BIR-Caraga urges
prompt tax payments
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, June 1 (PIA) -- “The government needs your taxes to keep
our government running and to continue to operate and finance especially during
this challenging time. If you have the means and available fund, you may remit
it now through our online facility or come directly to our office,” appealed
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) - Revenue District Office No. 17 director Jose
Eric Furia to the taxpayers amid the crisis brought by the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Furia admitted a drop in tax collection by P300 million in the month of
April in Caraga Region as an impact of the implemented community quarantine.
“The pandemic has really caused an unprecedented economic setback due to
temporary closure of businesses, and thus, has triggered a downturn in the
collection,” said Furia.
To address, therefore, the effect of COVID-19 in the country’s tax
collection, Furia is reminding the taxpayers in the region to comply with the
compulsory contribution to state revenue.
“That is why, despite the extension of the deadline we are still
requesting our taxpayers to pay their taxes if they have resources for payment.
They may pay their taxes through online payment,” said Furia.
BIR-Caraga encouraged taxpayers to remit and settle their dues on time,
as online facility is readily available even with the pandemic.
“The government needs our taxes especially during this time of crisis,
as these will be used to support the response for the pandemic. So, we really
need to do our obligation to pay,” said Shane Benolirao, business owner of a
home-based printing shop. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
3 new COVID-19 cases
tallied in Caraga region
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, June 1 (PIA) -- Three new cases of the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) in Caraga region were confirmed by the Department of Health
(DOH) Caraga.
The patients are 26 years old, male, and a resident of Butuan City; 41
years old, male, and 37 years old, male, both residents of the province of
Agusan del Sur.
All of the patients have no pre-existing medical condition and are
currently asymptomatic and in stable condition.
They were part of the recent batch of Returning Overseas Filipinos
(ROFs) and Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) who returned to Caraga region in
late May.
According to the local government unit (LGU) of Agusan del Sur, the
37-year-old is an ROF from the United States of America and arrived in Manila
on April 24 and tested negative on May 3. He arrived in in Nasipit Port in
Agusan del Norte on May 24.
The 41-year-old is an LSI from Cagayan de Oro City who arrived at the
province on May 22.
The former case is now under strict facility quarantine in an isolation
facility in San Fransisco town while the latter is quarantined in the
provincial quarantine facility. His residency is yet to be determined.
“We have already done contact tracing and informed concerned individuals
and local officials of concerned municipalities,” said Dr. Jacqueline Momville,
Provincial Health Officer of Agusan del Sur, during on Sunday’s virtual press
briefing via PTV Agusan del Norte.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old patient is now under strict facility
quarantine in Butuan City.
DOH Caraga stated that their agency is in close coordination among other
local authorities for the conduct of contact tracing as well as monitoring of
the ROFs and LSIs who are now in the region.
Preparations have also been made for the arrival of new batches of
individuals returning to the region. Around 700 Caraganons who have been
stranded in Metro Manila for more than two months are expected to arrive on
June 2.
Caraga region previously had five confirmed cases. Four of these
have recovered while one remains under strict facility quarantine. The number
of confirmed cases have now totalled to eight. (DMNR/PIACaraga)
P7.4 Million DA’s
expanded SURE aid fund benefits 296 farmers, fisherfolk
By Fretcher Magatao
BUTUAN CITY, June 1 -- The Department of Agriculture through the
Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) distributes a total of P7.4
million cash assistance to 296 farmers and fisherfolk in Caraga whose incomes
were affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The 296 farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries are from the municipalities
of Las Nieves, Nasipit, Buenavista and Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte and
Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. The financial assistance is released by Baug Carp
Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative and the Bayugan Achievers Multipurpose
Cooperative as partner conduits.
“The amount should be used to support the farming activities of our
farmers despite the effects brought by the COVID-19,” said OIC-Assistant
Regional Director for Operations Rebecca Atega.
Atega shared that the government is working on making sure that food
production is sustained by the food producers despite the challenges and
restrictions of the pandemic.
This loanable fund is under DA’s Ahon Lahat Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS)
Kontra sa COVID-19 or the Expanded SURE Aid and Recovery Project (SURE
COVID-19). The emergency and recovery credit assistance program would respond
to the needs of the marginalized small farmers and fisherfolk (MSFF).
Under the SURE COVID-19 loan program, eligible farmers and fisherfolk
may borrow up to P25,000 per farming household, with no collateral, zero
interest, and payable in 10 years.
“The amount we received is a big help to us. I am grateful that through
this, we can just continue to finance our farming activities,” said Lucia Salo,
a farmer from Brgy. La Union, Cabadbaran City.
DA-ACPC continues to partner with conduit lending institutions which
include rural banks, cooperative banks, cooperatives, and viable non-government
organizations (NGO) and associations that provide accessible and affordable
credit to the borrowers in the countryside. (DA-Caraga/PIA Caraga)
DOTr Caraga may
paala-ala sa publiko hingil sa ipinatutupad na patakaran sa ilalim ng
MGCQ
By Nora C. Lanuza
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 1 (PIA) -- Sa pagpapatupad ng modified general
community quarantine (MGCQ) sa rehiyon ng Caraga, nanawagan si Department of
Transportation (DOTr) Caraga acting regional director Engr. Nordy Plaza sa mga
Caraganon na may expired licenses na mag umpisa na sa pagrenew dahil mahigpit
na silang magmomonitor sa mga ito.
