Government to provide financial assistance to
Mindanao Coops to address electric power problem
By David M. Suyao
PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, April 12
(PIA) -- The Philippine Government has offered assistance to all Mindanao
Electric Cooperative by extending financial assistance through a soft loan at
National Electric Administration to purchase Modular Generating Sets at 6
percent interest per annum.
Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc.
(ASELCO) Gen. Manager Emmanuel Galarce said, because of the power shortage that
Mindanao is again experiencing this year, the National Electrification
Administration convened all the electric cooperatives in Mindanao and offered three
options in order to immediately address the problem.
“The first option is that, the cooperative will
rent a diesel generating set at P1.4 million a month, which is very expensive.
The second option is to purchase on its own a generating sets with an estimated
cost of P22 million per Mega watt (MW), and the third option is the Department
of Energy will provide soft loan to electric coops at six percent interest rate
per annum with a grace period of two years. Meaning, the cooperatives will be
given two years that they will only pay the interest. Thereafter, the electric
coop will decide to push through in acquiring the generator sets, or return the
gen sets to the government. During our meeting with the Board of Directors of
ASELCO, the body has decided to take the third option,” Engr. Galarse said.
According to Engr. Galarse, when the modular gen
set will be in place on August this year, the power deficiency will
automatically go down from the monthly average of 10,500 kilo watt (KW) from
this month to July, to an average of 1,400 KW starting August to December.
Agusan del Sur at present has a monthly demand of 25,770 KW per month.
“With the installation of the gen sets, power
interruption will surely become shorter. These days, we are experiencing a maximum
of 1.5 hours per feeder rotational brown out with a total of four and a half
hours a day. But it is also expected that electric rates per kilowatt hour will
also increase from P1.80 to P4.00 per kilowatt hour,” Engr. Galarse said.
During brown outs, Engr. Galarse said, big
industrial establishments incurred a difference P9.00 per kilowatt hour if they
use their own generator sets. While paying only P7.00 per kilowatt hour, they
will be spending P16.00 per kilowatt hour for diesel. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
MGB-13 urged students to take mining
engineering, geology courses
By Marx Rev A. Buenavidez
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, April 12 (PIA) – The Mines
and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) – Caraga Regional Office urged students to take up
courses that could land them jobs in the mining industry.
MGB-13 Regional Director, Engr. Roger A. De Dios
said during the Top Students Summit attended by more than 100 graduating high
school students and scholars held recently at the Provincial Convention Center
spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte and the
Department of Education.
Anchored on the theme, “Career Guidance Leading
to Right Choices Towards Global Competitiveness,” the said event was in line
with the Education Roadmap of the province and one of Governor Sol F. Matugas’
flagship projects under her H.E.A.L.S. program which stresses the need for
nurturing top-notch and globally-competitive individuals through befitting
career guidance leading to well-informed choices on career opportunities.
De Dios said the recent announcement of the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) stressed that Geology (top 2) and
Mining/Metallurgical engineering courses (top 4) are in the top 10 list of high
paying jobs with monthly salaries pegged at Php 64,889 and Php 55,638,
respectively.
Apart from presenting the background and
benefits of the minerals industry, as well as, the laws and perspectives
encompassing it, De Dios also imparted valuable insights and urged graduates
not only to seek for a good job but to aspire for the achievement of a
respectable profession that would enable them to cultivate personal growth and
development.
In addition, it was noted that only about 800
from the country’s 3,000 mining engineers are working with the local mining
industry and most of these are either in their twilight years or working
abroad. (MGB-13/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Philippine Army Aptitude Test Battery set on
Apr. 26-27
By 1LT Stephen Basco, Jr.
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, April 12 (PIA) -- The
Philippine Army Recruitment Office for Mindanao, Army Personnel Management
Center (APMC) is set to conduct an Aptitude Test Battery examinations (PAATB)
and other Pre-Written Examinations for Officer Candidate Course (OCC), Officer
Preparatory Course (OPC) Probationary Officer Training Course and Candidate
Soldier Course (CSC) on April 26, 2013 at the Surigao State College of College,
Surigao City and April 27, 2013 at the Kalayaan Hall, 15th RCDG, Butuan City.
