Nutrition Month 2019 celeb to kick off in Caraga
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) --
While there are a number of significant national observances proclaimed for the
month of July, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) here in Caraga also geared
up to commence this year’s Nutrition Month celebration.
“We urge all government agencies
and other stakeholders to join us as we hold the kick off activities for the
regional Nutrition Month celebration. Be part of the undertakings that would
help increase the awareness of the Caraganons on pressing nutrition concerns,”
said Department of Health – Center for Health and Development Caraga (DOH-CHD
Caraga) regional director and officer-in-charge regional nutrition program
coordinator of NNC Caraga Dr. Jose Llacuna, Jr.
A motorcade shall mark the start
of the celebration following a route from Guingona Park in Butuan City as the
assembly area going to Almont Inland Resort, which will be followed by a
healthy lifestyle and healthy diet campaign forum on July 1.
“Kumain nang Wasto at Maging
Aktibo…Push Natin ‘to!” is this year’s theme, which seeks to call an action for
Filipinos to practice healthy diet and engage in regular physical activity, and
reduce sedentary behaviors.
According to Llacuna, the annual
campaign every July will serve as an avenue to help individuals make informed
food choices and be guided on how to integrate physical activity in daily life;
jump-start or reinforce nutrition advocacies and policies; and mobilize
stakeholders to provide an enabling environment for healthy diet and physical
activity. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Increasing number of businesses registered in Caraga improves local
economy
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) -- The
Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Caraga region has increased to 3.2
percent in 2018, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
Caraga showed.
During the stakeholders forum held
recently here, PSA-Caraga regional director Rosalinda Apura said despite
minimal increase of the GRDP in 2018 compared to 2017's rate, Caraganons still
have seen and felt the continuing progress of the region.
The province of Agusan del Norte
including Butuan City leads with 5,441 total number of businesses registered as
the highest, followed by Agusan del Sur with 5,035; Surigao del Sur; Surigao
del Norte, and Dinagat Islands.
According to PSA-Caraga chief
statistical specialist Melchor Bautista, most of these businesses are wholesale
and retail, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.
“These businesses have greatly
helped and contributed to the improvement of the region’s economy and
employment rate,” said Bautista.
The employment size in the region
for small and medium enterprises has also showed a significant increase.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
MARINA Caraga highlights women seafarers
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) -- The
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Caraga highlighted the strength and skills
of women seafarers in Caraga region.
With the theme "Empowering
Women in Maritime Community," MARINA Caraga regional director lawyer
Manuel Portus said that women take a big part of their responsibility and
contribution to the endeavors of the maritime industry.
He said, there is an increasing
number every year of women working in the cruise ships.
“Many of the maritime schools have
women students and they are increasing, so this really indicates that more
women are interested to work in the cruise ships,” Portus said.
The official added that the
management of cruise ships operating here and abroad are already addressing
their women employees' concerns and ensure that their rights are being promoted
and protected.
Lindsay Mendoza, a Grade 11 student
of Merchant Marine Academy of Caraga Incorporated in Butuan City, also shared
her ambition to become a seafarer.
This makes her interested in
participating to activities of the government such as this, where she heard
from the horse's mouth, the proficient speakers from various concerned agencies
the programs, benefits and opportunities for the sector.
She also hopes that people would
no longer discriminate women joining the maritime industry.
“Women should never be affected or
see themselves as less of a person because of people discriminating their
intelligence and capabilities. Instead, women should set example of being
empowered citizen who can be what they want in life. Never be afraid or ashamed
of your dream and ambition, show people that you can,” Mendoza said.
She further encouraged all
especially the youth like her to draw more confidence and trust that they could
also do what the men could perform as seafarers. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DSWD-Caraga supports DOH’s ‘No Tobacco Smoking Campaign’
By Abegail R. Alvarez
BUTUAN, June 28 -- In line with the "NO Tobacco Smoking Campaign" this month, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga conducted an Orientation on Harmful Effects of Tobacco to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Caraga employees on June 21, 2019 at DSWD Conference Hall.
This activity provides a better understanding on the effects of tobacco to smokers and non- smokers.
Aside from its harmful effects, Ms. Sunshine Alipayo, Nurse V of DOH, discussed the policies which include the implementation of Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 – which states that tobacco products could not be sold or distributed within 100 meters from the school premises and public playgrounds.
The "No Tobacco Smoking Campaign" of DOH urges the public to quit smoking and commit to a smoke-free environment, one that is healthier for all. (DSWD Caraga/PIA Caraga)
POPCOM to award outstanding population officers
BUTUAN CITY, June 28 -- National
awards await the top performing local government units (LGUs) in promoting and
implementing the population management program and strategies towards
empowering Filipino families.
