125 4Ps kids join 4th Caraga Children’s Congress
By: Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 31 (PIA) – Some 125 children aged 10-15 who are
beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from different
cities and provinces in Caraga region joined in the 4th Caraga Children’s
Congress on October 29 in one of the convention centers, this city.
Spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) Caraga through the Regional Committee for the Welfare of
Children (RCWC), the congress serves as a good avenue for the young delegates
to present the issues that directly affect them and thereby suggest a better
approach for the government to help craft solutions that will address the concern
of these children.
“Education is an important foundation of all
human beings. We are thankful that we’re given the opportunity to be educated
with our rights as young children. As a child, we should not be deprived from
our basic needs because it will certainly affect our physical, social and
psychological development,” said Yori Pasia, 4th grader and regional child
exemplary winner from Tandag City, in her inspirational message.
The active participation of delegates in mural
painting activity was highlighted during the congress. The delegates freely
demonstrated their ideas through art. The outputs are judged according to
relevance to this year’s theme “Kahirapan Wakasan, Karapatan ng Bata
Ipaglaban”. Special awards are given to the best painters. Renante S. Dublois, visual artist, said that
said activity also teaches children the essence of teamwork, cooperation and is
a good way to develop young creative minds.
Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga program
supervisor Purisima G. Polinar also gave a lecture on Child Protection Policy
wherein she clearly explained to the delegates the “Policy and Guidelines on
Protecting Children in School from Abuse, Violence, Exploitation,
Discrimination, Bullying and Other Forms of Abuse.”
She said that DepEd is implementing programs
that are intended to promote positive and non-violent discipline. These are
capacity-building programs focused on children’s rights, child development and
approaches in teaching and classroom management; setting up of child friendly
mechanism for obtaining children’s views; and participatory in the formulation,
monitoring and assessment of school rules and policies related to school
discipline.
Topics on anti-child labor, climate change and
child trafficking are also presented during the occasion for children to fully
comprehend the subject matters that they or other youths are being confronted
with.
“The Philippine
Program Against Child Labor works in a vision to transform the lives of child
laborers, their families and communities towards their sense of self-worth,
empowerment and development,“ said Maida Lyn Sanchez, Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) Caraga program coordinator.
DSWD Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli and
members of the RCWC expressed their thanks to all the delegates and support
agencies. They are committed to pursue the government programs that will help
uplift the lives of under privileged children. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
10th NOA Congress highlights awarding of
outstanding implementers
By Rhea C. Abao
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 31 (PIA) - Once again the
organic stakeholders were gathered and reunited during the 10th National
Organic Agriculture Congress (NOAC) held last October 17 – 19, 2013 at the
Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.
NOAC is an annual event initiated by the
National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) through the Department of
Agriculture. The congress was attended by more than 2,500 organic farmer
practitioners and stakeholders. This year’s Congress had a theme, A Decade of
Sharing, A Lifelong Commitment. Ten years of sharing, shaping minds and in
promoting organic agriculture in the country. The congress also aims to
converge organic agriculture advocates and put their advocacies into practice
in their respective sphere – be it in farming, academe, research, technology
promotion and policy making.
According to Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, the
attendance of organic stakeholders and supporters proves that Organic
Agriculture has steadily gained acceptance and support for the past years.
Secretary Alcala added that for the last three years, the production area planted with organic commodities
increased from 4,450 hectares on the year 2011 to 7,268 hectares on the year
2013, based from the report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).
Secretary Alcala also urged the implementing
agencies to strengthen the research and technologies for organic agriculture as
well as intensify the promotional and advocacy campaign of the Organic
Agriculture Program to include the academe.
Secretary Alcala stressed that in organic farming, the cost of
production has been decreased while ensuring food safety and sustainability. He
further emphasized what is important is that "the farmers and stakeholders
will produced enough organic products and gained substantial income out of
it."
BAFPS Director Leo P. CaΓ±eda, USec. Bernadette
Romulo – Puyat and Senator Grace Poe – Llamanzares also graced the event.
During the congress, the awarding
ceremony for the Outstanding Organic Agriculture LGU was one of the highlights.
Caraga region outstanding implementers were duly
recognized: Outstanding Rural Woman and also an organic farming advocate - Violeta Alegado from Buenavista, Agusan del
Norte; Outstanding Agricultural Extension Worker – Marianita Gemina from
Mainit, Surigao del Norte; Outstanding City Focal Person – Arsenia Luchana from
Butuan City; Outstanding City LGU –
Butuan City; Outstanding Provincial Focal Person of Mindanao – Nila Estrada of
Agusan del Sur and Outstanding
Provincial LGU of Mindanao went to the
province of Agusan del Sur.
