LGU reps ink manifesto for climate change
adaptation mechanisms, access to PSF
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 5 (PIA) – The representatives
from the nine local government units (LGUs) in Caraga region have recently
signed a manifesto that would put forward their ongoing initiatives to
establish appropriate mechanisms to adapt to the looming impacts of climate
change.
These LGUs are Hinatuan, Lanuza and Marihatag,
all in Surigao del Sur; Jabonga, Kitcharao, and Las Nieves, all in Agusan del
Norte; Prosperidad and Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur and Del Carmen, Surigao
del Norte.
As contained in the manifesto, the parties will
take pride and actions in pursuing comprehensive climate and multi-hzard
assessments significantly involving vulnerable communities under the project,
“Building Resilient and Adaptive Communities and Institutions,” an Australian
Aid support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
implemented by Oxfam and partner non-government organizations.
“The project has helped them develop a
comprehensive concept on adaptation wherein priority adaptation and risk
reduction actions are integrated and funded under their local disaster risk
reduction management plans despite limited resources,” said Dante Dalabajan,
Mindanao Coordinator of Oxfam Philippines.
The partakers, however, have recognized that
their existing initiatives are not sufficient to attend the wide range of
adaptation projects that would benefit more vulnerable communities. But they
identified that these communities have the capacity to adapt and would be able
to experience economic growth amidst limited resources to fund such adaptation
projects.
They were putting high hopes on the Peoples
Survival Fund (PSF) as a finance mechanism that would help LGUs address the
challenges of increasing capacities of vulnerable communities.
Thus, the signifying parties expressed their
interest and readiness to submit proposals to access the PSF as it should be
made available and accessible while mechanisms should also be in place by now
to ensure that the funds go directly and transparently to adaptation and risk
reduction projects based on the comprehensive assessment of climate change and
disaster risks in highly vulnerable communities.
“As cited in the manifesto, it also calls on
international donor agencies to integrate climate change adaptation and
disaster risk reduction in their development investments,” added Dalabajan.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DA-MRDP turns over P6M worth of livelihood
subprojects to Las Nieves
By MJ Gumapac
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 5 (PIA) - The Department of
Agriculture - Mindanao Rural Development Program – Adaptable Program Loan Phase
2 (DA MRDP-APL2) recently turned over seven sub-projects under the Community
Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) to the seven People’s Organization
(PO) in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte with a total funding cost of P6 Million.
“It is fast, it has changed,” said Alma Agad,
chairperson of San Isidro Farmers Association as she expressed her deep
gratitude in her acceptance speech to the Local Government of Las Nieves and
the DA MRDP.
“The face of our farming has changed, unlike
before it was disorganized and scattered, but now it is fast,” Agad remarked.
The sub-projects consist of Rubber-based
Plantations for Marcos Calo Farmers Association and Casiklan Wheels Farmers
Association; Construction of Multi-purpose Drying Pavement with Mini-Warehouse
for Pinana-an Farmers Association; Construction of Spillway and Acquisition of
Farm equipment to Support Rice Production for Katipunan Farmers Association;
Construction of Two Small Reservoirs and Two Submersible Pumps to Support Rice
Production for the Poblacion Farmers Association; Establishment of Mini-Feed Mill
for E.G. Montilla Farmers Association and Cluster Corn Mechanization and
Support Enhancment San Isidro Farmers Association.
The LGU of Las Nieves even added P1M to the
overall budget apart from their 20% counterpart to further expand the project
and reach more beneficiaries. The said sub-projects are now being used in the
seven barangays, especially in Barangay Pinanaan with their solar dryer and
warehouse and also in Barangay San Isidro with their tractor and other
production support enhancement machineries.
“Now that it has finally arrived, we should all
take care of it for it is ours,” said Las Nieves Vice Mayor Manuel N. Biong who
led the turn over ceremony together with its Sangguniang Bayan members.
