AgNor implements over P342M infra projects
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 23 (PIA) – Accessibility for
farm products, among others, and maintaining their freshness as they reached
the market and the consumers were the primary reasons why the province of
Agusan del Norte (AgNor) has implemented 64 various infrastructure projects
amounting to P342,071,923.92M.
These projects include roads, bridges, port
improvements and disaster mitigating infrastructure structures. The national
government incharge of public works also contributed by implementing six major
projects amounting to P185,475,000.
Agusan del Norte governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell
Amante-Matba admitted that the figure does not include the P50M allocation for
two tourism related projects at the municipalities of Carmen and Remedios T.
Romuladez (RTR).
Related to this, Matba said that the growth of
cargo shipments by 25.22 percent or 4,905,315 MT, notably in exports, is
attributed to the improved port facilities. Passenger traffic also grew by
14.08 percent.
“This shows that we continue to be the preferred
gateway in the region,” underscored Matba.
In addition, Matba confirmed that P44M worth of
irrigation projects serving a total of 500 hectares in Las Nieves, Nasipit,
Buenavista, Jabonga, Kitcharao and cabadbaran were introduced. Some have been
completed already.
She further described that this has resulted to
increase productivity of rice which reached 53,739 MT or 4.0 metric tons per hectare
during the year in review. Similarly, corn productivity has reached to 7.0
metric tons per hectare in some areas.
It was learned that the other benefit that these
irrigation projects brought was the generation of about 320 jobs. This was on
top of the 1,332 jobs generated from other industries that were reported by the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“We strongly support the strategy of President
Benigno Aquino on inclusive growth because we recognized that the benefits that
our nation is enjoying would have lesser effect if the poor does not enjoy
these benefits,” emphasized Matba. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Agusan Norte augments shelter for the homeless
program
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 23 (PIA) –The provincial
government of Agusan del Norte under the leadership of governor Ma. Angelica
Rosedell Amante-Matba is giving more attention to the urgent need of providing
decent shelter for the laypeople comprising the homeless community within
jurisdiction.
Matba revealed during her state of the Province
Address (SOPA) recently that the province has completed quarter of the 253
homes that was targeted in its multi-year program for shelter.
“We need to pool our resources together to
address this problem. We must never allow single Agusanon to live without a
roof over his head,” stressed Matba.
To cap it all, the province’s social service
delivery activities aimed at reducing poverty has served more than 35,000
households at a combined program cost of about P237.6M.
Accordingly, these interventions have resulted
to the increase of households in the subsistence category to 25,142 and to 808
households under the self-sufficient level.
“I trust that the investments we poured in the
sector will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of the beneficiaries
as we strive to deal the case of poverty in our midst,” stated Matba.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Alliance for gender advocates launched in Caraga
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, June 23 (PIA) – An alliance that
will promote women empowerment and gender equality was launched in Caraga
region on June 19 here.
Agusan del Norte Paz y Desarrollo
(PyD)-Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural
Areas (PhilDHRRA) project coordinator Jaime Makinano said, the Alliance of
Gender Advocates in Caraga or simply called AGAC is purposely formed to provide
a platform for coordination and support that would improve and sustain the
promotion of gender equality in the communities and local governments towards
full exercise of women citizenship.
“The ultimate goal of AGAC is to ensure that
citizens, especially those more vulnerable are able to participate in the local
economic and political process in order to promote social justice and gender
equality,” said Makinano.
AGAC is initially composed of 44 Peoples
Organization (POs) from the 14 barangays of Butuan City and the municipalities
of Kitcharao, Santiago and Tubay.
During the launching, the AGAC officers were
inducted by Agusan del Norte SP Member and AGAC Adhoc chair Elizabeth Calo.
The AGAC officers composed of chairperson – Nilo
Guinalubanhan; vice chairperson – Albert Nacario; secretary – Teresita Obo
Pisguerra; Auditor – Anita Honculada; PIO and Sgt. At Arms – Ma. Theresa
Pizarro and Adrian Asnahon; PRO – Keifer Moran; and representatives from Butuan
City – Indaylin Valdehueza; Kitcharao – Samuel Silong; Tubay – Christopher
Eduarte; and Santigao – Rosie Dacera. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
News Feature: Career guidance help solve
job-skill mismatch – TESDA
By Lisa Rivera
MANILA, June 23 - The right choice for a course
could help spell the success or failure of one's career.
