Caraga GAD Committee sets activities for this
year’s 18-Day Campaign to End VAW
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) – In celebration of
this year’s 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), the Gender and
Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) under the Caraga Regional
Development Council (RDC) is once again setting activities for the said
campaign from November 25 to December 12, 2014.
GADCC chair and Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
Caraga regional director Atty. Marylin Pintor reiterated that the 16 Days of
Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from
the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for
Women's Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University in 1991. Participants
chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women,
and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link
violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is
a human rights violation.
“In the Philippines, the government has expanded
it in 2006 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1172 to include up to
December 12, which marks the adoption of the United Nation Convention Against
Transnational Crime, thus making it an 18-Day Campaign,” recalled Pintor.
It was also learned that this year's 18-Day
Campaign will kick-off early morning with a fun walk activity from the Capitol
Grounds to the city's Guingona Park. A flash mob will also be conducted on Nov.
25. Pintor also bared that the guest speaker will be coming from the Philippine
Commission on Women (PCW) or CHR, whichever is available.
Meanwhile, as planned by the members of the
GADCC Caraga, the following activities will be conducted during the days of
campaign: 1) Press Conference; 2) Oratorical Contest; 3) Gender Sensitivity
Training for Media; 4) Reproductive Health Forum; 5) Info Drive Campaign in
public and private schools; 5) Youth Forum; and 6) Capacity Building Training
for GADCC members, among others.
Said campaign will also culminate on December 12
with a tree planting activity in one of the beach resorts in Butuan City. This
is also in time with the International Day Against Trafficking.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DILG chief calls support for Vigan City in the
Search for 'New7Wonders Cities'
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) – The Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is calling for support for the Philippines’
City of Vigan to be one of the seven best cities in the world.
DILG Caraga regional director Lilibeth Famacion
is urging Caraganons to support the country’s lone survivor city – Vigan City
to won in the Search for “New7Wonders Cities” in the world.
“Vigan City is one of the 21 cities left to vie
in the international competition for the “New7Wonders Cities” by the
New7Wonders Foundation and is in need of the support of every Filipino to push
through as winner,” said Famacion.
The “New7Wonders Cites” is the third
international competition by the New7Wonders Foundation, which aims to
recognize the seven best cities in the world that has contributed immeasurable
to human civilization.
The search is about to reach its final phase.
From the 300 cities, which qualified in 2013, 21 cities are left and the city
of Vigan is the Philippines remaining candidate, Famacion said.
Famacion said, just recently, DILG has issued
Memorandum Circular 2014-91 dated August 1, 2014 to “Support to the National
Promotion Campaign for the City of Vigan to be one of the new Seven Wonder
Cities of the world.”
“We are calling on the full support of our
countrymen for this cause and bring pride to every Filipino,” said Famacion.
The memorandum was issued to ensure that the
City of Vigan will remain as finalist until the announcement of the Official
New7Wonders Cities and hopefully win the competition on December 7, 2014. Thus,
the DILG is calling all Local Chief Executives and all Caraganons to extend
full support to this venture by undertaking promotional advertisements and
campaigns to vote for the Heritage City of Vigan, Famacion added.
Voting can be done by visiting the New7Wonders
Cities website at http://new7wonders.com/en/cities.
Famacion is hoping that all will do their share
in the cause and do their part in voting and in campaigning for the city of
Vigan to win. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
DOE holds info drive on coal mining in SurSur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, August 7 (PIA) – With the aim of
curbing the proliferation of illegal coal mining and trading activities in the
province, the Department of Energy (DOE) has conducted an Information,
Education and Communication Campaign on the Department Circular No. DC
2012-05-006 or “Guidelines on the Accreditation of Coal Traders and
Registration of Coal End Users” on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 in Bislig City.
The activity was participated in by 11 local
coal mining stakeholders, some government line agencies and representatives
from the city government of Bislig.
DOE Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada urged the
traders and the coal end-users to follow the rules and regulations stated in
the department circular.
USec.
Monsada emphasized that the agency’s primarily intention is to improve
the quality of life of the Filipinos, “by formulating and implementing policies
and programs to ensure sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient, and accessible
energy.”
She stressed that engaging in illegal mining
spawns several problems including the use of unsafe methods of mining and the
denudation of protected forest areas, among others.
“Also, the illegal coal mining has deprived the
national and local governments’ rightful tax revenues,” Monsada said.
(NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DOLE, partner-agencies intensify implementation
of K-12 Program
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 – “There is no stopping the
K-12 program.”
