PSA Caraga to present 2015 GRDP
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 20 (PIA) – The Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) – Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) Caraga
will be presenting the 2015 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) on July 28,
2016 at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.
According to PSA Caraga regional director Rosalinda
Celeste-Apura, their office will be showing the comparison of year-to-year
growth of the region’s economy. “This will be done simultaneously by the PSA-RSSO
around the country,” she added.
Apura further revealed that the GRDP can be used
generally in the formulation of annual regional development plans, in
monitoring performance of the regional economy and its sectors/subsectors,
identification of sectors/industries in terms of investment promotion and
support service, and in analyzing trends/forecasting for planning purposes.
It was also learned that deputy director-general
for central support office Nestor Mijares IV of National Economic Development Authority
(NEDA) will deliver his message during this activity. For Caraga, regional
director Mylah Faye Aurora Carino is also expected to give her message.
Gross Regional Domestic Product is the aggregate of
gross value added (GVA) of all resident producer units in the region. The GRDP
includes regional estimates on the three major sectors including their
sub-sectors namely: Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry; Industry Sector; Mining
and Quarrying Manufacturing ; Construction
Electricity and Water; Service Sector; Transport, Communication and
Storage Trade Finance
Ownership of Dwellings and Real Estate
Private Government Services.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
News Feature: ICT Bayanihan: Creating
communications strategic highway, building resiliency
By Venus L. Garcia
In giving emphasis on the unity of efforts of all
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) key players using the existing
domestic and international legal frameworks, guidelines, agreements and
programs in the country, and to establish a common command and control
mechanism for communication, electronics and information flow in times of
disaster and calamities, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (RDRRMC) of Caraga through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in
partnership with SMART Communications, spearheaded the conduct of the two-day
Emergency Telecommunications Cluster Summit: ICT Bayanihan held in Butuan City
recently.
The participants of the summit are those with
experience in emergency telecommunications at strategic level with delegated
decision-making authority or recommendatory functions.
According to OCD-13 and Caraga RDRRMC chairperson
Manuel Luis Ochotorena, communication is the backbone of all operations.
“Relaying of necessary information/data has always been a predicament during
calamities/disasters, and so enhancement of emergency telecommunications system
is much more needed to improve the response and delivery of services,” he said.
ICT Bayanihan will be established to address the
concern on communications interoperability, commonality and inter-comparability
with an objective to create a framework for strengthening the effectiveness and
efficiency of ICT during disaster response operations under the leadership of
the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC).
Resiliency for zero casualty
Learning from the many lessons of the aftermath
brought about typhoon Yolanda and other natural calamities experienced by
Filipinos in the country, the endeavor to enhance ICT and emergency response
capabilities to transform into more proactive policies and programs became
integral for building resiliency.
As once mentioned by former Department of National
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, “an integrated communication flow between
the national and local DRRMCs is considered as an important element in the
achievement of our ultimate goal: to save lives.”
With this, the ICT Bayanihan will be replicated to
the provinces, municipalities and barangays, and it will redound to timely
response operations as well as efficient decision-making prior and in emergency
situations in order to achieve nil casualty.
“The implementation is viable since it's already
part of the Caraga RDRRMC’s financial plan,“ assured Ochotorena.
Operationalization of Rapid Emergency
Telecommunications Team (RETT)
The OCD through the National DRRMC has mobilized
the RETT. It takes the lead in the conduct of installation, operations, and
maintenance of ICT systems and equipment to identified Emergency Operations
Centers (EOCs) and the Incident Command Posts (ICPs) in disaster-affected
areas.
At the regional levels down to the provinces,
municipalities and barangays, the leadership in the conduct of RETT mission
shall be determined by the local RDRRMCs as mandated in the Republic Act 10121
based on the Rule 11, Section 1 implementing rules and regulations. “The
LDRRMCs shall take the lead in preparing for, responding to, and recovering
from the impacts of disasters,” it said.
Also, as indicated in the key operational concepts
for use of RETT, its operations will be conducted through coordinated
operations with other support agencies, local and international volunteers in
coordination with the Rapid Deployment Team (RDT) of the NDRRMC. This aims to
establish an effective and efficient ICT systems and equipment connectivity
from affected areas to national level and vice versa during disaster response
operations.
In principle, RETT personnel deploying in disaster
operations mission will be in uniforms. The overall responsibility for
providing adequate security remains with the Philippine National Police (PNP)
and/or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Meanwhile, with a purpose to spread commitment and
dedication and to strengthen the communication system capabilities, Ochotorena
said that the conduct of ICT Bayanihan will help them identify compatibility of
communication equipment and protocols applied by operation centers, and have an
inventory of communication resources used for emergency/disaster response.
