Damage to agri hits P28M in Butuan City
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) – Damage to
agriculture in this city caused by Tropical Depression Agaton now stands at P28,162,500,
the City Agriculture Office said on Wednesday.
City Agriculturist Alberto B. Bula said, as of
January 22, a total of 2,680 farmers from the 45 barangays of the city were
affected during the onslaught of TD Agaton. Planted rice which were expected to
be harvested on the month of April got the highest number of hectares damaged
during the flooding.
“Total number of affected/totally damaged area
in agriculture reached to 2,409 hectares and its estimated cost is now pegged
at P27,475,000 based on cost input," said Bula.
Also, during the floodings, corn cereals of the
five barangays of the city were affected, to include Mandamo, San Mateo,
Florida, Tungao, and MJ Santos.
The 50 hectares area of damaged corns with an
estimated amount of P500,000 are in their whorling stage and expected to be
harvested on the months of March to April, this year.
The barangays of Anticala, Buhangin, Camayahan,
Don Francisco, and Dumalagan also incurred damages in vegetables with an
estimated 12.5 hectares of totally damaged vegetables amounting to P187,500.
The city was declared under a state of calamity
per Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution
Number 004-2014 due to the effects and damages caused by the low pressure area
on January 12. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
ANECO responds to Agaton’s flood victims
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) – The Agusan del
Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANECO) as part of its corporate social
responsibility (CSR) during the devastating Tropical Depression (TD) Agaton,
responded to the call of the city government to help transport flood victims to
safer grounds.
"In response to the devastating TD Agaton
that caused floodings to Butuan City, province of Agusan del Norte, and the
entire Caraga region, ANECO utilized its emergency utility boat to transport
families from those affected barangays of the city," said public
information officer Daniel dela Cena during an interview.
Dela Cena said, ANECO, Inc. flood rescue team
led by Engr. Samuel Toledo, using its utility boat, was able to transport
around 200 individuals from barangay Baan Riverside and 18 individuals from
barangay Buhangin to the identified evacuation centers of the city during the
onslaught of TD Agaton.
As of 3 p.m., January 22, a total of 98
evacuation centers were identified by the city government with a total of
20,190 families evacuated.
"ANECO Inc. is of the view that helping and
reaching the community in times of calamities is its big responsibility,"
dela Cena said.
He further said that ANECO is committed to
provide safe and reliable energy distribution service while ensuring consumer
satisfaction as competitive advantage.
It is awarded as Rank A+ cooperative by the National Electrification
Administration. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
RDC Caraga calls public to be an ‘agent of
change’
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) - The Regional
Development Council (RDC) Caraga called on all Caraganons and stakeholders to
support the approved Caraga Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2013-2016 and
Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) and encouraged them to be “the
agent of change” advocate.
Cognizant that each one plays an important role,
the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga and partner
stakeholders were launching a regionwide message advocacy bearing the slogan
“Be the Agent of Change.”
The Caraga RDP endeavors to make the Caraga
region the Fishery, Agro-Forestry, Mining, & Eco-Tourism (FAME) center of
the country by year 2030 by developing the region's abundant resources in
fishery, agriculture, forestry, mining,
and eco- tourism. These sectors have been observed as growth drivers of
the region's economy, generating employment opportunities and reduction in
poverty.
As to strategies on peace and security, included
in the revised RDP are to enhance police presence and visibility; empower
barangay officials, tanods and the police as first responders; intensify
economic and social support services through provision of sustainable
livelihood opportunities; construction of strategic infrastructure projects;
and convergence approach in the delivery of basic social services.
As to environmental protection, it will pursue
an integrated approach to natural resource conservation; developmant and
management; ensure strict implementation of environmental laws, policies, and
regulations; prioritize the strengthening of the resilience and adaptive
capacities of communities against natural hazards and climate change.
The social development strategy also aims to
develop human capacities especially that of the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged
by improving access to relevant and quality education and technicalskills
development; improving access to quality social protection; improving access to
quality health and nutrition services; and providing access to shelter.
Embodied also in the plan are the strategies on
macroeconomic management; innovative and competitiveve industry; competitive
and sustainable agriculture and fisheries; accelerating infrastructure
development; good governance and the rule of law.
