Agusanons signify to protect the environment
during the Earth Day celeb
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, May 2 (PIA) - Thousands of
Agusanons join the celebration of the World Earth Day last week by planting and
parenting their planted trees at the denuded area of Mt. Diwata where the
signing of the covenant signifying their sincere intention to protect the
environment also took place.
Originally, the plan to reforest the denuded
part of Mt. Magdiwata was the initial activity identified by the Agusan del Sur
Environment and Sustainable Development Council (ASESDC) knowing that the
southern part was already denuded because of rampant cutting of trees and
illegal mining when it was first declared for forest plantation by the National
Development Council (NDC). Because of the absence of deep rooted trees that
were cut, erosion became the main issue that Mt. Diwata is confronting.
Conflict of whoever is the right agency to
safeguard and protect Mt. Magdiwata also surfaced when San Francisco Water
District dispatched guards allegedly to protect the watershed area but as per
investigation and research made by the San Francisco Environment and Natural
Resources office (MENRO- LGU) and the ASESDC, it came out that there was once a
council for the protection of Mt. Magdiwata that was organized by the municipal
government of San Francisco but was disorganized naturally.
Presently, the ASESDC and the MENRO-LGU and the
Mines and Geosciences/ DENR are conducting research on who has the
responsibility to protect Mt, Magdiwata, including the existence of the of the
council to protect Mt. Magdiwata so that if found out to be legal, the council
will be activated and will become the official organization that has the right
to protect, develop and conserve its natural habitat.
Before the tree planting or the tree parenting
started, volunteers cast their signatures on the tarpaulin printed with a
covenant entitled Kampanya Para sa Pagdumala sa Mt. Magdiwata (KP2M2). For
organizations, companies, bankers organization, LGUs, business sector National
Government Agencies including the Governor and the Vice Governor of Agusan del
Sur with Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The covenant reads: “Kami, mga Agusanon ng
nakaamgo sa kamahinungdanon sa Mt Magdiwata ug nakahibalo sa dili na maayong
sitwasyon sa maong bungtod sa pagkakaron, naga deklara sa among hugot ug
kinasingkasing nga suporta sa hiniusang Kampanya Para sa Pagdumala sa Mt.
Magdiwata (KP2M2) (We, the Agusanons who were awaken by the value of Mt.
Magdiwata and knew of the worsening situation of the said mountain at present,
declare our strong and heartfelt support in the United Campaign for the
Management of Mt. Magdiwata)."
“Atol sa pagsaulog sa Earth Day 2014, kami naga
saad sa pagpaningkamot aron matagamtaman pa sa umaabot nga henerasyon ang
kaabunda ug kaanindot sa GREEN MT. MAGDIWATA, GREEN SAN FRANCISCO, GREEN AGUSAN
DEL SUR (In time with the celebration of the Earth Day 2014, we pledged to do
our best so that the coming generation can still feel and experience the
abundance and beauty of GREEN MT. MAGDIWATA, GREEN SAN FRANCISCO AND GREEN
AGUSAN DEL SUR)." (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Surigao City strengthens incident command system
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, May 2 (PIA) – The City Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) here in cooperation with the
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga underwent a three-day training on the
incident command system (ICS) recently in order to capacitate its members and
beef up the capability of the city to better respond to emergencies.
The three-day seminar workshop, which was held
at the Surigao City Cultural Center featured eight modules of the basic
incident command system course including group planning workshop, exercises and
actual reporting.
The objectives of the ICS course is to enhance
understanding of Incident Command System as a vital tool for effective disaster
response, provide an overview of ICS its background, concepts, principles and
features, capabilities, organization, facilities and common terminologies, and
demonstrate knowledge of basic ICS functions through exercises and class
discussion context.
Community Action for Disaster Response (CADRE)
and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) training officer Ryan CastaΓ±eda,
one of the resource speakers, explained the importance of ICS.
CastaΓ±eda said that ICS is a standard, on-scene,
all-hazard incident management concept that can be used by all DRRMCs member
agencies and response group to adopt an integrated organizational structure to
match the complexities and demand of single or multiple incidents without being
hindered by agency or jurisdictional boundaries, and it will help to ensure the
safety of responders, achievement of tactical objectives and efficient use of
resources.
