Mindanao NGO to hold consultation on
migration, peace in Butuan
By Jennifer
P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, June 21 (PIA) - The Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc.
(MMCEAI), a rights-based service organization based in Davao City for
migrants– active and returning OFWs and their immediately families and
communities, is set to hold the Caraga Stakeholders Conversation on Migration,
Environment, Peace and Development (MEPD) on June 27, 2018 at Grand Palace
Hotel, this city. The MEPD is the second leg of the six regional consultations
to be organized in Mindanao this year.
Accordng
to MMCEAI executive director Inorisa Sialana-Elento, the MEPD is aimed at
enhancing the synergies among civil society organizations, government agencies
and other concerned stakeholders on the issue of migration, environment, peace
and development efforts in Mindanao.
It
can be recalled that in 2014 MMCEAI convened the Mindanao Summit on Migration,
Environment, Peace and Development (MEPD) of which stakeholders – civil society
organizations (CSOs), humanitarian organizations, government and local
government representative/s partake in the crafting of the Mindanao
Multi-Sectoral Action Plan on Migration, Environment, Peace and
Development.
“Indeed,
the Action Plan has provided appreciation and stimulations for continuing
dialogue in the local level. Nevertheless, the local initiative/s fall short in
formulating, addressing, and consolidating collective actions despite the
pressing concern, issues and challenges to migration, environment, peace and
development,” said Elento.
Inspired
by the initial actions of local stakeholders, MMCEAI will re-engage and
co-facilitate the convening of the series of consultation-forum on MEPD,
highlighting region specific migration issues as it aims to identify areas
where the local government and local stakeholders could better strengthen their
capacity to prevent and respond to cases of trafficking in persons, illegal
recruitment and migration-related gender-based violence, among others.
(PIA-Caraga)
Feature: Developing leaders, building
resilient communities through Kalahi-CIDSS
By Christine T. Tikim and Marko Davey D. Reyes
Barangay
Katipunan is one of the barangays of Pilar, Surigao del Norte. A fishing
community, they get to enjoy the rich, abundant waters surrounding the
barangay. They have fishing as their main source of livelihood. But with the
blessings of their rich seas and mangrove forests surrounding their barangay,
also comes challenges to their community.
For
communities to prosper, it is important for them to manage their resources and
maximize on whatever they have, for their own benefit. And that, the people of
Katipunan were able to accomplish. But with their growing population, issues
and problems arose. They could not just rely on their existing resources, but
they also need to access basic services. Here lies the dilemma for their
community.
Flora
Forcadilla, Barangay Chairperson of Katipunan, who has been living in the area
for decades now shares their community’s story. “Sa una, pipila lang kami
lumulupyo dinhi sa Katipunan. Mga mangingisda ang mga unang namuyo dinhi.
Tungod sa bakhawan, daghan isda dinhi. Apan niabot ang panahon nga midaghan na
ang mga tawo. Tungod niini, nigawas ang mga panginahanglanon namo (Before, we
were only few residents here in Katipunan – mostly fisher folks. But
when the time came when the population ballooned, people began to realize there
are different needs we had to address),” Kapitana Flora said.
Indeed,
the significant location of the barangay was quite advantageous for livelihood,
specifically fishing. But with the terrain they had, it was difficult to travel
to and from the barangay.
From
the Poblacion, one could take a Bangka going to Katipunan. But traversing the
seas is more challenging. The seas are usually rough especially during the
rainy season. Several bangkas have been capsized within the waters of
Katipunan. But you could also take another route. But it is farther, and you
have to spend more riding a habal-habal.
Because
of this, the people of Katipunan have this dilemma – they either have to stay
in Katipunan and be near their fishing grounds, or move to another place, where
they would have to find ways to adapt in another environment, in an unfamiliar
community.
Kapitana
Flora has been Barangay Chairperson for 10 years now – she has been the
community’s leader since 2007. The barangay local government unit (BLGU) has
been doing their best for the community, but still, they fall short of
providing all the necessary needs of the community with the meager allocated
budget they have for the barangay.
