CSC Caraga ready to embark on COMEX system
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 PIA – The Civil Service
Commission (CSC) Caraga is glad in informing the public that the Computerized
Examination (COMEX) System will be finally launched here on Thursday, August
14, 2014.
COMEX is a new system designed to unite all
existing stand-alone examination processes into a single examination system
that would run though wide area network environment where the regional testing
centers shall be connected to the central server located at the central office,
revealed CSC Caraga regional director Resurreccion Pueyo.
The COMEX automates and integrates each step in
the administration of computerized examination making the entire process faster
and easier.
Aside from these, the COMEX system will be
activated under these features: Allows applicants to apply and reserve a slot
for an examination 24/ online; links to CSC’s existing database that allows for
more accurate cross-checking of information; permits an examinee to complete
the examination process from application to results generation, all on the same
day; ensures reliability of the conduct of examination; and uses up-to-date
software that meets the specifications of modern computers and servers.
Pueyo is advising applicants to take note of the
five important steps of COMEX process:
Step 1: Examination Account Registration (EAR) –
Individuals register to create a user account; online registration via
CSC-COMEX website; provide personal information
Step 2: Examination Slot Reservation (ESR) –
Notification of online offerings on the type of examination, number of slots,
date and time of appearance, date and time of examination, and examination
venue; registered user reserves an examination slot online
Step 3: Examination Slot Confirmation (ESC) –
Confirmation of application; completion of remaining stages of application
(verification of applicant’s identity, payment of examination fee and capturing
of applicant’s photo, biometrics and digital signature)
Step 4: Actual Test Program (ATP) – Assignment
of each examinee to a test form and a testing computer; authentication of
examinee’s biometrics; examinee takes the actual test
Step 5: Test Result Processing (TRP) –
Processing of examination results; generation of examination reports; examinee
gets the test result online.
According to Pueyo, the online registration will
be available with a fee of P600 after it is being launched.
It was also learned that CSC Caraga has a new
testing center in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur in addition to the existing
three in cities of Tandag, Surigao and Butuan.
The COMEX system launching will be graced by CSC
Commissioner Robert Martinez. There will also be a press conference at 2:00
p.m. on the same day at the CSC HRD Center. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Dengue cases in Caraga still on the rise
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA) – Cases of dengue in
Caraga region continue to increase and now with 77 percent higher compared to
same period last year.
From January 1 up to August 9 this year, the
Department of Health - Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (DOH-RESU)
reported a total of 3,810 dengue cases admitted to different disease reporting
units regionwide.
For the same period last year, DOH-RESU recorded
a total of 2,143 cases.
The province of Agusan del Sur remains to have
the highest number of cases, now with 1,008 followed by Butuan City with 824;
Surigao del Sur with 442; Surigao del Norte with 267; Tandag City with 255;
Agusan del Norte – 250; Bayugan City – 205; Surigao City – 197; Bislig City –
191; Cabadbaran City – 152; and Dinagat Islands with 19 cases.
Based on the report, hot spot of cases was noted
in the following barangays: Telaje and Mabua in Tandag City and clustering of
cases in the following barangays: Bag-ong Lungsod, Bongtud, Dagocdoc, all from
Tandag City in Surigao del Sur; and San Agustin Sur in San Miguel, still in
Surigao del Sur and Rosario in Agusan del Sur.
Ages of cases ranged from less than one month
old to 90 years old and the majority of cases were males which is 51 percent.
Forty percent of the cases belonged to zero to
10 years age group.
Also, for a period of January 1 to August 2 this
year, a total of 18 deaths were reported from the different Disease Reporting
Units regionwide with case fatality rate of 0.47%. Deaths came from: Butuan
City with seven deaths (Barangay Pangabugan – 1, Silongan – 1; Ambago – 2,
Amparo – 1, Baan Riverside – 1, and Ampayon – 1); Barangay Poblacion 3 in
Buenavista, Agusan del Norte with 2 deaths; Cabadbaran City with three deaths
(Barangay Putting Bato – 1, Cabinet – 1, Barangay 4 – 1); Barangay Poblacion in
Bislig City with 2 deaths; Agusan del Sur with 2 deaths (Barangay Bahbah in
Prosperidad – 1, Barangay Libuac in Rosario – 1); and Surigao del Sur with two
deaths (Barangay Palo Alto in Lingig – 1, Gamut in Barobo – 1).
(NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
Chamber holds business enhancement seminar
By Ma. Jane Mayola
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Aug. 13 (PIA) - The
Dinagat Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DIPCCI) in partnership
with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently organized a
two-day Business Enhancement and Education Seminar for Business Enterprise and
Cooperatives at Aurelio Gym, San Jose, this province.
DIPCCI president Leonel Rojo, in his message
said, the event is significant to the businessmen and cooperative officers
since it will give them further knowledge on how to manage their businesses and
cooperatives towards growth.
During the seminar, BIR revenue collection
officer Angelita Escatron and BIR Surigao revenue officer Eddie Felicilda
discussed about invoicing, tax filing, tax exemption, tax mapping, and new BIR
forms.
The said seminar was participated by around 200
business enterprise owners and cooperative officers from the seven
municipalities of the province. (SDR/PIO-Dinagat
Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
News Feature: 307 households benefit from
Esperanza potable water project
By Bryan F. Edulzura
ESPERENZA, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 13 (PIA) - At
least 307 households comprising 1,639 individuals in barangay Remedios in this
municipality benefited from the water project under the SAgana at LIgtas Na
TUBIG para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) program of the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG). Ten months after the project completion and turn-over
to the barangay, the project continues to provide clean and potable water to
the barangay.
“We are happy that the waterless barangays in
Agusan del Sur have decreased, but more than that, we have greater joy in
witnessing how this project addresses social and health needs of the
community,” DILG Caraga regional director Lilibeth A. Famacion said.
The residents’ anxiety of contracting diarrhea
and other water-borne diseases from drinking water in the river has also been
addressed because they trust the water source. Households chores become easier
and lighter for women as they do not have to walk for kilometers to fetch water
for drinking, cooking and washing.
“We will not go to Ojot River to wash our
clothes and beddings anymore,” said Gemma O. Andoy, a mother and project
beneficiary.
“We now have clean water in our own backyard,”
she added.
For Maria Luisa A. Mondejar, elementary school
teacher-in-charge, the project has also improved cleanliness, hygiene and
health seeking behavior of the barangay residents especially to those members
of the indigenous peoples’ community. In addition, “pupils also now have ample
time to study and play because they no longer have to walk for hours just to
fetch water for drinking, cooking and washing,” Mondejar said.
The water system is managed by the Barangay
Water Association-REWASA. Though the water system is sufficient to meet the
demands of the consumers, they are facing some challenges to effectively
sustain the operation of the water system. Milagros Mondejar, REWASA head,
aspires that the organization board members will be capacitated in handling water
issues and concerns.
Also because of the project, beneficiaries have
been encouraged to cooperate in barangay projects, participate in the
maintenance and protection of the water system facility and religiously pay
their monthly water bills. (DILG Caraga with reports from Shiela
Jaramillo/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD-13, GIZ launch P.E.A.C.E. for Veruela
project
VERUELA, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 13 (PIA) - The
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga forged another
partnership with the local government unit (LGU) of the said town for the
German agency-funded Peace for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment
(PEACE) project.
“This development project is a networking
initiative of DSWD, in partnership with the Deutsche of Conflict Sensitive
Resource and Asset Management (GIZ-COSERAM) program which provided an amount of
P4, 037,750.00 for its five month-implementation,” said DSWD Caraga regional
community development specialist Elsa T. Montemor.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing was
done during the formal project launching held last August 12, 2014 in time with
the 17th charter day and 44th Fiesta of Barangay Sampaguita, Veruela.
Present during the activity were DSWD-Caraga
regional director Minda B. Brigoli, municipal mayor Salimar T. Mondejar, GIZ-
Civil Peace Service (CPS) expert Hans Ulrich Krause, other LGU officials,
representatives from the DSWD, and community residents.
