RGADC-13 gears up prep for 18-day campaign to end
VAW
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 14 (PIA) – The Regional Gender
and Development Committee (RGADC) under the Regional Development Council (RDC)
Caraga has geared up preparations for the various activities lined up for the
18-day campaign to end Violence Against Women (VAW) to be held on November 25
to December 12, 2017.
Atty. Jerefe Tubigon-Bacang, Regional Director of
the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) and RGADC chair announced that this year's
18-Day Campaign to End VAW will kick-off on Nov. 24, 2017 with the conduct of a
fun walk activity from Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol going to Butuan City
Hall grounds, where the short program will be held. The Zumba dance exercise
will then follow at the same venue.
“All participants are encouraged to wear orange
shirts during the kick-off activity and bring advocacy materials during the fun
walk, which will start at 5:00 in the morning,” said Tubigon-Bacang.
She also said that the RGADC, together with the
Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking-Violence Against Women
& their Children (RIACAT-VAWC) Caraga will be holding the Digital Logo Making
Contest and Song Writing Contest within the duration campaign.
Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons from
different barangays of the city will also participate in various lined-up
activities. Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada is also expected to deliver his
welcome message during the kick-off program on Nov. 24.
A back-to-back activity is set on Nov. 29, where
government workers will participate in the Buntis Congress to be held in
Bayugan City, and visit at the Shelter for Girls in Butuan City.
“A lecture series on Republic Act 9262, also known
as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004,” and
other related laws is scheduled on Nov. 28 to 29,” said Tubigon-Bacang.
As part of the 18-Day Campaign to VAW, the RGADC
will also hold a soft launching of the Caraga's Most Gender Responsive Local
Government Unit (LGU) on Dec. 1, 2017 at Oazis Hotel, this city.
The grand launching is on Dec. 12, 2017, during the
culmination program of said campaign. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DepEd enhances leadership capability of school
heads in Caraga region
In keeping with one of its thrusts to promote
capability building of educators, the Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga,
through the Caraga Regional Association of Secondary School Administrators
(CARASSA), convened some 600 secondary school principals, district and division
supervisors from the 12 divisions for a three-day 18th CARASSA Congress held on
November 7-9, 2017 at the Gateway Hotel and Convention Center, Surigao City.
Dr. Teodoro Plaza, President of CARASSA underscored
that the annual activity aims to help improve the schools' operations with the
new knowledge that the participants acquired from the plenary sessions
conducted during the congress.
“By joining this gathering, participants will be
able to get updates on the teaching strategies, competency standards, and be
reminded of the values in the workplace and stewardship in the school setting.
We are hoping for a more productive event in our quest for quality leadership,”
said Plaza.
Also, the congress aims to provide updates on the
implementation of K-12 basic education curriculum and to coach the pool of
school heads on how to maximize media relations.
In behalf of Dr. Gilda Berte, Schools Division
Superintendent of Surigao City, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Florence Almaden, noted that said congress signified that CARASSA remains firm
and faithful in upholding quality education for all school learners.
“I do believe this congress is a testimony to the
fact that CARASSA as an association remains united and steadfast in its pursuit
to high standards of school leadership, a larger perspective as a driving force
in effecting quality education to our children,” Almaden said in her welcome
message.
Almaden further said that educators should continue
to be an embodiment for a range of creative and inspiring approaches to support
student learning. She likewise encouraged the educators to know one's
self-worth, to lead and educate learners with a heart and mind.
“In its truest sense, our theme is indeed timeless
as leaders should serve as exemplars not only for the intellect but also for
the passionate heart. True enough, quality learners are the by-product of
school leaders who put education of the heart as the heart of education. These
are leaders who maintain the gist of translating intention to execution, and
vision into action. Learning to appreciate the beauty of others. Let us make
this event not only a journey, but a dive to a deeper ocean of leadership,”
enunciated Almaden.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Schools Division
Superintendent Nelia Lomocso expressed her heartfelt gratitude to CARASSA for
bringing together the school leaders representing different generations of the
Caraga region.
“It does not take one to be financially rich to be
generous, but a heart and mind that openly share ideas and knowledge for
everyone's learning and improvement is a true manifestation of generosity.
Thus, I encourage you all to grab the opportunity to raise queries and share
your opinions as we go along with our plenary sessions,” said Lomocso.
As the representative of the local government of
Surigao City where the congress was hosted, city legal officer Atty. Manuel
Delani also expressed that the conduct of the congress was definitely an
advantage for school heads as they manage the operations of their respective
schools. “With that, it will also keep Filipino students gain better
opportunities to develop their full potential and obtain employment in the future.
