Butuan City set to conduct 1st social
entrepreneurship convention
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, July 2 (PIA) – The local government
of Butuan, co-convened by the Gawad Kalinga (GK), Department of Agriculture
(DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) and Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU), all of Caraga
Region, will be holding here the first ever Social Entrepreneurship Convention
of Butuan City with a theme, “Inclusive Economic Development Through Social
Entrepreneurship” on July 10, 2014.
According to Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante,
Jr., the convention has the objectives to catalyze rural development through
mobilizing resources of the local, national and international private sectors;
to empower Butuanons through social entrepreneurship for financially and
environmentally sustainable Caraga 2014-2020; to propel the city’s social
entrepreneurship movement using the Butuan City GK Enchanted Farm project as
the platform; to raise awareness on the dynamics of social entrepreneurship;
and to elicit commitment from entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to be part
of a more defined social entrepreneurship movement and come up with a social
entrepreneurship’s network.
“The event will be attended by 200 delegates
from the business and government sectors, academe and other like-minded group
with the goal of making Butuan City the center for social entrepreneurship in
the region,” said Amante.
Also, Victor Emmanuel Ozarraga, area coordinator
of GK, is encouraging individuals to join the convention and know on how to
become a wealth creator for inclusive growth and sustainable prosperity.
“Business have the power to shape a kinder world if the profit does not leave
the poor behind. It is the social entrepreneur who can help change the world
for the better,” he said.
A registration fee of P300 will be charged per
participant. For more information, contact Karen Butcon at 0906-5287508 or Tina
Orbita at 0930-3890790; or send an email at
bxusocialentrepconvention2014@yahoo.com. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Carmen town mayor delivers SOMA
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, July 2 (PIA) – Mayor Ramon M. Calo
of Carmen, Agusan del Norte delivered on Tuesday his state-of-the-municipality
address (SOMA) and outlined his various accomplishments for the year 2013 in a
special session conducted by the Sanggunian Bayan members held at the Rama
gymnasium.
Mayor Calo cited in his SOMA the different
services rendered to his constituents and achievements received.
According to Mayor Calo, the LGU of Carmen is
one of Caraga’s Top Achievers Awardee in Real Property Tax Collection and in
Business, Fees and Charges and Economic Enterprise Collection for calendar year
(CY) 2012 and 2013.
Mayor Calo also bared that the civil society
organizations, people organizations, women’s group, cooperatives and persons
with disabilities were properly represented in the Local Special Bodies, Bids
and Awards Committees and Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT).
The municipality was able to extend assistance
to individuals/persons/groups in crisis situations. A total of 211 persons were
provided with social welfare assistance and 81 people were extended burial
assistance. The financial assistance given in CY 2013 amounted to P309,630.68.
Assistance intended to persons with disabilities and senior citizens also
amounted to P110,000, Mayor Calo reported.
The Rural Health Unit free medical consultation
served 5,421 walk-in patients in 2013 from 3,213 patients served in 2013.
A new ambulance amounting to P618,000 was also
purchased in 2013.
Also, Mayor Calo reported the ongoing rehabilitation
of Mt. Carmel View Park and the ongoing construction of Punta Diwata Dormitory
Building.
The infrastructure projects for 2013 include the
construction of the Kabayawa-Poblacion farm to market road, concreting of
Quesaba Street worth P800,000; and the P30 million Tagcatong – Vinapor
Provincial Road.
The municipality’s updates can be viewed at
their official Facebook page at Wowcarmen Agusan del Norte. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
AgNor town launches RMC award
By Mary Christine Anthonette M. Salise-Punzalan
CARMEN, Agusan del Norte, July 2 (PIA) - The
local officials here recently awarded the outstanding barangays and district
officials during the opening celebration of the 65th Araw ng Carmen on July 1,
2014. The award known as the RMC Award
stands for ‘Responsableng Mamumuno at Mamamayan ng Carmen’ which recognizes
good performance not only among the barangay officials but also the people in
the community.
