Surigao del Norte wins Best Saludo in 17th CRAM
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Feb 25 (PIA) – The Surigao del
Norte athletic delegation was declared first prize winner of the best
"Saludo" performance during the marching/parade in the 17th Caraga
Regional Athletic Meet held in Tandag City. They received P30,000 cash prize.
The athletic delegation from Bislig City was
proclaimed second with P20,000 cash prize while Surigao City was named third
place winner with P10,000 cash prize.
The 12 delegations coming from the divisions of
the cities of Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Cabadbaran, Bayugan, Tandag, and the
provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del
Sur, Dinagat Islands and Siargao will be competing in at least 29 various
sporting events.
Proclamation for the next overall champion will
be announced by Department of Education Caraga regional director Atty. Alberto
Escobarte during the culmination day on Feb. 27. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Agusan del Sur mainstreams peace and development
thru planning workshop
By David M. Suyao
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Feb. 25 (PIA) - The Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace
Process (OPAPP) conducted a two-day planning workshop in order to mainstream
peace and development in the province.
In his opening statement, Gov. Adolph Edward
Plaza said, he is grateful that DILG and OPAPP came up with the activity that
will empower all stakeholders of peace and development in the province do their
share according to their respective mandates. Gov. Plaza also encourages the
participants of the planning workshop to actively participate and share their
bright ideas in order to come up with an effective outcome.
“I said “outcome” because I am expecting that
this activity will gain results not only on the table but in actual practice. I
am also hoping that this activity will make a difference on the peace and order
situation in the province,” Gov. Plaza said.
As guiding points of the workshop, DILG Agusan
del Sur Director Arlene Ann Sanchez discussed women’s rights and convention,
the rights of children, rights of indigenous peoples, localization of the Magna
Carta for women, violence against women and children (VAWC) act, Republic Act
7610 or the “Anti-child abuse act and other referral systems."
“This Local Peace and Development Assessment and
Planning Workshop that we conduct today primarily aims to promote peace and
development in the local government units (LGUs) by defining the LGUs’ role in
peace building, which means more than reducing crime and danger and giving
weight in development and peace; mainstreaming human security and conflict
sensitivity in local governance and government partners. All these are expected
to result to conflict prevention and peace building,” Dir. Sanchez said.
According to Dir. Sanchez, human security can be
mainstreamed when supported by legislation and be understood by all
stakeholders of the prevailing issues.
“I am therefore challenging this group to make
this planning workshop on peace and development become our share in the
government’s efforts in acquiring the elusive genuine and lasting peace,” Gov.
Plaza said. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
AgNor local peace, devt assessment &
planning set
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - A Local Peace and
Development Assessment and Planning Workshop for the province of Agusan del
Norte will be held on Feb. 26-27 here.
According to Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M.
Amante-Matba, the two-day workshop is jointly organized by the Office of the
Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) in
line with the Mainstreaming Peace and Development in Local Governance Project
(MPDLGP).
The workshop aims to be updated on the status of
the Peace Process with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s
Army/National Democratic Front
(CPP/NPA/NDF) and to revisit and update the existing conflict analysis
of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) province and locate it within
the broad frame of the peace process, said Gov. Matba.
The workshop will help identify gaps and
peacebuilding needs based on the conflict analysis as well as resources to
address these gaps. This will include a validation of previously identified
interventions that remain unfunded; and to propose enhancements to the existing
PAMANA implementing structures and processes, Matba added.
Also, Gov. Matba bared that the activity is
envisioned to integrate the Peace and Development Agenda within the Provincial
Peace and Order Council’s (PPOC’s) Integrated Area Community and Public Safety
Plan (IACPSP) or Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan.
(NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
LMDA bares 2013 BPP accomplishments
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - The Lake Mainit
Development Alliance (LMDA) unveiled its Biodiversity Partnership Project (BPP)
accomplishments for the year 2013 during the 6th Expanded Technical Working
Group meeting held recently at Gateway Hotel, this city.
LMDA-BPP Project Coordinator Omar C. Barillo
reported that under the Biodiversity Mainstreaming of the comprehensive land
use planning (CLUP), all local government units under the BPP project have
already undergone necessary trainings/workshops and seven out of eight LGUs
have already a biodiversity responsive CLUPs. "The municipality of Tubod,
Surigao del Norte is currently on its 3rd phase of the training process of the
biodiversity mainstreaming in the comprehensive development plan (CDP), and
local project site committee (LPSC) or also known as technical working group
(TWG) of LMDA is operational," Barillo said.
