Butuan City & Taguibo Watershed Mngt
Councils to jointly hold Consultative Planning Workshop
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – The Butuan City
Watershed Management Council and the Taguibo Watershed Management Council have
joined hands to fashion out a common blue print of action that would ensure
continuous water flow for a sustainable future. For this purpose, both councils
will be holding a joint Consultative Planning Workshop on August 22, 2013 at
the Grand Palace, Diversion Road, this city.
Said activity is in collaboration with the
Enterprise Works Worldwide Philippines (EWWP), a European Union (EU) funded
non-government organization partner that is implementing natural resource
governance and biodiversity conservation project in the Philippines.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) Regional Executive Director Nonito Tamayo bared that the Taguibo
watershed is presently exhibiting higher vulnerabilities to climate impacts –
from increasing incidence of flooding, accelerated soil erosion, and the
concomitant of its rivers and tributaries.
“For purposes of protection, maintenance and
improvement of water yield Presidential Proclamation No. 1076 signed on
September 4, 1997 by then President Fidel Ramos establishing the 4,367
heactares Taguibo Watershed Forest Reserve. The proclamation also provided for
restraining mechanism for inappropriate forest exploitation and land-use
practices inside the reserve,” recalled Tamayo.
Tamayo added that the administrative
jurisdiction, supervision and control of the reservation was placed under the
DENR, in coordination with Butuan City Water District (BCWD) and other
government agencies with the objective of maintaining its usefulness as a
source of water for domestic use, irrigation and other forestry purposes.
“Pursuant to this mandate, the Taguibo Watershed management Council was
created,” he said.
It was also learned that although the Butuan
City Watershed Council is still on the process of crafting its Watershed
Development Plan, the DENR and the BCWD had already completed the Sustainable
Watershed Development and Management Plan of Taguibo 2003 and the Taguibo
Integrated Watershed Development Plan of 2010, respectively.
“However, there is yet a need to interface the
various interventions contained in these plans to ensure that they act in
harmony with each other towards a common goal,” emphasized Tamayo.
To get a good grip with the local challenges
that confront the city watersheds amid climate change, the two councils opt to
solicit valuable inputs from its partner stakeholders during the consultative
meeting and workshop.
The activity is anchored on the theme
“Harmonized Climate Change-Adaptive Approaches towards Building Resilient
Watershed Ecosystems for a Sustainable Future.” (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DAR distributes CLOAs to 1700 beneficiaries in
AgSur
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Aug 16 (PIA) -- The Department
of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed on Thursday, August 15, Certificates of
Land Ownership (CLOAs) to 1,789 beneficiaries in 10 municipalities in this
province.
DAR Undersecretary Jose Grageda revealed that
the distribution of 1,733 CLOAs was one of the biggest he had distributed so
far that covers 3,814.052 hectares (ha) to 1,789 beneficiaries.
The municipality of Esperanza got the biggest
number of CLOAs with 562 but only second biggest hectare of 1,014 hectares. La
Paz that followed Esperanza has the biggest number of CLOAs and has the biggest
hectares of 1,600 for 433 CLOAs.
Ranking third number of CLOAS and hectares
received by beneficiaries is the City of Bayugan with 388 CLOAs for 337
beneficiaries with 508 hectares, followed by Veruela with 173 CLOAs for 171
beneficiaries totaling to 320 hectares, Sibagat with 43 CLOAs for 43
beneficiaries with 67 hectares, Rosario with 40 CLOAs for 30 beneficiaries with
37 hectares then Prosperidad with 32 CLOAs for 31 beneficiaries with 37
hectares. The rest are below 30 CLOAs with lesser number of beneficiaries and
hectares.
“DAR is asking nothing from you, our beloved
beneficiaries, but to maximize the use of your lands now for the purpose of
increasing food production in your area. Just tell any DAR personnel if you
need our help so that we can extend our assistance,” Grageda said.
