By Jennifer P. Gaitano
He said President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte’s administration gives priority to education to ensure the youth’s
bright future. Hence, it also assures the provision of appropriate programs,
projects, and opportunities for the youth’s welfare.
“Remember that the president, it
is the president who wants for free tertiary education in all the state
universities. So you can say that he has a big concern for education especially
for those who could not afford to a more expensive tertiary learning
institutions,“ said Sec. Esperon.
Esperon was also dismayed on
several youths who were deceived and recruited by the CPP-NPA and were not able
to continue their education. However, he also cited the significant number of
young NPA members who surrendered to the folds of the law.
“We’ve seen that there are Grades
3 and 5 who were included in the surrenderees. Just imagine if only they were
given the chance to continue their education, they could have experienced a
happy childhood. And that is why we are now very strong on alternative learning
systems and TESDA skills trainings and scholarship program because we want to
capacitate our human resources,” said Esperon.
The official also emphasized that
provinces of Caraga region could have been more developed without the chaos,
exploitation, and abuse among indigenous peoples and farmers that were
instigated by the CPP-NPA.
The Regional Task Force to End
Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) has been stepping up its effort and
initiatives with the different sectors in Caraga to continuously address the
insurgency problem in the barangay level.
Meanwhile, Esperon stressed that
barangay officials should take this move seriously to help the government
achieve lasting peace and development in the country. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
First batch of TESDA, DOTR trainees undergo masonry course
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 30 (PIA) --
Some 25 trainees which comprised the first batch for the Masonry National
Certificate II of the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority
(TESDA) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) are now undertaking the
one-month skills training here.
This is an initiative of TESDA
together with Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and
Governance), a non-government organization with the aim to boost the
construction industry in Caraga region.
Alejandro Golle, a resident of
Tubay, Agusan del Norte and one of the trainees promised to perform his best in
the training and hoped to be employed in a construction company right after the
one-month skills training.
“I’m thankful to be among the
trainees in this course on masonry and I’m positive and hopeful that after the
training, I could be employed in any of the construction companies,” said
Golle.
According to TESDA-Caraga Regional
Director Ashary Banto, the training is also in support to the government’s
build, build, build program. He said, they targeted a total of 250 trainees for
masonry.
“Through this training,
facilitation of employment of the trainees to the construction companies would
be easier. They are regularly monitored and their performance will be assessed
by the trainors,” said Banto.
The official added that after the
conduct of said training in Butuan City, it will also be carried out in Surigao
del Norte and other provinces of Caraga.
Banto encouraged interested
individuals to visit the nearest TESDA offices in their area to know the
requirements.
Meanwhile, Genome Jun Fortun,
regional coordinator of Villar SIPAG, bared that trainees who give value to
their job and perform well during the training would be employed in their
construction companies.
“Just do the job well and we’ll
see to it that you’ll get the job you deserve after the training,” said Fortun.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
AgNor villages avail free services
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 30 (PIA) -- As
the government intensifies the implementation of the Executive Order No. 70 or
the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict in the
Caraga region, the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC)-Agusan del Norte
has conducted another immersion in the three barangays of Remedios T. Romualdez
(RTR) town.
More than 800 residents from
different walks of life in the barangays of Tagbongabong, San Antonio and
Balang-Balang of RTR have availed and benefitted from the medical, dental and
social services, including legal consultations held in Barangay Tagbongabong.
Krizia Mae Mangadlao, a six-month
pregnant from Barangay Balang-Balang was one of the beneficiaries who also
received a buntis kit from the government. She said she was able to save some
money intended to buy things for her baby.
“This is really of great help to
me and the rest of the pregnant women. I hope this kind of activity will
continue to help more Agusanons,” said Mangadlao.
The senior citizens also availed
of the free services, which included Rosalinda Mundia, who benefitted from the
free medicines.
“Thank you to all the government
agencies who took part in this immersion and we continue to give our trust and
confidence to the administration,” Mundia said.
Mayor Richard Daquipil was
thankful to the different government agencies for choosing the municipality of
RTR as the venue for the conduct of PPOC immersion, as it was the first time
that such kind of activity was held in their area.
This, according to the mayor, is
one of the ways to show to the locals that the government is doing its best to
provide what they need by bringing the services closer to the people.