“Critical to the realization of the aims of the
RDP and RDIP are the stakeholders’ support for its implementation. Full support
can only be generated when stakeholders understand and appreciate the plans’
applicability to the region, the reason why we are here to formally introduce the
revised RDP,” said NEDA Caraga OIC regional director Mylah Faye Aurora CariΓ±o
during its launching activity held in Butuan City. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
RDP to enhance growth in Caraga region
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) – The newly crafted
Caraga Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2013-2016 and Regional Development
Investment Program (RDIP), which was officially launched recently by the
Regional Development Council (RDC) Caraga is expected to enhance the growth and
allow more developments in Caraga region.
As mentioned by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand
Amante, Jr. in his speech during the launching, the Caraga has graduated from
being the poorest region to being the fastest growing region of the
Philippines.
“Economic indicators show that we are slowly
achieving our goals that will greatly benefit our contituents. Here in Butuan
City, we are proud to be included in the ranks of the Most Competitive Cities
of the Philippines. Every year, we also experience an increase in the number of
registered businesses. This is clearly visible with the opening of big
establishments and many other local business in retail, housing, and food services,”
bared Amante.
Amante also recognized the RDC for the
stakeholders have reached a degree of kinship that has proven to be a factor in
the region’s progress.
“We should not forget our end beneficiaries. The
RDP is designed to achieve inclusive growth, which ensures that future
development will benefit all sectors of our society, especially the poorest of
the poor,” he added.
In terms of environmental protection, the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga regional
executive director Nonito Tamayo likewise assured the stakeholders that the
agency is strictly monitoring the forest products in Caraga.
He also emphasized that no corruption in the
Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) will be tolerated.
"I will personally assess the performance of our CENROs in their area of
responsibilities and I assure you that whoever will be involved in corruption
will face the consequences," he said. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DepEd reports 1.9M worth of damage due to TD
Agaton
By Darryl P. Pinabacdao
SURIGAO CITY, Jan 23 (PIA) – The Department of
Education (DepEd) reported that P1,956,940.00 worth of school facilities were
destroyed in the wake of Tropical Depression Agaton.
The said amount was reported on Wednesday during
the Post Assessment and Evaluation meeting by the City Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office held at the Sangguniang Panglungsod Building, this city.
DepEd Supervisor Linda Geraldino said the
damaged properties include text books, computer and sound system and
infrastructure such as sewers and drains.
She likewise identified the flood-prone schools
in the city such as Caraga Regional Science High School, Surigao City High
School and Mariano Espina Memorial Central Elementary School (Memces).
(DPP/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
TD Agaton leaves 1 casualty, 1 missing in Sur
Sur – PDRRMO
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Jan 23 (PIA) – Tropical
Depression Agaton left one person dead and one reported missing in Surigao del
Sur said a report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM)
office here.
Authorities said a certain Anecito Amero, 52
years old, a resident of Barangay Cancavan, Carmen went to Carac-an river in
Madrid town around 6:30 a.m. of January 21 for fishing. Accordingly, the victim
crossed the river and suddenly carried away by the strong current and got
drowned. The body was recovered later on the same day.
Provincial DRRM Supervising Specialist Abel de
Guzman, confirmed that Siriaco Oranza, 35 years old was reportedly missing on
January 20 in Barangay Isidro, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.
According to police report, on January 20, while
he was on his way home for lunch crossing the flooded bridge in San Isidro,
Marihatag, he was accidentally drowned. He is still missing, as of reporting
time. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
TD Agaton leaves P93.189M damage in Surigao
Norte
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) - The Surigao del
Norte Provincial Disaster Risk, Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has
released on Tuesday its post-assessment report of the Tropical Depression
Agaton that brought heavy rain across Caraga region and some parts of Mindanao
including this province.
In its latest update, the PDRRMC said the damage
to infrastructure reached P67,545,000, agriculture P24,755,000 and livestock
was estimated at P889,000.00.
The
PDRRMC also said that during the onslaught of TD Agaton, a total of 6,798
families (26,435 individuals) were evacuated in different identified evacuation
centers provincewide.
“The Provincial Social Welfare Office has
distributed 110 food packs to city evacuation center, 100 food packs in the
municipality of Claver, 100 food packs in Mainit, and 480 food packs in
Gigaquit,” the report said.
