Agusan Sur identifies 12 shared service
facilities
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Mar. 5 (PIA) - The
Department of Trade and Industry –Agusan del Sur Provincial Office (DTI-ADS)
together with qualified proponents, has identified 12 processing equipment
packages to be distributed this year under the agency’s Shared Service Facility
(SSF) Project.
The facilities will be utilized for meat
fabrication, handicrafts making, water hyacinth processing, kaong vinegar
production, black rice packaging and tricycle operators’ servicing.
The SSF Project aims to improve the quality and
productivity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by addressing the
gaps and bottlenecks in the different business activities or value chain of
priority industry groups or clusters through the provision of processing
machines/equipment. The latter will be
for the common use of the MSMEs within the said industry groups.
Organized groups such as associations,
cooperatives and local government units working for the development and growth
of industry clusters are eligible to receive and manage the SSF for their
members or other MSME users.
In 2013, DTI-ADS turned-over five equipment
packages amounting to P2,089,950 to the following organizations and industry
clusters, namely - KAAGAP Development Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Coco-coir
Geonets), Organic Farmers Association of Poblacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur
(Organics/Organic Inputs), San Martin Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(Abaca), RAM Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(Coco/Kaong Sugar) and JCA Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (Coco Coir).
Organizations interested to avail of processing
equipment under the DTI-SSF are encouraged to visit the DTI office in their
respective provinces. DTI-ADS may be
reached at tel/fax 085-343-7100 or email at dti_ads@yahoo.com. (DTI/PIA-Caraga)
152 agrarian-farmers get land titles
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 5 (PIA) – A total of 152
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) received their Certificate of Land
Ownership Awards (CLOAs) as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in this
province distributed covering 203 hectares of agricultural lands in Barangay
Consorcia, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte on February 27.
In a ceremony, Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M.
Amante-Matba of the province of Agusan del Norte led the distribution, together
with Provincial Agrarian Reform Program
Officer II (PARPO-II) Andre B. Atega; Mun. Mayor Avelina Rosales of Las Nieves;
Manuelito C. Suan, who represented 1st District Representative Law Fortun and
Consorcia Barangay Captain Roque Jamora.
Governor Matba praised DAR for a deep concern on
land distribution as well as other interventions that benefitted the farmers.
“I am proud to say that the DAR in Agusan del
Norte under the management of PARPO II
Andre B. Atega is dedicated in their tasks at improving the lives of agrarian
reform beneficiaries,” Governor Matba said.
Las Nieves Mayor Avelina S. Rosales lauded DAR’s
commitment on land distribution to help the farmers own the land they have been
tilled especially in her municipality.
On the other hand, PARPO II Andre B. Atega
congratulated the farmer-beneficiaries and encouraged them to take care and
work hard to progressively develop the land they now owned.
A 65 year-old Elicima F. Lasco, a
farmer-beneficiary of two-hectare rice
land said in a tearful-eyed after
receiving her CLOA, “after several years of waiting, we finally received our
title and we owed this to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through its
program on land distribution.” (DAR-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
BFP AgSur intensifies campaign vs fire incidents
By Melody E. de Vera
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mar. 5 (PIA) - In line with this
year’s theme: “Isulong ang Kaunlaran, Sunog ay Iwasan, Kaalaman at Pag-iingat
ang kailangan,” the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) intensifies its campaign
against fire incidents in the province in observance with the nationwide Fire
Prevention Month in the month of March of every year.
According to Inspector Danilo Castor, acting
Provincial Fire Marshall of BFP-Agusan del Sur, their office recorded 132
percent increase of fire incidents on 2013 where 43 cases with 7 casualties and
P14-million pesos total damaged compared on year 2012 where only 26 cases of
fire incidents recorded and P10-million worth of total damages.
He said, the main cause is the faulty electrical
wiring and to avoid fire incidents, BFP reminded everyone to unplug electrical
appliances when not in use. Castor added that aside from avoiding fire incidents, we can save money
and energy.
To ignite awareness to the people, BFP-Agusan
del Sur has lined-up activities such as Fire Fighting Training on Mach 10-14 to
be participated by the members of
Search and Rescue Agusan Sur (SARAS); Refreshing course to be
participated by 2 batches of SARAS team on March 20-21; Fire Drill to be
conducted in all the municipalities provincewide and; Fire Brigade Training in
all barangays.
Other activities lined-up for the hottest month
as mandated by the National Government are: Drawing Contest for Elementary
category, Poster Making Contest for secondary category, Photo contest that is
open to all, Essay Writing Contest and Painting contest for secondary schools,
Quiz bee and Pre-Olympics for Barangay Fire Brigades.
BFP Agusan del Sur opened the celebration of
National Fire Prevention Month by a Walk for a Fire Free in every municipality
along with the fire fighters and non-government organizations.
The BFP is also continuously conducting its
regular inspection specially to residential areas and establishments. (PPIO-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
PopCom sponsors RH forum
By Angie Balen-Antonio
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 5 (PIA) - The Commission on
Population (PopCom) in coordination with the Regional Development
Council-Gender and Development Committee (RDC-GADCC) will sponsor a Forum on
Republic Act 10354 or known as Responsible Parenthood – Reproductive Health Act
of 2012 on March 7, 2014 in this city.
The forum is timely as the whole nations celebrates the Women’s Month this March with
the theme, “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong!”
PopCom Executive Director, Dr. Juan Antonio A.
Perez III will talk on the updates of the law which has been a contentious
issue between the church and the government.
Participants to this forum are various
stakeholders and partners from the different regional line agencies.
