Monday, July 22, 2019

39 FRs complete TESDA training in Agusan Norte

By 1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, July 22 -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga, in partnership with the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion and 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion under the operational control of 402nd Infantry Brigade together with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development, awarded certificates of completion to 39 former rebels (FRs) for the Technical for Works Scholarship Program (TWSP) at the 29IB headquarters, Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on July 19, 2019.

The 39 FRs, considered as special clients, completed the training in Food Processing and Wellness Massage "Hilot" training.

This is part of the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government in capacitating the FRs in preparation for their reintegration to the mainstream society.

 

One of the FRs from 23IB alias Mars, expressed his gratitude to the government for the assistance they provided to them.

“Dako kayo ang akong pasalamat sa gobyerno tungod sa ilang tabang nako. Niadtong anaa pa ko sulod sa kalihukan, grabe nga kalisod ang akong natagamtaman mao nga nakahuna-huna ko nga mobalik na sa sabakan sa gobyerno kay wala gyod koy kaugmaon kung mopadayon ko sa NPA. Pagsurender nako, wala ko nagdahom nga hatagan kog importansya sa gobyerno ug gitabangan gyod ko aron sa pagbaton ug bag-ong kinabuhi ug mas hayag nga kaugmaon pinaagi sa ilang mga programa (I am so grateful to the government for helping me. When I was still in the underground movement, I experienced too much hardship until I decided to go back to the folds of the government. The time I surrendered, I didn’t expect that the government will give me an importance and encouraged me build a new life)," said alias Mars.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ashary Abanto, Regional Director of TESDA, stressed that “the TESDA together with other government agencies continuously conducts trainings for special clients FRs to help them have better lives as they go back to the mainstream society.”

Likewise, Rep. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba of Agusan del Norte as the guest of honor and speaker, said the government is always willing to help them "but we beg you to value everything we gave to you. Don’t waste it for nothing.”

Moreover, 23IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Francisco Molina Jr. expressed his extreme gratitude to the government and to the FRs.

"We will continue encouraging the remaining victims of the CPP-NPA to return to the folds of the government. It's not yet the end of their time. Especially now that all government agencies are working together towards this endeavor," he said. (CMO Officer, 23IB PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Caraga farmer's associations benefit mechanical rice transplanters from DA

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 22 (PIA) – The farmers in Caraga are thankful to the assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Some 110 farmers associations in the region received the 110 rice transplanters from the DA worth P30.4-million.

According to Felisa Hambala, chairperson of Bayugan 3 Irrigators Association in Rosario, Agusan del Sur, the rice transplanters provided to them would help the sector minimize their expenses in farming.

“Through this machine, the labor cost in farming was minimized, thus, our profit increased,” said Hambala.

Roman Padilla, Jr., chairperson of Mambotua Farmers Association, incorporated in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte, is also thankful being one of the beneficiaries of the said program.

He said, the machine makes their work easier and help them increase productivity.

Apart from the transplanters given to the farmers, DA-Caraga also oriented the beneficiaries on how to use it well and take good care of it.

DA-Caraga regional technical director for operations Alberto Ocampo, Jr. said that aside from minimizing the expenses and time to consume in farming, the machines could also help the farmers increase their production and their profit.

With this development, DA-Caraga is determined to change the traditional way of farming in order to increase productivity and make farmers more competitive with the use of the mechanized farming technologies. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Women, children’s laws tackled in Pantawid 1st paralegal training

By Joana Rica P. Millama

BUTUAN CITY, July 22 –  The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) equipped its selected case managers and field workers in handling women/children in especially difficult circumstances (W/CEDC) through the conduct of its first-ever paralegal training on women and children’s laws held recently in this city.

Crislea Celeste, 4Ps regional program coordinator, relayed the need of the Pantawid staff to improve better compliance to the Program in their respective areas based on Gender and Development (GAD) laws, legal protocols, and referral pathways.

“This is also important for promoting social justice in our national development. Since we are serving our clientele who has less in life, they should have more at least in law,” added Celeste.

Lawyer Josefe Sorrera-Ty, dean of Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU)-College of Law, served as the subject matter expert in orienting the Pantawid staff on GAD laws that provide the legal framework for managing W/CEDC.

These laws include Republic Act 8552 (Adoption Law), 10165 (Foster Care Act), 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act), 7610 (Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act), 8353 (Anti-Rape Law of 1997), 9262 (Anti-VAWC Law), 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003), and 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Law).

