DOTr urges contractors to fast-track repair of
airport’s runway in Surigao City
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 -- Department
of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, with the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), urged contractors to fast-track repair of
the runway at the Surigao City airport, which was damaged by the 6.7 magnitude
earthquake last February 10, 2017.
It can be recalled that right
after the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte and his cabinet members in Surigao
City to assess the situation of the quake victims, the operation at the Surigao
City airport also resumed, however, only 1,000 meters from the standard
1,700-meter runway are being used until this time, and has only one airline
company being accommodated and operating.
The limited flights posed an
impact on the tourism industry of the said city.
In the recent surprise visit at
the airport led by Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications
Operations Office (PCOO), together with DOTr Asec. Giovanni Lopez, CAAP
Director-General Jim Sydiongco, and Regional Director Abner Caga of the
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, the officials thoroughly assessed
and checked the condition of the runway.
“The provincial development
council of Surigao del Norte requested yours truly to help follow-up the repair
of the runway. That’s why I’m here, though this is the job of the DOTr and
CAAP, we wanted to fast-track its repair and finish it within the timeline,”
said Andanar.
The government has allocated more
than P123-million fund for the Surigao Airport Development Project. Andanar and
Lopez agreed that the contractors, the Pacific Concrete Products and VT Lao
Construction, should set-up a concrete plant and batching plant near the
airport to avoid similar delays in the future.
“While it is true that there is a
delay of this project, but like what the secretary has said that the original
contract duration is February 2020, that is non-negotiable. We are looking for
ways really make that happen. We will deliver within the same period of time
regardless of the delay,” Lopez said.
The 1,400 meters runway is
expected to be finished by November in order to accommodate the high demand of
flights in the Christmas season.
While the entire 1,700 meters will
be completed by February 2020, CAAP emphasized that they will be monitoring the
progress of this project. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Different sectors gear up preparation for
various infra projects in Butuan
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA) --
Various sectors here convened and deepened the discussion on several
infrastructure projects to be established, which will boost the economy and
tourism of the city.
During the 3rd stakeholders forum
on the Master Plan for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Development (MPSUID) in
Butuan, different sectors involved explore further the pros and cons of the
proposed infra projects they have identified for the city.
With the assistance and guidance
from the experts, they took all relevant factors thru the conduct of
feasibility study in various potential tourism attractions to ensure that
identified projects are suitable and to ascertain the likelihood of completing
the project successfully that would benefit the public.
According to Joselito Supangco,
Tourism and Recreation Expert and Economic Cluster Team Leader, among these
projects include the farm to market roads in five upland barangays and
irrigation and drainage facilities in five rice-producing barangays.
Dr. Jun Castro, Transport
Specialist and Team Leader of infra cluster, also revealed that they intend to
enhance the urban traffic management system of Butuan City, as well those
structures which are appropriate to be built near the Agusan River.
Meanwhile, Assistant Regional
Director Roy Kantuna of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
Caraga, other projects identified include the drainage and flood control
projects, solid waste management facilities, and power or electricity facilities.
Kantuna also urged every Butuanon
to continue to give their trust and support to the city government as it takes
steps towards sustainable development for the city and its people.
The official added that from
several identified proposed projects by the different sectors, five of these
will be prioritized and will be submitted to the city council and the regional
development council for approval. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Over 30 kids benefit RIACAT-VAWC’s gift-giving
activity
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA) - More
than 30 kids received gift packs from the Regional Inter-Agency Committee
Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women And Children (RIACAT-VAWC) Caraga
held in this city and in Buenavista in Agusan del Norte.
The said activity formed part of
the World Day Against Trafficking (WDAT) celebration.
These are kids who are sheltered
at Home for the Boys in Barangay Antongalon, Butuan City, and Gesu Eucharistico
Incorporated in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. They all received various hygiene
kits and food packs.
Sister Marilou Besere and Cleto
Pastor, care takers of the two centers were delighted to have welcomed the
guests from various government agencies and received their gifts for the kids
who are considered ‘child at risk’, ‘children in conflict with the law’, and
those that have been abused.
Sister Marilou further called on
government agencies and private sector to help them in the establishment of a
center for children with special needs; developmental pediatricians who will
look after the condition of the children with special diagnosis; and
scholarship for children sheltered at the centers.
