AgSur to implement PAMANA-DILG multi-million
projects
By David M. Suyao
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Mar. 19 (PIA) - The
provincial government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) is now ready to implement the
multi-million worth of projects from the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan -
Department of the Interior and Local Government (PAMANA-DILG) Fund that will
finance ten projects ranging from road concreting, road rehabilitation,
construction of potable water supply, installation of potable water system and
the construction of bridges.
In a presentation before Agusan del Sur Gov.
Adolph Edward Plaza, DILG Caraga regional director Lilibeth Famacion and the
PAMANA team of Agusan del Sur and the technical team of DILG Caraga Region,
Regional PAMANA focal person Annabelle Ivy Boquirin presented ten projects to
be implemented in the ten municipalities.
“We would like to present to you the ten projects
lined up for implementation in Agusan del Sur for 2015 so that we can identify
what projects the PAMANA team will undertake first,” Boquirin said.
The project with the highest budget is the
rehabilitation of National Road Junction (NRJ) – Binucayan, Loreto- Sta. Cruz-
Katipunan- Del Monte, Veruela connecting Veruela and Loreto with the length of
20 kilometers with the cost of P93 million. Second is the concreting of 23
kilometers road from San Luis to Barangay crossing Luna in Esperanza with the
cost of P80 million. Third is the construction of Sta. Irene- La Purisima
bridge in Prosperidad with P30 million, followed by the construction of Baobo
PSCG bridge in Veruela with P25 million, construction of Baily bridge that will
cross Tanyunan creek in Loreto with P15 million budget, the construction of
Kidijay RCDC bridge 1 in Limot, Veruela with P10 million and the rehabilitation
of 1.3 kilometers road of New Tubigon bridge in Sibagat with P10 million.
For the construction of potable water projects,
Barangays Sayon, Angas, Awao, San Jose, Sta. Isabel, Conception, Patrocenio,
Aurora and Pag-asa Poblacion, all in the municipality of Sta. Josefa have P22
million budget while the installation of potable water system in Cebulin and
Tudela in Trento have P3 million budget and another P1 million for Binicalan,
San Luis is set aside.
“We know we encountered some delays in the
liquidation of expended funds therefore, I am asking the PAMANA and DILG to
please consider the climate in Agusan del Sur in order that your release of
funds and our financial accomplishments will synchronize so that every time we
receive the funds and spend them according to the program, we can immediately
liquidate them together with our accomplishments to avoid delays of the
succeeding releases,” Gov. Plaza said.
It was learned that all the provinces of Caraga
Region are recipients of the different programs and projects of the PAMANA
programs. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
News Feature: DAR AgNor land distribution program
reaches 94%, benefits over 20 thousand farmers
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 19 (PIA) - Thousands of farmers
are now landowners of the land they till.
After 27 years since former President Corazon C.
Aquino signed the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Law on June 10,
1988, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Norte empowered
agrarian-beneficiaries by way of social justice brought about by equitable
distribution of lands.
Since the program’s implementation in the
province, the hectarage distributed is now 94 percent or 40,423 hectares had
been handed out of the revised provincial CARP scope of 43,216 hectares and the
number of beneficiaries benefitted reached to 20,312 farmers.
The past 14 years of program’s implementation,
since year 2000 have been an upward slide with a total of 22,860 hectares
distributed, posted a 57 percent growth. This record breaking performance since
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Andre B. Atega, CESO V,
took over DAR this province in 2004.
PARPO II Atega, CESO V, said that the DAR
Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes ordered to deliver all of the remaining land
acquisition and distribution (LAD) balance this year 2015. The directives was
given during the assessment in Manila when DAR Caraga regional director Faisar
Mambuay presented the CARP Status report of Caraga.
Mambuay eventually requested an audience to PARPO
II Andre B. Atega with program implementers in this province for the discussion
on the LAD status for this year, 2015 and ensures the target in this province
is on the right track.
During the meeting, PARPO II Atega, introduced
innovative approach to accelerate land distribution. The goal is to distribute
the remaining 2,793 hectares [2015 target] of land to deliver before the first
semester ends.
“All LAD targets are targeted in the first
semester and a weekly monitoring, with the aid of Office Performance Commitment
and Review (OPCR), ensures the progress on land distribution in this province,”
PARPO II Atega said.
PARO II Andre Atega honored DAR employees and
staff and all CARP Stakeholders in this province who since in his
administration have tirelessly pushed the CARP forward. Because of their
dedication and commitment to the objectives of the program,
farmer-beneficiaries have improved and cooperative turned a bank-like
operation. Their stories are proofs that life after agrarian reform
interventions in this province can indeed be better. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
Surigao Norte tourism sector lays out Climate
Change action plan
By Rodrigo R. Matabaran
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 19 (PIA) -
The local tourism industry laid out action plan for climate smart economic
growth in Siargao Island and Surigao City.
In a two-day workshop on Promotion for Green
Economic Development (PROGED) cum Value Chain Workshop held at two venues on
March 9-10 at Cherinicole Beach Resort, Gen. Luna, Siargao Island and on March
12-13 at Parkway Hotel, this city, a number of stakeholders and key players in
the tourism sector formulated an action plan to address growing concerns of
climate change and its potential consequences to the long term viability of
various enterprises.
