Mindanao IOs congress set on Nov. 12-14 in Zambo
City
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) – Information Officers
from all over the island of Mindanao will gather in Zamboanga City on November
12 to 14, 2014 for the 12th Mindanao Communicators Network, Incorporated (MindaComNet)
Congress and Workshop.
Philippine Information Agency Caraga regional
director and MindaComNet vice director Abner M. Caga said, the congress is a
venue where Mindanao information officers will gather and share ideas for the
development of the island.
With the theme “Build Back Better Mindanao”, Caga
said, the congress aims to present the reconstruction and implementation of
rehabilitation programs of Mindanao typhoon-ravaged and conflict devastated
regions using the build-back-better principle and the results of peace and
security efforts.
“The congress also aims to provide the
participants with crash course on social media as information multiplier,”
director Caga said.
During the congress, the progress on peace and
security process, specifically the Bangsamoro comprehensive Organic Law, will
be discussed by Presidential Assistant on Peace Process Secretary Teresita Q.
Deles.
Also, the vice chair and executive director from
the Climate Change Office Secretary Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering will provide the
participants on the Public Advocacy on Climate Change.
The Power Situation in Mindanao will be discussed
by the head of the Investment and Promotion of the Mindanao Development
Authority (MinDA) director Romeo M. Montenegro.
Secretary Sonny Coloma of the Presidential Communications
Operations Office will give his keynote address on the first day of the
Congress while Director General Jose Mari Oquinena will deliver his
inspirational message during the closing ceremony with MinDA chair Luwalhati
Antonino as guest speaker.
On the second day of the Congress, Davao Oriental
Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno, and
Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco will share their experiences on the
Typhoon Pablo, Typhoon Sendong, and the Zamboanga Seige.
MindaComNet is an organization of government
public information and relations officers of national government agencies,
government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial
institutions, state universities and colleges and the local government units in
Mindanao. (PIA-Caraga)
AgSur crafts ‘2014 provincial agriculture and
agri-fisheries code’
By Jasmin J. Reyes
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Nov. 5 (PIA) - Agusan del Sur is
at the height of crafting the 2014 Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Code
(PAFC) believed to enhance the delivery of agriculture and fisheries services
and facilities in the province by key players and stakeholders in the
agriculture sector.
According to Jessica Unson, Officer-in-Charge of
the Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Office (PAVO), Agusan del Sur, having
endowed with vast lands and waters and favorable climatic condition that favors
production of crops, animals and fresh water fishes, the provincial government
sees to it that programs, projects and activities will put premium on the use
of good agricultural practices from production to harvesting and processing of
farm products.
“This is towards the attainment of Agusan del
Sur’s overarching goal of improving productivity, increase income and sustain
livelihood of farmers and fisher folks. The crafting of the 2014 Agriculture
and Fisheries Code will also highlight pertinent policies to protect
farmer-producers and promote entrepreneurship for their utmost advantage,”
Unson said.
The crafting of the PAFC has gained the support of
the national government agencies like the Department of Agriculture and its
bureaus and agencies, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the
Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), Department of
Agrarian Reform and the Philippine Cocunut Authority (PCA) as they play
important role in the agricultural development of the province. Each also
contributed various development agenda in agriculture and fisheries in the
five-day workshop conducted on October 27-31, 2014.
A technical working committee with its secretariat
was also created to oversee the work progress and facilitate various activities
looking into the processes and requisites for its final legislation. In the
next few weeks or month, public hearing will be conducted province-wide so that
Agusanons will know and input their concerns.
This significant milestone emanates from the
provincial agriculture and fisheries framework and was brought into highlight
by Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Edwin Demegillo in collaboration with the
PAVO chaired by Jessica Unson. (DMS, PIA-Agusan del Sur/IO-Provincial
Agriculture Office)
SurSur stays “cocolisap” infestation-free
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) – The Philippine Coconut
Authority (PCA) in Surigao del Sur has again declared the province free from
“cocolisap” or scale insect infestation.
PCA Provincial Manager George Rasonabe said that
after conducting thorough verification on claims of possible “cocolisap” attack
on coconut plantations in some areas, all results were nil.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by
Vice-Governor Manuel Alameda, Sr. sought their assistance on the matter.