The population offices of the LGUs
and their population officers, workers and structures, being the forefront of
population program implementation, will be the nominees for the 2019
Kaunlarang Pantao Award, organized by the Commission on Population and
Development.
The Kaunlarang Pantao Award, once
named as Rafael M. Salas Population and Development Award, aims to publicly
recognize outstanding and significant performances and contribution of the
local population offices and also recognize individual excellence, dedication,
and determination by the local population officers and workers in pursuing the
goals and objectives of the population management program in their respective
areas.
Commission on Population (POPCOM)
official said that the search will motivate the local population officers and
workers to work hard, and continually foster dedication and determination to
promote the Philippine Population Management Program at the local level, thus
provide significant milestone in attaining the program objectives.
Under the category of search for
outstanding Local Population Officers and Workers, there shall have four specific
awards: Most Outstanding Provincial Population Officer, Most Outstanding City
Population Officer, Most Outstanding Municipal Population Officer; and Most
Outstanding Barangay Population Volunteers/Workers.
On the other hand, the search for
Local Population Offices have three specific awards for this category: Most
Outstanding Provincial Population Office; Most Outstanding City Population
Office; and Most Outstanding Municipal Population Office.
POPCOM is calling all LGUs to
submit their nominees not later than July 30, 2019.
The regional winner shall compete
for the national level which shall have the chance to receive cash prizes and
plaque of recognition. (POPCOM-13/PIA-Caraga)
Pantawid-Caraga holds 2nd RAC meeting, encourages partnership
By Joana Rica P. Millama
BUTUAN CITY,
June 28 -- Program partners from various national government agencies (NGAs)
attended the 2nd Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting of the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on June 25, 2019 at the Watergate Hotel here.
One of the meeting highlights was
the discussion on the salient features of Republic Act 11310 or 4Ps Act
discussed by lawyer Geramer Durato, Legal Unit head of DSWD-Caraga.
The law, recently signed by Pres.
Rodrigo Duterte on April 17 aims to provide financial aid to the poor
households that meet certain qualifications to improve the health, nutrition,
and education aspect of their lives.
Some changes from the current
guidelines, especially on the amount of cash grants, were indicated in the Act.
The draft Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) on Data Sharing was also discussed by Clark Aries Ingles, Pantawid LGU
focal person.
“This document described the
specific responsibilities of, and actions to be taken by, each of the parties
so that our goals may be accomplished pursuant to R.A. 10173, data sharing
protocol of the Department and other statutory requirements,” Ingles said.
Visitors from the NPMO-Compliance
Verification Division also presented the Pantawid Pamilya Compliance wherein
hotline numbers were shown in relation to the Short Messaging Service
(SMS)-based facility.
Through text messaging,
beneficiaries would have direct access to their records in the database.
Other discussions included were
the 1st Semester Updates, Findings on Health and Education Facility Visits,
Code 25 Implementation Status, and Bata Balik Eskwela Updates. The meeting was
presided by Crislea D. Celeste, regional program coordinator of 4Ps. (DSWD
Caraga/PIA Caraga)
Initial phase of SRO CARP project completed
By Christian
Phillip N. Lozano
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte,
June 28 -- Five months after its launching in Caraga region, the first phase of
the Self-Reliant Organizations for Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (SRO
CARP) implemented by the Department of labor and Employment - Surigao del Norte
Provincial Office (DOLE-SDNPO) has finally come to its completion.
The SRO-CARP is a project
spearheaded by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Presidential
Agrarian Reform Council Executive Committee (PARC-ExeCom).
Hence, as part of its commitment
to the government’s agrarian reform program, DOLE also partnered for the
project by empowering Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) through
the provision of capability building activities and livelihood assistance to
increase the productivity and general income of the beneficiaries.
This year, the San Isidro
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SIMPUCO), a farmer’s organization, located in Brgy.
San Isidro, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, was chosen as one of the six project
sites in the country.
“Hinaot na mahatag sa amo among
kinahanglan nga mga dugang kaalaman ug ang pre and post-harvest facilities para
mapahapsay ang operasyon diri sa among mga basakan (I hope that our needs for
additional knowledge and pre/post harvest facilities will be provided to us for
the smooth operation of our ricefields),” said Roberto P. Naraja, SIMPUCO
chairperson, as he expressed his gratitude during the launching of the project.
