Foundation repairs classrooms for Asturias
CEBU, Dec. 18 (PIA) -- A private foundation
rehabilitated several classrooms benefiting hundreds of pupils here.
The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) through
its School Rehabilitation Program (SRP), recently turned-over 15 classrooms to
the teachers and school administrators of four public elementary schools in
Asturias here.
Four school buildings of Asturias Central
School, Agbanga Elementary School, Agtugop Elementary School, and Tag-amakan
Elementary School were repaired, benefiting over 700 pupils.
While RAFI shouldered the material cost, the
local government unit of Asturias and the provincial government of Cebu
shouldered the labor cost. The teachers, parents, and the community served as
custodians of the construction materials throughout the repair period.
Part of the repair was the installation of a
two-piece concave-type blackboard and a toilet and lavatory in each classroom.
“RAFI is doing its best to help provide enabling
conditions by improving physical structures,“ Anthony Dignadice, RAFI Education
Development Unit executive director, said.
“We wish to emphasize the need for effective
learning and this would require change in the culture of classroom management,”
Dignadice, added.
The completion of the 15 classrooms in the four
schools of Asturias now brings the coverage of the School Rehabilitation
Program to a total of 507 classrooms in 151 schools in 34 towns in Cebu since
its inception in 2004.
“The most difficult part of the implementation
was the transport of construction materials to schools in far-flung areas.
Despite this challenge, what truly encouraged me was seeing the need for a
better school for the community,” Eliseo Leones Jr., school head of Agtugop and
Agbanga Elementary Schools, said.
Asturias is one of the
municipality-beneficiaries of RAFI's SRP.
“We’ve been dreaming to have a beautiful school
building for so long, and now that we have it, we are so happy,” Leones, added.
The SRP is a program under the Education focus
area of RAFI, which creates conducive and engaging learning environment to
nurture the love for learning. Its 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)
Caraga entrepreneurs train on business planning
for expansion
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) -- Some P34.7
million-worth of investment leads from planned expansions was generated by 28
entrepreneurs from the region who participated in the recently concluded
Planning for Expanding Business Training (PLANET) held at the Almont Hotel’s
Inland Resort, this city.
Participants which included owners of micro-,
small- and medium- enterprises (MSMEs) and board members and officers of
enterprising cooperatives prepared 19 business plans with project costs ranging
from P100,000 to P10 million.
Some of the projects developed were additional
capital for the cooperatives’ re-lending program, construction of poultry
pre-fabricated building, expansion of sand and gravel quarrying through heavy
equipment acquisitions, expansion to full production of lemongrass hydrosol and
oil, among others.
Planet is a training aimed at empowering MSMEs
on how to prepare business plans that would increase their chances of availing
loans from banks and other financial institutions.
After completing the course, participants are
expected to be able to 1) explain the credit application procedure and
financing scheme of credit institutions, 2) understand the different components
of a business plan, 3) discuss the mechanics of preparing a business plan, and
4) prepare and present a business plan ready for credit application.
The training was conducted by the UP Institute
for Small Scale Industries in partnership with the Industrial Guarantee and
Loan Fund through the Development Bank of the Philippines, and in coordination
with the Department of Trade and Industry-Caraga. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga industry clusters conduct training on
value chain
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) -- Selected industry
leaders in Caraga attended the Value Chain Orientation Workshop for Industry
Cluster Stakeholders on December 17 at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this
city.
The participants come from the priority industry
clusters (ICs) - palm oil, banana, high value vegetables, wood, and tourism.
The five ICs are under the Industry Cluster
Assistance for Regional Economic Development (iCARE) project which is
implemented by DTI-Caraga with the support from German International
Development Agency (GIZ) COSERAM project.
The workshop was facilitated by Rita Pilarca, a
GIZ consultant on value chain development based in Manila. The workshop is also
a preliminary activity prior to the conduct of industry-focused workshops for
the selected top three sectors to be conducted in January to April 2013.
