PNP-13 intensifies security on barangay
elections
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 9 (PIA) – The Philippine National
Police-Police Regional Office-13 (PNP-PRO-13) has intensified security
operations to deter the outbreak of violence in the forthcoming barangay
elections on Oct 28.
PSSUPT Eugenio Paguirigan, PRO-13 chief of
Regional Operations said that PRO-13 is intensifying the security posture in
identified critical infrastructures and has also put forth efforts in target
hardening of vital installations by mobilization of force multipliers,
deployment of security personnel, and conduct of security surveys and inspection.
“On public safety, our main concern is the
security on economic key points, vital installations and areas of convergence.
Adequate measures are in place to secure vital installations particularly in
transport and communications,” Paguirigan said.
Paguirigan said that there are closed-circuit
television (CCTV) cameras already installed in strategic areas for monitoring
and surveillance purposes and they have intensified police presence in
crime-prone areas.
According to him, the preparations likewise
include the implementation of Daily Check Point Monitoring System (DCMS),
conduct of a 24/7 strong checkpoint at strategic locations, and dissemination
of Project “TIPSTER” (Text Information to the Police for Speedy and Timely
Emergency Response), among others.
“Part also of PRO 13’s election security plan
are the outlined area security procedures and deployment strategies,” declared
Paguirigan. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
PDRRMC AgSur convenes to finalize update of
Disaster Risk Reduction Plan
By David M. Suyao
PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Oct. 9
(PIA) - Members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (PDRRMC) here convened on Tuesday to finalize the updated Provincial
Disaster Risk Reduction Plan that would become the official provincial guide in
order that duty holders could efficiently and effectively respond in times of
calamities and disasters.
According to PDRRM Action Officer Roberto
Natividad, the province of Agusan del Sur has considered only five major
hazards that are experienced every year, and were made to be the basis in
preparing the disaster plan.
“The five major hazards that we observed here in
Agusan del Sur are flood, typhoon earthquake, rain-induced landslide and armed
conflict. In our last meeting, we agree to focus on these five major hazards,
and therefore, we have prepared a contingency plan in order that we can
immediately and efficiently respond in case these hazards that cause disaster
and calamities come,” Natividad said.
According to Natividad, the updated plan covers
the vision, mission and goals of the council in relation to occurrence of
disasters and calamities. Considered first is the prevention or the mitigation
plan, where massive tree planting and the establishment of the early warning
system were considered. Second consideration is preparedness and according to
Natividad, "this is where a contingency plan plays the most important
role, including the forging of the Memorandum of Agreement or Memorandum of
Understanding between civil society organizations and the private sector for
strong partnership with the government."
“During the actual occurrence of any hazard, the
response of the duty holders, and that is our council and the civil society
volunteers comes in. We are therefore to deploy immediately the Damage
Assessment needs Analysis teams in all levels in order to determine the extent
of damages that the hazard brought. Response teams will also be deployed in
order to handle the evacuation centers, while designating exclusive places or
areas for livestock, poultry and pets in order for them not to be living
together with evacuees for safety and health reason,” Natividad said.
After the actual occurrence of hazard,
rehabilitation and recovery will follow in order that affected families can
return to normal life and recover from loses caused by the calamity.
“Here, the Department of Education plays the
most important role in order that they can establish even temporary learning
space in the evacuation centers. Immediate repair and rehabilitation of power
supply, water and irrigation system including communication facilities is much
needed. Relocation area for those whose houses were damaged and were located in
hazard prone areas is of much importance for affected families to recover and
live a normal life,” Natividad added.
For the contingency plan finalization, soft
copies will be sent to all members to review and input any comment and
suggestion so that it can be submitted to the RDRRMC on time next week. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
LGU Butuan pushes for women empowerment
By Diana Generalao
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 9 (PIA) – The local government
here officially ties up with Paz y Desarrollo, a Spanish-based non-governmental
organization, in its efforts of promoting gender equality and women’s
empowerment during the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between both
parties, recently.
The MoU states that both parties shall
collaborate in the promotion of women’s political participation, pursuit of
gender responsive governance, and support the implementation and monitoring of
the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women and its national translation which is the Republic Act 9710 or
the Magna Carta for Women.
“We cannot do it alone. We need the support of the local government
unit and the implementing partner,” Paz y Desarrollo Country director Antonio
Miguel G. Arias revealed.
Through the MoU, a framework of cooperation and
collaboration shall be created among parties including dialogues, co-organizing
activities at regional, national, and local levels, consulting and sharing
training materials to achieve gender equality and promote women’s empowerment.
Five pilot areas are the beneficiaries of this
recent partnership, These are barangays J. P. Rizal, Los Angeles, Pagatpatan,
Bonbon, and Dulag. Leadership Trainings,
Voters’ Education, Planning Process, and Barangay Level Bottom Up will be done
in these chosen areas. (NCLM/Butuan City-PIO/PIA-Caraga)
