Butuan to host 67th PICPA Annual National
Convention
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- The Philippine
Institute of Certified Accountants (PICPA) Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter
will be hosting this year’s 67th Annual National Convention (ANC) on November
28 to December 2, 2012 at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort here.
PICPA National President Atty. Josefe Sorrera-Ty
said that PICPA is the accredited professional organization (APO) of CPAs by
the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and has been awarded thrice as PRC
most outstanding APO from among other professional organizations.
Through PICPA, the country is actively
represented in the world’s major accounting bodies. Foremost among these
international organizations is the International Federation of Accountants
(IFAC), the broad objective which is the development and enhancement of a well
coordinated worldwide accountancy profession functioning under harmonized
standards.
“82 years have passed, PICPA has continued to be
faithful to its mission to enhance the integrity of the accountancy profession,
serve the best interest of its members and other stakeholders, and contribute
to the attainment of the country’s national objectives,” said Ty.
Ty added that some 2,500 participants nationwide
are expected to join in the big event.
“With this upcoming event, we are helping Butuan
City to be known by our guests from other regions and officials from the World
Bank, and we are also helping our local hotels and pension houses raise
additional income,” she said.
Ty also cited that they have been promoting the
local products of Butuan whenever they attend activities in the different
countries in the world.
ANC co-chair Rowena Tabada also said that the
‘Balanghai’ which represents the event’s logo was chosen because it is a symbol
of Ethics and Excellence enshrined in the Filipinos as early as pre-colonial
times.
“It is the earliest evidence of that early
Filipino were already excellent traders. The Balanghais were used in keeping
good business between the local people of Butuan and traders from the kingdoms
within the regions,” she said. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
PDRRMC launches YOUNG-ADNERT
By Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- The Provincial
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spearheaded the launching of
Youth Operative Urgency Nurturing Goodwill-Agusan del Norte Emergency Response
Team (YOUNG-ADNERT) at Provincial Training Center, this City.
Ms. Erma Suyo, Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Officer said the launching of YOUNG-ADNERT aims to
engage the youth in Disaster Risk Reduction and Environment Sustainability.
“The Agusan del Norte PDRRMC believes in the
importance of engaging the children and youth in Environment Sustainability,
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management decision making processes and helps
young people assume leadership roles within their communities” Suyo said.
This also in compliance to Republic Act 10121 an
act recognizing the importance of the youth in Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management, she added.
The PDRRMC recognizes the role of the youth as
follows: Instill good environmental ethics within one self/ home; disseminate
& bring about multiplier effect; Work with the Community especially the
vulnerable groups: the poor, children, women and elderly; Work with the
regulatory agencies (environmental agency, Local DRRM Councils); Integrate
environmental component/ element in their projects.
PDRRMC also recognizes the active involvement of
the youth in Risk management and disaster prevention, Community-based disaster
management planning, Restoration projects, Clean-up and clean up campaigns,
Drills and Simulations (earthquake, fire, landslide drills, etc.).
Some 172 youth from the Municipality of Carmen,
Nasipit, buenavista, Remedios T. Romualdez, Cabadbaran City, Magallanes, Tubay,
Santiago, Jabongga, Kitcharao, and Las Nieves participated the launching of
YOUNG-ADNERT. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Gov’t agencies discuss developmental issues
& concerns in Caraga
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 21 (PIA) -- Members of the
Development Administration Committee (DAC) under the Regional Development
Council (RDC) discussed developmental issues and concerns in Caraga, held
Wednesday in one of the local convention centers here.
On behalf of DAC chairperson Butuan City Mayor
Ferdinand Amante Jr., DAC Secretary Romulus Villanueva of the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga presided the meeting.
The members approved the proposal initiated by
Alfredo Baluyut Jr of RDC-Private Sector Representative (PSR), requesting the
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to officially rename the
Bancasi National Airport to Butuan National Airport to establish its brand
especially since there is an increase in tourist arrivals and businessmen
coming in the city. It will be endorsed to RDC for final approval.
Baluyut also cited that Mayor Amante already
acknowledged said request but he suggested that the committee make the request
in writing.
Another proposal approved by the committee is to
give preference to local suppliers in the procurement of goods and services
among government offices, provided that the requirements mandated by law are
complied with. The committee will be endorsing said proposal to RDC for final
approval.