“ICS will meet the needs of incident in any kind
or size, personnel from various agencies... it will also provide accountability
and a planning process, logistical and administrative support to operational
staff, and it is cost effective because duplication of efforts will be
avoided.” CastaΓ±eda added.
A total of 57 participants from different member
agencies of the CDRRMC, Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Council chairpersons
and city department heads have successfully completed the above course and
certified as ICS Basic Course graduates.
ICS is mandated under Republic Act 10121, series
of 2010, otherwise known as "An Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management System for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Framework" and NDRRM Plan to reduce the vulnerabilities and
risks to hazards and manage the consequences of disasters. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
Forum on Senior High School implementation set
in Butuan
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) – A forum on the
implementation of Senior High School with the Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs) and Technical-vocational Institutions (TVIs) is scheduled on May 12 in
one of the convention centers, here.
According to Engr. Ramil Sanchez, OIC Chief
Education Program Specialist of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
Caraga, the said forum is in accordance with the pertinent provisions of
Republic Act (RA) No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of
1994” and in support to the implementation of the Department of Education
(DepEd) on the Senior High School Program.
Engr. Sanchez said, CHED enjoins presidents and
heads of both private and private HEIs to support and participate on the said
forum.
"The event aims to disseminate the plans of
DepEd Caraga in implementing the advance Senior High School for SY 2015-2016 and
to give updates on the K to 12 Basic Education Program," said Engr.
Sanchez.
The forum is a joint undertaking of DepEd, CHED,
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, duly supported by the
Regional Development Council of Caraga region. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
'Labak Butuan' for Brigada Eskwela
By Dr. Israel Reveche
BUTUAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) – A fun run dubbed as
"Labak Para Hong Brigada Eskwela” (Run for Brigada Eskwela) is set on May
18 here.
According to focal person of Labak Butuan Ma.
Cecile Plaza, the fun run aims to gather resources to support the Butuan City division
and the conduct of the Brigada Eskwela on May 19 to 24.
Plaza said, a registration fee of three hundred
pesos (P300) will be collected from the participants. The one hundred pesos
will be for the participants t-shirts, 25 percent of the remaining two hundred
pesos will be allotted for the Butuan City division’s operating expenses and
medicines budget, while the 75 percent will be used for the conduct Brigada
Eskwela.
The fun run will be participated by teachers,
students, parents, school heads, representatives for the local government unit
and non-government organizations. It will start at the Robinson’s Place Butuan
at six in the morning going to the covered court of the Agusan National High
School, Plaza added. (DepEd-Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Dog and other animal bites continue to pose a
problem in SurSur
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, May 2 (PIA) – Amid efforts to curb
dog and other animal bites in Surigao del Sur—which some even lead to death due
to rabies—the problem still remains.
According to a report issued recently by the
Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) headed by Dr. Algerico Irizari,
incidence of dog and other animal bites have been averaging by more than a
thousand for the last three years, especially the former.
In fact, based on the same account, dog and
other animal bites have, one time, exceeded the 2,000 mark in 2013.
Also, except for 2012, death due to rabies has
been a common occurrence, although isolated.
Meanwhile, during the start of 2014,
particularly in the month of January, no death has been posted.
Likewise, the IPHO records will bear out that
only the cities of Tandag and Bislig have the highest number of dog and other
animal bites cases in the province. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Surigao HS students participate in youth
leaders, volunteers training
SURIGAO CITY, May 2 (PIA) – Around 30 high
school students from the different schools in the city joined the two-day
training on Youth Leaders and Volunteers held recently at the City Cultural
Center, this city.
The activity, spearheaded by the city government
here in coordination with the Commission on Population (PopCom) and the Surigao
City Police Station, aims to intensify the campaign on gender and development,
responsible sexuality, and anti-criminality, it was learned.
City PopCom Coordinator Jupiter Correos, in his
message, said the city government thru the efforrt of City Mayor Ernesto
Matugas is strengthening its campaign on youth's gender and development,
responsible sexuality and anti-criminality for them to be well informed.