Meanwhile, Rasonabe stressed that the PCA under
his watch has continued to cooperate with all other agencies of government and
the private sector in sharing their field of expertise in this regard.
Last month, personnel from PCA have responded to
the request of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) led by its
chief, Marcos Quico, “to deliver lecture about the Scale Insects and other
pests attacking coconuts” on three separate occasions, Rasonabe said.
During the early part of July, this year, the PCA
has already conducted an investigation on alleged “cocolisap infestation,” but
found none. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Development forum tackles economic, livelihood
opportunities in Bangsamoro
DAVAO CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) - Economic and livelihood
opportunities in the Bangsamoro were underscored during the Philippines
Development Forum (PDF), which opened here Wednesday at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX
Convention Center.
The forum, which focused on the Bangsamoro,
featured a break-out session on the livelihood and economy cluster which
discussed economic challenges and opportunities in the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said the improving prospects of ARMM’s
economy indicate better days for the region.
“Like the rest of Mindanao, ARMM’s economy is
growing,” she said while adding “ARMM’s economy grew by 3.6 percent in 2013, an
impressive leap from the 1.1 percent in 2012, and the 0.3 percent decline in 2011.”
Antonino, who sat as one of the discussants in the
economic and livelihood cluster break-out session said “the forum comes at an
interesting, if not exciting times in Mindanao, as we lay down the foundations
of just and lasting peace.”
Organized by the Department of Finance (DOF), this
year PDF serves as the primary mechanism of the Philippine Government for
facilitating substantive policy dialogue among stakeholders on the country’s
development agenda.
The event is also designed as a process for
developing consensus and in generating commitments among different stakeholders
toward critical actionable areas within the Philippine Government’s reform
agenda.
“I am more than excited to see that ARMM has
improved largely because of significant growth posted by the agriculture,
hunting, forestry and fishery (AHFF) sector,” said Antonino.
ARMM’s AHFF sector accounts for 61.3 percent of
the region’s growth followed by the services sector with 33.6 percent, and the
industry sector at 5.1 percent.
She said the services sector posted the highest
growth year-on-year, with financial intermediation sharply increasing by 18.5
percent last year.
“This could only mean increased confidence among
investors, improved systems, and better institutions in the ARMM, thereby
ushering in investments that will increase infrastructure, provide jobs, and
jumpstart the economy towards our goal of long-term inclusive growth,” added
Antonino.
Huge investments were secured by the ARMM during
the first and third quarters of this year. In the first half of 2013, the
region already secured about P2.53 billion worth of projects, 72 percent up
from entire investments it clinched in 2013. These investments included
renewable energy projects, minerals development, oil palm investments, and
import and export trading business ventures.
“Although these developments might not look
compelling as compared to the larger goal of economic security in the ARMM, but
these in fact emerged out of our conscious effort to slowly, but steadily push
the ARMM and the rest of Mindanao back on investment map,” she said.
To promote inclusive growth in the Bangsamoro and
the entire Mindanao region, Antonino said that MinDA is facilitating
investments that create more job opportunities and spur growth in depressed
communities.
“We encourage investments that usher inclusive
business, such as agribusiness projects that allow low-income groups to become
part of production and supply chain, and enable them to benefit from long-term
employment and sustained socio-economic development.”
In September this year, MinDA forged a partnership
with the Philippine Business for Social Progress and launched the Mindanao
Inclusive Agribusiness Program (MIAP), in line with President Aquino’s pivotal
thrust of inclusive growth.
MIAP will adopt the Mindanao Development Corridors
program to advance inclusive agribusiness models in the island-region in
efforts to reduce poverty and accelerate private sector investments that will
increase employment and spur livelihood opportunities in the island-region.
“Several companies are expanding in the ARMM and
we look forward to the private sector delivering the engine of inclusive economic
growth in the region,” said Antonino.
She added that opportunities for investments in
the Bangsamoro are slowly increasing, particularly in agriculture, agribusiness
and marine-based industries such as cacao, rubber, oil palm, coconut, banana,
fisheries and mariculture production and halal food processing.
“While we are seeing inroads to economic growth,
we are far from reaching the level where we should be. We need to prioritize
and support programs, projects, and policies that promise optimized and
broad-based growth,” stressed Antonino.