In stepping up its career guidance program, the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) wants to ensure
that technical vocational education (tech-voc) graduates enjoy the fruit of
their education when they plunge into the real world.
Job-skill mismatch is also addressed when the
country has a pool of graduates who took up courses that can easily pave the
way for decent jobs.
"Career decisions should be based on the
interests of the child and the aspirations of the parents, knowledge of the
child's potentials, up-to-date information of the labor market, and the
education and training environment," said Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA
Director General.
"When all of these come into convergence,
wiser decisions are made on career choices," he added.
As member of the working group of Career
Guidance Advocacy Program (CGAP) and the lead agency for the Career Ambassadors
Program Component, TESDA recently conducted a training program for the TVET
Career Advocates entitled, “A Step to Success, Shaping-up TVET Career
Advocates."
The program aims to capacitate the advocates to
influence parents and trainees decide on what course to pursue based on labor
market information.
In coordination with the Commission on Higher
Education, 22 Career Ambassadors were named, composed of 16 TVET Career
Ambassadors and six higher Education Career Ambassadors.
Villanueva said the Career Ambassadors are
expected to deliver talks in congresses, career guidance weeks and
convocations. They will also act as speakers in various career advocacy
activities.
"The Career Ambassadors will inspire,
mentor and inform young people towards their best-suited careers," he
added.
The Career Ambassadors were formally introduced
during the National Career Advocacy Congress (NCAC) last month. Two NCAC were
held, which gathered youth groups, guidance counselors, TESDA personnel; and
representatives from employers and workers sector.
The TESDA chief said the two career advocacy
congresses gave the various stakeholders the opportunity to be updated on labor
market information, career guidance concepts, and to network with possible
partners in order to be more equipped and motivated in forming the minds of the
youth and give them the needed support to prepare them for work.
"It's important for tech-voc students to
find out what their life would be like while in training, but equally important
is having an idea of what it will be like after they graduate," Villanueva
said.
The career advocacy congress was jointly
organized by the Department of Labor and Employment, TESDA, Department of
Education, Commission on Higher Education, Professional Regulation Commission
and Department of Science and Technology. (TESDA/PIA-Caraga)
Tandag City Chamber all set for 19th Caraga
Bizcon
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 23 (PIA) – Being the host,
Tandag City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (TCCII) is just awaiting for
the 19th Caraga Business Conference to take place at Villa Maria Luisa Hotel,
this city, on June 27.
In coordination with the provincial government
of Surigao del Sur, the Provincial Micro-Small and Medium Enterprise
Development (PMSMED) Council, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
TCCII president Emma Guerra said that everything is set; the program of
activities has already been finalized.
With the theme, “Gearing Up for the 2015
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Integration,” it was learned
that the one-day affair will be spent mostly on the discussions of relevant
topics by business luminaries and concerned authorities.
These are matters specifically concerning the
Prospects and Challenges of ASEAN Integration in 2015 and Its Implications;
Championing Social Entrepreneurship via Developing Innovative Solutions to
Major Social Issues; Franchising and All Its Attendant Benefits; Promoting
Green Economic Development; Trends in Renewable Energy Technology; Philippine
Cold Chain Project; Biomass Power Generation; Credit Surety Fund- Sustaining
Economic Growth through Increased Credit Flows; Financing Agri-Tourism in
Relation to 2015 ASEAN Integration; and SME Lending Program.
However, ancillary activities like Trade Fair;
Chamber Presidents’ Meeting; Dinner and Socials; City Tour; and Enchanted
River/Tinuy-an Falls Tour also form part of the package, Guerra added.
Meanwhile, she clarified that Roberto Amores,
Board of Director of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI),
who is in charge of agriculture, will grace the affair to give a keynote
speech. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SurSur CSC claims granting BOE
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 23 (PIA) – The Civil Service
Commission (CSC) field office in Surigao del Sur has confirmed the granting of
Barangay Official Eligibility (BOE).
Provincial Director Ruth Beniga even handed out
the CSC official guidelines together with all the documentary requirements as
to how such eligibility can be obtained to support her claim.
