DILG Caraga confers SGLG 2015 awards
By Don Manuelo O. Patrimonio
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 1 (PIA) - The Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga Region held the regional conferment
ceremony for the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2015 dubbed as “Pagkilala
sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal” last August 25 in one of the
convention centers here.
The activity was participated in by 252 persons
composed of two governors, 30 mayors, 35 local officials, 20 local
functionaries, 92 DILG officers and employees, eight regional
directors/representatives of SGLG regional partner agencies and 65 LGU
personnel.
It was held as the culminating activity for the
SGLG assessment conducted in 2014 and to confer the SGLG awardees their SGLG
markers, Governance Assessment Reports as well as the Performance Challenge
Fund ceremonial checks amounting to P7 million for the provinces, P5 million
for the cities and P3 million for the municipality as incentive to the
awardees. The activity also aimed to encourage other local government units to
emulate the recipient LGUs since passing the SGLG not only allows LGUs to
access the PCF but also opens windows for development offered by the national
government and financing institutions as well.
Among those conferred the SGLG 2015 awards were:
Municipality of Socorro, Surigao del Norte received by Mayor Denia Florano;
Province of Agusan del Sur received by Vice Gov. Santiago Cane; Province of
Dinagat Islands received by Vice Gov. Benglen Ecleo; Province of Agusan del
Norte received by Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba; and the Province of
Surigao del Norte received by Gov. Sol Matugas.
Also conferred were the 73 other municipalities,
cities and province that were given their certificates of recognition with
their Governance Assessment Reports; and the regional offices of the SGLG
partner agencies (i.e. COA, OCD, DepEd, DSWD, DOH, NCIP, DENR, DTI and PNP).
Other checks for other DILG-funded water and road
projects were also awarded during the event. These were the projects availed
through the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB), SALINTUBIG and PAMANA projects.
A total of P6 million worth of checks were
released to three municipalities of Agusan del Sur, La Paz with P1 million;
P4.25 million for Prosperidad; and P750 Thousand to Rosario, for their BUB
Water Projects; while the municipality of Tubajon, Dinagat Islands received P1
million for their SALINTUBIG Project; and the province of Surigao del Norte
with P800 thousand for their water project funded through PAMANA.
P120 million was also released to the province of
Agusan del Norte; P64 million to the province of Agusan del Sur; and P40
million to the province of Surigao del Norte for their road projects funded
through PAMANA.
“We are very much honored for being conferred this
prestigious award of the DILG. […] We commit to establish an ideal place to
live in thru the promotion of peace, public order and safety, ensuring
integrity of environment, building up of the rural areas, putting in place
livelihood and other economic opportunities especially in tourism; advancement
in support of sustainable agriculture; and provision of inclusive social and
health services founded on a meaningful and strong partnership with civil
society and the value of bayanihan which is very alive in Socorro,” says Mayor
Denia Florano of Socorro, Surigao del Norte, the sole SGLG awardee from the
cities and municipalities of the Region.
“We are elated to be able to pass the stringent
procedures for the Seal of Good Local Governance. […] The challenge for us is how to maintain
this [but] rest assured […] we will do our best to be able to make it again next
year,” says Agusan del Norte Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba.
“[We] thank [the] officials of DILG, especially to
Sec. Roxas for conceiving a high level of award, the Seal of Good Local
Governance. We commend you and we appreciate you for your efforts to recognize
the little efforts that we contribute to nation building,” says Surigao del
Norte Gov. Sol F. Matugas.
The Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)
originated from Seal of Good Housekeeping that promotes transparency and
accountability in local government operations. The SGLG was introduced to
challenge local governments to continue the good governance practices while
providing better public services, prepare for the challenges posed by disaster,
sensitive to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the society, encourage
investment and employment, protect the constituents from threats to life and
security, safeguard the integrity of the environment. (DILG-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Agnor ARB wins Land Bank’s 2015 Gawad Pitak
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 1 (PIA) - Ruben Ragas, a
vegetable farmer in Barangay Sanghan in Cabadbaran City, has again set another
milestone by streaking a record grand victory as 2015 Ulirang Magsasaka during
the 25th Land Bank Gawad sa Pinakatanging Kooperatiba (Gawad Pitak 2015) in
line with the 52nd Anniversary celebration of Land bank of the Philippines
(LBP) held at the Land Bank Plaza in Malate, Manila on August 7, 2015.
Ragas, together with his wife Fe, joyfully
received the award handed-over by keynote speaker and former senator Ramon
Magsaysay Jr. along with Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisma, Land Bank
president and CEO Gilda E. Pico, Treasurer Roberto B. Tan and CDA chair Orlando
Ravanera.
“Winning 100 thousand worth of fixed assets is a
blessing or reward for years of productive work,” he said.
In 2014, Ragas was also conferred as the “Ulirang
Magsasaka” 1st runner-up honors during the 24th Annual Gawad Pitak where he won
P75,000 fixed assets.
“I really appreciate the Land Bank’s way of
recognizing the farmers performance and of course the Department of Agrarian
Reform whose vision is to empower the farmers in rural communities,” he said.
