NGO conducts
immersion activities in Dinagat Islands
SAN
JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Jan. 20 (PIA) -- The Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC)
is in Dinagat Islands for the immersion of their interns and to do
groundworking activities for the Access to Justice program of the Provincial
Legal Office (PLO).
The
interns will live with host families in the different municipalities of Dinagat
Islands to raise their awareness on the issues surrounding the people, in line
with the Atenean value of being "persons for others."
AHRC
personnel will also regularly check on their interns while conducting groundworking
activities at the grassroots level together with the Provincial Government and
other local government unit partners for the flagship program of the PLO funded
by the Canadian Embassy which is the Access to Justice program.
The
Access to Justice program seeks to ensure that Dinagatnons are empowered as
citizens with knowledge about their rights and legal processes.
The
program includes seminars on the law, as well as legal aid missions with
volunteer lawyers.
Governor
Arlene Kaka Bag-ao says the practice of alternative law involves empowering
marginalized sectors such as farmers, fisherfolk, workers, women, indigenous
peoples, etc. through knowledge of the law.
“This
would enable them to have the capacity to protect their own rights. Alternative
law also includes identifying gaps and flaws in existing policies, as well as
proposals to change or amend them in order to truly work for the people,
especially the marginalized,” Bag-ao says.
Governor
Bag-ao was once an AHRC intern when she was studying law in the Ateneo. During
her immersion in the 90s, she lived with farmers in Sariaya, Quezon. (Dinagat
Islands-Provincial Information Office/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
DSWD Caraga surpasses
target for Pantawid Pamilya SWDI assessment
To
quote a saying from Albert Einstein, a great physicist, he once said, “Only a
life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
This
saying has been proven true by the 632-strong Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program (4Ps) staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) Field Office Caraga. Over the years, they have, time and again, offered
their steadfast commitment and untiring service to almost 180,000 Pantawid
Pamilya beneficiaries in the region.
Abiding
the service brand SERVE1st, condensed by the Regional Program Management Office
(RPMO), the Pantawid staff have become the Program’s front liners in the field,
especially in the administration of the Social Welfare and Development
assessment using the SWD Indicator (SWDI) tool. The enhanced SWDI tool is used
to determine and monitor the progress of the beneficiaries’ well-being and
facilitate grassroots case management. The results will also serve as the
baseline data of the beneficiaries in the program’s implementation.
“I can
honestly say that my eyes have seen both beautiful and heart-breaking
conditions of our beneficiaries during the administration of the SWDI. There
are times that I get stressed and drained from work, but the thought of my
family is the source of strength, happiness, and inspiration. They keep me
going,” Maricel Asidella, Municipal Link (ML) assigned in Dapa, Surigao del
Norte, shared.
In 2019,
the field offices were given the task to conduct a SWDI re-assessment for the
4.4 million Pantawid beneficiaries in the country. According to Jean Paul
Parajes, DSWD FO Caraga Promotive Services Division Chief, it is appropriate
for the Program to conduct the administration of SWDI to have an “updated data
of target households, analyzed and visualized for the consumption of case
managers, policy makers, and other stakeholders.”
As
public servants, it was both a challenge and a blessing for the staff to serve,
giving their best efforts in delivering quality service, even in far-flung and
isolated areas like Barangay Roma in Basilisa, Dinagat Islands.
According
to Heide Madelene Ebueza, Municipal Link assigned in Basilisa, PDI, it is a
privilege to render her time in serving the poor and vulnerable sectors in the
community and that it is very fulfilling to listen to praises spoken about how
the government has addressed their struggles.
As of
December 31, 2019, Field Office Caraga has been able to administer the SWDI
assessment to 89.93% of the total beneficiaries of the program in the region.
This is higher than the required target of 70% by the Central Office. The RPMO
is targeting to hit the 100% by the end of the first quarter this year. This
goes to show that when work is paired with enthusiasm and genuine service, it
produces good results.
“I know
that this is an additional responsibility added to our shoulders, but I am
hoping that we do our best to deliver this service efficiently,” Parajes added.
Indeed,
Albert Einstein was right in saying that life is only worthwhile when it is
lived for others. (Social Marketing Section/DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
DTI urges
stakeholders to invest in mariculture
BUTUAN
CITY, Jan. 20 -- With the rise of park zones allotted for mariculture in
Caraga, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is encouraging
stakeholders to engage in aquamarine industry by building fish cages within its
identified four mariculture parks.
The
said park zones are in Surigao City and in the municipalities of Nasipit, Dapa
and Barobo which currently hold more than 400 existing fish cages.
DTI
Caraga Regional Director Brielgo O. Pagaran aspires to invite investors in the
aquamarine industry to maximize the region’s potential productivity in the
fisheries sector.
“We
need to make use of our existing park zones so that people may be provided with
jobs and our target gross regional domestic product is reached within a few
years,” he added.
Trade
and Industry Development Specialist Dennis Solis said that DTI-Caraga is now
providing technical assistance to investors who are interested in engaging with
building Norwegian fish cages which are mobile circular cages made of
high-density polyethylene.
Solis
said that initial investment for fish farming using the Norwegian fish cage
would reach P3 million inclusive of the fish cage, fingerlings, and aqua feeds,
as well as technical training on its operation.
He
added that more than 50 units of Norwegian fish cages are already installed in
the region where bangus (milk fish) fingerlings as prime commodity are bred.
An
estimated four tons of bangus are harvested at least twice a year in each fish
cage unit which is equivalent to almost P500,000 income per harvest.
As it
is a lucrative business, aquaculture is considered a priority industry cluster
in Caraga. Furthermore, the said project promotes environmental, economic and
social sustainability thereby creating a sustainable aquaculture in the
region. (DTI Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
NGO mipahigayon og
forum para sa mga kabataan sa Dinagat
By
Susil D. Ragas
SAN
JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Enero 20 (PIA) – Mipahigayon ang Ateneo Human Rights
Center (AHRC) og Forum on Safe Spaces for Youth sa Grades 10, 11 ug 12 nga mga
estudyante sa Don Ruben Edera Ecleo, Sr. Memorial National High School
(DREESMNHS) niadtong Enero 17, 2019 didto sa maong tulunghaan, ning probinsya.
Atol sa
maong forum gihisgutan nila Atty. Maria Sei Salvador ug Atty Marianne Carmel
Agunoy ang Safe Spaces for the Youth lakip na ang lima ka klase sa sexual
harassment, sama sa gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment;
gender-based online sexual harassment; qualified gender-based streets, public,
spaces, and online sexual harassment; gender-based sexual harassment in the
workplace; ug gender-based sexual harassment in educational institutions.
Diin
saktong gipasabot niini ang nagkadaiyang sexual harassment sa han-ay na pamaagi
aron mas mahatagan nila og importansya ang paghatag og bili sa pagrespeto sa
isig katawo ug likayan ang gamay nga dautan nga matang sa pangbastos na pwede
ikadaut sa uban o kaugalingon.
Matud
nila nga mas dako og silot o multa ang mga frontliner sama sa mga pulis,
sundalo, ug uban pa kung mohimo sila og sexual harassment sama sa gitawag nga
cat calling o wolf whistling.
Dugang
pa nila nga ang multa muabot ug P1,000 ngadto P100,000 ug silot pagka priso
ngadto 6-10 ka adlaw o 30 ka adlaw hangtod 6 ka bulan sa sexual harassment.
(Dinagat Islands-Provincial Information Office/PIA-Dinagat Islands)
