Butuan hosts multi-sectoral forum on West PH Sea
issue
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) – The Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) held an
information drive through a Multi-Sectoral Forum on West Philipppne Sea (WPS)
Issue here on Tuesday.
The more than 150 participants are composed of
farmers and fisherfolks, heads and representatives from the national government
agencies, academe, media, local government units, business and religious
sectors.
In his welcome message, PIA Caraga regional
director Abner Caga stressed that the discussion on the West Phil. Sea is so
important for Filipinos to protect their interest and rights when it comes to
the maritime rights of the country. “So, as participants in this forum, you
will serve a function as immediate multipliers by cascading the information to
the communities by keeping them informed about the issue on West Philippine Sea
and the interventions made by the government,” Caga said.
Meanwhile, during a presentation of the rationale
of the forum, PIA Caraga administrative officer and Surigao del Norte
information center manager Venus Garcia also emphasized that the participation
of the stakeholders plays a vital role in manifesting the same wave of
patriotism. Garcia added that the WPS concern is not a battle resorting by
force but a battle in claiming the Filipinos’ legitimate territorial rights.
“Let us rally together to support the government’s undertakings on this issue.
It is incumbent upon each of us to do our share,” she said.
As pointed out by guest speaker and DFA's senior
assistant of the undersecretary for policy Ma. Teresa Almojuela, “the country
has legitimate right on the West Phil. Sea as enshrined in the International
Law, and that China is claiming what is ours, thus, the Filipinos should defend
what is rightfully ours.”
Almojuela relayed that according to surveys, nine
out of 10 Filipinos support the claim of the Philippine government on West
Phil. Sea. “Our actions are based and are consistent with the rule of law. We
hope for positive results and we are near to completion. Let's keep talking
about this and keep the stakeholders in engaging into this undertakings,"
Almojuela added.
“To secure peace and security, the government
implements a whole of a nation approach, and our country projects a credible
defense posture. The security clusters continuously engage on briefings and
meetings to come up with better assessment and resolutions regarding the
dispute,” explained Almojuela.
Meanwhile, staff director of the PIA program
management division Emelyn Libunao expressed that, "as a Filipino, each of
us must engage and participate in delivering the message that we are determined
to claim and defend what is legitimately ours by disseminating our acquired
information especially on matters of the West Philippine Sea Issue."
Also, Libunao underscored during the open forum
that the country is anchoring in the guiding principle of respect to the
primacy of the rule of law. “Waging war is not our end option, we want to help
our fellow Filipinos understand that we are determined to defend what is
legitimately ours,” she remarked.
Participants heard the message of Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma through an audio-visual
presentation emphasizing the vital role of communicators in the different
communities especially in upholding the Filipinos’ legitimate rights towards
the West Philippine Sea.
The multi-sectoral forum is one of the key
activities of the information dissemination campaign targeting professionals
down to the grassroot level. (JPG/DJA/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Youth joins West Philippine Sea forum in Butuan
City
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) - More than 200
students and campus youth leaders from different colleges and universities
attended the Campus Forum on West Philippine Sea (WPS) Issue on Wednesday at
Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU), this city.
The forum, organized by the Philippine Information
Agency (PIA) Caraga and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership
with the civil military operations (CMO) battalion, 4th Infantry Division,
Philippine Army (PA), aims to raise awareness among the youth regarding the WPS
issues and concerns and elicit the desired attitude toward and support for the
Philippine position and initiatives in resolving the dispute.
“Everybody knows that China values its image in
global arena to sustain its status in the region that’s why we are trying to
engage with our other friend nations in order for us to attain our goal in
advancing the country’s national interests in its territorial claims and exercise
of its rights at its Exclusive Economic Zone,” enunciated Ma. Teresa Almojuela,
guest speaker and DFA's senior assistant of the undersecretary for policy.
Almojuela discussed further that the web of
relationship with other nations is important to have inclusive rules-based
security level. And it encompasses arbitration as a way to resolve dispute.
“The United States of America is helping the Philippines through enhanced
defense cooperation agreement to strengthen alliance including disaster relief
in a broader scope. We are clearly establishing a strong platform of engagement
with the U.S.,” she added.
As the forum seeks for youth involvement, Lt Col
Arlino Sendaidiego, International Relations Officer, 4ID, PA also mentioned in
his message that in upholding the national interest, which includes the
economy, the young people of today must take part in protecting and defending
the areas under our jurisdiction by supporting the Philippine government’s
approach to resolve the dispute.