PopCom regional director Alexander A.
Makinano said that the forum
is a good venue for the sectoral groups to have a deeper
understanding and appreciation on the different provisions of the RP - RH
law, updates on the Implementing Rules and Regulations
(IRR), and its current status.
Makinano
pointed-out that said law,
once fully implemented will protect
the health and lives of mothers
and their children through full
access to quality services and information
on reproductive health, and would
ensures hiring and training of a skilled
health professionals.
Other than this forum, various activities for
the Women’s Month have been lined-up by the RDC-GADCC to give honor to the
strong and resilient “Juanas” who brought inspiring changes not only to their
family but throughout the country and the whole world. (PopCom-13/PIA-Caraga)
DAR Caraga targets 23,000 hectares for 2014 land
distribution
By Joie L. Ceballos
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 5 (PIA) - A total of 23,000
hectares of agricultural land is targeted for distribution in 2014, said
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) regional director Faisar Mambuay after the
recently concluded Target-Setting Workshop.
Mambuay said that this is a record-breaking
target being the highest since 1996. He further expressed confidence to deliver
the target by the end of the year making more than 7,600 farmers become
landowners.
In 2013, DAR Caraga ranked second in the
national tally for the highest accomplishment in percentage with its 14,105
hectares accomplishment or 147 percent against its 9,588 hectares annual
target, for which Mambuay thanked DARs partners in the implementation of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
“We are doing all best efforts to make land
distribution meaningful in the region,” said Mambuay.
He, further said that this is in support to the
call of the president and Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes to finish land
acquisition and distribution before the end of the PNoy administration.
Mambuay also assured CARP advocates that
acquisition and distribution of lands will continue beyond June 30, 2014. He
cited section 30 of Republic Act 9700 or the Carper law that land acquisition
and distribution may proceed for landholdings with pending proceedings even
beyond June 2014 and explained further that this opinion is already being
concurred by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Before June of this year, DAR Caraga is set to
send out 646 notices of coverage covering 3,240 hectares under the Phase 3B, in
addition to the 1478 notices covering 8637 hectares earlier sent.
He calls on the public’s participation by
informing DAR of any known landholdings over 5 hectares which has not been sent
with notice for the office to act the soonest possible time. (DAR-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Repormang panlupa tuloy-tuloy
kahit tapos na ang CARPER, sabi ng Palasyo
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Marso 5 (PIA) - Sineguro ng
Palasyo noong Martes na ang repormang panlupa sa ilalim ng Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) ay patuloy kahit
pagkatapos ng petsa nito.
May ibang grupo sa repormang panlupa na
nagtatanong sa kalagayan ng implementasyon ng CARPER na nakatakdang matapos sa
darating na Hunyo.
Pero sa isang panayam sa media noong Martes sa
Malakanyang, sinabi ni Presidential Communications Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma Jr. na ang repormang panlupa ay magpapatuloy kahit sa kanyang petsa ng
pagtapos lalo na ang mga nagmay-ari ng lupa na hindi nakatanggap ng abiso ng
pagtatapos.
“At kapag meron ka nang notice of coverage, ‘yan
‘yung sinasabi nilang subject to proceedings. At sabi ni Secretary de los
Reyes, kapag subject to proceedings, hindi ka naman made-deadline ng June 30,”
paliwanag ni Sec. Coloma.
“Puwede namang ipagpatuloy ‘yung usapin hanggang
beyond June 30 hangga’t maresolba ‘yung isyu. Kaya sa aspetong ‘yan, sinasabi
niyang hindi dapat mag-alala ‘yung meron pang mga nakabinbin na usapin at ‘yung
hindi pa nabibigyan ng notice of coverage.” Dagdag pa ni Sec. Coloma.
Tukoy sa sinabi ni Agrarian Reform Secretary de
los Reyes, sinabi ni Coloma na sa ilalim na kasalukuyang batas – ang Akta
Republika 9700, Section 30, ay nagsasaad “ang pagkamit at pagpamahagi ng lupa
ay maaring patuloy para sa land holdings na may nakabinbin na pamalakad kahit
pagkatapos ng Hunyo 2014.”
Sa ilalim ng interpretasyon ng DAR, sa usapan sa
CARPER ay maaring magpatuloy kahit pagkatapos ng pagtapos nito, sabi ni Coloma.
Sa mga taong may katanungan tungkol sa CARP at
CARPER na isyu ay maaring makipag-ugnayan sa DAR na palaging handa na tumulong
sa publiko.
Hinggil sa pagtulong sa mga benepisaryo ng
repormang panlupa, sinabi ni Coloma na ang DAR ay bumuo ng dedikadong grupo na
magtutuon sa serbisyong pagsuporta. Ang grupong ito ay nakipag-ugnayan sa iba’t
ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan tulad ng Lank of the Philippines at Cooperatives
Development Autority para tumulong sa mga benepisaryo na magtatayo ng kanilang
kooperatiba.
“Ito ngang taong 2014, lumalahok ang ating bansa
doon sa International Year of the Family Farm. Ibig sabihin, ini-encourage
talaga ang pagpapalago at pagkakaroon ng family farms para mas marami pang
Pilipino ang lumahok sa pagsasaka,” sabi niya.
Sinabi ng Department of Agriculture na ang karaniwang
edad ng magsasakang Pilipino ay 55 o higit pa kaya kinakailangang palawakin pa
ang pundasyon ng mga magsasaka sa bansa kasama na iyung mga grupo ng mas bata,
sabi ni Coloma. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
