FTS in polling precinct in Barangay Libertad
National High School successful
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) – The final testing and
sealing of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine in one of the
precincts in Barangay Libertad National High School was successful.
“We are all ready for the May 13 elections and
we hope it will be successful,” Fernando Sarmiento Jr., Board of EIection
Inspectors chairman, said.
After the sample ballots were checked and found
to have matched the result from the PCOS machine, watchers and the
representatives of volunteer-organizations then signed the final poll results
The BEI, composed of chairman, clerk and a
member, briefed and demonstrated to the watchers representing different local
candidates and the representatives of volunteer-organizations on how the PCOS
machine is used.
Among those who tested the machines were
personnel of the Philippine Information Agency and members of local media.
Sarmineto said ballots which will be rejected
four times while feeding it in the machine will no longer be forced to be
scanned in the machine, instead, this will be placed in an envelope and will be
sent to Comelec Manila as part of their report recorded in the minutes that
there are ballots rejected.
“The PCOS machine won’t be able to read properly
or even accept the ballot if it has unnecessary marks. Over voting of
candidates in a position also won’t reflect in the PCOS machine, so voters will
really have to ensure that their ballots are clean, properly-shaded and avoid
over-voting,” explained Sarmiento.
Sarmiento also said that on election day, an
express lane for the pregnant women, persons with disabilities and senior
citizens will be established in his precinct as set in the Comelec guidelines.
(JPG/RA/Media ng Bayan)
Butuan City Comelec, gov't agencies intensify
‘Oplan Langkat’
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) – The Commission on
Elections (Comelec) here has intensified the conduct of ‘Oplan Langkat’ or
removal of political advertisements nailed on the trees and electrical posts
along the roadside of Butuan City.
The continuous conduct of said activity intends
to remind people that trees and electric posts which have been indiscriminately
used for the posting of all kinds of campaign materials violates the Comelec's
implementing rules and guidelines.
Sizes of local candidates' tarpaulins posted in
private establishments are properly checked by the team and are removed when it
exceeded the standard size of 2x3m. This is properly documented by the PIA.
Lawyer Ernie Palanan, Comelec head, said that
they will continue to monitor and remove these materials that still do not
comply with the standard size and are not posted in the designated areas
established by the Comelec.
Palanan further stressed that those local
candidates who will be reported threating other personnel of the government who
are doing its job to support the Comelec especially in the 'Operation Langkat'
and in ensuring a secure and fair conduct of this year's midterm elections will
face due legal sanctions according to law.
“Our co-government workers who are deputized to
support the Comelec’s activities to ensure a safe and fair elections are just
doing their jobs designated to them and nothing personal. For those candidates
who will be known threating the lives of our co-government workers will face
due legal sanctions and that’s for sure. We will also provide legal assistance
to our working personnel who will have complaints against any candidate,”
Palanan said.
Other agencies involved in the campaign are
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT)
Unit of Butuan City Police Office, and civilians.
Meanwhile, Palanan and PIA-13 head Abner Caga
checked and monitored the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines that are
now housed at the Father Saturnino Urios University Morelos Campus which will
be used in the different barangays in Butuan City during the midterm elections
on May 13, 2013.
The PCOS machines intended for the polling
precincts in the hinterlands is scheduled to be delivered on Sunday, May 5
while the final testing and sealing is on May 6 and this will be held at the
respective barangays’ polling precincts in the city.
The teachers and residents in different
barangays have also expressed their overwhelming support to the unified efforts
of the Comelec, PIA, PNP & other partners. People have witnessed the
untiring efforts of the team during 'Operation Langkat' which shows that the
team is seriously implementing the guidelines set by law. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
City Comelec officer elated over PIA-Caraga’s
RMRT
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) – Citing the importance
of delivering relevant and accurate news and information to the public during
the May 13 elections, City Election Officer Atty. Ernie F. Palanan expressed
his elation over the creation of the Rapid Media Response Team (RMRT) which was
recently initiated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Caraga Region.
According to Palanan, the organization of the
RMRT will serve as venue of providing the partner media with relevant news and
information to be aired in their respective outfits, thus, achieving a uniform
and consistent delivery of communication to the listening and viewing public.
The official added through this endeavor, the
PIA has been the venue of promoting camaraderie and unity among the local
tri-media outfits in the city.
“This is a welcome development in the
broadcasting industry in Butuan City… Through this, information inconsistencies
will be minimized, if not, eliminated… Inconsistencies cause misinformation to
the listening and viewing public, and we must get rid of it,” Palanan said.
The city election officer also expressed his
thanks and gratitude to PIA-Caraga for coming out with such initiative to
ensure that only relevant and accurate information will be released to the
public through the agency’s network of legitimate media personalities who are
members of the RMR team.
“The Philippine Information Agency here in
Caraga should be given due recognition for this noble initiative whose aim is
not only to promote camaraderie and unity among media personalities and their
outfits, but more importantly, to see to it that only relevant and accurate
information will be broadcasted in a real-time basis to the public through
their pool of partner mediamen,” Atty. Palanan said. (RER/Media ng Bayan/PIA-Caraga)
Comelec urges school officials to prepare
classrooms for May 13 polls
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) – City Election Officer
Atty. Ernie F. Palanan has urged school officials here through the Department
of Education (DepEd) to prepare the classrooms to be used as polling precincts
in the upcoming May 13 midterm elections.
During his recent radio program dubbed “City
Comelec Election Officer Hour” aired over 107.8 Power FM of Philippine
Information Agency (PIA)-Caraga, Palanan said they received reports that there
are still some schools in the city that have not made any preparations for the
conduct of the election.
