Over 2,000 residents benefit from PNP’s Project Heart,
33% are IPs
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 18 (PIA) -- More
than 2,000 residents in Barangay San Antonio, RTR of Agusan del Norte benefit
from the outreach program conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP)
Caraga. Thirty-three percent of them are indigenous peoples (IPs).
Beneficiaries who availed the free
medical check-up, tooth extraction, eye check-up, and circumcision were given
free medicines. They also received school supplies, slippers, toys, food packs
and enjoyed the free haircutting services.
Mayor Richard Daquipil expressed his
gratitude to the PNP for choosing their barangay to be the recipient of the
said outreach program. Barangay San Antonio is among the New People’s Army
(NPA)-affected barangays of Caraga region.
It can be recalled that several
incidents already took place in the area, which include the incident last year,
where three soldiers from the government troop died after they were ambushed by
the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – NPA in the said
barangay.
According to former PNP Caraga Regional
Director Police Brigadier General Gilberto DC Cruz, the Project Heart is a
flagship program of Police Regional Office 13 that aims to help and assist
underprivileged Caraganon particularly those in the remote areas of the region.
It also intends to strengthen the bond between the PNP and the populace
affected by insurgency.
Cruz added that this also forms part of
the PNP’s initiatives in implementing Executive Order No. 70 or the
whole-of-nation approach to end local communists armed conflict and attain
lasting peace and development in the country.
Meanwhile, the official also bared that
from January to August of this year, there has been a total of 12,000
Caraganons who benefitted from the Project Heart of the PNP. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Sumayajaw nan Canlanipa, Isla Siargao Performing Arts
Ensemble winner in 2019 Bonok-Bonok Festival
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept.
18 (PIA) -- The Sumayajaw Nan Canlanipa Central Elementary School and Isla
SIARGAO Performing Arts Ensemble of Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte were
declared winners in the Bonok-Bonok based (BB) category and Bonok-Bonok
Festival of Festivals (BFF), respectively during the recently concluded 35th
Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival held at the Provincial Sports Complex,
this city.
In this year’s competition, the
Sumayajaw Nan Canlanipa contingent brought with them P250,000 cash prize plus
trophy and plaque of appreciation while Isla SIARGAO Performing Arts Ensemble
contingent received P500,000 cash prize plus trophy and plaque of appreciation
as their winning prize. The Barangay Anomar Tig-Sajaw Folkloric Ensemble (BB)
was declared 1st runner-up with P200,000 cash prize plus trophy and Sindac-Anib
Performing Arts Ensemble (BFF) with P350,000 cash prize plus trophy and the 2nd
runner-up went to Surigao City National High School Special Program for the
Arts (BB) with P150,000 cash prize plus trophy and Mat-I National High School
of Barangay Mat-i, Surigao City (BFF) with P200,000 cash prize plus trophy.
The special awards for Rayna ng
Bonok-Bonok went to Isla SIAGAO Performing Arts Ensemble, Best in Street
Dancing went to Barangay Anomar of Surigao City (BB) and Isla Siargao
Performing Arts Ensemble (BFF); Best in Costume went to Barangay Anomar of
Surigao City (BB) and Isla SIARGAO Performing Arts Ensemble (BFF) and Best in
Choreography went to Sumayajaw Nan Canlanipa of Barangay Canlanipa, Surigao
City (BB) and Isla SIARGAO Performing Arts Ensemble (BFF). (Susil D.
Ragas/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
POPCOM, LGU-Surigao conduct reproductive health
awareness to students
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept.
18 -- Hundreds of teens assembled in the recent Adolescent Health and
Development (AHD) Caravan held at Surigao City National High School, as a
strategic initiative of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM)
and the City Population Office to address teenage pregnancy and other
reproductive health concerns of adolescents.
Dr. Arthur E. Jamera, the school
principal said that the youth need to be well-informed and empowered to become
sexually responsible, which is very essential to their growth and development.
Aside from the students who actively
participated in the various communication activities, parents also supported
their adolescent children through their presence during the parent-teen
talk.
