Two electric power companies eyed river in
Sibagat potential for hydro-electric generation
By David M. Suyao
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Oct. 16 (PIA) - Two electric
power companies have explored the river connecting Awa river from Managong
Falls in Barangay Padiay, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur potential to generate some 15
megawatts electricity if ever operated, reports from representative of Sibagat
Global Hydro said.
In a presentation of the Agusan del Sur
Environment and Sustainable Development Council (ASESDC) Secretariat on October
15, 2014, the two, Equiparco and Sibagat
Global Hydro are already on the initial activities in the preparation of their
feasibility study and in fact have already installed water gauges in some parts
of the river.
But on the process, issues and concerns crop-up
between the two, and the tribal community as holder of the Certificate of
Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) in the area.
According to report by the tribal leader in the
area named Samuel Behing, overlapping on the water rights are already observed
where a gauge installed in the river by the Sibagat Global Hydro is inside the
water rights of Equiparco.
According to a Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member of
Sibagat Roberto Buag, a resolution was already passed by the SB sponsored by
him identifying the separated areas of water rights for the two companies. And
by the rule, the resolution must prevail in order not to cause confusion and
trouble between the two interested parties.
“Because of this situation where there are
allegedly overlapping in the water rights, I am inviting both parties that
visit the area and we will have a meeting in order to settle the differences if
ever there are,” SB Buag said.
As prevailing concern of the tribal community
led by Datu Samuel Behing, Engr. Lyndon Asucena, representative of Sibagat
Global Hydro promised that they will comply with the requirements to secure
permit to stay and operate in the area from the tribal leader to ensure safety
while in the area.
“The features of our project are: This is a run
of the river project therefore it has no height. It is just like a big wheel
creeping in the river in order to generate power. It is also a renewable
energy, a first priority dispatch. As green project, it can maximize income
through utilization of feed-in tariff scheme. It will also become a tourist
attraction in the area and most of all, it is a watershed enhancement project,”
Engr. Lyndon Asucena of the Sibagat Global Hydro said.
According to study, the initial activities in
installing hydro-electric plant such as being ventured by the two companies in
Sibagat will take two years or more observation in order to start the project.
(DMS/PIA-Caraga)
Tandag City lifts dengue, measles alert
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Oct. 16 (PIA) – Mayor Roxanne
Pimentel has lifted the dengue and measles epidemics on October 9, 2014 that
were declared upon all the 21 barangays of the entire of Tandag City.
“To put an official closure to the outbreak, I
have already respectfully requested the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga to
issue a declaration lifting the epidemic alert based on the progress reports we
rendered indicating the decline and control of said diseases,” she said in a
statement sent to media.
Pimentel said that according to Dr. Gerna
Manatad, Head of the Infectious Diseases Cluster of the DOH Caraga, the
certification is still on process pending the availability of signatories.
It will be recalled that during the 2nd Special
Session held on August 8, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here, through its
Resolution No. 130 series of 2014, has declared “the City of Tandag under State
of Calamity due to Dengue Outbreak based on the report of the Regional
Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the DOH Regional Office XIII.”
Beforehand, on July 31, Mayor Pimentel has
already launched the DOH’s anti-dengue campaign—Aksiyon Barangay Kontra Dengue
(ABKD)—in Barangay Telaje, this city, the area with the most number of cases,
then.
Also, during the height of the plague, as anti-dengue
campaign was intensified, including the use of fumigation, “all pupils and
students” were likewise required to wear “long pants and long tops.”
Mayor Pimentel said, “The fight against dengue
and measles is a continuing one.” (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Hinatuan OFC benefits IT Training from OWWA
By Jean Mary G. Ronquillo
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 16 (PIA) - Providing OFW
Family Circle (OFC) members access to technology-based training and
strengthening the mechanism for their community enterprise, the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in coordination with the local government
unit (LGU) of Hinatuan organized a Computer Literacy Training benefiting the
Hinatuan Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Dependents Association (HODA).
Some 20 members of HODA participated in the
Information Technology (IT) training which started on October 13. The HODA
members headed by Rogelio Quino, requested technical assistance from OWWA for
free IT training to aid them in marketing and labeling their products after
they underwent skills training on Meat Processing recently.
During the kick off ceremony, OWWA
Officer-in-charge for Programs and Services
Division Chief Ma. Ireen Cambaling stressed, “We at OWWA always ensure we
respond immediately to the requests or concerns of our valued OWWA members even
far beyond the office vicinity. As much as possible, we want to bring our
services right at the doorsteps of our clientele.”
Meanwhile, OWWA IT Instructor Vincent Mahinay
pointed out the five-day training session includes six (6) modules: Computer
Fundamentals I and II, Internet and World Wide Web, Business Processing
Fundamentals such as Word Processing and Spread Sheets, Presentation and
Digital Media Fundamentals.
“We will start from the basics since majority
if, not all of the participants raised they have no or limited knowledge about
computer,” expressed Mahinay.
Moreover, he said, the participants are expected
to produce an audio visual presentation as output to be showcased at the
completion of the training on October 17 which will be graced by Hon. Mayor
Candelario Viola. (OWWA-13/PIA-Caraga)
MRDP2 CFAD turns over 7.5M worth of sub-projects
By Japhet C. Sugian
MADRID, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 16 (PIA) - A total
of P7.5 Miliion worth of sub-projects were finally completed and turned over to
21 people’s organization (PO) through a certificate of completion recently
here.
The turn over event marks the full
responsibility of the POs in sustaining the project and enhancing their
management capacity intended for incoming ventures from other funding source.