Our endeavors lie in the hands of the school managers in pursuing quality
education for all our learners," he said.
An educator as the communicator
Communication is what educators do to their
students and colleagues. Effective school administrators communicate in more
than one way. Hence, DepEd Caraga Regional Director Beatriz Torno emphasized
during the congress to learn from the inputs of the guest speaker on how these
school leaders will become sources of valuable information reaching the grassroots
as communicators.
“We can have fresh knowledge on how we can
integrate the concepts of other media in educating and relaying appropriate
information, and not just merely transmitting content the traditional way,”
said Torno.
As the guest speaker, Dr. Emelyn Libunao, staff
director of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) thoroughly discussed the topic
on ‘Maximizing Media and How to be an Effective Spokesperson.’
Libunao said that in developing a message that a
person wants to convey, it is important to focus on the three key areas –
audience, influence and message. "Get prepared if you want to be an
effective communicator. Know your audience and make the message very convincing
and truthful," she said.
She also said that as a citizen reporter, the
credibility lies on the person who did the reporting. "The removal of a
traditional media filter calls for a new approach for credibility. People of
today usually look for authenticity, honesty, personality and candor in a news
story,” she emphasized.
Libunao further said that a storytelling format is
the best approach to help connect people to the written stories. “Effective
messaging is having a more concise response or through sound bites,” she added.
Moreover, Libunao expounded on how to deliver the
key messages during an interview, how to respond to difficult questions such as
assumption, cast-iron guarantee, and hypothetical types of questions being
raised by an interviewer.
In the course of her discussion, Libunao also
highlighted the role of PIA as the communication arm of the government. “We are
tasked to continuously communicate the government programs, projects and
services to the general public, down to the grassroots level. It is imperative
to disseminate timely, accurate and relevant information to help citizens come
up with right and sound decisions. So, I urged all of you to be responsible
sharers of information,” she said.
Capacitating educators of ASEAN community
Meanwhile, Torno said that they intend to align
their undertakings with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
goals by producing learners ready to take a step ahead for higher learning and
equipped with the necessary skills to compete, with the demand for work
globally as a core of K-12 curriculum.
“We want to gather these education leaders so that
they too will have the heart and mind, willingness to hone and produce best
graduates,” Torno mentioned, relating to the 18th CARASSA Congress theme,
“Leadership with the Heart and Mind: Key for Quality Learners.
Surigao del Norte Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay,
Jr. also emphasized on the establishment of a culture of excellence among the
school managers and teachers anchored with sound leadership, a heart to serve
and a mind to succeed.
“Toward this end, we must endeavor to get the total
support of the community, our ASEAN community. Thus, educators as communicators
should aim to teach the students not only the mastery of the basic skills and the
skills requirement of jobs but also to encourage them to develop their full
potentials. This is a challenge to face
as education leaders. I fully believe in the power of education and in the
power of educators to lead in attaining development. The bright future of
secondary education lies in the hands and hearts of CARASSA,” Egay stressed.
At the core of the CARASSA Congress objectives were
the school improvement plan which included the action research and competency
standards for school heads, school supervisors and education program
specialists; the school management (senior high school immersion program and
school-based management); school achievement (outcomes); maximizing media
relations; and stewardship.
“Through this annual congress, we can enrich,
update and improve the performance of our schools by cascading information
about the trends and issues of education today. Thanks also to PIA Caraga for
being our partner in this endeavour, especially in the aspect of information
dissemination,” said Plaza.
The school head participants of the congress
represented 1,020 secondary schools, including the senior high schools. To
date, DepEd has recorded 178,122 learners in the secondary level and 462,846
pupils in the elementary level, totaling to around 640,000 learners in the
entire region.
Torno also revealed that in their latest data,
there were already 25,809 public school teachers serving in the entire region
and 3,790 non-teaching personnel.
“We can develop these learners through you, because
it is through your management, leadership skills, and your governance that we
achieve and sustain quality education,” concluded Torno. (VLG/JPG/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
Army holds youth leadership summit in AgSur town

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 14 – The 26th
Infantry Battalion (26IB), Philippine Army opened the 3-day First Youth
Leadership Summit (YLS) at the Talacogon National High School, Talacogon, this
province.
