for this year’s Consumer Welfare Month

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 20 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga will take the lead in this year’s Consumer Welfare Month celebration in October with the theme “Get Organized. Be Heard. Be Empowered.”

DTI-Caraga Regional Director Brielgo Pagaran said the celebration is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1098, which declared October of every year as the Consumer Welfare Month.

“Its annual celebration aims to promote dissemination of sound consumer information on subjects that affect the consumers and to encourage dialogue and cooperation among the consumers, business and government sectors in strengthening consumer awareness and protection,” said Pagaran.

Pagaran added that said celebration will kick off with a motorcade on October 1, within the city thoroughfares. On October 1-3, the "Diskwento Caravan" will be held at the Caraga Product Depot Grounds.

Also, lecture series on consumer rights and responsibilities will be conducted within the month-long celebration.

The celebration will culminate through the following activities: dialogue with cellphone sellers in the morning session and Consumer Network (ConsumerNet) meets the public in the afternoon session. Both activities will be held at Barangay Imadejas Convention Hall, this city.

DTI-Caraga encouraged the public to support and promote consumer awareness and protection. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Irish youth holds immersion with Bajaus

CEBU CITY, Sept. 20 (PIA) -- Youth volunteers of SERVE, a community service organization based in Ireland, have visited this city and stayed for three weeks in the Bajau community under the care of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s (RAFI) Bajau Integrated Area Development Project (BIAD-P) in Sitio Puntod, Alaska Mambaling, Cebu City.

During their immersion, SERVE’s three Irish adult leaders and 13 youth assisted in the fabrication of ICEB bricks for the housing quads, in holding classes for preschoolers and in the feeding program.

They also shared part of their country’s culture through sports and other interactive activities.

“I find the first day in the Bajau community the highlight of our entire five-week stay in the Philippines. The children warmly welcomed us with smiles. The short program that was organized in the school for us that day was incredible,” Majella, a SERVE volunteer, shared.

“We couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful, and we are so grateful. The heartfelt welcome given to us every day will be always treasured in our hearts,” she added.

SERVE focuses on programs and projects that help marginalized communities in developing countries. It aims to empower children and youth and recognizes that gender equality is essential to sustainable development. It has 15 partner countries around the world that receive support in terms of funding for development projects or programs, placement of short-term and long-term volunteers, capacity building in areas of management, finances and accounting, monitoring and evaluation, and child protection.

At present, BIAD-P has already started building 33 more housing quads for the Bajau community.

This project component intends to provide better settlements to poor Bajau families. This is anchored to its vision towards making Bajau a self-sufficient, progressive and self-reliant community with sense of pride and belongingness.

This project component was made possible through close collaboration with the Cebu City government, Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary and University of San Carlos. BIAD-P was organized in January 2011.

This project continues to employ strategies towards transformational development and empowerment of Bajaus. It continues to address and mitigate the effects of poverty such as providing decent housing, parenting support, education programs, assisting families in obtaining health and nutrition information, and supplementary feeding programs. These interventions give young children a chance to build the resiliency and competence they need to break the detrimental cycle of poverty.

BIAD-P is under the Integrated Development focus area of RAFI, helping communities overcome the vicious cycle of poverty. RAFI’s other focus areas include micro-finance and entrepreneurship, culture and heritage, leadership and citizenship, and education.

For more information about BIAD-P, please contact (032) 418-7234 loc. 515 and look for Anthony Fuentes, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph. (RAFI/RER/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)

NSO readies the conduct of DBM’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture

By Villa S. Bayotas

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 20 (PIA) -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will conduct the next round of registration activity for the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

The Philippines, being an agricultural country, needs a comprehensive and systematic information system that caters to the various data and information needs of economic development planners, policymakers, and project implementers. To address this need, the Cabinet Cluster on Good Governance and Anti-Corruption (GGAC) chaired by President Benigno S. Aquino III has included the database or registry of farmers in its list of key programs under the Digitization and Information Technology in Government Sub-cluster.

The GGAC identified the DBM as the lead agency responsible for the conceptualization of the RSBSA.

The RSBSA is an electronic compilation of basic information on farmers, farm laborers and fishermen, the target beneficiaries of agriculture-related programs and services. The establishment of the RSBSA database envisions manageable access to baseline agricultural information by government stakeholders. Through this system, government planners and policymakers could effectively formulate significant policies and programs for agricultural development.

The DBM enjoined major agencies, specifically the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, and the National Statistics Office to develop and implement the RSBSA. In addition to these five partner agencies, The National Anti-Poverty Commission has become one of the cooperating agencies for the second batch of RSBSA.

The creation of the RSBSA database requires the conduct of a registration activity in all barangays nationwide to gather the necessary data inputs for the system. The registration activity for the RSBSA has been programmed to be conducted in batches.

