Duty-bearers, private sector join hands for this
year’s Arbor Day celeb
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, June 18 (PIA) – In time with this
year’s Philippine Arbor Day celebration, the government officials and employees
who serve as duty-bearers, together with the private sector will join hands for
the tree planting activity set on June 25, 2014 at the Bood Promontory Eco-Park
in Barangay Pinamaculan, this city.
“The Proclamation No. 643 amending Proclamation
No. 396 dated June 2, 2003, enjoins the active participation of all government
agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations, private
sector, schools, civil society and citizenry in the tree planting activity on
June 25, in celebration of this year’s Philippine Arbor Day,” recalled DENR
Caraga regional director Nonito Tamayo.
Tamayo added that this activity is in
coordination with the local government of Butuan, as it aspires to become the
“Premier Forest City” by 2020.
“Our assembly time is 5:00 a.m. at the Sports
Complex in Barangay Libertad while the tree planting activity will start at
6:00 a.m to 8:30 a.m. Afterwards, a short program will follow at the same
venue,” Tamayo bared.
Also, during the program, Mayor Ferdinand Amante
Jr. of Butuan is expected to deliver his message.
Meanwhile, said activity will culminate with a
community singing by all the participating agencies and companies.
“Protecting and taking care of our environment
is tantamount to saving our lives.” (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Gates commends PHL Supreme Court for upholding
RH Law
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, June 18 (PIA) – Co-founder of the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the wife of Bill Gates, Melinda Gates
congratulates the Philippine Supreme Court for upholding the Responsible
Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law.
“The passage and enactment of the Responsible
Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law is a testament to your courage and to
your unwavering support and commitment to women's health and empowerment,”
Gates quoted in her letter to President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Gates said that through the law and the
sustained efforts of the national and local Filipino governments, women's
reproductive health needs will now be met with available, accessible,
voluntary, and quality reproductive health care services.
Gates also expressed the deep commitment of the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in ensuring women and girls in the world’s
poorest countries to have access to quality reproductive health information,
services, and supplies that are consistent with their beliefs and culture. “We
are proud to stand in support of your government’s continued efforts on this
issue,” she said.
“This law has the broad support of the Filipino
people,” Gates said. It is critical to broadening and strengthening
reproductive health programs to reduce maternal and infant deaths, and can
improve adolescent health in the Philippines, she added. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
PopCom, partners define goals for population
By May Ann O. Escobal
BUTUAN CITY, June 18 (PIA) - A more concerted
approach to the implementation of the Philippine Population Management Program
has been reached during Regional Population Executive Board (RPEB) Meeting and
Regional Population Management Conference (RPMC) held very recently, this city.
Commission on Population (PopCom) Caraga
regional diector Alexander A. Makinano discussed the Supreme Court’s Decision
on RH Law or otherwise known as Republic Act 10354 of 2012 for further
understanding of its ruling and awareness of the said law. He also discussed
and emphasized the interrelationships of Population, Health and Environment for
these have something to do with the development, health and empowerment of
people and communities, and ecosystem conservation.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Population Management
Program-Directional Plan (2011-2016) and PPMP’s Monitoring and Evaluation
System were thoroughly discussed by four staff from PopCom Central Office.
Other relevant discussions were focused on the
National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) Preliminary Findings on the
Fertility Rate and Family Planning; History of Hormonal Contraceptives and the
Implant Method; Supplemental Guidelines of the POPDEV Integration, AHYD and RP-FP
programs; and the presentation of the DOH on Wheels: KP Roadshow program of
activities.
The gathering was facilitated by the PopCom
Caraga and was attended by the Provincial/City Population Officers,
Deputy/District Population Officers and Partner Agencies of Caraga Region. (PopCom-13/PIA-Caraga)
MinDA chair eyes SurSur as 'future' tourism hub
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, June 18 (PIA) – Mindanao
Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Luwalhati Antonino has seen Surigao del
Sur as the “future” tourism hub of Mindanao, especially in Caraga region.
Speaking before a jam packed crowd during the
opening program of the 54th Araw Ng Surigao del Sur celebration held at Tandag
City Gymnasium Tuesday morning, she said that there are still “a lot more to be
discovered” in the province, apparently referring to tourist spots.
Antonino, who was the guest of honor and speaker
for the occasion, taking the place of DILG Sec. Mar Roxas, whose trip was
suddenly cancelled due to reasons Governor Johnny Pimentel did not bare, made
mention of the more familiar places in the province being frequented by
visitors—Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City, Enchanted River in Hinatuan, and
Britannia Islands in San Agustin.
The MinDa chair, who admitted to have gone to
the province for the third time, vowed to pour in more funding support for
Surigao del Sur.
Specifically, she asked “asap” for the
comprehensive plan of the Enchanted River, adding that restaurants and other
facilities can be put up like parking area.
Aside from putting premium on tourism matters,
she also shared her insights on agriculture, energy generation, and
infrastructure.
In the agriculture sector, Antonino urged
farmers to use “intercropping” in coconut plantations by growing coffee and
cacao to increase their income.
On energy development, she assured that by 2016,
Mindanao will be “better off” than any region in the country as this year the
power supply problem is being addressed to; and that, accordingly, in 2015, excess power can already be
attained.
Citing the importance of highways, secondary
roads, and lateral ones, Antonio stressed that “soon Mindanao will have a
complete road network,” since she is working hand in hand with DPWH Secretary
Rogelio Singson.
Antonino, who is also the board chair of Tourism
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), said earlier that
Mindanao is now truly becoming the “Land of Promise.” (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