The RMC award was conceptualized through the
efforts of the local officials and functionaries of the local government unit
in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Carmen. It was aimed to encourage not
only the barangay officials but also the people in the community through their
respective districts to strive hard and do their part in attaining excellence
in local governance.
Carmen municipal mayor Ramon M. Calo said that
good governance is a shared responsibility of the officials and the people in
the community. He believes that giving
incentives to those performing barangays and districts will encourage the
community to participate in matters of public affairs which defines the real
meaning of governance.
The criteria of the said award focused on the
areas of Governance, Administration, Social Services, Economic and
Environmental protection underscoring the importance of disaster prevention and
mitigation.
The winners of the said award are the following,
for the Barangay Category: 1st Place - Brgy Tagcatong with Plaque of
Recognition and Php80,000 worth of project; 2nd Place - Brgy Poblacion with
Plaque of Recognition and Php60,000 worth of project; 3rd Place - Brgy Rojales
with Plaque of Recognition and Php40,000 worth of project.
For the District Category: 1st Place - District
Rosas, Tagcatong with Plaque of Recognition and Php20,000 worth of project; 2nd
Place - District 12, Poblacion with Plaque of Recognition and Php15,000 worth
of project; while the 3rd Place went to District Mangga, Rojales with Plaque of
Recognition and Php10,000 worth of project. (DILG-Carman Agusan del
Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Mindanao River Basin TWG aims to fast track
flood control projects
COTABATO CITY, July 2 — Members of the Mindanao
River Basin-Technical Working Group (MRB-TWG) convened here on Tuesday to
review ongoing projects aimed to provide long-term solutions to the flooding
within the area and to fast track technical preparations needed to jumpstart
the construction and implementation of both structural and non-structural flood
control interventions.
Convened by the Mindanao Development Authority
(MinDA), the meeting gathered the core members of the MRB-TWG composed of
representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of
Regions X, XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), along with
the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Regional Planning
Development Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Office of Civil
Defense (OCD).
Structural interventions are composed of
infrastructure and other flood-control projects, while non-structural
interventions include reforestation, mangrove rehabilitation, and sustainable
watershed management.
“Both of these structural and non-structural
interventions are aimed to address the issue of flooding beyond a piece-meal
method and are part of the strategic programs prioritized in the MRB Master
Plan which adopts the ridge-to-reef approach,” said MinDA Chair Luwalhati
Antonino.
The ridge-to-reef is a development approach that
requires the protection, utilization, and rehabilitation of the environment
from the mountains to the seas.
Mindanao’s roadmap for peace and development or Mindanao 2020 calls for
the full implementation of this strategy.
Initiated by MinDA, the MRB Master Plan is a
result of several years of study that delved into the root causes of the
constant flooding in the river basin, and at the same time outlined
recommendations on interventions to address the problem in an integrated and
holistic approach that cuts across regional and provincial borders.
Completed in 2013, the MRB Master Plan was
subsequently endorsed by the Regional Development Councils of Regions X and
XII, as well as the Regional Economic Development and Planning Board of the
ARMM by the first quarter of this year. The same plan was also adopted by the
Cabinet Cluster on the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation during its
meeting in Quezon City last month.
To date, there are seven structural projects
that are on going and designed to relieve the flooding problem in the area.
These include the P39.89 million River Bank Protection Project along the
Cotabato-GenSan Road in Tamontaka, Cotabato City which is expected to be
completed in June 2014; the P174.19 million Simuay Flood Control Project in
Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao which is expected to be completed by the end of
2014; the P46 million Allah River Flood Control Project in Lambayong, Sultan
Kudarat which is expected to be completed in July 2014; a P50 million and P74.5
million Libungan Flood Control Projects Phase III both in Libungan, Cotabato
which are expected to be completed in August and October of 2014,
respectively; a P72.5 million Carmen River
Bank Protection with Revetment Flood Control Project in Lumayong, Carmen,
Cotabato to be completed in November 2014; and a P15.2 million University of
Southern Mindanao Flood Control Project Phase I in Kabacan, Cotabato which is
already substantially completed.