Barillo said, under the trans-boundary
integrated planning, six workshops were conducted and the activity output is
the updated and enhanced LMDA Environmental Management Plan (EMP), drafted one
resolution for LGU adopting and approving the trans-boundary plan and one
resolution adopted to support and participate in the said project.
"We have documented one Lake Mainit-Unified
Fishery Ordinance implementation. We have also drafted one resolution
authorizing the mayor to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and around 30
printed tarpaulins are now ready for installation in the strategic areas by the
first quarter of 2014," said Barillo.
Barillo also reported that the two local
conservation areas, which are delineated and declared as local conservation
sites are now being lobbied with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan for
deliberation.
"We have completed two biodiversity
assessment trainings in Agusan del Norte and subsequently the Surigao del Norte
municipalities, documented and conducted Conservation Awareness Campaign in
eight elementary schools and two secondary schools in Mainit," he added.
(PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Tandag City bounces Agusan del Norte, 2-0
By Jezreel Andre Yparraguirre
TANDAG CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - A well-prepared
Tandag City jousts the resilient Agusan del Norte in a 2-0 win volleyball match
during the 4th Game Monday, February 24, 2014 at the Surigao del Sur Sports
center for the 14th Caraga Regional Athletic Meet.
In the early first set, Tandag’s aces Reymart
Martinez and Ryenante Palma deliver each strike with power and precision, and
Agnor’s Arnel dela PeΓ±a and Rafe Sambayo tiring up with a great start of 15-13.
The match gets intense when the Agnor reds pull
off their hidden strength with Christopher Sang-an leading the way– and
Martinez still defending in an equal force of 24-23.
A failed drop shot attempt by Agnor placed the
set 25-23 in advantage for the Tandag City side.
The second set flares with dela PeΓ±a’s serving
strength, and Tandag’s Roy Capon finding ways to outsmart them.
Agusan Norte’s Coach Randy Illustrisimo sends in
Sang-an for dela PeΓ±a hoping for a better score line, but defensive Charlie
Pertinez latches their side in the lead. This time though, the crowd goes wild
with every successive point from 14-14 to 24-23.
A game-changing right-hand reach by team captain
Rey Quezon again makes the game 25-23, ending it with a 2-0 win by the Tandag
City delegation.
Commending on the rather “sloppy” game, Martinez
insisted on a better game next time teamwork and cooperation in their minds.
They thanked God, their parents and team Coach Rodel Elpa of their gain in
winning this neck-to-neck battle. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Billeting schools welcome CRAM delegations with
fun, dances
By Nerissa Espinosa
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Feb. 25 (PIA) - The 13
billeting schools for the 17th Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM) hosted
Monday night a 'Welcome Socials' for their visitors from different cities and
provinces of the region.
It was a night of fun and entertainment for all
after a tiring day of sports competition. Each identified billeting school
together with its school head and teachers is tasked to prepare food and
entertainment as well as ensure that everyone will enjoy. There were surprise
presentations from teachers and students with visitors dancing the night away.
Surigao del Sur Schools Division Superintendent
Dr. Teofila Cabatuan together with Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel also
joined the evening activity being the host division and city of this athletic
meet. They went around to the different billeting quarters to show support to
the teachers who labored so much just to be sure that every athletic delegation
will have a comfortable stay here.
It was also learned that the provincial
government allocated P20,000 for each billeting schools for their Welcome
Socials. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Feature: PNoy Bayanihan Project: A commitment to
transform lives of schoolchildren in Caraga
By Robert E. Roperos
It was on February 3, 2012 when the PNoy
Bayanihan project was launched in Caraga Region. No less than chief executives
and top officials of the four agencies involved in the project came to Butuan
City for the event.
Sec. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva of the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Bro. Armin Luistro of the
Department of Education (DepEd), Asec. Michelle Go of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and former PAGCOR Chairman Cristino
Naguiat, Jr. personally turned-over the armchairs to local officials of the
region. Schools in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur were among
the first batch of beneficiaries.
Butuan City recipient-beneficiaries of the
armchairs were the pupils and students of the BCES good for 1,900 units; ANHS,
2,000 units; Butuan City School of Arts and Trades, 800 units; Libertad Central
Elementary School, 186 units; La Trinidad Elementary School, 450 units; Villa
Kananga Elementary School, 260 units; San Vicente Elementary School, 350 units;
Kinamlutan Integrated School, 50 units; and Ong Yiu Elementary School, 100
units.