This year’s PDF gathered national and local
government units, donor agencies, international financial institutions,
business chambers, as well as sectoral and interest groups to map out and
coordinate socioeconomic development efforts and objectives for the Bangsamoro
and the entire island-region of Mindanao.
(MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
DBM team wins 8th Caraga StatQuiz
By Naomi T. Mission
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) - The Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) – Caraga team composed of Joseph Michael Lague and
Elvin Chatto won the 8th Caraga Inter-Agency/LGU StatQuiz held on October 28,
2014 in one of the convention centers, here.
The team garnered 27 points after three rounds –
easy, average and difficult.
The second place was won by the Environmental
Management Bureau (EMB) – Caraga Team composed of Carlo Dacera and Roxan Jimenez while Gardel Rey Ambos and Mae
Niagara Balanay of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) – Caraga won the third
place.
A total of 19 agencies, local government units
(LGUs), state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Caraga joined the contest.
Each team is composed of two members. The participants were from: Department of
Agriculture, Commission on Higher Education, Social Security System, Philippine
Coconut Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Internal
Revenue, Public Attorney’s Office, Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture
and Technology, Department of Education, Surigao del Sur State University, Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Surigao State College of Technology,
Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, Department of the Interior and
Local Government, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Science and
Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Budget
and Management and City Government of Cabadbaran.
OIC-Assistant Regional Director Jazmin Berido of
the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga chaired the Board
of Judges during the StatQuiz while Rosalinda Celeste-Apura, Interim Regional
Director of Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA), and Presa Villarina,
Statistician I of PSA served as members.
The activity was conducted in celebration of the
25th National Statistics Month (NSM) and was spearheaded by the Regional Development Council – Regional
Statistical Coordination Committee (RDC-RSCC).
The questions included Caraga statistics – gross
regional domestic product (GRDP), population growth rate and others. The PSA
hosted the event. (NEDA-13/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga folks prefer NGP than NPA
By Eric Herson Gallego
LORETO, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 5 (PIA) – This remote
river town of Agusan del Sur had been dubbed by the Philippine Army as “hotbed
of insurgency” over the past years but that stigma is slowly being expunged by
the people’s passion to plant and grow trees through the National Greening
Program (NGP) introduced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) in 2011.
“Insurgency has since been a major problem in my
town,“ Mayor Dario Otaza of the Loreto town in Agusan del Sur said during the
8th AFP East Mindanao Command Founding Anniversary held at the Naval
Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City on August 28, 2014 .
“We thought that violent confrontation against the
communist guerillas was the ultimate solution to drive the rebels out of my
hometown,” he added. “But it only
required the NGP to solve the problem and sealed the doom of the activities and
influence of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) NPA Guerilla Front 34 under Kumander Boyet Tindugan in Loreto”
Mayor Otaza said.
Mayor Otaza thanked the DENR Secretary Ramon J.P
Paje and Regional Director of the Caraga Nonito M. Tamayo for their tireless efforts
in bringing an effective reforestation program in that town. As a result, the campaign against the rebels and illegal logging were made easier when
people are occupied and tending their
tree farms instead of spending
time hearing lectures from the
communist guerillas. The Commanding
General of the East Mindanao Command Lt. Gen. Raineer Cruz III handed a
Plaque of Recognition award to Mayor Otaza during that anniversary for the
successful campaign against insurgency .
Mayor Otaza believes the introduction of the NGP
was crucial in the anti-insurgency campaign when the DENR implemented the program through Executive Order No. 26 signed by President
Benigno S. Aquino III on February 2011.
“When I assumed office as their newly elected town
Mayor in 2013 elections, I was able to identify poverty, unemployment and
insurgencyas the three major problems that driven most of the residents in
illegal logging activities,” Otaza said
in an interview .
“The struggle indeed was hard for a budding local
chief executive like me fighting a war in three fronts and poverty was the
toughest battle” he said.
But the landscape of Loreto began to change when
people started to engage themselves on tree farming program offered by DENR
through the NGP.
“Suddenly, the people in almost all the 17
barangays of Loreto became interested in the NGP,“ Mayor Otaza said. “it became
a byword in every household,” he added.