The OA-LGU Awards aims to acknowledge and give
recognition for those LGUs , focal
persons, and agricultural extension workers who had an outstanding
accomplishment and contribution to the
organic agriculture program.
Part of the three-day event was the First
Philippine Natural and Organic Products Expo which also aims at converging
different exhibitors and exploring market opportunities for organic products
nationwide. (DA-RAFID 13/PIA-Caraga)
News Feature: OWWA Caraga declares MOFYA 2013
By Ritchel M. Molero
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 31 (PIA) - The Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) - Regional Welfare Office 13 has
announced the winners for the Model Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Family of
the Year Award 2013.
OFW Jim Ronquillo Lacia and family from Tago,
Surigao del Sur is the Model OFW Family of the Year 2013 for the Land-Based
Category, while Filseaman Teofilo C. Picante and family from Gigaquit, Surigao
del Norte is named winner for the Sea-Based Category.
Winners received 20,000.00 pesos cash each plus
trophy, phone kit and Globe cell cards. They were screened based on the
following criteria: Wholesome OFW Family (50 percent), Civic/Community
Involvement of the OFW and Family (20 percent), Success in
OFW/Children’s/Family Members Education (20 percent), and Success in Managing
Family Finances (10 percent).
Model OFW Family of the Year Award (Land-Based
Category)
Jim is an active OFW working for more than 21
years at the Rezayat Co. Ltd., Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He started as Site
Clerk in 1991 with a salary of 7,000.00 Pesos. Due to his perseverance and
loyalty, Jim was promoted twice and is now the company’s foreman.
From his meager salary, Jim was able to send her
wife Melanie to college until she graduated with a degree of Bachelor of
Science in Elementary Education from St. Theresa's College.
Jim’s eldest son, James, graduated Magna Cum
Laude from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos with a degree of
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He ranked no. 7 in November 2011
Civil Engineer Licensure Examination. On
November 28, 2013, James is scheduled to fly for Houston, Texas as
representative of his employer, NG Dumlao Enterprise for 5 years.
The second son, Melvin, graduated this year
Magna Cum Laude from the University of Mindanao-Iligan Institute of Technology
with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
He was a representative of the Philippines to
Japan under the JENESYS Programme. He ranked no. 5 in September 2013 Electrical
Engineer Licensure Examination.
OFW Jim’s other children; Joshua grade 7 and Jan
Michael grade 5 are also consistent honor students. The family scholar, Sheila
May is now 3rd year college with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Education
at St. Therese College.
On November 3, 2013 OFW Jim R. Lacia will come
home and stay for good. The family will soon establish a grocery store from
their savings.
Model OFW Family of the Year Award (Sea-Based
Category)
Filseaman Teofilo Cuabo Picante is an active OFW
for 38 years. He was born eldest among the 11 siblings. Having been raised from
a fisherman father and a farmer mother, Teofilo started to work in the farm at
the age of 9 to augment family’s income and to sustain his sibling’s daily
needs. He supported his education until high school by working part-time as a
fisherman.
When he graduated secondary education he worked
as a janitor at San Nicolas College in Surigao City.
Clinging to his ambition to become a seaman,
Teofilo, despite being a high school graduate; took and passed the Major Patron
License Examination given by the PRC. He is now a Boat Master of the UCO
Maritime Service Corporation based in Dubai, UAE.
OFW Teofilo and wife Luzviminda had been married
for 37 years. They were blessed with 4 children—2 girls and 2 boys. The eldest,
Olivia, graduated BS Tourism at La Consolacion University. The second child,
Oliver, graduated BS Computer Engineering.
Ophalyn, graduated BS Business Administration at the University of the
East, and Orly graduated BS Marine Transportation at the Surigao Education
Center in Surigao City.
The couple, aside from their children, supported
the education of Teofilo’s siblings. His five brothers are now seafarers.
Currently, the family is helping each other in
their businesses such as Hardware, Grocery Store, Lotto Outlet, Fish Pond and
Nipa Land, and Poultry Farm.
The family initiates gift-giving activities in
Gigaquit, Surigao del Sur every February and December to share their blessings.
OFW Jim R. Lacia and Filseaman Teofilo C.