Sendaidiego also stressed, "Now is the
appropriate time to rekindle a dose of patriotism. Patriotism literally means
an expression of love and pride for our native land, and for us Filipinos, it
is also seen as an act of defending what is truly and legally ours - the West
Philippine Sea."
“With your presence and involvement in today’s
activity, you are actually taking a step ahead in participating to nation
building as we aim to gain a strategic advantage in pursuit of resolving the
West Philippine Sea dispute. Let us join hand-in-hand in facing a great deal of
challenge in safeguarding our territorial integrity and sovereignty through a
peaceful and diplomatic approach to settling the West Philippine Sea dispute
rather than sit and be complacent about the issue,” emphasized Sendaidiego.
Meanwhile, Lyndon Buque, director of Human
Resource Management & Development of (FSUU) also expressed that the
institution is one with the Philippine government in its claim with its
legitimate rights. FSUU provided the venue for the campus forum as a support to
the WPS advocacy campaign. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DAR Surigao Norte gears up for 2016 targets on
support services
By Daryll M. Tumbaga
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Jan. 29 (PIA) -
The Technical Advisory Support Services (TASS) of the provincial office of the
Department of Agrarian Reform in Surigao del Norte (DAR-SDN) conducted recently
its 2016 target setting and planning workshop on January 18-19, 2016 at DAR-SDN
Conference Room, this city.
Several strategies and plans were identified and
laid out to accomplish the organizational goals given to the division.
The provincial targets include both the Surigao
del Norte and Dinagat Islands provinces.
TASS is expected to reach 18,528 agrarian reform
beneficiaries (ARBs) to undergo different trainings to increase their
productivity and income and thus reach an improved quality of life.
Out of 18,528 ARBs, some 1,140 are targeted to
become members of the agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs)
because only through these ARBOs that these ARBs can access our government
support services.
On the other hand, TASS is also tasked to assess
and capacitate 150 of its assisted ARBOs and provide them the necessary support
services to make their organizations grow and enhance the economic well-being
of its members.
The activity was spearheaded and facilitated by
Ma. Elizabeth L. De Guzman, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I. (DAR-Surigao
del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Cebuano News: 2 ka adlaw nga planning workshop for
women micro-enterpreneurs gipahigayon
Ni Mary Jul Esclante
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Enero 29 (PIA) -
Duha ka adlaw nga Planning Workshop on Shaping Progress for Women
Microentrepreneurs gipahigayon kagahapon niadtong Enero 26 ug 27, 2016 didto sa
Go Negosyo Center, Capitol Compound, ning dakbayan.
Mitambong sa maong workshop si Gobernador Sol F.
Matugas, Bise Gobernador Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr, Kongresista Francisco Matugas
mga board members sama nila Melva Garcia, Regina Alaan, Leonila Gorgolon,
Simeon Vicente Castrence, Mamerto Galanida, Marnito Longos, Victor Borja, mga
federated presidents sa nagkadaiyang women's organizations sa 21 ka mga
munisipyo ning probinsya ug uban pa.
Mihatag ug mensahe ang mga board members
mahitungod sa ilang suporta sa micro-entrepreneurship initiatives sa probinsya
nga gipanghingusgan ni Gob. Matugas alang sa kalambuan sa mga kababainhan sa
lalawigan.
Sa iyang mensahe gisaysay sa gobernador ang mga
inherent power of women nga makaimpluwensya sama sa mga babaye sa bibliya nga
sila Herudias, Jesebel, Delilah ug uban pa.
Naghisgot usab ang gobernador sa umaabot nga
Community Praise and Worship sa mga kababainhan tungod kay ang mga kababainhan
mao ang prayer warriors.
Dugang pa sa gobernador nga maayong ibalik ang mga
karaan nga mga tradisyon sa mga kababainhan sama sa pagborda diin kini
makatabang usab sa pagnegosyo diin ang probinsya mohatag og Kapital pinaagi sa
kooperatiba para mapalambo ang entrepreneurial skills sa mga kababainhan.
Sa iyang bahin si Department of Labor and
Emplyment (DOLE) provincial director Herminihildo Daytoc mipasabot sa informal
sectors accreditation ug pag access sa mga programa ug serbisyo sa DOLE.
Samtang si Romy Ecoben sa TESDA mipasabot usab sa
mga programa ug serbisyo sa Techincal Skills and Development Authority (TESDA)
ug ang women empowerment pinaagi sa entrepreneurship.
Atol sa maong kalihukan ang representante sa
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) mipasabotusb mahitungod sa pag access sa
mga programa ug serbisyo sa DTI. (SDR/PGO-PIC/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
