AgSur PNP participates
in voters' education caravan, VCM public demo
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan
del Sur, Apr. 21 (PIA) – The police personnel of San Francisco Municipal Police
Station participated recently in the Voters’ Education and Caravan and Voters’
Counting Machines (VCM) public demonstration at the SAFRAGEMC Event Hall in
Barangay 5, San Francisco, this province.
The said activity aims
to raise awareness on the election laws, which include the mechanisms on how
voters will use the VCM during election.
During the activity,
the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officials presented the overview and
updates of election laws, policies and regulations and demonstrated how to
operate the VCM in front of the delegates composed of Barangay Election
Inspectors (BEIs), religious sectors, civic organizations, and local public
officials.
Also present during the
event were Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Alvin Prandy T. Canta and
Election Officer IV Federico A. Blanco. (with a report from PNP-San Francisco
MPS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DAR AgSur distributes
425 hectares to Esperanza Farmers
By Kristine Pedralvez
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del
Sur, Apr. 21 (PIA) – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here has
distributed 273 individual titles to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)
of Brgy. Nato, Esperanza recently. The titles covered 425 hectares land.
The issuance of titles
or Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) was held during the Barangay
General Assembly where projects for Bottom-up Budget (BUB) fund were
identified.
The titles were handed
over by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I (PARPO I) Allan N.
Mundalla assisted by Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers Chito C. Tubin
and Amancio C. Boquilon, Jr. and the municipal and barangay officials of the
said place.
“Land ownership is a
privilege because not everyone had the opportunity to own a land,” PARPO
Mundala said. “Once you received your titles, do not forget your obligations as
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries. You
should continue to cultivate, nurture and make it productive,” he reminded the
ARBs.
“For many years, we
have been waiting for the titles. With this, we will be inspired to work hard
to make our land more productive. Mapasalamaton kami sa DAR og sa atong Local
Government Unit,” Marlon Gonzales, one of the ARBs happily said. (DAR-Agusan
del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
SurSur DENR continues
to undertake activities for “Earth Month”
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao
del Sur, Apr. 21 (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) here has continued to carry out activities in relation to the
celebration of “Earth Month 2016” this April with the theme “Earth Day, Every
Day, Everywhere for Everyone.”
According to Eddie
Duhaylungsod, Supervising Environment Management Services (SEMS) and Protected
Areas Biodiversity Ecosystem Section (PADES) chief, early on, tarpaulins
carrying the information for the big event had already been hung in select
conspicuous areas to drumbeat public awareness.
Besides, the DENR here
headed by Raul Rosales, OIC Provincial Environment and Natural Resources
Officer (PENRO), was also able to
facilitate “planting of large-leaf Mahogany free-seedlings done by BJMP at
Ecopark, San Jose, Tandag City last April 1, 2016, among others, all for the
month-long celebration, he said.
However, on April 22,
dubbed as “International Earth Day,” all DENR personnel would be taking part in
“Forest tree seedling planting of Mancono at Ecopark, San Jose, Tandag City,”
Duhaylungsod stressed.
The remaining days of
April would be dedicated to pamphlets distribution and conduct of IEC campaign,
he went on saying.
On April 29, coastal
clean-up at Mabua Beach, this city, would wrap up the celebration, the PADES
chief pointed out.
Meanwhile, Edgar
Valentin, PENRO-LGU of Surigao del Sur, had expressed “support for 2016 EARTH
DAY/MONTH Celebration,” in behalf of the provincial government.
Earth Day/Month
celebration in the Philippines has started “in 1990 by virtue of Presidential
Proclamation No. 553 issued by the late Pres. Corazon C. Aquino,” according to
OIC PENRO Rosales in his information letter to Governor Johnny Pimentel. (NGBT/Radyo
ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
COMELEC set for “PJSCC”
conference in SurSur
By Greg Tataroo Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao
del Sur, April 21 (PIA) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) here headed by
Atty. Raquel Limbaco, provincial election supervisor, is all set for the
holding of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) conference in
the city on Saturday, April 23.
