Butuan City determined to increase high-value crops
production
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 (PIA) – With an aim to raise the
production of high-valued crops such as cacao, banana and palay, the Butuan
City Agriculturist Office is set to hold a profiling activity and Rice Crop
Management Training among the 86 barangays of this city.
According to Engr. Alberto Buca, head of the City
Agriculturist Office, it is one of the priorities of the local government
wherein greater opportunities were seen due to the potential for high
value-chain of these products.
Said unit will also conduct a visitation to various
farmlands within the city to determine the degree of production and vastness of
the planted areas.
Also, programs for rice crop management is also
given focus with an objective to identify and recommend appropriate grains and
materials to achieve an optimum rice production. This was done on April 27
until the last day of May, this year, targeting around 350 farmers from 26
different barangays. (RCO/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
AgSur LGU Negosyo Centers orient registered BMBEs
on their privileges
BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur, May 6 - Some 75
registered barangay micro business enterprises (BMBEs) from Esperanza, Sibagat
and Bayugan City were gathered and oriented on how to avail of the
privileges/exemptions that they are entitled to during a BMBE Orientation held
recently at Meteor Garden, this city.
The participants were briefed on Republic Act (RA)
9178 otherwise known as “BMBE act of 2002” as amended by RA 10644 or the “Go
Negosyo Act” which encourages the formation and growth of barangay micro business
enterprises by granting them incentives and other benefits.
These privileges are as follows: 1) income tax
exemption from income arising from the operations of the enterprise; 2)
exemption from the coverage of the minimum wage law; 3) priority to a special
credit window set up specifically for the financing requirements of BMBEs; and
4) technology transfer, production and management training, and marketing
assistance programs for BMBE beneficiaries.
Max Molato of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
Revenue District Office (RDO) XII highlighted that the income tax exemptions
that the BMBEs are entitled can only be availed if they will apply for the same
with the BIR and submit the requirements needed.
“Once granted a tax exemption, you are still required
to submit reports of you annual income tax,” Molato added.
Participants are enlightened with the discussion
and eager to avail of the privileges given to them. They said that they are
going to tell their friends who also have businesses to register as BMBEs.
It was also learned that another BMBE orientation
will be conducted on July 2017.
(DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
AgSur guv endorses USAD model for engaging cacao
farmers
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, May 6 - Agusan del
Sur Provincial Governor Adolph Edward Plaza has asked cacao industry cluster
stakeholders to take a closer look at the province’s model for promoting cacao
planting as a tool for poverty alleviation.
Gov. Plaza is referring to the Upland Sustainable
Agri-forestry Development (USAD) program and its mandatory social preparation
to ensure that the undertaking will be for the long haul and will result to the
enrollees’ sustained economic well-being.
The good governor attended the regional cacao
roadmap localization held recently in San Francisco town, this province.
He opted to hear all the provincial cacao
situationer reports first before taking the floor so he can give a message that
is grounded on the industry realities and what he believes are workable options
that the stakeholders can pursue.
He also challenged the Cacao regional and
provincial development councils and the rest of the stakeholders to not only
identify the problems but also work on their solutions. (DTI-Agusan del
Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Siargao town receives P14.23 M projects from DILG
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 6 - The local
government unit of Sta. Monica, this province received P14.23 million worth of
projects from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the
Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities (ADM) Program of Duterte
Administration.
The said amount will be used to fund the water
project in Barangay Poblacion (T. Arlan) and Barangay Rizal and core local
construction in Barangay Poblacion (T. Arlan).
The municipality is the first local government unit
in the province included in the first batch of fund releases.
DILG Surigao del Norte provincial director John
Reyl Mosquito said the project is part of Duterte’s administration commitment
to reduce poverty in the countryside.
“This is just the beginning of the series of fund
releases because all municipalities in province will be given assistance
ranging from P9 million to P23 million,” said Mosquito.
On his part, Sta. Monica mayor Fernando Dolar lauds
the project because it greatly augments the meager funds of the municipality to
finance and implement development projects.
“Core local roads and provision of potable water
are two of my priority thrusts,” Dolar added.
Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities (ADM) is
an offshoot of Bottom-up Budgeting Program under the previous administration.