This was the statement of Bureau of Labor
Relations (BLR) director Atty. Benjo Santos M. Benavidez during his
presentation on the Tertiary Transition Sector Fund (TESTF) before the
representatives coming from the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Caraga
on the discussion relative to the K-12 and its impact, held recently at the LJ
convention Hall, this city.
Benavidez also bared that K-12 is a crucial step
for the country to be at par with the international curriculum standards.
However, the transition would mean a 2-year gap of college enrollees in 2016,
leading to a possible displacement of tertiary teachers.
“Come 2016, there will be no students enrolling
in the 1st year college level and we do not want workers to be displaced by the
implementation of the K-12,” Benavidez added.
To alleviate the negative impacts of the K-12,
the Tertiary Transition Sector Fund (TESTF) was proposed to be presented in the
congressional hearing.
A technical working group composed of Commission
on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) was tasked to consult HEIs and other establishments
nationwide to enhance the bill presented and ensure that their thoughts are
reflected in the proposed bill.
Also, DOLE-Caraga regional director Atty.
Johnson CaΓ±ete highlighted that said activity is significant as it will avenue
to the participants to discuss issues and concerns to further develop their
learnings on the K-12. “This dialogue will be a very good tool and venue for
all of us to share with each other,” he said.
BLE director Dominique Tutay also presented the
action plan on the implementation of Republic Act 1055. She emphasized that
both the teacher and non-teaching personnel should be consulted.
According to Tutay, there is an estimated 86,001
faculty members in private HEIs. Out of this number, 47,469 are full-time and
37,683 are part-time faculty members teaching from first year to fourth year
college.
“For SY 2016-2017 and SY 2017-2018, half of the
47,469 or more or less 24,000 full-time faculty members who are teaching first
Year and second year college may be retrenched due to foregone enrollment. Part-time faculty members are excluded in the
assumption as they are deemed engaged in other employment,” remarked Tutay.
A full-time faculty member receives a monthly
salary of P30,000. The proposed TEST Fund bill intends to extend financial
assistance to retrenched faculty members for a period of two years. Hence, the
proposed 17.28 billion budget.
There is one non-teaching personnel for every
four teaching personnel. Since there is an estimated 24,000 faculty members who
may be retrenched, the assumption is that there would be 6,000 non-teaching
personnel who may also be affected.
“A non-teaching personnel receives a monthly
salary of P15,000. The proposed TEST Fund bill intends to extend financial
assistance to retrenched non-teaching personnel for a period of two years.
Hence, the proposed 2.16 billion budget,” Tutay said.
She also conveyed that BLE would be offering
“Job Search Assistance and Livelihood Grants for the would-be retrenched
teachers."
The Expanded Government Assistance for Students
and Teachers in Private Education Act (E-GASTPE) or the SHS voucher scheme for
the disadvantaged students of the 11th and 12th grades is also part of the
action plan.
Tutay further said that there is also a plan of
crafting a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Social Security Services
(SSS), Home Mutual Development Fund (HMDF) and Philippine Health (PhilHealth)
Incorporated for the implementation of emergency loans for the affected
teachers.
The DepEd on the other hand, according to DepEd
Caraga assistant regional director Rebecca V. DeLapuz, shall formulate the
design and details of the enhanced basic education curriculum but will closely
work with CHED and TESDA.
CHED acting director Maricar Casquejo, presented
the roles of CHED in the implementation of K-12. According to her, CHED is to
conduct a systematic assessment/survey and profiling of HEIs, teaching and
non-teaching personnel (using CHED Form E5) and to explain the Transition Plan
of HEIs.
Meanwhile, TESDA Caraga regional director
Florencio Sunico, Jr. assured the participants that TESDA would continue
offering retooling and skills enhancement courses for the college teachers to
be given a chance to teach Technical Vocational Courses to the Senior High
School students.
“The bill once finalized will be posted in our
website. The TESTF or Fund is established to enable qualified Senior High
School students to enroll in eligible HEIs offering senior high school by
providing complementary tuition or schooling subsidy in addition to the
E-GASTPE,” announced Sunico.
This is also to ensure the provision of
financial assistance to retained employees who are not transferred to teach
and/or work in the secondary education of the same HEI (faculty development
fund) and retrenched employees of HEI during the interim period (SY 2016-2017
to SY 2020-2021).
Moreover, DOLE Usec. Rebecca Chato reminded the
participants on the daunting problem on jobs mismatch. She put emphasis on the
fact that the schools are producing skills that are not being needed by the
current industry.
