SurSur guv welcomes newly-deployed AFP troops
By Daisy Jane M. Apit
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) – In hopes of an
insurgency-free province, Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel together
with the officials from the military, local government, and media welcomed the
16th Infantry "Maglilingkod" Battalion (16IB) of the Philippine Army
at Tandag City Airport in Tandag City on Wednesday, January 20.
“The deployment of these troops will help make the
province an insurgency-free area. As they say, we cannot attain development
without achieving peace,” Gov. Pimentel said.
Pimentel also expressed confidence that the troops
will take efficient and effective measures against the New People’s Army (NPA)
especially in the upcoming elections wherein threats of the communist group’s
harassments are presumed.
He further added that the local government under
his administration is in full support to all activities and endeavors of the
Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
especially in stabilizing the peace and security of the province.
Accordingly, the 16IB led by Ltc Andres Ferrer was
previously stationed and assigned in Oriental Mindoro in Luzon before it was
placed under the operational control by the 402nd Infantry "Stingers"
Brigade. They will now be part of the said brigade which covers the whole
Surigao del Sur as its area of responsibility. (DJA/PIA-Caraga)
Illegal squatters hinder installation of PIA
Caraga radio equipment for disaster operation
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) – The increasing number
of illegal squatters near the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga
regional office here has caused the delay of the installation of the agency’s
state-of-the-art radio equipment in the area.
The installation of the radio equipment is
intended to help the community to become disaster-resilient through proper and
right information.
As the information arm of the government, PIA
Caraga has been innovating and initiating different activities and projects
that will help the local citizens be well-informed, and create a community that
is disaster-resilient that knows what to do in any eventualities.
PIA has long-planned to install the tower, radio
equipment and other facility of its radio station also known as 107.8 MHz Power
FM and Advanced Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS) Network at the
government space in front of PIA building.
It can be recalled that in the last quarter of
2015, PIA Caraga has already sent a communication letter addressed to the city
government here through the City Legal Office indicating its request to
demolish the illegal squatters occupying the PIA space but the agency has yet
to receive an official response.
Also, PIA believes that the city government should
also prioritize the safety of the employees as well as the properties of the
government offices. Reports revealed the increasing number of illegal
squatters, which threatens the security of the government agencies in the area.
PIA-Caraga regional director Abner Caga bared that
the agency’s plan to install the state-of-the-art radio equipment should not be
delayed as disaster could happen any time.
“As we innovate and create other strategies to
effectively do our functions as trusted information arm of the government, we
could not afford to delay any development which will benefit the majority. We
hope the city legal office will take action and do necessary response. They
have the authority to do what is needed,” expressed Caga.
It was learned that the upgraded radio
equipment/facility, which will be installed by PIA will now reach other
municipalities and provinces in the region. Also part of the whole plan was to
allocate a space for a parking lot intended for government vehicles and
clients.
PIA Caraga is the only regional office that has
established its own radio station among other regions nationwide. The agency
has been broadcasting different developmental advocacy in partnership with
other agencies and continuously giving relevant information to the public
through announcements. It is also known for its useful platforms using various
media, which are accessible and convenient. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Sursur guv grants “doable” IP evacuees’ demand
By Daisy Jane M. Apit
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) – Surigao del Sur
governor Johnny Pimentel assured the Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) evacuees who are
temporarily seeking shelter at the sports center in Tandag City that they will
only grant their “doable” demand.
“Their
demands are first, to catch the suspects of the killings of the three Lumad
leaders from Lianga town. Second, is to make the military take responsibility
of the said killings. Next, is to stop the implementation of Oplan Bayanihan in
the province. Fourth, is to resume the national peace talks with the Communist
Party of the Philippines (CPP). The last, more or less, is also to stop the
military operations in the area. The only doable is their first demand, so if
we will be able to catch the perpetrators soon then maybe we can make a
compromise for them to return home,” Pimentel said.
Governor Pimentel explained that their other
demands are not likely to happen for the reason that the military is clearly
not involved in the said crime and that the Oplan Bayanihan program and holding
the ntional peace talks are already beyond the provincial government’s
jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, he also said that the families are well
provided with food, water and that the local government unit regularly collects
their garbage everyday.