He added in order not to experience last minute
preparation during the election day which may cause tension among the members
of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), as early as now, school
administrators whose schools are assigned as voting precincts should do
necessary preparations in order not to disrupt the voting process during the
election day.
The official also enjoined the school officials
to designate within the school premises an action center where the media,
volunteers, members of the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL),
Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) will have the venue to
stay as they monitored the election process.
Palanan also said the action center must have
personnel who will entertain queries from all sectors of society to ensure
smooth conduct of the election.
With this development, the official advised the
BEIs to be in their respective places or voting precincts at least one day
before the election to prepare everything and to watch over the PCOS machines.
Barangay communities are also enjoined to watch over the machines.
He also encouraged the public to visit the
Comelec Office to know their cluster precinct and number sequence. “In this
case, they can immediately go to their precincts and cast their votes,” Palanan
added.
He likewise informed those who do not know their
sequence and were not able to visit the Comelec Office to inquire at the action
center of the respective schools where voting precincts are located.
Further, persons with disabilities, lactating
mothers and senior citizens are advised to bring pertinent documents to show
that they have infants and are feeding them or identification card that they
are senior citizens so that they may be given priority in casting their votes.
Palanan also reminded barangay officials,
candidates and supporters to stay away from the voting precincts after they
have casted their votes in order not to disrupt the election proceedings.
Political watchers are also warned not to
campaign or distribute brochures of their supported candidates because that
they will be held liable to any legal measures against them. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
Comelec Central hails Butuan City’s “Operation
Baklas”
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) -- National officials
of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) hailed the “Operation Baklas”
conducted in this city spearheaded by the local Comelec office.
According to Comelec-Caraga Regional Director
Atty. Michael Abas, during the commission’s recent Command Conference, the
local Comelec office was specially mentioned by Comelec Commissioners for
converging stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors to participate
and witness the activity.
Lawyer Ernie Palanan, local Comelec head, said
he is thankful to some government agencies and private organizations who have
actively participated in the conduct of the activity which showed that if there
is cooperation, any activities will succeed.
The official also recognized the effort of
PIA-Caraga personnel for providing communication support by covering the
activity, sending blow-by-blow Short Messaging Service (SMS) to text blast
recipients including the local tri-media in real-time.
On Saturday, the team conducted the activity
along the main streets here and still found election campaign materials such as
posters, tarpaulins, and billboards that are not properly posted in designated
areas by the Comelec. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
BFAR-13 opens farmers and fisherfolks' month
celebration
By Jesieca B. Babatid
SURIGAO CITY, May 6 (PIA) - The fisheries bureau
in Caraga region opened the month-long celebration of Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s
on May 2.
The activity kicked-off with a grand motorcade
around the city's major thoroughfares participated by the partner LGUs in the
five provinces of Caraga.
This year’s celebration with the theme,
“Mangingisdang Direktor para sa Matatag na Balikatan”, is highlighted by the
implementation of 9th season Fisherfolk Directorship Program pursuant to
Department of Agriculture (DA) Special Order No. 88, series of 2005.
The program aims to empower the fisherfolk to
govern the national and regional office for the whole month of May. This is one
of the significant undertakings of the bureau to recognize the tireless effort
of the farmers and fisherfolk being the government’s partner in poverty
alleviation and security program.
The 9th installed Regional Fisherfolk Director
(RFD) is Mr. Perfecto Lisondra from Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. He is the
Chairman of City Agriculture and Fisheries Council (CAFC), MRDP-Multisectoral
Representative, member of Farmer’s Association, Provincial Fisherfolk
Representative for Surigao del Norte, and member of Surigao City’s Local
Poverty Alleviation Program.
A press conference was set right after the
opening ceremony with the invited media, both in print and broadcast, in
collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Surigao del Norte.
This enabled the new fisherfolk director gets a warm welcome and shared his
goals and vision in the tenure of his directorship.
BFAR-13 Regional Director Nerio G. Casil, in his
message shared some inspiring words to the new Regional Fisherfolk Director and
assured him full support and assistance.
Casil also said that while the RFD heads the
office, he will be out for an immersion in fishing communities in the region.
A management committee meeting (MANCOM) was also
held during that day presided over by the newly installed RFD.
Regional Fisherfolk Director Lisondra said that
lined-up activities for the whole month of May were already arranged and these
includes project monitoring and visitation region-wide, turn-over of fisheries
projects, training of fishery law enforcement, mangrove planting, courtesy
calls to Local Chief Executives.
The month-long celebration will commence with
the search for outstanding fisherfolks in Caraga, one (1) per province, wherein
big prizes awaits to the qualified winners. (BFAR-13/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DTI-Caraga warns on unsafe practice of refilling
butane canister with LPG
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) -- The Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) - Caraga Region warns the public on unsafe practice of
using and/or refilling butane canisters with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for
cooking and other household uses.
DTI cautions that these canisters are not
intended for and designed to store LPG. Based on Philippine National Standard
(PNS) 03-01:2000, only welded steel cylinders with water capacities of 1 liter
to 150 liters are intended for storage and transport of LPG. Butane canisters
are made of tin only which is thinner than the required steel cylinders for
LPG. As such, the LPG, which is highly flammable, may leak from the canisters
that could lead to explosion and fire thus posing great danger to its users.
Furthermore, consumers are advised to read the
labels on the canisters before using them to ensure that it contains butane
rather than LPG or other types of flammable gases. Article 77 of the Consumer
Act of the Philippines on Minimum Labeling Requirements for Consumer Products
requires manufacturers or refillers to indicate the contents of the products
and its general or active ingredients.
The DTI urges the public to report any
information on the said unsafe practice. (NCLM/DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