Surigao Youth Center representative Wennie
Corneta, PO3 Laila Ballicud and Police Inspector Jennifer Ometer served as the
speakers during the training. (SDR/MICO-Surigao City/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Butuan City Division participates in National
TOT
By Dr. Jonas H. Jomonong
BUTUAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) - In response to the
Department of Education’s (DepEd's) call in the progressive implementation of
the K-12 curriculum, the city division participated in the 2014 National
Training of Trainers (TOT) held at Lahug, Cebu City starting April 27 to May 3
for the Visayas and Mindanao group.
The said training aims to provide
teacher-trainers with a concrete understanding of the Grade three Curriculum
frameworks, learning standards and competencies, assessment and teaching plans.
Also, the TOT will provide participants with
opportunities to acquire and demonstrate the cognitive and affective
competencies needed by the Grade three teachers in the effective delivery of
the curriculum and in their role as facilitators of learning as indicated in
the DepEd Memorandum No. 15, series of 2014 dated February 7, 2014.
It is hoped that after the said training, a mass
training of grade three teachers throughout the division will be conducted this
month as a preparation for the school year 2014-2015.
The pool of trainers of the division was led by
Education EPS-1 in English Dr. Maria Dinah abalos, together with her were the
chosen school heads from various schools namely: Dr Alejandro macadatar, Dr.
Jonas Jomonong, Dr. Marivic Cuizon, Mr. Rey Collado, Robina Agan, Marivic
Pantonial, April Ann Bernabe, and Richard Duparco. (DepEd-Butuan City
Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
SurSur tourism industry starts to work wonders
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, May 2 (PIA) – The tourist spots in
Surigao del Sur are getting a fair share in booking, especially in domestic
tourists, according to Governor Johnny Pimentel.
In fact, he said that on May 14, two prominent
delegations comprised of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) top
hierarchy on the one hand and Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI) on
the other are coming over to the province each with a different agenda.
NEDA’s group, particularly the National Project
Monitoring Committee (NPMC), which will be headed by Undersecretary Mario
Relampagos will hold its 2nd Quarterly meeting with the NEDA Regional Office
Caraga as host, while the CSFI that will be led by their President and
Chairperson, Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte, will at the same time visit
the province for their Lakbay-Aral.
Pimentel assured that the wife of Surigao del
Sur First District Congressman Philip Pichay, Mrs. Lilia Pichay, as well as the
better half of Agusan del Norte First District Congressman Atty. Lawrence
Lemuel Fortun, Ms. Marie Therese Fortun, CSFI Caraga Chapter Chair, are going
to join and accompany their peers since the said chapter is the host for such
activity this year.
He bared that the NEDA group, composed of some
30-35 participants from different government agencies like the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM), Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG), and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) apart from the Regional
Directors of NEDA itself, is going to stay overnight but the CSFI delegation
will have to make their presence felt through a so-called “learning journey”
for about four days.
Meanwhile, Pimentel pointed out that the tourist
arrival in the province has continued to grow by leaps and bounds, recalling
the figures since 2006 at 6,000 while in 2013 at 54,000, thereby saying that
“Surigao del Sur is already on the map!”
The most favorite tourist spots in the province,
but not in particular order, are Tinu-ay Falls in Bislig City, Enchanted River
in Hinatuan, and Britannia Islands in San Agustin.
However, Gov. Pimentel admitted that
simultaneous with this amazing development, Surigao del Sur, in partnership
with the locality concerned, must start to devise a better master plan for the
tourism industry in order to pave the way for putting up desirable
accommodation facilities. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
US Embassy set to conduct ‘Tech for Resilience
Week’ for a safer PHL
MANILA, May 2 (PIA) - In light of recent
disasters, the U.S. Embassy in Manila is working with responders and affected
communities to build a more resilient Philippines. The Embassy and its partners
will work to put lifesaving tech tools into action by organizing “Tech for
Resilience Week.”
"Tech for Resilience Week" starts with
TechCamp on May 5 at Globe Labs, Globe Telepark in Valero St., Makati City.