Aside from these existing structural projects,
MinDA has been proactively advocating for the fast tracking of the
implementation of six priority flood control projects in the MRB with a budget
of P6.9 billion from DPWH. The six identified priority projects are: Channel
modification of the Ambal-Simuay River; Dredging of the Rio Grande de Mindanao;
Dredging and dike construction along the Tunggol River including the expansion
of the Tunggol bridge; Construction of revetment dikes along the Ala River;
Construction of revetments along the Buluan River; and the Construction of
revetments along the Tamontaka River.
The DPWH central office has already prioritized
these projects and the detailed engineering is expected to be completed by the
end of the year.
Along with the River Basin Control Office (RBCO)
and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), MinDA has been mandated by Executive
Order No. 50 to not only complete the MRB Master Plan and to facilitate
development interventions, but also to create the MRB Management council to
serve as lead organization that will oversee the protection and management of
waters and natural resources within the MRB.
In line with efforts to climate change-proof the
MRB Master Plan, the MRB-TWG recently completed its second module of the
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation and
Mitigation (DRRM-CCAM) training, equipping them with the knowledge and skills
to include DRRM and CCAM initiatives in the master plan.
“This is part of our integrated effort to also
prepare our partner agencies including the LGU alliances within the MRB to
implement their respective preparedness, prevention and mitigation measures,”
said Antonino.
As part of non-structural efforts to address
flooding in Mindanao, MinDA, the DENR and the DILG are collaborating in massive
reforestation efforts in areas in and around critical rivers, mountain ranges,
watershed and identified flooded areas in Mindanao.
Under the Mindanao Barangay StraTREEgic Forest
Project (BSFP), an initial 200 barangays throughout the island-region will be
actively engaged in reforestation efforts in support of the National Greening
Program.
The BSFP, a sub-project of MinDA’s MindaNOW!
Nurturing Our Waters Program will help mobilize stakeholders, resources and
partnerships in reforestation efforts not only as a mitigating measure against
further flooding, but is also envisioned to restore the forest cover of the
island-region. From the initial 200 barangays, the BSFP is planned to expand to
an eventual total of 1,700 barangays all over Mindanao.
Also present during the meeting are Cotabato
City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr., ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia, and
Ching Ayupan, representative of the office of Cardinal Orlando Quevedo.
(MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
Use iodized salt to prevent iodine deficiency
disorder
By Jund Rian A. Doringo
MANILA, July 2 (PIA) - Did you know that iodine
deficiency disorder (IDD) affects Filipino in all population groups? This is
according to the 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted in 2008 by the
Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and
Technology (FNRI-DOST).
According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) is the world’s most prevalent, yet
easily preventable, cause of brain damage. It is one of the main causes of
impaired cognitive development in children.
The Philippine government proactively regulated
an act promoting salt iodization nationwide and for related purposes, otherwise
known as the ASIN Law or Republic Act 8172 to address this concern.
The seventh recommendation in the 2012
Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) is to use iodized salt to prevent
IDD.
With the joint efforts of the government and
private sector in eradicating IDD in the country, we are hopeful to expect a
productive citizenry and progressive economy.
Let us all work together to eradicate IDD by
using iodized salt in our daily cooking.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City;
trunkline: 837 2071 local 2296 or 2287; telephone/fax no.: 837 3164, email:
mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or mar_v_c@yahoo.com; website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph
(FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
News Feature: K-12 enhanced BEC, blueprint for
progress
By Dr. Maria Dinah D. Abalos
BUTUAN CITY, July 2 (PIA) - Education has been
one of the greatest sources of strength and global economic competitiveness, a
fuel for progress, a vehicle to opportunities and a prerequisite to success and
development of a country. The implementation of the Philippine K-12 Enhanced
Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) paves the way to the country’s progress.