“This proposal was made by the RDC-PSR since it
has been observed that a big number of bids as supplier of goods and services
for government entities have been awarded to suppliers based in Metro Manila.
With this, we would like to request that government agencies give preference to
local suppliers in the procurement of goods and services among government
offices in Caraga provided that all the requirements mandated by law are complied
with,” said Baluyut.
Also, the council discussed the functions and
objectives of Mindanao Development Forum (MDF), as well as its member-agencies
involved in working with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
Villanueva said that the MDF will be MinDA’s
primary mechanism to align with the Aquino administration’s Social Contract,
Philippine Development Plan (PDP), Mindanao 2020, and the Mindanao Strategic
Development Framework (MSDF).
Villanueva added that the proposed MDF will
function as: an inclusive, multi-stakeholder forum for discussing and
addressing priority development issues on Mindanao, which shall inform the
Mindanao Policy Agenda and the agenda of MinDA Board and the PDF; a dialogue
mechanism between Government of the Philippines and donors on development
policies, Official Development Assistance (ODA) and aid effectiveness in
Mindanao; and a coordinative mechanism for program coordination on
inter-regional and Mindanao-wide programs. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
VMLP Regional Assembly all set
By Eldie N. David
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- The Vice Mayors
League of the Philippines (VMLP) 3rd Caraga Regional Assembly is all set to be
staged on November 22-23, 2012 at the Goa2Geder Hotel and Restaurant in
Barangay Imadejas, this city.
More than 70 Vice Mayors coming from all the
cities and municipalities in Caraga Region are expected to attend this assembly
which is also seen as a farewell assembly for the participants with the holding
of next year’s national and local elections.
During the first day for which a plenary session
will be held, a workshop will be given to all the participants on various
topics. Among the resource persons who will conduct the workshop are Mr.
Lambert A. Ramirez of the National Institute for Policy Studies (NIPS) and Mr.
Derrick C. Manas of the Green Party Philippines.
Also expected to grace the assembly during the
fellowship night are Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. and Agusan del
Norte 2nd District Representative Angel Amante.
Butuan City Vice Mayor Lawrence “Law” Fortun,
who is the VMLP Caraga Regional Chairman has expressed gratitude to all the
vice mayors who have thrown their untiring support to his leadership which
highlighted during the chapter’s hosting of the 3rd VMLP Mindanao Island
Congress.
The said congress was attended by not only vice
mayors coming from Mindanao but the whole country as well. (Vice Mayor’s
Office/LGU-Butuan/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: GK’s Chair Tony Meloto dishes out
entrepreneurial pointers; GK, partners launch Butuan City Social Innovation
Movement
By Gervacio C. Dauz Jr.
For fellows who are long-time comrades and
collaborators, it only took days of appealing by Victor Emmanuel A. Ozarraga,
Caraga and Camiguin area coordinator for Gawad Kalinga (GK), to get Antonio P.
Meloto – the steadfast titular stalwart of GK and likewise the determined high
priest of Center for Social Innovations (CSI) – to pay a visit here.
When he spoke on May 25, 2012 to preach social
entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as to launch the Butuan City Social
Innovation Movement (SIM) in the presence of executives and representatives of
the civil society groups, the national government agencies, and the local government
unit here led by Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., everyone was fascinated by
what he said.
The build up toward the climax started earlier
when, on late afternoon, Meloto, upon arrival at the airport, went straight to
survey and assess the proposed GK Enchanted Farm in Barangay Pagatpatan here,
which is home to at least 500 household beneficiaries of the GK housing
Project.
During what a chat with partners and GK
volunteers amid the verdant backdrop of the Enchanted Farm, he coached his
listeners: “We can no longer afford to do the same things all over again that
do not work anymore.” He argued that there’s a need to reinvent the wheel in
order to meet the challenges of the times.
For example, in terms of marketing strategy, he
said “you cannot grow if you are not visible; you will remain just like a
cottage industry.”
As a believer in collaboration, he pointed out
also that “social enterprises cannot ignore the role of government in
development, or take over its role, if they want to make the most impact. They
can help in the delivery of services, facilitate partnerships, restore trust
and leverage limited government resources with private sector contribution.”
