Caraga RDRRMC chair sees AFEBS as useful
communication tool during disaster response operation
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 21 (PIA) – Regional Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) and Office of Civil Defense
(OCD) Caraga regional director Liza Mazo has seen the ‘Advance Forward
Emergency Broadcasting System’ (AFEBS) of the Philippine Information Agency
(PIA) as useful communication tool during disaster response operation.
“Congratulations to PIA-Caraga led by director
Abner Caga in creating and establishing the record-breaking communication
system– the AFEBS. As discussed earlier during our RDRRMC meeting, for us, we
consider this facility as a noble initiative of the PIA as a communication arm
of the RDRRMC so that communication especially early warning and response
activities will be disseminated quickly and promptly,” expressed Mazo.
Mazo also said that the AFEBS is a good avenue
for the RDRRMC in disseminating information to the public. “Congrats to PIA for
this effort. I think it’s only us Caraga region that has this facility and
equipment,” she added.
“This is what we usually lack taking
considerations of the previous incidents. The AFEBS will improve our delivery
of early warning to the public,” emphasized Mazo.
Mazo further shared that with this facility, the
public will be more informed even when communication networks will be destroyed
due to disasters.
“We look forward that we can really use this not
only during disasters, but if there are disasters we can also test its
efficiency and effectiveness especially those in remotest areas and those which
communication networks are shut down or destroyed due to disasters,” Mazo
remarked. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Army officials recognize PIA-Caraga’s AFEBS
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, May 21 (PIA) – Officials of the
402nd Brigade, Philippine Army have recognized the efforts of the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) Caraga in establishing the Advance Forward Emergency
Broadcasting System (AFEBS), a communication system designed for disaster
operation in Caraga region.
1Lt Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of 402nd
Brigade PA, said the best system during disaster response operations is having
a good, fast, and reliable source of information.
"As your active partner during the disaster
response operations, the best system is having a good, fast, and reliable
source of information. The Advance Forward Emergency Broadcasting System
(AFEBS) of PIA-Caraga will definitely enhance the performance of all rescuers;
synchronize the efforts of all concerned units; and organize the people in the
area. Congratulations to PIA-Caraga personnel led by regional director Abner
Caga for initiating this new innovation that will surely save thousands of
lives. To God be all the Glory," shared Martinez.
Also, PA Ret. Col Efrain S. Oropel said the
implementation of the first ever community broadcasting system for disaster
operations dubbed Advance Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS),
"so far, is the best info-dissemination tool I have ever known.
Congratulations to the leadership, staff and personnel of PIA Caraga for being
the major partner of Surigao City-LGU in implementing the system."
The operational capability of AFEBS equipment
has been tested and proven to be functional 24/7 in all weather conditions;
compact and highly mobile which can be transferred anytime, anywhere in just an
hour or two; user friendly (plug and play); can be remotely managed thru the
internet; and highly reliable, long life design.
Meanwhile, it can be recalled that the local
government unit of Surigao City has already started airing its advocacies using
AFEBS during its test-broadcast around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2014.
The AFEBS installed in Surigao City can also be
heard in the city’s vital locations such as bus, ferry, airport terminals,
luneta park and playground and other public places. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
PRC Agnor-Butuan City chapter reports
accomplishments
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, May 21 (PIA) – Philippine Red Cross
(PRC) Agusan del Norte-Butuan City chapter reports accomplishments during its
regular Board of Directors (BODs) meeting headed by its chairman, retired
Procecutor Felixberto Guiritan on May 15 here.
Different committees of PRC Agusan del
Norte-Butuan City chapter informed each BOD members of their accomplishments
for the month of April this year.
The committee on Disaster Management Services
reported that for the month of April, the chapter was able to undertake three
sessions on Basic Disaster Management and 143 Volunteer Mobilization Training
Courses and was able to produce 84 graduates from the Agusan National High
School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management council.
On the committee on Blood Services, the chapter
was able to collect 611 units of blood including those acquired from blood
letting activities.
Blood donors are categorized according to their
type of donation as follows: Walk-in - 97, Patient-directed - 178, Replacement
- 90, Mobile Blood Donation- 246.
Also, Safety Services committee presented their
accomplishments for the month of April. The chapter was able to undertake the
following training courses: two classes on Community First Aid, and two classes
on Basic Life Support for Adult Lay Rescuers with 80 graduates each course.
On April 16 to 22, during the observance of the
Holy Week, to ensure safety of the general public, the chapter was also able to
set-up first aid stations and ambulance service in major churches and bus
stations in the city. An ambulance service was also provided during the PANAAD
2014 at barangay Anticala, and on April 27, a first aid station was also set up
during a Unity Love Run initiated by one of the school of the city.
Meanwhile, for the period April 9 to 10 and
April 11 to 12, the chapter’s Red Cross Youth was also able to conduct the two
batches of training on Youth Volunteer Orientation course, Leadership Formation
Course, and Basic Leadership Training to the Agusan National High School Red
Cross Youth (SRCY) Council producing 84 newly trained SRCY members.
(NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Almost a hundred rebels took oath of allegiance
back to govt
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, May 21 (PIA) - Ninety seven
rebel returnees took their oath of allegiance back to the government after
several years of being blinded by promises and lies, coated with crooked
principles introduced to them while they were in the midst of hard life and
confusion in their respective remote barangays.