There was a time, he said, when the people in
Barangay Kauswagan, a mass-base supporters of the NPA were rushing to meet a
delivery truck filled with rubber tree seedlings from an NGP contractor so they
can grab seedlings for their farm. “I have never seen the people so much
interested in planting rubber trees on their farm as that one,” Mayor Otaza
said.
“It was a great transformation of that village
from NPA to NGP,” he said.
A kilo of rubber sap commands a price of P44 to P
47 a kilo. Transporting these products to the local market from the farms is
being made easier by the construction of a road network initiated by Mayor
Otaza in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He said that the people in Barangay Kauswagan are”
hard core “ supporters of the NPA.
“There were several government programs in the past that could hardly
reach the area because the communist guerillas were blocking them. They even
held hostage a barangay official at the neighboring village of Sabud in
September last year after the NPA attacked a military detachment in the area.
The rebels were demanding to hand over
the newly- trained CAFGUs but we stood by our ground and denied them.
After all, we are the duly-constituted authorities,” Mayor Otaza said.
CENR Officer Precilio O. Penaloga said Loreto has
a total land area of 141,552 hectares of which 80 percent are classified as
forest lands or 102,448 hectares.
“Loreto has a vast potential area for tree farm
considering the production forest area which sums up to 88, 188 hectares. Most
of these areas were developed into tree
farms by eight People’s Organization,“ he said.
Agusan del Sur PENRO Roberto Oliveros said there
are 5,853.25 hectares of timber lands that have been developed in Loreto under
the NGP since 2011.
About 2,254 hectares of these NGP sites are being
maintained by the Peoples Organization (PO) through the Social Mobilization program
in Loreto and Veruela.
“Today, after a year of struggle, peace has
finally reigned in Loreto. More people are coming out to join the tree planting
program under NGP. The farmers in Barangay Kauswagan are now looking forward to
a bounty harvest from the rubber tree seedlings which they preferred to plant
alongside with the falcata trees. Both trees could earn them several millions
of pesos at the time of harvest four years from now,“ Tamayo said. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)
PNP chief pushes through with Caraga visit
By Noel B. Najarro
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) - Police Director
General Alan LM Purisima, the chief of the Philippine National Police finally
pushes through with his visit on Tuesday at Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez, the
regional headquarters of Police Regional Office 13, here.
PDGen. Purisima and his party arrived Camp
Rodriguez at 10:10 a.m. escorted by outgoing PRO 13 Director CSupt. Dominador
E. Aquino, Jr.; and waived the usual arrival honors but instead gave his
message to the assembled PRO 13 officers, personnel and non-uniformed personnel
who expressed unified support to his leadership headed by the incoming Regional
Director PCSupt. David Y. Ombao.
In his 20-minute message before the assembled
police rank and file and NUPs at the front of the PRO 13 administration
building, the PNP chief commended the Caraga police and NUPs for the warm
welcome afforded to him and his party. He discussed on the core of his
performance governance system (PGS) which is the individual performance
scorecard (IPSC). He emphasized that the police must be a human rights advocate
and protector and be a community relations officer as well.
He said that his administration will be firm
against the members of the force who may undermine the strength of the PNP
ranks by their misdemeanors and abuses, calling them “anay sa hanay” (termites
of the PNP pillars). “They’re but few from among our ranks. We will sweep all
of them,” he said.
He assures the regional police that the
controversies which he is facing at present can be managed by him. “I will face
all of them before the Ombudsman. Just focus on your duties and don’t be
affected by the negative issues thrown against our ranks. Focus on your jobs
and serve and protect the public,” Purisima said.
The PNP chief then officiated the turnover of
Command from outgoing PRO 13 Regional Director PCSupt. Dominador E. Aquino to
incoming Regional Director PCSupt. David Y. Ombao. Aquino will assume as the
new chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations – Eastern
Mindanao (DIPO-EM), after nine months and six days of serving Caraga PNP.
The turnover rites was a well-attended one by LGU
chiefs headed by Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba;
Agusan del Sur Vice Governor Santiago Cane; Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M.
Amante, Jr.; Esperanza, Agusan del Sur Mayor Deo Manpatilan, Jr.; regional,
provincial and municipal advisory councils; AFP counterparts headed by Col.