According to various studies, parents
should be the primary source of accurate and sound information on adolescent
health and development, however, the result of the Young Adult Fertility and
Sexuality Study revealed that 62.8 percent of Caraga youth mostly preferred the
source of information about sex and reproduction from friends of the same
sex.
Experts stressed that educating the
parents to communicate with their adolescents in a non-confrontational manner
will break the communication gap that could hinder the harmonious relationship
between the parents and their adolescent children.
Meanwhile, the local media partners
were also present during the media briefing prior to the opening of the AHD
Caravan, to ensure the wider promotion of the said activity in creating
awareness on the importance of responsible sexual behavior among adolescents.
The AHD Caravan is a collaborative
undertaking among the Surigao City Youth Center, the City Population Office of
Surigao and the POPCOM-Caraga.
It can be recalled that hundreds of
youth also reached out by POPCOM and Local Population Offices in the provinces
of Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands during the conduct of the previous
AHD Caravan. (POPCOM-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Army hosts TESDA training for FRs, IPs
By 1Lt Percival Carido
TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur, Sept.
18 -– The 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion, Philippine Army hosted
the Special Skills Training Program (SSTP) offered by the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in partnership with Agusan del Sur School
of Arts and Trade (ASSAT), which was formally opened during the Training
Induction Program conducted on Monday, September 16 at the 26th IB Headquarters
Talacogon, this province.
The SSTP is intended for indigenous
peoples (IPs) and former rebels (FRs) with the aim of providing opportunities
for learning and earning.
The courses offered include technical
skills courses namely Assembly of Solar Nightlight and Post Lamp and Service
Consumer Electronic Products and System.
These courses were administered with
the intentions of elevating skills and contributing to the livelihood of FRs,
and IPs. By the end of the program, students will receive allowance and
toolkits. The program’s duration will run for three weeks.
“Nagpasalamat ko ug dako nga gihatagan
me sa atong gobyerno ug ing ani nga hibalo, nga puhon magamit namu sa amung
kinabuhi padulong sa tinuod nga kabag’uhan nga wala gihatag sa amua sa mga
kumonista (I’m thankful that the government has provided us with this knowledge
and skills that we could use in our future endeavors. This is the real change
we opted to see and experience, which the communist group has never provided to
us),” said Jeffrey Durango, one of the former rebels.
Catalina Tacubao, vocational school
administrator II of ASSAT, was also grateful for the aid and support given by
the 26th IB and hinted that stamina, endurance and dedication to learn are the
key to succeed the course. “We are committed to assist the needs of our
students especially former rebels as they also strive to become productive
citizens,” she said.
Likewise, Lt. Col. Romeo Jimenea, the
commanding officer of 26th IB expressed his full support to the program. “If
the chance of creating a new and better path for others comes along, whoever
has the greater leverage must act on it. Today, we extend the leverage for the
former rebels, in the hope of a new start. We extend it for the empowerment of
our indigenous people and to reinforce skills development for them,” he said.
This is also to strengthen the current
Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) benefits for former
rebels, said Jimenea.
"This concerted effort by the
concerned agencies proves the sincerity of our government to put an end for the
five decades of armed conflict. This will also belie the allegations of
communist leaders that the said program is merely a propaganda,” Jimenea said.
(CMO officer, 26IB/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Back to basics: A climate resiliency approach
By Aurelius P. Arais
Amidst the threat of climate change,
there is no other way to withstand but to go back to basics.
This is how the livestock industry
advocates perceived to sustain the sector.
Reverend Father Rolie Ritchie Gomez,
Director of Missionaries of Sacred Heart (MSC)- Center for the Poor said that
going back to traditional knowledge is the best way to be resilient in the
current times.
“In times of calamity, who will
survive, it is the native,” he stressed.
Gomez coined the current situation as
climate emergency that needs an immediate response of every Filipino to take
the stand to save the planet earth, and at the same time be resilient.
“As you can see, when a disease will
sweep an area, commercial animals will be easily wiped out, but our native
survives against all odds,” Gomez said.