And it was for this reason that he cited “the
need of having an agriculturist collaborating with business people” so that
production and marketing would interact smoothly. He wanted to avoid the
disappointment of many farmers who, according to former Senator Juan Flavier,
are good producers but dismal market agents.
During the evening of interaction at the
Technology and Livelihood Education Room of the Father Saturnino Urios
University (FSUU) Morelos Campus in Barangay Libertad here, Ozarraga provided
the background leading to the formal launching of the Butuan City Social
Innovation Movement.
He explained that in October 2010, Mayor Amante
and his team of executives and partners visited the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat,
Bulacan. During the said educational visit, Amante and his group were amazed at
the said social entrepreneurship model and became convinced that it would be
worth reproducing the same experience here.
Thus, by September 16, 2011, in a simple but
fitting ceremony, the LGU here, together with at least five pioneering national
agencies – the Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources,
Trade and Industry, as well as the Commission on Higher Education, and the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority – plus the FSUU and the
GK, signed a memorandum of agreement, committing themselves to be part of the
GK Partnership Coordinating Committee in support of the GK Enchanted Farm
development. From said development, GK went further by launching the SIM as a
partner building block of housing project for development.
Amante, who promised to conduct his governance
via participative, transparent, and God-centered approach, said during the
launching that “this project is timely because we are pushing for a
public-private partnership.”
He added that the project “is helping us achieve
in building a better Butuan.” Although, he admitted that “we have a long way to
go, but at least we have started.”
He then revealed his support for developing the
GK Enchanted Farm so that by June 2012 “the road concreting leading to Brgy. Pagatpatan
will already start, plus a skills training center will be built in said
community.”
During Meloto’s turn to speak, he described
what’s wrong with the Filipinos. “Our soul was stolen from us,” he complained.
“Filipinos are raised to be employees, not employers; consumers, not
producers.”
In terms of integrity, he said, “the whole
country is compromised. We even have a soap opera going on at the Senate,”
referring to the impeachment move against Chief Justice Renato Corona. For him,
the need of the times is “to have real heroes who can transcend parochialism,
politicking, self-interest.”
“When we are not blinded by a desire for money
or paralyzed by a lack of it, we learn to use our creativity, raise
passion-driven caretakers and volunteers whose nobility cannot be bought and
the integrity of the mission is not compromised,” he said.
“We have to overcome negative mindsets,” he
added. “While we’re not used to be social innovators, changers, and wealth
creators,” the name of the game for the Filipinos is to have a paradigm shift.
He’s positive that the Philippines will be a major player, so that “we can show
the way through building first a platform for social innovation and
patriotism.”
He gave an example out of Human Nature, which is
“a social entrepreneurship model that is pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and
pro-environment.” What is key to that example is “you bring the rich and poor
together, but you don’t treat the poor lowly.” He expressed disdain for rich
and intelligent fellows who don’t have the heart to lift the downtrodden.
He believed that there is a need “to anchor our
progress on justice and peace, on capitalism with a conscience . . . to create
profit with a big heart for the least and the lost.”
He narrowed down his message to this: “I just
want to have a few brave souls who would like to leave a legacy for the next
generation.”
Meloto made his point clear before his audience
based on his own experience, some apparently convinced to be part of his
growing warriors of movers and shakers under the umbrella of the Social
Innovation Movement.
Tony Meloto, who came from humble beginnings in
Bacolod City, is a multi-awarded, development-oriented fellow and a much
sought-after speaker who had earned distinguished awards and citations like the
2006 Gawad Haydee Yorac Award, 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community
Leadership, 2012 Ernst and Young’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year-Philippines,
the latest of which the 2012 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship granted
him at the Oxford University in England. (Tesda-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: PIA-Caraga inilunsad ang kanilang
bagong FM radio station
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
BUTUAN CITY, Nob. 22 (PIA) -- Inilunsad
kamakailan ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga Region ang kanilang
pinakabagong government FM radio station.
“Dahil sa kaunlarang isinasagawa ng rehiyon,
maaari nating mapalakas ang serbisyong publiko sa pamamagitan ng paghahatid ng
mga balita at mga impormasyon hinggil sa mga programa ng pamahalaan,” ayon kay
Abner Caga, Mindanao Cluster head.
