AgNor ARB orgs bag national recognition
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 21 (PIA) - Two Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries organizations in Agusan del Norte recently named by the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) as excellent performing associations based
on their outstanding 100 percent repayment of their loan under the Agrarian
Production Credit Program (APCP) during the 2nd National Agri-Fisheries Credit
Program Assessment and Planning Workshop for Visayas and Mindanao held in
Cagayan del Oro City.
During the ceremony, Baleguian Organic Farmers
Irrigators Association (BOFIA) and Taguibo Integrated Pest Management
Irrigators’ Association (TIPMIA) were made awardees as good borrowers of APCP
from Caraga Region.
The said awarding was led by DA Secretary Proceso
Alcala, DAR Undersecretary Rosalina Bistoyong and Land Bank Board Gerardo
Bulatao.
BOFIA Chairman Wenifredo Maldo and TIPMIA Chairman Romy S. Lasco received the
awards on behalf of the farmer-organizations.
“The award we received is now a great source of
pride for our association. It signifies our dedication to serve
farmer-beneficiaries of CARP in Jabonga town,” said Maldo.
APCP aimed to address the credit needs of the
farmer-organizations. A capacity development program of the DA, DAR and Land
Bank will ensure that the credit fund provided will put to good use by the
farmers. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
PENRO SurSur spearheads International Day of
Forest tree planting activity
By Johny S. Natad
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 21 (PIA) – The
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Surigao del Sur
under OIC PENR Officer Raul A. Rosales led a tree planting activity at Ihawan
Creek Community Watershed in Barangay Awasian this city in commemoration of the
International Day of Forests.
More than 70 participants joined the activity
coming from the PENRO Surigao del Sur personnel, Tandag Water District (TWD)
staff, and students of Jacinto P. Elpa National High School (JPENHS) Students
Supreme Government.
Some 500 indigenous and agricultural crop seedling
species comprised of 140 bagrass, 150 and white lauan raised from PENRO nursery
and 210 cacao from TWD were planted the one-hectare lot within the said
watershed area during the activity per information from PENRO NGP Focal Person
Nanette E. QuiΓ±onez.
OIC PENR Officer Rosales, who personally led the
tree planting, was delighted and thankful for the support of PENRO officials
and employees who actively participated in the activity. Despite the hardship
encountered by them due to old-age, these personnel are very energetic as they
walked towards the forest planting site.
He also lauded the grades 7 to10 student representatives and their
advisers for joining the activity.
“The PENRO commends the men, women, old and young
who participated the successful tree planting activity in celebration of the
International Day of Forests. We encourage everyone to actively partake the
call and action to continue protect, conserve, and manage our environment and
natural resources especially to our forests and watershed area which is the
source of our potable water through tree planting and other environmental
initiatives and advocacies,” OIC PENR Officer Rosales said. “We need to save
our forests and wetlands which supply 75 percent of the world’s accessible
freshwater,” he added.
Meanwhile, JPENHS students and teacher earmarked
to support DENR and TWD in conserving and protecting the forest and watershed.
JPENHS teacher Loida E. Salcedo believed that the
environmental work is not an easy task. “It is not easy to climb to the
mountain and plant trees to maintain the preservation of our forest watershed.
Therefore, I extol and support DENR, TWD and even young students who
contributed to this crucial role,” she said.
“I hope I can visit this forest watershed next
time and plant more trees,” said JPENHS student supreme government officer
Cliford S. Sucalit.
Tandag forest watershed commonly known as “Ihawan
Spring Community Watershedl,” the location of the planting site, was declared
protected area per DAO 2007-14 dated July 12, 2007. The watershed has a total
area of 786 hectares.
The International Day of Forest (IDF) 2016 is
celebrated every March 21 to raise peoples’ awareness to the significance of
forest and trees in sustaining and protecting the earth’s living creation
including the human race. This year’s IDF theme “Forests and Water” focused on
the understanding about the key role of forests as the planet’s supplier of
freshwater, which is vital for life to exist.
(NGBT/PENRO-SDS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SurSur PNP: Security preps for Holy Week, summer
vacation in place
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 21 (PIA) – The
Philippine National Police - Police Provincial Office (PNP-PPO) in Surigao del
Sur has assured the public of well-planned security preparations for the
duration of both the Holy Week and summer vacation.
Last week, two memoranda pertaining to “Security
Preparations for the Holy Week” and “Ligtas SumVac 2016” were separately issued
“For guidance and strict compliance” of all concerned in the PNP down the line.
One of the directives to be undertaken under the
memo for the Holy Week included coordination “with the Armed Forces of the
Philippines counterparts, local government units, Department of Transportation
and Communication, Philippine Red Cross and other concerned agencies for a
joint set up of help desks/police assistance desks in major ports, terminal
hubs, and major thoroughfares.”
On the other hand, a more detailed “Operational
Guidelines” for the summer vacation were sent to all lower units to be carried
out province-wide.
Meanwhile, P/SSupt. Romaldo Bayting, OIC
provincial director, said that the peace and order situation had remained
manageable in the entire province. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del
Sur)