“I asked the government and
non-government organizations to help us as we wanted to raise these children
with a better future. We hope also that these children will be included in your
advocacy against any form of abuse and violence,” she appealed.
Cleto also urged parents to guide
and take good care of their children well, so they will not get involved in any
illegal activity; they will grow responsibly and with proper nutrition.
“Parents should be taking care of
their children. Please do not disregard their needs and give them due attention
because they need it from you especially at home. Help your children cope with
life’s challenges so they won’t be tempted to get involved in any illegal
activity,” said Cleto.
Meanwhile, Catherine Aranas,
Social Welfare Officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) Caraga and focal person for RIACAT-VAWC bared that trafficking cases in
the region are still high, however, this also indicates that many without
hesitation already report such cases to the authorities. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
‘Bae’ competition in AgNor highlights disaster
preparedness
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA) – As
Agusanons are becoming more disaster resilient and active advocates of climate
change adaptation, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
(PDRRMO) Agusan del Norte has organized an event that showcased the qualities
of empowered women in the province.
Eleven ‘Bae’ or ladies from
various towns in Agusan del Norte have showcased their talents and different
kinds of preparation for any calamity or eventuality, during the conduct of
DRRM Bae Competition of the said province.
Each candidate showed their skills
on how to effectively respond in times of emergency and calamity while wearing
their responder's outfit made of recycled materials.
Cultural attires of the different
ethnic groups in Agusan were also featured.
The DRRM Bae competition is a
unique competition among women, wherein people get to witness their beauties,
skills in rescue operation, act of empowerment, and understands DRRM
advocacies.
Specific advocacy, particularly on
disaster risk reduction, was also presented.
Meanwhile, in the said
competition, Daphne Eronco of Cabadbaran City was crowned as DRRM Bae 2019;
Maxine Lou Plenos of Kitcharao as 1st runner-up and Miss Young ADNERT 2019; and
Jan Krizzia Beniga of Buenavista as 2nd runner-up. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Union group declares Reds persona non grata
Through its Resolution Number 2,
Series of 2019, the FPPIWU officers and members condemned the CPP-NPA-NDF
including its allied organizations such as the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Agusan
del Sur (NAMASUR) and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), for their atrocities in their
communities and continuous exploitation of the poor farmers and workers of
FPPI.
It can be recalled that the former
Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation Inc. Workers Union (FPIWU) which was created and
registered in 2007 by the National Federations of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo
Uno (NAFLU-KMU) to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), was recently
reorganized and became FPPIWU after all its 224 members decided to formally
separate from its mother federation through a resolution passed during a
general assembly.
The newly-organized union wanted
to pursue its autonomy due to some serious issues within the company in order
to achieve its organizational objectives while observing the internationally
accepted principles and domestic laws.
Accordingly, under the NAFLU-KMU,
the FPIWU was able to launch two crippling strikes against the company, one in
October 2010 and the other in November 2012, which resulted to the dismissal of
several workers and displacement of some families.
"For the sake of my
co-workers and our families, we should tread the right way, without any
reservation. With 93 percent of members voted, we formally disaffiliate
ourselves from NAFLU-KMU, that is why we created our independent union, the
FPPIWU, to formally put an end to the issues of exploitation and propaganda
that became the source of spat between us and the FPPI management," Elmer
Jamero, former FPIWU President said, in his message to his co-workers.
Jay Lagapa, the newly-installed
FPPIWU President, read the resolution followed by the signing of the officers
and its members. "I also thanked the assistance given to us by the
authorities and the management that made things easier for us to reorganize and
formally disaffiliate from NAFLU-KMU," he emphasized.
The members of the FPPIWU also
took their oath to maintain the peace and order within the FPPI areas and to
never let their union be used again for the interests of few people and dubious
organizations.
Also, Gil Delos Santos, FPPI
General Manager, promised to provide more support through programs and
trainings to the union members, so that every member could have another source
of livelihood and additional income.
Col. Allan Hambala, commander of
401st Infantry Brigade, expressed his appreciation to all the members of FPPIWU
who decided to choose to be independent and take part in the declaration of
persona non grata against their former federation, the NAFLU-KMU.
