DICT launches GovNet Project in Butuan City
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 20 (PIA) – The Department of
Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched the Regional
Government Network (GovNet) Project here, the first in Mindanao.
According to DICT Mindanao Cluster 2 Director
Evamay Dela Rosa, the Regional GovNet Project in Butuan City has already
catered some 80 government agencies in the regional center of Caraga region.
“The GovNet Project in Butuan City is the first in
Mindanao benefitting some 80 government agencies,” noted Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa added that there is enough fiber optic
cable to provide the government agencies not only in Butuan City, but also in
other parts of Mindanao. The internet connection is also stable and secure.
Also, DICT Assistant Secretary Alan Silor said that
as of November 2017, the country has successfully connected seven regional
centers in Tuguegarao, Iloilo, Pampanga, Baguio, Legazpi, Palo in Leyte, and
Butuan City. "Five or ten years ago, Butuan was not exactly a 'hub'
comparable to that of Metropolitan Manila and highly urbanized cities in the
country. However, we now have the means to change this for the better," he
said.
Silor further underlined that this was the call
made by President Rodrigo Duterte in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA):
to “make use of the computers, and that no one should line up under the heat of
the sun or under the rain.”
Several testimonies from different government
agencies in Butuan City were presented. Jessica Clarito, officer-in-charge
(OIC) of Butuan City Library, said their office already has 100 mbps speed
internet connection provided by DICT, which assured users and clients of faster
and efficient services.
Meanwhile, a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of iGov Philippines project and
unveiling and lights up of the Regional GovNet-Butuan Network were led by DICT
Assistant Secretary Alan Silor, Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada, DICT
Cluster Director Evamay Dela Rosa, National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) Caraga Regional Director Mylah Faye CariΓ±o, together with the heads and
representatives from beneficiary government agencies.
The Regional Government Network (GovNet) Project of
DICT allows a faster, more efficient and integrated fiber optic internet
connectivity, resulting in effective governance and provision of better
services to the people. (JPG/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
DILG conducts capacity enhancement program for
PLEBs
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 20 – The Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga Region conducted the People’s Law
Enforcement Board (PLEB) orientation for law school students of Butuan City and
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) members of Agusan del Norte Chapter on
November 14, 2017; and to all city/municipal mayors and chiefs of Police in
Caraga Region on November 15, 2017 at the Grand Palace Hotel, this city.
Most of the invited participants were in full
attendance to the activity.
According to Republic Act (RA) No. 6975, DILG Act
of 1990 and RA No. 8551, Philippine National Police Reform Act of 1998, PLEB is
a check and balance mechanism. It is part of the Rule of Law under which an
ordinary citizen can have redress of his grievance against law enforcers who
abuse their authority. PLEB involves the active participation of the community
and empowers the individual citizen and the community as a whole in instilling
discipline in the ranks of our law enforcers, or providing rewards and incentives
for exceptional performance.
There is a current push to strengthen PLEBs to
empower citizens in consideration of recent events and relevant developments in
the country. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte emphasized that while he supports
the police, he will not tolerate graft and corruption and abuses. In other
words, there is no place for rogue policemen in the Philippine National Police
(PNP). Thus, PLEB plays a crucial role in weeding out police scalawags and
helping good cops remain good; DILG deemed it is necessary to enhance their
capacity in order to address such present needs.
Moreover, all 73 PLEBs in the region have undergone
the Capacity Enhancement Orientations in their respective provinces. (JRRL,
DILG-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
84 individuals join consumer, biz education in
AgNor
NASIPIT, Agusan del Norte, Nov. 20 – The Appending
Local Consumers Advocacy in Negosyo Centers in Agusan del Norte (ALCANCiA) held
a Consumer Education Seminar for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
beneficiaries, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), women’s group
and the out-of-school youth of the municipality, back-to-back with a Business
Education Seminar for the Nasipit business establishments.
Twenty-eight participants from different business
establishments attended the Business Education Seminar. The importance of a
customer welfare desk and how it can contribute to customer satisfaction was
discussed by Wyn Palma of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Fair Trade laws, including topics on the compliance
of the product safety, quality and awareness were also discussed.
Meanwhile, 56 participants attended the Consumer
Education Seminar.
Myra Luz A. Gavero of DTI emphasized to the
participants that they need to take full advantage of said seminar, as it was a
rare opportunity for consumers, particularly in rural areas, to have direct
access to consumer related information.
The eight consumer rights, five consumer
responsibilities, the discounts that should be given to senior citizens and
PWDs, and the requisites to avail them, such as an identification card (ID) and
purchase booklet, were discussed during the seminar. (DTI-Agusan del
Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