The PDRRMC also recorded a total of 18 houses
totally damaged, 12 in Brgy Alambique, Gigaquit and 6 in Sitio Baoy, San Isidro
due to storm surge, and one missing fisherman identified as Zosimo Rama from
General Luna, Siargao Island. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
MRDP2: Bridging communities
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) - The Local
Government Unit of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur has recently turned–over two RCDG
Bridges (Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder) to its constituents in
barangay Guadalupe and San Toribio, each having a length of 21.80 linear meters with a total cost of
P17.4M.
This was made possible through the Department of
Agriculture-Mindanao Rural Development Program - APL2 and the LGU itself which
counterparted around 10 percent of the total project cost. The said infrastructures are now used to
bridge communities in far flung barangays of
Esperanza which are hardly connected
due to impassable road networks .
Mayor Deo Manpatilan, Jr. who led the ribbon
cutting and turn-over ceremony together with Field Operations Division Chief
Rebecca R. Atega of DA-RFO-13, was deeply impressed with the realization of the two sub projects. According to Mayor
Manpatilan, the bridges has provided
local communities with the opportunity to increase farmers income due to savings on hauling and transportation
cost.
“Before the bridge was constructed, the farmers
find it difficult to reach the nearest market just to sell their produce, but
now, with the presence of accessible road network and bridge, we expect that
farmers will maximize their production and expand areas for cultivation
especially rice and corn which are the dominant crops in the locality,” the
mayor added.
Ronnie Lagumbay, Barangay Captain of Guadalupe,
in his acceptance speech, expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to DA- MRDP
and to LGU of Esperanza who became
instruments for the realization of the said facility which benefits around
1,500 farmers and residents including school children from adjacent barangays.
Service area also accounts around 300 hectares of rice, corn, banana and other
high value crops.
Municipal Administrator Leonida Manpatilan who
was also present during the event, was thankful that it is now fully
operational and is expected to give significant effects in the life of the
people specifically to sustain agriculture and
provide better market access of the farmers’ produce. She further reminded the recipients and the
barangay council to come up with
sustainability mechanisms like crafting of barangay ordinances to maintain the facilities so it can serve more farmers in the area.
Also present during the event were Engr. Rene Q.
Morales of DA-RFU-13, Engr. Demosthenes Abella of LGU Esperanza, other local
officials. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
BIMP-EAGA study to pursue greener tech through
e-waste management
DAVAO CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) - A study that will
facilitate the formulation of policies for the integrated management of
electric and electronic wastes (e-wastes) will be conducted by the environment
cluster of the BIMP-EAGA, in line with efforts to prioritize the establishment
of the sub-region’s e-waste management plan and material recovery facility.
At the 17th BIMP-EAGA ministerial meeting held
in Manado, Indonesia recently, the conduct of the study was identified by the
sub-region’s environment cluster as one of its priority projects, following a
series of field visits to e-waste facilities in Beijing and Guandong in May and
June last year.
BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia
Malaysia the Philippines East ASEAN growth area, a sub-regional economic
cooperation designed to spur economic development in lagging sub-economies of
the member countries by boosting trade, tourism, and investments.
“The study will look into proper and holistic
ways to manage and dispose e-wastes in the sub-region, and the results of the
study will be subsequently used as supporting data for the setting up of an
e-waste material recovery and treatment facility in every BIMP-EAGA member
country,” said Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority
(MinDA) and Philippine Signing Minister for BIMP-EAGA.
E-wastes can include household appliances,
Information Technology (IT) and telecommunications equipment, lighting
equipment, medical devices, and electronic tools. The proposed facility will
include necessary machineries and technical expertise for equipment repairs,
metal recovery system, and electronic recycling.
“E-wastes are not only dangerous for the
environment, but also contain toxic materials that can be hazardous to human health.
A good system for recovery and recycling of these wastes is one of the best
solutions to reduce these hazards,” said Antonino.
She added that funding requirements for the two
components of the e-waste project are expected to be completed by the end of
the year.
The project will be jointly undertaken by the
environment and ICT cluster, with Malaysia taking the lead in the project
conceptualization and implementation. For the Philippines, the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources shall spearhead the implementation of the
project being the lead agency for the environment cluster.
“Bigger nations like China are already ahead in
terms of green technology development, and this has greatly motivated the
environment cluster to prioritize the same environmental effort in the
BIMP-EAGA sub-region,” she added.