“This is the most commendable
decision you have ever made as members of your union to finally decide for your
own welfare without being dependent to those dubious organizations that covertly
manipulated and exploited you financially," he said.
"Now that EO 70 has been
operationalized in the region, I will assure you that we in the government,
will always keep an eye on the protection of every worker's rights against
exploitation and injustices, through the assistance of the concerned government
agencies,” Hambala added. (75IB/ 401st Brigade, PA/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Preparasyon ng LGU-Butuan para sa mga itatayong
infra projects, mas pinaigting pa
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 13 (PIA)
- Ilan pang mga proyektong pangkaunlaran ang itatayo dito na inaasahang
magbibigay ng pangmatagalang pag-unlad sa ekonomiya at turismo.
Tinalakay ito ng ibat-ibang sektor
sa isinagawang 3rd Stakeholders Forum para sa Master Plan For Sustainable Urban
Infrastructure Development (MPSUID).
Sa tulong ng mga eksperto, mas
paiigtingin ang pagsasagawa ng feasibility study para sa mga potensyal na
tourist attractions sa Butuan upang masiguro na akma at naaayon ito sa
pangangailangan ng publiko.
Ayon kay Joselito Supangco,
tourism and recreation expert at team leader ng economic cluster, kabilang ang
farm-to-market roads sa limang upland barangays, at irrigation at drainage
facilities sa limang rice-producing barangays sa mga itatayong bagong
imprastraktura.
Inihayag naman ni Dr. Jun Castro,
Transport Specialist at Team Leader ng Infra Cluster, na tinututukan din nila
ang mas maayos na urban traffic management system, maging ang mga infra
projects malapit sa Agusan River.
Ibinahagi naman ni Assistant
Regional Director Roy Kantuna ng National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) Caraga, kabilang ang drainage at flood control projects, solid waste
management facilities at power o energy projects sa mga proyektong nais mapaunlad
pa ng lungsod.
Hinimok din niya ang mga Butuanons
na patuloy na sumuporta sa mga hakbang ng lokal na pamahalaan.
Dagdag pa ng opisyal, sa mga
natukoy na mga infra projects ng mga sektor, pipili ng limang pangunahing infra
projects at saka ito isusumite sa city council at regional development council
para aprobahan ang mga ito. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 13 (PIA)
- Pinamamadali na ni Secretary Arthur Tugade ng Department of Transportation
(DOTr) at ng Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) ang pagkumpuni
ng nasirang runway ng Surigao City airport matapos ang 6.7 magnitude na lindol
noong February 10, 2017.
Matatandaan na matapos bumisita ni
President Rodrigo Duterte at gabinete nito sa mga biktima ng lindol sa lungsod
ng Surigao, nagbalik operasyon ang nasabing airport ngunit hanggang sa ngayon
1,000 meters lamang ng runway ang nagagamit at isang airline company lamang ang
nakakagamit nito.
Dahil dito, apektado na rin ang
turismo sa lungsod dahil sa limitadong biyahe rito.
Sa isinagawang surprising
pagbisita sa nasabing airport na pinangunahan ni Secretary Martin Andanar ng
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), kasama si DOTr Asec.
Giovanni Lopez, CAAP Director-General Jim Sydiongco, at Regional Director Abner
Caga ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, sinuri ng mga opisyal ang
kondisyon ng runway.
“Ang provincial council ng Surigao
del Norte ay nagpasa ng Resolution No. 103, series of 2019, at nirequest po
nila ang inyong lingkod, Sec. Andanar na tumulong na maipadali na ang
pagkumpuni ng paliparan, kaya huwag po kayong magtaka kung bakit nandito ang
communications secretary, ito po’y trabaho ng DOTr at ng CAAP,” sabi ni
Andanar.
Naglaan ang gobyerno ng mahigit
P123-milyong na pondo para sa pagkumpuni ng paliparan. Napag-alaman din na
hindi natapos ng dati nitong kontraktor ang pagkukumpuni at ngayon ay ang
Pacific Concrete Products at VT Lao Construction na ang tatapus ng proyekto.
“Totoo po na naantala ang
proyektong ito pero sabi ho ni Secretary na kahit naantala ang orihinal na
contract duration sa February 2020, yan po ay non-negotiable. Ang ginagawa
natin, gumagawa tayo ng paraan ngayon, para yan po talaga ang mangyayari.