“The certificate is not just a piece of paper, it is a testament that reflects
transparency, dedication, and unity among members of the organization”, said
Madrid Mayor Jose Arpilleda.
Mayor Arpilleda expressed also his appreciation
to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga regional director Edna M. Mabeza,
for continuously providing profound support to the municipality of Madrid,
especially in improving the lives of farmers and fisherfolks. “Our efforts as leaders is also DA’s effort
in obtaining a very good income for every farming and fishing household”, he
added.
Being the chief of the livestock section of DA
13, Mr. John E. Gamboa applauded the POs with working animal dispersal projects
who were able to increase its number of carabaos to 20 heads out from the 9
heads they acquired through Mindanao rural Development Program’s (MRDPs)
livelihood component.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Esmeraldo
Odtohan also challenged the beneficiaries to do what is necessary to sustain
the projects since its success lies in the hands of each member of the
organization.
The activity ended with fruitful memories from
each POs, receiving each certificate with honor and appreciation to
MRDP-Community Fund for Agricultural Development program and hopeful for the
realization of Philippine Rural Development Program linking each organization
to establish an enterprise that will boost their economic activity. (PAO-Surgiao
del Sur/PIA-Caraga)
DILG-13 capacitates LGUs for climate change
adaptation, mitigation
By Bryan F. Edulzura
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 16 (PIA) - The Department of the
Interior and Local Government Caraga Region (DILG-13) recently capacitated 16
local government units (LGUs) within the Agusan River Basin (ARB) in the
formulation of a Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) in a series of
workshops in September 2014.
This activity is in response to the urgency of
addressing climate change at the local level.
“Instituting the LGUs’ adaptive capacities in a
document provides legal mandate and impetus to effectively and efficiently
respond before, during and after a disaster”, said Ray Gregory Jaranilla,
Disaster Risk Reduction - Climate Change Advocacy focal person. “This will enable them to set in place
adaptation and mitigation strategies which are important in minimizing the
impacts of climate change”, he added.
The activity targeted at first 14 LGUs (Butuan
City; Agusan del Sur’s Esperanza, Bayugan City, Prosperidad, La Paz, Talacogon,
Bunawan, Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Veruela, Loreto; and Agusan del
Norte’s Buenavista and Las Nieves). All of these are along the ARB a precarious
position significantly vulnerable to climate change.
Because the project can accommodate more LGUs,
the DILG have expanded coverage to include the remaining municipalities of
Agusan del Sur—Sibagat and Sta. Josefa.
“The economic activities along Agusan River
Basin cause heavy stress to the river system putting all LGUs within its path
at risk and most vulnerable to flooding and rain-induced landslide”, Jaranilla
stressed.
“While
the river system is considered one of the most important economic lifelines of
Compostela Valley (Upstream), Province of Agusan del Sur (midstream) and,
Agusan del Norte (downstream), it is also considered a tremendous threat to its
people. It is an imminent danger, a disaster waiting to happen, if LGUs remain
ill-equipped and fail to plan for climate change”, DILG-13 regional director
Lilibeth A. Famacion opined.
The LCCAP is also considered a policy measure
and may cover 30 years or more. The plan
is hoped to strengthen LGU capacities and ensure public safety.
The LGUs that underwent the training are
expected to complete their action plans by December 2014. Whereas, another
batch of the capacity building activity will be conducted on October 29-31,
2014 for the key cities/municipalities of each province in the region - San
Jose, Dinagat; Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte; Tandag and Bislig City,
Surigao del Sur; and Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
DILG-13 showcases Brgy. Libertad for 2nd Sem
Brgy. Assembly
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 16 (PIA) - Barangay Libertad,
here is the showcased barangay for the second semester of CY 2014 synchronized
Barangay Assembly in the region. It conducted its Barangay Assembly on October
12, 2014 at their covered court with the complete attendance of their barangay
officials. The assembly was jampacked by the attendance of their local
residents with the participation of the personnel from the Department of the
Interior and Local Government Caraga (DILG-13) headed by regional director
Lilibeth Famacion and the representatives from inter-faith groups.
Famacion, in her message, expressed her
appreciation and lauded the local barangay officials for adhering to their
mandates and coming up with such important and very timely activity.
She informed the community of the on-going
initiatives of the national government: First, she briefly discussed the
Grassroots Participatory Process (GPP) relative to the preparation of the budget
proposals of agencies, taking into consideration the development needs of the
Cities/Municipalities as identified in their Local Poverty Reduction Action
Plan (LPRAP) which shall be formulated with the strong participation of basic
sector organizations and other civil society organizations. Second, she
introduced the Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (UBAS) project, a tri-partite
linkage between the DILG, interfaith churches and Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB)
which is to ensure that good governance is practiced and institutionalized
through strong partnership towards inclusive growth in the barangay.
DILG city director Romeo Solis delivered the
message of Secretary Mar Roxas during the assembly. He emphasized the
harmonization between the barangay and the inter-faith sectors as a way of
effectively countering corruption and securing the government’s money.
Punong Barangay Vicente del Rosario
comprehensively delivered his State Of the Barangay Address (SOBA) highlighting
their CY 2014 accomplishments. Likewise, he provided time to discuss the issues
and problems encountered in the performance of their specific mandates, such as
the implementation of solid waste management in their area, peace and order,
enforcement of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, as well as the barangay’s
immediate needs. He also presented the lined-up activities and projects for the
succeeding months this year.
The turn-over of the Grassroots Participatory
Process (GPP) Detailed Project List of Brgy Libertad to Del Rosario and inter-faith
groups from RD Famacion culminated the first part of the activity. The second
part of the activity was slated for the open forum. (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