This event is the first of three linked events taking place during the week of
May 5-11, all geared toward harnessing technology to empower Filipino
Non-governmental agencies and local government units (LGUs) to build
climate-resilient communities. TechCamp takes a unique approach to connect
"non-techie" civil society representatives with technologists. To put
lessons and new relationships into practice, TechCamp will be followed by an
"App Developers' Challenge" 24 hour Hackathon on May 9 and 10, in
partnership with Globe Labs and Google Developers Group. Visit
http://goo.gl/QoH1Tu for more details.
The week concludes with a two-day Hackathon
entitled “Readysaster: Hack for Resilience” that takes place on May 10 and
11. A hackathon is an intense
collaborative computer programming marathon where computer developers and
enthusiasts engage to develop new digital applications and programs to achieve
a specific goal and common good.
Readysaster is implemented by Open Data
Philippines as part of a worldwide World Bank initiative, "Code for
Resilience," along with Smart's Developers Network, Microsoft Philippines
and Google Developers Group. Readysaster shares the goal of building a more
resilient Philippines by connecting knowledge from the public to private sector
technology and government data. More details can be accessed at
http://data.gov.ph/events/readysaster.
These three events are designed to complement
each other and to use problem sets drawn from conversations with community
members in communities around the Philippines that have been identified as
disaster-prone. Tech for Resilience Week
reflects a shared commitment to explore all solutions (especially technological
solutions) to the risks and dangers posed by calamities. (US
Embassy/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Pangulong Aquino: Reporma ng
pamahalaan nagsimulang maramdaman sa laban kontra kahirapan
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mayo 2 (PIA) - Ang mga programa
ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng Tuwid na Daan ay nakapagpakita na ng pwersa at
nagsimula nang gumawa ng puwang sa laban ng pamahalaan kontra kahirapan, sabi
ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III noong Huwebes.
Sa kanyang talumpati noong siys ay bumisita sa
pagawaan ng Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI) sa Binan, Laguna, sinabi ni
Presidente na ang reporma sa agrikultura, imprastraktura, turismo at pangmasang
serbisyo ay nakapagpababa sa bilang ng mga maralita.
Sa isang ulat ng National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA), sinabi ng Pangulo na ang bansa ay nakapagtala ng tatlong
porsyentong pagbaba ng mga Pilipino na namumuhay ng mas mababa sa linya ng
mahihirap mula noong unang semester ng taong 2012 hanggang 2013.
Ang tatlong porsyentong pagbaba ay katumbas ng
2.5 milyong Pilipinona ang pamumuhay ay umangat sa huling dalawang taon, sabi
niya.
“At ngayong higit pang nagbubunga ang mga
repormang ipinatupad at ipinapatupad natin, tiyak na dadami pa ang mamamayang
mabibigyan natin ng mas komportableng pamumuhay,” sabi ng Pangulo sa kanyang
mensahe.
“Kaugnay po nito, patuloy po nating paiigtingin
ang pagkalinga at pagkakaloob ng serbisyo sa Pilipino. Ang nais natin:
masigurong hindi na babalik pa sa dating kalagayan ang ating mga kababayan,
sakaling tumama muli ang anumang sakuna.”
Nagpasamat ang Pangulo sa mga tao sa Laguna sa
kanilang pagsuporta sa kanya at sa mga miyembro ng kanyang partido noong
nakaraang halalan.
Pinayuhan din niya ang mga tao sa Laguna na
pumili ng tamang mamumuno sa mga darating pang halalan para ang repormang
sinimulan ng kanyang administrasyon ay maipagpatuloy.
“Ang pakiusap ko po: Kung naniniwala kayo na
tama ang ating ginagawa, kung ayaw ninyong mabalewala ang maganda nating
nasimulan sa tuwid na daan, piliin natin ang mga susunod na pinunong
magpapatuloy at higit pang magpapayabong sa ating mga naipunlang reporma,” sabi
niya. “Piliin natin ang karapat-dapat upang maging permanente ang malawakang
transpormasyong tinatamasa na ng ating lipunan.”
Maliban sa IMI, binisita rin ng Pangulo ang
Testec Inc. sa Calamba at ang Alliance Monsols, na nasa Binan din.
(DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