Jonathan Ponce; 402nd Brigade Commander; all the police provincial and city
directors; and the chiefs of government line agencies. Former PRO 13 Regional
Directors and officials Lino Calingasan, Reynaldo Rafal, Samuel Yordan, Ramon
Espiritu and PRO 10 PCsupt. Isagani Genabe were also present.
Purisima in his message commended the more than
nine months accomplishments of CSupt. Aquino, citing the safe release of the
four abducted police personnel by the CPP-NPA last July, the successful
campaign against illegal drugs in coordination with the PDEA 13 where more than
P30 million worth of illegal drugs was seized, arrest of wanted persons,
campaign against illegal logging, gambling and against insurgency.
The PNP chief promised to provide more issued
short firearms for the police personnel, communication and other police
equipments and to look into the housing needs of the police ranks and file in
the region.
The PNP chief also led the PGS conferment of
certificates and awarding of silver eagle award to the municipal police
stations, awarding of medals to the PNP personnel responsible for the 12 most
significant accomplishments in the region, the dedication of the new PRO 13
Training Center and the Regional Public Safety Battalion Annex Building.
The morning activities were capped by a
“Solidarity Boodle Fight” lunch led by PNP chief Purisima himself. (PNA/PIA-Caraga)
153 4Ps beneficiaries attend 'Consumer Education
Seminar'
By Rodrigo R. Matabaran
SURIGAO CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) - A total of 153
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries attended the Consumer
Education Seminar conducted recently by the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) Surigao del Norte held at the Surigao City Cultural Center.
The seminar is part of the culminating activity of
the month long celebration of Consumer Month this year.
In his opening message, DTI-Surigao del Norte
provincial director Celestino L. Negapatan expressed gratitude to city mayor
Ernesto T. Matugas for his support especially the free use of the Cultural
Center as venue of the activity and to all those who attended the seminar
including the officers of Surigao Consumers Association and the Surigao del
Norte Consumer Organization headed by Ms. Monina Corro and Ret. Col. Nestor
MindaΓ±a, respectively.
He explained that the effort to educate the rural
and urban poor on their rights and responsibilities as consumers is given
consistent focus for them to be capable of making wise purchasing decision and
be able to get the best value of their money.
Director Negapatan further stressed that consumer
education advocacy is one of the strategies of DTI to improve capacity of the
marginalized sectors.
The participants were made to understand that one
of the mandates of DTI along with other government agencies is to enhance and
protect consumer welfare.
Among the topics discussed are the Consumers
Rights and Responsibilities and Consumer Complaint Resolution Mechanism which
were presented by Mr. Rodrigo R. Matabaran, Senior Trade and Industry
Development Specialist and Mrs. Josephine D. Gabutin, Trade and Industry
Development Specialist.
Ms. Gregoria Tisang of the Bureau of Agriculture
Statistics (BAS) presented updates on price situation of agri-fishery products
while Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO) represented by
Engr. Alex Diaz also made presentation
on the electricity supply situation as well as tips in reducing electric power
consumption.
Members of the ConsumerNet, comprising of
government agencies mandated to undertake consumer welfare and protection
functions presented their respective programs and mandates.
Engr.
Virgilio B. Arzadon and Ms. Nenita C. Uy of the Department of Energy
briefed the participants on some tips on how to save electricity, fuel and
liquefied petroleum gas among others.
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)
represented by Ms. Virginia K. Delani discussed and encouraged participants to
buy quality and safe food products and medicines while Dr. Leo J. Cauduan of
the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) Caraga Region explained their
agency function as well as the prescribed meat inspection mechanism and
encouraged the group to buy good quality meat for their safety.
The Department of Trade and Industry Caraga
Regional Office was represented by Ms. Billy General who encouraged
participants to assert their rights as consumers and buy products that passed
quality standards further encouraging them to continuously educate themselves.
Participants got the chance to ask ask
clarification on some issues and concerns during the open forum which the
speakers have answered accordingly.
Among the concerns are the electric power rates and low quality products
from China being sold in the local market.
