Lay forum underscores kidney protection, care
By David M. Suyao
BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) - Some 300 local
health workers, information officers and barangay officials participated in a
forum in order to become knowledgeable of kidney functions, care and protection
as officials from the National Kidney Institute - Renal Disease Control Program
(NKTI- REDCOP) call on Caraganons to share their knowledge on the important
functions of the human kidney to a person.
The human kidneys (a pair), according to Dr.
Susan Jorge, Assistant Program Manager of the NKTI-REDCOP, located at the lower
portion at the back of a person’s body, are responsible of screening the food
that we take, and “just imagine how harmful will the effect be if the food we
eat are no longer screened as required by the human body,” said Dr. Susan
Jorge, Assistant Program Manager of the NKTI-REDCOP.
NKTI-REDCOP Program Manager Dr. Antonio Paraiso
also said, records of cases on kidney disease have tremendously increased for
the past 10 years because people who become knowledgeable and conscious of
kidneys’ functions and illnesses acquired thru unhealthy lifestyle willingly
submit themselves for examination and medication.
“Few years ago, only few were recorded sick with
kidney diseases while many died because of kidney failure. With government’s
intervention and advocacy regarding the importance of human kidney, nephrology
centers were established in order to focus on human kidneys’ disease while
doctors specializing on kidneys also increase, and that is one of the reasons
why records on the increase of kidney cases also increase. In Butuan City,
there are three nephrology centers that were already established and they are
at M.J. Santos Hospital, Butuan Doctors Hospital and the Caraga Nephrology
Center,” Dr. Paraiso said.
According to Dr. Paraiso, patients who have
acquired early kidney diseases cannot detect them personally, and when felt and
observed, are already in serious condition,
therefore, “Everybody, men and women, are advised to have to have and
annual kidney check-up before the disease will become serious,” Dr. Paraiso
added.
Dr. Paraiso also encouraged the Caraganons to
become kidney donors in order to save the lives of their fellowmen. “Through
your kindness and love, you can be a start of more kidney donors and save more
life,” Dr. Paraiso said. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
REDCOP chief urges public to save, invest for
health care
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) – The Renal Disease
Control Program (REDCOP), an office in-charge of implementing the National
Kidney Transplant Institute's (NKTI) public health projects on the prevention
and control of renal and other related diseases, represented by program manager
Dr. Antonio Paraiso has emphasized the every individual’s responsibility of
apportioning a certain amount from an income to ensure appropriate means in
addressing health concerns.
“We advise the public to put an interest in
saving money for regular health check-up to ensure that medical needs are given
the right attention,” said Dr. Paraiso.
In his visit to Department of Health (DOH)
Caraga, together with Dr. Susan Jorge, NKTI-REDCOP assistant program manager,
and Cristina Tumaliuan of Philippine Renal Disease Registry, he also mentioned
with the need for more government intervention to support indigent patients
inflicted with kidney disease.
“Out of health insurance or by allocating and
pooling of funds, it can be of great help, that is, for the wealthy to
subsidize the poor, for the healthy to subsidize the sick,” bared Dr. Paraiso.
Dr, Jorge likewise stated that it’s wiser to
invest in health financing. “Let’s aim to minimize or even eliminate the
financial burden of our lowly fellowmen who are suffering from kidney failure,”
she added.
Meanwhile, the recent conduct of Lay Forum on
Renal Health and Disease Prevention on May 29, 2014 here, supported and
facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency Caraga has intensified the
information, education and communication (IEC) campaign of NKTI-REDCOP.
Some 300 participants were informed on how to
live a healthy lifestyle, prevent kidney disease and ways were explained on how
to cope if they already have this disease.
As cited by Tumaliuan, around 142 patients were
recorded to have undergone dialysis in Caraga region last year, 2013.
The accredited dialysis centers in this city are
the Butuan Doctors’ Hospital, Manuel J. Santos Hospital and Nephrology Center
of Caraga, Inc. while Surigao City also has three, the Caraga Regional
Hospital, Miranda Family Hospital and Surigao Medical Center. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
CSC encourages gov’t agencies, GOCCs, SUCs to
hire PWDs
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) – Pursuant to Republic
Act No. 7277, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Caraga is encouraging
government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and
state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the region to provide equal
opportunities for employment to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
“Section 5 of said law stipulates that no person
with disability shall be denied access to opportunities for sustainable
employment. A qualified employee with disability shall be subject to the same
terms and conditions of employment and the same compensation, privileges,
benefits, incentives or allowances as a qualified able bodied person,”
reiterated CSC-Caraga regional director Resurreccion Pueyo.