Since 2014, DILG has released about P270 million to
LGUs that funded at least 278 projects in Surigao del Norte. (DILG-Surigao del
Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
DTI brings ‘Mentor ME’ program to Agusan del Sur
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, May 6 - A program
that aims to help micro and small entrepreneurs to grow and sustain their
businesses was recently launched in the province held at Mabe’s Savory Place,
this municipality.
The ‘Mentor Me’ Program is one of the components of
the Kapatid Program which is an initiative of the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE).
The program aims to develop micro and small--scale
enterprises through coaching and mentorship. The program also brings together
experts and industry leaders who will provide a series of free mentoring
sessions on incorporating innovation in products, business models, operations
management, accounting, taxation and other aspects of the business operations.
During the launching, a free Negosyo Seminar with
two experienced and successful businessmen and effective mentors were conducted
with an estimated 200 participating Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The mentors were Henry Tenedero and Willy
Arcilla. Tenedero, a Go Negosyo
Angelpreneur, former president of the Philippine Marketing Association and
president of the Education for All Development Center discussed the topic “Entrepreneurial
Mindset and Values Formation” while Arcilla, another Go Negosyo Angelpreneur
and a recipient of the Agora Award for Marketing Excellence in Asia-Pacific
tackled the “Marketing and Marketing Trends”.
Negosyo Center-Agusan del Sur hosted the two phases
of the program composed of the first two modules to be done during the launch
and the subsequent 11 modules for pre-screened mentees. The latter have met the
requirement of business registration and for having been in operation for at
least one year.
This batch of mentees all belong to the food
sector.
The launch also included the sharing of success
stories from Frederico Blanco of F & H Aqua Spring Purified Drinking
Water/Info Care Advertising, Rosalina O. Go of Rose Excellence Corporation, and
Irenea R. Hitgano of Hillsview Food Products. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan
del Sur)
Cusi to Transco: Use gov't assets to lower power,
internet rates
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 - Not at the expense of the
truth and to the detriment of the public interest.
This was the unstated message of Department of
Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi when he ordered today the National
Transmission Corporation (TransCo) to maximize the utilization of the fiber
optic assets of the power transmission facilities to lower electricity and
Internet rates.
“At the onset of this administration, we repeatedly
requested the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), through
TransCo, to provide the details on how we can take full advantage of their
fiber optic assets embedded in the grid,” said Cusi.
“I have personally asked the officials of NGCP to
provide such status report, because we want to make the internet services in
the country faster and more reliable with the help of our transmission
facilities,” he said.
Cusi pointed out that the availability and readiness
of the fiber optic assets on the transmission system could improve the
electricity services of the NGCP and reduce the cost of electricity and the
national broadband project.
However, the DOE as well as TransCo have yet to
receive an update from the NGCP amid the sudden proliferation of full page paid
print advertisements and repeated pronouncements over the media to support the
government’s broadband and grid interconnection projects.
“While we are waiting for NGCP’s data and proposals
on the project, there's a need to clarify the impressions that are being
projected by NGCP that it is voluntarily, willing and able to provide these
services for the benefit of the public," Cusi said.
Amid the apparent disregard of NGCP of the request,
Cusi directed TransCo to audit the NGCP’s work program and below are the
initial yet detailed findings of the company:
a) In 2012, NGCP rejected the request of the
national government for the use of spare fiber for the Integrated Government
Philippines (IGovPhils) Project;
b) Concealment of a contract involving the use of
the national government’s transmission assets (substations, high voltage
towers/poles, and high-voltage transmission lines) as a telecommunications
backbone; and
c) Decommissioning and dismantling of a separately
installed Fiber Optic Network used by major telecommunications companies.
Moreover, as the owner of the transmission
facilities, TransCo has been instructed by Cusi to spearhead the move for the
utilization of the fiber optic assets for cheaper and faster IT services as
well as to lower the price of electricity.
The DOE oversees TransCo, which is mandated to
protect the national government’s interests by ensuring NGCP’s compliance with
the terms and conditions of the Concession Agreement and the policies of the
State. Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the NGCP was
awarded the sole Concession Agreement for the country’s transmission system in
2009.
“At the end of the day, what we would like to
achieve is that the consuming public would benefit from all the government
deals and activities, thus we are exploring and exhausting all the potentials
of the transmission system as a government-owned asset,” Cusi said.