She clarified that effective August 1, 2012, BOE
has been “granted to barangay officials based strictly on completion of term of
office,” quoting CSC Resolution No. 1200865, promulgated on June 14, 2012 and
circularized through CSC Memorandum Circular No. 13, s. 2012 dated August 2,
2012.
Covered under such promulgation are both
elective and appointive barangay officials whose respective term of office falls
under the specified period by prevailing law.
Elective barangay officials refer to Punong
Barangays/Barangay Captains, regular Sangguniang Barangay Members, and
Sangguniang Kabataan Chairmen.
On the other hand, the appointive barangay
officials are the Barangay Treasurers and Barangay Secretaries whose
appointment came from the duly elected Punong Barangay.
Meanwhile, the period of filing of application
for the grant of BOE depends on the term of office as classified: for elective and appointive barangay
officials who have completed their term of office before August 1, 2012 shall
be within two years from the said date, or until August 1, 2014; and for
elective and appointive barangay officials who complete their term of office on
or after August 1, 2012 shall be continuous. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
Application for JENESYS 2.0 Disaster Prevention
Course is now open
MANILA, June 23 - The Japanese Government, through
the Japan Overseas Cooperative Agency (JOCA) and the Japan Information and
Cultural Center (JICC) of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, and in partnership
with the National Youth Commission (NYC), is implementing the Japan-East Asia
Network of Students and Youth Program 2.0 (JENESYS 2.0: Disaster Prevention
Course) for the year 2014.
The program will be held on September 20 to
October 8, 2014. It aims to increase potential interest in Japan, especially in
Disaster Management and Prevention, using the branding COOL JAPAN, and to
further deepen mutual understanding between the youth of Japan and the
ASEAN-Oceanian region. The JENESYS 2.0 Disaster Prevention Course will be held
on September 20 – October 8, 2014.
NYC will be sending 35 youth delegates and two
supervisors to the program.
For more information on qualification,
requirements, expenses, application guidelines, downloadable application forms
and other inquiries, please visit www.nyc.gov.ph or the NYC Northeastern
Mindanao Area Office at 3/F Solid Building, Velez-Mabini Streets, Cagayan de
Oro City. You may also contact NYC at (088) 8575895 for more information and
look for Evanesa Pasamba, Salma Jayne Tamano or Rizza Malou Vicente.
(NYC/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD provides permanent residence to 60
calamity-displaced families in Bislig City
By Eunice G. Montaos
BISLIG CITY, June 23 (PIA) - Sixty core shelter
units were turned-over recently by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) Caraga to family beneficiaries in Purok 12, Mancarogo,
Poblacion, this city.
The project, which costs P70,000 each or P4.2M
in toto, provides permanent and resilient shelters to the residents who were
displaced from natural disasters and man-made calamities, especially those who
have no capacity to build their own units.
According to DSWD Caraga regional director Minda
Brigoli who personally turned-over the project to recipients, these units are
built through the Department’s Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) which
aims to provide structurally strong shelters that can withstand 180-220 kph
wind velocity.
“CSAP aims to reduce the number of homeless
families every year by providing structurally resilient shelters, to maximize
participation and draw commitment of the beneficiaries and the neighborhood ,
and to develop and promote the value of self-reliance among the beneficiaries,
as well as the community,” said Brigoli.
She also disclosed that these turned-over
shelters are only initial ones since from the P14M grant from DSWD, 200 units
are expected to be built, from which 60 are fully completed with light and water
connections as to date.
Also, Brigoli promised to extend further
assistance to the family beneficiaries who are also members of the Bislig City
Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance (BCNASA), especially in the
aspect of livelihood since the department is geared towards a goal of helping
the grassroots and vulnerable sector to raise from the survival stage into
self-sufficient level.
The regional director spearheaded the
distribution of certificate of occupancy to the beneficiaries.
City Mayor Librado Navarro, in his message,
mentioned that the city government has provided counterpart for the lot site
worth P3M, and the embankment of the site worth P7.5M.
“We are so grateful to the national government,
most especially to DSWD, for this help extended to the city of Bislig,”
expressed Librado.
He encouraged and challenged the beneficiaries
to be vigilant and responsible to their own houses as this act will simply
manifest their gratitude to the Government for providing them one of the basic
needs of every individual which is shelter.