According to Lt. Col. Rommel Pagayon, commanding
officer of 26IB, said activity was a collaborative effort of the 401st Infantry
Brigade under Col. Andres Centino, local government unit (LGU) of Talacogon,
Agusan del Sur headed by the municipal mayor Jesryl Masendo, Talacogon National
High School and POINTY Incorporated – a youth organization, among others.
During the opening of the summit, some 70 youths
and student-leaders from different high schools of Talacogon were oriented on
the programs and services of the government and how these help address the
issues and concerns that affect the community.
Also, the knowledge and skills of the participants
were enhanced so they can contribute to community-building and at the same time
serve as advocates of peaceful change.
Meanwhile, Centino expressed his appreciation to
Mayor Masendo for the active involvement and for the realization of said
endeavor.
Talacogon Sangguniang Bayan Member Melch Marion
Demegillo and Algerico Quitoriano, SST-1 of Talacogon National High School also
attended the event.
The first YLS in Talacogon carries the theme:
“Re-live and Unite, Peace We Make Wide and Environment We Protect.” (26IB Phil.
Army/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
New Dinagat Islands police office soon to rise
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Nov. 14 (PIA) – A police
provincial headquarters will soon rise in a five-hectare land located at Sitio
Iring-Iring, Barangay Wilson in San Jose.
Police Provincial Director PSSupt. Ramir Perlito
Perlas, together with Police Regional Office 13 Regional Director PCSupt.
Rolando Felix and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Public Safety and Peace
and Order chairperson Board Member Jess Paul D. Ecleo, led the posting of
landmark with the picture of the proposed headquarter.
According to Ecleo, the project is a joint
undertaking between the provincial government of Dinagat Islands and the
national government to provide basic services and support to different
government agencies in establishing and fulfilling its mandates to the people
of Dinagat.
“As one of my legislative agenda, the headquarters
will be named after our local hero Divine Master Ruben E. Ecleo, Sr,” said
Ecleo.
Representatives from the different provincial
offices and national government agencies and other stakeholders attended the
activity and give their utmost support for the realization of the said project.
(SDR/PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
Tagalog News: Regional GovNet Project inilunsad ng
DICT sa lungsod ng Butuan
Ni Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Nob. 14 (PIA) – May 80 ahensya
ng gobyerno ang nakabenepisyo sa pinakaunang Regional Government Network
(GovNet) Project sa buong Mindanao na inilunsad ng Department of Information
and Communications Technology (DICT) Caraga dito sa lungsod. Isa itong proyekto
ng DICT gamit ang Integrated Fiber Optic Internet Connectivity na nagreresulta
sa epektibo at mabilis na pagbigay serbisyo sa publiko.
Ayon kay DICT Assistant Secretary Alan Silor, sa
ngayon ay may pitong regional centers na ng bansa ang nakinabang sa nasabing
proyekto, kabilang dito ang lungsod ng Tuguegarao, Iloilo, probinsya ng
Pampanga, Baguio, Legaspi, Palo-Leyte, at lungsod ng Butuan, Mindanao.
Dagdag pa ni Silor, ang lungsod ng Butuan ang may
pinakamaraming bilang ng ahensiya ng gobyerno na nakabenepisyo sa GovNet
Project ng DICT.
Ibinahagi naman ni Evamay Dela Rosa, ang cluster
director ng DICT Mindanao Cluster 2, na ang kanilang departamento ay may sapat
na supply ng fiber optic cable na nakahanda at nagagamit na rin ng mga ahensiya
ng gobyerno. Ayon sa kanya, may ilan pang ahensiya na hindi nag-avail hanggang
sa ngayon, bagama’t layon ng DICT na mapalawak pa ang coverage ng nasabing
proyekto at madagdagan pa ang mga makakabenepisyo nito.
Sinigurado naman ni Dela Rosa na secure at stable
ang koneksyon ng internet. Isa raw ito sa mga mandato ni Presidente Rodrigo
Duterte na magbigay ng mabilis na internet connection, na magagamit ng mga
kawani ng gobyerno sa kanilang mabilis na pagbibigay serbisyo sa kanilang mga
kliyente.
Samantala, ayon naman kay Jessica Clarito, ang
officer-in-charge ng Butuan City library, malaking tulong sa mga mag-aaral at
iba pang sektor na pumupunta sa kanilang opisina para mag-research ang mabilis
na internet connection ng DICT.
-->
Napag-alaman na ilulunsad din ang ganitong proyekto
sa ibang parte ng Mindanao tulad ng Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Zamboanga,
at maging sa Marawi City. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