Brigoli congratulated the municipality for a
productive collaboration with DSWD in implementing the agency’s social
protection programs, most especially the KALAHI CIDSS- National Community-Driven
Development Program (KC-NCDDP) PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA).
“This PEACE project is another opportunity for
further development of this town as this is mainly aimed at capacitating
communities in peace building and peace education,” said Brigoli.
Mayor Mondejar also voiced his sincere thanks to
DSWD and the GIZ-COSERAM for considering their municipality to be a recipient
of the project.
“PEACE for Veruela will in one way or another
address one of our poverty problems which are caused by its high susceptibility
to violent conflicts, and high level of leftist activities which affect and
divide the local communities,” expressed Mondejar.
The newly-launched project will benefit six
conflict-affected barangays. It will implement three components namely capacity
development on peace education concepts and approaches, implementation of Quick
Impact Measure (QIM) for better access to livelihood opportunities, and
documentation of learnings. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
PHL exports 400 MT premium rice
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA) - The Department of
Agriculture said today that for the first time in 30 years, the Philippines has
been able to export high quality rice.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that
the country has already exceeded earlier projections on the volume of premium
rice the country can export.
“Ang amin pong naunang projection ay ang
maka-export ng 100 metric tons of premium rice, but we have already exported
400 metric tons of premium rice—red rice, black rice and organic rice—and the
year is not yet over,” Alcala said.
The secretary said that in the event we hit rice
self-sufficiency and there is already adequate buffer stock, rice farmers will
be encouraged to cultivate more premium rice for export.
According to Alcala, Hong Kong and Singapore
have large requirements for premium rice but they don’t have any production.
He added that it is good sign that we were
finally able to export rice because it has become somewhat embarrassing that
for more than 30 years, we have been importing rice and among the world’s top
importers of rice.
Earlier the DA said the Philippines saved not
less than P147 billion on rice importation from 2010 to 2013 because instead of
buying rice from our Vietnamese and Thai neighbors, Filipino farmers had a good
harvest and were able to meet part of the demand.
The country used to rely in imports to stabilize
rice supply and price with an import dependency ratio of 13.57 percent from
2001-2010.
The past administration spent more in National
Food Authority imports than in production support from 2001-2010—105.6 billion
for production compared to P292.5 billion for NFA imports, making production
grow at a rate of only 2.27 percent or a little over 313,000 MT annually.
From 2008 to 2010, the amount paid for rice
imports worth P176.18 billion was eight times the amount of P22.06 billion paid
for the period 2011-2013. Payments for
rice imports were 2.8 times the level of support for rice programs from
2001-2010.
This was reversed from 2011 to 2013 with support
for local producers at 3.9 times that of payments for rice imports which drove
our farmers to deliver the performance in the last three years with a higher
annual average growth rate of 5.37 percent, equivalent to 889, 029 MT.
(DA-OSEC/PIA-Caraga)
Planning and Development Office cites SurSur
gains in agriculture
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 13 (PIA) –
Esmeraldo Raymundo, agricultural technologist and Mindanao Rural Development
Program (MRDP) provincial coordinator detailed at the Provincial Planning and
Development Office (PPDO), has cited gains primarily on agriculture when he
rendered a performance report during their office’s hosting of the regular
Monday flag ceremony program this week.
Focusing on the top two of the six “development”
objectives, the MRDP provincial coordinator pointed out that agriculture, among
others, has contributed much to the growth and development of the place.
The two leading objectives he mentioned are
“Reduce Poverty Incidence” and “Maintain and Improve Ecology.”
However, the rest of the six development
objectives that Raymundo had outlined are:
Intensify Delivery of Basic Services, Provide Adequate Infrastructure
Facilities and Utilities, Strengthen Development Administration, and Maintain
Public Order & Safety.
