By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) -
Despite rainy season, the Pacific Concrete and VT Lao, the two contractors for
the repair of the Surigao City's runway promised to finish the initial 400
meters portion by November of this year, while the remaining 700 meters is due
on February next year.
During the second visit and
inspection of Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO) at the Surigao City Airport, with the presence of Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Surigao City manager Junelito Abrazado and
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) officer-in-charge Abner Caga, the said
contractors assured that schedule of the repair is on track.
Once the 400-meter repair will be
accomplished, other airline companies like the Philippine Airlines will now
have its regular flight schedule for Manila to Surigao and vice versa. At
present, the airport only utilizes the 1,000 meters runway, hence, only the
Cebu Pacific could fly and land with limited flight to and from Cebu City.
The establishment of the concrete
and batching plant for the rehabilitation project is expected by the 2nd week
of September, which will speed up the runway reblocking and asphalting for the
initial 400 meters expected to be completed by November, while 10.26 percent
has already been completed for the asphalt overlay for the slope correction of
other parts of the runway.
It can be recalled that the
provincial government of Surigao del Norte and Surigao City Chamber of Commerce
requested the secretary to intervene and help fast track the rehabilitation of
the airport's runway.
The widening of Surigao City
Airport begun in October 2015 but did not proceed as planned as Herbana
Builders declared bankruptcy and left the project hanging.
(JPG/PCOO/PIA-Caraga)
DepEd, AFP converge to save youth from terrorism
By 1Lt. Krisjuper Punsalan
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Sept.
10 -- The Department of Education (DepEd) Bayugan City Schools Division, Agusan
del Sur College (ADSCO), Father Saturnino Urios College Inc. (FSUCI), Bayugan
National Comprehensive High School (BNCHS), in cooperation with the 3rd Special
Forces (Arrowhead) Battalion (3SFBn), Philippine Army team up to intensify
awareness against the Communist NPA Terrorists’ (CNTs') deceptive youth
recruitment scheme in Bayugan City.
With the current issue on the
CNTs' recruitment of minors which caused national concern, the schools in
Bayugan City expressed their support to help in the information campaign
through reproducing tarpaulins and posting it on their respective school grounds
so that youth and parents will become more aware and vigilant on the deceptive
recruitment scheme of the CNTs.
The poster clearly conveys a
strong note: “CPP/NPA/NDF, Hands off our Children! Stop the deceptive
recruitment!” which is the battle cry of the government and the people, and
most especially of the parents who would not want their children to fall prey
in the long list of atrocities committed by these Communist NPA terrorists.
DepEd Bayugan City Schools
Division, which covers 56 elementary schools and 10 secondary schools is headed
by Dr, Imelda Sabornido, ADSCO is represented by Office of the Students Affairs
Dean Melody Cabilogan, and Father Saturnino Urios College Incorporated is led
by its Principal, Chereil Martel.
Lieutenant Colonel Joey Baybayan,
commanding officer of 3SFBn expressed his gratitude towards the education
sector in Bayugan. “We are grateful to the teachers and schools who are with us
towards our campaign to end local communist armed conflict in our area of
operations. We hope that other education sectors in the whole Agusan and
Surigao del Sur will follow this example to protect our children from being
deceived by the Communist NPA Terrorists,” he said. (3SFBn, PA/PIA-Agusan del
Sur)
MGB 13 conducts awareness campaign in Cabadbaran
City
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 -- The
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 13 conducted an awareness campaign in the
barangays of Puting Bato, Del Pilar and Comagascas, Cabadbaran, City on August
14 to 16, 2019.
The Awareness on Mineral Resources
and Geosciences and IEC Campaign on Gender and Development aimed to heighten
the Sangguniang Barangays’ awareness of the regulatory functions of the MGB 13
and the socioeconomic contributions of the local minerals industry to the
region.
