Stakeholders hold tree maintenance, nurturing
activity in Butuan City
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA) – Several stakeholders
have joined hands for the conduct of the tree maintenance activity at Camp
Bancasi here on Wednesday morning, where the KBP Oplan Broadcastreeing activity
was recently held.
Troopers of the 4th Civil Military Operations (CMO)
Battalion, Philippine Army, together with the members of the Kapisanan ng mga
Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Agusan del Norte-Butuan City chapter, personnel
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment
and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) Nasipit, Civil Aviation Authority of
the Philippines (CAAP), and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga started
the tree nurturance activity around 5:00 a.m. Said activity includes ring
weeding, strip brushing, and mulching to some 11,000 mahogany and lauan
seedlings planted.
Lieutenant Colonel Rey Pasco, camp in-charge and
commanding officer of the 4th CMO Battalion, bared that the said activity is
part of the Philippine Army's efforts in protecting the environment.
“This is just one of the many things that we do as
we do not only protect the lives of the people, but we also protect the
nature/environment that we enjoy to live in. We wanted to maintain what we have
started to plant here, for this will surely benefit the next generations to
come,” expressed Pasco.
Also, CAAP Butuan City airport manager Evangeline
Daba said that her office is currently implementing a pro-green program. She
recalled that last 2015, Butuan Airport was awarded the cleanest and greenest
airport. She also stressed that they will continue and maintain their existing
greening and nurturing program within the vicinity of the airport.
“This is one of our initiatives as we also do our
corporate social responsibility. Aside from nurturing and protecting our
environment, our office is also doing outreach program to the children in the
nearby barangays here. In fact, we will hold an outreach program this week in
Barangay Dumalagan,” disclosed Daba.
Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Joshue Cadorna, OAD, rector of
the Order of Discalced Agustinians (OAD) seminary in Butuan, emphasized that it
is but proper that people should take care of the environment, as this is a
gift from God. As an active partner stakeholder, Fr. Cadorna reiterated the
vital role of each individual in protecting and nurturing the environment.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
CSC encourages usage of ‘Sumbungan ng Bayan,' 8888
hotline number
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA) – With an aim to promote
accountability among government agencies by providing citizens with a tool to
report complaints, appreciation and relay feedbacks regarding government
front-line services, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) promotes the
utilization of the Contact Center ng Bayan (CCB) original hotline number 1-6565
or the newer 8888 number which is coursed through the same facility.
The CCB is conceived as the ‘sumbungan ng bayan’ or
the public feedback mechanism designated as the government’s helpdesk. It has
been running since 2012 and was established by the CSC and the Information and
Communications Technology Office-National Computer Center (ICTO-NCC) to support
the implementation of Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of
2007.
Accordingly, CCB’s operations have generated a rich
source of data on client feedback. Data shows that top complaints from the
public include non-observance of the ‘No Noon Break’ policy, slow processing of
transactions, discourtesy of frontliners, failure of frontliners to attend to
clients during office hours, and the presence of fixers.
It was learned that September and October are CCB’s
peak months, attributed to the promotion of Philippine Civil Service
Anniversary and the Civil Service Examinations when clients not only send
complaints but also appreciation and commendations on government services as
well.
As revealed by the CSC, the 8888 hotline received
around 90 calls during its first seven hours of official opening of line on
August 1, 2016. And since 2012 to June 2016, the CSC has facilitated a total of
175,481 transactions ranging from calls, e-mails and text messages. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Pisay Caraga announces NCE exam
By Nora C. Lanuza Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA) – The Philippine Science
High School (PSHS) or Pisay Caraga Region Campus is now accepting application
for the National Competitive Examination (NCE) scheduled on October 22, 2016
located in six different testing centers of the region.
To become eligible in taking the NCE, the following
criteria must be followed and observed:
·
a grade 6
elementary pupil from a duly recognized school by the Department of education;
·
have a final
grade of 85% or better in Science and Mathematics, evidenced by the students’s
report card. If the student’s grades inScience and Mathematics are below 85%,
then, he/she must provide evidence that he/she belongs to the uppoer 10% of the
class;
·
be a Filipino
citizen with no pending application as immigrant to any foreign country;
·
be born on or
after August 1, 2002;
·
have at least
a satisfactory rating (or its equivalent) in his/her Character Rating in
his/her report card (SY 2015-2016); and
·
have not taken
the PSHS NCE previously.
Preferably, be in good health and fit to undergo a
rigorous academic program.
Also, applicants are required to fully accomplished
Application Form in two copies); submit two identical recent 1x1 ID pictures;
pay a testing fee of P100 for private schools which is non-refundable,
applicants from public school need not to pay the testing fee; certified true
copy of report card (SY2015-2016); and if the final grades in Science and Math
are below 85%, certification or proof that the child belongs to the upper 10
percent of the class.
Testing Centers include: Don Ruben Ecleo National
High School in San Jose, Dinagat Islands; Dapa National High School in Siargao
Island, Surigao del Norte; Saint Theresa College High School in Tandag City,
Surigao del Sur; Caraga Regional Science High School in Surigao City; De La
Salle John Bosco College in Mangagoy, Bislig City; and Agusan National High School
in Butuan City
Once passed the NCE, a Pisay scholar is entitled to
a free tuition fee, free loan of textbooks, monthly stipend, and uniform,
transportation and living allowances for low-income groups.
