SurSur town inks MOA with DENR for biochar project
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
CANTILAN, Surigao del Sur, Apr. 24 (PIA) – The
local government unit of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur recently inked a memorandum
of agreement (MOA) with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) for the implementation of the Biochar Community Enterprise Project,
primarily aimed to remediate environmental problems.
Surigao del Sur Provincial Environment and Natural
Resources Office (PENRO) information officer Johny Natad said the signing of
the MOA took place in time with the project launching held at the Ecopark of
Barangay Hayanggabon, Claver, Surigao del Norte on April 18 between Cantilan
Mayor Philip Pichay and DENR Secretary Regina Paz Lopez as support for the
implementation of the biochar project in Surigao del Sur.
Accordingly, the project will be implemented
initially in two areas: Barangay Adlay of Carascal town and Barangay Magasang
of Cantilan town with Adlay Integrated Social Forestry Farmers Multipurpose
Cooperative (ADISFFAMCO) and Tigpanalipod sa Katunggan nan Magasang (TIKAMA) as
the participating community organizations.
The project will be expanded to the identified
areas in Surigao del Sur and in Caraga region, as well under the Sustainable
Integrated Area Development (SIAD) – Green Economy Model (GEM) of the agency.
(JSN/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
PRDP to fast track review process of projects
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 24 (PIA) - The Mindanao Project
Support Office (PSO) of the Department of Agriculture's (DA’s) Philippine Rural
Development Project (PRDP) has committed to fast track the review process of
pipelined and proposed subprojects through the conduct of joint technical
reviews and joint inspection activities that will enjoin teams in the national,
regional and provincial levels.
This was among the major recommended actions pushed
by the local government units (LGUs) during the month-long forum-caravan in
various regions conducted by PRDP Mindanao that aims to re-orient implementing
LGUs of its commitments and PRDP’s project deliverables.
“In collaboration with the Regional Project
Coordinating Office (RPCOs), the PSO will strengthen the conduct of joint
inspection especially for infrastructure projects which composed the bulk of
PRDP’s investment portfolio,” PRDP Mindanao deputy project director Araceli
Morano said.
She added that joint technical reviews will also
cover proposals and pipelined enterprise development projects.
“The project management will strive to simplify
processes and review the requirements so as not to have a piecemeal review,
taking into account that we have service standards to follow,” Morano added.
The forum, which was attended by Local Chief
Executives (LCEs) and their Provincial/City Project Management and Implementing
Unit (P/CPMIU) aims to provide updates and implementation status of various
PRDP subprojects in in the region and to get the concerns as well as solicit
recommendations that will fast track accomplishments of their respective
subprojects.
Morano also said that the PRDP will assist in the
forging of inter-agency convergence mechanisms to mainstream investments to the
City and Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (C/PCIP).
“PRDP continues to advocate making PCIP as a major
reference for planning and budgeting,” she said.
Convergence mechanisms have been piloted in Region
9 for cacao and Region 10 for coconut.
Emphasizing the timeline for PRDP from 2014 to
2020, and the coming midterm evaluation, Morano encouraged everyone to elevate
their concerns so this can be solved at once and hasten completion of their
project.
“These recommendations and proposed next steps that
we have gathered will be documented and presented during the upcoming World
Bank Implementation Support Mission in May,” she said. (with reports from Rosie
Paasa/DA-RPCO and Marriez Torreliza/PSO Min/PIA-Caraga)
DOH stresses importance of immunization as World
Immunization Week draws near
By Janen Lumandas
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 24 (PIA) - The Department of
Health (DOH) Caraga, during its monthly forum here, highlighted the importance
of immunization as the agency is set to celebrate the World Immunization Week
on April 24-30, 2017.
Maria Jasmine Sarce of DOH Caraga reminded everyone
that vaccination starts at birth and proper schedule must be observed.
“Vaccination should be completed by the time the child reached one year old to
eliminate vaccine preventable diseases,” said Sarce.
This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme,
"Vaccination is everyone's job, Protect our children, Protect our
community."
It was learned that the DOH will hold outreach
activities in high risk communities throughout the week. There will be
seminar/meetings with provincial and city coordinators to talk about action
plans and development of strategies.
Also, supplementary immunization activities will
include vaccination campaigns and Child Health Day in Bayugan City, Tandag
City, Rosario in Agusan del Sur, and Del Carmen in Surigao del Norte.
The goal of the immunization program of the
Philippines is to reduce morbidity and mortality of children aged 0-11 months
old against vaccine preventable diseases. It also aims to attain 95 percent
immunization coverage for all antigens and preserve the polio-free status. (FSUU/PIA-Caraga)
Local distributors, producers, DTI meet to
strengthen partnership for ‘Diskwento Caravan’
BUTUAN CITY, April 24 – The regional distributors
and local producers met with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
personnel to strengthen their partnership in the conduct of diskwento caravans
(DCs) in Caraga region.
The group discussed a draft memorandum of agreement
(MOA) outlining the responsibilities of the partners in the conduct of the DCs.
This included the arrangements on logistics, inventory of products,
workforce and other non-monetary
requirements and incentives.
Lorijane Sacote, chief of Consumer Welfare Division
of DTI- Caraga, discussed the details of the MOA. She said that upon signing,
the memorandum shall take effect immediately.
Also, DTI-Agusan del Sur DC partners that attended
the activity were Bunawan Livelihood Business Center and Integrated Producers
Association of Prosperidad Agusan del Sur Inc. (IPAPADSI).
Diskwento Caravan is one of the banner programs of
DTI, which aims to bring products to the areas at a discounted price. This is
also conducted during times of calamity or upon request by local government
units. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DOE to ERC: Public interest comes first
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 24 (PIA) – Energy Secretary
Alfonso G. Cusi met with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) commissioners
recently to address the concerns of the public and the electricity industry
sector.
The commissioners submitted to Sec. Cusi a report
which the Department of Energy (DOE) is currently studying.
In the previous meetings with the commissioners,
Cusi asked the ERC chairman to ensure that the ERC is working.
"I don't know how you'll do it but you have to
do it," Cusi asserted.
"The DOE respects the ERC as a strong and
independent institution. However, public interest comes first," Cusi
added.
In the succeeding meetings with the commissioners,
the DOE will push for a more definite set of outputs from the ERC aside from
pushing to resolve the internal differences within the Commission.
"The delays incurred by the ERC must be
addressed immediately. We cannot have internal squabbles within the Commission
go in the way of the interest of the public," Cusi concluded.
(DOE/PIA-Caraga)