The province of Agusan del Norte represented by
OIC Provincial Agriculturist Alvin Aclan also witnessed the said ceremony as
part of the workforce who facilitated the implementation of the project in
support to the municipalities under MRDP2. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
News Feature: Livestock creates business
opportunities
By Vanessa P. Sanchez
Simple interest becomes a thriving business
enterprise.
A growing number of women in Surigao City are
now engaged in meat processing, contributing to the rise of this industry in
the city.
City Veterinarian Dr. Allan F. Quines revealed
that in 2010, several vendors selling various processed meat products sprouted
in the local market. Resolved to help improve the quality of their products,
the Local Government Unit of Surigao City through the City Veterinary Office
coordinated with the Department of Agriculture -13 and proposed for training on
meat processing.
AgriPinoy Livestock Program with its Animal
Product and By-product Utilization (APBPU) Component has given them the
opportunity to capacitate their women.
APBU, is a post-harvest component of the DA-Livestock Program which aims
to support the livestock and poultry production and growth of meat and
by-product industry. It has two
components, the Waste Management Program and Meat Development under which meat processing
falls.
It was in November 2010 when the first Meat
Processing Training was conducted by DA-RFO 13 in coordination with Surigao
City Veterinary Office. The training equipped the participants with knowledge
on meat hygiene and sanitation, cutting and proper handling.
After that training, the 17 participants
organized themselves to form the Association of Meat Processors of Surigao City
(AMPS). They then started their own livelihood. To assist them, the LGU of
Surigao City facilitated the establishment of a meat processing laboratory. With that initiative, the Department of
Agriculture through the Livestock Development Council (LDC) provided the
equipments which included meat slicer, meat grinder, silent cutter, tie linker,
smoke house, cooking vat, vacuum sealer and stuffer. The LGU also granted AMPS
a start-up capital of P100,000.
Because of the growing interest meat processing,
DA has provided in addition a refer van or cold storage unit amounting to
P1.5Million in support to the slaughter house and meat processing lab in
Surigao City.
Over the years, the association has expanded its
membership and has continued to produce processed meat products to cater the
growing number of buyers. Among AMPS’ market is the Surigao City Trade School
where they deliver 30 kilos of embutido, and 5 kilos of longganisa, hotdog and
chorizo twice a month.
Recently, they were able to make a deal with the
Taganito Mining Company to deliver weekly 20 kilos each kind of their meat
product to the company canteen. In
addition, the women also took opportunities to sell during special events in
the city such as City Charter’s Day where they were able to gain P10,000 daily
sales.
Some members of the association also do their
own processing at home like Ruena De Paz who sells her products weekly at her
husband’s office. She would process 5
kilos of embutido which makes 40 rolls at P65 per roll and earns for her P2,600
a week.
“Dako gajud nga tabang sa among pamilya ang
akong pagpamaligya ug embutido kay madugangan man akong kita (It has greatly
helped my family because by selling embutido my income increased)," Ruena
said.
Dr. Maridel Zerda of the City Veterinary Office
said that to date, there are about 200 swine raisers including backyard
raisers, in Surigao City and meat processing is a viable way to augment their
income particularly the smallholders/ backyard raisers. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)
New TESDA deals focus on medical
transcriptionists, bartenders
By Lisa Rivera
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 5 (PIA) - Looking to further
strengthen and expand its partnership with the private sector, the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has inked agreements with
two organizations to enhance the skills of potential workers.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the
Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines
(HIMOAP) will involve P16.275 million worth of scholarship vouchers that will
train 1,550 individuals.
This will be sourced from TESDA's Training for
Work Scholarship Program (TWSP).
The MOA with Ginebra San Miguel (GSM) Inc., on
the other hand, will provide training and livelihood opportunities to 180
beneficiaries in selected areas through the TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship
Program (TSTP). The project is in
celebration of Ginebra San Miguel’s 180 years.
"TESDA's continued partnership with the
private sector is a display of palpable sense of optimism in the country's
technical vocational education and training," TESDA Director General Joel
Villanueva said.