“Daghan
na kami mga bata, apan walay eskwelahan nga tarong. Daghan kami mga
nagkinahanglan sa mga tambal ug regular nga check-up. Wala kami source nang
tubig. Ang mga balay nga anaa sa kilid sa dagat maigo sa mga kusog nga balod.
Mga motor maglisod ug byahe kay adunay mga suba, ug tubig, unya ang tulay,
sinumpay ra nga kahoy – gabok pa gyud (The population of our children is
growing, yet we do not have proper schools. There are quite a number of persons
needing medical attention. We do not have a viable source of water. The houses
near the shores are being pounded by the powerful waves. Motorcycles have a
hard time traversing the barangay because a large parts of the barangay covered
by water, and they are passing through makeshift, dilapidated wooden bridges),”
Kapitan Flora laments when asked about the condition of their barangay,
especially in the past.
But
this changed when the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD)
Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of
Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) Program. The program, which utilizes the
Community-Driven Development strategy in its implementation, provided
opportunities to the community to deal with the different problems which
challenged them.
When
the program started, everyone was hopeful that the Kalahi-CIDSS would somewhat,
be the solution to their problems. Kapitana Flora was among those who was most
hopeful.
“Sa
Kalahi-CIDSS, nahatagan mi ug paglaum kay adunay dakong pondo mosulod nga maoy
magamit namo sa pagtukod sa mga imprastraktura nga makatabang sa among mga
katawhan. Excited kaming tanan kay nindot ang pamaagi sa programa, tanan adunay
tingog, ug pwede mokapartisipar sa implimentasyon (With Kalahi-CIDSS, we now
have funds that we could use to build different infrastructures that would
definitely help us – this gave us hope. We were all excited because the
program’s implementation strategy was unique, everyone has the chance to
participate and let their voices be heard),” Kapitana Flora added.
Through
the program, the barangay was able to implement, and complete a 108 linear
meters Sea wall which protected the houses from strong waves. In
their second year with the program, they were able to have their first ever
Health Care Station.
To
address their problems with their water provision, the community proposed, and
received rainwater harvesters distributed among the households. Another
community project they proposed and implemented was their Day Care Center – it
was a dream come true to them, especially parents who have prayed for it for a
long time.
To
address their problems of accessibility, since their barangay is basically
surrounded by bodies of water that hindered them from easily travelling from
one part of the barangay to another, two Foot Bridge, 6 and 7 linear meters
length, joined Purok-1, Purok-2 and Purok-3.
Lastly,
the community was able to propose and implement 35 solar street lights going to
Sitio Emanuel, ensuring the safety of the residents in the area.
Though
the community projects were successfully implemented, it was a big challenge to
the BLGU. Kapitana Flora faced a lot of challenges during the course of the
implementation of the program. Though the community leads in the implementation
(with the BLGU supporting), Kapitana Flora could not just sit back and let the
opportunity pass by without extending her services to the community.
With
the challenge of meeting deadlines, and ensuring everything were in place, she
was present in the project sites. She was even active in filing rocks in their
seawall project because the BLGU could only provide in-kind counterpart.
“Dako
ang pondo nga gikan sa Kalahi-CIDSS. Ang barangay halos walay mahatag nga
counterpart nga cash kay wala gayud kami pondo. Mao nga in-kind nalang among
contribution, mao kana nga nag pahina o bayanihan kami. Ako ang magsayo gayud
diha sa site aron motrabaho ug mag alsa sa mga bato aron mapasunod nako ang
katawhan nga motabang usab sila (Kalahi-CIDSS was able to provide us with
enough budget. The barangay could not raise enough budget for counterpart
because we were short of cash.
We
could only afford to contribute in-kind, that is why we had to do “pahina” or
“bayanihan” instead. I woke up early to be at the site and file large rocks to
lead the community in helping out in the project),” she said.
Through
her leadership, and her will to transform their community, and by simply
showing her love and care for the people of Katipunan, Kapitana Flora was able
to inspire and lead her community and make their dreams and aspirations a
reality.
Through
their hard work and dedication, the community was able to capitalize and ensure
that the goals of the program were achieved. With the support of the BLGU, they
were able to turn the challenges they faced into a strong determination to
better their community – and this is through the harmonious implementation of
the program.
