Agusan del Sur jumps 25
steps, improves most competitive province ranking
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del
Sur, Sept. 28 (PIA) – The province of Agusan Del Sur was ranked the 22nd most
competitive province, based on the results of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness
Index (CMCI) 2017.
The results were made
public and available online right after the 5th Annual Regional Competitiveness
Summit conducted at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
The municipality of
Veruela was also ranked as the 2nd most resilient municipality among the 1,342
who joined the CMCI this 2017.
The CMCI ranks cities
and municipalities based on four pillars – economic dynamism, infrastructure,
government Efficiency, and resiliency.
The annual index
rankings recognize the top three awardees for each pillar and the over-all most
competitive LGU under different categories.
A total of 75 awards
were given out to 3 provinces, 16 highly urbanized cities, 16 component cities,
16 1st and 2nd class cities, 16 3rd and 6th municipalities, 6 most improved
cities and 6 most improved municipalities.
The provincial ranking
is based on the composite score of all local government units (LGUs)
participating per province.
For a province to be
ranked, participating LGUs’ population and income should be represented by at
least 70% of the province’s total. For Caraga province, all 6 cities and 67
municipalities participated.
Based on the foregoing
criteria, this year’s CMCI only ranked 72 out 81 provinces. Those not included
were Palawan and Romblon of Region IVB; Camarines Norte and Catanduanes of
Region V; and Basilan, Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi all of
ARMM.
Rankings of other Caraga
provinces are as follows: Agusan del Norte, top 18; Surigao del Norte, 25; Province
of Dinagat Islands, 45; and Surigao del Sur, 47.
Declared as the top 3
most competitive provinces were Rizal (Region 4A), South Cotabato (Region 12)
and Cavite (Region 4A), respectively. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
170 cops undergo internal
security operations training
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 28
(PIA) – A total of 170 new police officers in Caraga region undergo the Basic
Internal Security Operations Course (BISOC) held in this city on Sept. 26,
2017.
“This course, which runs
for 60 training days, is the revision of the 45-day Special Counter-Insurgency
Operations Unit Training (SCOUT). This is the third batch of trainees since the
implementation of BISOC,” said Police Regional Office 13 Director PCSupt.
Rolando Felix.
This training is designed
to equip the new cops with the knowledge, attitude, skills, and values that
make them more capable and skilled once they get assigned to the public safety
forces.
In his message, he
encouraged the trainees to absorb the training, so that they can make the
Caraganons safe and secured from the threats of insurgency, terrorism and
criminality.
The trainees will be
brought to the Regional Special Training Unit in Santiago, Agusan del Norte.
(PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga police arrest 22
wanted persons in joint operations
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 28
(PIA) - Caraga police operatives arrested the 10th most wanted person in the
municipal level and other 21 law violators through Oplan Manhunt Charlie
conducted on September 26, said Police Regional Office 13 Director PCSupt.
Rolando Felix.
In a joint operation,
operatives from Trento Municipal Police Station and Criminal Investigation
Detection Group-Agusan del Sur apprehended Arnie Tiongson, 40, of Poblacion,
Trento, Agusan del Sur listed as the 10th most wanted person in the municipal
level for the crime of estafa.
Also arrested because of
estafa were Herminigildo Suaybaguio, 44, of Poblacion, Veruela; Ener Sales, 51,
of San Teodoro, Bunawan, both Province of Agusan del Sur; Emely Melindo, 50, of
Holy Redeemer, Butuan City; and Genalyn Patino, 47, of Brgy. Bugas Bugas,
Claver Surigao del Norte.
In Surigao del Norte,
the police arrested Ricky Manzano, 44, of Mabuhay, Sison, Surigao del Norte for
fishing with the use of explosives; Cherry Edillor, 36, of Washington, Surigao
City for violation of the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.
Police operatives of
General Luna Municipal Police Station arrested Joey Gonzaga, Rodelio Igot,
Ritchie Comon, Jeamar Gonzaga, Joy Gonzaga and Marilou Plaza during the conduct
of buy-bust operation. Confiscated from the suspects were a hand grenade, 17
rounds of Caliber .22 ammunition, 25 sachets of suspected shabu with an
estimated weigh of 4 grams and worth of P47,200 and illegal drug paraphernalia.