The five ICs under the iCARE project forms part
of the more than 20 industry clusters being developed by the region. The
clustering process necessitates the operation of upstream (raw material
suppliers, production inputs) and downstream (logistics, value-adding,
packaging and marketing) economic activities to support the whole value chain.
Industry Clustering is cited as a major strategy
under the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 to propel the country forward
in economic and industrial development.
Caraga has decided on this approach much earlier
when the Caraga Regional Development Council adopted the Industry Clustering
strategy on March 17, 2004 through RDC Resolution No. 6 to spur regional
economic development and as a way of enhancing the region’s competitive
advantage. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
ILO-DOLE-DTI Climate change adaptation project
in Agusan del Norte prepares for scale-up
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) - Following the
successful run of the climate change adaptation (CCA) project in Agusan del
Norte, project documentation for possible scaling up in the cities of
Cabadbaran and Butuan and nearby Agusan del Sur is now in the works.
The scale-up, dubbed “Scaling Up Risk Transfer
Mechanisms for Climate Vulnerable Farming Communities in Southern Philippines,”
will be funded under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) – Special Climate
Change Fund through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for US$1.05
million with possible expansion to US $3 million.
The project which is targeted to start July 2013
aims to reduce poverty by strengthening the resilience of farming communities
in the selected areas that are vulnerable to climate risks through provision of
integrated financial package (IFP) that increase certainty and improve
productivity and sustainability.
According to Ms. Lurraine Baybay-Villacorta,
former ILO CCAP Project Manager and now Regional Programmes Consultant on Green
Jobs and Climate Change of the ILO-Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific,
the scale-up hopes to replicate the outputs and impacts of the pilot run which
had partner service providers seeking out high risk communities not being
serviced by regular financial institutions, mobilizing and optimizing use of
local resources, and bringing to the communities existing productive and
technical support facilities thus allowing communities to continue with their
production in the face of climate risks, diversify their incomes, strengthen
their asset base and apply more effective risk-based decision making to
farming.
She said scaling up of the CCAP is also being
considered and worked out by the International Labour Organization (ILO) for
the countries of Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
In the Philippines, project preparations are led
by the ILO in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the same core partners that
collaborated with the Agusan del Norte Provincial Government, the municipal
governments of RTR, Jabonga, Buenavista and Las Nieves, and other stakeholders
from the government and private sector in implementing the CCA demonstration
project “Climate Resilient Farming Communities in Agusan del Norte through Risk
Transfer Mechanisms.”
The pilot CCA project developed and applied a
local financing and risk insurance model to rice and corn farmers in vulnerable
areas in the four towns of Agusan del Norte. The approach was to bundle
financial and non-financial services in an integrated package which included
climate change briefings and environmental management awareness as well as the
innovative weather index-based insurance (WIBI) to test in farmers who were
deemed more vulnerable to climate-related risks by their poverty and lack of
access to financial and other productive resources.
The package further includes - completion of a
financial literacy program which not only informs farmers on their loan
obligations but also on how to manage their household budget and savings;
farmers’ field school to provide updated support on crop production activities
and appropriate business technologies for alternative livelihood activities;
fast processing of loan applications to respond to changing planting patterns
and timetable; cash-cycle responsive amortization schedule that allows for
payments only when farmers already have the money (after harvest, after sales).
The financing also includes crop insurance and
immediate refinancing to allow farmers to recoup losses due to climate –induced
damages; personal credit life insurance and mortuary protection for the farmer
borrower and the members of his or her household – so as not to burden the
farming household in case of death in the family; and marketing support – to
wean them away from unreasonably low-priced purchases from traders.
The CCAP integrated financial package, which
test run ended December 2011 but the partners have continued to make available
in the pilot areas up to this day, had three (3) models: rural bank,
cooperative and the local government unit (LGU).
