RIACAT-VAWC Caraga sets activities for 2019 WDAT celebration
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) – The
Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women
and Children (RIACAT-VAWC) Caraga has once again lined-up activities for this
year’s celebration of the World Day Against Trafficking (WDAT) on July 30, 2019
with the theme “Isang Bayan, Isang Paninindigan Laban sa Trafficking ng
Mamamayan” (One Nation, One Affirmation Against Trafficking in Persons).
“The committee has agreed to
conduct series of activities to show a unified approach of solidarity with the
victim-survivors and awareness raising initiative to fight trafficking in
person (TIP) in the entire Caraga region,” said Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) Caraga regional director and RIACAT-VAWC chair Mita
Chuchi Gupana-Lim.
Lim bared that members of the
committee from various government agencies will convene on July 24-26, 2019 for
the conduct of Multi-Disciplinary Training on handling/managing Trafficking in
Persons (TIPs) and Victim Protection in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.
On July 30, 2019, different
sectors will also join the committee in the Advocacy Walk scheduled at 4:00
a.m. from the Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol Ground going to Guingona
Park, Butuan City, where the program will also be held. On this day also, the
public could witness the launching of the Quiz Bowl for Barangay VAW Desk
Officers.
“Aside from that, the committee
will also recognize the focal persons and centers providing services for TIPs,
and awarding of service providers/duty bearers. In the evening, an advocacy
concert will also be held with various local performers,” said Lim.
The lady director also revealed
that in time with the charter day of Butuan City on August 2, 2019, the members
of RIACAT-VAWC will be visiting the Home for Boys and Gesu Eucharistic in
Buenavista, Agusan del Norte for a Gift-Giving activity.
A total of 37 boys and girls will
benefit from the activity.
Lim is hopeful that more
Caraganons will be aware of the said campaign and would advocate in their
respective communities to prevent TIPs. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Long ago, horrifying terror attacks
like what happened in Marawi City have been perpetrated by the radical Muslims.
In addition to this, the traditional look and culture of the Muslims are very
foreign to most of the citizens particularly in Butuan City which is a
Christian dominated place. Many times, they look at the entire Muslim
population in the eye of suspicion causing the Muslim population, in turn, to
respond in a defensive manner. Police, however, is a subset of community and
therefore share in their general view and biases.
Butuan City Police Office (BCPO)
continues to innovate programs that would address the issues on the Muslim
community. As far as the ongoing programs of the Philippine National Police in
police community relation (PCR), BCPO will create new programs that would
solely focus on the Muslim dwellers in this city.
The conference gained positive response
from the Muslim attendees. The Sultanate of Caraga expressed his gratitude to
the efforts exerted by the BCPO in reaching out to them.
Project Zacat: BCPO’s pro-Muslim intervention
By Police Corporal Laarni M. Mabilog
Negative reactions beget negative
results which beget more negative reactions.
As it is the job of the police to serve
and protect the community without prejudice, they have the duty to reach out to
the potentially alienated community, in this case the Muslim community.
This cannot be done effectively without
first taking inventory of the feelings and viewpoints of Muslim dwelling in
this city. Added to this fact is the scientific research finding that a healthy
police-community relationship is important for an effective police department.
PROJECT ZACAT
Programs such as feeding, medical
mission, Brigada Eskwela, clean-up drive, pulong-pulong, and other
community-based programs will be modified in a way that it would suit the needs
of the Muslim community of Butuan City.
Police Col. Albert G. Magno, city
director of BCPO, instructed the newly installed force commander of Butuan City
Mobile Force Company (BCMFC) Police Lt. Col. Romeo A Villalobos, Jr. to
come up with an idea on how to improve the police relationship with the Muslim
community.
According to Magno his strong belief
that factions in the community and misconception of one’s culture are
devastating factors for a good public service resulted to the idea of creating
a new project that should foster an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual
respect between the police and the people they serve.
Subsequently, Villalobos initiated the
creation of “Project Zakat” which aims to build a good Police-Muslim community
relationship and would encourage the Muslim community to support the plans and
programs of the BCPO.
Zakat is an Arabic word that means
almsgiving for charitable purposes. This implies that this project would relay
the message of sincerity of BCPO in serving the community without bias and
without looking at the individual races and cultures.
BRIDGING THE CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIVIDE
Recently, elders, imams and other
prominent Muslim citizens of Butuan City were invited for a conference with
Villalobos at the BCPO. He presented the plans of launching a new project and
its activities that are solely intended for the Muslim community.
The conference gained positive response
from the Muslim attendees. The Sultanate of Caraga expressed his gratitude to
the efforts exerted by the BCPO in reaching out to them.
Most of the participants mentioned that
this is the first time that they felt their existence has been given importance
and equal view with the Christian dwellers.
Villalobos mentioned that he is hoping
that this would end the negative impressions and misunderstanding among the
Muslims, police and the community of Butuan City and would strengthen the
support of the people to law enforcement.
At the end of the conference everyone
expressed their promise of support for the project which will be launched in
August this year. (BCPO/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Farmers’ association ng Caraga makikinabang sa mechanical rice
transplanters mula sa DA
By Nora L. Molde
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 23 (PIA)
-- Malaki ang pasasalamat ng mga magsasaka sa Caraga region dahil sa tulong na ibinigay
ng Department of Agriculture (DA).
Isang daan at sampung rice
transplanters ang ibinigay sa 110 farmer's association ng DA Caraga na
nagkakahalaga ng 30.4 million pesos.
Ayon kay Felisa Hambala,
chairperson ng Bayugan 3 Irrigators Association ng Rosario, Agusan del Sur,
malaking tulong ang mga transplanters na ito para mabawasan ang kanilang gastos
sa pagtatanim.
Ganoon din ang pasasalamat ni
Roman Padilla, Jr. Ang chairperson ng Mambotua Farmers Association, Inc. ng
Magallanes, Agusan del Norte dahil isa sila sa mga naging benepisyaryo ng
programa.
Makakatulong daw ito para
makabawas sa oras ng pagtatrabaho.
Maliban sa ibinigay na
transplanters sa mga magsasaka, tinuruan din sila ng DA kung papano ito gamitin
at alagaan.
Ayon kay DA regional
technical director for operations Alberto Ocampo, Jr., maliban sa bawas ng oras
sa sakahan, ang mga makinaryas ay makakatulong din upang dumami ang kanilang
mga ani at mapataas ang kanilang kita.
Nakatuon ang DA na baguhin ang
pamamaraan ng mga magsasaka upang maging produktibo at maging competititve sa
pamamagitan ng mechanized farming technologies. (NCLM/PIA Caraga)