To be participated in
by support agencies’ bigwigs province-wide, with the expected presence of a
couple of other high-ranking regional officials, the whole day affair is split
into nine main parts based on the official program.
The local poll body
will be putting premium primarily on the “Preparation and Anticipation of
Concerns.” Aside from Atty. Limbaco,
herself, to give “Situation Update,” both the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will likewise be bringing to the
fore the same latest development on their respective roles.
Moreover, treasurers
and heads of public schools from the provincial and city levels were invited to
attend for “Inputs and Concerns,” including the top official of Surigao del Sur
Electric Cooperatives I and II; Department of Public Works and Highways in the
two districts, Department of Justice provincial and city prosecutors,
coordinator of SMARTMATIC, and the regional director of the Department of
Health (DOH).
Before proceeding with
the open forum, Col. Isidro Purisima, 402nd Brigade Commander of the Philippine
Army (PA); P/CSupt. Rolando Felix, Police Regional Office 13 Director, P/SSupt.
Romaldo Bayting, Surigao del Sur PNP Director, and Atty. Renato Magbutay,
Caraga Regional Election Director (RED), in that particular order, will also be
sharing their individual “Guidance/Updates.”
Prior to this, the
COMELEC here had been busy on carrying out other poll-related tasks, including
the spearheading of covenant signing event cum demo of Vote Counting Machine
(VCM) operation on April 6 and 7, 2016.
During the latter
occasion, RED Magbutay, who had made his presence felt, expressed satisfaction
over the course of every COMELEC undertaking region-wide when pressed by media
for his assessment. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Feature Story:
Increasing production through artificial insemination
By Fretcher Magatao
Pork is the main meat
product consumed in Caraga and in the Philippines as a whole. Just like rice
and chicken, it is one of the staple food products of Filipinos and at present
comprises about 60% of the country’s meat and poultry production.
Pig husbandry is a
profitable occupation especially for small and marginal farmers. It requires
minimum capital investment and labor but the return over the investment is
quick and high. Within a short period, piglets achieve marketable maturity.
The island town of Socorro
used to be the swine capital of Siargao Island. In the previous years, Socorro
had been supplying live hogs to the commercial town of Dapa and the tourism
municipality of General Luna.
Meat-type hogs from the
commercial farms in Davao provinces which have superior blood lines compared to
the breeds reared locally entered the island. Since then, the hog consolidator
in Siargao started to shun the local supply thereby cutting the much needed
market by the local swine raisers which most of them eventually stopped raising
pigs and in time occurred a shortage of supply in the municipality.
Through this pressing
concern, Socorro Empowered Peoples Cooperative (SOEMCO) took the challenge and
decided to put up a Swine Production Project capable to produce pork with the
quality comparable with that of the hogs from Davao commercial farms.
Many challenges were
encountered such as the needed amount for starting the business and the
necessary trainings for the keepers. But despite the challenges, a light of opportunity
through the help of Department of Agriculture–Mindanao Rural Development
Program (MRDP) gave hope to its people.
“We are grateful that
the interventions from DA have reached our island; a proof of sincerity to its
commitment in serving the people all over Caraga,” said Reil Consigna,
Operations Manager of SOEMCO.
The organization has
accessed P5 million for the needed capital and cost of operations for the
project from MRDP through the untiring assistance from the Municipal Local
Government Unit of Socorro.
“SOEMCO has been an
active cooperative since the start of its operation last 1996. The
organization’s visible commitment to help its members has inspired us to
support them,” Mayor Denia Florano said.
The amount from MRDP
provided the project with housing and facilities, tools, farm equipment,
working capital, and two boars and 30 gilts which gave a start for its
operation in October of 2013.
“People of Socorro were
delighted seeing pigs with higher type of breed being raised in the locality.
This would be a solution to our problem with pork shortage,” said SOEMCO Board
Member Virgilio Gelsano.
The organization
practiced artificial insemination (AI) with the technical assistance from the
Department of Agriculture and the Municipal Agriculture Office for its
production. “AI is better than traditional breeding since the amount of semen
taken from a boar in one session can be used up to four sow,” said Noel
Cagatin, resident agricultural technician of the organization.
