DILG-Caraga enjoins local govt officials, LGOOs
to campaign on climate change adaptation
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, July 11 (PIA) – The Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga has officially advised all
provincial governors, city and municipal mayors to join the endeavor of
advocating on climate change mitigation and adaptation through a regional
memorandum circular. The DILG Caraga provincial and city directors, city and
municipal local government operations officers (LGOOs) were likewise directed
to ensure widest dissemination of the issuance.
DILG Caraga regional director Lilibeth Famacion
said that the order is in response to the call of President Benigno Aquino,
Jr. through the Philippine Information
(PIA), encouraging all government and private sectors to intensify the campaign
as it aims to create a more adaptive community that would take actions to
minimize the negative impacts of climate change.
“By bringing together leaders, public servants
and private entities, we will be able to affect a holistic approach and make
practical choices and realistic actions to fight climate change,” added
Famacion.
The memorandum from DILG Caraga strongly
requires the hanging of thematic tarpaulin imprinted with “Nagbabago na ang Panahon,
Panahon na Para Magbago” and the “laKasLIKASAN” statement tarp which promotes
preservation and protection of natural resources.
Philippine Information Agency Caraga regional
director Abner Caga cited that “the Delhi Declaration on Climate Change and
Sustainable Development highlights the importance of adaptation as ‘high
priority for all countries.’ With the Philippines’ geophysical and
socio-economic characteristics, more emphasis is given on adaptation to risks
associated with current climate variability and extremes.”
It can be recalled that the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources and Philippine Information Agency has entered
into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to work hand in hand in strengthening the
climate change advocacy.
Caga, however, emphasized that it’s everyone’s
concern and that “increasing our capacity to adapt reduces our vulnerability to
its effects.” (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
AFP, PNP keep security measures in place in
Caraga
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, July 11 (PIA) – Army 401st Brigade
Commander Col. Gregory Cayetano said that security measures in his area of
responsibility (AOR) covering the two provinces of Caraga region—Surigao del
Sur and Agusan del Sur—are always in place.
He issued the statement following the reported
incident in Alegria town in Surigao del Norte after the municipal police
station (MPS) was overrun by some 60 heavily armed New People’s Army (NPA)
rebels believed to be members of Guerilla Front 16 (GF-16).
Reportedly, a 30-minute fierce gun battle ensued
first between the outnumbered cops and the attacking rebels at 3:00 p.m. on
Thurday that yielded two deaths on the latter and also two wounded on the
government side.
The Surigao del Norte Provincial Crisis
Management Committee (PCMC) confirmed that the NPA also seized and brought with
them 4 cops when they retreated.
PCMC vice chair and vice governor Arturo Carlos
Egay, Jr. identified the cops captured by the rebels as PO3 Vic Calubag Concon
and PO1 Rey O'niel Morales from the Alegria Municipal Police Station and PO1
Joen B. Zabala and PO1 Edito F. RoquiΓ±o from the Provincial Public Safety
Company.
Meanwhile, Cayetano admitted that he cannot
categorically say whether the rebels might do a repeat of what they did to
Alegria in other areas in Caraga.
But, he said that it is possible that the
captives might be brought to Surigao del Sur or other places other than the
province.
Earlier, Surigao del Sur Officer-In-Charge (OIC)
Provincial Director P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero said that he has already alerted
his men since the news broke out regarding the Alegria incident.
He insisted on exerting all security measures
available just to ensure that peace and stability is maintained in the whole
province. (FEA/NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DILG conducts Seal of Good Governance Assessment
in Agnor
By Boyette B. Lopez
BUTUAN CITY, July 11 (PIA) - The members of the
Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Assessment Team recently
conducted an assessment on the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) or
“Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal" to the
Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte last June 24, 2014.
The said seal was launched on January 15, 2014
during the Good Governance Summit at the PICC in Manila.
The DILG aims for a condition where local
government units (LGUs) do not only sustain the practice of accountability and
transparency (Good Financial Housekeeping), but also be able to prepare for the
challenges posed by disasters (Disaster Preparedness), and are sensitive to the
needs of vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the society (Social
Protection).
Moreover, the SGLG also drives LGUs to encourage
investment and employment (Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness); protect
the constituents from threats to life and security (Peace and Order); and
safeguard the integrity of the environment (Environmental Management).
For an LGU to become an SGLG recipient, an LGU
needs to pass all the three core assessment areas – Good Financial
Housekeeping, Social Protection and Disaster Preparedness, and at least one
from the essential assessment areas – Business-Friendliness and
Competitiveness, Peace and Order or Environmental Management.
The SGLG symbolizes integrity and good
performance of Local Governments. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Lot acquisition for displaced families in
Jabonga ok’d
AGUSAN DEL NORTE, July 11 (PIA) - The 16th
Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte approved the acquisition of lot as
relocation site for the 22 displaced families of Barangay Libas, Jabonga, this
province due to the dangers of their present location.
These families living in Sitio San Roque,
barangay Libas, municipality of Jabonga were advised to be relocated by the
personnel of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) and the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) as they were affected by the
cracking of the earth’s surface as seen on their dwellings.
Municipal Mayor Jasmin F. Monton of Jabonga
sought assistance from the provincial government for the acquisition of lot for
the relocation site since the cracking posed a great threat to the lives and
safety of the occupants of the said area.
Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba, in
her letter dated June 14, 2014 to the Honorable Members of the Sanggunian
through Vice Gov. Ramon AG. Bungabong, certified the urgency of the said
acquisition of lot amounting to P900,000.00 to be sourced out from the
province’s five percent Calamity Fund.
This threat is readily addressed by the
provincial government in line with its adoption of disaster risk reduction and
management approach that is pro-active in lessening the socio-economic and
environmental impacts of disaster and calamity.
The said request was approved on June 23, 2014
during the 47th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. (LGU-Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
