Butuan Habitat for Humanity pushes for climate
change risk resiliency
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, July 4 (PIA) – The Butuan Habitat
for Humanity represented by its president, Nora Rama, has expressed full
support on the drive for a climate risk-resilient and adaptive communities with
safe, secured and productive environment.
“Our country is considered as one of the most
vulnerable place to climate change where extreme weather and other disastrous
catastrophes are most likely expected. The natural calamities brought havoc and
worst destruction happen in ways we can’t ever imagine. Thousands of lives were
devastated and homeless families suffer due to the unpredictable phenomena.
It’s simply undeniable that climate change has some serious implications in our
nation and we should commit ourselves to do our part,” expounded Rama.
She recounted that at their own level, as
non-profit organization grounded in a mission principle of creating
opportunities for all people to live in decent, durable shelter by helping
build and renovate homes, Butuan Habitat has also stir its initiatives to
inculcate in the minds of Habitat communities the idea of greening activities,
conservation, and waste management, among others.
According to Rama, “the group is instructing for
proper waste management as a basic approach of telling Habitat communities to
develop an attitude of concern about climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
As Butuan Habitat for Humanity advocates for
affordable housing and supports for sustainable and transformational
development, its employees including the Nehemiah team, a group of American
volunteers who helped build Habitat houses in Caraga region had direct
involvement in tree planting activities in Mount Mayapay for years now.
Meanwhile, Engr. Heddy Sumalpong, vice president
of Butuan Habitat for Humanity also reminded to adhere on the national building
permit code that 20 percent of the area should be open space and be plotted
with plants. “It’s advisable not to fully concretize the grounds to have enough
area for planting and cultivation. Let’s carry out our own contributions to
help build resiliency,” she said.
Sumalpong said that they are in support to the
laudable program of the Butuan City local government dubbed “Plant and Grow a
Million Trees.”
Driven by spirit of volunteerism in working with
the Butuan Habitat for Humanity, Rama underscored that people are the best
resources to mobilize climate change advocacy campaign. “For even the richest
people are not considered billionaires if they do nothing but the richest are
the people who volunteered and synergized for mitigation and adaptation of
climate change,” said Rama. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD-13 asks partners’ support on database
streamlining of Listahanan
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 4 (PIA) – The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga asked support and cooperation from
its partner government agencies and other stakeholders for the database
streamlining of Listahanan or National Household Targeting System for Poverty
Reduction (NHTS-PR).
As per Executive Order No. 866, national
government agencies and other stakeholders adopted the Listahanan or NHTS-PR of
DSWD as a mechanism for identifying poor households who shall be recipients of
social protection programs nationwide.
During the Consultation Dialogue on the
Listahanan or NHTS-PR with partners from the regional line agencies,
non-government organizations, civil society organizations and academe on
Thursday in one of the local convention centers here, assistant regional
director for Administration/Listahanan - deputy regional project manager Nerisa
Murih bared that the goals of said activity is to get the support of the
partner agencies and organizations on the second round household assessment and
to engage partnership for data-sharing by forging respective memorandum of
agreements to utilize the available data in identifying potential
beneficiaries.
“We also intend to promote the new brand name of
NHTS-PR which is Listahanan,” added Murih.
Dante Rosales, regional focal person of
DSWD-Caraga's Listahanan reiterated that the Listahanan is an information
management system that identifies who and where the poor are nationwide.
"The system makes available to national government agencies and other
social protection stakeholders a socio-economic database of poor families as
basis in identifying potential beneficiaries of social protection programs and
services," he said.
It was also emphasized that data sharing on
Listahanan by its partners require execution of a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA).
Rosales explained that the Listahanan's data is
protected under a MOA which ensures that the data will be used only for its
intended purposes.
"This is also in consonance with the Data
Privacy Act of 2012, which is intended to protect the integrity and security of
personal data in both the private and public sectors," said Rosales.
Also, Therese Margarette Babanto, regional field
coordinator of Listahanan in DSWD-Caraga, revealed that of the 405,310 assessed
households in Caraga, 232,301 households are identified as poor.
