DTI Caraga set to hold regional forum on MSME Dev’t
& Disaster Resilience
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 10 (PIA) – The Department of
Trade and lndustry (DTl) Caraga has joined the national campaign on
"Strengthening MSME Disaster Resilience in the Philippines" by
organizing a Regional Forum on Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
Development and Disaster Resilience on November 8, 2017 at the Grand Palace
Hotel, this city.
According to DTI Caraga Regional Director Brielgo
Pagaran, the forum is aimed to increase awareness and engage different
stakeholders in supporting the development and implementation of policies,
strategies, programs and activities leading to the realization of the MSME
Resilience Roadmap.
“The roadmap will serve as a collaborative
framework that links government and private sector partnerships, to
institutionalize the mechanisms that will help MSMES prepare for and recover
from disasters,” disclosed Pagaran.
Prior to the conduct of the forum, DTI, together
with other concerned government agencies and partner stakeholders will convene
for a preparatory consultative meeting on October 23, 2017 at the DTI regional
office conference room to discuss important event details.
For more information, the DTI secretariat can be
reached at (085) 3412293 or through the following mobile
numbers: 09395812857 (Smart), 09174574340
(Globe). (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
International Youth Camp 2017 set in Butuan City
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 10 (PIA) – Young Caraganons will
converge to learn new perspective on leadership in an International Youth Camp
slated to take place on October 27-29, 2017, this city.
Organized by the Department of Education (DepEd)
Caraga Regional Office, in partnership with International Youth Fellowship,
local government units (LGUs) and other national line agencies, the
International Youth Camp aims to bring about a change of heart among the
participants as thenurture their mind, body and spirit.
This life-changing event is a great opportunity for
high school students, college or young professionals, and youth leaders who
want to have holistic leadership training through interaction with other
participants in a ‘heart-filled’ camp.
Involvement in the International Youth Camp
qualifies the attendee to join the two weeks World Camp in Korea on July 2018,
as it is one of the requisites.
This will be participated by 1,500 individuals
coming from different areas within the Caraga region. Exciting activities are
prepared for the participants, including the opening salvo on the 27th, where a
meet and greet affair is scheduled.
Interested individuals may now register online at
http://tinyurl.com/InternationalYouthCamp2017. For more details, contact the
nearest youth formation coordinator of your respective schools division offices
(SDOs) or visit DepEd Caraga at the Teachers Development Center, J. Rosales
Avenue, Butuan City. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DOE to pursue energy resiliency policy
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 10 - Acknowledging that disasters
adversely affect the economy,environment and the people, the Department of
Energy (DOE) vowed to pursue a policy towards a resilient energy sector.
“Being one of the most vulnerable countries to
disasters, the Philippines needs to ensure that our energy systems are
disaster-resilient and that resiliency is an integral component of our policies
and programs,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
“The policy is a priority of DOE, following
President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements to improve the disaster preparedness
and resiliency of the country,” he explained.
“The policy requires all the energy players to put
upfront the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction programs into planning and
investment, to ensure the continuous delivery and strengthening of the existing
energy infrastructure,” he added.
In June, President Duterte signed Executive Order
No. 29 which renamed the National Disaster Consciousness Month to National
Disaster Resiliency Month, to emphasize the shift of focus from disaster
awareness building to disaster resilience.
The “Adoption of Resiliency Planning and Program in
the Energy Industry to Mitigate Adverse Effects Brought About by Disasters”
policy has four guiding principles:
1. Acknowledge the need to strengthen the existing
energy infrastructure, facilities and systems to prepare and mitigate the
impacts of disasters;
2. Implement the build back better principle in
terms of reconstruction and rehabilitations of damaged infrastructure;
3. Improve existing operational, maintenance and
procedures to ensure continuous operations and energy supply; and
4. Develop resiliency practices, systems and
standards that will be used as basis in future construction of energy
facilities.
In line with this thrust, DOE started to conduct a
series of public consultations on energy resiliency policy on October 10 in
Batangas. This was followed by two other meetings in Leyte and Cagayan de Oro
on October 13 and 14, respectively.
For more information, you may download a copy of
the draft resiliency policy from the DOE's official website www.doe.gov.ph.
(DOE/PIA-Caraga)
OWWA Caraga holds capability building for PESO
officers
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 10 – The Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) Caraga kicked off its 4th PESO Conference in the Province
of Dinagat Islands, in time with the province’s Agri-Fishery, Tourism and
Industrial Trade Fair 2017. Twenty one (21) PESO managers attended the
conference at the Don Ruben Training Hall, San Jose, Dinagat Island on October
1, 2017.