“I am proud
as part of this milestone given due recognition of all my untiring effort. It
brings us encouragement to elevate socio-economic condition not only in my
family but also to those in need,” Ruben added.
Ragas, who continuously cultivated the piece of
land that was awarded to him by the Department of Agrarian Reform, is now
paving his way to success. Over 15 years, he reckoned the blessings from his
farm. As an agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB), he strived to increase the farm
production successfully and profitably giving due respect to mother nature by
way of fostering integrated and diversified farming system.
The DAR in this province headed by Provincial
Agrarian Reform Program Officer Andre B. Atega expressed its heartfelt
congratulations to Ragas and his family for this important milestone in their
lives, as it depicts the successes in agrarian reform program implementation in
this province.
The LANDBANK Gawad PITAK is anchored on the importance of giving due
recognition to the farmer-sector and cooperatives whose hard work and effort
promote positive outcome toward progress. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)
Surigao Norte joins observance of 21st National
Crime Prevention Week, Peace Month
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 1 (PIA) -
Local and national government agencies have joined in unison the observance of
the 21st National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW) and Peace Month that kicked-off
Tuesday with a motorcade around the city's major thoroughfares.
The opening ceremony was participated in by the
personnel from the Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local
Government, members of the City and Provincial and Peace and Order Council,
government employees from the national line agencies and representatives from the
non-government organization.
This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme,
“Krimen ay Tudukan Karapatan ay Igalang.”
Other lined-up activities for the month-long
celebration include, radio guesting or information dissemination on crime
prevention, school-based awareness drive on crime and drug abuse, skills
training, barangay-based awareness drive on responsible parenthood for crime
prevention, zumba and walk for peace.
There will also be an awarding of provincial
outstanding Barangay Peace and Order Committee (BPOC) and provincial winners of
Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
4ID commander presides at 36IB HQ command
turn-over in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 1 (PIA) –
MGen. Oscar Lactao, commander of 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Philippine
Army (PA), has presided the turn-over of command ceremony at the headquarters
of 36th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Dayo-an, Tago town on Monday.
Lt. Col. Randolph Rojas, new battalion commander,
replaced Lt. Col. Anastacio Suayabaguio, Jr.
The next assignment of the bemedalled former
battalion commander, who spent two years and 15 days of successful tour of
duty, was not immediately known.
MGen. Lactao, who was the keynote speaker apart
from being the presiding officer, told Suaybaguio, in the meantime, to go for
“rest and recreation” with his wife and family as the “division” is yet to
decide what “next higher level of responsibility” will be given to him.
On the other hand, citing a lot of
responsibilities for a battalion commander to take, Lactao admitted to have
“second thoughts” on appointing Rojas to the post, considering his being a
true-blooded Surigaonon, but decided to give it to the latter, anyway, for the
same reason. The new installed “batcom” bared during his speech upon assumption
of command that he hails from Bislig City.
Also, the 4ID commander, in his keynote speech,
requested the support of all stakeholders for Lt. Col. Rojas, especially the
political leaders, media, business sector, and civil society organizations.
Prior to his new post, Rojas has been the
executive officer (EX-O) of the 402nd Infantry Brigade under Col. Isidro
Purisima.
The top personalities here, both in the civilian
and military sectors, who graced the occasion, were Governor Johnny Pimentel,
several mayors, Col. Alexander Macario and Col. Isidro Purisima, respectively,
of the 401st and 402nd Infantry Brigades.
The turn-over of command ceremony that kicked off
at 10:00 a.m. culminated with a simple lunch. (Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
USTDA partners with PH to promote value in public
procurement
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 1 (PIA) – The United States
Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), in cooperation with the Philippine
Government Procurement Policy Board’s Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO),
kicked off today a three-day procurement workshop under USTDA’s Global
Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value (GPI).
As part of the GPI Procurement Assistance Program,
USTDA will provide training and technical assistance to help the Philippine
government incorporate life-cycle cost analysis and value for money elements
into its procurement practices, which will help increase international
competition and facilitate improved procurement outcomes for infrastructure
projects in the Philippines.
“This program is an invaluable step in
strengthening economic cooperation between the United States and the
Philippines," said Michael Klecheski, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S.
Embassy, Manila. "The program supports all the efforts of the Government
of the Philippines to promote transparency and good governance, with the
overarching goal of obtaining the best value and quality for government funds.”
The three-day workshop, which was developed in
collaboration with GPPB-TSO, provides training to 50 public procurement officials
from GPPB-TSO and other Philippine government departments. Led by USTDA, the workshop will include
sessions taught by the George Washington University Law School’s Government
Procurement Law Program and technical specialists in the transportation sector. It will focus on how to obtain the best value
for the Government of the Philippines in civil works by incorporating tools
such as life-cycle cost analyses, total cost of ownership and savings over time
into its procurement practices.
The Procurement Assistance Program will advance
the Government of the Philippines’ 2016 agenda to reform public procurement and
increase infrastructure spending. It
also supports USTDA’s goal of leveling the playing field for U.S. companies
seeking to compete in large-scale infrastructure tenders around the world.