“We are the only one left that has not adopted K-12.
It is high time that we embark on a journey to improve the quality of our
graduates,” Usec. Chato said.
She also pleaded to the HEIs and national line
agencies to ensure that the right information is being properly cascaded so
that the impact of K-12 in not heightened. “Embrace K-12 with open heart and
open mind.. when we solve youth unemployment problem then we will solve half of
the unemployment in the country,” she added.
An open forum followed after all the
presentations. The participants were then grouped by province to plot and
present their suggestions on the TESTF. (JPG/ICA/DOLE-13/PIA-Caraga)
DOLE Caraga releases P144,720 for TUPAD
beneficiaries in Surigao del Norte
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 - Sixty beneficiaries of
Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) in
Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte received their salaries for nine days amounting to
P2,412 each with a total of P144,720.00 on July 14, 2014, a day before their
fiesta celebration.
These beneficiaries were among the identified
displaced workers affected by the Typhoon Yolanda’s devastating wrath.
They are also the first batch to have received
the TUPAD program in provinces of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.
The said program was implemented by the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with the local
government of Tagana-an through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO)
headed by HRMO/PESO Manager Jannecito L. Jalbo.
The temporary work program will be administered
for 30 days starting July 1, 2014 until August 11, 2014.
Their job is to clean the streets, pavements and
sidewalks and de-clog the canals within the municipal center and the major
roads/streets.
In each implementation of the TUPAD program, it
is mandatory to orient the beneficiaries on the Basic Occupational Safety and
Health Standards and enroll them in the Philippine Red Cross’ insurance system.
Personal Protective Equipment were also accorded.
The DOLE-SDN staff received positive feedbacks
form the people during the conduct of their interview.
“Nagpasalamat ko sa opportunity na gihatag sa
DOLE. Kani nga progama nagpalig-on sa amo as a community (I am so thankful for
this opportunity given by DOLE. This program has strengthened our
community)," articulated Maribeth P. Dumanacal, one of the beneficiaries.
Municipal Mayor Cesar A. Diaz also expressed his
appreciation not only for the financial aid for the Yolanda affected
beneficiaries but also for the positive results of the program in their
municipality.
“The municipal streets, sidewalks and canals in
the three poblacion barangays of Azucena, Aurora and Sampaguita are all
cleaned-up and cleared from obstructions. Garbage which were identified to be
the primary cause of flooding in the municipal center during rainy seasons
especially when a typhoon hits the municipality are now properly disposed,”
said Mayor Diaz. (JPG/ICA/DOLE-13/PIA-Caraga)
SurSur SP bares 2014 mid-year topnotch
legislators; chief legislation
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, August 7 (PIA) –
Monalisa Su, officer-in-charge (OIC) Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
(SP) bared the topnotch legislators in Surigao del Sur for the period January
to June 2014 on matters of attendance and sponsorship/authorship of resolutions
and ordinances while at the same time mentioned one of the most important
legislation that the august body has enacted.
On the legislators, Su, who was appointed OIC
Secretary on April 28 by virtue of a memorandum issued by Vice-Governor Manuel
Alameda, Sr. due to the retirement of Reynilda Cosare on April 17, said that
board member Donnel Polizon got the highest percentage of attendance at 96.15
percent, closely followed by board members Tito CaΓ±edo and Mariano Atacador at
95 percent apiece.
She also cited that board member Henrich
Pimentel holds the “most number” of resolutions/ordinances sponsored/authored
at 145; followed by board members Mariano Atacador, Eleanor Momo, and Tito
CaΓ±edo.
For the said period, the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan (SP) has enacted 255 resolutions and 13 ordinances in 23 regular
sessions conducted, it was learned.
Regular sessions are held, at least, once a
week—twice each in both Districts I and II, done in alternating pattern in
accordance with Section 10, Rule IV of SP Ordinance No. 01-13 enacted on July
2, 2013 which adopted its House Rules.
Meanwhile, Su said that one of the most
important resolutions that was passed is SP Resolution No. 73 dated September
9, 2013 on the “Granting of Amnesty on the Payment of Interest, Basic, and
Special Education Fund of Real Property Tax Delinquencies for the Province of
Surigao del Sur effective January to June 2014.”
However, the same was extended up to the end of
the year “Due to requests from the different barangays and municipalities of
the province” through SP Resolution No. 457 dated July 1, 2014, she pointed
out. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
100Mth babies named in Caraga
By May Ann O. Escobal
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) - The Commission on
Population (PopCom) Caraga identified the seven nominees of the region in the
nationwide “Search for the 100 Millionth Pinoy,” as the Philippine population
formally reached 100 million on Sunday, July 27, 2014.
