By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga
confirms locally transmitted cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
in the city.
Among the 25 new cases in Caraga region, two were found to have a travel
history in Butuan City and three had no travel history in areas with
community-wide transmission of the disease. The remainder of the tally are
comprised of four Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and 16 Locally Stranded
Individuals (LSIs).
In response to this, the city government of Butuan has declared the
implementation of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) to 33 of its
barangays, namely Agao; Agusan PequeΓ±o; Ambago; Baan Km. 3; Baan Riverside;
Bading; Bayanihan; Buhangin; Dagohoy; Diego Silang; Doongan; Dumalagan; Fort
Poyohon; Golden Ribbon; Holy Redeemer; Humabon; Imadejas; J. P. Rizal;
Lapu-lapu; Leon Kilat; Libertad; Limaha; New Society Village; Obrero; Ong Yiu;
Raja Soliman; San Ignacio; San Vicente; Sikatuna; Silongan; Tandang Sora;
Urduja; and Villa Kanangga.
The MECQ has been imposed since June 18. Tightened checkpoints among the
identified barangays have now resumed and residents are required to use their
quarantine passes for all their transactions.
Meanwhile, the remaining barangays in the city continue to be under
Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
As present, the region now has 56 cases, 49 of which are active cases,
with seven recoveries and zero deaths. (DMNR/PIACaraga)
Over P2M E-CLIP fund
released to AgNor FRs amid COVID-19 pandemic
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
With the continuing effort of the concerned government agencies in the
fight against terrorism and insurgency, some 22 former rebels have received
financial assistance from the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local
Integration Program (E-CLIP).
The former rebel-beneficiaries are provided with the livelihood,
immediate and reintegration assistance amounting to P86,000 as a head start in
their journey to a new life. A total of P2.8-million was released to the
beneficiaries.
Alias Karla, who was recruited in the movement of the Communist Party of
the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) when she was 14 years old was one
of the beneficiaries of the E-CLIP.
According to Karla, her life now gets better, which is far different
from her life when she was still involved in the circle of CPP-NPA. And as she,
along with other former rebels surrendered to the folds of the law, they were
able to see and experience how the government authorities take care of them.
“I voluntarily returned to the government’s fold because I can no longer
bear the hardships and difficulties I am experiencing with the CPP-NPA, and I
miss my family so much,” she said.
Alias Boyka also expressed his gratitude to all the concerned government
agencies that helped them as they return to the mainstream society.
“I do not want to die of starvation, which I used to experience when I
was still in the movement. I want to live a peaceful life with my family,” he
said.
Apart from the financial assistance, the former rebel also received
hygiene kits from the Department of Health (DOH), and 10 of them were also
given the firearms remuneration depending on the type of firearms which they
surrendered.
Meanwhile, Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera and District
Representative Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba, recognized the heroism of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police
(PNP) personnel who continue to resolve the insurgency problem in the province.
Matba also appealed to the public to support the government’s proposed
Anti-Terrorism Bill.
Governor Corvera also directed the Provincial Social Welfare and
Development to fast-track the establishment of the halfway house for the former
rebels. (JPG/NCL/PIA-Caraga)
DAR turns over agri
machineries to Surigao Norte farmers
By Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 22 (PIA) -- As the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to affect the lives, livelihood and
economy across the country, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) - Surigao
del Norte carries on with the implementation of their programs for the farmers.
The agency releases over P1.3 million pesos worth of farm facilities to
the Himamaug Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (HARBCO) in the
municipality of Taganaan, Surigao del Norte under its Climate Resilient Farm
Productivity Support Project.
At least 100 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who are members of the
HARBCO will directly benefit from it.
“These farm implements are a necessity for farming in this day and age
and the government through DAR provided these to our farmers for free,” said
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) Maria Elizabeth de Guzman of
DAR in Surigao del Norte.
