433
DSWD grantees receive CA during Parangal 2018 in SurSur
By
Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, April 25 (PIA) - Some 433 graduates who were grantees
under the Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation
(ESGP-PA) were awarded the Certificate of Appreciation during the special
recognition rites dubbed as “Parangal 2018” on Monday, April 23, at Surigao del
Sur State University, this city.
This
year's ceremony was anchored on the theme “Araw ng Pagkilala Ituwid ang Kabataan
sa mas Maunlad na Kinabukasan.”
One
of the ESGP-PA grantees, Cecilia Geofro, finished her studies as magna cum
laude with a course Bachelor of Science in Education major in English in Bislig
City.
Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Provincial Link Meiraflor Cabigon
said, of the 433 baccalaureate graduates, 421 come from Surigao del Sur and 12
are from the province of Surigao del Norte.
Data
showed that Tandag City topped the number of grantees with 53 graduates;
followed by Tagbina with 48 graduates; Barobo, 36 graduates; Tago, 30
graduates; Lingig with 29 graduates; San Agustin with 25 graduates; Carmen, 25
graduates; Lianga, 24 graduates; Cantilan, 22 graduates; Lanuza, 20 graduates;
Bislig City with 16 graduates; Hinatuan, 14 graduates; Madrid, 12 graduates;
Marihatag, 11 graduates; Carrascal,11 graduates; Cortes,11 graduates; Bayabas
with nine graduates; and Cagwait with two graduates.
Cabigon
explained that the beneficiaries of this program were the indigent household
recipients of DSWD's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Meanwhile,
E/SGP-PA aims to contribute to the National Government’s thrusts in effectively
addressing poverty alleviation by increasing the number of graduates in higher
education among poor households and to get these graduates employed in high
value added occupations in order to lift their families out of poverty and
contribute to national development. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
DILG
Dinagat Islands, PDEA hold BADAC symposium
By
Winel Ponteros
SAN
JOSE, Dinagat Islands, April 25 (PIA) - The provincial office of the Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Dinagat Islands conducted the
BADAC Symposium cum Strengthening of Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP)
Implementation on April 19, 2018 at Guest Center, Barangay Cuarinta, San Jose
town.
This
was in partnership with the Philippine National Police-Dinagat Islands and the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga.
Discussed
during the said symposium were updates on the Barangay Drug Clearing Program
(BDCP) implementation of the province, parameters of Barangay Drug Clearing
Program (Legal Basis- DDB Regulations No.3 Series of 2017), guidelines on
Community Based Treatment and Rehabilitation Program for people affected with
substance use and dependence, and the creation of BDCP Municipal Technical
Working Group.
Barangay
Aurelio in San Jose town and Barangay Ferdinand in Basilisa were presented
as “model barangays” and soon to be
declared as “Drug-Free” barangays.
The
said activity was participated in by barangay officials from the 100 barangays
of the province. (PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
Kalahi-CIDSS
livelihood, enterprise partner-beneficiaries undergo TRAIN law orientation
By
Russ Cleppin M. Paster/Marko Davey D. Reyes
BUTUAN
CITY, April 25 - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in
Caraga, through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and
Integrated Delivery of Social Services’ (Kalahi-CIDSS) – Livelihood and
Enterprise (L and E) modality, conducted an orientation on the Tax Reform for
Acceleration and Inclusion Law or TRAIN LAW on April 6, 2018 at the DSWD Caraga
Conference Hall here.
This
was to address the challenge on educating and translating the salient features
of Republic Act 10963 otherwise known as the TRAIN LAW to beneficiaries of
micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
In
attendance were the beneficiaries, together with representatives of the
Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) and Area Coordinating Teams (ACT).
Revenue
Officer, Mr. Ellezer E. Dumaran, served as the resource speaker for the
activity.
Dumaran
discussed changes on the Personal Income Tax (PIT) and some impacts the TRAIN
Law can make in their enterprises highlighting the use of correct books in
accounting and the timely payment of taxes.
One
of the goals of the TRAIN Law is to lower the PIT. Through this, small-scale
entrepreneurs can now have a bigger profit, thereby improving the well-being of
individuals and households, which would then lead to the decrease of poverty.
An
open forum was also initiated which paved way for participants to raise
questions regarding the TRAIN Law, and be given explanations with regards to
their queries.
The
“L and E” is one of the new modalities being implemented by the DSWD
Kalahi-CIDSS Program.
Through
the utilization of Community-Driven Development, communities who have
identified livelihood needs and have existing resources are extended funds and
capability building activities to ensure a more active planning, budgeting and
implementing of a community livelihood program. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Provincial ordinances penalizing 4Ps cash
card pawnees, pawners up in Caraga
By Joana Rica Millama
BUTUAN
CITY, April 25 (PIA) - Due to the intensifying issue of Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program partner-beneficiaries pawning their cash cards, the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga lobbied to all provincial lawmakers
to craft an ordinance prohibiting the illegal act and penalizing the persons
involved.
