News Feature: PIA Caraga mobile app achieves
greater leverage
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 23 (PIA) – In keeping a maximum
advantage of providing a unique communication and information dissemination
tool, the ‘PIA Caraga’ mobile application introduced by the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) Caraga has gain a number of users and reaped much
support from different private institutions; government, public and business
sectors shortly in just a quarter of year since it was made available on
smartphones and tablets.
The content and other infographics of said app
provide a comprehensive overview of the relevant activities, developmental
news, weather forecasts and current status during natural disasters, and other
significant updates in the region.
As positively responded by partner agencies to
participate in advocacies in promoting community resiliency, the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG)-13 in particular has issued a regional
memorandum circular to all provincial governors, municipal mayors and punong
barangays encouraging them to maximize the utilization of the mobile app and to
promote the same to all their constituents. “Likewise, all DILG-13
provincial/city directors and city/municipal local government operations
officers (LGOOs) were already directed to cause the widest dissemination of the
issuance in each respective area of responsibility. All DILG-13 personnel were
also instructed to gain access to the app,” bared DILG-13 regional director
Lilibeth Famacion.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd)
Caraga headed by officer-in-charge Dr. Rebecca V. Delapuz has issued a
directive to all schools division superintendents in the region encouraging to
run the application on their mobile devices and cascade the same to all
teaching and non-teaching personnel and students.
During a recent visit also of Mindanao Development
Authority (MinDA) secretary Luwalhati Antonino in Caraga region, PIA Caraga
regional director Abner Caga personally introduced to her this new platform.
Sec. Antonino lauded PIA Caraga for taking the lead in optimizing its services
through this mobile app as a gateway to provide information in a mobile
environment nowadays.
Likewise, Butuan City mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr.
and Agusan del Norte governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba who were
present in that same event had greatly appreciated the localized updates and
information contained in the app that are more relevant to the interests of all
Caraganons.
“PIA Caraga mobile app is also performing well in
the racecourse in light of the booming economy of the city wherein aggressive
strategies to hype public awareness are crucial,” said mayor Amante.
Apart from the usual support of Father Saturnino
Urios University (FSUU) by promoting the app through its electronic billboard,
Jinglong Enterprise also offered to include the PIA Caraga mobile app in the
loop of its advertorials for free via its wide electronic billboard situated in
one of the busiest intersection in the city to attract more people from
downloading the app.
In this city alone, the Robinsons Place Butuan
(RPB), one of the largest and most successful chain of malls in the country
today, is in fact performing its contribution in capturing a wide audience of
merchants and shoppers who are target users of said app. “Aside from
maintaining a legacy of world-class standards in terms of services and
facilities, we also value our indispensable corporate social responsibility and
noteworthy advocacies such as bringing awareness to the public the significance
of ‘PIA Caraga’ mobile app by setting up tarpaulins in conspicuous areas within
the mall announcing its applicability and practicability when downloaded,”
mentioned Dinah Jamero-Pasok, mall operations manager of RPB. Also, a short infomercial
video will soon be viewed at the Robinsons Movieworld to inform moviegoers
about the app.
Meanwhile, the Butuan Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
(BHFHI), a non-government organization working on a mission to provide decent
and durable shelters to disaster-affected families, made known to them the
significance of the app. BHFHI vice president Engr. Heddy Sumalpong said that
more Habitat beneficiaries are now using the app, “keeping them abreast of the
latest weather reports and other news,” she added.
Included in the nifty menu of the app is the
Advanced Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS) Network, the agency’s
information and advocacy station live streaming 24/7, where disaster management
tips, interviews and discussions on significant issues can be heard. The app
also allows users to navigate on features such as the directory of government
offices, maps, news releases, textblast messages, e-magazine, list of contacts
for emergency and quick response, photo sharing and more.
“With the infinite details needed in our everyday
lives, the team took the challenge to employ for a purpose the “brain” in your
smartphones by providing a unique tool for everyone to gain access to sources
of information through PIA Caraga mobile app. This is how we prepare for the
future considering the fast-paced technological advancements. Let’s increase
one’s involvement for a more resilient community,” underscored regional
director Caga. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
SurSur guv, chief agriculturist bare stats on
fruit products
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 23 (PIA) –
Except for the banana industry, which has continued to keep booming in Surigao
del Sur, no particular fruit tree is widely produced and known for in the
province due to diversity, it was learned.
Marcos Quico, provincial chief agriculturist bared
recently in his CY 2014 Accomplishment Report that the average yield by metric
ton per hectare here went as high as 3.50 in 2014, a slight increase of .15
metric tons compared to the preceding year 2013 which posted 3.35 metric tons.
The area planted was estimated at 579.55 hectares,
again exceeding that of the preceding period at 512.55 hectares, he went on to
say.
Prior to last year when production in metric ton
per hectare was placed at 2,028.43—in 2013, the yield was posted at a little
bit lower—1,717.04 metric ton per hectare, according to Quico.
Governor Johnny Pimentel mentioned in his report
on the profile of Surigao del Sur during the visit of Mindanao Development
Authority (MinDA) chair Luwalhati Antonino that the province has “wide
agricultural lands suitable for rice, corn, coconut, banana, coffee, mango
orchard, and other cash crops.”
Meanwhile, in the banana industry, Governor
Pimentel gladly cited the latest data.