As beneficiaries of the said
project, SIMPUCO has undergone the following capability building activities: 1)
Organizational Diagnosis/ Training Needs Analysis; 2) Strategic Planning; 3)
Entrepreneurship and Rural Enterprise Development Seminar; 4) Leadership
Training and Basic Networking Seminar; 5) Basic Partnership Building Seminar;
6) Human Resource Development Seminar; 7) Formulation of Policy on Old and New
Equipment and other Assets; 8) Basic Business Planning/ Proposal Making and
Alternative Business Framework Seminar; and 9) Cooperative Benchmarking and
Seminar on GLS, OSH Law, and other related labor Laws Issuance.
Approximately P469,500 was spent
for the conduct of the said trainings, speakers’ honorarium, training supplies,
and others.
“No country, no organization, no
family is great without great leadership. And leadership requires not only
strength but also guidance by our Lord Almighty,” said DOLE-Caraga regional
director Chona Mantilla.
The first phase officially ended
with the conduct of the Inter-Agency Convergence Forum, a gathering of all CARP
implementing agencies in the province, in order to present the chosen ARB
organization and discuss to the partner agencies the help and assistance needed
by the organization.
The said forum also opened
opportunities for SIMPUCO to enroll and avail to partner agencies’ CARP
programs on top of the intervention provided by DOLE. (DOLE-Caraga/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
Pagtaas ng bilang ng establisemento sa Caraga nakatulong sa mga
Caraganons
By Nora L. Molde
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 28 (PIA)
-- Iniulat ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Caraga na tumaas ang gross
regional domestic product ng rehiyon sa 3.2 percent nitong 2018.
Sa isinagawang stakeholders forum,
sinabi ni PSA Caraga regional director Dr. Rosalinda Apura na kahit bahagya
lang ang pag taas nito kung ikokompara sa taong 2017, makikita parin ang
patuloy na pagunlad ng rehiyon .
Nakatulong dito ang pagdami
ng mga negosyo sa rehiyon na nagbigay ng trabaho sa mga Caraganons.
Nangunguna ang Agusan del Norte
kabilang na ang Butuan city sa may pinakamataas na bilang ng negosyo na mayroong
5,441, sinundan naman ng Agusan del Sur na may 5,035, sumunod ang Surigao del
Sur (4,791), Surigao del Norte (3,379) at Dinagat Islands (1,231).
Ayon kay PSA Caraga chief
statistical specialist Melchor Bautista karamihan sa mga ito ay wholesale at
retail, at repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.
Napag alaman na tumaas din
ang employment size sa rehiyon sa small at medium enterprises.
(NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Ambag ng mga babaeng seafarers sa Maritime Industry kinilala
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 28 (PIA)
-- Binigyang halaga ang kakayanan at kasanayan ng mga kababaihang seafarers sa
selebrasyon ng Seafarers Day sa Caraga region.
Sa temang "Empowering
Women in Maritime Community," ibinida ni Atty. Manuel Portus, regional
director ng Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Caraga, ang malaking
kontribusyon ng kababaihan sa larangan ng paglaglalayag.
Ayon sa kanya, tumataas kada taon
ang bilang ng mga kababaihang nagtatrabaho sa barko at mas nakikita at
kinikilala na ngayon ang kanilang malaking ambag sa naturang sektor.
“Dumadami na talaga ang pumapasok
sa maritime industry ngayon, maging sa mga eskwelahan, hindi na naiiwanan ang
mga kababaihan. Malaki ang kanilang nabibigay na kontribusyon sap ag-unlad ng
industriya,” sabi ni Portus.
Dagdag pa ng opisyal, natutugunan
na rin ng mga namamahala sa mga barko ang pangangailangan ng babaeng seafafers
at sinisiguradong nabibigyang halaga ang kanilang mga karapatan.
Ibinahagi naman ni Lindsay
Mendoza, Grade 11 na studyante sa isang maritime school sa Butuan City na
pangarap niyang maging isang seafarer kaya naman aktibo siyang nakilahok at
nakinig sa mga diskusyon mula sa ibat-ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan na may
programa para sa maritime industry.
Umaasa siyang wala nang
diskriminasyon sa mga babaeng pumapasok sa propesyong ito.
Hinimok din niya ang iba pang
kabataan lalu na ang mga kababaihan na huwag matakot o mahiyang ipakita sa iba
ang kanilang interes at kakayahan.
“Huwag po tayong mahiya o matakot
na ipakita ang kaya nating gawin bilang mga babae. Ang trabaho ng seafarers ay
hindi lang po pang-lalaki kundi pang-babae rin,” pahayag ni Mendoza.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