The PESO conference is an annual event spearheaded
by the agency, in partnership with provincial local government units (LGUs), to
capacitate their Public Employment Service Office (PESO) managers to boost the
implementation of OWWA programs and services and to impart this to their
constituents.
In his message, OWWA Caraga Regional Director
Samuel S. Madrid acknowledged the role of PESO managers as the primary
implementing arm of OWWA and POEA in each municipality and city.
“What we have in mind is to empower, upgrade and
update PESO Officers with the changing and evolving programs and services of
OWWA and POEA," Madrid said.
OWWA implements quality, responsive and timely
intervention to its member-OFWs. As such, new and amended programs of the
agency are trickled down to the PESO officers for an easy and convenient
delivery to the clients especially in remote areas.
Meanwhile, POEA Regional Coordinator for Caraga
Ritchel Molero-Butao, discussed status of the direct hiring mode of
recruitment. As per Section 123 of the Revised POEA Rules and Regulations,
foreign employers are prohibited from directly hiring a Filipino for overseas
employment. She also discussed Special Recruitment Authority (SRA), which
refers to the authority given to an agency to conduct recruitment outside its
registered business address.
During the conference, updates on different
programs of OWWA, such as the Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program and the
Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) for earthquake victims, were provided.
OWWO II Jean Mary G. Ronquillo mentioned that the
Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program has provided P20,000.00 cash to
distressed OFWs, who have not finished their contracts overseas. She also
introduced the MEDplus program, providing supplemental medical relief for
active OWWA OFW-members afflicted with dreaded diseases and were hospitalized,
either at the jobsite or while in the Philippines.
The Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) was discussed
by OIC of the Programs and Services Division (PSD), Ma. Ireen C. Cambaling. WAP
is an assistance extended to OWWA members and their families, who are not
eligible under any of the existing OWWA social benefit programs and services,
in the event of a calamity, death or medical need.
The capability building exercise for the PESO
managers is only a part of the simultaneous training activities done by the
agency in the province.
The series of training will be continued in the
Province of Surigao del Sur on October 20, followed by Agusan del Norte on
October 25, then Agusan del Sur on the 27th, Siargao Island is slated on
November 8 while Surigao del Norte will be on November 10. (JPIMillones,
OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Government troops clash with NPA anew in AgNor
DEL PILAR, CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Oct.
10 – Government troops under 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB), Philippine Army
encountered more or less ten fully armed NPA bandits at the hinterland of Brgy.
San Isidro, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte on October 9, while conducting security
operations.
The firefight lasted for three minutes and resulted
to negative casualty on the government side while undetermined on the enemy
side.
The encounter happened as the government troops tried
to verify reports from the barangay that there was an armed group conducting
extortion activities.
“The 29IB responded as part of its mandate to
protect the communities and uphold their right to live peacefully," said
29IB commanding officer LTC Glenn Joy U. Aynera.
"This operation was under the guidance of our
Brigade Commander Col. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal to neutralize all armed NPAs
terrorizing the community,” he added.
Moreover, the 29IB will continue its thrust to
protect and serve the people in connection with the Development Support and
Security Operations, to promote peace and development in Agusan del Norte,
Aynera concluded. (29IB, PA/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Dinagat Islands holds 11th coop assembly

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Oct. 10 – In line with
the celebration of Cooperative Month, the Provincial Cooperative and
Development Office (PCDO) of the provincial government of Dinagat Islands
conducted the 11th Cooperative Assembly.
This year’s celebration was anchored on the theme,
“Cooperatives: Empowering the poor and the vulnerable towards job creation and
poverty eradication.”
The celebration was highlighted with the awarding
ceremony of the Gawad Parangal sa Kooperatiba’s “Best Performing Cooperatives
2017,” led by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Caraga Regional
Director Genaro Pogata, Jr., Vice Governor Benglen Ecleo, and Provincial
Administrator Blenda Czarinne Dela Merced.
Winners for the micro category are: 1st-Mabuhay
Dinagat multi-purpose cooperative (MPC), 2nd-DoΓ±a Helene Riverside Consumers
Cooperative, and 3rd-Tubajon Community MPC ; for the small Category: 1st-Cortes
MPC, 2nd-Mahayahay MPC, 3rd-National Women’s League MPC; for the medium
category: 1st-Wilson Agra MPC; 2nd-Water UPS MPC; 3rd-Dinagat Islands MPC; and
finally, for the large category: 1st-A and M MPC; and 2nd-NEWS MPC.
Members from different cooperatives,
representatives from different government offices of the province and other
stakeholders participated in the activity. (PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat
Islands)