The government through the Department of
Education (DepEd) exhausted all efforts and made a landscape in its educational
system through Republic Act 10533, the K-12 Enhanced BEP and the Kindergarten
Act of 2012. Its Curriculum Framework is founded on these legal bases drawn
from the philosophical basis of education. This curriculum embodied literacy
among indigenous people and Alternative Learning System clienteles considering
the needs of the learner and intellect of the children.
This 12 –year basic education curriculum design
is at par with the world and consistent with the most part of the world. It is
a spiral curriculum model jumpstarting in Kindergarten, six years to Elementary
(Grades 1-6), four years Junior High School (Grades 7-10) and two years Senior
High School (Grades 11-12).
The use of the mother tongue as medium of
instruction in teaching the learning areas from kindergarten to grade 3 is one
of the main features of the K-12 BEC, the Mother Tongue-Based Multi-lingual
Education (MTB-MLE). Besides, Mother Tongue also is an additional language
subject in grades 1-3. This is so, to develop the solid foundation of the
native tongue before introduction of other school languages (Filipino and
English), Just like other Asian countries like that of China, Japan, Malaysia
and others.
The two years of Senior High School is more
disciplinal in nature and intends to provide development of integrative skills
in information, media technology skills, learning and innovation skills,
communication skills, life and career skills to Filipino students. To produce
Filipino graduates with these 21st century skills is the main goal of the K-12.
Grade 12 graduates have two options to take, to proceed to higher education or
to be employed/engaged in entrepreneurial job having equipped with the
necessary skills.
The K-12 program is designed and implemented to
strengthen the system in education in every community nationwide and would
eventually change and implement reforms in the system. It shall put in place
learning models that are rigorous, relevant, focused on real world experiences
that will associate in the personalized learning and career leading, ensuring K-12
graduates ready to face the world of work and ready for a higher level
education.
In this, we can collectively make basic
education attainable and accessible to all Filipino learners, making them
assets to the society and catalysts to success and progress of the nation.
Thus, the Philippine government is looking forward to a productive and
successful implementation of the K-12 BEC in its pioneer quality products by
2018. (EPS-I DepEd, Butuan City/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Surigao Norte guv calls on Surigaonons to avail
scholarship in medicine
By Ivonnie B. Dumadag
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 2 (PIA) –
Surigao del Norte Governor Sol F. Matugas is calling on those who are
interested to avail of the scholarship program in medicine that the provincial
government is offering. This is in anticipation of the need for medical
specialists for the Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital located in Brgy.
Bad-as, Placer, this province.
“We are calling interested individuals
especially Surigaonons to avail of this scholarship,” said Gov. Matugas.
Those who will qualify for the scholarship
should be graduates in the fields of Nursing, Physical Theraphy and other
related courses. Medical students who are already enrolled in medicine proper
may also avail of this scholarship after passing the screening process.
The need for medical practitioners and
specialists is imperative within the Level 2, 50-bed Surigao del Norte
Provincial Hospital, which is already set to open by the end of the third
quarter.
“We have right here, at the heart of the
province, a state of the art hospital which we envision to be the finest
government hospital in the region, and we are also looking at the possible
partnership with the MVP Group of Companies, owner of the best hospitals in the
country, to provide us with assistance in personnel trainings, referral system
and access to facilities and services of medical specialists that our
provincial hospital cannot yet provide,” she added.
No less than His Excellency, President Benigno
Simeon Aquino III, has been invited to grace the inauguration of the Surigao
del Norte Provincial Hospital in the last week of September. (SDR/PPDO/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
Feature: Variety of foods for a healthy life
By Jund Rian A. Doringo
MANILA, July 2 (PIA) - Did you know that no
single food can provide all the nutrients the body needs?
Nutrients provides cells and organs the
necessary food to maintain the body’s functions that support life.