"Consistent with Executive Order 867, the
updating of the Listahanan database of poor families shall be done every four
years thereafter," emphasized Babanto.
Babanto further stressed that with the
participation of its partners who will utilize the Listahanan, multiple
provision of same programs and services to the beneficiaries will be avoided.
Christopher Saavedra, regional information
technology officer of DSWD-Caraga cited that the objectives of Listahanan
include the following: 1) formulate a uniform set of criteria for identifying
poor families through scientific means; 2) facilitate sharing of high quality
database to public and private social protection stakeholders; 3) reduce
leakage or inclusion of non-poor and undercoverage or exclusion of poor from
necessary social protection programs and servicer; and 5) lessen the
implementation cost of social protection programs by saving resources intended
for targeting.
Meanwhile, Cale Pineda, regional associate
statistician of DSWD-Caraga revealed that the database of Listahanan is lodged
with the National Housing Targeting Office (NHTO) at the central office of
DSWD. "The Listahanan database is secured by standard procedures followed
by a limited number of authorized DSWD staff who have access to it," he
said. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Sur town bags Regional Gawad Kalasag
Award
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, July 4 (PIA) - The municipality of
Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur was conferred recently with the Gawad Kalasag Award
for being the region’s Best Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for
1st - 3rd class municipality.
The prestigious accolade was announced by Office
of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga regional director Liza Mazo during the kick-off
celebration of the observance of the Disaster Consciousness Month in Caraga
Region held at Hinatuan Gymnasium on July 2.
"Hinatuan is now vying for the National
Gawad KALASAG 2014 representing Caraga region after winning the recent
competition under 1st-3rd class municipality category while Barangay San Juan
of this town will also represent under the Barangay category," Mazo said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council chair Governor Johnny Pimentel congratulated the local
officials of Hinatuan for being one of the finalists to compete for the
national level this year. "The provincial government is here to support
you in this endeavor," said Pimentel.
Pimentel has also congratulated Hinatuan for
being the most prepared municipality in times of disaster, "and for being
proactive and resilient having achieved zero casualty during the Typhoon Pablo,
which devastated southern Mindanao leaving a number of casualties in the nearby
provinces." (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Surigao Sur holds summit on disaster risk
reduction, management
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, July 4 (PIA) – The Regional
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) of Caraga through the
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) gathered the stakeholders for the DRRM Summit
held in this city on Thursday, July 3.
The activity provided the local chief executives
(LCEs) a comprehensive and standard understanding of their roles and
responsibilities on DRRM for the effective and efficient delivery of government
services.
Ma. Lourdes Martinez of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the LCEs are mandated to take the
lead in ensuring the integration of DRRM and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in
their respective local development plans and programs.
Also, Bernadeth Jacod of the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) Caraga discussed the implementing guidelines for
the establishment of local DRRM offices (LDRRMOs) and Barangay DRRM Committees
(BDRRMCs) to LGUs as well as budget allocation and on how to utilize the local
DRRM funds.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny
Pimentel, in his message, urged the LCEs to put-up or create an office/item for
the local DRRM that will focus programs on disaster preparedness as their areas
are vulnerable to natural disasters.
The said activity is in collaboration with the
Provincial DRRM Council chaired by Gov. Pimentel, LCEs, members of the
Sangguniang Bayan, liga ng mga barangay president at the municipal level, local
finance committee (LFC), local DRRM officers, and the local government
operations officers (LGOOs). (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Hinatuan Mining Corp. wins 2014 Reg’l Kabalikat
Awards
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, July 4 (PIA) - Hinatuan Mining
Corporation (HMC) of Nickel Asia Philippines is 2014 Regional Kabalikat Awardee
in Caraga Region.
Under the industry category, HMC of Surigao del
Norte bested the other competitor from Agusan del Sur after a head-to-head
deliberation between the members of the Search Committee headed by its focal
person, Ma. Cristina V. Soberano, TESD Specialist II of the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Caraga.
