PPOC members convene; gave updates on peace and
order situation in AgNor
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 17 (PIA) -- Member-agencies of
the Agusan del Norte Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) chaired by
Governor Erlpe John Amante convened Friday and discussed the members’
significant accomplishments related to peace and order situation in the
province.
On behalf of PPOC chair Gov. Amante, Atty. James
Reserva, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member and chairperson for Peace and
Order Committee presided the meeting with other government agencies, Philippine
National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Local Chief
Executives (LCEs).
The Provincial Integrated Area Community Public
Safety Plan for Agusan del Norte with an intended budget of P7-million to be
used as the Intelligence Fund of the province was approved during the said
meeting held at the Provincial Training Center here.
Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Romeo Solis said the DILG will be
implementing the ‘Payapa at Masaganang Pamanyanan’ (PAMANA) Projects in the
province amounting to some P20 million.
PNP Agusan del Norte Provincial Director PSSupt
Eugenio Paguirigan said that for the period of January 1 to October 31, 2012,
the crime incidents in the province has decreased to 196 compared to 907 in
2009; 586 in 2010; and 415 in 2011.
Paguirigan further said that they are
continuously intensifying its campaign against loose firearms wherein eight
persons were apprehended; campaign against illegal drugs wherein nine persons
were apprehended; campaign against illegal logging wherein eight persons were apprehended;
and campaign against carnapping. Cases against the suspects were filed in
court, he added.
“We are also implementing the ‘No Plate No
Travel Policy’ and we apprehended 209 vehicles from the violators… We also
intensified our campaign against wanted persons, wherein we recorded 170 cases
of which 131 were served,” added Paguirigan.
Paguirigan also emphasized that active
participation of the community and other stakeholders in reducing criminality
and insurgency is very vital.
LTC Potenciano Camba, Commanding Officer of 3rd
Special Forces, Philippine Army said they are coordinating and working with the
Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Agusan del Norte
Provincial Office, Rotary Club of Butuan, and local government units for the
conduct of Skills Training for the out-of-school youths in the municipalities
of Kitcharao, Santaigo, and Jabonga.
Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) Caraga Deputy Cristy Silvan reported that for the period of October 1 to
November 15, 2012, they had conducted four anti-drug operations in the
province, of which three of it was initiated by the PNP and one by their
office.
“We also conducted community involvement
activities such as Anti-Drug Symposia with students from different schools in
the province and sports activities with the youths,” Silvan said.
PDEA also assured to conduct joint anti-illegal
drug operations with other law enforcement agencies and ensured air-tight cases
against drug personalities. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: Better schools for Bantayan
From being old and dilapidated, 19 classrooms in
five public elementary schools in Bantayan, Caraga are now good as new after
the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), through its School Rehabilitation
Program (SRP), and volunteers had conducted school repairs and clean-up.
Last Oct. 12, RAFI turned over these classrooms
to Tamiao Elementary School, Vito Elementary School, Sillon Elementary School,
Baod Elementary School, and Kabac Elementary School. A total of 896 pupils
benefited from the program.
RAFI provided P4.37 million to cover for the
material cost of the repair and rehabilitation of the four Marcos-type and
Bagong Lipunan school buildings while the local government unit of Bantayan
shouldered the P1.5 million in labor cost.
As beneficiaries and proponents of the project,
the school administrators, teachers, parents and the local community of the
five schools mentioned ensured the safekeeping of the construction materials
for the duration of the school repair.
The SRP of RAFI aims not just to improve the
physical condition of public schools but also encourage participation among the
stakeholders.
“We enjoin the parents, the school community,
and the private sector to take on the responsibility of actively participating
as owners of the public school system. Our children’s future depends on the
improvement of the public schools, and this improvement depends on our
participation,” Amaya Aboitiz, deputy director for operations of RAFI, said.
Bantayan Mayor Ian Christopher Escario expressed
his appreciation to the community for their cooperation.
“I commend the teachers and parents for their
active participation in the entire project as volunteers and property
custodians. Together, we are opening more doors for our children to become
successful individuals in the future,” Escario said.
Bantayan has been one of the municipality
beneficiaries of RAFI’s SRP since 2009. So far, 39 classrooms in 11 schools
were already turned over and completed through the program.
“The lack of funds has made it difficult for the
town to address the classroom shortages, and other social services as well.
That is why we are very happy with the presence of non-government organizations
like RAFI who are willing to help address our problems in education,” Escario
added.
Bantayan is still part of the program’s second
batch of schools, and has 14 classrooms in five schools that are now undergoing
major repair.
Since 2004, SRP has repaired 498 classrooms in
148 schools in 34 towns in Cebu.
SRP is a program under the Education focus area
of RAFI, creating a conducive and engaging learning environment to nurture the
love for learning. RAFI's other focus areas are Integrated Development,
Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Leadership
& Citizenship.
For more information about the School
Rehabilitation Program, please contact 418-7234 loc. 205 and look for Jicel
Reve Gabriel, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph or
http://schoolrehab.rafi.org.ph. (RAFI/PIA-Caraga)