Under agriculture, he particularly tagged rice
as the main crop, but put an extra stress on other agricultural commodities
wherein the province was said to be “the largest producer and supplier of the
following crops in the whole of Caraga Region:
45.8% of total copra production; 67.5% of total abaca fiber output;
75.6% of green coffee harvested; and 100% of soybean supply.”
On rice production, Raymundo stressed that the
province has posted an increased yield of 1.4 percent and 1.6 percent,
respectively, in irrigated as well as rainfed areas, resulting to an “85
percent on self-sufficiency in rice in 2013, a dramatic increase from 72
percent level in 2010.”
He noted that this upswing in production was
brought about by the continuing increase in “Budget allocation for Rice
Self-Sufficiency Program from 2007 with P2,955,660 until 2012 with P10,229,222.
(NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DILG distributes checks for potable water system
projects in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 13 (PIA) –
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga regional
office through Regional Director Lilibeth Famacion distributed yesterday nine
Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) checks of varied amounts intended for
potable water system (PWS) projects in Surigao del Sur.
The event took place at the Provincial Peace and
Order Council (PPOC) meeting chaired by Governor Johnny Pimentel that was held
at the Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) conference room.
The recipients include Bislig City-P480,000
together with the towns of Marihatag-P1,275,000; Barobo-P850,000;
Hinatuan-P500,000; Tagbina-P810,250 and P425,000 for two respective barangays;
Cagwait-P900,000; Lanuza-P500,000;
P300,000; and, P400,000 for three respective barangays; Tago-750,000;
and, San Agustin-P675,000.
Meanwhile, Ma. Lourdes Martinez, DILG provincial
outcome manager here said that there are yet other municipalities to receive
checks for the said purpose, but compliance to requirements is still on
process.
Surigao del Sur is comprised of two cities and 17
municipalties. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SNCAT celebrates 1st Harvest Festival
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA) - Administrators,
faculty, staff and students of Surigao del Norte Colleges of Agriculture and
Technology (SNCAT) recently celebrated its first Harvest Festival.
The activity which is anchored on the theme:
“Improving Agricultural Productivity for Environmental Sustainability, Food
Security and Economic Opportunity,” was graced by Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) deputy director-general for TESD
Operations Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua.
In his keynote speech, DDG Pascua emphasized the
need to strengthen the advocacy campaign of promoting agriculture course to
students so that they will be encouraged to enroll.
DDG Pascua also shared his experience when he
ventured to agriculture by planting small peppers. He said that with one
hectare, he can gain income to at least P70,000 per harvest.
The official further said if students can only
realize that there is really money in agriculture, they will be enticed to
enroll courses or trainings pertaining to it.
In a related development, Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga regional director Dr. Florencio
F. Sunico, Jr. likewise pointed out that there seems to be a trend of declining
of enrollment in Agriculture training and education all over the country. Sunico
added because of this, concerned government officials should find a way to
address this challenge.
The TESDA chief of the region likewise stressed
there is a need for agricultural training institutions to take the challenge
that is happening now where majority of the youths doesn’t have interest on
enrolling agricultural trainings and courses.
Sunico said it is not enough for the training
institutions to teach the students how to produce the agricultural crops but
also on how to market their produce. “There is a need for our students to know
how are they going to market the agricultural crops they have produced as a way
of their livelihood,” Sunico added.
In this way, Sunico said the students will have
the idea of gaining income from agriculture. “We have to show to students the
idea that we can make money in agriculture and if we don’t do this, we continue
them to shying away from the toils of the earth,” Sunico said.
Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food
grown in the land. This is the time of the year when all the crops have been
harvested. It also reminds the SNCAT community of the good things God has given
them.
For SNCAT being an agricultural learning institution,
this activity is very remarkable because is one of the most effective
advocacies highlighting the importance of agriculture in the country’s economy,
thus, addressing hunger and achieve food security.
After the opening program, DDG Pascua together
with Sunico, provincial directors of TESDA-Caraga, SNCAT officials and students
went to the school’s field garden and harvested agricultural products such as
eggplants, bell peppers, squash, among others. They also planted seedlings of
different species. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Cabadbaran to recognize topnotchers
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA) - The city government
of Cabadbaran, with the leadership of Mayor Dale B. Corvera, is set to give due
recognition to its residents who will top the national government examinations.