"Here's an assurance that investments in
the Filipino skills will always yield quality workforce needed by the
industries," Villanueva added.
The 180 beneficiaries under the agreement with
GSM will undergo entrepreneurial and bartending training course. TESDA will conduct the training, while the
beverage firm will provide the fund, for training and livelihood opportunity
through the provision of a mobile bar, including needed materials such as one
set of uniform for each trainee, mobile bar tools, and a set of starter
products.
With HIMOAP, TESDA will tap its partner
technical vocational institutions to provide Medical Transcription Finishing
Course NC II to the 1,550 beneficiaries.
The training duration will be 160 hours.
According to the agreement, the partners
committed an employment rate of at least 80 percent within six months from the
scholar's graduation. HIMOAP also pledged to formulate a fund replenishment
scheme to extend the mileage of the scholarship program.
A contribution to a Talent Development Fund will
be made by a HIMOAP-member company every time it absorbs or hires successful
graduates. The Talent Development Fund will be developed, managed, and utilized
solely by HIMOAP to sustain training of their needed workforce.
Signing the agreement were Villanueva for TESDA,
Josefina Lauchangco for HIMOAP, and Bernard Marquez for Ginebra San
Miguel. (TESDA/PIA-Caraga)
News Feature: DILG prepares 1.2B 2016 GPB Run
By Bryan F. Edulzura
Banking on lessons learned during the Bottom Up
Budgeting (now Grassroots Participatory Budgeting or GPB) 2013 and 2104 run,
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 13 commenced
preparation for the approximately P1.2 Billion 2016 GPB Run with the Provincial
Focal Persons and Community Mobilizers Meeting last July 30, 2014 at the Local
Governance Regional Resource Center (LGRRC) in DILG 13 Regional Office, this
city.
The planning process for identification,
endorsement and approval of 2016 projects will begin this August and the
priority list is expected to be submitted on the first quarter of 2015 for the
inclusion in the 2016 General Appropriation Act (GAA).
Though the DILG, National Anti-Poverty
Commission (NAPC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are still enhancing the Joint Memorandum
Circular 5 for the 2016 GPB run, the Regional Poverty Reduction Action Team
(RPRAT) of Caraga Region is taking a step ahead in beefing up the mechanisms to
smoothen the GPB program implementation.
Taking into previous experiences, the RPRAT
through the DILG is expected to receive about a thousand (1,000) anti-poverty
projects covering all 6 cities and 67 municipalities in the region. In 2015,
the budget for Caraga region is pegged at P1.2 billion with an average of P15
million per local government unit (LGU).
Gaining Grounds and Inclusive People
Participation
According to RPRAT chair and DILG Caraga
regional director, Lilibeth A. Famacion, GPB is slowly gaining ground as it
becomes more popular among civil society and local governments. Field reports are showing that more civil society
organizations especially on the basic sectors are taking active role in project
identification.
“With the latest development, going along with
GPB’s popularity is imperative. People participation is the lifeblood of GPB,
hence; as early as now we took initiatives in preparing the ground for a more
meaningful and genuine people participation. Aside from engaging community
mobilizers, we also install coordination mechanisms with the department’s field
workers and that of other participating agencies to streamline communications
at various levels,” said Famacion.
“Cascading right information to the grassroots
community ensures support and sustainability of the program,” said Urban Poor
representative Johnny Serrano.
Malicious Issues against GPB
The GPB Process is not void of malicious gossip
and wrong information circulated in communities. Among the issues hurled against GPB is that
it is the pork barrel of Mar Roxas and funds for these projects are funded
under Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
“The rumor is ridiculous and is entirely not true,” Famacion points out.
"We know that the project identification is
lodged under civil society rganizations (CSOs) and LGUs. DILG is only one,
among the GPB participating agencies which include DOH, DSWD, DTI, DA, DAR,
DOLE, DOT, NEA, TESDA, DepED, and DENR. We also know that GPB funds are
operationalized through the General Appropriation Act. As civil servants it is our duty to correct
misconception and it is our moral obligation to tell the truth, nothing but the
truth," she said.