After a couple of years, the project has
eventually changed the lives of majority of schoolchildren in Caraga as more
schools were able to receive armchairs and are now being used in their
respective classrooms.
It can be noted that for the past years, school
and DepEd officials said that one of the major problems that school
administrators are facing is the shortage of classrooms and armchairs, evidence
of which are the classes that are conducted in the schools’ open areas where
students are just standing or sitting at the ground while others are just
sitting with a partner on a chair. School teachers said this situation affects
the learning of students since they are not comfortable while the lectures are
conducted.
In one of the turnover ceremonies of the
armchairs, DepEd-Caraga Regional Director Atty. Alberto Escobarte was quoted,
saying that the 40,134 armchairs produced by TESDA have cut the shortage of
armchairs in the region.
For Kate Russel Militante of the Science and
Technology Education Center of Butuan Central Elementary School (BCES), the new
armchair that she is using now has given her the opportunity to listen to her
teachers comfortably during lectures. She said she is now enjoying her armchair
especially that when she first enrolled in the school during her first grade up
to the third quarter of the school year on her fifth grade, she endured the
chairs that she used which she shared with others to the plastic chairs which
easily break until her PNoy Bayanihan armchair was delivered into her
classroom.
Kate added that her armchair has helped her to a
much better performance in school, giving her more concentration on school
works. With her own chair, she is now more focused on the discussion of her
teachers because she sits on it alone and doesn’t have to squeeze herself in
just to accommodate other pupil.
For BCES that has more than 2,000 usable
armchairs and school desks, Rey Collado, the school’s principal said this is
not enough for some 5,000 enrolled pupils who attend the class sessions. The
school is conducting two class sessions, one in the morning and another in the
afternoon.
Collado added that their school chairs were over
10 years old and were always being repaired. The official admitted that being
one of the biggest public elementary schools in Caraga region, the school is
perennially faced with the difficulty of accommodating its ever increasing
number of enrollees, especially that the K to 12 Curriculum of DepEd is taking
place already.
Also, Peter Esterioso, former principal of
Agusan National High School said with the 2,000 armchairs they received in
February 2012 launching, students no longer have to endure sitting on wooden
benches for hours. Before the new armchairs were delivered to their school, at
least two students share a school bench in every classroom, and the limited
elbow space makes them uncomfortable. “This Project would really be heaven sent
for our students here, numbering about 9,037,” Esterioso said.
Meanwhile, school officials of the production
site – the Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT) reported that as of
December 31, 2013, a total of 45,876 armchairs were already produced. Out of
this figure, 40,134 were already delivered to different DepEd schools in the
region. The remaining 5,742 are now ready for delivery.
TESDA-Caraga Regional Director Dr. Florencio F.
Sunico, Jr. said aside from resolving armchair shortage, ASSAT has also opened
new training opportunities for those involved in the production. As of December
2013, Dir. Sunico said there are two trainees who have completed the training.
However, they are not assessed yet since the accreditation of the school as an
assessment center in Furniture Making (Finishing) NC II is still on the
process.
Armchairs for Surigaonon pupils
In 2012, a total of 27,353 armchairs were
produced and distributed to different DepEd schools in the region. Adding to
this figure, on September 9, 2013, TESDA officials have turned-over some 4,500
armchairs in Surigao del Sur in a ceremony held at the Provincial Social Hall,
Tandag City.
Dir. Sunico underscored the collaborative
efforts of the public and private agencies and organizations in the realization
of the project. He also acknowledged the support extended by the provincial and
municipal local government units by utilizing their local resources in
mobilizing the chairs from the production site in Agusan del Sur to Surigao del
Sur.
The official said the project will benefit
schoolchildren in the province who are the future leaders not only of the
province and the region, but the whole nation as well. “The real beneficiaries
of this project are our schoolchildren who are the future leaders of our
nation,” Sunico said.
Sunico further stressed like the other projects
implemented by all government agencies, the PNoy Bayanihan project is a triumph
of convergence since different sectors of society are involved from planning
until its implementation. “… and with the success of its implementation, we are
all victorious,” he added.
For her part, Surigao del Sur Schools Division
Superintendent Dr. Teofila Cabatuan expressed her gratitude for this noble
project of the national government. She added because of the additional
armchairs, schoolchildren in the aforementioned schools will experience
conducive learning as they will be comfortable sitting in their armchairs while
listening to their class discussions.
