DAR's hauling trucks to lessen farmer's overhead expense
By
Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN
CITY, Jan. 25 (PIA) -- Years after enduring the challenge of transporting their
farm produce, the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Caraga region now
enjoy a lower overhead expense as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
distributed to them six hauling trucks amounting to P21.2 million.
The
blessing and formal turn-over of the six-wheeler hauling trucks were led by
Agrarian Reform Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla, Field
Operations Office Undersecretary Karlo Bello and DAR-Caraga Regional Director
Leomides Villareal.
According
to Usec. Padilla, the provision of these equipment forms part of their agency’s
support service delivery mechanism that is much needed after the lands have
been awarded to the farmers to sustain productivity.
“We
are strengthening our efforts in the implementation of our agency’s programs
especially that President Duterte is sincere in his support to the farmers by
enhancing farm productivity and promoting well-being of farmers,” said Padilla.
Apart
from tractor, harvester, transplanter, and other farm machineries, the 97
hauling trucks are already scheduled for distribution to farmers in the different
regions of the country.
DAR
is also fast-tracking the distribution of the remaining 561,000 hectares
acquired lands to the agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Usec.
Padilla also said the remaining P142 million earmarked for farm equipment in
2018 will be added to the P300 million appropriation under the Climate
Resilient Farm Productivity Project, making a total of P442 million set to be
downloaded to DAR regional offices this year.
Wenefredo
Maldo, chairperson of one of the recipient ARB organizations, said it will
greatly benefit other farmer-members because it will help cut down the expense
for trucking services rental.
“We
appreciate so much the granting of this facility. We promise to keep it
functional through proper vehicle maintenance and that it will be utilized as
intended for its purpose,” said Maldo.
Meanwhile,
Villareal assured that their agency is geared at pursuing full mechanization to
increase household income, improve productivity, and enhance the
competitiveness of agrarian reform communities.
Among
the ARBOs who received the hauling tucks, which were provided to the farmers
through the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support
Services (ARCCESS), were Palmavera Small Coconut Farmer Beneficiaries
Cooperative (PASCOFBEC) of Las Nieves; Beleguian Organic Farmers Irrigators
Association (BOFIA) of Jabonga; Cebolin Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CEMPCO) of
Trento; La Fortuna Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LAMUPCO) of Veruela; Esperanza
Farmers Credit Cooperative (ESFARCRECO) of Del Carmen; and San Isidro
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIMPUCO) of Gigaquit. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Mahigit 100K board feet na kahoy nasabat sa Surigao del Sur
By JPG/Herzon Gallego
LUNGSOD
NG BUTUAN, Enero 25 (PIA) -- Nasabat ang dalawang mini-sawmill plants sa
Barangay Linintian sa bayan ng Cantilan, Surigao del Sur dahil sa pinagsanib
pwersa ng National Bureau Investigation (NBI), Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force at Philippine
National Police.
May
ilan-ilan ding nakuhang illegal lumber products na siyang ginagamit sa pagawa
ng mga kasangkapan. Aabot ang mga ito sa mahigit 100,000 board feet. Kinumpiska
rin ang iba pang mga aparato at sinira ang mga sawmill.
Limang
indibidwal ang hinuli ng NBI agents, kabilang na dito ang dalawang nagmamay-ari
ng nasabing mini-sawmill plants.
Ang
mga ito ay nakilalang sina Susana Miranda, Susan Rada, Joseph Guimari,
Francisco Espenido, at Brian Rozano na pawang mga residente ng nabanggit na
barangay.
Ayon
kay DENR Caraga regional executive director Atty. Felix Alicer, ang isinagawang
raid sa nasabing ilegal na sawmill plants ay patunay na seryoso ang pamahalaan
sa pagtugis sa loggers na ilegal na pumuputol ng mga puno at masugpo ang
pagnanakaw ng mga ganitong uri ng kahoy.
Binigyang-diin
ng opisyal na mula nang masimulan ang implementasyon ng National Greening
Program ng pamahalaan, nararapat lang din na sumuporta ang publiko dito dahil
sa magandang maidudulot nito sa kalikasan.
Sasailalim
sa masusing imbestigasyon ang mga suspetsado at nahaharap ang mga ito sa
patong-patong na kaso bunsod ng kanilang pagsira sa kalikasan.
Samantala,
ayon naman kay CENRO Ruel Efren, ang mga nakompiskang lumber products ay dumaan
na scaling process ng kanyang mga tauhan. (DENR/PIA-Caraga)
PNP Caraga top cop leads blessing, turn-over of new police station
BUTUAN
CITY, Jan. 25 -- Police Chief Supt. Gilberto DC Cruz, Regional Director of
Police Regional Office (PRO) 13, led the blessing and turn-over of newly
constructed police station building in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur today,
January 23.
After
the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the marker, Chief Inspector Mark Virgil J.
Ibardolaza, Regional Pastoral Officer, officiated the blessing with the
presence of Mayor Raul T. Cubil, Vice-Mayor Rebecca S. Polinar, municipal
councilors, barangay captains, and department heads of the local government
unit of Marihatag.
In
his message, Cruz thanked the municipal
officials for their untiring support to the local police force by donating a
lot and providing assistance for the construction of new PNP building.
He
also urged the PNP personnel to improve the delivery of services.
“This
new building shall be coupled with better police services to our clients. It
shall boost not only the image of the PNP but also the confidence of the
general public to the police,” the region’s police chief said.
On
the other hand, Mayor Cubil also expressed his joy over the turn-over of the
newly built police station building and assured unrelenting support to
Marihatag Municipal Police Station. (PNP Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
OWWA Caraga vows to produce more scholars
BUTUAN
CITY, Jan. 25 - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has been
implementing programs and services for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and
their beneficiaries and vows to continue to produce successful scholars.
Among
this program are the Education and Training where OWWA offers scholarship
programs like Education and Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), OFW
Dependents Scholarship Program (OFWDSP), Education and Livelihood Assistance
Program (ELAP) – Education Component with more than 100 college recipients who
are sons, daughters or siblings of OFWs.
Some
of these scholars have come a long way and now they are licensed engineers,
teachers, doctors, CPAs, among others, it was learned.
All
of whom expressed their gratitude for being one of the OWWA scholars.
With
this, OWWA Caraga is likewise proud and honored for what they have become and
these scholars will serve as an inspiration to others who are still in the
process of achieving their dreams and aspirations.
“Don’t
promise, just prove,” said OWWA Caraga Officer-in-Charge Ma. Ireen C. Cambaling
as she challenges the scholars.
She
wants them to realize that every human being aspires to be successful, but only
those with high aims, will power and optimum strategies succeed in real life.
They will have to do a lot of hard work in order to become big someday in the
future.
For
more information relative to the scholarship program, interested applicants may
follow OWWA Caraga facebook page or visit OWWA Regional Welfare Office Caraga
at Nimfa Tiu, Bldg. II, JP Rosales Ave., Butuan City or call telephone numbers
(085) 815-1894/342-6178 or hotline numbers 09399259895 for Smart and
09173150590 for Globe. (AJMH/OWWA Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