A new City Ordinance No. 2014-008, authored by
Councilor Alicia C. Funcion, institutionalized the giving of recognition to all
Cabadbaranons who made in the top 10 positions in the Bar, Board, Civil Service
and other national professional government examinations taken in the year 2013
and onwards.
The legislative measure aims to recognize the
topnotchers of government examinations by awarding a citation of excellence for
the rare honor and distinction the awardees have brought or accorded to the
City of Cabadbaran.
Provincial Board Member Rodulfo A. Pitogo,
chairman of the Committee on Education and Culture, pushed for the approval of
the said city ordinance and which was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
during its 51st Regular Session. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Tagalog News: Ang pagkakadakip kay Palparan ay
nagpapakita ng determinasyon ng pamahalaan sa reporma ng sistema sa Hudikatura,
sabi ng isang opisyal
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 14 (PIA) - Ang
pagkakaaresto sa retiradong heneral ns si Jovito Palparan noong Martes ay
nagpapakita ng determinasyon ng administrasyon sa pagreporma ng sistema ng
Hudikatura para maseguro ang pantay na proteksiyon sa bawat isa, sabi ng isang
opisyal ng Palasyo.
"Matibay ang determinasyon ng ating Pangulo
na iharap sa hukuman at panagutin ang mga mayroong usapin sa paglabag ng mga
karapatang pantao at sa paglabag ng batas," sabi ni Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. sa isang
panayam sa media noong Martes.
Sinagot ni Secretary Coloma ang tanong kung ang
pagkakaaresto kay Palparan ay isang babala sa mga gumagawa ng kasalanan na
pumapatay ng walang habas.
Sabi niya, ang administrasyon ay naniniwala na
ang mabuting pamahalaan ay kailangan din na maseguro ang pagpatupad ng batas sa
bansa.
"Isa rin ‘yan sa pinakamahalagang aspeto ng
plataporma ng Pangulo ‘nung siya ay kumandidato sa pagka-pangulo—‘yung paggawad
ng pantay-pantay na hustisya, paggawad ng katarungan sa ating bansa," sabi
niya.
Habang ang pagkadakip kay Palparan ay isang
maliit na tagumpay sa sistema ng Hudikatora sa bansa, sinabi ni Coloma na ang
pamahalaang Aquino ay pusposang nagtatrabaho para magkaroon ng epektibong
sistema ng hudikatora para sa mga kriminal na pangmatagalan.
Ang pagseseguro na mahatulan ang mga nagkasala
sa batas ay isang pangunahing konsiderasyon ng pamahalaan, sabi niya, at
dinagdagan pang sabihin na ang pangako ng pamahalaan na maseguro ang pagpatupad
ng batas ay isang pangunahing hakbang sa pagbasag ng kultura ng impunidad o
kaligtasan sa parusa sa bansa.
Ang pinakamataas na tinawag na kultura ng
impunidad ay nangyari noong 2009 ng ang isang angkan ng mga warlords ay gumawa
ng masaker sa Maguindanao, sabi niya.
Tinandaan niya na ito ay dahilan kung bakit ang
isinusulong ng Pangulo ang reporma sa Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM).
Sineguro rin ni Coloma noong Martes na ang
pamahalaan ay patuloy na tinutugis ang mga matataas at kilalang mga suspetsado
na nanatiling nakakalaya.
Kasama sa mga matataas at kilalang mga
nagtatagosa batas ay ang magkapatid na Reyes mula sa Palawan at ang charismatic
na lider na si Ruben Ecleo. May pabuya ang otoridad para sa kanilang pagkahuli.
Si Palparan ay iniugnay sa 2006 na pagkidnap at
seryosong illegal na pagdetene sa dalawang babaeng estudyante ng University of
the Philippines. Siya ay nagtago pagkatapos na mailabas ang warrant para sa
kanyang pagkaaresto noong Disyembre, 2011. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