The registration activity for the first batch was already completed in January 2012, covering 20 provinces nationwide. The next registration activity will be undertaken from October to November 2012, covering the rest of the provinces and their cities/municipalities, excluding those in the National Capital Region and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In Caraga, only Agusan del Norte, including Butuan City, and Dinagat Islands are covered in the RSBSA Batch 2 operation. The provinces of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur were covered in RSBSA Batch 1.

The barangay secretaries are identified as focal persons at the barangay level during the registration activity. They shall serve as the immediate supervisors of the interviewer/s in their barangay. In Caraga, NSO field staff and selected trained field interviewers shall conduct the actual house-to-house visit and listing of households; interview of the farmers, farm laborers, and fishermen; and recording of information on the prescribed registration forms. (NSO-13/RER/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)

401st Infantry Brigade to conduct operation smile

By Alexis Cabardo

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Sept. 20 (PIA) -- The 401st Infantry Brigade based in Awa, New Leyte, Prosperidad will be conducting “operation smile” for people born with hare lip, as part of the brigade’s social obligation to the Filipino people.

401st Brigade Commander Col. Romeo Gan said the operation is free of any charges and will cater patients six months old and above.

“We, in the 401st Infantry Brigade, are calling for parents who have children with harelip or anybody, young and old, under our area of responsibility, to register anytime at the Civil Military Operation Section of the 401st Brigade located at New Leyte, Awa, Prosperidad until September 22, 2012. After the registration, we will announce the schedule of operation at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City, and all expenses in going to Cagayan de Oro City will be shouldered by the Brigade,” Gan said.

It can be recalled that the army, under the command of Gan of the 401st Infantry Brigade, has been active in giving their share in civil military activities.

During the opening of school year 2012-2013, the two battalions under the 401st Brigade have actively participated in the “Brigada Eskwela” program of the Department of Education, or the preparation of schools provincewide for the start of the school year.

During the conduct of the joint medical caravans by the provincial government and the two congressional districts of Agusan del Sur, the 401st Infantry Brigade has also offered their expertise in minor operations like tuli, harelip operation and video showings. (RER/DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Tagalog news: PHO, DOPMH at ang Provincial Sports Coordinating Office nagkaisa sa pag-alay ng libreng serbisyo bilang parte sa pagdiwang ng anibersaryo ng Civil Service

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Set. 20 (PIA) -- Sa buong buwan na pagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng Civil Service, nagkaisa ang Provincial Health Office (PHO), sa pamamagitan ng D.O Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH), at ang Provincial Sports Coordinating Office (PSCO) na magbigay ng libreng serbisyo at mga gamot.

Kasama sa mga serbisyong ibinigay ay ang libreng pagpapakuha ng blood pressure, pagsuri ng sakit na diabetes at scistosomiasis pati na ang pamimigay ng libreng gamot.

Isa rin sa mga aktibidad na ginawa ay ang demonstrasyon ng iba't ibang ehersisyo na naaayon sa Department of Health at isinagawa ng PSCO para sa malusog na pamumuhay, at ilang palabas sa video ukol sa pag-iwas at kontrol ng iba't ibang sakit ng tao.

“Mamayang hapon, ang PSCO, sa pamamagitan ng Provincial Sports Coordinator na si Danilo Garcia, ay siyang mangunguna para gawin ang demonstrasyon ng iba't ibang ehersisyo sa Provincial Sports Gymnasium kung saan matatagpuan ang iba't ibang kagamitan at pasilidad para sa lahat ng ehersisyo ng katawan at handang ipagamit kahit kanino na gustong gumamit nito,” sabi ni Cabanos.

Ayon kay Nanette Cabanos, hepe ng Technical Team ng Provincial Health Office, sa pagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng Civil Service, ang lahat ng tanggapan ng pamahalaan, lokal man o national, ay kasama sa pagbibigay-alam sa publiko ng mga ginagawa ng pamahalaan at ang mga serbisyong ibinigay nito sa lahat ng mamamayan. (RER/DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Tagalog news: Palasyo bukas loob na tinanggap ang Heritage Foundation’s 2012 Index of Economic Freedom

Ni Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, Set. 20 (PIA) -- Bukas-loob na tinanggap ng Malacanang ang Heritage Foundation’s 2012 Index Economic Freedom na nagsasabing ang antas ng kaunlaran ng bansa ay dahil sa resulta ng patuloy na pagbabago ng pamahalaan.

Sa 2012 Index of Economic Freedom kamakailan, lumabas na ang Pilipinas ay kasalukuyang nasa 57.1, mas mataas sa score na 56 sa taong 2008. Ang global average naman ay 59.5 samantala, 57.5 naman sa rehiyon ng Asia-Pacific.