Mayor Daquipil also urged all
residents to help the government in its effort to address the problem on
insurgency.
The barangays of Tagbongabong,
Mahaba, San Antonio and Balang-Balang were among the identified rebel-infested
barangays in the region. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga promotes ease of doing business,
competitive LGUs
By Marilou Autor-Salado
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 30 -- Twenty
cities and municipalities participated in the conduct of Coaching-Workshop on
Regulatory Simplification for Local Governments (RS4LG) on September 12-13,
2019 in Butuan City, which was facilitated by Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) - Caraga in coordination with the Local Government
Academy.
Regulatory simplification is the
process of making a business process simple and efficient by reducing or
removing specific elements and keeping only the essential steps in the process.
Thus, key officials like the
Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and the Treasurer, among others,
were coached to do exhaustive review of their city or municipality’s regulatory
framework with the objectives of removing unnecessary requirements in
registering a business.
This is in line with President
Rodrigo Duterte’s platform of ensuring that the processing of business permits
is fast tracked and the documentary requirements are reduced.
As emphasized in his opening
message, DILG Caraga assistant regional director Donald Seronay said “the focus
of the RS4LG is to enhance the processing of business permits and licenses by
streamlining documentary requirements of LGUs making them more attractive to
investors.”
Mayette Patag, the consultant and
resource person on RS4LG, also stated that streamlining the process of issuing
permits, licenses and clearances is only an initial step.
“The dream is to have ‘no contact
policy’ in applying for business permits and licenses. The government is
looking forward to a portal where anyone can transact, apply, pay, and then
claim. The good news is that our government is trying to make it possible
through RA 11032,” Patag said.
This year, the focus local
government units (LGUs) were supposedly the 4th to 6th income class
municipalities since most have already been oriented on simplifying processes.
However, based on the monitoring
report on Business Permits and Licensing (BPLS) as well as the Governance
Assessment Result (GAR) of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), there are
still several LGUs that are not consistent in its compliance to BPLS standards
and in fact, several LGUs have outstanding “red” color in the Business
Friendliness area of the SGLG.
Said activity was only one among
the lined up activities such as The Caraga Roadshow on BPLS Automation, the
Regional Rollout on PPP 101 and Joint Ventures, and the Campaign for Digital
Governance Awards aimed to boost the business and investment environment of the
region as complement to the effort for peace and development.
While the current flow of
activities puts the limelight on the implementation of EO 70 and peace-building
interventions, we need to work harder in prepping the LGUs to be business
friendly and competitive to guarantee positive outcome, said Seronay. (LGOO V,
DILG-13/PIA Caraga)
NPAs, supporters pledge loyalty to gov't
By 1Lt Nonette B. Banggad
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte,
Sept. 30 -- Two hundred nineteen members and supporters of the New People’s
Army (NPA) terrorists from three different far-off areas of the municipality of
Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR), Agusan del Norte recently took their oath and
pledged allegiance of support to the government by simultaneously declaring the
NPA as persona non-grata (PNG) in their barangays held recently in Brgy.
Tagbongabong, RTR, Agusan del Norte.
The said members and mass
supporters were composed of 38 members of the NPA, 22 Militia ng Bayan (MB) and
159 Underground Mass Organizations (UGMOs), all of whom were identified through
the initiative if the 29IB. The efforts of the 29IB Community Support Teams
were strengthened with the assistance from the Philippine National Police
counterparts in the areas of Barangays San Antonio, Balang-balang and
Tagbongabong.
The said 219 individuals took their
oath of allegiance to the government led by Governor Dale B. Corvera of Agusan
del Norte. Said oathtaking was followed by the symbolic burning of the NPA’s
flag and clothes as a sign of withdrawal of support to the NPA.
The pledge of loyalty was also reinforced
as two barangays of Balang-balang and Tagbongabong signed a resolution
declaring NPA as Persona Non-grata in their barangays.
Mayor Richard B. Daquipil of RTR
urged his people to withdraw whatever support they are providing to the NPAs,
"because as we can see the government is here to help and support us. A
government who truly looks after its people and its domain. Let us therefore
come and work together in unity for RTR’s peace and development.”