A decade after the company has been re-opened
for exploration in 2004, it has been noted that the Hinatuan Mining Corporation
has regularly supporting the education sectors of the government particularly
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), TESDA, and the Department of
Education (DepEd).
It was learned that through the company’s
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), developing manpower is its main
priority. Engr. Ranulfo S. Aquino, the company’s Administrative Manager said
they believe that investing human capital is not a waste, but rather a legacy
which they can leave to the community in Barangay Hinatuan, one of the island
barangays of the municipality of Taganaan in Surigao del Norte.
Through the scholarship programs that they have
been regularly granting to the local residents of the area as well as its
neighboring island barangays, more beneficiaries were able to finish the
Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the DepEd and just recently, more
out-of-school youths were able to finish trainings in Welding, Consumer
Electronics, and Automotive Mechanics.
Aquino said the scholars in Welding have
undergone American Standard Certification Assessment through the
Korean-Philippine (Kor-Phil) Training Center in Davao City. After passing the
certification assessment, they were sent to Keppel Company in Batangas and
Panasonic Philippines in Laguna for a ten-month On-the-Job Training (OJT) under
the Dual Training System (DTS).
The official further said after their OJT,
Keppel Philippines and Panasonic Philippines will evaluate the trainees and if
found to have been qualified to work in their company, they will be immediately
hired.
However, Aquino said the trainees will have the
option to accept the offer or not since they may have the opportunity to work
at Hinatuan Mining Corporation if their skills are needed by the company.
Aside from the regular support rendered to
uphold human development, the mining company has capacitated the community for
them to earn a living. In response to environmental protection where the
company is regularly adhering to all its provisions, local communities were
enjoined to plant seedlings of different species. After six months and the
seedlings are ready for planting, the company buys the seedlings.
Also, in support to the schoolchildren and their
parents, the company has provided free school uniforms from Kindergarten to
High School students.Hintuan Mining Corporation has entered into a contract
between TESDA graduates in Dressmaking to sew the uniforms at the expense of
the company – from the sewing machines to the cloths, threads and other sewing
needs.
One set of uniform will be paid by the company
amounting to P250.00 for which P40.00 of it will go to the cooperative for
which they are among the members.
The Kabalikat Award is one of TESDA’s reward
mechanisms in giving due recognition and honor to its outstanding partners in
the promotion and enhancement of TESD. The award is conferred to outstanding
institutions, private firms/companies, LGUs and Legislative partners cognizant
of their good practices and contribution in the promotion and development of
the country’s technical and vocational workers in terms of qualification and/or
competencies gained.
Said contributions may be in the form of
training scholarships, donation of training machines and equipment, supplies
and materials, recruitment and placement assistance to trainees and certified
persons, internship training, TESD promotion and advocacy and other support
services in pursuit of the advancement of TESD.
Under the Industry Partner category, these TESDA
partners may be an industry association or individual private and public
establishment/firm/company that adhered to good practices in the promotion and
enhancement of TESD. The juridical personality of the awardees shall be
considered in the selection. For instance, franchises will be treated as
separate entities. However, departments/units/project areas shall be treated
under its mother organization.
As the regional winner, Hinatuan Mining
Corporation will be the official entry of Caraga to the national level. Winners
will be announced and awarded in August 2014 during the 20th Anniversary
Celebration of TESDA.
In 2012, the provincial government of Surigao
del Sur was declared national winner in the LGU category, under the leadership
of Gov. Johnny T. Pimentel. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
DENR Caraga signs MOA with local TV station,
Barangay Doongan
By Maria Catherine M. Gonzaga
BUTUAN CITY, July 4 (PIA) - Barangay Doongan’s
former dumpsite was converted into a Tree Park as the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 13 and ABS-CBN Butuan signed a Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA) on June 27, 2014 in a simple ceremony held at Barangay
Doongan here.
The MOA also acknowledges the network’s
initiative to undertake tree planting activities at Barangay Doongan Tree Park
as part of their 15th anniversary celebration.