This is the meat of the message delivered by
Librado Perez alyas Batoy, a former mayor of the New Peoples’ Army Front 34
Compostela Valley Area who have served the rebel movement since 1999 until he
decided to surrender a month ago.
“Being in a very remote area in Loreto town
since birth, I have never seen these beautiful and strong foundation of the
government that I see today. I thought that time, only the educated and the
wealthy people are government’s friends, and not illiterate and poor people
like us. I never experienced being cuddled by the government because of our
geographical location that is far from what they call civilization. Because of
that belief and confusion, the high ranking NPAs took advantage of our
situation and convinced us to join the “movement” as they call it. Then life
became even harder," Perez said.
He said that contrary to what they promised, his
family never received anything but threats. "We, in the movement never
receive anything but bullets that almost killed us. And here comes my relative,
now Mayor of Loreto, Dario Otaza, who never failed to explain and convince us
how nice it is to live a peaceful and normal life. Today, I cannot explain how
happy and contented I am, just seeing the bright life in the civilized world
like where we are now, and most of all, knowing Gov. Eddie Bong Plaza whom I
only know by name before but I can hug now, and Gen. Bautista, whom I think a
terror but instead an angel in reality. Now, I am very proud and excited to
tell my family I met wonderful people in a wonderful world of peace and
prosperity,” said Perez.
The 97 rebels, four of them from Surigao del Sur
and 93 from Agusan del Sur mostly from Loreto and La Paz towns received on
Wednesday immediate cash assistance of P5,000 each and the remuneration of
their surrendered firearms depending on their types and kind. The livelihood
assistance from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process will
follow after the processing of their documents which will be completed the
soonest, according to an OPAPP representative and the AFP.
No less than the Chief of Staff of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Emmanuel Bautista witnessed the ceremony with
Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza, Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr., mayors
and local officials of the province of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.
“What I heard from one of our brothers, Librado
Perez really touched me. Wrong impressions of our brothers and sisters in the
hinterlands about the government, the military and the government officials
divided us. As we struggle to unite ourselves with our brothers and sisters who
are until now blinded by the fact that we should unite as one Filipino nation,
let us also help our blinded brothers and sisters by convincing them that we
are one in our struggle against poverty and gearing towards prosperity. We do
not want our fellow Filipino to be left behind, therefore, let us work together
as one, towards peace and prosperity. And this is what we call victory,” said
Gen. Bautista. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: 3rd City Organic Agri Congress,
gipahigayon
Ni Sheila Yatar
BUTUAN CITY, Mayo 21 (PIA) - Nahimung malampuson
ang gipahigayong 3rd Annual City Organic Agriculture Congress and Vermi Forum
didto sa Bishop Hall, St. Joseph Cathedralniadtong Mayo 9, nga nagdala sa
temang, “Green Butuan, Go Organic: Madyaw nga Ani, Taod Money, Madyaw Hong
Kalawasan, Madyaw Hong Kinaiyahan, Madyaw Kanatong Tanan.”
Gitambungan kini sa kapin 250 ka mga producers,
practitioners ug processors ning dakbayan diin gipasundayag ang ilang
nagkadaiyang mga produktong organiko sama sa bugas, prutas ug gulay.
Sa mensahe ni Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr.
gipadayag niini ang kalipay sa hugot nga pagimplementar sa programang Green
Butuan, Go Organic nga nakalinya usab ang mga katuyuan sa Vision 2020 sa
dakbayan. Ug gidasig usab sa Halandong Mayor ang mga katawhan sa paggamit ug
organiko sa pagpananum.
Napulo usab ka mga pampublikong tulunghaan sa
elementarya ug sekondarya ning dakbayan ang midawat ug pag-ila tungod sa ilang
hugot ang pagimplementar sa programang Organic Agriculture on Nature Farming
System and Vermi Culture.
Ang City Organic Agriculture Congress usa ka
tinuig nga panagtigum nga gipangunahan sa buhatan sa City Agriculturist. Tumong
ug layon niini nga magkatapok ang mga tig adbokar sa programang organic
agriculture, diin mabutang usab ang ilang mga adbokasiya ngadto na sa
tagsa-tagsa ka mga areas sama sa farming academe, research, technology
promotion, policy making ug uban pa. (LGU-Butuan City PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Cebuano News: Butuan aduna nay Air Monitoring
Station
Ni Sheila Yatar
BUTUAN CITY, Mayo 21 (PIA) - Hingpit nang
naangkon sa Lokal nga Pangamhanan sa Butuan ang usa ka Continuous Ambient Air
Quality Monitoring Station human nga palara’ng napili ang dakbayan nga hatagan
sa maong ekipo gikan sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources-
Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).
Ang ekipo gi-instalar sa palibot sa City
Environment and Natural Resources Office ug pormal na’ng giinagurahan niadtong
Abril 23, 2014 atol sa Ribbon Cutting Ceremony nga gipangunahan ni Mayor
Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. kauban ang mga pinasidunggang bisita sa DENR-EMB.
Kining pinakaulahing kalambuan subay sa
Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8749) diin mando niini ang pagbutang ug usa ka Air
Quality Monitoring Station nga mao’y responsable sa pagmintinar sa kalidad sa
hangin nga hinungdanon sa kabaskog ug kaayuhan sa panglawas sa katawhan. (LGU-Butuan
City PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