“Kami po ay masaya, gayunpaman, kailangan parin po nating ipagpatuloy ang pagpapaunlad ng ating mga pamantayan, hindi para sa konsumo ng survey organizations, kundi para sa atin pong konsumo. Ito po ay ating pangako sa publiko na tayo’y patuloy na magseserbisyo sa kanila ng may dedikasyon,” ani Presidential Spokeperson Edwin Lacierda sa isinagawang press conference sa Malacanang kamakailan.

Kinilala din ni Lacierda ang pagmamalasakit ng Heritage Foundation sa Philippine judiciary, kung kaya itinalaga ng Pangulo si Maria Lourdes Sereno bilang Chief Justice upang maisagawa ang mga kinakailangang reporma sa judiciary, upang magpatuloy ang pag-unlad ng bansa.

“Sila po ay may iba't ibang sukatan kung paano i-evaluate ang bansa. Ngunit malinaw pong lumabas sa mga pagsusuri ang pag-unlad ng bansa. Ipinakita rin ang patuloy na pag-unlad sa pamamahala” aniya.

Ang mga bansa ay sinusuri sa ilalim ng 10 economic freedoms gaya ng rule of law, limited government, open markets, at iba pa. (RER/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)

Cebuano news: DSWD lakip sa mga kaubanang ahensya sa panggamhanan nangandam alang sa pagsaulog sa Filipino Family Week 

Ni Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, Set. 20 (PIA) -- Alang usa sa mga nag-una nga ahensya sa Regional Inter-Agency Committee para sa Filipino Family (RIAC-FF), ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga paga-unhan ang kasaulogan sa Filipino Family Week nga pagabuhaton karong umaabot nga Setyembre 22 hangtod sa 30.

Sigon kay DSWD-Caraga Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat, base usab sa Proclamation No. 60, ang kasaulogan sa Filipino Family Week pagahimuon kada Setyembre 22 hangtod 30, 2012.

“Karong tuiga, Kami naninguha nga mapalapdan ang pagkahiusa ug pagkamaayo sa relasyon sa matag-usa ka pamilya pinaagi sa paghatag kanila ug madaygon nga pagsaulog para sa kaayuhan sa pamilya sa pilipino,” ingon ni Jabagat.

Usa ka motorcade ang pagabuhaton diin sulod sa syudad sa Setyembre 24, nga sundan usab sa gamay nga programa nga pagahimuon sa Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center ning dakbayan.

lakip sa programa ang Seach for Talentadong Pamilyang Pilipino kung diin ang first placer makadawat ug usa ka sako nga bugas, P1,000 cash ug Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) scholarship, ang second placer makadawat usab sa P1,000 worth of grocery items og Tesda scholarship, ang third placer makaangkon usab sa P500 worth of grocery items og Tesda scholarship. Mangapud-apud usab ang komitiba sa consolation prizes.

Nag-andam usab ang komitiba ug dula alangan pahalipay sa mga ginikanan ug ilang mga anak nga pagabuhaton atol sa kasaulogan. (RER/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)

Cebuano news: Malacanang mibutyag nga mosugod na ang inter-agency body sa pag-implementar sa regulasyon alang sa Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

Ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Sep. 20 (PIA) –- Sugdan na pagtrabaho sa usa ka inter-agency body ang mga implementing rules and regulations (IRR) sa bag-ong balaodnon nga Cubercrime Prevention Act of 2012 nga nagtinguha aron masumpo ang cybercrime dinhi sa Pilipinas, matud sa opisyales sa Palasyo kagahapon.

Matud ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda sa regular press briefing didto sa Malacañang kagahapon nga ang Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ug ang Information and Communications Technology Office ubos sa Department of Science and Technology (ICT-DOST) maoy gitahasan aron trabahoon ang IRR sa Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Gipirmahan ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III niadtong Septyembre 12 ang Republic Act 10175 o ang Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Ang mga punishable act ubos sa bag-ong balaod apil niini ang mga kalapasan batok confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data system, illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, system interference, ug misuse of devices. Lakip usab ang kalabot na sa computer nga mga kalapasan sama sa pagpameke (forgery), pangilad (fraud) ug pangawat og ilhanan (identity theft) nga maoy sarang sa Internet.

Lakip usab nga masilotan ubos sa bag-ong balaod ang content-related nga mga kalapasan sama sa cybersex, ug child pornography.

Ang maong balaod mosilot usab sa mga unsolicited commercial communications o gitawag nga cyber squatting, paggamit sa ngalan sa usa katawo aron mokita o dauton ang reputasyon niini.

Ang kasamtangang mga balaod sa Pilipinas nga mosilot sa mga Internet crimes mao ang Republic Act (RA) 9995 (Anti-Photo and Voyeurism Act of 2009); RA 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009); ug RA 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2003). (PIA-Surigao del Norte)