SurSur Provincial IPMR assumes office
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
SURIGAO DEL SUR, April 12 (PIA) - The Provincial
Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), known as “Pangyuyo Tu
Tribu” in Manobo, has formally assumed office as Ex-Officio Member of the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Surigao del Sur.
This undertaking is considered a milestone in the
entire region of Caraga composed of five provinces.
Hailing from the interior municipality of San
Miguel here, Hawudon Jimmy Guinsod who was also a former municipal IPMR of the
said town officially attended the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session on April 10,
2018 held at the Provincial Capitol of the South, Bislig City.
Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) Provincial Director Pedrito Alacaba said, his assumption was pursuant to
Republic Act 8371, otherwise known as “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1991”
which was approved and signed into law on October 29, 1997.
The said law provides that the Indigenous Cultural
Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICC/IP) have the right to participate fully, if
they choose, at all levels of decision making in matters which may affect their
rights, lives and destinies through procedures determined by them as well as to
maintain and develop their own indigenous political structures.
During the session, 1st District Sangguniang
Panlalawigan member Henrich Pimentel, in his privilege speech, stressed that
the assumption of Hawudon Guinsod was historic and that it is the first in the
history of Caraga Region.
Accordingly, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has
already adopted a resolution authored by Pimentel commending the offices of the
NCIP Surigao del Sur as represented by Engr. Charlene Binghoy, DILG Provincial
Dir. Pedrito Alacaba and the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur headed by
Governor Vicente T. Pimentel, Jr.
On one hand, Provincial Vice Governor Manuel O.
Alameda, Sr., presiding officer, has commended the assumption of Hawudon
Guinsod as Provincial IPMR and it was long overdue.
Meanwhile, NCIP Regional Director Atty. Jose
Dumagan, Jr. issued the Certification of Affirmation (COA) on December 5, 2017.
By the authority of the DILG Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion, and based
on the Certificate of Affirmation, Dir. Pedrito P. Alacaba, DILG Provincial
Director issued a Certification of Recognition to Hawudon Guinsod as the
Provincial IPMR on December 22, 2017, it was learned. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Army commemorates Araw ng Kagitingan through
'Masigasig Kids on Tour' activity
By 1Lt. Kevin B Gordolan
BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Apr. 12 - Sixty
youngsters aged six to 12 years old, coming from the conflict-affected
barangays of the municipalities of Buenavista, Carmen and Nasipit, all of
Agusan del Norte visited the Headquarters of the 23rd Infantry Battalion at
Jamboree Site, Purok 6, Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
Their visit was part of the 76th Araw ng Kagitingan
anniversary commemoration dubbed as “Masigasig Kids on Tour”.
The commemoration was fittingly celebrated through
the conduct of the 1st “Masigasig Kids on Tour 2018” with the theme:
"Kalinga sa Kabataan Para sa Kapayapaan".
The Kids on Tour activity was spearheaded by 23IB
in partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Buenavista, Rotary Club
of Midtown Butuan and YLS Leaders of Buenavista.
The activity was conceptualized and realized with
the aim to honor the heroism of Filipino soldiers and other men and women who
fought for our freedom. It also served as the 23IB’s way of educating the
children- the hope of our fatherland about our nation’s history and their
important role in nation building, encouraging them to become responsible
individuals and molding them to become law-abiding citizen that appreciates the
sacrifices of our National Heroes.
The highlights of the activity included the Flag
Raising Ceremony, distribution of free T-shirts and slippers, film showing,
armaments static display, unit advocacies photo display, experiential ride with
KM 450 and SIMBA vehicles facilitated by the 4th Light Armor Cavalry Troop
(Separate Company), capability demonstration rendered by one Infantry Team from the 4th Scout Ranger
Battalion, and Treasure Hunting facilitated by the YLS Leaders of Buenavista.
Free ice cream and snacks were also distributed and
a simple boodle fight culminated the celebration.
Lieutenant Colonel Emil J Cruz, Commanding Officer
of 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion, stated that, “We will do our best to
spare the children, the future of our nation, from becoming victims of abuses
by the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs).
It is very alarming that the CNT has been
consistently recruiting children and youth to join their ranks, putting poison
in their young minds and using them to join mass actions, violent rallies and
armed conflict.
Moreover, to further ensure the protection of
children from exploitation, we are giving them opportunities to explore the
military world by engaging them in different activities and we implement
programs that will channel the children’s idealism and vigor into productive
endeavors that will contribute to peace and nation-building”. Cruz added. (CMO
Officer, 23IB, 4ID, PA/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
115 SurSur barangays declared drug-free
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, April 12 (PIA) - As
the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Surigao del Sur continues to go after
drug personalities, some 115 out of 309 barangays comprising the province have
already been “declared drug-free.”
PNP Provincial Director (PD) PSSupt. Francisco
Dungo, Jr., said that the additional 100 plus barangays were awaiting the same
action from the Regional Oversight Committee following their submission for
“review” recently.
Early on, the police director admitted to have been
struggling to finish off the job of sweeping up all pushers and users citing
the rarity of transactions.
However, on April 9, 2018, police operatives here
together with agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and
Surigao del Sur Provincial Intelligence Branch Drug Enforcement Unit
(SDSPIB-DEU) had nabbed four more suspected “drug peddlers” identified as
Melvin Salon, 32, Rene Cabrales, 18, Louie Dormitorio, 24, and Michael Catipay,
21, in a buy-bust operation conducted in Barobo town.
In a separate interview, the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Caraga confirmed to have already declared the 115
barangays here as drug-cleared. PDEA
Regional Director (RD) Aileen Lovitos, who also heads the Regional Oversight
Committee of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, agreed that the over 100
barangays in Surigao del Sur submitted for review were next to follow.
The regional PDEA chief was also glad to report
about the arrest on Saturday of a Briton identified as Liam Cox together with
three Filipino cohorts suspected of running a drug den in Siargao, Surigao del
Norte.
Lovitos vowed that even then that illegal drugs
seemed to be so scarce now but their drive “will never falter.” (Radyo
Pilipinas-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