Presently, from about 260 families or 3,200
individuals who have evacuated after five months, the remaining evacuees
staying in the said area are only 2,486 individuals. (DJA/PIA-Caraga)
DA Caraga gives access for more opportunities
By Rhea C. Abao
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) – The Department of
Agriculture (DA) Caraga successfully turned-over the concreted farm to market
road (FMR) with a project cost worth P10 million in Brgy. Pinana-an, Las
Nieves, Agusan del Norte last January 15.
DA Caraga regional director Edna M. Mabeza
personally witnessed the said ceremony with Municipal Mayor of Las Nieves
Avelina S. Rosales and barangay officials of Pinana-an.
“The DA Caraga through the Farm to Market Road
Development Program (FMRDP) continues to provide allocation of funds to
congressional districts. This is to equitably distribute the projects to serve
the farmers in the region,” said director Mabeza.
In 2015, DA-FMRDP has an allocation of P390
million for FMR projects distributed to the five provinces of the region. As of today, a total of 24 kilometers FMR was
completed in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH); Agusan del Norte with 7 kilometers, Agusan del Sur with 4.44
kilometers, and Surigao del Norte with .5 kilometers.
“Brgy. Pinana-an is grateful to receive the farm
to market road. This helps the farmers
and also the constituents of our barangay in transporting farm products much
easier and has provided us access to more opportunities and basic social
services,” said Brgy. Kagawad Elesio T. Diez.
The said FMR is a joint undertaking of the DA and
DPWH in which aside from providing the funds. DA also conducts the pre-implementation
activities, monitoring and evaluation during the construction while DPWH does
the implementation activities including the preparation of all documents,
procurement and oversees the construction phase.
DA’s sincere commitment to further promote agricultural
development continues. For this year FMRDP has an allocation of P417 million
for Caraga region. The department continues to extend development interventions
to isolated and hard-to-reach areas ensuring that farmers are not left behind.
(DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
SurSur COMELEC all set for PJSCC command
conference
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Jan. 21 (PIA) – The
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) provincial office here is all set to chair
the holding of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) command
conference at the Capitol Social Hall at 9:00 a.m. on January 22, 2016.
Invitations to all concerned, particularly for
both the army and the police, were already sent out, it was learned.
Other stakeholders, especially state agencies that
normally play a key role every time polls are being conducted like the
Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH), Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, City
Prosecutor’s Offices, including electric utilities, were on the list of
invitees.
“In preparation for the upcoming May 9, 2016
National and Local Elections and to ensure a fair and secure conduct of this
electoral activity, our office will be conducting a Provincial Joint Security
Control Center (PJSCC) Conference,” Atty. Ernie Palanan, provincial election
supervisor II, stated in all the letters of invitation.
However, in
the attached copy of the official programme, the COMELEC here had pointed out
matters to be undertaken, citing Preparation and Anticipation of Concerns for
the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections; Inputs and Concerns;
Guidance/Updates; Open Forum; Pledge in the Wall of Commitment, aside from the
Closing Remarks.
As regard to “Guidance/Updates,” Col. Isidro
Purisima, commander, 402nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA),
P/CSupt. Rolando Felix, regional director of PNP-Caraga and Atty. Francisco
Pobe, regional executive director (RED) of COMELEC-Caraga, in that particular
order, are going to say their piece on behalf of their respective institutions.
(NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DENR 13 key officers get new assignment
By Herzon F. Gallego
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) - In a continuing
effort to deliver better services to the people, Department of Environement and
Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga Regional Director Nonito M. Tamayo has
announced the designation of certain key personnel in the field offices.
The following key personnel who have been given
new assignments are the following. Forester Maritess M. Ocampo has been
assigned as OIC, PENR Officer of Agusan del Sur; Forester Nilda Ebron has been
designated OIC, Chief of the Conservation and Development Division including
the operation of the Protected Area and Biodiversity Conservation, Production
Forest Management and Coastal Resource and Foreshore Management sections.