Picante together with their families received 20,000.00 pesos cash each. They
are the official candidates of OWWA-CARAGA to the National Search for Model OFW
and Family of the Year Award 2013 which will be conducted on December 10, 2013
in Manila, Philippines. (OWWA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog news: Pangulong Aquino iniutos sa lahat
ng ahensiya ng pamahalaan na seguradohin ang kaligtasan at maginhawang
paglalakbay ng mga bumibiyahe sa darating na Undas
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Okt. 31 (PIA) - Iniutos ni
Pangulong Aquino sa lahat ng ahensiya na sigurohing ligtas at maginhawa ang
lahat na maglalakbay sa darating na Undas sa Biyernes at Sabado.
Sa isang mensahe na inilabas ng tanggapan ng
Presidential Spokesperson, si Pangulong Aquino, kasama ang ibang opisyal ng
gabinete, ay magsagawa ng pagsusuri sa mga terminal at iba pang daungan bilang
parte ng operasyon.
Ang Metropolitan Manila Development Authority ay
nagpakalat na ng dagdag na tauhan para tumulong na mapadali ang daloy ng
trapiko at ang Philippine National Police ay nanatiling alerto para maseguro
ang seguridad ng mga daungang panlakbay at sementeryo.
Ang Department of Transportation and
Communication ay bumuo din ng OPLAN Ligtas Biyahe Undas 2013, isang pinagbuklod
na plano para maseguro na magkaroon ng daan sa maginhawa, kaya, maaasahan,
matiwasay at ligtas na transportasyon na nagsimula noong 2013 Barangay Election
at maipagpatuloy hanggang Undas.
Bilang parte ng OPLAN Ligtas Biyahe: Undas 2013,
ang Civil Aeronotics Board ay nagsagawa rin ng pagbabantay at nagtalaga ng mesa
para sa direktang pagtulong sa mga maglalakbay sa lahat ng apat na NAIA
terminal, kasama na ang Documentation and Ground Assistance Roving Teams na
siyang sasagot sa lahat ng pangangailangan ng mga pasahero at magsusuri ng mga
kalagayan. Ito ay sa pakipagugnayan sa pinalakas na airworthiness ng CAAP sa
buong bansa.
Lahat ng mga pasaherong panghimpapawid ay
maaring mag text sa 0917-TEXNAIA (0917-8396242 para sa kalagayan ng mga
paglipad. Ang mga pasahero ay maari ring tumawag sa DOTC Action Center Hotline
sa (02)789-0-DOTC para sa kanilang mga katanungan. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano news: Gimandoan ni Presidente Aquino ang
tanang ahensya nga segurohon ang kaluwasan ug kahapsay sa mga bumibiyahe ugmang
adlawa ug sa Sabado
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Okt. 31 (PIA) – Gimandoan na ni
Presidente Aquino ang tanang hintungdan mga ahensya nga segurohon ang kahapsay
sa mga bumibiyahe aron saulogon ang Undas ugmang adlawa ug sa Sabado.
Sumala sa tigpamaba sa Palasyo, ang Presidente uban ang mga opisyales sa gabinete mobisita
sa mga terminal ug uban pang mga dungguanan.
Ang Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
nagbutang og dugang mga personahe aron makatabang sa pagpahapsay sa dagan sa
trapiko ug nagpabilin usab ang alerto sa Philippine National Police aron
masegruo ang seguridad sa mga terminal ug mga sementeryo.
Samtang ang Department of Transportation and
Communications milusad usab sa ilang OPLAN Ligtas Biyahe: Undas 2013, usa kini
ka hiniusang plano aron maseguro nga mahatag sa katawhan ang serbisyong
kahapsay, maabot, kasaligan, luwas ug seguro nga pagbiyahe nga nagsugod
niadtong piniliay sa Barangay ug magpadayon hangtod sa Biyernes ug Sabado.
Isip parte sa OPLAN Ligtas Biyahe: Undas 2013,
ang Civil Aeronautics Board mipahigayon usab sa ilang pagmonitor pinaagi sa
instalar og mga help desks sa upat ka mga terminal sa NAIA.
Alang niadtong mga pasahero sa eroplano nga
gusto mahibalo sa status sa ilang mga flights pwede silang mo text sa
0917-TEXNAIA (0917-8396242), ug ang uban pang mga bumiyaheng mga pasahero pwede
pud sila motawag sa DOTC Action Center Hotline
(02)789-0-DOTC alang sa ilang mga panginahanglanon. (PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