Although these laws are similarly constructed, Ty discussed the difference by providing situational scenarios to the participants. She stressed that all reported cases of violence, harassment, or sexual abuse should be depicted clearly by the witnesses or the social workers who are part in handling the case.

“The fruits of your burden will be the blessing of those who come after you,” saidTy after she narrated the adversities our Filipino lawyers have experienced in crafting the Revised Penal Code which was patterned from the Spanish Civil Code.

Moreover, she said that public employees should be granting their fellowmen, especially women and children, access to social justice at all costs, emphasizing that “Public office is a public trust,” as stated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Celeste expressed the interest of the Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) to sit down with FSUU’s Urian Legal Assistance Program (ULAP) to possibly fortify partnership and present these laws on women and children during Family Development Sessions (FDS) and possible provision of legal assistance to those who are in need. DSWD and ULAP are still to finalize these plans, and will meet on another date for this breakthrough partnership.

On the third day, Jessie Catherine Aranas, DSWD-Caraga Protective Services division chief, discussed the procedures in filing gender-based violence (GBV) and other gender-related cases and grievances. These include filling-out the GBV intake sheet, crafting a social case study report, and filing a referral letter.

An action plan and evaluation was done to formally close the three-day training. At least 40 field workers have participated and a second batch is expected next week. (Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

Gigaquit wins in search for outstanding coastal community

By Salve Moreno-Dinolan

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 22-- The Caraga region takes pride in the national scene once again when the municipality of Gigaquit in Surigao del Norte was awarded second runner-up in the third season of Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) 2018: National Search for Outstanding Coastal Community held on July 19, 2019 in the island of Siquijor.

Out of the 14 national contenders for the outstanding coastal community, Macrohon in Southern Leyte was named grand winner, while Alaminos in Pangasinan bagged the first place award.

Macrohon will get 30 million worth of agri-fishery livelihood assistance, while Alaminos and Gigaquit will receive 18 million and 10 million, respectively.

The winners were assessed based on five criteria: no illegal fishing; observance of off-fishing season; declaration of marine protected areas; clean coastal waters without any garbage or industrial effluence flowing to the sea; and effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program.

The MMK is an annual program by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which gives recognition and incentives to outstanding coastal communities and their efforts in coastal resource management.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who attended the MMK awarding, is optimistic that the program would contribute to the food sufficiency efforts for every Filipino.

"It is not just about today, but an insurance that the next generation will survive with the sustainable use of the marine resources," he said.

The municipality of Cortes in Surigao Del Sur was inducted into the MMK Hall of Fame last year for consistently being an outstanding coastal community. (Information Officer, BFAR 13/VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

BCPO, SMA to boost establishments' security in Butuan

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 22 - The Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) facilitated and organized the Security Managers Association (SMA) Election of officers held on July 15, 2019 at the Butuan City hall.

Police Col. Albert Magno, city director, expressed his warmest congratulations and support to the newly elected officers of SMA.

In his message, he emphasized the necessity of building a willing and cooperative organization that would aid the police force in maintaining and ensuring public safety.

“The idea of establishing the said association of business owners and managers of Butuan City materialized from the foreknowledge of BCPO about the fast rising economic state of the city,” cited Magno. 

He has also foreseen the influx of tourists, transients, consequent to the opening of SM mall and Vista mall, that would further led to the expanded population in the city.

“Business will boom, proportional to that is the higher crime volume,” he said.

With these facts, the city director asked the SMA newly elected officers to be cooperative to the police in preventing and solving crime e.g. expedite investigation by giving access to CCTV, and the like.

He also assured that BCPO look after the establishments’ safety as one of the unit’s top priorities.

“We were never hesitant to strike if needed so but in order to be effective and efficient with our safe keeping we need a fully functional and organized local organizations to act with us,” Magno said.

The city police director further expressed that this undeniable cooperation and provision coming from business sectors made the entire police force thankful.

“With this strong bond between the PNP and Security Managers Association, a safer Butuan could certainly be attained,” he said. (BCPO/PIA-Caraga)

PopCom Caraga nakipag-ugnayan sa ibang sektor para sa AHD programs

 

By Nora L. Molde

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 22 (PIA) – Nakipag-ugnayan ang Commission on Population (PopCom) Caraga sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, civil society organizations at simbahan para mabigyan ng tamang atensyon ang issue ng teenage pregnancy sa rehiyon.