During the closing ceremony, Certificate of
Appreciation were given to all resource speakers, consumer groups leaders and
the representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development headed
by Ms. Shalom D. Sumaguila, Provincial Link and Ms. Anhalou T. Ebol, City Link
who helped organized and mobilized the participation of 4Ps beneficiaries from
Surigao City and the municipalities in the province of Surigao del Norte. (SDR/DTI-Surigao
del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
30IB troops in Surigao Norte intensify defense
tactics against guerrillas
By LT. Ferdinand L. Tutanes
SANTA CRUZ, Surigao del Norte, Nov. 5 (PIA) – In a
successive encounter with more or less 30 New People’s Army (NPAs) believed to
be members of Sandatahang Platun Pampropaganda 16C (SPP16C) Guerilla Front
Committee 16 (GFC16) of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) at
about 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. of November 1, 2014 at Sitio Little Baguio, Brgy
Payapag, Bacuag, this province, 30IB
Philippine Army (PA) Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Arsenio Sadural, in
behalf of his team, honored the soldiers who gallantly perform their duties to
guard civilian communities against hostilities brought about by guerrillas.
"Our
greatest salute to our fallen comrades and we express our deepest sympathies to
the families and friends of our slain comrades. They were killed while
protecting the Filipino people in pursuit for peace and development in the
area. They offered their lives for the sake of the people of Surigao lel Norte.
They will always be remembered as true heroes and their sacrifices will never
be in vain." Sadural said.
A few days before the said encounter, the 30th
Infantry (Python) Battalion received an information from a concerned citizen in
Brgy. Payapag regarding the presence of NPAs, who were extorting food and money
from the barangay folks.
After identifying the area where the armed groups
are, the troops of 30IB conducted combat operations and encountered the said
NPAs. After the first encounter which lasted for thirty (30) minutes, one of
the PA soldiers got killed in action.
On the second encounter, another one got killed in
action and two were slightly wounded. There were also casualties on the rebel
group as evidenced by heavy bloodstains along their routes of withdrawal.
Sadural said the two soldiers died in fulfilling
their duties of defending the sovereignty of our country and protecting the
community against NPA's excessive extortion, deceptive recruitment activities
and spreading of terror. Every army's heart hopes for peace like all of us wish
for and to feel safe anywhere we go and every time we go home to our families
frequently like every ordinary family man does. (SDR/CMO-30IB PA, PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
Phil Army pushes peace initiatives to end
terroristic activities in AgSur
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Nov. 5 (PIA) – "The army
will continue to push the peace initiatives in order to cease terroristic
activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) and for the development to come in,
even if the lives of soldiers are at stakes. We will be able to accomplish the
mandate and vision in a proactive way to promote peace and development in the
area by doing our best to protect the people,” stated 75IB commanding officer
Lt Col Noman Alcovindas following an incident where one Army trooper was slain
in an encounter while patrolling as part of their Community Organizing for
Peace and Development (COPD) program implementation around 8:20 a.m. of
November 2, 2014.
In a press statement released by the 75th infantry
battalion based in Bislig City, the troops led by TSg Leonardo Pilare
reportedly had an encounter with NPA
allegedly members of the Guerilla Front -14, North Eastern Mindanao Regional
Committee in the vicinity of Sitio Maghilot, Barangay Consuelo, Bunawan in
Agusan del Sur.
Capt. Librado Olunan, 75th IB Civil Military
Operations Officer said that the encounter lasted for more than half an hour
that resulted to the death of Pilare.
Olunan said that prior to the incident, they
received series of reports from the concerned citizens that the alleged NPAs
have planned to conduct harassment such as extortion, burning of equipment, and
kidnapping to the identified big establishments just like what they did in the
provinces of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.
The COPD team aims to bring the government closer
to the people as catalyst in bringing the gaps for the delivery of basic
services . (NGBT/CMO-75IB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Surigao Norte farmer groups undergo organizational
needs, design assessments
By Daryll M. Tumbaga
SURIGAO CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) – Two Agrarian Reform
Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) underwent recently an Organizational Enterprise
Needs Assessment and Design Assessment (OE-NADA).
The two ARBOs were the Rural Improvement Club
Producer Cooperative (RIPROCO) of Brgy. Capalayan, Surigao City and the Alipao
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ALMUCO) of Brgy. Alipao, Alegria, all in Surigao del
Norte province.