Pueyo added that at least one percent of all
positions in all government agencies, offices or corporations shall be reserved
for PWDs. Also, private corporations with more than one hundred employees are
encouraged to reserve at least one percent of all positions for PWDs.
The welfare of PWDs, particularly in
opportunities for employment, must be given utmost importance. The commission
calls on all heads of government agencies to help in their respective agencies.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
CSFI Lakbay Aral a resounding success:
Sisterhood pact between QC, Butuan offshoots tour
BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) - Summer just couldn’t
contain adventure-hunting escapades of members of the Congressional Spouses
Foundation, Inc. (CSFI), as over 20 congressional spouses around the country
experienced bounties that beset magnificent Caraga during their 4-day Lakbay Aral
tour.
They trekked white beaches, dived pristine-clear
waters, revisited colorful history, dipped in mouth-watering delicacies, and
savored all goodies heavens could afford to country’s last tourism frontier.
The tour was hosted by the CSFI Caraga Regional
Chapter headed by Marie Therese Fortun, wife of Agusan del Norte First District
Representative Lawrence “Law” Fortun. This regular activity of the spouses of
legislators is the first for this term with the aim of promoting tourism in the
countryside. Participants of the tour came to visit cultural heritage sites of
Butuan: Regional Museum and Balangay Shrine. On top of experience nature
endowments and historical wonders of the region, Lakbay Aral 2014 was also
designed as a ‘learning session’ to showcase the best practices local
government units being visited that might be applicable for replication in
other localities. Butuan City took pride in showcasing its Butuan 2020 Vision:
Butuan City as a Premier Forest City by the year 2020.
It came as a surprise, but perhaps the best
take-home of the Butuan City from the Lakbay Aral 2014, is the announcement of
Quezon City Vice Mayor and CSFI Chairperson Joy Belmonte over plans of Quezon
City entering into a sisterhood agreement with Butuan, as she expressed elation
over the experience of travelling the whole region despite with the limited
time.
During the dinner jointly hosted by Butuan City
Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., Agusan del Norte Provincial Governor Angelica
Rosedell M. Amante-Matba, Agusan del Norte Second District Representative Erlpe
John M. Amante and Rep. Fortun, Belmonte revealed that Quezon City Mayor
Herbert Bautista has expressed his intent to enter into a sisterhood agreement
between Quezon City and Butuan City. This was the message conveyed to the hosts
as they expressed great appreciation for the city’s rich historical and
cultural heritage. Should the sisterhood agreement be entered, the two cities
will have a wider opportunity knowledge sharing, technology transfer,
investment promotion linkages among others.
With this set-up, Butuan will tend to benefit
more since Quezon City belongs to the top 5 richest cities in the country.
Belmonte said that she herself learned how civilization existed even during the
pre-colonial period with the discoveries of the Balangays in Butuan. She also
said that with the experience they had in Caraga, she will invite other
friends, relatives as well as other officials to also visit the region. (LAWig
Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DA opens P81.2M projects in Caraga
By Mac Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) - The Department of
Agriculture opened four big-ticket agricultural infrastructure projects worth
P81.2 million in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur, recently, including what
could be the country’s first rice mill with parboiling facility.
Representing Secretary Proceso Alcala, Assistant
Secretary Edilberto De Luna of the Agri-Pinoy National Rice Program led the
inauguration and turnover of P7.3-million rice mill and parboiling plant on May
12, 2014, in Purok Sunrise, Buena Gracia, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur to a
farmers’ group called Agusanon Para sa Bag-ong Pilipino, Inc. (Agus Pinoy). At
least 1,500 local farmers are expected to benefit from the project.
Parboiling is a process that involves soaking
and then precooking the paddy rice. Thus, the facility will help improve
milling recovery of the grain during deshelling and polishing, aside from
improving its nutritional quality. It will also help farmers reduce postharvest
losses during rainy seasons as they can directly bring their wet palay to the
plant for drying. DA is proposing a similar facility in the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao, said Asec. De Luna, who is concurrently the national
coordinator for corn.