Antonino said that this is the first green
technology initiative that BIMP-EAGA has ever undertaken, and immediate conduct
of the study is integral in achieving sustainable socio-economic development in
the sub-region.
E-waste management forms part of the clean and
green production technologies component of the environment cluster, which aims
to raise awareness and information sharing among industries on the various
environment friendly practices, including proper e-waste disposal.
Environment is the newest strategic pillar of
BIMP-EAGA, which was formed as a response to the continuing decline of the
sub-region’s natural resources. With this new pillar, environmental concerns
will be mainstreamed in the other projects and activities of BIMP-EAGA.
In a statement, the signing ministers of
BIMP-EAGA also highlighted the crucial role of the recently formed environment
cluster in ensuring that the livelihood and economic viability in the
sub-region remains sustainable and resilient to natural disasters.
(MINDA/PIA-Caraga)
DepEd Caraga chief extols Reading Camp
By Gemma C. Pullos
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) – The Department of
Education (DepEd) Caraga regional director Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte lauded
the efforts and zeal of Surigao del Norte Division on its 3rd Reading
Encampment with the theme, “Nasa Pagbasa ang Pag-asa” in Mainit, Surigao del
Norte, recently.
Escobarte expressed his appreciation to the
schools’ stakeholders for propagating reading, as it is a shared commitment and
responsibility with the teachers. “The support of our stakeholders from the
provincial down to the municipalities manifests a shared commitment for all of
us to inculcate interest in reading to our school children,” Atty. Escobarte said.
He added, “Our stakeholders apparently give
value and the complementary role of the recognition to school and community in
propagating reading among our young learners.
Atty. Escobarte also stressed the importance of
reading as a tool or a foundation in learning other subjects. "However,
others observed that reading becomes endangered or dying habit due to the
destruction of the attention or time of our children through the presence of
computer internet, television, and other ICT gadgets," said Escobarte.
"Through this reading camp, it manifests
the reinvigoration of our challenge to promote reading in our midst,” Atty.
Escobarte further said.
Escobarte also emphasized the relevance of
reading in life and commended the leadership of the Schools Division
Superintendent, Dr. Evelyn R. Fetalvero CESO VI, for her sincere desire to make
the province of Surigao del Norte division an assemblage of excellent readers.
After his speech, he awarded the proponents of
Project SUROY (Strategic Undertaking in giving Reading Opportunity for the
Young), with a plaque of recognition and a cash donation for its contribution
in promoting reading in their district.
The activity was initiated in support to Project
ECARP (Every Child A Reader Program) and in line with the vision of the
Provincial Government in making the Province of Surigao del Norte as a reading
province in Caraga Region.
Specifically, it aims the following: to develop among
the pupils and students the appreciation of reading activities as fun, and
enjoyable learning experience; develop empowerment among the learners,
teachers, school administrators and parents to initiate creative activities and
strive for excellence through reading as vehicle to academic achievements; and
to advocate the maximum utilization of the excellent books in the existing
Library Hubs in the Division particularly at Sison Central Elementary School,
Tubod Central Elementary School and Placer West Central Elementary School.
The said event was also graced by Board Member
Mamerto D. Galanida who came in lieu of Provincial Governor Sol F. Matugas,
Vice Mayor Crisanta O. Mondano, and the Chief of Curriculum, Learning and
Management Division (CLMD) of DepED
Regional Office, Dr. Isidro M. Biol, Jr.
Hosted by Mainit 1 and Mainit II districts, Vice
Mayor Mondano performed as the guest storyteller to a cluster of elementary
pupils. Such stint received good reviews and drew positive reaction from the
audience.
Amid the heavy downpour, the 13 districts of the
division reveled in the various fun-filled contests namely: Read-a-Thon, Shadow
Puppetry, Preparation of Instructional Materials (IM’s), Illustrating a Story,
Jazz Chants and Text Twist for the teachers and administrators.
The one-day encampment was ended with the
awarding of winners in the various contested events by the Division Reading
Coordinator, Mrs. Jeanie L. Mativo.
Mainit 1 District came out as
overall champion for Elementary Level and Surigao del Norte National High
School (SNNHS) became the winner for the secondary level. (NCLM/DIO Surigao del
Norte Division with reports from Jun Biol, RIO, DepEd-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