The conduct of Awareness and
Advocacy on Mineral Resources and Geosciences Development (MRGD) is one of the
major programs of the MGB 13. It is formulated to intensify Information,
Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign in Caraga Region. It is also aimed
at strengthening ties and partnerships with various stakeholders particularly
the barangay local government units. The Officials and Staff of the
aforementioned barangays participated in the activity.
On the same note, the identified
geohazards in the aforesaid barangays were presented in order to strengthen the
disaster risk reduction and management capabilities of the barangay local
government units. Furthermore, the MGB 13 Gender and Development Focal Point
System presented its gender equality and women’s empowerment goals to recognize
the important roles of women in various aspects of development.
The participants’ awareness of the
following topics were heightened with presentations and discussions – Mining
Policies and Tenement Updates; Environmental Protection and Enhancement
Program; Employment and Taxes derived from Mining; Social Development and
Management Program; Geohazards and Geology and Gender and Development.
At the end of the presentations,
an open forum ensued wherein the participants raised issues and concerns in
relation to the topics discussed. While there are no existing mining
operations in the aforementioned barangays, a few participants asked about
mining issues which just goes to show that they are not totally unaware of the
minerals industry.
Barangay Captains Joel Embalsado
of Puting Bato, Acrecia Camarin of Del Pilar and Jumar Mendaros of Comagascas
expressed their appreciation of the purposeful activity as well as their
gratitude for the good opportunity to have established a linkage with the MGB
13. (MGB 13/PIA Caraga)
DSWD Caraga completes 1st sem payout for social
pension beneficiaries
By Daryl D. Anunciado
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 - The
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga has
completed the first semestral payout for beneficiaries of the Social Pension
for Indigent Senior Citizens Program.
The payout in 73 local government
units in the region for first semester was completed, despite the delay of the
release of stipend due to the cleansing of the database to get rid of
unqualified beneficiaries.
The Social Pension Program
Management Office (SPPMO) Caraga has served 114,143 qualified beneficiaries
amounting to P342,429,000.
Of the 121,980 beneficiaries with
payroll, only 7,837 were not able to claim their pensions since they are out of
town, hospitalized and are living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged
areas.
To accomplish the 140,000 target
beneficiaries this year, DSWD Caraga is set to release the stipend on the
second semester to the remaining 18,020 beneficiaries amounting to P54,060,000,
along with the 7,837 unpaid beneficiaries.
For the second semester, DSWD Caraga
has reminded representatives of beneficiaries, who could not make it to payout
venues due to severe illnesses, to claim their P3,000 semestral pension by
bringing requirements such as medical certificate (with doctor’s license
number), Pagtugot Form signed by the Local Social Welfare Development Officer,
original and photocopy of any valid government-issued IDs of both the
beneficiary and the representative.
Family members of beneficiaries,
who died since July 1 this year, can also claim the stipend of their deceased
kin. Requirements in claiming the said pension are death certificate, warranty
of release form, original and photocopy of ID of the claimant.
Senior citizens are advised not to
go to DSWD Field Office to claim their pension. DSWD Caraga will only release
stipend in designated areas on specific dates.
DSWD Caraga is working overtime to
ensure that beneficiaries receive their pension the soonest.
The Social Pension program
provides a monthly stipend amounting to P500 to augment the daily subsistence
and other medical needs of indigent senior citizens. This is in line with the
fulfillment of the government’s obligation to the most vulnerable sector through
social protection and for the full implementation of Republic Act 9994 or the
Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office
Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
132 AgNor youth leaders join YLS
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte,
Sept. 10 -- The 29th Infantry “Matatag” Battalion in partnership with the
Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government unit of Remedios
Trinidad Romualdez (RTR) molded another batch of youth leaders through the
Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) held at the municipality of RTR, Agusan del
Norte.
Richard P. Daquipil, Municipal
Mayor of RTR graced the closing ceremony of the three-day YLS event which was
attended by 132 youth leaders coming from the three Conflict-Affected Areas
(ConAAs) of San Antonio, Tagbungabong and Balang-balang, all from the
municipality of RTR.