In his subject presentation on the Response Cluster
Emergency Information System, Christopher Grajo, managing director of the
Emergency Response Integration Center (ERIC) underscored that they push
technology to its limits for disaster response, collecting data where there are
no power, no connectivity, no hardware, no systems, and no experts.
It was also learned through the discussion of Lt.
Col Edwin Sadang, GSC, Philippine Army that the ICT Bayanihan is the national
collaborative information environment management program (NCIEMP). It is the
active and core ICT program of the NDRRMC, anchored on the concepts of the
"Whole-of-Nation" approach through combined efforts of people and
agencies.
Private Stakeholders Cooperation
It can’t be denied that communication plays a very
significant role in all relief and rehab operations, and this is where the
synergy of private sectors comes into the picture in terms of pursuing their
corporate responsibilities by getting involved in the nation’s undertakings on
preparedness in facing the challenges during emergencies, disasters and
calamities.
Nova Concepcion, senior manager, Community
Partnership Department Public Relations Group of SMART Communications said that
they fully support the ICT Bayanihan summit. She further expressed her strong
belief that communications system in the locality will be more stable and
stronger especially during disasters. She also assured that they have a wide
range of communications sulutions, as well as pre-disaster platforms through
its ‘infocasts.’
Conception revealed that the conduct of ICT
Bayanihan in Caraga region is the 7th in a row summit that they held to several
regions in the country. She added that they are also in support to the
humanitarian connectivity charter.
Meanwhile, Rupert Ambil, Executive Director of
MovePH, Rappler, discussed the "Project Agos and Role of Social Media
during Disasters.".\
The participants who comprised the technical
working group (TWG) presented their workshop outputs. Hand-over of deliverables
to OCD-13 head and RDRRMC chairperson Ochotorena, delivery of impressions by
the participants, and a pledge of commitment concluded the summit.
(VLG/PIA-Caraga)
National Academy of S&T set to conduct workshop
on writing research proposals
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, July 20 (PIA) – The National Academy
of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PH), in cooperation with the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga, will be conducting a
two-day Training-Workshop on Writing and Presenting Research Proposals Towards
Building Science Culture held in the city on July 28-29, 2016 at 7:30 a.m.
“The NAST initiated the DOST funded project
entitled Evaluation and Improvement of the Research Publication and IP
Productivity of the DOST Research and Development (R &D) Institutes. One of
the objectives of the project is to upgrade the status of research in the
country,” said DOST-13 regional director Dominga Mallonga.
Participants will learn the steps in preparing
proposals and be presenting their outputs for critiquing before the technical
panel of experts.
The workshop will incorporate capability-building
activities that will enable researchers to implement research projects and
produce R & D outputs. It aims to
cultivate interest and promote course of action for region-based research and
development initiatives. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Del Carmen barangay groundbreaks health station
By April Mae N. Waban
BUTUAN CITY, July 20 (PIA) - Despite the unpredictable
weather, the barangay officials and volunteers of Barangay Quezon, Del Carmen
in Surigao del Norte remained undeterred and successfully conducted the
groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of their one unit health station
community sub-project.
The ceremony officially marked the beginning of the
construction of the sub-project that will be implemented under Kapit-Bisig
Laban sa Kahirapan –Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services
(Kalahi-CIDSS).
For a far-flung barangay such as Quezon, access to
basic healthcare services for residents remains a challenge. This was one of
the reasons why the community was very eager to start their sub-project hoping
that this would address their ordeal.
Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the flagship anti-poverty
programs of the national government implemented through the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It uses the Community Driven Development
(CDD) strategy which helps empower people by enabling them to carry out their
own development projects by collectively identifying and prioritizing needs of
their community, providing proposed solutions, and actively participating in
the implementation. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD Caraga conducts SFP implementation review for
SY 2015-2016
By Abegail R. Alvarez
BUTUAN CITY, July 20 (PIA) - The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga conducted recently the
Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) Program Review and Evaluation Workshop
(PREW) cum Stakeholders Orientation for SY 2015-2016 held at Goat2Geder Hotel and
Restaurant here.
Among the attendees are the
Provincial/City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers (P/C/MSWDOs),
Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairpersons, and local auditors of the local
government units (LGUs) in the region.
According to Lea Radaza, focal person of SFP, the
objectives of the orientation is to review the SY 2015-2016 SFP implementation
of every LGU.
“Its purpose is to identify the accomplishment of
the region when it comes to nutritional improvement of the day care children
enrolled last year. Out of 6,926 children, a total of 6,010 children
beneficiaries restored to their normal nutritional status. With this, we exceed
the target of 80% set by the national, since the field office reached 87
percent,” added Radaza.
Also, the stakeholders were re-oriented on the
guidelines pertaining the SFP implementation for this year. This will ensure
that the program serves its purpose.