According to TESDA-Surigao del Sur Provincial
Office, among the schools that were benefitted from the project include Tandag
Central Elementary School, Carmen Integrated School and Mahanahon Elementary
School.
The activity was also graced by Surigao del Sur
1st District Cong. Philip Pichay; Gov. Johnny Pimentel; Dept. of Labor and
Employment (DOLE)-Caraga Regional Director Atty. Johnson CaΓ±ete; TESDA-Surigao
del Sur Provincial Director Rey Cueva; Supervising TESDA Specialist Allan
Millan; Tandag City General Services Officer Aldy Novo; Col Gregory Cayetano,
Commanding Officer of the 401st Infantry (Unity) Brigade; Lt Col Ricardo
Leonardo of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Lt Col Anastacio Suaybaguio of
the 36th IB; and Lt Col Noman Alcovindas of the 75th IB.
A smile of hope for Agusanon schoolchildren
Schoolchildren in the northern part of Agusan
have all the reasons to smile. Some 16 elementary and high schools in the
division of Cabadbaran City have received a total of 3,376 armchairs from
TESDA-Caraga. Cabadbaran is the capital city of Agusan del Norte.
In a ceremony held on October 8, 2014 at
Cabadbaran South Central Elementary School (CASOCES), Dir. Sunico led the
turnover of armchairs to DepEd City Schools Division and local officials led by
Mayor Dale Corvera.
Dr. Sunico, in his speech said this is part of
the PNoy Bayanihan Project where illegally-cut logs in the region confiscated
by DENR were processed and made into armchairs and desks, addressing the
armchairs shortage of public elementary and high schools in the region.
“This is another noble project of the Aquino
Administration initiated by TESDA, DENR and PAGCOR to ensure that elementary
pupils and high school students in DepEd schools will be comfortable as they
spend their education in their respective schools,” Dir. Sunico said.
Meanwhile, Cabadbaran City Schools Division
Superintendent and concurrent DepEd-Caraga OIC Assistant Regional Director Dr.
Rebecca Delapuz, in her speech acknowledged TESDA, DENR and PAGCOR for choosing
their division as one of the recipients of the project in the region.
The official said this is another laudable
project of the national government in providing quality education to
schoolchildren not only in their division but as well as in other divisions in
Caraga Region.
“While we are advocating Education for All by
2016, our government has see to it that this will be achieved by providing
facilities for the comfort of our schoolchildren… Thanks to TESDA, DENR and
PAGCOR,” Delapuz said.
Of the total number of armchairs turned-over,
North Cabadbaran Central Elem. School received 841, Caasinan Elem. School
received 117, while Kauswagan Elem. School received 43 armchairs.
To complete the list, Bay-ang Elem. School
received 54 armchairs, Comagascas Elem. School – 162; Del Pilar Elem. School –
251; Pirada Elem. School – 173; Putting Bato Elem. School – 286; Cabinet Elem.
School – 144; Calibunan Elem. School – 226; La Union Elem. School – 198;
Sanghan Elem. School – 70; Cabadbaran City National High School – 391; Alfonso
Dagani Elem. School – 74; Calamba Elem. School – 69; and Cabadbaran South
Central Elem. School (CASOCES) with 277 armchairs.
Power of Convergence
With the convergence of government agencies, the
directive of President Benigno S. Aquino III to provide infrastructure
assistance to DepEd schools in the country was carried out.
DENR donates confiscated logs, lumber and other
forest products without pending cases in court, or in any other tribunal or
offices.
The department is also responsible for the
hauling and delivery of confiscated logs and lumber to the TESDA production
sites from their current locations; providing the necessary trucks or motor
vehicles, equipment and escorts considering that some of the subject logs and
lumber are stockpiled in areas with peace and order problems.
The DENR also links the registered suppliers of
wood to ensure adequate and sustained supply of legally sourced logs and lumber
needed for the production sites. Likewise, the agency provides technical
assistance to TESDA for the proper implementation of the intended activities.
The agency will also monitor all the activities leading to the successful
implementation and turn-over of the confiscated logs, lumber, and other forest
products to TESDA; and taps other government agencies and institutions to
address the other logistical requirements of the project, such as but not
limited to the Department of National Defense.
The DepEd on the other hand, pays for every
chair, table, fixture and furniture produced by each of the 10 production areas
in accordance with the price agreed upon and between DepEd and TESDA, which
shall not be higher than the average purchase price of DepEd for the past two
years. The education department provides the detailed design, specification,
volume and other requirements needed for the fabrication of school furniture.