Having two healthy boars,
the organization can also earn through conducting AI sessions to small scale
swine raisers and backyard breeders. This would create an additional income of
1,500 pesos per session and an additional spread for a high quality breed.
“Breeders in Socorro will just call and set a schedule for AI, I usually
perform AI services weekly with other breeders in the municipality,” said
Cagatin.
An average of P200,000
gross income per quarter is gained by the organization in the operation of its
swine production and AI services.
Since there is an
increase in the number of pigs, an expansion of its facilities is necessary and
better waste management should be enhanced with the help of DA and Bureau of
Animal Industry (BAI).
Through this need,
biogas was introduced and practiced by the organization to utilize the waste
from pigs. “I am amazed how we can utilize the waste of our animals into
renewable energy,” said Consigna. Now they can save around P800 per month since
they will not need to buy a tank of gas for cooking.
The accumulated amount
of waste from a number of pigscaused much supply of processed methane gas and
because of this SOEMCO is working on the facility that converts biogas into a
source of energy for electricity.
The organization is
also facing a challenge of utilizing its by-product which can be used as
organic fertilizer to plants. “Because of this by-product which can effectively
fertilize plants, the members are challenged to plant more since there’s much supply
of fertilizer,” said Cagatin.
Members of SOEMCO and
the people in the municipality have seen the progress of the swine production
business. “We can say that this business has been successful because there is
no more shortage of pork in the municipality and we did not only benefit from
the pigs sold, but we have also influenced other backyard raisers to duplicate
our good practices and through our AI services, they too have the same kind of
high quality breed of pigs like we have,” Consigna said. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
10th SYC annual summer
camp set in Surigao City
By Ace Justin R. Resare
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao
del Norte, Apr. 21 (PIA) – The Surigao Youth advocators, members, and volunteers
of the Surigao Youth Center (SYC) will be having an Annual Summer Youth Camp
with the theme: “Building, Reaching Youth Leaders for Progress,” slated on
April 25-27 this year at Mt. Carmel Farm and Spring Resort, Poctoy, this city.
The activity will be
facilitated by the City Population Office with the financial and technical
assistance from the Commission on Population (POPCOM) Caraga.
The said activity aims
to enhance the knowledge and competence of the Surigao youth through
inter-active intervention strategies on Adolescent Health and Youth Development
Program (AHYDP) which is one of the key component programs of the Philippine
Population Management Program (PPMP).
This activity also
provides correct information and develop individual as responsible youth
leaders of the city.
“The overall goal of
the AHYD Program is to contribute to the improvement and promotion of the total
well-being of young Filipinos ages 10-14; 15-19 and 20-24 through their sexual
and reproductive health. Specifically, it aims to contribute to the reduction
of the incidence of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) and HIV/AIDS among young people aligned with the thrusts of the
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action
(PoA),” said the AHYD Program Manager Magdalena Abellera POPCOM.
Aside from the
awareness of the reproductive health issues for the youth. There are also
values clarification and work ethics to strengthen and enlighten the behavioral
and spiritual aspects of the Youth participants. Showcase their talents and
capabilities through variety show. Lastly, harness their life skills to help
them make responsible action and decision”, said Jupiter J. Correos, the SYC
Center Director and City Population Officer-Designate. (Surigao Youth
Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DILG 13 reveals best
lupons for 2016, Surigao Norte most improved
By Don Manuelo O.
Patrimonio
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 21
(PIA) - After thorough deliberation of the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives
Awards (LTIA) Regional Awards Committee last March 30, 2016, the LTIA 2016
regional finalists covering first to fourth quarters of C.Y. 2015 were revealed
recently through a memorandum issued by the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) Caraga regional director Lilibeth A. Famacion,
chairperson of the awards committee.
For the Highly
Urbanized Cities Category, Brgy. Tiniwisan of Butuan City, the sole entry, was
assessed and deemed fit for the national search. This is the second time Brgy.
Tiniwisan is an entry for Butuan City after Brgy. San Vicente was awarded
Hall-of-Famer status in the national search for having won for three
consecutive years in the same category.
