Several voters in Butuan City barangay
experience inconvenience, complaints in polling precincts
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 28 (PIA) – Several registered
voters in one of the barangays of this city have expressed dismay over the
election/voting process in their respective polling precincts in today’s
barangay election.
As early as 7:00 am today in Agusan National
High School (ANHS), this city, few candidates were visible at the waiting area
of Barangay New Society precincts while other voters waited for their turn to
vote. Those who are done casting their votes have immediately stepped out the
polling place. This is also observed by the board of election inspectors (BEIs)
to maintain the proper conduct of polling.
A certain voter in Precinct No. 147B-148B of
Barangay New Society inside the ANHS has complained that she can no longer vote
since her name in the list of registered voters in the said precinct was
already filled by someone else who also used the same name. According to the
BEI assigned, they still have to verify the said concern.
There were also individuals who were repeatedly
coming in the polling precincts of same barangay to cast their votes but the
BEIs identified them as flying voters and subsequently restricted from getting
ballots.
Also, in Precinct No. 160 still in Barangay New
Society, there was a report of a voter who used other registered name in the
said precinct. However, Chairman of the BEIs Gladys Lagura, said the
"impostor" failed to vote using another identity.
Lagura stressed that the "impostor"
failed to vote since she has clearly identified the person as one of her
students before. “We do not tolerate this kind of tactics by the voters. No
flying voters will succeed in their intention. We will do our best to make this
polling process clean and secured,” she said.
It was also reiterated in the polling areas
through the BEIs that any voter is not allowed to vote unless he/she can
clearly present his/her identification card and provide other personal
information needed to support his/her identity, if situation requires. This is
to ensure that legitimate/registered voters are the only ones who can vote and
to prevent "impostors" who are said to be flying voters. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Butuan Comelec officer confident of peaceful
barangay election
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 28 (PIA) – In his interview
over Power FM, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga’s radio station here,
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Officer Atty. Ernie Palanan has expressed
optimism that this year’s election will be peaceful and successful.
"With the help of our partners from the
Philippine National Police, SWAT, as well as our local media, we can
immediately respond to any concern in the polling places," he said.
Palanan also bared that there were two minors
with ages 15 and 17 who were apprehended at the polling area in Butuan Central
Elementary School around 8:00 am today for distributing sample ballots of their
candidates.
"It is an election offense to use the
children, minors during election. It is also considered as child abuse. Those
candidates using them in their campaigns will be held liable," he said.
Palanan also reported that in line with the
Liquor Ban, there were two persons apprehended today for violating the said law.
Meanwhile, Palanan announced that the City
Comelec has provided the Board of Election Tellers (BETs) in the different
polling places their meals and snacks for today’s election. "The BETs in
the polling places in Butuan City are encouraged not to accept meals, snacks
from any candidates in the respective barangay to avoid any negative
perceptions from the voters," he stressed.
"Registered voters must not allow
candidates to buy their votes. They should come to realize that election
equalizes the rich and the poor since both can only exercise their right to
vote once. That's why we should vote those that dictate our heart and
mind," added Palanan.
Concerned citizens are also encouraged to report
any untoward, malicious incidents in their polling places. Pictures that will
support the report are also accepted. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga's election tellers ensure proper conduct
of barangay polls
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 28 (PIA) - The Board of
Election Tellers (BEIs) in Caraga region assured that they are certainly
maintaining a good running of each voting precincts.
As the barangay elections started early morning
today in this city, voters trooped to their respective polling precincts to
cast their votes. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities or unable to
read and write who were accompanied by relatives or trusted household member
were given the opportunity to vote therein.
BETs are more vigilant in identifying the real
identity of individuals to prevent flying and substitute voters to cheat during
the elections.
Ballots and other voting paraphernalia are
thoroughly safeguarded by BETs ensuring due restrictions for those who are not
legitimate registrants in their barangays.
Detainees were also permitted to cast their
votes in designated precincts with jail escorts from the Bureau of Jail and
Management (BJMP).