SFP is the provision of food, in addition to
regular meals, to currently enrolled day care children as part of DSWD’s
contribution to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program of the
government. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor SP urges DBM to include KALSADA program in
2017
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, July 20 (PIA) - The Sangguniang
Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte urged the national government through the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to include the KALSADA Program in the
2017 national expenditure program and allocate a portion of the national budget
for the continuity of said project.
KALSADA, also known as Konkreto at Ayos na
Lansangan at Daan tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran Program was adopted and
implemented by the national government to assist provinces in the
rehabilitation of core provincial roads.
This year, P6.5 billion has been earmarked for the
KALSADA Program to be implemented by 73 provinces.
The funds would be directly downloaded to the
provinces that have met and complied with good governance standards, social
development benchmarks and established monitoring and evaluation mechanism for
road projects.
In its Sanggunian Resolution No. 148-2016, the SP
urged for the inclusion of KALSADA Program in the national budget considering
its significance and that it would upgrade, improve and rehabilitate core
provincial roads in Agusan del Norte. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del
Norte)
AgNor officials, employees to get free annual check
up
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, July 21 (PIA) - All officials and
employees of the provincial government of Agusan del Norte will soon get a free
annual medical, dental and ophthalmology check-up at the Agusan del Norte
Provincial Hospital once at anytime of the year.
This was sealed through Provincial Ordinance No.
422-2016 authored by Provincial Board Member Elizabeth Marie R. Calo.
The ordinance applies to all elective officials and
employees, whether regular, co-terminus, casual or job order.
The medical services include urinalysis, stool,
sputum and complete blood count (CBC) while dental services include extraction
and cleaning of teeth and also eye check-up.
The said check-up, however, does not extend to the
families of the officials and employees.
Provincial governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M.
Amante-Matba will ensure the appropriation of P1,000,000 for the implementation
of the said ordinance effective January 1, 2017 and every year thereafter.
(LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Feeding program for day care children in Caraga
region kicks-off
By Abegail R. Alvarez
BUTUAN CITY, July 20 (PIA) - The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga, through the local government
units (LGUs) in the region, has already started its Supplementary Feeding Program
(SFP) for day care children enrolled in the SY 2016-2017.
It aims to improve and sustain the nutritional
status of target children beneficiaries by providing hot meals.
The kick-off is timely with this year’s Nutrition
Month Celebration with the theme “First 1000 Days ni Baby Pahalagahan Para sa
Malusog na Kinabukasan.”
As to date, cheques were released to 14 LGUs for
the implementation of the said program. The following municipalities are on the
list: Jabonga, Santiago, Esperanza, Prosperidad, Trento, San Isidro, Bacuag,
Surigao City, Taganaan, Basilisa, Bayabas, Madrid, San Miguel, and Barobo.
From the list, Jabonga, Santiago, Taganaan,
Bayabas, and Barobo started their feeding program.
According to Lea Radaza, regional focal person of
SFP, they are waiting for other LGUs to comply the requirements such as master
list for the day care children, weight monitoring report, and other documents
prior the release of the cheque intended for the feeding program.
“We set deadline for the LGU to submit all the
requirements next week for the full blast implementation of the program. This
will ensure that the day care children are well-nourished as they attend
classes,’’ she added.
“Every child who is currently enrolled in day care
center is given hot meal a day composed of rice and viand amounting to P15.00.
This program is intended for 120 days,” explained Radaza.
For 2016, the DSWD targets 76,142 day care children
to avail the program with a total allocated fund of P137,055,600.
SFP is the provision of food, in addition to
regular meals, to currently enrolled day care children as part of DSWD’s
contribution to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program of the
government. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte to host 25th Mindanao Business
Conference
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 20 (PIA) -
The province of Surigao del Norte is the venue of the 25th Mindanao Business
Conference (MinBizCon) on August 24 to 26, this year. The event carries the
theme: “Mindanao: Asian’s Emerging Economic Hub.”
Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)
president Concepcion Paqueo said that this year’s MinBizCon will be very
important as it marks the silver anniversary of a great journey toward
sustainable economic development of Mindanao as a global leader in business and
innovation.
President Rodrigo Duterte will keynote the said
event, it was learned. She also added that the event serves as a venue to
explore business growth and expand international relations with Pres. Duterte.
Just recently, the members of the 2nd Steering
Committee met recently at the Governor’s Conference Hall to revisit and
fine-tune the program flow on top of the proposed measures and policy reforms,
which will be endorsed to the president.
The MinBizcon is a forum for discussion of economic
issues, policies, and opportunities concerning the socioeconomic welfare of the
island region.
Recognized as the most relevant business gathering
in Mindanao, Pacqueo said that it bridges the organization to local
counterparts in the domain of trade and cooperation. (PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