Famacion also recognized that the program
implementation in the previous years are not perfect. "We are confronted with problems that
somehow slowed down implementation.
Problems on project identification, change of project, LCEs influencing
project to be implemented are few of the challenges we tackled. But we are installing
mechanism to minimize if not eradicate these problems,” she said.
"The bottleneck of this program is on the
ability of the stakeholder to identify projects that really address poverty
situation in the countryside. Notable in
the previous years’ proposal is the lack of projects for the fisherfolk and
their families," Famacion added.
The Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT)
whose members include 50% from the CSOs and 50% from the LGU, are the one to
endorse the projects for funding. The challenge
is the ability of the CSO to articulate the projects they really need and
generate support from the LGU.
Surigao del Sur Persons With Disability (PWD)
federation president William Aguilar vowed that they will push for more
projects that will benefit the fishermen and PWD sectors.
More than just Anti-Poverty Projects
GPB is actually more than just an anti-poverty
initiative but it is also a good governance program as well. It encourages
transparency and people participation in the local planning process. “We
recognized that the poor knows better what projects to implement to free them
from the claws of poverty and that corruption is curbed when people are
involved in government finances,” said GPB regional focal personJocelyn Jayoma.
“We need to inculcate that good governance means
more access to incentives to fund development projects,” she added.
Bracing for more
“We expect that more stakeholders are interested
to look into the GPB process considering that PDAF and DAP projects are under
fire. We welcome those interested
parties – supporter and critics alike to really look into the program. With
this, we give more meaning to people participation in local governance,”
Famacion concluded. (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
Newly-established prov’l training center in
Surigao del Norte, inaugurated
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 5 (PIA) - The provincial
government of Surigao del Norte and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) have recently inaugurated the newly-constructed
provincial community training center located at Bad-as, Placer town.
In her speech, Surigao del Norte governor Sol F.
Matugas emphasized that this undertaking is another milestone under the
livelihood component of the HEALS Development Agenda. HEALS is the province’s
flagship program which means Health, Education and Environment, Agriculture and
Aquaculture, Livelihood, Tourism, Social Welfare, and Spiritual Renewal.
“Our province-wide vision takes us towards a
God-centered, empowered, and globally-competitive and prosperous Surigaonons.
Keeping this in the heart of all our undertakings in serving our people, we
have not gone away with our accountability for those who are in the deepest
need of an avenue wherein they can achieve self-enhancement opportunities,”
Gov. Matugas said.
The province’s chief executive also stressed
that to be able to fully accomplish something as great as the establishment of
the provincial community training center is very fulfilling, knowing that
everything will be for the good of the sector we deem important in our journey
towards “Ang Bag-ong Surigao.”
The official further said the youth sector
specifically the out-of-school youths and the province’s constituents who are
in extreme need for skills enhancements will be helped with the operation of
the training center. “In here, will our beneficiaries be given the chance for
better job opportunities fitting the skills they will be learning in the
acilities,” Matugas said.
Matugas likewise pointed out that the
Surigaonons are grateful indeed, that though the Private-Public Partnership (PPP)
with the mining companies, the province has already reached this far in giving
light to the dreams of their constituents.
“In behalf of the constituents in Surigao del
Norte, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the mining industries
who have been very much active in partnering with us, supporting our big leaps
in bringing forth our plans, programs and projects that promotes the welfare of
our province,” Gov. Matugas said.
With the strong partnership that the provincial
government has created with the private sector, Gov. Matugas said Surigaonons
have become all the more assured to be able to bring greater dreams into
reality, and the inclusive growth the people wanted to achieve will finally be
on hand.
The lady governor likewise vowed to have more
projects that will pave better roads for the brighter future of the people in
the province. “Thank you everyone, and rest assured that this structure will
certainly still be followed by more projects that would help us pave better
roads for the brighter future of our populace,” Matugas said.
