Project B.O.S.S, Phil. Army conduct free surgical
mission in Tandag City
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 26 (PIA) - The Project B.O.S.S or
Brotherhood Operation Sweet Smile, a non-government organization supported by
the Philippine Army is holding a three-day free surgical mission to adult and
children with cleft lip/palate from August 26-28, 2016 in Tandag City, Surigao
del Sur.
All Surigaonons, dependents and relatives of
military personnel and civilian employees of the Philippine Army who have cleft
lip/palate patients are encourage to avail of the free surgery and medicines.
Project B.O.S.S has provided doctors in Tandag City
who will perform the operation/surgical mission to adult and children with
cleft lip/palate. X-Ray films, anesthesia and other medial supplies needed,
including pre and post operation medicines will also be provided.
According to Captain Reggie Go, Civil Military
Operations (CMO) officer of 402nd Brigade, Philippine Army, this is the first
time that the Project B.O.S.S. held their free surgical mission in Tandag City.
“As of reporting time, we have already some 54
individuals in the list who have started availing this free surgical mission,
and we are still expecting more as the operation will continue until Sunday,
August 28, 2016,” disclosed Go.
Go then called on other Tandaganons/Surigaonons to
avail the free surgical mission that will give better perspective in life to
the beneficiaries.
It can be recalled that the Project B.O.S.S or
Brotherhood Operation Sweet Smile (a non-government organization) has partnered
with the Philippine Army in 2011. The mission was first held at the 1st
Infantry Division in Zamboanga with 82 patients successfully operated. The team
also conducted 3 other activities again in the 1st Infantry Division, 4th
Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City, and Army General Hospital in Fort
Bonifacio. The sweet smile project has already benefitted some 308 individuals.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Coconut farmers seek additional financing through
PRDP
By Fretcher Magatao
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 26 (PIA) - Agusan del Norte’s
coconut farmers sought assistance from the Department of Agriculture’s
Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) for the development of geonet
production and marketing that would provide additional supply of geonets in the
region.
The Libas Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in
Jabonga recently presented its P10 Million business proposal on Geonet
Production and Marketing during the 2-day PRDP Investments for Rural
Enterprises and Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) Business Plan
and Technical Review.
“The successful geonet production of the
neighboring provinces has inspired us to duplicate its business for the purpose
of creating additional source of income among the farmers in the locality,”
said Tomas Tener, Provincial I-PLAN Component Head.
The proposed project would provide the cooperative
with hauling and delivery truck, cooperative’s office, warehouse, weighing
scales, decorticating, twinning and weaving machines. “These machines would
efficiently translate to 4,000 coconet rolls per year,” Tener said.
Based on the Vulnerability and Suitability
Assessment (VSA) result, the Municipality of Jabonga ranked second in its
assessment for most number of coconut trees planted, hence the availability of
dehusked nut is plenty which the farmers thought of utilizing.
“It all started when few households begantwinning
with the coconut husk they gathered, until the neighbors also started the same
activity and realized its potential as a lucrative source of income,” said
Elson Morada, Cooperative’s Chairperson.
As per financial economic analysis, an individual
can earn an average of P250 per day for a 5 sqm. of geonet. If the
cooperative’s proposal will be granted under PRDP’s enterprise development
component, a farmer can have an annual income of up to P47,000 or 167% increase
compared to its current earnings..
The Provincial Agriculture Office has seen the
enthusiasm and cooperation of the coconut farmers in the municipality which
encouraged them to assist the farmers in forming a cooperative with coconet
production as its main line of business.
Geonet, also known as coconet has been in demand
for the mining companies operating in the many areas of Caraga. Its main use is
to prevent soil erosion where government agencies such as the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) require its constructors and mining operators to use as
preventive and rehabilitation measures.
Morada said that the interest to increase
production sprouted when other coconet producers would source out to the
cooperative for additional supply of geonet since some mining companies would
buy on bulk orders.
“This type of business has been profitable and
supports not just the workers of the cooperative, but also other farmers
through selling their coconut husk to the producer cooperative; such proposal
should be supported,” said I-REAP Component Head Lynn PareΓ±as. (DA/PIA-Caraga)