“There would be no development in
the area if there would be no peace. Likewise, there would certainly be no
peace, if there would be no development," said Gov. Corvera.
"It goes together. So, let
us, therefore, bear in mind that this insurgency, is not just a military or
police problem, but rather this is everyone’s concern. Therefore, we must do
something to contribute in resolving this issue,” he added. (CMO Officer, 29IB,
PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Investment forum opens opportunities to coffee
farmers in Surigao Sur
By Dir. Cleon Lester Chavez
TAGBINA, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 30
-- Opportunities sparked for coffee farmers after the Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR) held an investment forum last September 11, here.
Dubbed “Maximizing Gains in
Marketing Niche Through Product Enrichment,” the forum sought to explore
potential marketing contracts, buyers and linkages to different financial
institutions that will provide investment to the agrarian reform beneficiaries’
organizations (ARBOs).
DAR Caraga Regional Director Leomides Villareal challenged the coffee farmers to take to heart the learnings from the investment forum.
“It is very timely that we promote and showcase our locally-produced coffee,” he said.
As a side activity, the actual cupping session was conducted by Mark Anthony Balahay, a licensed Q Grader in Caraga.
Among the activities conducted
during the forum included roasting, brewing, and tasting of the sample coffee
beans produced by the Mabuhay Coffee Growers Cooperative and Barangay
Villaberde Coffee Growers Cooperative.
Balahay explained that the forum would cater to the specific requirements of the buyers depending on how coffee beans are being processed, either wet or dry.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Leoncio C. Bautista, Jr. expressed hopes that this initiative, carried out under the Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment, would open opportunities for the farmers, especially in the Barobo-Tagbina agrarian reform communities.
“I’m looking forward to bigger marketing contracts that will help increase the income of the farmers”, PARPO Bautista said.
Among the invited potential buyers and investors were Tribung Kape Inc., Coffee Industrial Machinery Cooperation, ACDI/VOCA PhilCAFE Project, Consolidated Cooperative Bank, Rizal Micro Banking, First Integrated Community Cooperative and Land Bank of the Philippines. (DAR/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
6 NPAs surrender to Army in SurSur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur,
Sept. 30 (PIA) – Six members of the New People’s Army (NPA) of the weakened
Guerilla Front 14 North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (WGF14, NEMRC) have
voluntarily surrendered to the troops of the 75th Infantry (Marauder) Battalion
(75IB), Philippine Army based in Bislig City, this province on Sept. 23, 2019,
a military official confirmed.
Capt. Edwin Leo Francisco, 75IB
Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Officer, identified the surrenderees as AKA
Bong, AKA Pat, AKA Adan, AKA Shiela, AKA Bugoy and AKA Galo.
Francisco said they have also
surrendered several war materials, namely: one M4 Carbine; two cal. 45 pistol;
one M16A1 rifle (Elisco); one M653 assault rifle; four rifle grenades; live
ammunition; and three bandoliers.
They will receive immediate cash
assistance, reintegration, and livelihood assistance, as well. The firearms and
weapons they surrendered will be assessed and the remuneration depends on the
condition if it is serviceable or not, Capt. Francisco added.
Meanwhile, 75IB Commanding Officer
Lt. Col. Warren Munda called on the remaining NPA terrorists to surrender and
return to the folds of the government.
The official is optimistic to
accomplish their mission with the support from people in the community and the
local government units under their area of
responsibility. (75IB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
NPA bomb expert surrenders in SurSur
BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur,
Sept. 30 (PIA) -- A New People’s Army (NPA) bomb expert identified as AKA Junio
surrendered to the 75th Infantry “Marauder” Battalion (75IB) headquarters in
Bislig City on Sept. 24, 2019.
According to 75IB Civil-Military
Operations (CMO) officer Captain Edwin Leo Francisco, he brought along with him
several war materials composed of one cal. 45 pistol, one magazine loaded with
five rounds cal. 45, and one 357 revolver with four rounds of ammunition.
Capt. Francisco said AKA Junio was
convinced by his comrades to surrender to the 75IB. Through proper
coordination, the troops extended its assistance to secure for his safety, to
live a normal life with his family and children.