Eating a variety of foods everyday from all the
food groups provides the needed nutrients by the body, with consideration on
the amount and balance. It can also help in having an attentive mind. These
food groups comprise of energy giving foods such as rice, bread, and root
crops, foods that promote growth development such as meat, milk, and legumes,
and foods that maintain body processes such as vegetables and fruits.
The first recommendation of the 2012 Nutritional
Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) is to eat a variety of foods everyday to get the
nutrients needed by the body.
Eat a variety of foods to guarantee a healthy
body free of macro- and micronutrient deficiency diseases and
health-threatening conditions.
For more information on food and nutrition,
contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research
Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City;
trunkline: 837 2071 local 2296 or 2287; telephone/fax no.: 837 3164, email:
mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or mar_v_c@yahoo.com; website:
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Pangulong Aquino nananawagan sa
mga pinuno ng mga fraternity na ihinto ang hazing sa kanilang hanay
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hulyo 2 (PIA) - Nanawagan ang
Pangulo noong Martes sa mga pinuno ng mga fraternity na ihinto na ang hazing sa
kani- kanilang hanay.
“Gusto kong manawagan sa mga nakakatanda nitong
iba’t ibang fraternities na kahit naranasan ninyo ang tulad nito, hindi ba
panahon na na maging aktibo kayo na gawing ihinto itong hazing?" sabi ng
Pangulo sa isang interview sa pagitan ng selebrasyon ng ika-67 anibersaryo ng
Philippine Airforce at Air force City, Clark Air Base, na nasa Angeles,
Pampanga.
Tinutumbok ng Pangulo ang bago pa lamang na
kamatayan ni Guillo Cesar Servando, isang De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
sophomore, na naiulat na resulta ng hazing.
Sabi niya, hindi niya matanto ang lohika na nasa
likod ng hazing.
“Ang manakit ng ganun sa mga taong tatawagin
mong kapatid ay wala sa lohika na maari kong arukin,” sabi niya.
Natandaan niya na ang anti-hazing law ay
“nasa libro na” ngunit sa palagay ay may
kulang sa pagpatupad na siyang pumipigil sa atin na ipatupad ang buong
kaparusahan na nakasaad sa nasabing batas.
Kukunsulta ako sa ating mga eksperto sa legal at
sa mga nagpapatupad ng batas kung ano pa ang malawakang gawin,” sabi ng
Pangulo. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Tagalog News: Aquino magsumite ng minumungkahing
Bangsamoro Basic Law sa kongreso pagkatapos ng SONA, sabi ng Palasyo
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hulyo 2 (PIA) - Sinabi ng
Malakanyang noong Lunes na isusumite ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang
minumungkahing Bangsamoro Basic Law sa kongreso para maratipikahan pagkatapos
niyang magbigay ng kanyang Ulat sa Bayan (SONA) sa Hulyo 28.
Sa isang panayam sa media, inihayag ni
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda ang kanyang kumpyansang isabatas ng
kongreso ang nasabing panukalang batas.
“Palagi naming sinasabi na isusumite ng Pangulo
ang Bangsamoro Basic bill pagkatapos ng kanyang SONA. Sertipikahan ito ng
Pangulo na kailangan agad at may tiwala kami na ang Bangsamoro Basic bill,
habang ito ay dadaan sa proseso ng lehislatiba, ito ay magiging batas,” sabi ni
Lacierda.
Ang tanggapan ng Pangulo ay nakatanggap ng balangkas
ng Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) mula sa Bangsamoro Transition Committee noong
nakaraang Mayo, at ang legal na koponan ng Pangulo at ang tanggapan ng Chief
Presidential Counsel ay pinag-aralan ito mula’t mula pa.
Sinabing muli ni Lacierda na ang balangkas ng
Bangsamoro Basic Law ay ginawa mula sa konstitusyon kaya ito ay constitutional.
“Naniniwala kami na kung ano man ang ihahain sa
Kongreso ay konstitusyonal,” sabi ni Lacierda. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