(U.S. Embassy/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte town holds public hearing on local
investments, incentives code
CLAVER, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 1 (PIA) – In its
effort to further accelerate the economic growth of this municipality, the
Sangguniang Bayan conducted a public hearing on the proposed Local Investments
and Incentives Code (LIIC) held recently at Claver Municipal Gym, this
province.
The presentation of the proposed ordinance was
done by councilor Tresa P. Placencia, the primary sponsor of the said
legislation and councilor Nilson B. Ocon.
The public hearing was attended by government
officials of the municipality and different barangays, representatives of the
existing mining companies, business sectors and different community
organizations.
The local legislation is in support to the economic
development agenda of mayor Eddie P. Gokiangkee aim to attract more private
investments in different sectors.
The local officials realized that it needs to
pursue a more balanced development of the municipality to be sustainable in the
long term and not just totally rely on its booming mining industry.
Although its huge nickel deposits can still
sustain operation of the existing companies for the succeeding years, the local
government pushed for the development of different sectors which they think will
sustain the growth of the economy and provide employment of the local manpower.
Among others, some of the priority projects
proposed to be given local tax incentives includes eco-tourism, agri-business,
light manufacturing industries, aqua-culture, housing development, environment
and waste management.
Interested investors need to have at least a
capital investment amounting to not less than P1 million and employment of not
less than ten workers.
The proposed local investments and incentives code
of the municipality fully supports and align with its Municipal Comprehensive
Development Plan and Land Use Plan.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del
Norte Supervising Trade and Industry Development Specialist Rodrigo R.
Matabaran explained during the public hearing that the initiative of the LGU in
coming up its LIIC is timely considering the present thrusts of the national
government to improve the country’s economic competitiveness.
He also explained that based on the results of the
2015 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) assessment
conducted by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), the municipality of
Claver was ranked 50th most competitive municipality out of 462 municipalities
in the 1st and 2nd Class Municipalities Category throughout the country.
The enactment of the LIIC is expected to improve
the competitiveness score of Claver in the next year’s CMCI survey, Matabaran
added. (SDR/DTI-SdN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
SurSur guv inks Negosyo Center MOA with DTI, EO
for Provincial MSMED Council reorg
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 1 (PIA) –
Governor Johnny Pimentel, Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Council (PMSMEDC) chair, has signed on Thursday in a formal
ceremony the Negosyo Center Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as the Executive Order (EO) reorganizing
the Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council
at the Negosyo Center located at the DTI office here.
With the officials and members of the Provincial
Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (PSMEDC) in attendance, the
signing of the two important documents signified the tie-up between the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Provincial Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises Development Council (PMSMEDC), all of this province, to
undertake program in accordance with Republic Act 10644 otherwise known as the
“Go Negosyo Act.”
As parties to the MOA, containing five articles,
both the DTI provincial office, represented by Romel Oribe, OIC-provincial
director, and the PMSMEDC, represented by Governor Pimentel as “PROGRAM
PARTNER” have mutually agreed under certain premises to work together to achieve
six objectives they have enumerated, to wit:
1. To facilitate ease of doing business of potential and existing MSMEs
in the area; 2. To provide technical expertise and services to accelerate
development of SMEs; 3. To build
competencies of the MSMEs; 4. To access technical advice through coaching
session; 5. To improve managerial skills and enhance entrepreneurial behavior,
and; 6. To develop a more dynamic,
competitive and sustainable MSMEs in Surigao del Sur.
As stated, the MOA is renewable every year upon
agreement of both parties.
Meanwhile, Executive Order No. 6, series of 2015,
titled “REORGANIZATION OF THE SURIGAO DEL SUR PROVINCIAL MICRO, SMALL AND
MEDIUM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (PMSMED) COUNCIL AND CREATION OF WORKING
COMMITTEES,” was also signed by Governor Pimentel, being the chair of the
PMSMEDC, whose works include supervision of the Negosyo Center.
Prior to the signing, referring to the MOA,
Director Oribe said “basically this is about the usual function of the
Provincial SMED Council, because, again, the Negosyo Center being the battle
cry now of the president (PNoy)—actually now, it was passed as a law, sponsored
by Sen. Bam (Aquino)—our president would like to have all cities,
municipalities and provinces come up with a Negosyo Center because we want to
create Philippines such an entrepreneurial country. . . so meaning we’ll do our
very best, everyone of us, to make the lives of our business persons easier.”
On the other hand, after signing the MOA, the
governor stressed in his brief message that “the objective of the MOA is to
make it easier for businessmen and entrepreneurs to do business with the
government. The issue before is that it
is very hard to do business in the Philippines, not only for small and medium
entrepreneurs but also for foreign investors.”
Early on, in the same message, Pimentel said “in
behalf of the provincial government, of which I am the chief executive, I would
like to congratulate DTI and, of course, the SMED Council and the small and
medium entrepreneurs for…the signing of the MOA for our Negosyo Center.” (Radyo
ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