Deadline for filing of application will be on September
2, 2106. Application forms can be downloaded at
http://pshs.edu.ph/download/nce_form.pdf.
For inquiries, contact Pisay Caraga Region Campus
at (085) 816-1303; 0939 9249208; 0995 1292134 or email
pshscrcregistrar@gmail.com. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
80 youths join leadership training in SurSur town
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 31 (PIA) – Some
80 youths from Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) – San Miguel
chapter participated in the two-day Capability Building Leadership Training
from Aug. 30-31, 2016 held at the Community Development Information Center in
San Miguel, this province.
According to Community Development Information
Officer Nancy Elizalde, the activity, spearheaded by the local government unit
of San Miguel, aims to pave the way for the involvement of youth in planning
for equal economic opportunities and for a strengthened social, spiritual and
cultural values.
Elizalde also said that the activity seeks to
develop positive self worth through capability building activities and molding
of future leaders.
“This is to increase community awareness that the
youth has social rights and moral responsibility and that they have
contributions in building peace in the community. This is also to enhance the
youth's participation in decision-making process,” she added.
PYAP-San Miguel chapter has already 85 members in
eight barangays, it was learned. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Policy forum bats for Climate Change resilience in
Mindanao
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA) - Over 150
multi-stakeholder representatives from the academe, government, private sector
and civil society will meet here Thursday at the Father Saturnino Urios
University (FSUU) for a gathering of experts at the 2nd Mindanao Policy Research
Forum (MPRF), and push for advocacy initiatives and policies to boost climate
change resilience among Mindanao communities.
The conduct of the 2nd MPRF is in line with the
2016 Development Policy Research Month (DPRM), a nationwide event that aims to
promote and draw nationwide awareness on the importance of policy research in
the formulation of sound development plans, programs, and policies.
Following DPRM’s theme of “Investing in Risk
Reduction for a Resilient Philippines,” the MPRF will showcase various policy
researches and best practices relevant to developing resilient communities in
the island-region.
“This is a timely theme to discuss on a policy
level since the current administration has consistently cited disaster risk
reduction as among its top priorities,” said Undersecretary Janet Lopoz,
executive director the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
She added the conduct of the 2nd MPRF will become a
venue to raise local concerns and efforts in mitigating the climate change
impacts to national partners in policy and research communities.”
This year’s forum is co-organized by MinDA through
its Mindanao Knowledge Center (MKC), the Philippine Institute for Development
Studies (PIDS), and FSUU, which is also a member of the MKC network.
“Given the changing economic and environmental
landscape of Mindanao, it has become even more necessary for us to strengthen
our policy research and development network through the MKC, since they will be
the key players in our pursuit for a green Mindanao economy,” Lopoz said.
MKC operates under MinDA, along with its partners
from higher education institutions and research societies across Mindanao.
The forum will feature policy and research
presentations from the PIDS, DENR, FSUU, and the Caraga State University, among
others. A team from PIDS’ Socioeconomic
Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P) will discuss the open access
agenda.
The SERP-P is an online repository of socioeconomic
research materials amassed from the contributions of PIDS and 52 other research
and academic institutions. A representative from the SERP-P will discuss the
portal’s role in promoting free access to critical knowledge and relevant
research studies and information.
At the end of the forum, participants are expected
to be able to link policy researches with policy makers and other stakeholders
leading to appropriate research utilization and practical application of the
completed studies as primary tools in the pursuit for a resilient and
progressive Mindanao. (MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
OWWA, BSP link together in program advocacy for OFW
families in Surigao Norte town
By Jean Mary G. Ronquillo
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA) – Consistent in its
drive to deliver useful welfare services to the Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFWs) and their families, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
Caraga together with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently conducted
programs and services advocacy and financial literacy seminar in the
municipality of Alegria, Surigao del Norte.
Enthusiastic to grasp about the agency’s programs,
some 38 OFWs and dependents participated in the said activity.
In her opening remarks, municipal councilor Erlinda
Salvoza shared her appreciation to their constituents for exhibiting interest
of discerning the agency’s programs and services.
Alegria Municipal Mayor Rene Esma cited in his
message, his own journey being a former OFW himself to inspire the
participants. He also gave emphasis on the idea of saving and encouraged the
OFW dependents to include it among their priorities and look forward for a
better future of the family.
To further enlighten the participants about the
rightful handling of finances especially the hard-earned money of their OFW
family member, BSP Specialist II Francis Alfred Bokingo introduced the concept
of financial literacy. The course of his discussion included various methods of
budgeting and saving plans including investments. Bokingo also tackled other
programs and services offered by the BSP.
Moreover, Overseas Workers Welfare Officer II Rodel
Deligero presented the programs and services of OWWA and explained the process
of program availment. Presently the agency’s services encompass social
benefits, education and training assistance, workers welfare assistance
program, social services and family welfare services and the reintegration
program.
Financial literacy is also among the reintegration
programs of OWWA which aims to inculcate to the OFW families the value of OFW
revenues through saving their finances and engaging on good investments.
Following an open forum, the activity concluded
with the formation of an OFW organization in the locality, which was named
Alegria OFW and Dependents Association. (OWWA-13/PIA-Caraga)