Gladys Lagura, chairman of the BETs in precincts
of barangay New Society, this city, said they are making sure that no person
can deceive by voting more than once.
However, there are voters in the municipality of
Buenavista, Agusan del Norte complaining that their names are not found in the
list of voters. Upon verification, BET and Comelec personnel clarified that there
are those voters who have not reactivated their status at the Comelec after the
previous elections where they were not able to cast their votes.
As of this posting, Comelec Caraga regional
director Atty. Francisco Pobe said the election situation in Caraga region is
generally peaceful and orderly with minimal complaints well attended by
BETs. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao del Sur barangay election peaceful, says
PNP
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Oct. 28 (PIA) – The barangay
(village) elections in Surigao del Sur remain peaceful and orderly with no
reports of election-related violence, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
PNP Police Provincial Office Information Officer
SPO4 Ranilo Malong said almost all of their monitoring showed peaceful and
orderly elections.
Malong said that as of 6AM today, most of the
Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in Tandag City and other municipalities of
Surigao del Sur were already in their respective polling precincts preparing
some election paraphernalia.
In Bislig City, as of 9AM today, the on-going
barangay election is also peaceful with no untoward incident reported. Flocks
of voters were also observed casting their votes early according to City
Information Officer Carlito Abar.
Barangay Mangagoy in Bislig City has a large
number of registered voters in the province with more than 20,000 voters.
(PIA-Surigao del Sur)
NPA harass soldiers on peace and development
mission
By 1LT Krisnen Peter G Sarsagat
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Oct. 28 (PIA) - About 40 rebels
from Guerilla Front 34 of Southern Mindanao Regional Committee led by Maximo
Catarata a.k.a. Tindugan attacked a team of soldiers on their temporary patrol
base outside the community of Brgy Sabud, Loreto, Agusan del Sur recently,
wounding a soldier.
While soldiers were defending their position,
other fully armed rebels of the same group entered the barangay proper and
forced some 70 locals to go out of their houses and herded them into one
place.
The local village leaders wanted to help the
wounded soldier but were prevented and threatened to be killed by the rebels. A
rescue military helicopter was supposed to land for medical evacuation but was
also fired upon by the rebels.
Under the Geneva Convention and Comprehensive
Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law
(CARHRIHL) wounded personnel (soldier or rebel) should be considered a non-
combatant.
Lieutenant Colonel Jose Leonard B Gille, the
Commanding Officer, 26th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division
said that this is a clear violation of Geneva Convention and CARHRIHL “It is
very clear that the NPA at the present time has stopped fighting for their
cause. They have evolved to become human rights violators, terrorists and
criminals. They have been saying that they are the people’s army but in
contrary, they hostage the locals and kidnapped their leaders."
“The NPA is expert in deception and will
intentionally violate International Laws and CARHRIHL which they have signed
with us (Philippine Government),” Gille added.
It has been noted that Brgy Sabud is an NPA
guerilla base until the arrival of soldiers whom were tasked to undertake
humanitarian mission and secure government projects like PAMANA to be
implemented in the area. With the barangay leaders and local residents turning
into the government side to help defend their community from harassment and
extortion activities by the rebels, they have become target for liquidation by
NPA death squad. The rebels withdraw towards the hinterlands taking with them
the village leaders whom they have utilized as human shield. Part 4, Article 4
section 4 of CARHRIHL states that “CIVILIANS have the right to be treated as
such, to be distinguished from combatants together with their properties, and
not to be the object of attack.”
While the barangay is trying to set itself free
from insurgency, the rebels have become more frustrated to maintain grip and
foothold and influence the outcome of the upcoming barangay election. Most of
the kidnapped leaders are reelectionist for this Monday’s election.