“I’d like also to inform Ma’am Luwalhati Antonino
that through our efforts we were able to invite investors in the province and
we are now the number one producer of banana in the entire Caraga region. Sumifro has already developed about 1,500
hectares of banana; DOLE, I think almost 800 hectares of banana; and then just
recently, according to mayor Generoso Naraiso, La Panday Group of Companies
will also be setting up a banana plantation somewhere in Tagbina town. In fact, we have a very modern Sumifro
repacking plant employing, the plant alone, they are employing 200 people,” he
said.
“Total employment of the banana industry is now
almost/more than 2,000 people," the governor added. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SurSur guv seeks MinDA help for more roads
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 23 (PIA) –
Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel recently sought the intervention of
Secretary Luwalhati Antonino of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) for
the construction of more road infrastructures in the hinterland areas of the
province.
The MinDa chair was in the province for an “area
visit” and a meeting, especially with the mayors.
Pimentel admitted that while the concreting of
national highways is no longer a concern, citing the near-completion of main
roads like Surigao-Davao Coastal Road (SDCR) as well as the roads going to
Agusan del Sur, but the province needs more “lateral” roads in far-flung
communities.
Pimentel said “this is where I think probably
Secretary Antonino could come in.”
“Our main trust now is to construct lateral roads
so that we can create growth centers,” he pointed out.
Beforehand, the governor assured “so by the
yearend of 2015, in fact it will not reach the year-end, in the middle of 2015,
we hoped to concrete all the roads from the boundary of Surigao del Norte to
the boundary of Davao Oriental and to the boundary of Agusan del Sur. All of these have already been bidden and all
these have already the funding for the year 2015.”
During the occasion that was held at the
Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO), Pimentel presented before MinDA chair
Antonino the comprehensive profile of Surigao del Sur from its inception up to
the current state of affairs.
In return, Secretary Antonino lauded Governor
Pimentel of his presentation. “I’d like to
congratulate the governor and the whole province of Surigao del Sur for a very
comprehensive plan. And I appreciate the
plans made by the province together with the mayors,” she noted. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
2015 CRAM in SurSur starts with a bang!
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 23 (PIA) – For
the second time around, Surigao del Sur, being the host province, has started
the 18th Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM) with a bang on Sunday, February
22.
It can be recalled that last year, during the 17th
CRAM, the opening day was indeed spectacular!
And true to the expectations, the opening salvo for this year’s regional
competition has been all the more remarkable.
A dazzling lineup of 12 athletic delegations clad
in their uniform each with prescribed color have paraded toward the Surigao del
Sur Provincial Sports Center at past 3:00 p.m. followed by the ribbon-cutting,
program, and playground demonstrations.
After which, the fireworks display went on blazing
at around 7:30 p.m. signaling the formal opening of the regional games.
Former Surigao del Sur 1st district congressman
Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr. was the keynote speaker.
Pichay, chairman and president of the National
Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and a sports enthusiast, stressed
that constant practice is always the key to become a successful athlete.
“There is a great future in sports,” he said,
citing Manny Pacquiao as “one of the greatest Filipino athletes that the
Philippines has ever produced.”
Pichay added, “And Manny Pacquiao, as everybody
knows, is a billionaire!”
The former solon likewise cited the values of
“will, dedication, and focus” in order to become “a very, very good athlete.”
Pichay then posed a challenge to the athletes to
aim high not only in the regional or national sports competition but in the
Olympics to set a record-breaking feat—to win the first ever gold for the
country.
He said that the Philippines, with 100 million
population, has yet to win a gold in the Olympics.
“After this
tournament, if you can be chosen to represent the region in the Palarong
Pambansa, you have to practice to excel, you have to practice to break the
records not just in the region but in the national or even the Olympic
records. If you can break these records
you may become the first Olympian to get a gold (medal) for the Philippines,”
Pichay went on saying.
Moreover, he said, “And I think we can be proud…
that the first gold was actually garnered by somebody from Caraga.” (NGBT/Radyo
g Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Tagalog News: Palasyo inanunsiyo ang opisyal na
pagbisita ng Pangulo ng Pransya sa bansa
AGUSAN DEL SUR, Peb. 23 (PIA) - Ang Pangulo ng
Pransya na si Francois Hollande ay opisyal na bibisita sa bansa, at ito ay
inanunsyo ni Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr., noong Linggo.
Sa isang panayam sa pamamagitan ng dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan, sinabi ni Coloma na si Pangulong Hollande ay sasamahan ng mahigit 100 na
mga delegadong Pransya sa kanyang pagbisita sa bansa sa darating na Pebrero
26-27.
"Ito ang kauna-unahang pagbisita ng isang
nakaupong Pangulo ng Pransya sa ating bansa simula nang magkaroon ng ugnayang
diplomatiko ang ating mga bansa," sabi ni Coloma.
Ang pagbisita ni Pangulong Hollande ay siyang
sagot sa pag-anyaya ni Panguong Benigno Aquino III noong siya ay bumisita sa
Pransya noong nakaraang Setyembre.
Ayon sa Department of Foreign Affairs, ekonomiya
at kalakalan ang adyenda pagdating ng kabilaang pag-uusap.
Ang Pransiya ay pangalawa sa pinakamalaking
kapanig sa pangangalakal ng bansa sa European Union.
Kasama sa mga paksang tatalakayin ay ang paglaban
sa terorismo at climate change.
"Inaasahan ding kukuha ng suporta si
Pangulong Hollande sa usapin ng climate change bilang paghahanda sa gaganaping
ika-21 na pagpupulong ng Conference of Parties or COP 21 sa Paris sa darating
na Disyembre 2015 na lalahukan ng humigit-kumulang na 40,000 katao mula sa
iba’t ibang panig ng mundo," dagdag ni Coloma. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