Idinagdag din ni Caga na ang pagbuo ng
communication channel na ito ay bilang tugon sa Mindanao Blueprint kung saan
ang lahat ng tanggapan ng PIA sa bawat rehiyon sa Mindanao ay makakahanap ng
isang estratehiya upang maging maayos ang paghahatid ng impormasyon sa publiko.
Aniya, ito ay unang na-implementa sa rehiyong
Caraga, at inaasahang ipapalaganap sa ibang rehiyon sa Mindanao.
Ang FM radio na ito ay gagamitin upang maghatid
ng mga impormasyon kagaya ng public announcement, weather updates, government
events, at mga special reports hinggil sa mga kaunlaran na isinasagawa ng
pamahalaan, dagdag ng opisyal.
Ngayong ang istasyon ay nasa ika-apat na araw na
ng test broadcast, nagsisimula nang umabot ang mga airwaves nito na may lakas
na 700-watts, sa kalapit na mga probinsya.
Dahil sa kaunlarang ito, ina-anyayahan ni Caga
ang lahat na makinig ng PIA Caraga FM Radio sa 107.8 kHz. Lakip nito'y mga
balita, at impormasyon, at nagpapatugtog din sila ng lahat ng klase ng kanta.,
ani Caga. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Surigaonon news: City Veterinary, Philippine
Carabao Center mipahigayon og artificial insemination
Ni Annette P. Villaces
SURIGAO CITY, Nob. 22 (PIA) – An buhatan sa City
Veterinary uban sa pakigtambayayong sa Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) -
Bukidnon mipahigayon sa artificial insemination sa mga buhi-ong kabaw sugod
niadtong Nobyembre. 9 hangtod Nob. 23, 2012 sa mga kabarangayan sa syudad.
An amo na kalihukan tinuig nga gipasiugdahan sa
lokal na gobyerno nan syudad ubos sa City Veterinary Office sa pagdumaya ni Dr.
Alan Quines iban ang grupo nan PCC.
Matud ni Dr. Quines, sa miagi na tuig mokabat sa
30 ka mga kabaw an ila na produced ug sija nan hinaut na unta koman na tuig mas
modaghan pa kini.
Sa amo na kalamboan, mapasalamaton og dako si
Mayor Ernesto Matugas sa mga tabang nga gihatag nan PCC para sa karajawan isab
nan mga mag-uuma diri sa Surigao City. (SDR/Surigao City PIO/PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
Cebuano news: MalacaΓ±ang miingon nga pagpasar sa
Sin Tax Bill mahinungdanong lakang aron mapalambo, mapalapdan ang health safety
nets sa mga Filipino
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Nob. 22 (PIA) -- Ang lakang sa
Senado aron ipasar ang Sin Tax Bill maoy usa ka mahinungdanong lakang aron
mapalambo ug mapalapdan ang public health safety nets alang sa mga Filipino,
matud sa opisyales sa Palasyo kagahapon.
Si Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
mipagawas sa maong pamahayag atol sa regular press briefing didto sa MalacaΓ±ang
kagahapon human ang Sin Tax Bill mipasar sa Senado, diin gisertipikahan kini sa
Pangulo isip dinalian.
"This complements the Aquino
administration’s relentless pursuit of universal health care which underscores
the belief that healthcare should be a right and not a privilege in our
country," matud ni Lacierda.
"We commend the unshakable commitment of
Senator Franklin Drilon who steered this important piece of legislation through
this long, drawn out process, and all the senators who voted for the
measure," sa iyang pagpasabot.
Gipasalamatan usab sa gobyernong Aquino ang
ubay-ubay nga mga advocates sa gobyerno ug civil society alang sa pagduso
niining maong dinalian nga reporma.
"Recognizing and advancing the protection
of public health is a commitment present in the Aquino administration’s social
contract with the Filipino people. This goes beyond government, however, and
begets the responsibility of all citizens to contribute to this cause,"
matud pa ni Lacierda.
Tumong ug tinunguha sa Sin Tax Bill nga makakuha
ang gobyerno og dugang buluhisan alang sa tinguha niini nga mapalig-on ang
sistema sa health care sa nasod. (RER/SDR-PIA-Surigao del Norte)
