2016 Women’s Month activities set in Butuan City
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 17 (PIA) – The Regional
Development Council – Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (RDC-GADCC)
Caraga has set the month-long activities for this year’s Women’s Month
celebration in March.
RDC-GADCC chair and Commission on Human Rights
(CHR) Caraga regional director Atty. Marylin Pintor announced that said
month-long celebration will kick-off on March 1, 2016 with a Fun Walk activity
that will start from Guingona Park going to Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol
Covered Court, this city.
“Right after the fun walk, the opening program
will follow at the provincial covered court. As recognition of our women on
that day, we encourage the male staff of ever participating agency to give
flowers and/or chocolates to their women colleagues as sign of respect. The
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will spearhead the
serenade,” remarked Pintor.
It was learned that said celebration is pursuant
to Proclamation N0. 227 series 1988 and is anchored on the theme “Kaayuhan ni
Juana, I-apil sa Adyenda!” (Women’s Welfare, to include in the Agenda)
Pintor also bared that on March 8, 2016, the
“Kalandrakas sa mga Kababaihan” will be held at Balanghai Hotel here, wherein
participants from various sectors will enjoy trade fair, flea market featuring
products made by women, food cooking demonstration, videoke challenge, and
other fun-activities.
“The RDC-GADCC Caraga will also be giving awards
to this year’s Outstanding Women and will recognize women leaders in various
endeavors,” added Pintor.
In line also with the preparation for this year’s
national and local elections, a Candidates’ Forum is also set by the RDC-GADCC
on March 29, 2016 to be held in one of the local convention centers here.
Meanwhile, on March 31, 2016, all the RDC-GADCC
member agencies will culminat the Women’s Month with a Sports Competition
featuring Laro ng Lahi and different games to be held at the Philippine Ports
Authority (PPA) grounds. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: Sustainability through unity
By Rhea C. Abao
In a basketball game there is a so called team. It
takes teamwork to pull off a successful winning moment, it is not accomplished
single-handedly. This is how the Bucas Grande Farmers’ Association Incorporated
(BGFAI) from Socorro, Surigao del Norte works together as an organization.
The group was organized in 1972, composed of
farmers, fishermen, carpenters, and some professionals. Today, the association
has a total membership of 2,025 active members.
For almost 44 years the organization plays an
important role in each of the members. It became an institution that gives the
members a legitimate voice in articulating farmers’ interests to government and
private institutions.
Some of the associations were only organize just
to get government subsidies and interventions. BGFAI is different. “The
association was organized to help each members, we call it 'tinabangay' - it is
our trademark as a group. It has been embedded on each one’s mind and heart,”
said Lucilita T. Dizon, BGFAI farmer leader.
'Tinabangay' spirit or unity, lives among BGFAI
members and has been demonstrated in many ways. Repairing the houses of
members, construction of buildings, cash donations in times of personal
emergencies and communal farming are ordinary gestures of their helpful spirits
and has been their regular practice for years.
“Our association has a total land area of 2,390
hectares in which 700 hectares was dedicated to agriculture with 150 hectares
cultivated for communal farming. We live in a community that is isolated and hard
to reach that is why food security for every member is our priority concern,”
said Dizon.
It has been the mission of the Department of
Agriculture (DA) to achieve the nation’s food security and sufficiency, BGFAI
is among its strong allies in fulfilling this mission.
In 2007, a chipping machine was granted to the
association worth P50,000. For the following year on March 27, 2008 a farm
tractor worth P1.2 M was given to the group. For almost 8 years the machine is
still in good condition. They still use it for land preparation activities.
In June 26, 2012 a mechanical dryer worth P600,000
was given to the association. The equipment was still functional and being used
especially on rainy season.
Last year, production inputs were also given to
the group. Ten bags of corn were planted in the 6 hectare area of the communal
garden. Five bags of registered seeds were also planted in the 5 hectare area.
Assorted vegetable seeds were also given to the association.
“The various interventions we have received from
DA helped us in our farming activities. Farm equipment and facilities make our
work easier and faster, we see to it that what is given to us by the government
will be used and maintained properly so it will last longer for the good of the
association. The support we get gave us food security which is the priority
concern of our association, we are committed to fulfill our mission that every
family will not experience hunger and poverty,” said Dizon.
The communal farm serves as the food basket of the
association. Coupled with hardwork and tinabangay of the members, rice, corn,
cassava, other root crops, fruit bearing trees, and vegetables were planted.
When harvest season comes all the produce were distributed equally among its
members. Destination of surplus harvest will be sold to the local market of
Socorro, Dizon added.
'Tinabangay' spirit of BGFAI is not only a
tradition but it is applied as a culture. This is one of many beautiful things
that BGFAI members can be proud of.
The rate of success of BGFAI is determined not
just by the increase of every member’s income, it is measured on how the
association lived with its mission to achieve food security. (DA-13 Info
Section/PIA-Caraga)