In his message read by Sangguniang Panlalawigan
member Nestor Corvera, Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza said he is very glad that his
constituents in Agusan del Sur continue to receive blessings from national
government that uplift their economic condition. He also thanked DAR Agusan del
Sur provincial office for recognizing those who are really in need.
Host Mayor Albin Magdamit, in his welcome
remarks said, he prays that the land now owned by greater number of
beneficiaries will be used for the purpose of agricultural production and not
to be sold, or leased. Magdamit said, he is encouraging the Municipal Agrarian
Reform Officers to monitor the activities of recipients so they will be guided
on wise use of the land.
Grageda also conducted a dialogue with the
people’s organization, ARBs, and media. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Red Cross -Butuan City bares coming activities
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) -- The Philippine Red
Cross (PRC) Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter chaired by Felixberto
Guiritan, disclosed its coming activities for the year.
Guiritan called on the public to support its
fund-raising by participating in the "Bingo for A Cause" set on
September 14 to be held at the Balanghai Hotel, this city. Bingo tickets are
sold at P300 with five bingo cards.
Administrator Teodoro Cairo of PRC Agusan del
Norte-Butuan City Chapter also said the chapter will be heading the 12th Red
Cross Youth Camp on October 3-5, as well as the 9th Red Cross Youth Assembly on
November 29-30.
Cairo added that the 18th National Red Cross
Youth (RCY) Assembly is on October 25-27 and this will be held at Lapu-Lapu,
Cebu City. Deadline of registration for interested RCY members is on August 30.
Aside from these activities, the chapter is also
planning other activities that will enhance its health and social services.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Valorian troopers’ new commanding officer
assumes post
By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan
SURIGAO DEL SUR, August 16 (PIA) -- The 36th
Infantry “Valor” Battalion has new commanding officer as the turn-over of
command took place Friday morning, Aug. 16 held at their headquarters in
Barangay Dayoan, Tago, this province.
According to Civil Military for Operations
officer Rowel Caacbay, Lt. Col Joseph Norwin Pasamonte, commanding officer of
the unit relinquished his post to Lt. Col Anastacio Suaybagiou, Jr., the new
battalion commander of the unit.
The ceremony was presided over by 4th Infantry
Division Commander BGen Ricardo Visaya.
Pasamonte served Surigaonons for more than two
years as he assumed on duty last July 12, 2011.
Meanwhile, Lt Col Suaybagiuo, the newly assumed
officer will be the 26th commander to head the unit after the activation of
36IB as a regular battalion of the Philippine Army on April, 1974.
Presently, the province has three battalions
assigned namely, 36IB, 75IB and 3rd Special Forces Battalion under the 401st
Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del
Sur)
Phil. Red Cross Agusan Norte-Butuan City Chapter
reports status of its operations
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) – The Philippine Red
Cross (PRC) Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter bared the status of its
monthly operations, during its meeting held on Thursday at the Balanghai Hotel,
this city.
The Disaster Management Services Committee chaired
by city councilor Dr. Virgilio Nery Jr. under the PRC reported that in the
month of July, the committee has conducted three classes on Basic Disaster
Management and 143 Mobilization Training Course producing 177 graduates from
the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga and Barangay Talisay, Nasipit, Agusan
del Norte.
Blood Services Committee chaired by Dir.
Leodegaria Yu-Go, bared that there were 23 bloodletting activities conducted in
July in coordination with the barangay officials of different local government
units in the province and other partner sectors.
It was also learned that the committee were able
to collect 884 units of blood including those acquired from bloodletting
activities.
With this collected blood units, there is 497
total number of patients served from the various health facilities/hospitals in
the province.
PRC Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter
Administrator Teodoro Cairo, clarified that the blood deposited by donors in
the blood center at the PRC are not for sale. "We don't sell the blood.
Anyone who would need blood from the Red Cross will only pay for the processing
fee for blood to be tested," he said.
