Policy Framework of RA 10354 set today in
Surigao del Sur
By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, March 8 (PIA) --
The provincial government of Surigao del Sur under Governor Johnny Pimentel
through the Provincial Gender and Development (GAD) focal person led today,
Friday, a Policy Forum on Legal and Policy Framework of RA 10354 held at
Seminar Hall, Capitol Hills, this city.
The activity commemorates International Women’s
Day and Women’s Month Celebration with the Legislator’s Committee on Population
and Development – Local Advocacy team as facilitator.
The forum tackles issues and challenges at the
level of the local government unit (LGU) implementation after RA 10354,
otherwise known as Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012,
was signed last December 2012.
Participants are employees of the LGUs
(Provincial & Municipal representatives) & national government line
agencies within the province, women’s group representatives from different CSOs
and stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Blood Donations & Free Blood
Typing activity of the Philippine Red Cross and the Free Medical and Dental
Consultation in coordination with the Philippines Medical Association &
Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center were successfully conducted Thursday.
The provincial office of Tesda also extended free services on beauty care like
hair cut, manicure/pedicure and massage on the same day. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del
Sur)
Agusan del Sur, recipients of COSERAM program
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, March 8 (PIA) –- This province
became one of the recipients of the Conflict Sensitive Resources and Asset
Management (Coseram) program that supports an integrated approach of poverty
reduction and peace building in Caraga Region.
Started in October last year, the joint program
of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Philippine government will end on
June 2014 with German contributing EUR 1,750,000, through the Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
According to Dirk Euler, German representative
of Coseram, the program will adapt indigenous knowledge and practice recognized
and used for the conservation of biodiversity and are oriented towards a
peaceful and sustainable governance of the natural resources in the Agusan
Marsh.
“The reason for this is because Agusan Marsh has
gained an official status through Presidential Proclamation No. 913 and has
been named the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary," Euler said.
The official further said they will be focusing
on the conservation and protection of Agusan Marsh, and will partner with the
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) in planning that will focus on capacity
development on the individual and also on constitutional and organizational
level.
"It will support the intersectoral dialogue
and cooperation processes to strengthen and enhance the political and legal
framework conditions for a culture and conflict sensitive use of indigenous
practices for biodiversity conservation,” he said.
Presently, Coseram supports in participatory
land use planning and rationalization of different plans that contributes to
the efforts in conservation and enhancement of the management of protected
areas.
According to Euler, after initial community
organizing to be undertaken by the NCIP, he and his non-government organization
counterpart represented by Mae Carla Sharon Buico will frequently visit the
areas covered by the Coseram in order that implementation be seriously implemented
and monitored. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
News feature: The rise of women
With more women in the boardroom and increased
visibility of women as impressive role models in every aspect of life, women
indeed have come a long way from the past.
In the past, women were hindered from using
their capabilities and knowledge because they were expected to just be in the
house, said Heddah V. Largo, Gender and Development (GAD) focal person of
Provincial Women and Children’s Commission (PWCC).
During the March 2 episode of “Pagtuki,” the
official radio program of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Largo shared
that in the past, women had no voice in economics and political decisions. They
even had no right to vote not until 1935.
She added that the issue concerning women's
suffrage in the Philippines was settled in a special plebiscite held on April
30, 1937. In compliance with the 1935 Constitution, the National Assembly
passed a law that extended right of suffrage to women.
“Women play active roles in our society. We now
have women leaders who continue to campaign for women’s rights. In economic
aspect, women have looked for ways to be economically sustainable and dependent
through micro-enterprises,” Val Gatchalian, executive assistant of RAFI
Micro-finance, said.
For Ma. Lydia Jamora, nanay-client of RAFI
Micro-finance, both husband and wife should work to provide the needs of the
family. This is especially for husbands who only earn little.
“Our meat business started only with P10, 000
capital. We did our best to rotate the money. For three years now, we were able
to sufficiently meet the needs of our family, send our children to school, and
also help some relatives. From a small capital, our life slowly changed for the
better,” she shared.
She added that she also shares her blessings to
others through annual feeding programs, which the family conducts for 20 years
now.
Based on data, there are 63 million
women-clients availing the services of micro-finance institutions (MFIs) around
the world. One of the attributes of women that makes MFIs open to them, is that
they are responsible clients, data reveal.
Gatchalian added that they see empowered women
among their nanay-clients in Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu branches.
“In RAFI Micro-finance, we give our nanays
productive opportunity to help not just themselves but also their families.
Now, they can send their children to school and put food on their plates,” she
said.
Rhodora Bucoy, an associate professor of
Political Science in University of Philippines Visayas-Cebu College and vice
president of Women Studies Association of the Philippines, shared that women
have greatly contributed to economics and politics, among others.
“Groups and other institutions will still
continue to educate women not just about their rights but also to give them
leadership trainings. In our education system, we also incorporated the
contributions of women in history and in the present society,” Bucoy added.
Largo disclosed that in PWCC, they do not just
give economic opportunities to women but also conduct program interventions on
morality. She said that technology poses a challenge to women.
March is Women’s Month, which serves as a
nationally recognized period to celebrate the accomplishments, contributions,
and histories of women.
Pagtuki is aired over DyLA every Saturday at
10-11am. The program, which is one of the Knowledge Sharing & Advocacy
capabilities of RAFI, tackles timely and relevant issues on community
development, politics and governance, micro-financing, education, environment,
early childhood care and development, and culture and heritage that affect the
Cebuano community.
For more information about RAFI’s radio program,
please contact Chrisley Hinayas at 418-7234 loc. 540, or visit www.rafi.org.ph
or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph. (RAFI/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: Presidente Aquino mianunsyo sa
duha ka bag-ong mga miyembro sa COMELEC
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, March 8 (PIA) -- Duha ka mga
bag-ong miyembro sa Commision on Elections (Comelec) ang gitudlo ni Presidente
Aquino kagahapon aron mohulip sa bakanteng mga posisyon nga gibiyaan sa duha
niini ka mga commissioners niadtong niaging bulan.
Si kanhe ambassador Macabangkit Lanto ug
election lawyer Bernadette Sardillo maoy mohulip nila Rene Sarmiento ug Armando
Velasco nga pareho ng meretiro isip commissioners niadtong Pebrero 2.
tulo ka mga nominado nga gi-interbyu sa
Presidente bag-ohay pa lamang si Lanto ug Sardillo maoy iyang napili ug pirmado
na niini ang ilang appointment papers ug kini ipadala ngadto sa Kongreso alang
sa ilang opisyal nga kumpirmasyon.
Matud sa Presidente si Lanto nagserbisyo isip
diplomat sa Egypt ug lain pang mga nasod sa Middle East, siya usab naghupot og
pipila ka mga portfolio sa gobyerno lakip na niini ang puwesto sa Department of
Justice isip undersecretary.
Sa laing bahin, si Sardillo usa ka eksperensyado
nga election lawyer diin naila usab sa iyang pagdepender sa mga katungod sa
katawhan sa pipila ka mga election protest. (RER/SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