PENRO Rosendo Asunto has been assigned to PENRO
Surigao del Norte fron Surigao del Sur; CENRO Raul Rosales takes over as OIC,
PENRO of Surigao del Sur.
Forester Ranulfo Climaco has been designated as
OIC, CENRO of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur while Forester Luis Gonzaga was
designated OIC, Chief for Technical Services of PENRO Surigao del Norte.
The movement of key personnel followed the vacuum
in the field management caused by the sudden death of PENRO Iniego Collantes
from cardiac arrest or heart failure on January 1, 2016. (DENR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor province to implement iGovPhil project
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 21 (PIA) - The provincial
government of Agusan del Norte is set to implement the Integrated Government
Philippines (iGovPhil) Project after Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M.
Amante-Matba was recently authorized by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to sign
the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) Office.
The approval of the said authority was made
through the efforts of Provincial Board Member Virgilio R. Escasinas, Jr. as
chairman of the Committee on Energy, Transportation, Information and
Communication, which studied the merit of the said project.
The MOA to be signed by the Provincial Governor
covers the installation of fiber optic cables (FOC) by the ICT Office under its
Integrated Government Philippines (iGovPhil) Project that will provide
high-speed connection in the offices of the provincial government for enhanced
communication and coordination, which aims to address the basic needs in
government offices for transparency, efficiency and effective governance
through ICT.
Under the agreement, among the duties and
responsibilities of the provincial government is to provide a secured space, an
Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) and a generator system preferably with an
Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) while the cable to be installed and labor shall
be shouldered by the ICT Office and upon the signing of the MOA, an active
equipment like VLAN switch and media converter shall be installed for the
internet connection.
The ICT Office is a government entity placed under
the policy, technical and administrative supervision of the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) mandated to ensure the provision of efficient and
effective information communication technology infrastructure, and information
systems and resources and in line with that mandate is currently implementing
the iGovPhil Project.
The project is said to enhance the information
system and resources of the province. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)
Tagalog News: Dagdag na tropa ng AFP sa Surigao
del Sur, dumating na
Ni Daisy Jane M. Apit
BUTUAN CITY, Enero 21 (PIA) – Upang tuluyan ng
masolusyunan ang problema ng insurhensiya at makatulong na rin sa pagkakaroon
ng mapayapa at malinis na eleksyon sa Surigao del Sur ay nagdagdag ng bagong
tropa ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas sa probinsya. Dumating na noong
Miyerkules ang 16th Infantry “Maglilingkod” Batallion, 2nd Infantry Division sa
Tandag City na galing pa sa Oriental Mindoro. Sinalubong ang tropa ni Surigao
del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel, mga opisyales ng AFP, at iba pang lokal na opisyales
ng lungsod ng Tandag at probinsya.
Ayon pa kay 402nd Brigade Commander Col. Isidro
Purisima na ang padadagdag hukbo ay isinagawa upang tuloy-tuloy na maiatag ang
kapayapaan at seguridad ng probinsya.
Sabi pa ni Purisma na isa rin na dahilan ng pagpapadala
ng mga sundalo sa pangunguna ni Ltc Andres Ferrer ay para sa paghahanda nila
para sa nalalapit na eleksiyon katulong ang mga kapulisan at lokal na
pamahalaan.
Sinabi naman ni Governor Pimentel na sa kabila ng
mga pangamba na manggugulo ang NPA sa probinsya ngayon eleksyon ay may tiwala
siya na may maitutulong ang 16th IB dito.
Samantala, sa kagaganap pa lamang na Surigao del
Sur provincial Peace and Order Council Meeting ay dineklara na “Conflict
Manageable at Development Ready” na ang probinsya.
Binigyang diin naman ni Purisima na ang
pagdeklarang ito ay hindi nangangahulugan na ang probinsya 'insurgency free.'
Sa halip, ito ay nagpapatunay na ang pagdagdag ng mga sundalo ay epektibong
hakbang sa tuluyang pagsugpo at pagbura sa humuhinang pwersa ng NPA sa
probinsya. (VLG/DJA/PIA-Caraga)
