Datu-led armed men in SurSur surrender to
authorities, face charges
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 11 (PIA) --
Armed men led by Jasmen Acevedo alias "Datu Jasmen" have voluntarily
surrendered to the authorities.
This was after the conduct of a
series of dialogue thru peaceful negotiation with concerned government
agencies.
Datu Jasmen's group is composed of
lumad residents from Barangay Umalag, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
According to the Philippine Army,
the surrenderees are former members of the New People's Army (NPA) who now want
to live peacefully in mainstream society.
The group also surrendered with
them one M16 rifle, one carbine rifle, three homemade shotguns, and two caliber
.45.
Datu Jasmen said, they were forced
to use firearms and other weapons as they want to protect their ancestors'
lands from the abusive NPAs who showed interest to claim and use it.
To ensure the safety and security
of the surenderees, they were brought to the headquarters of the 36th Infantry
Battalion in Barangay Dayoan, Tago, Surigao del Sur from the municipality of
San Miguel, accompanied by the local officials, policemen, army, and IP leaders
who helped in the negotiation.
The warrant of arrest was also
formally served to the group, read and explained to them by Police Lieutenant
Colonel Allan Macapagal, the deputy provincial director for operation of Police
Provincial Office in Surigao del Sur.
The surrenderees were charged for
three counts of robbery with homicide based on the warrant of arrest released
on December 5, 2012 by presiding Judge Rufo Naragas. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA, DOTr launch 'tsuper iskolar' in Caraga
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 11
-- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Caraga in
partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr)-Caraga recently
launched the “Tsuper Iskolar” program here.
In his message delivered by TESDA
Spokesperson Dir. Florencio F. Sunico, Jr., TESDA Secretary Isidro S. LapeΓ±a
said since the inauguration of the program in April 2019 in Pangasinan, the
Tsuper Iskolar Program has already been launched in 12 regions, with total
attendees of 5,885, and with an approved training plan costing Php 139 million
to date.
Sec. LapeΓ±a also said all the
remaining regions are expected to follow, “and our goal is to be able to
complete all the regional launch before the end of December so that all the
training programs as planned will be implemented this year,” he added.
The TESDA chief also pointed out
that TESDA has been pleased and privileged to partner with DOTr under the
leadership of Secretary Arthur Tugade for this important and laudable program
of capacity building for the stakeholders in the transport sector who are
affected by the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
“Essentially this training program
includes retraining and retooling for new skills requirements and/or providing
alternative skills for those affected by modernization in the transport
industry,” LapeΓ±a said.
The “Tsuper Iskolar” program
capacitates the stakeholders of the PUVMP through training; advocate the
program to the different beneficiaries of TVET, especially the transportation
sector; and achieve the specific purpose of creating awareness and publicity.
(TESDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
TESDA, DOTr convergence to create enabling
environment for Filipinos – Sec. LapeΓ±a
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 11 -- Secretary
Isidro S. LapeΓ±a of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) on Friday said the convergence with the Department of Transportation
(DOTr) creates an enabling environment for the Filipinos.
In his speech delivered by TESDA
Spokesperson Dir. Florencio F. Sunico, Jr. during the “Tsuper Iskolar” program
launch held in one of the malls here, the official is hoping that with the
convergence efforts among the national government agencies with mandates on the
transport sector (primarily the DOTR), the primary stakeholders, and the local
government units, together it can create an enabling environment that would be
responsive and relevant to the skills demands of the industry in its current
and long term requirements.
Sec. LapeΓ±a also said the “Tsuper
Iskolar” program includes retraining and retooling for new skills requirements
and/or providing alternative skills for those affected by modernization in the
transport industry.
“With the program package consisting
of free skills training, free skills assessment, free entrepreneurship training
plus a training support fund of 350 daily for 35 days to cover transportation
and food allowance, our beneficiaries (which are the operators, drivers and
their family members and their dependents) are assured of their daily
subsistence allowance while on training for their specific skills,” he said.
The TESDA chief further stressed
that the idea is to provide a safety net to all stakeholders affected by the
implementation of the PUV modernization and allow a smooth transition into the
new scheme in the transport sector.
On June 19, 2017, the DOTr issued
Department Order No. 2017-011 (Re: Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and
Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance)
or the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), a flagship program
of the Duterte administration which envisions a restructured, modern,
well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector where drivers and
operators have stable, sufficient and dignified livelihoods while commuters get
to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably.
In order to soften the impact and
assist small operators who will be affected by the PUVMP, stakeholders will have
access to various trainings and social support programs which will be offered
to enable them to be competent, self-sufficient and well-equipped with the
necessary technical knowledge and skills. (TESDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Farm biz school beefs up AgNor farmers
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte,
Sept. 11 -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte in
partnership with the local government unit of Jabonga launched recently the
Farm Business School (FBS) targeting at least 28 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
(ARBs) members of Libas Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LFMPC) held at Brgy.
Libas, Jabonga town.
The FBS is comprised of 25-session
on-site capability building that aimed to capacitate the farmers with
entrepreneurial and management skills for running a profitable farm business
through learning by doing approach.
During the launching, a Memorandum
of Agreement for the FBS was inked between the DAR-Provincial Office,
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office, Agricultural Training
Institute (ATI) and Local Government Unit (LGU) of Jabonga and Libas Farmers
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LFMPC).
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program
Officer II (PARPO II) Andre B. Atega is grateful for the support from the
different stakeholders.
Atega encouraged the participants
to promote unity and cooperation. He also inspired the participants to learn
how to make their farming enterprise and farm operation profitable and be able
to respond to market demands.
ARBDSP Head Ellen J. Torralba said
that the FBS enables the participants to learn knowledge about different
farming method, farm business management and create market linkages to increase
profitability.
Torralba challenged the
participants to complete the 25 sessions and apply what they have learned to
their farms.
DAR FBS Coordinator Junita D.
Balibay said that with the active participation of partner-implementers, the
25-session on-site capability building is expected to be completed within
December this year.
LFMPC BOD Chair Elson F. Morada,
on behalf of the group, expressed gratitude to the facilitators while beaming
in optimism that the knowledge gained would greatly help positive impact in the
lives of the farmers. (DAR Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del
Norte)
Parents, teachers back AFP's presence in schools
By Lt. Krisjuper
Andreo Punsalan
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur,
Sept. 11 -- Contrary to the malicious statements of the leftist groups, the
schools in the provinces of Agusan and Surigao del Sur have welcomed the 3rd
Special Forces (Arrowhead) Battalion (3SFBn) in their school grounds for the
conduct of an information drive to the students. Dubbed as “Ugnayan sa
Paaralan,” the 3SFBn conducted a symposium to the following schools: Marihatag
High School, Antipolo National High School, San Isidro National High School and
Cresencio S. Lago High School, all in the municipality of Marihatag held last
Sept. 5, 2019.
The discussions focused mainly on
nationalism, positive activism, good manners, respect to elders and other
values-based topics. The series of 'ugnayan sa paaralan' symposium started
since the outbreak of youth activists’ disappearance allegedly caused by the
political groups.
Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, Commanding
Officer of the 3SFBN, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the education
officials, parents and students for the trust and confidence.
“I am thankful because of the way
they look up to us but I think teachers and parents are also our heroes because
of their unconditional love. They will do whatever it takes to protect their
children. Likewise, we will exhaust all peaceful means to protect them from
being recruited by these Communist NPA Terrorists,” Col. Baybayan said.
The 3SFBn’s massive information
drive is still ongoing and school partnership and coordination become more
frequent as part of the preparatory activities of the upcoming Youth Leadership
Summit before the year ends. (3rd SFBn-CMO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