Based on the documents gathered according to the
guidelines set by PopCom, the official nominees from the provinces and Butuan
City are the following:
AGUSAN DEL NORTE
Arhea Jabonillo Damasco
July 27, 2014 at 1:02 a.m.
Bgy. Tolosa Health Center
BUTUAN CITY
Lyca Jane Geroy Rudado
July 27, 2014 at 1:04 a.m.
Butuan Medical Center
SURIGAO DEL SUR
Zhyraiah Orillaneda Tranquilan
July 27, 2014 at 1:05 a.m.
Cortes Municipal Hospital
SURIGAO DEL NORTE
Bella Christina Matugas Lincuna
July 27, 2014 at 1:34 a.m.
Caraga Regional Hospital
PROVINCE OF DINAGAT ISLANDS
Queen Genyvic Malate Juanillo
July 27, 2014 at 5:00 a.m.
Dinagat District Hospital
AGUSAN DEL SUR
July Marie Aquino Dahug
July 27, 2014 at 7:30 a.m.
D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital
The child, Chonalyn Sentino, born in Jose
Fabella Memorial Hospital at 12:35 a.m. of the said date, received the
designation of the “100 Millionth Baby.”
In a simple but apt ceremonies, each nominee was
given a starter kit worth Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) and awarded with free
PhilHealth package.
PopCom Caraga regional director Makinano said
that the symbolic baby will be closely monitored by PopCom in coordination with
the Department of Health, PhilHealth, National Nutrition Council, local
government units and other partner agencies, particularly in monitoring of
his/her development throughout his/her life stages, especially in ensuring that
his/her basic physiological (food, clothing and shelter) and psycho-social
(health, education, and eventually, employment) needs are met.
“The progress of the symbolic baby and the
milestones of his/her life shall be tracked by the regional population office
and this will be highlighted during the celebration of the Population and
Development activities,” Makinano emphasized.
Makinano pointed-out that the 100 millionth
Pinoy is a symbol of hope and a challenge. It is a call to make every Filipino
count in development by ensuring that each Pinoy is able to live in a healthy,
productive, and livable environment. It is a call to make every child be born
wanted and ensured of his/her basic needs, health, education, and other
development concerns. It is a challenge to all institutions and every Filipino
to count on each other to have a better Philippines - a home to well-planned, healthy,
happy, and empowered 100 million Filipinos.
(PopCom/PIA-Caraga)
Mechanization, use of pre and post harvest
equipment increase farmers’ income
By Menkent Jay Gumapac
SAN AGUSTIN, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 7 (PIA) -
Farmers here no longer have to rely on privately owned machineries when working
in their ricefields. Not since they availed the Community Fund for Agricultural
Development (CFAD) project under the Department of Agriculture's Mindanao Rural
Development Program (DA-MRDP).
“The quality of our rice has improved because it
(farming process) is now fast,” said Subangan ng Hubo Kamayo Irrigators
Association, Inc. (SHKIA) chairperson
Gregorio Climaco.
SHKIA members were able to avail of financial
assistance amounting to P1.5Million under the DA-MRDP. With the said funding, the association was
able to buy four threshers and five turtle tiller. They were also able to
rehabilitate their irrigators building and multi-purpose drying pavement, and
extended their mini warehouse to accommodate more room for their palay.
“Before, we had to pay Php250 per hour for the
use of machineries (turtle tiller, thresher) now we only have to pay P180 as
member-beneficiaries,” said Climaco.
The association holds 54 members serving a total
area of 155 hectares from Barangay Poblacion, Otiezea, Kauswagan, Hornasan and
Sto. Nino but the use of the machineries is open to non-members thereby earning
more income from its rentals.
After a year of operation, they were already
able to buy out from their savings additional equipment for carwash,
vulcanizing, and welding which are used for the maintenance of their equipments
and a service vehicle used for transporting goods.
“We are so grateful to the DA-MRDP for the
opportunity being one of its recipients. It has greatly helped us in our
farming for the assistance now is fast. Our income grew, our members increased
and we can do our farming activities at a faster pace,” added Climaco.
Pre and Post Harvest Facilities (PPHF) in San
Agustin is only one of the 104 PPHF sub-projects now operating in various
municipalities in the region under MRDP2. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
DILG chief elated over the establishment of prov’l
training center in Surigao Norte
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) - Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas expressed his
elation over the establishment of the provincial community training center in
Bad-as, Placer, Surigao del Norte.