The advocacy of the Roman Catholic
priest is in line with the advocacy campaign of the Department of Agriculture
through the Livestock Section and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)
dubbed as Back to Basics promoting native domesticated animals such as chicken,
pig, goat, and ducks called Itik Pinas.
Dr. Rene Santiago, Center Director of
the National Swine and Poultry Research and Development Center of the Bureau of
Animal Industry (BAI) in Quezon province said that raising native farm animals
has a great advantage over hybrid.
“Native animals has its natural ability
to be climate-resilient. If its raining native chicken knows how to seek
shelter but the hybrid line won’t, thus, they have a high risk of diseases.
Native animals don’t demand expensive feeds, but command a higher price than
the commercial ones,” he explained.
In the recent leg of the advocacy
campaign in Surigao City, around 800 livestock industry players had
participated and expressed eagerness to support the program.
“Raising native chicken and hogs is a
great help for an additional family’s income, so I appreciate the program of DA
promoting native animals,” said Jeanette Raro of Placer, Surigao del Norte and
a returning Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from New Zealand.
Edelmira Luminarias, DA Caraga
livestock focal person, said native animals has been promoted by the government
to help the farmers especially backyard raisers for an additional income.
“Those who are interested to raise
native animals are encouraged to send to us through their Municipal Agriculture
or Veterinary Office a letter of request to be included in the program, whether
they need the animal itself or technical trainings,” she advised.
DA Caraga through its Research Station
in Tagbina and Talacogon were raising native chicken and pigs for dispersal to
farmers and established multiplier farms in coordination with local government
units.
Promotion of native animals has been
embodied under the Philippine Native Animal Development (PNAD) Program through
formulating, promoting and implementing policies and programs for the development,
conservation, production and marketing of native animals. (DA
Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Mga residente sa Agusan del Norte tumanggap ng tulong
mula gobyerno
By Mariesh F. CeledeΓ±a
RTR, Agusan del Norte, Setyembre 18
(PIA) -- Laking pasasalamat ng 800 residente mula sa mga barangay ng
Tagbongabong, San Antonio at Balang-balang sa bayan ng Remedios T. Romualdez o
RTR sa Agusan del Norte sa natanggap na tulong mula sa gobyerno sa pamamagitan
ng provincial peace and order council o PPOC Immersion na ginanap sa Barangay
Tagbongabong.
Malaki ang pasasalamat ni Mayor Richard
Daquipil na mismo sa bayan ng RER ginanap ang nasabing PPOC Immerson, ito ang
unang pagkakataon na magkaroon ng ganitong aktibidades at ginawa pa sa kanilang
barangay.
Ayon kay Mayor Daquipil, isa itong
paraan upang ang mga residente dito ay maramdaman ang serbisyo ng gobyerno at
malaman na handa ang gobyernong tugonan ang kanilang mga pangangailan at ito
rin ay makakatulong upang huwag suportahan ang mga teroristang NPAs na
umaaligid sa lugar.
Hinikayat din ni Mayor Daquipil ang mga
residente dito na makipagtulongan sa gobyerno upang tuloyang masugpo ang
insurhensiya sa lugar.
Sa ginanap sa PPOC Immersion, iba’t
ibang ahensya ng gobyerno ang nagbigay ng mga serbisyo, kagaya ng medikal,
dental, social, legal consultations at marami pang iba.
Nagpasalamat ni Krizia Mae Mangadlao,
anim na buwang buntis ng Barangay Balang-balang sa natanggap na buntis kit.
Ayon pa sa kanya, ang buntis kit ay malaking tulong sa kanyang panganganak.
Kabilang din si Rosalinda Mundia, isang
senior citizen ang nakinabang sa libreng gamot at bunot ng ngipin, malaki rin
ang kaniyang pasalamat dahil isa siya sa mga nabigyan na nasabing libreng
serbisyo.