Evelyn Migullas was also arrested for illegal numbers games.
In Butuan City, cops
arrested Marining Domagtoy, 37 and Fritz Platil, 39, both residents of Baan,
Butuan City for adultery; Richard Alcomendras, 36, of San Diego, for violating
the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972; and Lucia Maloloy-on, 67, of Holy Redeemer,
for child abuse.
Meanwhile, police
operatives arrested John Dave Jupia, 33, of Fili, Bayugan City for stealing
minerals; Teme Bagarinao, 55, of San Martin, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur for
violating the Bouncing Check Law; Edwin Ajoc, 47, of Aras-asan, Cagwait,
Surigao del Sur for illegal numbers games; and Jemrill Acedilla, 25, of
Calibunan, Cabadbaran City for violating the Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
"These operations
show the effectiveness of the public’s collaboration with the police in
fighting criminality. Their active participation hastened the putting of
criminals behind bars and giving justice to their victims,” PCSupt. Felix said.
(PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
General virtual
assistant training given to 18 OFWs, dependents
By JPI Millones
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 28
(PIA) – Eighteen Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents attended
the intensive 10-day General Virtual Assistant Training (GVAT) held at the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Training Center, Bislig City, Surigao del
Sur on September 4 to 15, 2017.
There is a considerably
rapid growth of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the Business
Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in the country. However, the huge gap
between the opportunities available in top cities and rural areas is also
immense. Thus, DTI initiated a significant training program designed to
introduce and enable constituents from the provinces to be skilled in the
field.
“We aim to transform
lives through meaningful jobs in ICT and BPO,” said DTI Negosyo Center
Coordinator Joselito B. Paler.
The Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA) partnered with DTI and brought the GVAT training
to Bislig City. The agency intends to bring forth the opportunity to member
OFWs and their dependents, in line with its drive to mobilize the training
programs in different provinces in the region.
During training,
participants were taught how to strategically craft their application, resume
and portfolio. An intensive hands-on experience was also given to the trainees,
including but not limited to, transcription, encoding and marketing. At the end
of the training, the participants went on an actual interview with foreign
clients, producing four hired-on-the-spot trainees.
“We, virtual assistants,
provide services for clients based abroad. We do sales and marketing for their
business through the internet. Thus, we need to equip the participants with the
necessary skills needed by the online clients. These trainees may be hired
directly,” shared GVAT trainer Darwin Pua.
In his message,
Congressman Johnny T. Pimentel of the 2nd District of Surigao Sur applauded
OWWA and DTI for successfully opening doors for employment to the OFWs and
family in the province without having to leave for overseas employment.
OWWA Caraga Regional
Director Samuel S. Madrid challenged the participants to make the most of the
training. “It is an opportunity, a first of its kind, provided to OFWs in the
Philippines,” he said.
DTI has offered a space
in their office where the participants can work in the future. (OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
DTI to spearhead
celebration of Consumer Welfare Month
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 27 –
Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 dated September 26, 1997, the
nation will celebrate the annual Consumer Welfare Month (CWM) on October 2017.
The theme for this
year’s celebration is “Consumer Rights in the Digital Age,” with the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the lead agency. This year’s theme seeks to
highlight the need for consumers to be more vigilant and be on guard on their
rights, especially with the emergence of online marketing and other IT-based business
transactions.
The advocacy of this
event is incorporated in the various activities lined-up for implementation
during the month-long celebration. Among these activities are media interviews,
hanging of streamers, Consumer Quiz Bowl at the Division and Regional Levels of
the Department of Education (DepEd), Gasa Para sa Masa sales promotion by
business establishments, and joint monitoring/enforcement activities with the
Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) and other consumer organizations. A Consumer
Fun Run and Walk for Life will kick off the month-long celebration on October
1, 2017.
The CWM celebration will
culminate on October 27 with an awarding ceremony for Consumer Advocacy
partners, such as DTI-recognized consumer organizations, DTI Bagwis awardees
and the regional quiz bowl winners at the Robinsons Place, Butuan City.