The rural bank model is being run by the
Peoples’ Bank of Caraga (PBC) while the cooperative model is run by Baug CARP
Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCBMPC) which was hailed National
Awardee (1st Place) in the Land Bank of the Philippines’ 2012 Gawad Pitak
Awards. The third model – local government unit –run facility is being expanded
in RTR (for alternative livelihood), it being the original designer and successful
implementor of the said financing facility, and tested in Buenavista and
Jabonga – mostly for crop production.
The three models differ only in their interest
rates with the LGU facility being priced the lowest (@ only 5% for the whole
cropping or less than 1% per month, the coop model at 1% per month and the
rural bank model at 2.3% per month.
All three models, however, implemented the
innovative schemes to make the financial assistance responsive to climate
change vulnerabilities. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga MSMEs participate in the 67th PICPA
Annual National Convention Trade Fair
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) -- A total of 25
homegrown micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) participated in the trade
fair recently organized in support to this year’s 67th PICPA Annual National
Convention held at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.
The trade fair was also joined by 55 exhibitors
from all parts of the country, some of them regular exhibitors of the PICPA
National Conventions and other national conventions.
The four-day fair generated combined sales of
almost P355,000 for Caraga exhibitors and about P1.5 million for non-Caraga
participants, understandably because of the higher number of the latter.
Sales on opening day were low as technical
sessions were conducted in separate venues outside of the hotel. However, it
was a totally different scene on the second day when the technical sessions
were transferred to the trade fair venue
More than 1,900 participants huddled around the
booths looking for things to buy as souvenirs and gifts/pasalubong. With the
brisk sales, exhibitors had to extend their store hours until 10 p.m. The same
scenario was repeated on the succeeding days.
Caraga exhibitors included De Lara Agsam
Novelties of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, Marge’s Hininang Tu of Cabadbaran, Agusan
del, Butuan Pro-Food, Madyaw Kadyaw Souvenir Shoppe, Reyanne Jane’s Essence,
Bundy Wine, Art Tribe Food & Crafts, and Blyth’s Food Products.
The trade fair was a collaborative effort of
PICPA-Agusan del Norte Chapter and the Department of Trade and Industry –
Caraga. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
DTI holds 8th ConsumerNet Meets the Public forum
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – The Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga Regional Office has conducted the 8th Consumer
Network (ConsumerNet) Meets the Public forum held at the Barangay Imadejas
Function Hall, Imadejas Subdivision, this city.
DTI Certified Establishment or BAGWIS seals were
awarded to ten (10) business establishments in Agusan Del Norte for complying
with Fair Trade Laws and ensuring the rights and welfare of consumers during
the said forum.
Updates on matters affecting consumers such as
water, electricity and the helmet act implementation were also taken up.
Remegio T. Martinez of the Butuan City Water
District (BCWD) explained the necessity of curtailing water supply during the
rainy season. Accordingly, water supply is cut off during rainy days for health
and safety measures since the water produced from the Taguibo water shed
becomes unclean, dirty and polluted. He said heavy rains can create flashfloods
causing the water to be unclean for a couple of hours.
Martinez advised consumers to plant trees near
the Taguibo water shed with the assistance of BCWD’s forester in order to help
preserve our water supply.
Engr. Darwin T. Daymiel of Agusan Del Norte
Electric Cooperative (ANECO), on the other hand disclosed that there is a
generation deficiency or shortage of electric supply. There is no immediate
solution of power shortage. As explained, the long term solution is the bidding
and negotiation for a five year power supply with power producers.
The Motorcycle Helmet Act, and its strict
enforcement and implementation by January 2013, was discussed by Atty. Maria
Aurora R. Curaza-Maquiling of the DTI- Caraga and Edivee S. Busico of the
Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
DTI-Caraga issues 10,397 helmet ICC stickers
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – The Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga has issued 10,397 Import Commodity Clearance
(ICC) stickers to motorcycle riders for their old helmets.