"At the same time, the department will not
hesitate to file cases against abuses or any violation of the contract which
maybe discovered and proven after further investigation of the NGCP's
operations and its activities," he concluded. (DOE/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga RAFC chair assumes DA farmer-director
BUTUAN CITY, May 6 - Recognizing the significant
role of the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC), the Department of
Agriculture (DA) has empowered them by designating the RAFC Chair as
Farmer-Director for the month of May in time of the Farmers and Fisherfolks
Month celebration.
During the flag ceremony on May 2, 2017, Caraga
RAFC Chair Pedro T. Lim was formally introduced by DA-Caraga Regional Executive
Director Abel James Monteagudo as Farmer-Director for the whole month of May.
The designation of Lim is in pursuant to the
Memorandum Order duly signed by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel PiΓ±ol in
recognition of RAFC’s contribution in agricultural development and to further
strengthen the partnership between DA and the private sector.
As Farmer-Director, Lim will assume the roles and
tasks of a DA-RFO Director in the implementation and dissemination of key
programs of the agency.
However, their authority shall be limited to
non-policy determining activities which should not in any way affect the
government accounting rules and procedures as well as the civil service rules
and regulations.
The Agricultural and Fishery Council (AFC) is the
mechanism for private and public sector partnership in the development
processes of the agriculture and fisheries sectors at the regional, provincial
and municipal levels.
AFC which is now in its 30 years of existence,
conducts monitoring and recommends agricultural projects, as well provide
policy recommendations for the government decision makers.
The celebration of May as Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s
month is in pursuant to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Special Order No. 88
series of 2005 giving due recognition to the contribution of farmers and
fisherfolk in national development. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano News: Pangandoy sa mag-uuma nga proyekto,
gitunol na
Ni Jane B. Huqueriza
LAS NIEVES, Agusan del Norte, Mayo 6 - Pormal na
nga giturn-over ang proyekto nga San Roque Small Irrigation Project sa San
Roque, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte niadtong Abril 28, 2017 sa buntag.
Gisundan ang maong programa sa usa ka cutting of
ribbon ug pag abri sa duha ka intake gate (left and right) sa mga opisyales sa
National Irrigation Administarion-Caraga gipanguluhan ni Engr. Salome N.
Layasan, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands IMO Manager ug
Engr. Susan D. Lariba, Operations and Maintenace Head ug ang Irrigators
Association kauban sa ilang presidente na si Franklin P. Una ug sa mga
representate sa LGU nga gipanguluhan ni SB Member Jovenito N. Maliguez,
Chairman-Committee of Agriculture ug Punong Barangay Marites C. Duhong sa San
Roque.
Ang proyekto nga nagkantidad ug P42M gikan sa pondo
sa CY 2012-2014 adunay total service area nga 200 hektarya nga maka benepisyo
ug 85 ka mag-uuma nga gidumala sa mga opisyales sa San Roque-Sta. Ana
Irrigators Association sa susamang lugar. Sa gi-ingon ni Oliver A. Maliguez,
Senior Water Resource Facilities Technician sa NIA nga ang proyekto dugay na
nga nasugdan panahon pa sa ARISP pero wala dayon kini nahuman kay wala napod
kani nahatagan ug lain nga pondo para sa uban nga mga pasilidad.
“Kaniadto nga panglantaw nahimo na gayud na
realidad,” sumala ni Maliguez sa iyang mensahe iyang ge saysay na ang proyekto
sa San Roque Small Irrigation Project nahimo siyang parti na makab-ot nila ang
ilang mga pangandoy kundiin iya pang mahinumdom nga ilang ge drawing ang lugar
aron makit an gayud kung asa ang nagkinahanglan sa patubig.
Mapasalamaton si Engr. Layasan sa mga opisyales sa
NIA ug LGU labina sa miyembro sa asosasyon sa tabang sa pagtukod sa proyekto.
Dungag sa iyang mensahe na dili lang ang mga pasilidad ang ampingan kundi pati
ang tinubgan sa tubig.
Gipasalig usab ni Engr. Lariba nga bisan libre na
ang patubig padayon gihapon ang pagserbisyo sa NIA pinaagi sa paghatag ug pag
conduct ug trainings sa mga benepisyaryo aron hapsay ang ilang pagpadagan sa
operasyon sa ilang asosasyon.
Sa mensahe ni Una iyang gipasabot nga ang pagdawat
ani nga proyekto dili sayon ang pagdumala na hisusama sa itlog nga dali lang
kini mabuak kung dili ayuhon ug pagdala. (NIA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