In Barangay Calagdaan, Cantilan and Brgy.
Patong-patong, Madrid, both in Surigao del Sur, two rice processing centers
with a combined price tag of P30.5 million -- P16.5 milion for Cantilan RPC and
P14 million for Madrid RPC -- were also opened, each of which has a milling
capacity of 1.2 tons per hour. An estimated 3,000 farmers tilling a total of
5,000 hectares of rice lands will benefit from the projects. Both facilities
feature drying and storage components, and a warehouse where grains can be
stored during rainy days or whenever there is inclement weather.
Farmer beneficiaries – led by Mr. Magnao Sarim
of PABANTABA Association for the Madrid RPC – thanked the government through DA
for choosing them to be the recipient of the projects designed to boost
farmers’ income through reduced postharvest losses and production of high
quality grain. Recipient of the Cantilan RPC is the Tuyake Pederoid Domoyog
(TUPEDO) Irrigators Association.
The two facilities sit on donated lands by the
local government units of Madrid and Cantillan. Primary fund source was DA
Regional Field Unit 13. Other project cooperators were the National Food
Authority (NFA) and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and
Mechanization (PhilMech).
“Alagaan po ninyo ang proyektong ito para
mapakinabangan ng mas marami pang magsasaka dito sa inyong lugar,” Asec. De
Luna told farmers and residents in both inaugurations.
In Barangay Nueva Era in Bunawan, Agusan del
Sur, Asec. De Luna opened, on May 13, a P43.3-million pump irrigation project
that will provide agricultural water to 600-hectare arable farms in San
Gabriel, Veruela and Nueva Era, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur,. The irrigation
facility – whose construction was spearheaded by the National Irrigation
Administration – is also designed to help drain excess water in Nueva Era,
which during rainy season could be totally submerged in floodwater.
Nueva Era Pump Irrigation Project is located 12
kilometers from Bunawa Proper to San Gabriel, Veruela, Agusandel Sur. The
barangays covered by this project are San Gabriel in Veruela and Nueva Era in
Bunawan, Agusandel Sur. These barangays comprise a potential area for
Irrigation of approximately 2,500 hectares.
A farmers’ forum held at the nearby Barangay San
Garbriel in Veruela, where Asec. De Luna met with an estimated 1,000 farmers
and other stakeholders. He also led the turn-over of various agricultural goods
and farm equipment to beneficiaries, including six draft animal with
implements, 2 rice reapers, 1 hand tractor with trailer, 24 power knapsack
sprayer, 24 saklob, 1 4WD Farm Tractor, 1 Mini 4WD Tractor, livestocks, and 100
bags of tilapia feeds – all worth P3.64 million.
Also present during the open forum were
OIC-Director Edna Mabeza of DA Regional Field 13, and NIA-13 Director
Encarnacion Soriano, and local officials
led by Agusan del Sur Governor Edward Plaza, Mayor Edwin Elorde of Bunawan and
Mayor Salimar Mondejar of Veruela. (DA OSEC/PIA-Caraga)
1,800 students avail CHED assistance; Agnor
solon challenged beneficiaries to make good of grant
BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) - At least 1,810
students coming from the different Barangays in Butuan City and the
Municipality of Las Nieves were awarded scholarship grants under the Student
Financial Assistance Program (StuFAP) of the Commision on Higher Education
(CHED) in an orientation and awarding ceremony held at the Caraga State
University (CSU) Gymnasium graced by Agusan del Norte First District Representative
Lawrence “Law” Fortun.
During the ceremony, Dr. Julius Jamero of CHED
gave an orientation of the program to the student-beneficiaries. The bulk of
the beneficiaries availed of the Tulong-Dunong scheme which will benefit them
an annual assistance of P12,000.00; P9,000.00 and P6,000.00, respectively
depending on the students’ tuition needs. Of the total beneficiaries, three
students were awarded an annual full merit assistance of P30,000.00 because of
the high grades they garnered in the previous semesters. All applicants of the
program were ranked based on the student’s grades and those who belong to the
poorest of the poor. In her message
during the ceremony, CHED Caraga regional director Dr. Maricar Casquejo thanked
Fortun for pushing the allocation of funding for the program. She said that
with the substantial budget pushed by the solon, the beneficiaries of the
program swelled compared to the previous years.