The two-day affair was graced by TESDA Deputy
Director-General for Field Operations Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua and Cong. Mel
Sarmiento, Vice Chairman of the Commission on Appointments, who ceremonially
cut the chain, signifying the opening of the training center’s operation. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: Gobyerno determinado sa paglikas ng
mga Pilipino mula sa Libya, sabi ng isang opisyal ng Palasyo
Ni David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 5 (PIA) - Sinabi ng
Palasyo noong Lunes na determinado ang gobyerno na dalhin pauwi ang mga
Pilipinong manggagawa (OFW) na nanganganib ang buhay sa Libya.
“Para doon sa mga nakakita ang kanilang sarili
na talagang nasa panganib na kalagayan, gusto talaga ng pamahalaan na makauwi
sila ng ligtas,” sabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda sa mga
reporter noong siya ay nakipanayam sa Malakanyang.
Ayon sa Department of Foreign Affairs, (DFA)
humigit-kumulang mga 831 na Pilipino ang nakabalik mula sa Libya hanggang
Agosto 3, 2014.
Subalit napansin din ni Seretary Lacierda na
marami ang dahilan kung bakit ang ibang Pilipino sa Libya ay ayaw umuwi.
“Halimbawa, marami sa kanila ang nakapga-asawa
ng taga Libya mismo. Kaya mahirap biyakin ang pamilya ‘pag ganoon ang
situation,” paliwanag niya.
Para doon na takot na makakaharap ang kawalan ng
trabaho sa kanilang pagbalik, sinabi ni Lacierda na ang Department of Labor and
Employment ay maaring tumulong sa kanila na makahanap ng trabaho dito sa bansa
o kaya sa labas ng bansa.
"Nangyari na sa atin ito. Kung inyong
matandaan, sa ating alitan laban sa Taiwan, tinitingnan na natin ang ibang
bansa na gustong kumuha ng ating mga OFW. Halimbawa, sa Batangas, may kompanya
doon na tinatawag na AG&P na siyang kumuha ng maraming OFW para sa kanilang
kalakal,” sabi niya.
Sabi niya, ang pamahalaan ay sinusubukang
makontak ang mga OFW sa pamamagitan ng pakipag-ugnayan sa mga komunidad ng
Pilipino sa Libya, pati na sa kanilang mga kamag-anak dito sa Pilipinas.
(DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Cebuano News: District Convention sa Free and
Accepted Masons of the Phils nagmalamposon
Ni Mary Jul E. Escalante
SURIGAO CITY, Agosto 5 (PIA) – Malamposon nga
gipahigayon ang usa ka district convention nga gipasiugdahan sa Masonic
District RXIII-A bag-ohay pa lamang didto sa Philippine Gateway Hotel, ning
syudad.
Ang usa ka adlaw nga kalihukan nagdala sa tema
nga, “Serbisyong Makatotohanan Para sa
Kapatiran at Mamamayan.”
Sa iyang mensahe isip pinasidunggang mamumulong
si Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol F. Matugas miingon nga mao kini ang unang higayon nga siya nakatambong
sa maong kalihukan sa Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines diin siya
nakadayeg sa ilang guiding principles nga mao ang brotherly love, relief ug
truth.
Nagpasalamat usab ang gobernador kang Cesario
Espejon ang nangulo sa Mt. Diwata lodge No. 236 sa Surigao sa opurtunidad nga
siya nakatambong sa maong kalihukan diin iya usab gipaabot ang mga plano,
programa ug proyekto sa panggamhanan sa probinsya ubos sa iyang HEALS plus
agenda.
Ubay ubay nga mga mason ang nakadayeg sa
programang HEALS plus sa gobernador diin ilang nakita ang tinud-anay nga
pagserbisyo ug ang kinatibuk-ang pag uswag sa katawhan ug sa lalawigan sa
Surigao del Norte.
Mitambong sa maong okasyon ang mga miyembro ug
delegado sa Free and Accepted Masons of the Phils. nga naglangkob sa Agusan ug
Surigao. (SDR/PIO-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