"Wala na ko gaduha-duha nga
mosurrender sa 75IB. Gusto na ko nga magpuyo nga malinawon kauban ang akong
pamilya nga wala nay gikahadlukan pa (I did not hesitate to surrender to the
75IB. I want to live in peace with my family without worrying)," AKA Junio
said.
Meanwhile, 75IB Commanding Officer
Lt. Col. Warren Munda called on the remaining NPA terrorists to go back to the
folds of the government. (75IB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
US, PH launch food for progress program
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 30 -- The
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), together with the Philippine
government, launched today a new 'Food for Progress' project focused on
strengthening sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulatory systems in the
Philippines.
On Friday, September 27, visiting
U.S. Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
Ted McKinney met with Philippine Undersecretary of Agriculture Rodolfo Vicerra
and Undersecretary of Health Rolando Enrique Domingo to discuss the four-year
project, which will be funded with the proceeds of donated U.S. agricultural
commodities sold in the Philippine market. The most recent Food for
Progress project in the Philippines used U.S. soybean meal as the donated
commodity.
“This project aims to strengthen
Philippine food security by delivering their consumers and agribusiness access
to safe, affordable, and nutritious foods and feedstuffs through an improved
regulatory framework based on risk-based principles and streamlined processes that
ultimately enhance livelihoods while increasing opportunities for United
States-Philippines trade,”McKinney said.
Meanwhile, Vicerra said, "The
Department of Agriculture welcomes this opportunity to enhance the capacity of
its regulatory agencies in ensuring that food safety, sanitary and
phytosanitary concerns are addressed alongside the flow of trade.”
Domingo also added that he is
“optimistic that the collaboration brought about by this project will
strengthen the regulatory function capacity of the Philippines Food and Drug
Administration. This will enable the agency to develop a risk-based
regulatory system that will promote effective and efficient outcomes.”
Food for Progress is a USDA
program that partners with developing countries and emerging democracies
committed to introducing and expanding free enterprise in the agricultural
sector.
USDA has selected Winrock
International through a competitive award process to implement the project with
an estimated $8.5 million operating budget. The project will pursue
activities to strengthen Philippine regulatory agencies’ SPS systems through
the adoption of risk-based and international standards to facilitate
agricultural trade. (U.S. Embassy Manila/PIA-Caraga)
#FoodForProgressProject
Pinakaunang batch ng trainees sumabak na sa
Masonry course ng TESDA
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Setyembre 30
(PIA) -- Sumasabak na sa isang buwang pagsasanay ang 25 trainees ng Mobile
Training Program sa Masonry National Certificate II ng Technical Education
Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga.
Isa itong inisyatibo ng TESDA kasama
ang non-government organization na Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty
Alleviation and Governance) upang mas mapalago pa ang construction industry sa
rehiyon.
Isa si Alejandro Golle sa mga
sumailalim sa nasabing training at nangakong pagbubutihin ang kanyang
pagsasanay para makapasok at makapagtrabaho sa construction company pagkatapos
ng isang buwang training.
“Malaki po ang aking pasasalamat
sa TESDA kasi dahil dito madagdagan ang aking eksperyensa sa masonry at
pagkatapos nito, mayroon na akong certificate sa masonry,” sabi ni Golle.
“Para sa aking mga kasamahan,
nasimulan na natin ito kaya ipagpatuloy lang natin para matapos natin ang
training at maging NC II holder,” pahayag ni Dennis Destreza.
Ayon kay TESDA-Caraga Regional
Director Ashary Banto, ang nasabing pagsasanay ay bilang suporta na rin sa
Build, Build, Build (BBB) program ng gobyerno. Nasa 250 trainees ang kanilang
target sa lungsod.
“Ang training na ito ay naka-align
sa standards kung ano yung latest na strategy or techniques at procedures sa
construction industry. Kasi ang bottom line natin dito, kung may graduate tayo
sa ilalim ng TESDA, madali na yung employment facilitation,” sabi ni Banto.
Dagdag pa ng opisyal, pagkatapos
sa Butuan City, lilibot din sila sa Surigao del Norte, at iba pang probinsya ng
rehiyon.
Para sa mga interesadong
sumailalim sa trainings ng TESDA, hinimok ni Dir. Banto ang mga ito na bumisita
sa pinakamalapit na TESDA office sa kanilang lugar upang malaman ang
requirements.