Qualifications for OCC are: he/she must be 21-24
years old, single, Filipino, physically and mentally fit, at least 5 feet tall,
and baccalaureate degree holder.
For OPC qualifications are: he/she must be a
graduate of Probationary Officers Training Course, baccalaureate degree holder,
21-31 years old, single, minimum height is 5 feet, Filipino and mentally and
physically fit.
Qualifications for POTC are: he/she is at least
21 years old, college graduate and ROTC advance graduate and must be physically
and mentally fit.
And for CSC, he/she is 18-26 years old, single
w/ no child, minimum height at least 5 feet tall, Filipino, at least had 72
units in college, if applicant is high school graduate, he/she must possess a
certified skill needed in the military service and physically and mentally fit.
Interested applicants must prepare the needed
requirements such as; NSO Birth Certificate, Transcript of Records and Diploma,
Form 137-A for High School Graduate, and any Valid Identification Card.
For additional information you may contact
Philippine Army Technical Sergeant Darwin F. Doble at 0947-7149299. (SDR/PA/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
DA-13 to continue equipping agri-livestock
technicians
By Emmylou T. Presilda
BUTUAN CITY, April 12 (PIA) -- Seeing the need
to continuously update Department of Agriculture (DA) counterparts from the
Local Government Units (LGUs), DA conducted two batches of retooling seminar
for agricultural livestock technicians and coordinators last April 2-3 for the
first 55 participants and April 4-5 for the second batch.
Focusing on DA’s thrust to develop the region’s
livestock and poultry industry, the livestock division initiated the conduct of
the training with lectures and hands-on activities as part of the learning
process.
Aside from the DA’s new program, thrust and
livestock status in Caraga, topics included during the training are updates on
economically important diseases affecting the livestock and poultry industry,
common animal diseases- its control and preventive measures, and the regulatory
functions and precautionary measures for LGUs.
These topics are believed to be of significance
considering that common and emerging animal diseases are major factors in the
decrease of livestock and poultry population in the region from year 2010-2012.
This eventually led to increase in prices of meat and poultry products when it
reaches to the consumers.
DA-13 felt the need for an immediate response to
this issue. “We cannot do it alone. We need the cooperation and sharing of
minds of our LGU counterparts so we will be able to address this matter,”
Livestock Division chief John E. Gamboa, Sr. said.
Agri-livestock technicians are expected to
perform proper procedures on handling livestock and poultry diseases after the
training, and be able to assist farmers in their respective
cities/municipalities. Livestock coordinators are also expected to come up with
comprehensive plans to strengthen and widen the development of livestock
production and industry in their areas of responsibility.
“This training definitely enhanced our ideas and
capabilities that when we go back to our respective areas, we can share our
knowledge to our clients and better our service to our farmers,” Patrick Quinto
of LGU-Esperanza said.
“I am hoping that this kind of training be
localized so that there will be plenty of our fellow technicians who can join
in,” Livestock inspector Raul Tandug of the Butuan City Veterinary Office also
said on his impression.
According to Gamboa, a number of technical
trainings are already in the pipeline this year to meet the training needs of
LGU counterparts in the region. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
DILG 13 reveals Lupong Tagapamayapa Regional
finalists
By Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 12 (PIA) -- After thorough
deliberation of the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA) Regional
Awards Committee headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion as Chairperson, the LTIA Regional
Finalists for C.Y. 2012 are finally revealed.
The list of Regional Finalists CY 2012 Lupong
Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards as follows:
- Highly Urbanized Cities Category - Brgy. San
Vicente, Butuan City
- Component Cities Category - Brgy. Telaje,
Tandag City
- 1st to 3rd Class Municipalities Category -
Brgy. Macalang, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte
- 4th to 6th Class Municipalities Category -
Brgy. Poblacion, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte
The LTIA Regional Assessment was held at DILG
Regional Office – Local Governance Regional Resource Center (LGRRC) with the
presence of the Regional Awards Committee: DILG RD Famacion; Ms. Chiara Marie
S. Plaza of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Branch 3; Police Chief Inspector
Quirino A. Baugbog, Jr. of the Philippine National Police of Regional Office;
Mr. Winston S. Salvador, Project Supervisor of Propegemus Foundation, Inc.; and
Ms. Mary May R. Cadosales-Diaz, Managing Director of Educational Discipline in
Culture and Area-Based Development Services, Inc. (EDCADS).