“ABS-CBN wants to affirm their social
responsibility in their slogan, 'In the Service of the Filipino' thru Bantay
Kalikasan program,” ABS-CBN Butuan News Anchor Lorilly Charmane Awitan said.
The ceremony was also attended by regional
director Nonito M. Tamayo, barangay Doongan captain Gilberto Enriquez and OIC,
CENRO Norman Asugan of Nasipit.
Under the contract, ABS-CBN shall conduct tree
planting activities in the Barangay Tree Park from July until December 2014 with
300 seedlings to be planted every last Saturdays of every month or a total of
1,800 seedlings by the end of the year.
Tamayo acknowledged the support of the network
in the National Greening Program of the government. “1,800 seedlings may be
minimal if compared to the 1.5 billion trees target of the NGP but
nevertheless, it is of great help. Great things come in small packages, if we
continue to create activities like this, then hitting or exceeding our goal is
definitely possible,” Tamayo said.
Barangay officials of Doongan shall be
responsible in the maintenance and protection of the planted trees. The
barangay aims to be a model for a sustainable urban forest-based community.
“We aim not only to beautify the environment but
of course to protect it,” Awitan stated.
According to Tamayo, a lot of studies show that
the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The
impact of climate change could lead to a total of 167,290 hectares of seashore
land in 171 coastal towns under 10 provinces in the Philippines to go
underwater due to a one-meter sea level rise requiring all walks of life to
take the initiative in taking care of our planet before it’s too late.
“Forests are the lungs of the Earth. We should
all do our part in protecting it especially today that we are in the midst of
climate change,” added Tamayo. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
DENR 13 exec calls for readiness as employees
conclude Environment Month
By Eric F. Gallego and Maria Catherine M.
Gonzaga
BUTUAN CITY, July 4 (PIA) - The employees of the
DENR Region 13 have successfully concluded the Environment Month Celebration on
Monday with the call for action and preparedness in the face of the Global
Climate Change, amid fun and games and talent competition on June 30 at the
DENR 13 Covered Court in Barangay Ambago, here.
The occasion also gave recognition to 28
individuals including seven companies and local government units as
“Environmental Heroes” for their support to the programs of the DENR
particularly in the Anti-Illegal Logging Campaign and the National Greening
Program (NGP).
“I wish to thank all those individuals, industry
partners, local government units, the Philippine National Police and the
Philippine Army under the 4th Infantry Division, including the media and other
civil society groups who helped in pursuing the goals and programs of the DENR
with the objective of uplifting the living condition of the people in the
uplands and remote mountain villages and in protecting our forest areas from
illegal logging and other environmental crimes,” regional director Nonito M.
Tamayo said in his remarks at the culmination program.
Amidst the celebration, however, Tamayo reminded
the people to be extra careful of the danger pose by the rising sea level owing
to the effect of Global Warming that also triggers Global Climate Change.
Although it was not his intention to spoil the
party, Tamayo nevertheless reminded the audience about the recent disaster in
the provinces of Leyte, Samar and other provinces in the Eastern Visayas hit by
Typhoon Yolanda in November 8, last year which claimed hundreds of human lives
and destroyed billions of pesos worth of infrastructure, agriculture, schools,
buildings and houses.
“This is now the new normal where you can see
storm surges caused by strong typhoons,” Tamayo said. “It would be best for all
of us particularly those people living along the coastal areas to be ready and
prepared all the time since the guarantee of our safety is uncertain in the
face of the climate change,” he said.
Tamayo cited a report by Senator Loren Legarda,
Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources that
preparations and readiness must be in place in communities affected by the sea
level rise which is seen to displace 13.6 million Filipinos by the year 2050.
Tamayo said that the coastal communities and
small island nations have high vulnerability to sea level rise base on several
studies made by experts on climate change.
A study made by the University of the
Philippines Los BaΓ±os Climate Change Program indicated that there are 171
coastal towns in 10 provinces that might go underwater due to a one-meter sea
level rise affecting about 167,290 hectares of seashore land by the year 2050.