Matatapos ang proyektong ito sa itinakdang panahon bagamat may delay sa
pagsagawa nito,” sabi ni Lopez.
Napagkasunduan ng mga kinauukulang
ahensya ng gobyerno at bagong kontraktor na tatapusin ang 1,400 meters runway
bago mag-pasko ngayong taon. Habang ang kabuuan nito na 1,700 meters ay
makokompleto sa February 2020. May monitoring ding gagawin ang CAAP para dito.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Mga bata tumanggap ng regalo mula sa RIACAT-VAWC
Caraga
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 13 (PIA)
- Mahigit 30 bata ang masayang tumanggap ng regalo mula sa Regional
Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women And
Children (RIACAT-VAWC) Caraga dito sa lungsod at bayan ng Buenavista, Agusan
del Norte.
Ito ay bilang bahagi sa
selebrasyon ng World Day Against Trafficking (WDAT). Sila ang mga batang
nakatira sa Home for Boys sa Barangay Antongalon, Butuan City, at GESU
Eucaristico Incorporated sa Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. Tumanggap ang mga ito
ng ibat-ibang personal hygiene kits at food packs.
Laking pasasalamat ni Sister
Marilou at Mang Cleto, tagapamahala ng nasabing mga centers sa lahat ng
bumisita mula sa ibat-ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan at sa regalong binigay nila
para sa mga batang napasailalim sa ‘child at risk,' child in conflict with the
law, at batang nabiktima ng karahasan.
Nananawagan din si Sister Marilou,
sana ay matulungan din sila ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor sa pagpapatayo ng
center para sa mga batang may special needs; pagkakaroon o pagtalaga ng
developmental pediatricians na titingin sa kalagayan ng mga batang may special
diagnosis; at scholarship para sa mga batang nasa center.
Pakiusap naman ni Mang Cleto na
sana ay tutukang mabuti ng mga magulang ang kanilang mga anak upang malayo ito
sa kapahamakan at lumaki nang maayos.
Samantala, ibinahagi naman ni
Catherine Aranas, Social Welfare Officer ng Department of Social Welfare and
Development Caraga at Focal Person ng RIACAT-VAWC na mataas pa rin ang kaso ng
trafficking sa rehiyon, subalit indikasyon daw ito na nairereport na sa
otoridad ang mga insidente hinggil dito. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DA-Caraga helps boost cassava industry in Dinagat
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte,
Aug. 13 -- With the inclusion of cassava in the priority commodity of the
province of Dinagat Islands (PDI), the Provincial Agriculture Office conducted
series of activities to come up with community-based target setting of the
crop.
The Office of the Provincial
Agriculturist – PDI, through its corn and cassava focal person Rico
Galinato, spearheaded the conduct of the cassava utilization training and
stakeholder's forum in the Municipality of Libjo, August 6-7, 2019.
The activities were participated
in by cassava processors, farmers association leaders, cooperative
representatives, local government unit program coordinators and Department of
Agriculture (DA) - Caraga staff.
Francis Louie Parina, DA-Caraga
Cassava focal person, said that the department can support PDI's plan with the
provision of high yielding variety, farm mechanization, and technical training.
(DA-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
BFAR-Caraga promotes fishery products
By Salve M. Dinolan
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 -- The Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - Caraga joins the Department of
Agriculture in the 6th Regional Technology Forum and Product Exhibition held
here.
The two-day technology forum that
runs from August 8 to 9, 2019 showcases products and lectures on
technologies for tilapia, coconut, cacao, soybean and sorghum production.
"Product exhibition, as part
of product promotion of value-added fishery and aquatic products from potential
producers among the fishers of Caraga region, is one of the approaches being
used by BFAR to help the fisherfolk family's level of income. This scheme is
aligned with the new Secretary of the Department's priority strategies in
the first 100 days at DA," said BFAR-Caraga regional director Visa
Tan-Dimerin.
The forum brought together
farmers, agripreneurs, agricultural extension workers, representatives from
academe, agricultural institutions and local government units.
This year's theme is “Technologies
from Agri-Fisheries as Catalyst for Sustainability and Competitiveness.” (BFAR-Caraga/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