Ayon kay PopCom Caraga Regional Director Alexander Makinano, upang mas mabigyang pansin ang reproductive health and fertility concerns ng mga kabataan at mabigyan ng solusyon ang patuloy na pagtaas ng teenage pregnancy sa rehiyon, kinakailangan ang tulong ng ibat’ibang ahensya - pampubliko man o pribado.

Naniniwala si Makinano na ang layuning ito ay makakatulong upang maging responsable ang mga kabataan pagdating sa ganitong bagay.

Positibo ang PopCom Caraga na ang hakbang na ito ay magbubunga ng magandang resulta at sa susunod na mga taon ay mabawasan ang unplanned teenage pregnancy.

Dagdag pa ni Makinano na base sa Philippine Statistics Authority National Demographic Survey result, mas mataas ang teenage pregnancy sa urban areas kaysa rural, marahil ito ay dahil sa unregulated na access ng mga kabataan sa mga pornographic materials at social media.

Dahil sa pagtaas ng teenage pregnancy nagkaroon din ng resolution ang Regional Development Council ng rehiyon upang masupervise at mamonitor ang mga aktibidad sa mga internet café sa rehiyon lalo ang pag access sa mga pornographic sites o materials at social media.

Dapat din daw na mabantayan ang mga kabataan sa oras na sila ay may klase.

Dagdag pa ni Makinano na mas mahalaga pa rin na mamonitor ng mga magulang ang mga gawain o aktibidad ng kanilang mga anak.

Ayon naman kay Department of Health Caraga Regional Director Dr. Jose Llacuna. Jr., mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng tamang impormasyon kaya hinikayat nya ang mga partner media na magbiay ng tamanag impormasyon sa kalusugan lalo na sa family planning.

Dagdag pa ni Llacuna, ginagawa ng gobyerno na makapagbigay at magkaroon ng mabuting kalusugan ang mga tao, pero responsibilidad din natin itong alagaan. (NCLM/PIA Caraga)

Kampanya laban CPP-NPA ng Army at PNP, pinaigting pa sa pamamagitan ng social media

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 22 (PIA) - Dahil sa kanilang determinasyon na mas mapaigting pa ang kampanya ng gobyerno laban kaguluhan at karagasan dulot ng Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) sa rehiyon ng Caraga, nagsasanay nang mabuti ang Philippine National Police (PNP) at Philippine Army (PA) sa pagbuo ng Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials at pagbahagi nito sa social media.

Ito ay para maipaabot sa publiko ang mga tamang impormasyon at labanan ang mga kasinungalingan ng teroristang grupo.

Sa isinagawang Journalism Training ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga sa mga kawani ng 402nd Brigade, PA at PNP Caraga regional office 13 sa lungsod ng Butuan, ipinamalas nila ang kanilang abilidad at pagiging malikhain sa pagbuo ng konsepto at mensahe para sa infographics at social media cards na kanilang ibabahagi sa netizens.

Para kay 1Lt. Wilfredo Quilang, commanding officer ng Bravo Company, 30th Infantry Battalion, PA na isa sa mga partisipante, mas lumawak ang kanyang kaalaman sa pagawa ng balita, feature news, infographics at social media cards bilang sandata sa online laban terorismo.

Ayon naman kay Police Corporal Laarni Mabilog ng Butuan City Police Office, tumaas ang kanilang morale sa isinagawang pagsasanay dahil marami siyang natuklasang bagong techniques sa pagawa ng IEC materials na magagamit ng kanilang ahensiya sa kanilang ibat-ibang programa at kampanya.

Pinuri naman ni 402nd Brigade Commander Col. Maurito Licudine ang lahat ng partisipante at hinimok na maging aktibo sa pagamit ng kanilang natutunan, at mas maging epektibo sa kanilang komunikasyon o pakikisalamuha at coordinasyon sa ibat-ibang sektor ng komunidad.

Samantala, binigyang-diin din ni PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga na isa itong mabisang paraan upang ma-counter ang mga propaganda at panlilinlang ng teroristang CPP-NPA. Malaking tulong din ito sa pagpapalaganap ng Executive Order 70 o whole-of-nation approach sa pagsugpo ng insurgency sa rehiyon. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)