NCAA accepts proposals for arts, cultural
development projects
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 2 (PIA) - The National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is calling proponents to submit
proposals for arts and cultural projects to be implemented in 2017.
As mentioned by executive committee member of the
National Committee on Libraries and Information Services (NCLIS) Dr. Ma. Teresa
Baylon during the press conference here on Wednesday, NCAA is giving financial
and technical assistance through project proposals which include cultural
awareness enhancement training, transfer of knowledge, workshops, productions,
shows, exhibits, festivals, among others.
“All proposals will be considered by the NCCA
provided that all requirements are being complied. We aim to boost the
significance of artistic creation and empower the artists and cultural workers
to promote their creative inclinations through arts and culture preservation
and development projects,” said Baylon.
There are two categories of the proposals.
Accordingly, category A includes projects which have ben conceptualized during
the various levels of planning workshops by its various national committees
following the identified needs of the locality and where specific outputs and
deliverables had been defined. Projects in this category will have three or
more component activities.
The category B is for project proposals
conceptualized by proponents with due consideration to the important concerns
cited in the project brief and aligned to the identified NCAA priorities and
outcomes.
According to NCCA admin and finance chief Susan
Dayao, they are also looking for implementing partners of projects which have
been conceptualized by the agency.
“Take for example, NCAA was in support with the
cultural education program, a literacy activity for teachers to be more
knowledgeable on cultural icons and know thoroughly what to teach to their
pupils or students. Programs for the youth is also encouraged especially in
developing curriculum on writing of local history, in partnership with
Department of Education,” added Dayao.
Moreover, Dayao recognizes the support of
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga in the call for project proposals
and also acknowledged the role of media practitioners in the dissemination of
information. “They too can avail of the funding support from the NCCA based on
the project proposals that they will submit,” she said.
Meanwhile, Roel Hoang Manipon, managing editor of
Agung, the official newsletter of the NCCA said that culture and the arts are
vital in nation building. “It is believed that Filipinos are artistically rich
but needs funding support to pursue certain projects,” he added.
As disclosed by Baylon, NCAA has allocated
P33,400,000.00 for different projects in Mindanao alone. She said that it is
high time to grab the opportunity to avail of the funding and be utilized to
help save the environment and in preservation of ecotourism sites.
Civil society organizations, indigenous peoples
organizations, local gov't units, gov't agencies, state universities, colleges
and public schools are all encouraged to apply. There will be a technical
writeshop to equip the proponents with the necessary know-how in composing the
proposal.
Deadline of submission of letters of intent and
proposals to NCCA is on September 30, 2016. Project briefs as well as
guidelines and requirements can be accessed and downloaded at www.ncca.gov.ph.
The general functions of the NCAA include promotion
of cultural and artistic development; conservation and promotion of the
nation's historical and cultural heritage; nationwide dissemination of artistic
and cultural products; preservation and integration of traditional culture as
part of the national cultural mainstream; and ensuring that standards of
excellence are met in its programs and activities.
Also, NCCA-Philippines is the overall policymaking,
coordinating, and grants giving agency for the preservation, development, and
promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an executing agency for the policies
it formulates; and an agency task to administer the National Endowment Fund for
Culture and the Arts (NEFCA). (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
PCCI prexy acknowledges Mindanao's role in PH
growth
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 2 (PIA) -
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon
acknowledged the role of Mindanao in helping the country achieve broad growth
across all sectors.
In his speech during the 25th Mindanao Business
Conference (MinBizCon) held recently here, Barcelon said Mindanao has always
been an enigma – an area blessed with so much resources yet with a number of
provinces remaining poverty-stricken.
Despite the fact that conflict was confined to a few areas, the picture
of insurgency haunted the psyche of Filipinos and foreigners alike, a stigma
that caused investors to turn a blind eye on the region.
“I am glad to say that this no longer holds
true. The Mindanao we now see is a
far-cry from the old Mindanao we know.
All eyes are now on the region.
Who wouldn’t when the first Filipina to have won the Miss Universe title
after 43 long years, Miss Pia Wurtzbach, is from Mindanao, specifically Cagayan
De Oro? And as if this is not enough,
the current President, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who got an overwhelming
mandate from the Filipinos is also a son of Mindanao, while the Senate and
House leaderships are held by Mindanaoans – Senate President Koko Pimentel and
Speaker Bebot Alvarez," Barcelon said.
Just recently, the first Filipina Olympic medalist,
Hidilyn Diaz, showed the world that a simple ZamboangeΓ±a can be a world-class
athlete, added Barcelon.
He said it took time for Mindanao to finally get
out of the clutches of the stigma, but when it did, it has emerged as a strong
force.
Barcelon cited the island-region’s economy grew by
7.4 percent in 2014, contributed 20.7 percent to the economy in the same year,
and its agricultural produce has been robust, supplying most of the world with
banana, pineapple, and tuna.
“You have transformed your region into an economy
that is ripe for the picking. As it was before conflict entered the picture.
Mindanao now plays a significant role in the country’s economic and social
development strategically located in the East Asian economic corridor, Mindanao
plays a key role in unlocking ASEAN’s potential as the turning point of
transforming our country from middle- to high-income through increased trade
and investments with your nearest ASEAN neighbors – Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia,”
said Barcelon.
Barcelon said that as a businessman and an exporter
himself, he shared in the excitement of developing Mindanao.
"During the Sulong Pilipinas, which the then
incoming government asked the PCCI to co-organize, a number of my fellow business
delegates and even our international development partners expressed their
interest to do business in Mindanao.
This is an acute acknowledgement of the potentials of the region, and
recognition that the time of Mindanao has come,” Barcelon stressed.
(SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Surigao Norte vice gov graces Power 101 confab
By John Glenn A. Platil
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 2 (PIA) –
Surigao del Norte Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr. addressed the energy
sector in behalf of Gov. Sol Matugas during the Mindanao Development
Authority’s (MinDA's) official launching of Power 101 on August 24, 2016 held
at the Parkway Hotel, this city.
In his message, Egay explained that “electricity
production becomes more guaranteed and secured when sound financial, commercial
and economic policies are set in place.”
“Investments will pour in when we revolutionize our
courses of action in line with renewable and alternative energy sources, in
which people have no fears about taking care of Mindanao’s future to endlessly
meet the demands of our growing consumers,” he said.
Vice Gov. Egay added that present circumstances
reveal that, "the demand is high, but the supply is low."
“Essentially, Mindanao banks on hydropower for over
half of its regular use. Many factors alter water supply—like El NiΓ±o
phenomenon, and man-made tragedies,” he said.
Having a more steady and constant energy source
will provide the region with a stronger business position to potential
businessmen, he added.
“This isn’t just about power; this is about drawing
investments and creating opportunities, and this is about fixing the region as
a whole,” he quipped.
Distinguished panel of lecturers and presenters
comprised of Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperative (AMRECO)
president Sergio Dagooc, Department of Energy (DOE) officials, and Surigao del
Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO) gen. manager Engr. Narciso Caliao.
(PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