This
was an offshoot of the discussions done by the Caraga Regional Advisory
Committee (RAC) on the said issue prevailing nationwide. The lobbying efforts
were primarily initiated by the Provincial Links with the support of the
Regional Program Management Office.
The
use of 4Ps cash cards, identification cards, and “kasabutan” as loan collateral
or pawn security has been a communication issue since 2011 – where it was
magnified as a widespread failure.
To
address this concern, different legislative bodies in the five provinces of
Caraga, namely, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del
Norte, and Surigao del Sur, purposely created provincial ordinances last year
to penalize and sanction loan sharks, lenders, and government officials who
would violate the law.
These
ordinances state that “government officials and employees, private individual
or groups, financial or lending institutions, and local businesses or
corporations, are prohibited to accept cash cards as loan collateral,” with
penal provisions having a fine of P1000 to P5000, suspension/cancellation of
business permits and registrations, and a 10-day imprisonment with the
discretion of the court.
Furthermore,
officials who would violate shall be filed a case under RA. 6713 or be removed
from government service.
The
provisions based on the National Advisory Committee (NAC) Resolution No. 20 of
4Ps, “Procedural guidelines in handling misdemeanor cases of beneficiaries,”
were also reiterated in the ordinances to warn the beneficiaries of the
sanctions should they continue to pawn their cards.
Violation
of these will result to: First Offense – Counseling by the
City/Municipal Link with a written warning from the head of the Provincial
Operations Office; Second Offense – Counseling by the Provincial Link
(Social Welfare Officer III) with a written warning from the Regional Director;
Household grants shall be suspended/not released for one (1) payment period or
two months; Third Offense – Delisting of the concerned households
under Grievance Redress System (GRS) Fraud duly addressed by the Regional
Director and tagging shall be facilitated by the Regional Grievance Officers;
Household’s delisted status is non-appealable.
These
laws have an enforcement structure called as Provincial/City/Municipal
Convergence Advisory Committees headed by the City/Municipal Governor/Mayor as
chairperson and P/C/MSWDO as vice-chairperson. They shall ensure the full
implementation of these ordinances.
With
the ordinances being passed, DSWD Caraga expects for this illegal act to lessen
this year.
Pantawid
Pamilya is only one of the poverty reduction strategies of the national
government implemented by the DSWD, which focuses on human capital investment
through provision of health and education cash grants to eligible poor
households with children 0-18 years old, with the primary aim to break the
intergenerational poverty cycle. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
SurSur
CSC gets new chief
By
Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, April 25 (PIA) - Finally, a full-fledged provincial
director for the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Field Office in Surigao del Sur
has been installed.
Effective
April 13, 2018, Alan Besario was named as the new Provincial Director (PD) to
take the place of Director Imelda Bongabong. Bongabong, Chief Human Resource
Specialist, was assigned as acting PD when former PD Ruth Beniga vacated the
post on February 28, 2018.
Besario
was recommended by CSC former Caraga Regional Director (RD) Resurreccion Pueyo
together with Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Atty. Winston Plaza.
In
an initial interview, PD Besario said that the turn-over rites here was
presided over by the new CSC Caraga Regional Director (RD) Atty. Annabelle
Rosell.
RD
Rosell, prior to taking the helm which also took effect on April 13, 2018, was
the director of the Davao Regional Office XI, he added.
Meanwhile,
Besario, hired as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) upon entry to the
commission, bared that being a native of Surigao City, he was indeed a true blue
Caraganon. Some five years ago, he was
with Caraga CSC Regional Office as one of its division chiefs, he said.
Prior
to his comeback, Besario said that he was the Camiguin Island CSC director.
(Radyo Pilipinas-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
37K
Caraganon students to benefit from free higher education
By
Zachary Claire Cruz
BUTUAN
CITY, April 25 (PIA) - Around 32,000 to 37,000 students are expected to benefit
from the free higher education in state universities and colleges (SUCs) in
Caraga starting this academic year 2018-2019.
In
the nationwide information caravan for Republic Act (RA) 10931 or the Universal
Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017 (UAQTEA) Caraga leg recently
held here, Dr. Maricar Casquejo, regional director of the Commission on Higher
and Education (CHED) said that all Caraganon students enrolling in
undergraduate courses can avail of the program.
Casquejo
said the UAQTEA is expected to be implemented in 78 local universities and
colleges all over the country that have been recognized to be compliant with
CHED requirements.
“In
Caraga, Hinatuan Southern College is the first local college institution to
comply with the specified requirements,” she said.
Unlike
in the “Free Tuition of 2017” where only tuition is free, the new law will also
cover miscellaneous fees, among others. (ZCC/PIA-Caraga)
PLEA
liberates farmers from loan sharks
By
Aurelius P. Arais
AGUSAN
DEL SUR, April 24 (PIA) - Typical Filipino farmers need financing to sustain
their farm operations. That is why some of them hooked to loan sharks who would
charge neck-level interest rates. But this is no longer the case in a barangay
in the town of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.