The helmet sticker marking is required under
Republic Act No. 10054 otherwise known as the Motorcycle Helmet Act which
requires motorcycle drivers and riders to wear only standard protective
motorcycle helmets or those helmets which passed the DTI quality standards. The
ICC sticker is required as helmets available in the market are all imported.
Of the 49,437 registered motorcycle units in
Caraga Region, only 21% of the owners/users have applied for ICC stickers for
their old helmets. With the minimal number of applicants, it is positively
presumed that motorcycle drivers and riders have purchased new helmets (after
August 1, 2012) now bearing the ICC sticker.
The helmet sticker marking for individual
applicants ended last November 29, 2012. However, DTI is conducting on-site
helmet sticker issuances in the different municipalities to accommodate
motorcycle drivers/riders who are residents in that area until December 17,
2012.
Inspections and enforcement of the said
Motorcycle Helmet Act begins on January 1, 2013. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
Pagtuki tackles Cebuanos’ disaster preparedness
By Mier Villegas
CEBU, Dec. 18 (PIA) -- When the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA)
said that typhoon Pablo would cross to Central Visayas on December 4, the local
government units of Cebu Province immediately took preventive measures.
In the city, classes and work were suspended on
Dec. 4 and 5 in all school levels and government offices. The mayor also held a
meeting with the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Council.
While the typhoon hardly affected Cebu province
and the rest of the Visayas, it caused considerable damage to some parts of
Luzon and Mindanao. The number of casualties, placed at least 1,200, is still
rising. A total of 5.5 million people in 30 provinces were affected by the said
typhoon.
Vice Mayor Al Arquillano of San Francisco town,
Camotes, lauded the implementation of DRRM in the province's municipalities,
but acknowledged the need to make improvements.
“The problem is in the mindset of the people,
typhoons are natural while disasters are not because these disasters are made
by men,” Arquillano said in Cebuano during the Dec. 8 episode of
"Pagtuki," the radio program of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).
In San Francisco, Camotes, he said, two
assessments were conducted to prevent disasters―one is done by the town
officials and the other, by the residents of the barangays.
“To stay away from disasters, we have to
continuously prepare,” Mirinda Morante, regional director of the Office of the
Civil Defense 7, commented.
The Office of Civil Defense 7, in partnership
with member agencies of the DRRM Council, also conducted integrated planning,
which include management of human remains and missing persons, among others.
Arquillano challenged the municipalities of Cebu
to regularly conduct disaster preparedness campaigns and drills to educate the
public of DRRM.
Last Dec. 4, when PAG-ASA raised storm signals
in the different provinces of the country, RAFI immediately put into place its
disaster risk reduction management plan, especially highlighting relief
operations, in anticipation of the effects of typhoon Pablo.
“Let’s continue to pray as much as we prepare,”
Evelyn Nacario-Castro, executive director of RAFI's Eduardo Aboitiz Development
Studies Center (EADSC), said, also thanking those who supported the efforts of
RAFI in its preparation for possible relief operations.
"Pagtuki” is aired over dyLA every
Saturday at 10-11 a.m. The program, which is one of the Knowledge Sharing &
Advocacy capabilities of RAFI, tackles timely and relevant issues affecting the
Cebuano community. (USJR, RAFI intern/PIA-Caraga)
DTI confers the “Bagwis Award” to 18
establishments in Caraga region
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – Eighteen
establishments in Caraga region were given the Department of Trade and
Industry’s (DTI) Bagwis Award for the year 2012. This brings the total number
of awardees to 114 since 2006.
A Bagwis Award is given to a firm for its
efforts to comply with Fair Trade Laws (FTL) such as placing price tags on
items being sold, seeking permits on sales promotion activities, product
standard (PS) marks for local mandatory products and International Commodity
Clearance (ICC) stickers for imported items on sale such as helmets, among
others.