(DTI-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DAR trains 30
para-technicians in AgSur
By Rechel D. Besonia
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan
del Sur, Sept. 27 (PIA) - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) thru Project
Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment
(ConVERGE), in its aim to help improve the profitability of household
enterprise in VETREBUNS Cluster, conducted a two-day training for the first
batch of identified para-technicians of rice commodity on September 18-19, 2017
at Mabe’s Savory Place, San Francisco, this province.
Some 30 para-technicians
were recommended for the said training by the Municipal Agrarian Reform
Officers of Veruela and Sta. Josefa, who were also the Barangay Agricultural
Workers (BAWs).
“Para-technicians play a
vital role in the success of rice production, which is very significant in
attaining the project’s goal on sustainable development,” Engr. Gudy Centina,
Provincial Project Coordinator said.
Part of the strategies
introduced for the para-technicians is the installation of a 1-hectare demo
farm that will showcase the new technologies designed to increase productivity,
provision of farm inputs as well as the accessibility and availability of farm
facilities for the ARBO members/farmers. Such technologies on rice production
include the integrated rice-duck, rice-fish and organic fertilizer production.
DAR tapped the expertise
of the PhilRice resource speakers, Science Research Analyst Rolando Narisma,
Science Research Specialist I Sharen Rivas and Science Research Assistant
Georgie Shermae Tortola. Part of the training module was the introduction of a
palay checklist, which includes seed and variety selection, land preparation,
crop establishment as well as the nutrient, water, pest and harvest management.
“We are very thankful to
DAR and for Project ConVERGE for giving us the opportunity to become the
participants of this training. This is very useful to us especially that we
still have limited idea on rice production,” expressed Alex Quiricon, one of
the participants.
Reynaldo Maido Sr.,
Chairman of La Fortuna Multi-Purpose Cooperative was also very grateful to DAR
and the Resource Speakers for the new technologies shared during the training.
“We appreciate the
efforts of DAR AgSur thru this project. It is a privilege to share the skills
and technologies that we have. We are glad that we become part of your growth
and development as a farmer,” Rivas said as a response to the impressions made
by the participants. (DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DA Caraga mentors
farmers to become agripreneurs
By Rhea Abao
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 27
(PIA) - The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga’s assistance does not only
stop with production support for the farmers. The agency also lingers to
promote agricultural development by providing the policy framework, public
investment, and support needed for domestic and export-oriented business
enterprises.
To heap on the promotion
of agriculture enterprise, DA in partnership with the Philippine Center for
Entrepreneurship Foundation, Inc.-Go Negosyo (PCE-Go Negosyo) gears up farmers
to become agripreneurs through the Kapatid Agri-Mentor Me Program (KAMMP) in
Butuan City.
KAMMP is a coaching and
mentoring program for agriculture enterprise, designed to sustain and scale up
the farming business of farmers.
In the region, a total
of 53 mentees will participate in KAMMP. They will be mentored by agri-business
practitioners, who have an extensive knowledge in their field. The program is
designed to equip agripreneurs with proper production techniques, mindset and
values, practical knowledge and strategies, and consultation services to foster
successful and sustainable agri-enterprises.
Agripreneurs is a term
used for the new breed of entrepreneurs combining their love of farming and
agriculture with business.
Since 2008 up to
present, the department continues to assist and monitor 31 operational Barangay
Food Terminals (BFT), 11 Municipal Food Terminals (MFT), 2 Organic Agriculture
Trading Post (OATP), 1 Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (APTC), and 4 Rice Processing
Centers (RPC) throughout the region. These 49 business hubs have been operated
by farmer associations and cooperatives supported by the office.
DA supports the advocacy
of PCE-Go Negosyo in popularizing entrepreneurship as an alternative to
unemployment and job-seeking. Both parties aim to develop a business-minded
culture that would lead to an entrepreneurial nation, which will eventually
improve the economy.
“DA through the
Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) has been providing
marketing assistance and linkages to our partners – the farmers. Our
partnership with PCE-Go Negosyo thru KAMMP is another outlet to encourage our
farmers to engage in entrepreneurial activities, which could help increase
their income. It is also our way to promote agriculture as a viable economic
activity,” said Lynn A. PareΓ±as, AMAD Chief.
Farming and its related
activities make up the basic fabric of rural life, making it a significant
contributor to the employment and business opportunities in the region. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