“With the onset of what had transpired, the 26IB
Peace and Development Teams will still remain in the area and our presence is
deemed necessary to defend the people of Loreto from NPA [who are proven
terrorists, human rights violators, extortionist and criminals.] With the help
of the Local Government Unit and the Municipal Mayor, we will double our
efforts to rescue the village leaders and affected residents and free them from
the hands of these criminals," said Ltc Gille. (PIA-Caraga)
AgNor conducts food handling, sanitation
awareness training
By Brian Jay Ceballos
AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Oct. 28 (PIA) - The
provincial government here thru the Community Affairs Division in partnership
with the Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga Region, and the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga Region, conducted the first Food Handling
and Sanitation Awareness Training Seminar in the municipality of Kitcharao,
recently.
The one day training seminar tackled topics like
the introduction to Good Manufacturing Practices, Cross Contamination, Hand
Washing, Personal Hygiene, Food Contact Surfaces, and Sanitation Standard
Operating Procedures.
Participants such as meat vendors, owners and
managers of different tourism related establishments, and employees of
government entities were provided the basic know how on the topics.
They raved about how thankful they are for the
free training/seminar which turned out to be essential in the way they do
business and in how they prepare food for their household as well as their
customers.
Director Desiderio B. Julaton, Regional
Director, National Meat Inspection Service Caraga Regional Office together with
Ms. Jennifer A. Dejarme, Science Research Specialist II of DOST Regional Office
served as resource speakers for the whole day activity which ended successfully
with positive feedbacks from the participants. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
FEATURE: Bangus production promises better
income for fisheries
By Emmylou T. Presilda
AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Oct. 28 (PIA) - “Dako ang amo
kalipay niini nga proyekto labi na ug makuha namo ang target nga 6 tons niining
una nga harvest (We are so thankful of this project especially if we can reach
the 6 tons target in our first harvest),”
San Agustin Fisherfolk Association, Inc. (SAFAI) Chairman Peter
Felicilda said in anticipation during their first bangus harvest.
Living along the shorelines of Carmen, fishers
used to catch only a handful of “tamban” and squid during its peak season which
they have to sell around the neighborhood.
Meager income is just enough for a day’s meal. Sending children to school is not a priority.
They needed help and MRDP had its way through
the Community Fund for Agricultural Development, a poverty alleviation program
of the Philippine government with funding from the World Bank and implemented
through the Department of Agriculture.
With the help of the Municipal and Provincial
Facilitators, the SAFAI in Brgy. San Agustin, Carmen, Agusan del Norte was
organized. Comprising of 15 households, the SAFAI was able to avail of the ‘big
ticket’ project of MRDP-CFAD amounting to P5 million where P800 thousand came
from the coffers of PLGU-Agusan del Norte as counterpart.
Before the project was implemented, members were
capacitated with various skills training on bangus production and financial
management.
While other residents continue to live in the
clichΓ© “to see is to believe”, the 15 household-members started to labor
voluntarily to start establishing their Bangus Mariculture Livelihood
Project. The funding received from
DA-MRDP was then used to construct 6 bangus fish cages and financed the first
stocking and feeding of their bangus production.
On May 29, 2013, they started stocking each cage
on a one week interval with 16,500 fingerlings.
The members took turns in taking care and feeding of the stocks which
run for four months.
Finally, a heaping 6.1 tons was initially
harvested last October 11 with a ready buyer from Butuan City named Ocean Deep
who will bring the products to Cebu City as their end market. An estimated P450,000.00 income was initially
gained while harvest of the next cages will follow one or two weeks later.
“We are looking forward to a much bigger harvest
the coming weeks because with the six cages, this first one had the most number
of mortalities compared with the others,”
an excited Chairman Peter Felicilda said after a whole day of harvest.
“Hopefully through this project our needs will
be met and we will already be able to send our children to school,” he added.
According to Municipal Agriculturist Nimfa Fernando,
the project aims to help not only the 15 members but also other households who
are willing to join and benefit from the project. “Fifty percent of the net income shall be
divided among the members and the other fifty percent shall be put in the association
funds to finance other next in line beneficiary,” she said.
After the recent activity, housewives will also
be trained with bangus processing for them to gain additional knowledge on how
to earn additional income. (NCLM/DA-RFU 13/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