Members
of the Dakutan Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (DAFAMCO) are now enjoying
low-interest rate financing package through the Production Loan Easy Access
(PLEA) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
PLEA,
a nationwide credit program, is currently implemented in selected
municipalities across the nation through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council
(ACPC).
Brigida
Naparan, 59, a resident of Purok 10 of Barangay Dakutan one of the recipient-
borrower said that through PLEA, she was able to access a loan amount of
P22,000.00 intended for a one-half hectare of rice farm.
“The
loan amount I’ve got from PLEA was used for labor expenses during land
preparation, planting, inputs, and fertilizer,” she said.
Naparan
said that prior to the implementation of PLEA, she succumbed to personal
lenders who imposed an ultra-high-interest rate of 20 percent per cropping of
rice. With PLEA, the interest rate is only six percent per annum or 0.5 percent
per month.
Meanwhile,
Abdul Rakman Batingal, 37, also a PLEA loan borrower, said that with the
P45,000.00 good for one hectare, the amount has immensely benefitted his farm.
He
used it to cover labor expenses for seedbed, land preparation for planting, and
farm inputs and fertilizers.
“PLEA
really helps me a lot. Before, I used to lend money from loan sharks who
collected 10 percent per month or 30 percent per cropping whereas in PLEA, the
interest is only six percent per annum, so it is really a big advantage for us
farmers,” he smilingly narrated.
Showing
his nearly harvested rice farm, Mang Abdul is confident that this coming
harvest he could pay back in full his PLEA loan through their cooperative.
“In
my entire life, this is the first time that I’ve experienced this kind of loan
program with very minimal interest. I’ve never expected this to come here in
our place,” Mang Abdul said.
Jose
Zaldy Manug, the municipal agriculturist of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur said that
they supported PLEA program through extending technical support for farmers to
ensure a good harvest.
“PLEA
is a laudable program of DA, I am hoping for more farmer cooperatives to be
partnered as lending conduits with ACPC to reach out more farmers who are in
need of financial support,” he said.
DA-ACPC
is partnering with local financial institutions such as farmer cooperatives to
extend the financial loan to farmers.
As
of press time, DA-ACPC has identified five lending conduits in Caraga Region
with an approved credit fund allocation of P40 million and expected to increase
as more cooperatives are applying to be a lending partner.
A
total of 591 farmers have already accessed the loan package and currently
enjoying the very minimal interest rate.
PLEA
was launched last June 2017 during the visit of DA Secretary Manny PiΓ±ol in
Malimono, Surigao del Norte.
Through
PLEA, marginal and small rural farmers and fisherfolk may avail a loan amount
of up to P50,000.00 with no collateral.
Borrowers
can pay the loaned amount from two to 10 years depending on the commodity or
activity. (DA Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog
news: Comelec magsasagawa ng recall election sa Cabadbaran City
Ni
Nora C. Lanuza Molde
CABADBARAN
CITY, Agusan del Norte, Abril 24 (PIA) - Isang recall election ang gaganapin sa
Mayo 5 sa kasalukuyang taon dito sa lungsod para sa posisyon ng pagka-alkalde.
Ayon
kay Cabadbaran City election officer Atty. Mark Christer Sorilla, ang nasabing
recall election ay gaganapin sa pamamagitan ng isang manual election.
Matatandaan na isang Mr. Famador at 12,044 supporting petetioners ay nagfile ng
petition for recall laban sa incumbent mayor.
Dagdag
pa ni Atty. Sorilla, dumaan sa proseso ang nasabing petition at nakakuha nang
mahigit 20 percent petetioners sa kabuoang bilang ng rehistradong botante na
45,953 sa nasabing lugar at noong march 20 ay nagkaroon ng affirmition galing
sa commission en banc na gagawin ang naturang recall election sa Mayo 5.
Si
Atty. Sorilla ay nagpahayag din ng kahandaan hindi lang sa gaganaping recall
election sa Mayo 5 pati na rin sa barangay at SK elections sa Mayo 14. Sa
ginanap na City Joint Security Control Center (CJSCC) command conference at
Re-activation, ang mga opisyales ng PNP Cabadbaran at ang 29IB ay nagpahayg din
ng kanilang kahandaan at suporta sa mga naturang elections.
Sa
panig din ng AFP, patuloy ang pagseguro nila sa seguridad at kaayusan sa
gagawing Recall election at sa Barangay at SK elections sa darating na Mayo 14.
May mga nakadeploy ng mga kasundaluhan sa mga lugar kung saan kakailanganin ang
maigting na seguredad.
Ayon
naman kay Cabadbaran City chief of police police senior inspector Renel
Serrano, may 356 PNP personnel ang itinalaga para sa naturang election lalo na
sa anim na lugar kung saan naitalang mas kinailangan ang special attention o
areas of concern sa darating na election.
Sa
ginanap sa CJSCC command conference, isinagawa din ng mga dumalo ang covenant
signing para sa secure and fair election. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