Ayon kay director Plaza, lahat ng nag-expire na registration at licenses
sa panahon na community quarantine ay binigyan ng hanggang anim napong (60)
araw na palugit para makapagrenew.
Dagdag pa ng opisyal, sa boong Pilipinas kasama ang Caraga region sa
dalawampu’t apat (24) na pilot sites para sa Land Transportation Management
System, isang improvement system ng pagkuha ng bagong lisensya.
Ayon naman kay Urbano Maglines, Jr., operations chief ng LTO Caraga,
mahigpit pa rin ang pagbabantay sa mga daan at highways kahit nasa MGCQ ang
rehiyon lalo na’t dahan-dahan ng nagsibalikan ang mga sasakyan sa
kalsada.
Dagdag pa ni Maglines, maliban sa road safety, proteksyon sa kalusugan
ng publiko ang pinakaprayoridad ng ahensya.
Sa lungsod din nga Cabadbaran, ayon kay district supervisor Engr. Eugene
P. Rula, mula ng magbalik operasyon ang district, sa loob ng limang (5) araw na
operasyon, nagkaroon sila ng P1,230,008.50 revenue collections mula sa
registration, licensing at law enforcement. (NCLM/PIA Caraga)
LGU-Dinagat Islands
distributes packed meals to frontliners
By Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 1 (PIA) -- To help relieve the
frontliners from enormous strain at work and to give support to the persons
under mandatory quarantine who are accommodated at the municipal care and
containment center in Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, the provincial government of
Dinagat Islands distributed healthy meals to them.
Governor Arelen "Kaka" Bag-ao personally went to the market to
buy the ingredients and helped in cooking and preparing some 100 packed meals.
These were distributed to the frontliners of the Rural Health Units,
Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection who are deployed to
quarantine checkpoints and different barangay health centers. The governor also
checked their situation at work.
To protect the communities from the threat of the deadly coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19), Gov. Bag-ao also urged all the residents to cooperate
by staying at home and to follow the imposed guidelines.
She also thanked the government line agencies for the delivery of
services, the private entities and other organizations that extended support
through financial, food, and medical equipment donations.
Meanwhile, municipal mayor Adolfo “Denden” Longos appreciated the
assistance provided by the provincial government of Dinagat Islands to the
frontliners.
The frontliners were thankful as well for the kind of support.
LGU-Dinagat Islands also conducted the same activity in the
municipalities of Tubajon and Loreto.
The LGU-Dinagat Islands remains steadfast to respond even for COVID-19
worst-case scenario. (SDR/VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
By Venus L. Garcia
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 1 (PIA) -- “Kailangan ng gobyerno natin ang
inyong taxes upang patuloy na mag-operate at finance lalung-lalo ngayong
panahon ng pandemya. Kung mayroon na kayong sapat na pambayad maaari na po
ninyong ibayad sa pamamagitan ng online facility o diretso sa opisina ng BIR.”
Ito ang naging panawagan ni BIR-Revenue District Office No. 17 director
Jose Eric Furia sa gitna ng krisis dulot ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Aminado si Furia na bagsak ng P300 milyon ang koleksyon ng buwis ng
kanilang ahensiya sa buwan ng Abril dahil na rin sa ipinapatupad na community
quarantine.
“Talagang nagkakaroon ng economic crisis due to temporary closure of
businesses. Kaya bagsak talaga ang koleksyon natin,” sabi ni Furia.
Base sa naitala ng BIR Caraga ay may bilang na 22,000 na mga taxpayer
ang pumunta sa kanilang opisina sa buwan ng Pebrero; bumaba ng 12,000 sa buwan
ng Marso; at sa Abril ay talagang bagsak kung saan mas mababa sa isang libo
lamang ang pumunta para sa tax payment transaction.
Kaya naman, bilang paraan upang matugunan ang negatibong epektong ito ng
COVID-19, tinatawagan anya nila ang bawat taxpayer sa rehiyon upang ipaunawa at
hikayatin na magbayad na ng kanilang buwis at mag file na ng kanilang annual
income tax return.
“Kaya naman sa kabila ng extension of deadline na ibinigay ay umaapela
pa rin kami sa taxpayers na kung pwede magbayad na sila ng buwis. Maaari nila
itong bayaran online,” sabi ni Furia.
Hinihikayat ng BIR-Caraga ang bawat taxpayer na hangga’t maari ay huwag
nang patagalin pa ang pagbayad, kung meron naman na silang pambayad.