The identified proposed Agrarian Reform Community
Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCESS) projects that will be
managed by the said ARBOs are Mechanized Palay Production and Marketing project
to be implemented by RIPROCO and the Enhance Palay Mechanization for ALMUCO.
The evaluation was conducted at Capalayan Brgy
Hall for RIPROCO by the Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU)-Cantilan
Campus while ALMUCO was evaluated at Alipao Elementary School by SDSSU-Tandag
Campus.
The OE-NADA aimed to assess the opportunities
available in the Agrarian Reform areas where the proposed enterprise of the
concerned ARBOs will be based.
OE-NADA also intended to evaluate the needs and
readiness of the respective ARBOs that will serve as their preparation as they
embark on another organizational milestone where they will have to manage
projects given to them by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through its
(ARCCESS) program.
The OE-NADA was conducted in collaboration with
the personnel of DAR-Surigao Norte’s Technical Advisory Support Services headed
by Ms. Merlita D. Aranas, Agrarian Reform Program Officer II. (SDR/DAR-Surigao
del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Tagalog News: Palasyo nakikiisa sa paggunit ng
International Day para wakasan ang impunidad para sa kriminalidad laban sa mga
mamamahayag
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Nov. 5 (PIA) - Inanunsiyo ng
Palasyo noong Linggo sa hanay ng mga mamamahayag na ito ay nakikiisa sa United
Nations sa paggunita ng International Day para Wakasan ang Impunidad para sa
Krimen Laban sa mga Mamamahayag.
"Nakikiisa ang pamahalaan sa hanay ng mga
mamamahayag at ang lahat na kabilang sa sektor ng pangmadlang komunikasyon
(mass communications) sa paggunita ng International Day to End Impunity for
Crimes Against Journalists," sabi ni Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. sa isang panayam sa radio dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
Inulit ni Coloma ang sinabi ni Pangulong Benigno
Aquino III sa kanyang mensahe noong Foreign Correspondents Association of the
Philippines forum na: “Nagbago na ang sitwasyon. Tapos na ang panahon sa ating
bansa na kung saan ang pamamahayag ng mga peryodista ay binubusalan o kung saan
ginagamit ang kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan upang pigilin ang malayang
pamamahayag.”
Naalaala ng Communications Secretary na lumikha si
Pangulong Aquino ng Inter-Agency Committee para sa Extralegal Killings,
Enforced Disappearances, Torture at iba pang grabeng paglabag ng karapatan sa
buhay, kalayaan at Seguridad ng Tao pagkatapos lagdaan ang Administrative Order
Blng. 35 noong 2012.
"(Dahil dito) bumuo ng dedikadong pangkat ang
pamahalaan upang ibayo pang mapabilis ang pagtugis at paglilitis ng mga sangkot
sa pagpaslang o karahasan laban sa mga mamamahayag katuwang ang ating mga
kaibigan at kasamahan sa media," sabi ni Coloma.
Dagdag pa niya na ang pamahalaan ay mahigpit na
nakipag-ugnayan sa National Press Club para malutas ang extrajudicial na
pagpatay sa mga mamamahayag.
"Sa katunayan po ay masinsin ang
pakikipag-ugnayan ng National Press Club sa ating tanggapan, ang Presidential
Communications Operations Office, sa pagtutok sa mga update hinggil sa mga kaso
ng karahasan laban sa mga mamamahayag," sabi ni Coloma.
Dagdag pa niya na ang pagkakaaresto kay retiradong
Heneral Jovito Palparan at ang pag baba ng insidente ng mga pagpatay sa media
ay ang direktang resulta ng nasabing kooperasyon.
"Malaking pagbabago sa mga naitala o nabalido
(validated) na extralegal killings, mula 168 noong nakaraang administrasyon
tungo sa 42 sa nakalipas na apat na taon ng administrasyong Aquino," sabi
ni Coloma
"Makakaasa ang sambayanan na hindi titigil
ang ating pamahalaan upang itaguyod ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag at patuloy nating
kinikilala at hinihirang ang kanilang mahalagang ambag sa pagpapatatag ng
demokrasya sa ating bansa," dagdag pa niya. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