For his part, the young solon challenged the
students to make good of the assistance they will get from the government since
not all has been given the opportunity to avail it. “Let this grant be one of
your tool in attaining success in life, you take advantage of this opportunity
and make good in your studies as your way of giving back to your parents their
hard work in order to send you to college,” Fortun said. He also asked the
students that when they graduate they should give back something to the
community any service they can render. (LAWig Katawhan/PIA-Caraga)
Agnor inks MOA with DILG for PAMANA infra
sub-project implementation
By Boyette B. Lopez
BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) - The Provincial
Government of Agusan del Norte, represented by Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M.
Amante-Matba has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office, represented by its
regional director Lilibeth A. Famacion for the implementation of the
Infrastructure Sub-project intended for Puting Bato-Lanuza Road under the
Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and Masaganang Pamayanan (OPPAP-PAMANA)
under Pillar 3 PAMANA-DILG 2014 in the amount of P500 Million last May 14, 2014
at the Provincial Governor's Conference Room.
Agusan Del Norte Vice Gov. Ramon A. G. Bungabong
together with Sanguniang Panlalawigan Members and DILG Provincial Director
Romeo A. Solis witnessed the signing of the MOA.
According to RD Famacion, so far, this is the
biggest infrastructure sub-project being funded by the PAMANA-DILG fund to be
implemented in the Province of Agusan del Norte. She also acknowledged the
Governor for being active and dynamic in her leadership in the province. She
added that she is happy and confident that this sub-project will be implemented
soon since their office will release the First Tranche fund in the amount of
P14.5 Million.
The Phase I of Puting Bato-Lanuza Road
sub-project had been implemented last year in the amount of Php 5 Million under
the Pillar 3 PAMANA Fund.
Meanwhile, after the Signing of the MOA, RD
Famacion also released the Check in the amount of Php 403,510.80 intended for
the supplemental budget for the Potable Water Supply, Level II sub-project at
Barangay Taod-oy, Municipality of Magallanes.
Gov. Amante-Matba, in her message, thanked the
Office of the Department of Local Government (DILG) Regional and Provincial
Office, and the National Government in the leadership of his Excellency,
President Benigno Aquino III for its efforts to gamble for the implementation
of various sub-projects in the area of conflict zones especially in the
Province of Agusan del Norte. The Governor added that this is a clear
manifestation that our Government has done something for the good of our
people.
Gov. Amante-Matba also said that her leadership
prioritizes the social development of the two areas in Agusan del Norte - The
Puting Bato-Lanuza and Lawan-lawan, Las Nieves which have potential in terms of
developing more than 200 hectares of vast land for the introduction of Organic
Farming in the area. She added that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has been
tapped for the implementation of the Potable Water Supply intended for Sitio
Lawan-lawan, and other adjacent barangays in the Municipality of Las Nieves.
The two major sub-projects are expected to be
implemented without further work delays and inaugurated before 2016. (LGU-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
NIA starts to award 12 multi-million peso
projects in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 2 (PIA) – The National
Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Surigao del Sur headed by Acting Division
Manager Engr. Salome Layasan has already started to award to the winning
bidders the construction of 12 multi-million irrigation projects in both
districts 1 and 2 in the province.
However, Engr. Dexter Sablaon, Senior Engineer
A, said that they have yet to issue the respective “notice to proceed” for the
project to officially begin.
It was learned that the entire project cost is
estimated at P109,957,537.46 based on the recent accomplishment report.
However, he clarified that the province has a
total of P177,154,000 worth of additional
irrigation projects this year, breaking these down into two classifications: National Irrigation System (NIS) and Small
Irrigation Projects. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SurSur vice gov to speak at Agribusiness Forum
in Pasay
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 2 (PIA) – Surigao del Sur
Vice-Governor Manuel Alameda, Sr. is one of the resource speakers on the
occasion of the Agribusiness Forum at World Trade Center in Pasay City on June
11.