Today,
Kapitana Flora, who is in her last term as Barangay Chairperson could easily
look back at her legacy and claim that she was able to deliver for the people
of Katipunan, through the help of the Kalahi-CIDSS program. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Caraganons flock job, business fairs in
Agusan Norte
BUTUAN
CITY, June 21 - Some 827 job applicants flock to the recent Kalayaan 2018
Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) Job and Business Fairs in Agusan del Norte
which gathered 20 companies and agencies offering 597 local and 11,279 overseas
job openings.
There
were 299 so-called near hires and of the 153 deemed qualified job applicants,
45 were hired on the spot.
Twenty-five
applicants joined the techno demo while 36 visited the Negosyo Center corner
for various inquiries.
The
activity, supposedly part of the nationwide simultaneous Kalayaan 2018 TNK, was
conducted June 15, 2018 at the Provincial Training Center in Butuan City as
part of the Agusan del Norte Founding Anniversary and 4th Sadow Festival.
It
was organized by the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte in partnership
with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
The
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Social Security System (SSS),
Philhealth, Pag-IBIG Fund or the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), and the
Bureau of Internal Revenue – completed the “one-stop-shop” to provide services
to those who will be joining or preparing to join the workforce.
DTI
Agusan del Norte for its part mounted its own product display at the Agro Trade
Fair, a Diskwento Caravan participated by 15 sellers, the above-mentioned
techno demo on laundry soap and dishwashing liquid, and a mobile Negosyo Center
service corner.
Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Member Virgilio Escasinas representing Provincial Governor Angel
Amante-Matba, in his welcome message, thanked the participating companies,
stressing that the province is now finalizing an ordinance creating the
Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) with a provision for their presence
in the barangays.
Director
Julius Sol O. Jamero of TESDA shared the agency’s programs and services and
invited the applicants to beef up their chances of landing a job by getting
National Certification (NC) from the agency.
Brenda
Corvera, OIC Provincial Director of DTI Agusan del Norte explained that the
collaboration for the TNK is to implement the government’s so-called blue-print
for “Decent Job Creation through Employment and Entrepreneurship
2017-2022.”
From
being merely a “jobs fair” before it has evolved into a jobs and business/livelihood
fairs to make those wanting jobs realize that there is the option of creating
jobs for themselves through self-employment utilizing their skills or by
establishing their own business.
DOLE
Provincial Head Keith Duran thanked the provincial government, the companies
who are in attendance, the one-stop service agencies and the job applicants as
he formally opened the activity. (DTI-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DSWD-Caraga gears up for ISO 9001:2015 Certification this year
By Joana
Rica P. Millama
BUTUAN
CITY, June 21 - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led by
its top management, is taking a step way higher through acquiring International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 or commonly known as Quality
Management System (QMS) Certification.
ISO
9001:2015 is a renowned management system which provides an organized structure
for incorporating a number of quality management principles including a strong
customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process
approach and continual improvement of an organization.
To be
fully equipped with the right tool for successful QMS Certification, DSWD
conducted a Full Awareness Training Course for its key personnel on June 5 at
the Field Office, Butuan City. This was facilitated by the Anglo Japanese
American (AJA) Registrars.
DSWD
Caraga OIC-Regional Director Mita Chuchi Lim stated that attaining ISO 9001:2015
will help in ensuring that customers get consistent, achieving good quality
products and services, and bring many organizational benefits.
“This
training course from the Field Office is our way of affirming the public that
part of our 'maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo,' we shall ensure de-kalidad or
quality service because this is what our clienteles deserve,” Lim said.
The
primary objectives of the course are to examine the Structure of Management
System Standards as evidenced in the 2015 version, understand the benefits of
this new version, examine the requirements in the 2015 International Standard
by comparing it to the existing 2008 version, and outline the preparation
process and the certification process.
With
ISO 9001:2008 being incorporated in the Department since December 2015, DSWD
seeks to be more client-friendly in its continued pursuit of service delivery
in Caraga by putting greater emphasis on leadership engagement, helping address
the organizational risks, and addressing supply chain management more
effectively.
This
year, the Field Office aims to transit from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015 QMS.
The training course is just the first step for the whole transition process. (Social
Marketing Unit/DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