“Kailangan ng pamahalaan ang ating binabayarang buwis lalung-lalo na
ngayon dahil gagamitin ito sa response support para sa COVID-19. Kaya
obligasyon natin na magbayad,” sabi ni Shane Benolirao, business owner ng
home-based printing shop. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
LGU-Dinagat Islands
namahagi ng pagkain sa frontliners
By Venus L. Garcia
LUNGSOD NG SURIGAO, Surigao del Norte, Hunyo 1 (PIA) -- Para maibsan ang
pangamba at pagod ng mga frontliners at masuportahan ang persons under
mandatory quarantine na nasa municipal care and containment center sa
Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, namahagi sa kanila ng pagkain ang lokal na
pamahalaan ng probinsya ng Dinagat Islands.
Mismong si Gobernador Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao ang namili ng
sangkap ng putaheng lulutuin at personal na tumulong sa paghahanda at pagluluto
sa sinigang na sabaw, fried chicken, at dessert.
Kasama si board member Noli Albis, pinuntahan at ipinamahagi ni Gob.
Bag-ao sa mga frontliner ng Rural Health Unit, Philippine National police at
Bureau of Fire Prrotection na nakatalaga sa iba’t ibang barangay health centers
at checkpoints. Inalam din ng gobernador ang kalagayan ng mga frontliner.
Hinikayat ni Gob. Bag-ao ang lahat ng mga residente na magtutulungan at
manatili lamang sa kanilang mga tahanan at sumunod sa mga guidelines na pinaiiral
sa buong probinsya upang mailigtas ang kanilang pamilya sa panganib na dulot ng
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Nagpapasalamat din si Gob. Bag-ao sa lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan sa
kanilang serbisyo at sa mga pribadong indibidwal at iba’t ibang organisasyon na
nagpaabot din ng tulong at suporta sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga donasyong
pinansyal, pagkain at mga medikal na kagamitan.
Nagpapasalamat naman si Cagdianao municipal mayor Adolfo Longos sa
malasakit at tulong na ipinaabot ng provincial government ng Dinagat Islands sa
mga frontliner na nagserbisyo para panatilihing ligtas ang bawat residente
laban sa COVID-19.
Ipinaabot rin ng mga frontliner ang kanilang saya at pasasalamat sa
kanilang natanggap na pagkain.
Namahagi naman ng naturang pagkain si Gob. Bag-ao sa munisipto ng
Tubajon at Loreto.
Samantala, ang probinsya ng Dinagat Islands ay nakahanda naman para
tumugon sa problemang dala ng pandemya. (SDR/VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Rookie veggie grower
gaining grounds in farming
A former driver is now a budding farmer.
Richard Gagareno of Barangay Buhangin, Butuan City worked as a driver
for over ten years. But earlier this year, after being convinced by a former
classmate, he decided to venture into vegetable farming.
Together with his partner, Romer Amante, they developed a 1,000 square
meter (sq.m.) land early this year. A bigger portion, 900 sq.m was planted with
ampalaya.
They had their first harvest earlier this month of May and after
seven harvests, they have already earned P26,000.
Gagareno said that he is glad he tried out farming because it is a lot
different from having to go to work. He said that with farming, he earns a lot
more plus he has control of his time.
He also said that there is a sense of fulfillment knowing that he is
among those who provide food for the people. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Urban agriculture
opens window of opportunity
By VPSanchez
As the country continues to hurdle the challenges of living in the
so-called “new normal” setting, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is also
unceasing in its efforts to ensure food security in the country.
Hence, in celebration of the Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month, it is only
fitting to pay tribute and recognize the efforts of the farmers and fishers who
have committed themselves to produce food to feed the Filipino people even at
this time when the whole nation is facing the health crisis.
When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hit the country, the DA
implemented the Ahon Lahat Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Laban sa COVID, otherwise
known as the Plant Plant Plant Program to cushion the impact of the pandemic.
One of the projects under the said program is ‘Urban Agriculture’
wherein residents in metropolitan areas are encouraged to have their own
vegetable gardens.
The Department distributed vegetable seeds to individuals who are
interested to plant. This is so that they can have their own food source which
can also be an income-generating initiative.
As of May 26, the DA has already distributed various vegetable seeds to
3,465 individual recipients.
One such budding farmer is Richard Gagareno of Brgy. Buhangin, Butuan
City, who, together with his partner Romer Amante, established a 1,000 square
meter (sq.m.) vegetable garden in March of this year.
Gagareno shared that 900 sq.m of their area is planted with ‘ampalaya’
or bitter gourd and that they had their first harvest early this month.
“We have harvested seven times already and earned a total of P26,000, so
far. I can now say that there is really money in farming,” he said.
He also said that aside from their regular buyers from the Langihan,
Libertad, and Ampayon public markets, there are also people who go to their
farm to buy some of their produce.
Gagareno, who used to work as a driver for private companies, said that
he is glad he tried out vegetable farming because he does not only earn more
but he also has control of his time. In addition, he said that there is a sense
of fulfillment knowing that he is among those who provide food for the people.
Recently, their farm was chosen as the venue for a pick and pay
vegetable harvesting activity initiated by the DA – Caraga as part of the
celebration of the Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month.
Through the activity, consumers were given a chance to experience
personally harvesting the vegetables they bought at the farm. (DA-RFO
Caraga/RAFIS/PIA-Caraga)