In his message sent to the provincial
government, the DILG chief congratulated the provincial officials led by Gov.
Sol F. Matugas on another historic milestone, which, according to him is a
pioneering local training facility organized through the private-public
partnership.
Sec. Roxas said the establishment of the
training center could not be more auspicious and relevant than at these times
considering the resurgence of industries in the locality particularly mining
and tourism, as well as the emergence of new ones like manufacturing and
information technology, which creates demands for skills development.
At the macro perspective, Sec. Roxas said the
provision of opportunities for human capital formation through education and
training has always been a key strategy of the present administration in
achieving inclusive growth. “Increased investments in the public education
sector, training and skills development programs, scholarships and financial
assistance have become a defining feature in our national budget,” Roxas said.
But while the country’s economy continues to
sustain its performance as one of the fastest growing in the region, Roxas said
this has not made a significant dent in the incidence of rural poverty.
“Indeed, addressing poverty and joblessness remains as hurdles on the road to
fully achieving rapid and inclusive growth… and local government units all have
roles to play in this region,” Roxas added.
Sec. Roxas further said the training center
finds significance and relevance in local governance by providing constituents
with opportunities and expanding access to education, training, and skills
development.
“Admittedly, given the huge investment requirements,
this facility could not have been achieved by utilizing government resources
alone. Thus, we hail the provincial government in its successful adoption of a
PPP scheme by mobilizing support of the private sector particularly mining as a
key stakeholder of this project,” Roxas said.
Furthermore, Roxas said the provincial
government through Gov. Matugas has shown that with creative local governance
strategies, big things can be done with less resources. “Indeed, many local
government units can derive inspiration from this model of resource generation
and mobilization to address specific local needs,” said Roxas.
Moreover, the DILG chief pointed out that the
training center is as much a testament to good governance as a triumph of
convergence of all sectors in responding to common concerns at the local level.
With these developments, Sec. Roxas hoped that
the operationalization of the training center will go a long way in providing
gainful opportunities for employment to the unskilled and unemployed
constituents particularly the youths, and making a significant difference in
their lives. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Malakanyang umaasa na ang
pamahalaan at MILF ay magkasundo sa madaling panahon sa patas na binalangkas na
batas ng Bangsamoro
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 7 (PIA) - Sinabi ng
Palasyo na umaasa sila na ang pamahalaan at ang Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) ay sa lalong medaling panahon papayag sa binalangkas na Bangsamoro Basic
Law na isusumite sa Kongreso, para lahat ay maari ng magpatuloy ayon sa plano.
Sinabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin
Lacierda sa isang panayam sa media noong Miyerkoles na gusto ng Palasyo na
makita ang binalangkas na batas na katanggap-tangap sa bawat panig.
Nagkomento si Secretary Lacierda sa pahayag na
ginawa ni House of Representative Feliciano Belmonte na ang kongreso ay maaring
hindi makayang maipasa ang Bangsamoro Basic Law sa buwan ng Disyembreng palugit
dahil sa pakaantala ng pagsumite nito.
“Umaasa pa rin kami na ito ay mapadali. Ang
aming pagkakaintindi sa sinabi ni Senator Frank Drilon ay dahil ginagawa niya
ito ayon sa itineraryo mula, kung hindi sa katapusan ng Disyembre, hanggang sa
unang tatlong buwan ng susunod na taon,” sabi ni Lacierda.
At dagdag niyang sinabing kahit na naipasa na
ang basikong batas sa unang tatlong buwan ng susunod na taon, magsagawa pa rin
ang pamahalaan ng plebesito sa loob ng panahong iyon, at magkaroon ng pagsaayos
ng Bangsamoro Transitional Authority.
Ang sunod na hamon ay ang pagbigay ng kapasidad
sa mga institusyon ng pamahalaan at mapagkunan ng pamamahala sa Bagsamoro
Juridical Entity, sabi niya at dinagdagan na ang lahat ng ito ay bibigyan ng
diin habang papalapit ang 2016.
Nangako ang Pangulo na maging patas at
demokratiko ang pagsagawa ng halalan sa Bangsamoro sa darating na 2016.
Sineguro ni Lacierda na kahit may mga balakid,
ang dalawang panig ay kumikilos pasulong at nangunguna sa isipan ng grupo ng
gobyerno at MILF ay maseguro na ang Bangsamoro Basic Law ay makatarungan, patas
at katanggap-tanggap sa lahat. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