Ang barangay ng Tagbongabong, Mahaba,
San Antonio at Balang-balang sa bayan ng RTR ay kabilang sa mga naiulat na
rebel-infested barangays sa RTR. (Mariesh F. CeledeΓ±a/NCLM/PIA Agusan del
Norte)
Mga opisyal ng barangay, may malaking papel sa
pagresolba ng insurhensiya
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Setyembre 18 (PIA) -- Sa
ginanap na Multi-stakeholders Summit kaugnay sa Executive Order (EO) No. 70 o
whole-of-nation approach upang maresolba ang insurhensiya sa probinsya ng
Agusan del Norte, binigyang diin ni 1st district representative Maria Angelica
Rosedell Amante-Matba ang malaking papel ng mga barangay officials upang
tuluyang makamit ang katahimikan at pagkakaroon ng pag-unlad ng isang lugar.
Ayon kay Matba, ang mga barangay
officials ang mamumuno at gagawa ng hakbang at mga paraan upang ang
kaniyang mga nasasakupan ay susuporta sa gobyerno at hindi sa mga teroristang
New People's Army (NPA).
Malaki naman ang paniniwala ni Ireneo
Lauro, punong barangay ng Jaguimitan, sa bayan ng Nasipit, Agusan del Norte na
makakatulong ang pagpapalaganap ng EO 70 upang maresolba ang insurhensiya sa
ating bansa.
Inaanyayahan din ni Datu Ronald
Manhumosay, indigenous peoples mandatory representative o IPMR sa bayan ng Las
Nieves ang mga kapwa nya IPs na pagtulongang mahinto ang karahasan at
suportahan ang EO 70 upang tuluyang makamit ang kapayapaan at umunlad ang
kanilang lugar.
Hinikayat din ni Agusan del Norte
governor Dale Corvera ang mga Agusanons na magkaisa. Anya, ito na ang tamang
panahon na ang lahat ay magtulongan upang tuluyan ng maputol ang panlilinlang
ng mga Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) - NPA sa mahigit limangpung
taon na.
Ayon kay Corvera, magkakaroon lang ng
katahimikan ang isang lugar kung ito ay maunlad.
Umaasa din si DILG Agusan del Norte
provincial director Ellen Vee Chua na makikipagtulungan ang mga barangay
officials dahil malaki ang kanilang papel upang malaman ang mga kailangang
interventions ng gobyerno para sa kanilang nasasakupan. (NCLM/PIA Agusan del
Norte)
Search for 'Parangal sa Matatag na Pamilyang OFW' in
Caraga region is on
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 18 -- As the
competition continues on its 14th year, the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration Regional Welfare Office – Caraga (OWWA RWO Caraga) announces the
call for nominations for the 2019 Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA)
who will represent the Caraga region in the national competition.
The annual search aims to give due
recognition to the outstanding achievements of the Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFWs) and their families in the attainment of professional and educational
advancement; financial success and stability; active community involvement; and
more importantly to promote the success stories of our OFW families’ resilience
amidst the challenges of overseas employment.
Registered non-government organizations
(NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), religious organizations or associations,
community-based socio-civic organizations/associations and OFW family circles (OFCs)
may nominate a family in Caraga region who have met the requirements.
The OFW is the head of the nuclear
family, could be the father or mother, including widow/widower; he/she may be
presently employed overseas or former OFW; he/she is/was an OWWA member; he/she
has at least four years of work experience as an OFW; that he/she has returned
to the country for good no longer than 10 years at the time of nomination; and
no derogatory record.
Nominations from overseas may be
accepted provided the family of the nominee is in the Philippines. The OFW
family is known as a solid and stable family in the community; the OFW Family
must be financially stable; and the OFW Family is actively involved in
community projects.
MOFYA winners will be chosen based on
these criteria: wholesomeness of the OFW family (50 percent), involvement of
the OFW and family in civic/community affairs (20 percent), success of OFWs
and/or family member/s’ education or profession (20 percent), and success in
managing family finances (10 percent).
Two outstanding OFW families per region
(one each for the Land-based and Sea-based Category) will be selected as
Regional Winners, and only two winners per category will be determined as grand
winners for the national level.
Deadline for submission of nominations
is on September 27, 2019.
Those interested to submit nomination
may contact OWWA RWO Caraga at telephone nos. (085) 815-1894 and (085) 225-5989
or 09399259895 (smart) and 09173150590 (Globe). (OWWA-13/PIA-Caraga)