DepEd also facilitates the delivery of the school furniture to specific schools
by providing the list of recipients and the necessary administrative support.
Meanwhile, TESDA retrofits its existing
facilities and/or establish new school furniture production facilities in 10
production sites in various parts of the country to be identified jointly with
DENR, DepEd and PAGCOR, and conduct training relative thereto.
The authority also assists in the selection and
recruitment of production workers to be trained for the school furniture
production project together with local government units and people’s
organizations within the 10 identified production sites.
TESDA likewise provides access to training
facilities, equipment and other utilities for the institutional training and
other related activities for the specialized course for production workers for
the school furniture production facilities in 10 identified production sites.
Further, TESDA provides technical and administrative assistance, apply
competency standards, training methodologies, competency assessment instruments
and other programs relevant for the successful implementation of the school
furniture production project.
The agency further facilitates the design of a
customized curriculum to address the specific training needs of the production
workers in the school furniture production sites through the expertise
available from its various training institutions.
To ensure quality production of armchairs, the
agency conducts school furniture production technology training to selected
prospective furniture production workers to enhance productivity and adherence
to product standards and specifications.
Moreover, TESDA is mandated to ensure that the
training program is conducted in accordance with established industry standards
and training regulations, as well as with the specific training standards
required for the school furniture production.
Likewise, the authority issues Training
Certificates to graduates of the furniture production training; facilitate the
conduct of competency assessment to the graduates of the training program;
provide scholarship assistance to the production workers attending specialized
training program in the School Furniture Production Technology; and optimize
use of production facilities to produce the required volume of school furniture
in accordance with set standards and specifications.
For the part of PAGCOR, the agency is tasked to
provide funding up to the amount of P100 Million for the retrofitting of
existing TESDA and/or DepEd facilities and/or establishment of new production
facilities in 10 sites and its initial operating expenses. They are also
mandated to provide such other additional funding as may be required under
Track 1 of the Project as may be determined by the Program Steering Committee
and as approved by the respective heads of the participating agencies herein.
The agency monitors and ensures that the production facilities, equipment and
other operational needs are utilized in accordance with the terms of agreement.
TESDA’s continuous commitment
The production of armchair does not end yet.
Dir. Sunico said that as long as there are available materials like the
confiscated logs which will be donated by DENR, the production team is at all
times ready to do carpentry works and produce the needed armchairs that will
soon solve the shortage of armchairs in Caraga Region.
This, according to Sunico, will not only help
attaining quality basic education in the region, but also links government
supported plantation growers with the various suppliers of DepEd’s requirements
to hedge against scarcity of raw materials, train and develop workers for the
production of school furniture through TESDA, and create livelihood
opportunities in the conversion of confiscated logs into school furniture in
various production sites.
More importantly, Dir. Sunico said through the
PNoy Bayanihan project, TESDA continues to commit in transforming the lives of
schoolchildren and mold them to be the future leaders of the country, thus
achieving the agency’s vision to be the leading partner in the development of
the Filipino workforce with world-class competence and positive work values. (TESDA-13
Promotion and Advocacy Team/PIA-Caraga)
Micronutrient supplement good for lactating
mothers
By Celina Ann Z. Javier
MANILA, Feb. 25 (PIA) - Breastmilk is the
perfect food for babies from birth until six months because it contains all the
nutrients needed by the infant during this critical period.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends
exclusive breastfeeding for infants from birth to six months and sustaining
breastfeeding up to two years of age, while giving appropriate complementary
food starting from the sixth month onwards.
However, many mothers do not practice exclusive
breastfeeding especially during the first six months for a number of reasons.
Some mothers can’t breastfeed because of health problems, like being infected
with HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, and lymphoma or have inverted nipples.
Other mothers do not breastfeed because of a
number of invalid reasons, like being too busy to breastfeed or sometimes
because of the pain that comes with breastfeeding. Another common reason is
that mothers do not have enough milk because of being underweight or being
stressed.
According to the 2011 Updating of Nutritional
Status of Filipinos, a survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), 1 out of 10
lactating mothers are undernourished.
Lactating mothers are at-risk of being
underweight because of increased requirement for nutrients due to the
additional need to produce breastmilk without depleting the nutrient in their
tissues. Nutrient supplementation is one of the ways for mothers to meet the
additional nutritional requirements.
Mr. Michael E. Serafico, Senior Science Research
Specialist of the FNRI-DOST, conducted a study to determine the effect of
multiple micronutrient supplementation to breastmilk nutrients of lactating
mothers.