The YLS aims to level up the
leadership skills of the youth for them to effectively work towards peaceful
nation-building and fostering a drug-free community, and to develop them to
become role models for other youths.
Mary Jane, one of the YLS
participants, thanked the organizers for spearheading the said event in their
area. “Dako akong pasalamat sa 29IB, PNP ug panggamhanan sa RTR tungod nianing
YLS nga ginbuhaton nga siyang mitabang para maabrihan ang among alimpatakan sa
kamatuoran nga walay maayong tumong ang NPA sa amo ug sa among barangay ug dili
namo pagatugutan pag usab nga malingla nila kami, kahibalo nami sa kamatuoran.
(I extend my deepest gratitude to the soldiers of 29IB, PNP and LGU of RTR.
Because of this activity, we realized that the NPA will not do any good to us
and our barangay. We will no longer allow them to deceive us, for we already
know the truth)," she said.
Meanwhile, Bernarditha B.
Daquipil, Sangguniang Member of RTR urged the youth to take stand against the
NPA. “Dili nato pasagdan nga tangtangon sa mga NPA ang atong prinsipyo dapat
magkahiusa ta nga mubarog para batukan ang sakto ug kamaturan. Kamo ang
makaawhag sa inyong isig ka kabatan-on nga unta magkahiusa ta para ang kalinaw
makab-ot sa atong munisipyo sa RTR. (Let us not allow the NPA to take away our
principles, but rather let us all take a stand in upholding that which is good
and true. You are the ones who can help encourage other youths to cooperate to
attain peace in the municipality of RTR)," she said,
“This YLS activity will help you
widen your perception of your role in the community and help you learn how to
become strong and productive citizens of your barangay," Mayor Daquipil said
to the participants.
Lt. Col. Isagani O. Criste,
Commanding Officer of 29IB, also emphasized the importance of the young people
in his message, saying “youth, always bear in mind that the greatest wealth and
strength of any nation is you. The quality of a nation's youth determines the
kind of future the nation will have. And the best and foremost way to
strengthen you is to educate you. Not just with any kind of education, but the
right kind of education such as this YLS which will equip you in making the
right choices and decisions and for you to avoid being deceived by the
NPA." (29IB Philippine Army/PIA Agusan del Norte)
AgNor guv supports Army's goal to wipe out NPA
By 1Lt. Roel T.
Maglalang
BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte,
Sept. 10 -- Governor Dale B. Corvera of this province assured his full support
to the troops of 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion in ending New Peoples Army
(NPA) terrorists during his recent visit at the 23IB headquarters, Jamboree
Site, P-6, Brgy. Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
Governor Corvera lauded the 23IB
in ending local communist armed conflict in its area of operation. He said the
humanitarian activities and youth sector engagements prevented the NPA
recruitment, hence, he was optimistic and elated as he expressed full support
to the advocacy of the unit.
“You give your lives to your
country, and I admire you for that, civilians like us must be grateful to the
services you gave to the Filipino people. The AFP and PNP now have been very
professional and disciplined. You offered your lives but it should not be you
who will sacrifice because of the inadequate government services,” Corvera
said.
Corvera also enjoins local
officials to complement and also support the troops because insurgency problem
is not only a sole responsibility of the AFP and PNP but it is the fight of
everybody.
“As your governor of Agusan del
Norte, I am committing my full support not only to the fight against insurgency
but also for your operations. I will do my best to squeeze a part of my
resources so that every LGUs will immerse in the Barangays and deliver prompt
and appropriate services to the people,” Corvera added.
Meanwhile, 23IB Commanding Officer
Lt. Col. Francisco Molina welcomed the assurance of support to the unit and
conveyed his sincere gratitude to the governor.
“Due to the support from the
provincial government of Agusan del Norte, the 23IB "Masigasig"
Troopers will exert its best efforts to accomplish its mission in defeating the
threat group and end the local communist armed conflict in its area of operation
particularly in Agusan del Norte,” Molina added. (CMO Officer, 23IB PA/PIA
Agusan del Norte)