For the Safety Services Committee report chaired
by Dir. Rogelio Yu, the following was conducted: seven classes on Standard and
Tailored First Aid Training Course were conducted producing 183 graduates from
the different institutions of the province; three classes on Basic Life Support
Healthcare Providers and Adult Lay Rescuers Training Course 47 graduates; three
classes on Basic Water Safety Training Course and Swimming Lesson producing 70
graduates; and five sessions on First Aid Lecture Demonstrations attended by a
total of 432 participants from different sectors.
For the Community Health and Nursing Services
Committee chaired by Dir. Renato Jose Villanueva, the following trainings were
conducted: Training on HIV Prevention for Community health Volunteers with 26
newly trained HIV and AIDS Awareness Advocates from the Red Cross Health
Volunteers who participated; and Facilitators Training for Participatory
Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation for Mindanao region held at Davao City.
Also, two batches of training on Youth Volunteer
Orientation Course, Leadership Formation Course, Basic Leadership training were
conducted for School of the Morning Star Junior Red Cross Youth (JRCY) Council,
Red Cross Youth Development Center producing 26 trained JRCY members.
With this development, the PRC Agusan del
Norte-Butuan City chapter is continuously encouraging individuals to support
the Red Cross in its activities and be a blood donor as well. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
PopCom Caraga integrates population into policy
formulation, program developments of the LGUs
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, August 16 (PIA) -- Seeing the
need to integrate population into policy formulation and program developments
of the local government units, the Commission on Population (PopCom-13)
conducted a 2nd batch of 3-day training program on synchronize actions on
Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning.
The activity, with the support of the DOH-Center
for Health Development, was held at Gateway Hotel, this city on August 14-16,
2013 attended by Population and Health Officers of Surigao del Norte, Surigao
del Sur and Dinagat Islands.
In his message, PopCom-13 Director Alexander A.
Makinano said that population and health officers should be capacitated on the
population core ideas, concepts and competencies.
“During the 3-day program, the basic skills in
integrating population into policy formulation and program development of the
LGUs and actions on responsible parenthood were shared and synchronized for
effective implementation and information dissemination of Responsible
Parenthood and Family Planning Program,” he said.
The first batch training program for Population
and Health Officers of Butuan City and Agusan Provinces conducted recently in
Agusan del Norte. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DA-ACPC turns-over P6M credit assistance to
Butuan Farmers’ Coop
By Aurell P. Arais
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 16 (PIA) -- Two farmers
cooperative here received credit assistance amounting to more than P6 million
from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) during the turn-over
ceremony held recently at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.
ACPC Executive Director Jovita Corpuz together
with Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit (DA-RFU) Caraga regional
director Edna M. Mabeza and city mayor Ferdinand M. Amante , Jr. turned-over
the two checks to Antongalon Farmers Association Caraga Incorporated (AFACI)
with the amount of P1.05 million and to Antongalon-Agusan Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (AAMPC) amounting to P5 million.
AFACI President Epifania Antoquia said the
credit assistance they had received from ACPC is a big help in the operation of
their packing house for vegetables that soon to open in Langihan Public Market
in Butuan while Gerardo Mag-isa of AAMPC said that the amount they had received
will be utilized for rice production projects.
Mabeza in her speech reminded the recipients of
the ACPC credit assistance to use the money efficiently and be counted as among
the new breed of farmers reflecting the virtues of self reliance, responsibility
and care for the community .
As a response to the director’s message, Mayor
Ferdinand Amante signified the LGU’s commitment to help in nurturing the
recipients to use the money efficiently and to give them necessary assistance
to ensure sustainability of the projects.
The credit assistance will be paid back by the
two recipients in a very minimal interest.
ACPC is the government’s primary institution in
rural finance policy and programs to address the need for access to sustainable
credit of small farmers and fisherfolks.
Meanwhile, Caraga Region Agricultural Credit
Desk Officer Marilou M. Gruyal urged other farmer cooperatives who would like
to access lending assistance to finance various agricultural projects to
coordinate with DA-RFU 13 thru the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance
Division (AMAD). (FEA/RAFID DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