In this study, three groups of pregnant mothers
were given supplements. The first group was given multiple micronutrient
content, the second group with folic acid and iron and the third group with
iron only. Breastmilk was collected from the mothers and analyzed for retinol
or vitamin A, iron, and zinc.
Based on the results, mothers who received
multiple micronutrient had the highest vitamin A, iron, and zinc concentration
in their breastmilk, while those who received iron only had the lowest nutrient
concentration.
The study suggested giving multiple
micronutrient supplements to pregnant and lactating mothers.
Presently, only 14.3 percent of pregnant mothers
take multivitamins with iron while 82.2 percent take iron supplements, based on
the 2011 Updating Survey by the FNRI-DOST.
This study demonstrated that taking multiple
micronutrient supplements can result to quality breastmilk thus giving such to
pregnant and lactating mothers is encouraged.
In addition to nutrient supplements, the
FNRI-DOST recommends that pregnant and lactating mothers should consume a
variety of food to ensure getting enough nutrients.
For more information on food and nutrition
contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue,
Bicutan, Taguig City. E-mail: mcv@fnri.dost.gov.ph, Telefax: 837-2934 and
827-3164, or call: 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website:
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor solon admits rough ride but hopeful for
FOI
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - It may be a rough
ride for the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill to hurdle the Lower House this
16th Congress, but Agusan del Norte First District Representative Lawrence
“Law” Fortun says he is hopeful.
The FOI bill upholds Article 3 Section 7 of the
Philippine Constitution, emphasizing that “the right of people to information
on matters of public concern shall be recognized.” FOI allows full public
access to government official records, with few exceptions, i.e. presidential
entitlements to communication privilege and other executive official’s
entitlements to “deliberative process privilege”. The bill is seen as integral
component to the transparency and accountability thrust of the Aquino
government.
The neophyte solon manifested his optimism of
FOI amidst continuous investigation of plunder cases against Janet Lim Napoles
and a handful legislators. Whistle-blowers revealed what appears to be the
mother of all scam of the wrongful use of priority development assistance fund
(PDAF) funneled through bogus non-government organizations.
While the Senate eyed to finish deliberations
and amendments of their FOI version next month, the lower house has yet to
consolidate 12 versions of the bill.
In an interview, Fortun admits his support to
the bill as part of his advocacy on transparency and good governance, but
cognizant of the inherent oppositions of some legislators. The young solon is
hopeful that his colleagues in the lower house would fast-track the
deliberations on the legislative measure, noting how it remained dormant and
suffered excessive delays in the preceding Congress. (LAWig/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)
Cebuano News: FMA Vision 2020, Nagsugod Na
Ni Lyka Quinto
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - “Before 2020, I
think we can have the reality of our mission and vision sa Butuan,” mao kini
ang pamahayag ni Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. sa iyang mensahe atol sa flag
ceremony niadtong Lunes sa buntag, Pebrero 24, 2014 sa City Hall Grounds ning
dakbayan.
Giasoy usab ni Mayor Amante nga ang PNP usa sa
makusganong nisalmut ug nisanong sa maong vision ingon man ang DepEd. Tungod
niini dako ang pagsaludar ni Mayor Amante sa tanang ahensya nga nitamud sa 2020
vision sa Butuan. Tuod man, gihagit ni Mayor Amante ang tanang empleyado sa
City Hall nga kon kinsa kadtong maka memorya gilayon sa Mission, Vission ug
Core Values sa Butuan muhatag siya ug ganti.
Gipahayag usab ni Mayor Amante ang maayong
balita sa tuig 2015 mahitungod sa Asian Integration nga mosulod na kita sa
Global Movement. Tungod niini, nagpahigayon ug survey ang Consul sa Department
of Agriculture ug Panggamhanan sa US sa rehiyon ug nasuta nga ang South Public
Market dinhi ning syudad posible nga mamahimo na unyang venue for Food Terminal
ug Cold Storage Facility sa tibuok Caraga.
“This week the Department of Agriculture with
the Middle East Government will conduct business forum to conceptualize and
match kay magsugod na kita ug export sa atong aqua- marine, livestock,
agriculture products from all over Caraga Region to the Middle East,” dugang
nga pamahayag ni Mayor Amante.
“Ang atong vision dili lamang kini kay vision
lang. Nagsugod na kini mga kaigsuonan. Let’s turn the vision into reality,”
pasalig ni Mayor Amante. (CMO-PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