Technical experts from GIZ or Gesellschaft fΓΌr
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) of Germany in the persons of Angie
Resurreccion and Raquel Capio facilitated the activity while providing vital
inputs to the participants.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga regional
director Leticia ”Letty” Tan discussed on the greening of the tourism industry
while Ramil J. Leongas, Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) presented various possible greening
strategies for the small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the value chain.
Among the pressing concerns relative to the
expected impact of continuously changing climatic pattern and growing
environmental pressures are the challenges on how to keep and maintain the
natural endowment of identified tourist destinations more particularly in
Siargao and Bucas Grande islands protected areas as well as providing the
needed vital infrastructures and support facilities such as power, water and
transportation.
Meanwhile, DTI provincial director Celestino L.
Negapatan expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the financial and technical
support of GIZ and for making the activity a remarkable success in terms of
creating awareness to the tourism industry players, the potential effects of
climate change and helping them formulate action plans for their respective
enterprises and collectively for the whole local tourism industry.
A total of 130 participants joined the activity
and actively participated in the discussions and workshops conducted in two
locations. Sixty participants attended the session in Gen. Luna, Siargao while
70 stakeholders joined the workshop in Surigao City.
For those interested about PROGED and other
related concerns, feel free to visit the DTI Provincial Office located at 2nd
Floor, Simtoco Business Center and look for Evelyn C. Arlan, Trade and Industry
Development Specialist (TIDS) or contact them through these numbers: (086)
232-4037 and 826-2373. (SDR/DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
New building for cops opens in Bacuag
By John Glenn Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 19 (PIA) –
Bacuag town mayor Sheila Mae. O. Cebedo officiated the turn-over and blessing
of a new station building for the Philippine National Police (PNP) on March 16,
2015 at Bacuag poblacion, this province.
The new PNP building worth P4.6 million courtesy
of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was constructed with
the assistance and support of Governor Sol F. Matugas.
Mayor Cebedo, who presently chairs the League of
Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Surigao del Norte chapter, also
donated office tables and chairs, beside a complete set of computer items for
office use.
Cebedo was joined by members of the Sangguniang
Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Columbano Manliguis, Jr., and League of Barangays
headed by the Provincial Federated President Ebro Joy Orquina who is currently
serving as Provincial Board Member.
She then thanked PNP regional director David
Yalong Ombao for being competent, experienced, and versatile.
She also cited the priceless contributions of Col.
Henry Dar of the Philippine Army, provincial director PSSupt. Julito Diray, PNP
regional chaplain PSupt. Joselito Borja, regional logistics officer PSSupt Ruel
Acidre, and Provincial Public Safety Company group director PSupt. Rudy
Elandag.
“The long awaited project is here, the long wait
for the people of Bacuag especially for our PNP is over, finally our dreams
came into reality, I have dreamt of this building since my first day into
office as the municipal mayor, I am longing for this beautiful and conducive
PNP building, and sa wakas heto na po, before my last term ends natayo na ang
isa sa mga pangarap ko - to have this kind of building for my PNP family. Our
heartfelt gratitude to our PNP national headquarters for helping us realize our
dream,” Mayor Cebedo said.
Mayor Cebedo also thanked the entire police force
for shelling out funds to realize the dream of Bacuag PNP to have their own
building and for putting Bacuag a top priority especially in constructing PNP
building to cater the needs and meet the demands of the clients in the police
station.
"I encourage the municipal police personnel
to be inspired with the new building which was praised as the most 'decent and
beautiful' in the province. And I hope that your new house is not only decent
in appearance but also in acts and deeds," said Mayor Cebedo.
Rest assured, Cebedo added, that the local
officials will always support your programs and activities for the betterment
of our people so let us help one another for the peace and harmony of Bacuag.
Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. May God bless us
all," she concluded.
The two-storey PNP building has a spacious chief
of police office, other offices intended for the children and women's desk,
intelligence and investigation department, separate prison cells for both men
and women inmates, comfort rooms and a covered rooftop which could be used for
several functions. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
SurSur guv calls for PPOC meeting
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 19 (PIA) –
Governor Johnny Pimentel has set an afternoon meeting with the members of the
Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), which he chairs, on March 20, 2015
at the Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) Conference Room, Capitol Building
here.
In the invitation letter dated March 6, 2015,
topics for discussion, among other matters, include the following: Distribution of checks for CLIP enrollees;
Presentation and Endorsement of PAMANA 2015 Projects; Creation/Organization of
HRAC and Rol in the PPOC; Updates on Conflict Situation; Updates on Criminality
and Law Enforcement.
Meanwhile, Maria Lourdes Martinez, program manager
of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) here, confirmed
that DILG Caraga regional director Lilibeth Famacion has also called for a
meeting regarding Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) in the morning of the
same day.
It was learned that Oliver Binancilan,
OPAPP-PAMANA area coordinator, is going to be present.
Both gatherings will be attended by almost the
same personalities, Martinez indicated. (GBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao
del Sur)