For Component Cities
Category, Brgy. Taft of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte rose from being first
runner-up last year to a regional winner this year. It bested Brgy Telaje of
Tandag City which is another improving contender being the first runner up this
year from being second runner up last year; and Brgy. Mabini, Cabadbaran City,
Agusan del Norte which unfortunately slid as last year’s regional winner to
second runner up this year.
For 1st – 3rd Class
Municipalities Category, Brgy. Alegria of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur held
the same position last year as the regional winner, besting first runner up
Urbiztondo, Claver, Surigao del Norte which rose two notches up from being
third runner up last year; Brgy. R.E. Ecleo, Sr., Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands
which is a new entry for the province but held the same position as second
runner up with that of Brgy. Cabungaan, the entry from Cagdinanao, Dinagat
Islands last year; Brgy. Poblacion of Barobo, Surigao del Sur finished third
runner up, one notch higher from being fourth runner up last year; and Brgy.
Macalang, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte which slid from 1st runner up last year
to this year’s fourth runner up.
And for 4th – 6th Class
Municipalities Category, Brgy. Poblacion, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte jumped up
two notches from being second runner up last year to being this year’s winner,
winning over Brgy. DoΓ±a Helene, Basilisa, Dinagat Islands in the same position
from the province’s entry last year (i.e. Brgy. Sta. Cruz of San Jose, Dinagat
Islands); Brgy. Poblacion, Cortes, Surigao del Sur which is a new entry from
the province but reached second runner up (last year’s entry, La Purisima of
Cagwait, was third runner up); and Brgy Poblacion, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte
at third runner up (new entry from the province, their entry last year, Brgy.
Tagmamarkay of Tubay, was regional winner).
All in all, Surigao del
Norte lupons were most improved, rising from lower ranks from last year’s
regional assessment, and winning two categories and one first runner up this
year. Surigao del Sur lupons generally fared better as well, two first
runners-up and one second runner up this year from being last place in all
three categories last year. Agusan del Sur and the Province of Dinagat Islands
maintained their performance. Agusan del Sur’s sole entry was in the 1st-3rd
class municipality category and maintained the top place, while Dinagat
Islands, although new entries, generally maintained their positions (first
runner up and second runner up). Meanwhile, Agusan del Norte lupons showed
declining performance this year.
These regional winners
also serve as qualifiers/finalists to the national search where they will
compete against other regions for the top three spots per category. The
National Winners will be awarded in December this year at the MalacaΓ±ang
Palace.
The LTIA Regional
Assessment was held at DILG Regional Office – Local Governance Regional
Resource Center (LGRRC) with the presence of the Regional Awards Committee
(RAC): DILG RD Famacion as chair; Atty. John S. Magdaraog, LTIA RAC Vice
Chairperson and Regional Prosecutor of the Department of Justice XIII; and RAC
Members Atty. Cisco Franz S. Maclang, of the Branch 1, Regional Trial Court,
10th Judicial Region; PSInsp. Junalyn Basa Suan of the Philippine National
Police Caraga; Exec. Dir. Arnold L. Tapere of Propegemus Foundation, Inc. and
Dir. Mary May R. Cadosales-Diaz of the Educational Discipline in Culture and
Area-Based Development Services, Inc. (EDCADS).
Three major criteria,
to wit (1) efficiency in operations, (2) effectiveness in securing Katarungang
Pambarangay (KP) objectives, and (3) creativity and resourcefulness of the
Lupong Tagapamayapa were followed in the assessment.
The Lupong Tagapamayapa
Incentives Awards (LTIA) was established since 1997 as a means to
institutionalize a system of granting economic benefits and other incentives to
the Lupong Tagapamayapa that demonstrates exemplary performance in settling
disputes at the grassroots level. These Lupons, comprising of the Punong
Barangay as chair and 10-20 members, are based on the mandate of the barangays
to enforce peace and order and provide support for the effective enforcement of
human rights and justice as stipulated in Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as
the 1991 Local Government Code. Decentralization has facilitated the
recognition of the Katarungang Pambarangay or Barangay Justice System as an
alternative venue for the resolution of disputes. (DILG-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