The DTI-Bagwis Program, formerly known as
DTI-Certified Establishments Program, aims to recognize and promote business
establishments monitored and evaluated to be FTL compliant as well maintaining
a functional Consumer Welfare Desk (CWD) which would attend to complaints from
customers.
The award itself is an acrylic seal provided by
the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) which the
establishment has to display at a conspicuous place within the store. Included
as well is a 4mx8m tarpaulin signage which will be displayed near the
establishment’s business name signage.
More importantly, DTI-Caraga will be promoting
these establishments to the buying public.
DTI-CE/Bagwis awardees in return are expected to
uphold the rights of consumers and comply with FTLs especially those that
directly affect the safety and welfare of consumers.
Consumers are not only urged to patronize these establishments
but are also encouraged to report to the DTI any violation of any fair trade
laws committed by these DTI-BAGWIS awardees. These documented reports, once
validated, will be the basis for the revocation of the DTI-BAGWIS award.
(DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
DTI organizes 13 Diskwento Caravans in 2012
BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – The Department of
trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga regional and provincial offices organized 13
Diskwento Caravans from March to November this year with total sales amounting
to P1.7 million and benefitting an estimated 7,000 consumers/households all
over the region.
The Diskwento Caravan program, which was
launched by the Department of Trade and Industry in 2011, aims to give
consumers the joy of buying basic necessities, prime commodities and, other
household and personal commodities at prices much lower than the prevailing
prices in major stores, groceries and supermarkets.
Products are sold at a discount of P1 to P10
pesos per item compared to regular prices.
The agency has partnered with Butuan- and
Cagayan de Oro-based distributors as well as major wholesalers of products
including noodles, canned sardines, biscuits, cooking oil, soy sauce, vinegar,
toilet soaps, detergent bars and powders, and canned meat products which are
the most saleable items as product inventories are high and available brands
are varied. For the month of June, school supplies were added to the inventory
to benefit the school children and their parents.
DTI-assisted local producers also participated
in the activities and sold their products at factory prices.
In order to sustain the program, the agency will
be networking with additional distributors and major wholesalers within and
outside of the region to increase the number of suppliers and products in
future Diskwento Caravans. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: Administrasyong Aquino nagpahayag
ng kanilang paniniwala na mapapanatili nila ang mabuting relasyon sa bansang
Japan
Ni Danilo S. Makiling
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Dis. 18 (PIA) -- Malakas ang
paniniwala ng administrasyong Aquino na mananatili ang mabuting relasyon ng
bansa sa Japan, matapos matalo sa parliamentary elections si Prime Minister
Yoshihiko Noda, tanda ng pagbabalik ng kapangyarihan ng Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP).
“Bilang strategic ally at partner, maaari tayong
magtrabaho sa kahit anong pamahalaan ng Japan. At tiyak tayo ay magtratrabaho
sa makabagong pamumuno, ang LDP Leadership. Tayo ay umaasa sa maayos na
relasyon natin sa Japan,” ani Presidential Spokespersons Edwin Lacierda sa
isang press briefing na isinagawa sa Malacanang kamakailan.
Si Prime Minister Noda ay nangakong baba sa
puwesto bilang party president matapos ang resulta ng exits polls na
nagpapakita na ang oposisyon LDP ay nanalo sa isang landslide victory sa
parliamentary elections.
Ang hakbang ni Noda ang nagbigay daan kay former
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe na bumalik sa kapangyarihan na siyang kasalukuyang
pinuno ng conservative-learning LDP.
Noong nakaraang taon, bumisita si Pangulong
Aquino sa Japan upang palakasin ang pagkakaibigan ng dalawang bansa loob ng 55
taon. (NCLM/DSM-PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: 890 youths participate in the 1st
Prov'l Youth Summit
Ni Catherine A. Balomaga
SURIGAO CITY, Dis. 17 (PIA) -- Mokabat sa 890 ka
mga kabatan-onan gikan sa nagkalain-laing mga kalungsoran sa probinsya ang
mipartisipar sa gipahigayon nga 1st Provincia Youth Summit bag-ohay pa lamang
didto sa Provincial Convention Center, ning syudad.