For this, BCNASA president Samuel Tabugon
extended his appreciation and gratitude to DSWD, and provincial/city/barangay
local government units (P/C/BLGUs) for implementing the much needed shelters
for their families.
“We may have faced disasters that claimed our
previous houses, but I thank the government for helping us start anew,” said
Tabugon.
He disclosed that the water connection from the
main line is the counterpart of the BCNASA families.
The beneficiaries were able to avail the Libreng
Pa-ilaw ni P’Noy program through the Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative
(SURSECO).
In attendance also during the turn-over ceremony
were 2nd district congressman Florencio Garay ably represented by Vic Buyser,
Surigao del Sur governor Johnny Pimentel represented by Jun Sayawan, Vice Mayor
Jonas Cacayan, City councilor Ricky Sayawan, City social welfare and
development officer Letecia Yu with her staff, some unit heads of the CLGU,
Poblacion punong barangay Apolio C. Alvar with the councilors, and family
beneficiaries. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Presyo ng pagkain inaasahang
magiging normal, sabi ng Malakanyang
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hunyo 23 (PIA) - Sinabi ng
Malakanyang noong Linggo na ang presyo ng pagkain ay inaasahang maging matatag
dahil ang mga dahilan ng pagtaas nito ay nagsimulang maging normal.
Sa isang panayam sa dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, sinabi
ni Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.
na ang pagpupulong na ginawa ng National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC)
noong nakaraang lingo ay naglahad ng mga dahilan ng pagtaas ng mga presyo ng
asukal, kane ng baboy, manok, bawang at iba pang pangunahing pagkain.
Sinabi ni Coloma na noong nagpulong ang Sugar
Regulatory Administration, iniulat nito na ang presyo ng asukal ay tumaas
hanggang P52 bawat kilo, pero pagkatapos na nagsimula ang ahensiyang magmatyag,
bumaba na ito ngayon sa P49 at naglabas sila ng minumungkahing presyo na P50
bawat kilo.
Ang mga magbababoy ay nag-ulat din na may mga
kaso ng Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) sa bansa na nakaapekto ng mga biik,
pero sinabing ang kaso ng PED ay kontrolado na sa ngayon dahil sa mga bakunang
ibinigay at ang presyo ay magiging mabuti.
“Nag-request po ang mga hog raisers na huwag
namang masyadong pababaan ang mga presyo para naman ma-recover din nila ‘yung
kanilang mga losses. So sinusubaybayan po ito,” sabi ni Coloma.
Iniulat ng mga poultry raisers na ang mataas na
temperatura noong nakaraang tag-init ay nakaapekto sa paglaki ng mga manok na
ang naging resulta ay ang pagtaas ng presyo mula P130 hanggang P140 bawat kilo.
“Ibig sabihin mababa ang kanilang timbang kaya
ito po ang isa sa mga sanhi ng temporary shortage. Pero nag-i-improve na rin po
ang supply situation at sa kasalukuyan ang umiiral ay 90 porsyento locally
supplied chickens ang ating ginagamit,” paliwanag ni Coloma.
Sa parte ng Department of Agriculture (DA),
iniulat nito na tumaas ang presyo ng bawang dahil kumukuha tayo ng imported na
bawang sa ibang bansa. Sinabi ni Coloma na para labanan ang pagtaas ng presyo
ng bawang, ang naturang ahensiya ay naglabas ng mga rolling store sa palibot ng
Metro Manila na nagbebenta ng bawang sa halagang P100 hanggang P200 bawat kilo
depende sa laki.
Sineguro ni Coloma sa publiko na ang pamahalaan
ay nagmamatyag ng lahat, kasama na ang iba pang dahilan na nakakaaapekto sa mga
presyo.
“Isa po sa mga factor din na tinitingnan ay ‘yung
epekto ng truck ban. Pero tinitingnan po kung paano kaagad ito mareremedyohan
dahil hindi naman dapat ito maging sanhi ng pagtaas ng presyo. Kaya sa kabuuan
ay masinsing tinututukan ng pamahalaan ang galaw ng supply at presyo sa lahat
ng mga pangunahing food items,” puna ng Communications Secretary.
(DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