Three major criteria, to wit (1) efficiency in
operations, (2) effectiveness in securing Katarungang Pambarangay (KP)
objectives, and (3) creativity and resourcefulness of the Lupong Tagapamayapa
were followed in the assessment.
The Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA)
was established since 1997 as a means to institutionalize a system of granting
economic benefits and other incentives to the Lupong Tagapamayapa that
demonstrates exemplary performance in settling disputes at the grassroots
level.
Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the 1991
Local Government Code gives barangays the mandate to enforce peace and order
and provide support for the effective enforcement of human rights and justice.
Decentralization has facilitated the recognition of the Katarungang Pambarangay
or Barangay Justice System as an alternative venue for the resolution of
disputes. Thus created in each barangay a body to be known as Lupong Tagapayapa
(hereinafter referred to as Lupon) composed of the Barangay Captain as chairman
and not less than ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) members. This leads to the
creation of incentivizing the performances of the Lupons known to be as the
Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA). (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
PLCPD holds forum on reproductive health law
By Angie Balen-Antonio
BUTUAN CITY, April 12 (PIA) – The Philippine
Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), in coordination
with the local governments, held a Policy Forum on RA 10354, otherwise known as
the Responsible Parenthood-Reproductive Health Act of 2012.
Multi-sectoral groups in Bislig, Tandag and
Agusan del Norte attended the forum.
The forum aimed to provide sectoral groups a
deeper understanding and appreciation on the different provisions of the RP -
RH law.
Section 7 of the Republic Act 10354 states that
all accredited public health facilities shall provide a full range of modern
family planning methods, which shall include medical consultations, supplies
and necessary and reasonable procedures for poor and marginalized couples
having infertility issues who desire to have children.
Based on its Section 8, evidence-based
programming and budgeting process shall be conducted for the development of
more responsive reproductive health services to promote women’s health and safe
motherhood.
Popcom OIC Alexander A. Makinano said law will
protect the health and lives of mothers and their children through access to
services and information on reproductive health and would ensure hiring and
training of a skilled health professionals.
A similar activity was also organized by the
PLCPD for the media practitioners here in Butuan City to ensure wider
information dissemination to the general public.
The PLCPD is a non-stock, non-profit,
membership-type organization established in 1989 by a group of progressive legislators
from the Senate and House of Representatives. (POPCOM/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: Surigao City Government, PDEA ug
Surigao City Police Station mipahigayon og 'Forum-Workshop on the Drug
Situation Update of Surigao City'
By Annette Villaces
SURIGAO CITY, Abril 12 (PIA) -- Ang lokal nga
pangagamhanan sa syudad uban ang Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) ug
City Police Station mipahigayon og usa ka Forum-Workshop on the Drug Situation
Update of Surigao City, niadtong miaging adlaw Abril 11, 2013 sa City Cultural
Center ning dakbayan.
Tumong ug tinguha niini mao nga mas mapalig-on
pa ang kampanya sa syudad ug mga kapulisan kabahin na sa Anti- Illegal Drugs
pinaagi na sa kooperasyon ug suporta sa mga kapitanes ug mga opisyales sa
barangay.
Atol sa maong kalihukan si Agent Donesa F.
Jacinto sa Surigao del Norte Provincial Operations Officer maoy namulong sa mga
importanteng probisyon sa R.A. 9165 kun Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 ug si PDEA
XIII Regional Director Erwin S. Ogario mao ang mibutyag sa Drug Situation
Update sa syudad.
Ang nahimung mga partisipante sa maong kalihukan
mao ang mga nagkalain-laing Barangay Officials sa dakbayan uban ang ilang mga
Barangay Secretaries ug Treasurers, ug pipila ka mga miyembro sa kapulisan.
(SDR/City PIO/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