Ang maong summit nga nag-uban sa temang, “Green
Communities, Green Future: a Challenge to youth participation in nation
building,” nga gipasiugdahan sa lokal nga pangagamhanan sa probinsya sa Surigao
del Norte gitambongan nila Surigao del Norte Governor Sol F. Matugas, Surigao
del Norte 1st district Rep. Francisco T. Matugas, Vice Governor Arturo Carlos
Egay Jr., and Senior Board Member Myrna M. Romarate.
Tumong ug tinunguha sa maong kalihukan ang
pagpasabot sa mga kabatan-onan sa ilang dakong parte sa dakong mga problema nga
giatubang karon sa nasod ang climate change, illegal drugs ug mga kabatan-onan
nga nahilambigit sa mga krimen.
Gihisgutan atol sa maong kalihukan ang
mahitungod sa Human Rights/Moral Values, Youth in Entrepreneurship, Youth for
Peace Advocacy, Adolescent Health Education and Solid Waste Management.
Sa mensahe ni Governor Sol Matugas, iyang
giaw-hag ang mga kabatan-onan nga mamahimong aktibo, mabinanantayon aron
masulbad ang maong problema ug likayan gyud nga malambigit sa mga krimen
ilabina na ang illegal nga droga tungod kay sila maoy bugtong paglaum sa nasod.
Samtang sa iyang bahin, si Climate Change
Commission Secretary Lucille L. Sering isip maoy pinasidunggang mamumulong
mipasabot usab og dugang mahitungod sa climate change og iyang gisubli nga dako
ug mahinugdanon gyud ang tabang gikan sa mga kabatan-onan aron masulbad kining
maong problema tungod kay ang mga kabatan-onan maoy pinakadakong sektor sa
katilingban. (SDR/Provincial Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Cebuano news: Pangamhanang Aquino mipahayag sa
pagtoo nga padayon ang maayong relasyon sa Japan human miangkon sa kapildihan
si Prime Minister Noda sa Parliamentary nga piniliay
Ni Nida Grace B. Tranquilan
TANDAG CITY, Dis. 18 (PIA) -- Ang panngamhanan
sa Aquino mipahayag sa hugot nga pagtoo nga mapadayon ang maayong relasyon sa
Japan human miangkon sa kapildihan si Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda sa
parliamentary eleksyon niadtong Dominggo, nga misimbolo sa pagbalik sa gahom sa
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
“Komo
kaalyado sa estratehiko ug kaabag, kami makatrabaho uban ang bisan unsa nga
gobyerno sa Japan. Ug siguradong kita makatrabaho uban ang bag-ong liderato,
ang LDP. Kami naglantaw sa padayon nga masibuton ang relasyon uban ang Japan,”
("As a strategic ally and partner, we can work with any government in
Japan. And certainly we can work with the new leadership, the LDP leadership.
We look forward to having a continued warm relation with Japan,") si
Presidential Spokesperson Edwi Lacierda miingon atol sa regular nga press
briefing sa Malakanyang niadtog Lunes.
Si Prime Minister Noda misaad nga mokanaog isip
president sa partido human migula sa piniliay nga mipakita nga ang oposisyon
LDP miresulta sa anas sa kadaugan sa parliamentary nga eleksyon.
Ang paglihok ni Noda pagpasayon alang sa
pagbalik sa gahom sa kanhing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, ang sagad nga lider sa
“conservative-learning” LDP.
Sa miageng tuig, si Presidente Aquino mibisita
sa Japan sa hanyag nga dugang paglig-on ug paglig-on sa tinuyo nga piyansa sa
panaghigala nga gigalam sa duha ka nasud sobra sa 55 na ka mga katuigan.
(RER/NGBT-PIA Surigao del Sur)