According to Sesinio Tulang, Senior Staff of the
Vice-Governor’s Office (VGO), the second top ranking official of the province
is set to discuss the topic on “Investment Opportunities in Surigao del Sur”
per invitation of Engr. Leandro Gasmin, Director for Agribusiness and Marketing
Assistance Services of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Tulang indicated that Alameda, who he cited as
chairman of the Committee on Agriculture at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and
“hands-on” especially on matters regarding agricultural development, is so well-versed
in the local agriculture industry. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DILG Surigao Norte conducts LGPMS – SGLG
orientation
By Jacky A. Mellorin
SURIGAO CITY, June 2 (PIA) – The Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Surigao del Norte Provincial Office
conducted an orientation on the Local Governance Performance Management System
(LGPMS) – Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) on May 27, 2014 at the
Provincial Governor’s Office Conference Room, this city.
The one-day activity, participated by all
provincial departments heads, is in response to the call of the DILG Secretary
Mar Roxas in ensuring the integrity and the credibility of the implementation
of the LGPMS-SGLG. Furthermore, it was also intended to make the participants
understand the department’s transition and uses of performance assessment for
LGUs as well as to acquaint themselves with the processes, criteria and
timelines of the assessment.
During the orientation, Mary Jane Centino, DILG
Provincial LGPMS Focal Person presented the SGLG, which originated from the
Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) program.
Centino also said that unlike its predecessor,
the SGLG aims to provide greater challenges to our provincial, city, and
municipal governments to continue good governance practices while providing quality
services not limited to transparency and accountability in consonance with the
SILG’s beliefs that LGUs are ready to achieve better performances as 84 percent
or 1372 LGUs have already met the minimum requirements of Good Housekeeping
like posting of relative financial documents, no adverse COA findings, and
budgetary and procurement processes.
Meanwhile, Lydia Bajan, one of Caraga Assessment
Team Leaders, emphasized that for an LGU to become SGLG recipient, an LGU needs
to pass all the three core assessment areas such as Good Financial
Housekeeping; Social Protection; and Disaster Preparedness, and at least one
from the essential assessment areas like Business-Friendliness and
Competitiveness, Peace and Order or Environment Management.
In his message, Provincial Administrator Atty.
Premolito B. Plaza pointed out that the provincial government is performing its
mandated task in order to make a difference in the life of the people.
The LGUs that can meet the minimum criteria
shall not only be conferred with the SGLG, but will also entitle them to a
package of incentives, such as the Performance Challenge Fund and access to
other National Performance-Based Programs. (SDR/DILG-Surigao del
Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Tagalog News: Pampublikong edukasyon ay libre,
sabi ng Malakanyang
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hunyo 2 (PIA) - Sinabi ng
Malakanyang na nanatiling libre ang pampublikong edukasyon at walang anumang
bayarin ang ipatupad na siyang dahilan para pumigil sa sinuman na magpa-enrol
at bumalik sa pag-aaral.
“Iginiit ni Kalihim ng Edukasyon Brother Armin
Luistro ang istriktong pagbabawal ng pagsingil ng kahit ano mang halaga o
kontribusyon,” sabi ni Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma, Jr., sa isang panayam sa media noong Linggo na inihayag sa
pamamagitan ng dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Ito ay para tiyakin na walang magiging balakid
sa pagtanggap at pagpasok ng lahat ng Pilipinong kabataang nasa ganap na edad
para mag-aral,” patuloy ni Coloma.
Ang pasukan para sa 2014-2015 ay magsisimula sa
Hunyo 2, kung saan tinatayang 26 bilyon na mag-aaral mula sa pampubliko at
pribadong paaralan ay babalik sa kanilang mga paaralan.
Sinabi ni Coloma na ipinangako ni Pangulong
Aquino ang pagpatupad ng mandato ng konstitusyon na ang edukasyon ay isa sa mga
nangunguna sa pambansang badyet.
Para sa 2014 na pambansang badyet, ang
Departamento ng Edukasyon ay may kabuuang pundo na P335.4 bilyon, kung saan isa
sa mga pinakamataas na alokasyon para sa taon.
“Nang pumasok ang administrasyong Aquino noong
taong 2010, ang kabuuang budget ng DepEd ay 195.9-bilyong piso. Samakatuwid,
mula noon hanggang ngayon ay tumaas ang budget nang mahigit sa 71 porsyento,”
paliwanag ni Coloma.
Dagdag pa niya na pinakilos ng Philippine
National Police ang mga kapolisan para maseguro ang kaligtasan sa panganib ng
mga mag-aaral sa kanilang pagbabalik sa mga paaralan sa Lunes. (DMS/PIA-Agusan
del Sur)