“While experts predicted that this will happen
years from now, we can act proactively by encouraging LGUs to update their
Comprehensive Land Use Plans and identify potential relocation sites where
people could be evacuated to keep them safe from the rising waters. We should
also start strengthening our infrastructures and rehabilitate our natural
defenses against storm surges such as our mangroves and beach forests,” Tamayo
emphasized.
During the culmination program, the DENR has
recognized the support of the following government, military and police
officials, and several entities in the pursuit of the programs of the DENR on
EO 23 and EO 26.
They are Police Regional Office 13 regional
director PCSupt. Dominador E. Aquino,Jr.;
401st Brigade, 4ID Philippine Army commanding officer Col. Gregory M.
Cayetano INF (GSC) PA; 402nd Brigade, 4ID Philippine Army commanding officer
Col. Ferdinand F. Quidilla, INF (GSC)
MNSA; DILG-13 regional director Lilibeth A. Famacion; Butuan City Mayor
Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr.; Mayor Norbert B. Pagaspas of Buenavista, Agusan del
Norte; Forester Ronaldo Gadot, Presidential Anti-Organize Crime Commission;
Police Senior Inspector Manuel G. Bayaona, Jr., Police Special Action Force
based in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur; Commanding Officer of the 75th Infantry
Batallion, 6th ID Philippine Army Lt.Col. Novan L. Alcovindas; PNP Provincial
Direcor of Agusan del Sur PSSupt. Alexander J. Sampaga; Commanding Officer of
the 36th IB,4th ID PA Lt. Col. Anastacio L. Suaybaguio, Jr., Commanding Officer
of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion, 4th ID PA Lt. Col. Ignatius N. Patrimonio;
Butuan City Police Chief Romy I. Palgue; Police Chief Inspector Ignaicio B.
Gamba of the 13th Regional Criminal Investigation Division Unit; PISNP Junil A.
Gultiano, PINSP Michael P. Corvera, Army CPL Allan T. Sguinid, 41st DRC IB, 4ID
PA; Army CPL Sharif P. Asula, 41st DRC IB, 4ID PA; PINSP Rodel R. Dorado, PNP
Talacogon, Agusan del Sur; Jessie A. Magallanes, City Mayor Action Network,
Butuan City; the LGU of Cagwait, Surigao del Sur; the LGUs of Claver and Pilar,
all in Surigao del Norte; the Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation; Agatha Mining
Ventures; the Barangay LGU officials of Barangay Lumbocan in Butuan City; and
the Clarence Ty Pimentel Construction and Mining Corporation. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
DAR Dinagat Islands distributes 427 titles to
landless farmers
By Daryll M. Tumbaga
DINAGAT ISLANDS, July 4 (PIA) – A total of 427
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB) received their land titles or Certificate
of Landownership Award (CLOA) during the distribution ceremony conducted by the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Dinagat Islands provincial office held
recently at the Navarro Gymnasium, Barangay Poblacion, Libjo, this province.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer
(PARPO) II Jamil P. Amatonding, Jr. together with Dinagat Islands lone district
representative Arlene J. Bag-ao led the distribution of the CLOAs that covered
632.5067 hectares of land located in seven barangays of Libjo and one barangay
respectively in both municipalities of Basilisa and Tubajon.
In his message, PARPO Amatonding reminded the
beneficiaries that it is their prime obligation to make the awarded lands to be
more of use and productive.
Amatonding further urged them to register as
members of the existing ARB organizations in the province as support services
will be coursed through to these organizations.
On her part, Cong. Bag-ao was so happy that she
gets to spend her birthday with the farmer-beneficiaries.
She also assured the public that when the
Congress resumes, the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
(CARP) will be a priority so that extension of services to the farmers will continue.
The said activity was also graced by Libjo
municipal mayor Lamberto T. Llamera, Jr., PARPO I Leoncio Bautista who
represented DAR Caraga regional director Faisar Mambuay, guests from other line
agencies, some municipal councilors, and DAR employees. (SDR/PIO-DAR/PIA-Dinagat
Islands)