Samantala, tiniyak naman ni Genome
Jun Fortun, regional coordinator ng Villar SIPAG na ang mga trainees na
masisipag at may pagmamamhal sa trabaho ay kanilang kukuning empleyado sa
kanilang mga construction companies.
“Pagkatapos ng training, automatic
na ma-hire sa construction company ang mga trainees. Ang hiling ko lang,
galingan niyo sa training. Ang iba dito may alam na sa masonry pero
madaragdagan pa ang inyong mga kaalaman at sana’y gamitin niyo yan as tool para
sa mga bahay na inyong kinokonstrak,” sabi ni Fortun. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Mga magulang mula sa ibat-ibang barangay sa
Butuan City, tinalakay ang mental health
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Setyembre 30
(PIA) -- Bagamat abala sa trabaho, gawaing bahay at pag-aalaga ng mga anak,
naglaan ng oras ang ilang mga magulang mula sa ibat-ibang barangay sa lungsod
para sa ika-27th selebrasyon ng National Family Week ngayong buwan ng
Setyembre.
Kabilang sa mga tinalakay rito ang
usapin sa mental health and wellness, responsible parenting at family planning.
Sa tulong ng resource persons mula
sa mga kinauukulang ahensiya ng pamahalaan, nadagdagan pa ang kaalaman ng mga
magulang sa mga mahahalagang usapin sa pamilya lalo na ang positibong
pagdidisiplina sa mga anak.
Isa si Ellen Malalom, residente ng
Barangay Pagatpatan na may 10 anak sa aktibong nakibahagi rito kung saan
ibinahagi niya ang kanyang mga karanasan at hamong kinakaharap ng kanyang
pamilya.
Sinabi niya na hindi madali ang
pagiging magulang lalo na’t sampu ang kaniyang anak, at ilan dito ay minsan na
ring napabilang sa “child at risk” o yung mga minor-de-edad na naglalayas o
nasa lansangan.
“Hindi madali ang pagiging
magulang sa mga anak lalu na sa akin na 10 sila. Minsan na rin akong dumaan sa
depresyon dahil sa mga problema at hamon sa aming pamilya. Patuloy lang tayong
manalig at huwag mawalan ng pagasa. Mas lalo nating ipakita sa ating mga anak
kung gaano natin sila kamahal,” pahayag ni Malalom.
Ayon kay Luzvilla Fortun, focal
person ng family, women and community section ng City Social Welfare and
Development (CSWD) sa Butuan, mahalaga ang paglaan ng oras at komunikasyon sa
bawat miyembro ng pamilya upang maiwasan ang ano mang hindi pagkakaintindihan
at nang maayos agad ang ano mang problema.
“Patuloy an gaming ginagawang
counseling sa mga magulang sa mga barangay at handa kaming tumulong sa bawat
pamilya na nangangailangan ng patnubay. Isinusulong natin ang mga aktibidad na
mas lalu pang magpapatibay sa relasyon ng pamilya,” sabi ni Fortun.
Samantala, binigyang-diin din ni
Edilyn Pujadas, focal person for family sector ng DSWD-Caraga na kailangang
pagtuonan ng pansin ang mental health dahil ito ang kadalasang isyu sa pamilya
partikular na ang pagkakaroon ng depresyon.
“Mahalaga na mas matutukan pa ng
mga kinauukulang ahensiya ang isyu sa mental health dahil marami na rin ang
nakakaranas nito. Ito rin ang madalas na isyu sa pamilya na nababaliwala at
nagdudulot pa ng ibang problema, kaya napapanahon ang ating isinasagawang forum
ngayon upang mas maintindihan ng mga magulang at pamilya ang pagkakaroon ng
kompleto at panatag na pamilya,” sabi ni Pujadas.
Kaugnay nito, aktibo rin ang
Regional Inter-Agency Committee for Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) Caraga sa pagawa
ng mga aktibidad na mas magpapatibay pa sa relasyon ng bawat pamilya sa
rehiyon. Patuloy din ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa para sa ikauunlad ng mga
komunidad.
Ang taunang selebrasyon ay
alinsunod sa Presidential Proclamation No. 60 na nilagdaan noong September 28,
1992. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