The service machineries include a four-wheel drive tractor, rotary
tiller, and trailer that would greatly enhance the overall productivity.
 |
| Provincial Agrarian
Reform Program Officer Maria Elizabeth de Guzman of the Department of Agrarian
Reform - Surigao del Norte leads the turn over of the P1.358 million farm
machineries to HARBCO. (DAR-Surigao del Norte) |
De Guzman said the cooperative also hopes to become a key player as main
supplier of fruits and vegetables in the local market.
“We have seen the passion of the HARBCO members in improving their
organization and uplifting their lives. They are much determined to keep up
with the advancement in farming,” said De Guzman.
Apart from agricultural mechanization, De Guzman added that DAR-Surigao
del Norte has also distributed food packs, food supplement, pesticides,
fertilizers, and farm production kits to all the agrarian reform beneficiaries
in the area.
Meanwhile, the members of the HARBCO are thankful for the equipment that
they received from DAR and for the support of the local government unit of Taganaan.
They have committed to ensure the regular maintenance of the newly
acquired equipment and maximize the use as intended for their purpose.
The Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project of DAR aims to
sustain the agricultural production as a primary means of livelihood of the
agrarian community and an intervention to strengthen the resilience to the
effects of climate change. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Agri-4Ps initiative
elevates affected livelihoods
By Kent Warren H. Fugoso
Hanawi Alauya, an employee of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) Caraga, and a resident of the said village, together with
seven other families, started a 400-square-meter communal garden last second
week of April for the reason that this will be a good support to the hampered
livelihood of his neighbors affected by the enhanced community quarantine
(ECQ).
Since the quarantine, Alauya and his neighbors work tirelessly every
weekend to plant more, inspect the vegetables and develop their garden located
just beside their homes while practicing social distancing measures.
Lyn Montes, one of the workers of the communal garden, who benefited
from this initiative, expressed her gratitude to Alauya and the Department of
Agriculture-Caraga who somehow sustain her and other family's financial burden
through vegetable gardening.
"I am a tricycle driver and my husband is a construction worker,
our jobs were greatly affected during the ECQ. I'm thankful that we have this
communal garden because we don't have that financial capacity to buy groceries
instead, we just get our foods in the garden. It doesn't matter if we only eat
vegetables all day since this will boost our immune system to fight the
virus," Montes said.
She also added that gardening did not just elevate their financial
burden but also improved the relationship between her and her children.
"At their young age, I really teach my children the importance of
gardening, I answer all their queries and the dos and don'ts in terms of
planting. When it's 4:00 in the afternoon already, they always volunteer to
water the plants,” Montes said.
Vegetables planted in the communal garden includes pechay, mustasa,
okra, opo, alugbati, and talong.
Moreover, an estimated 300-square-meter new communal garden located 2
blocks away from the original location is currently made to expand their
vegetable production. The neighborhood also eye this expansion for corn
production through the Project Maisan sa Nataran or Pro-Mais Movement, the
latest food production initiative by the DA-Caraga Corn Program.
"Plant, Plant, Plant Program" or "Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing
Sapat (ALPAS) Laban sa Covid-19 program is initiated by the Department of
Agriculture to increase the country’s food sufficiency level during the
emergency situation brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This program also ensures that urban agriculture or farming in
metropolitan areas will be introduced. (DA Caraga
RAFIS/PIA Caraga)
AgSur farmers receive
free certified seeds under RRP
BUTUAN CITY, June 22 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga in
partnership with the local government units started the delivery and
distribution of the subsidized inbred certified seeds in the region.
The intervention is part of the agency's “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat
Kontra COVID-19,” or the Plant, Plant, Plant Program under the Rice Resiliency
Project (RRP). Of the ₱8.5-billion national funds for RRP, the
region has ₱207-million allocations.
Around 60,000 local rice farmers in the region will benefit the
intervention. Three subprojects of the project are implemented the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Enhanced, the Expanded Inbred Rice
Production, and the Expanded Hybrid Rice Production.
In the town of Rosario, Agusan del Sur, around 130 rice farmers are now
receiving inbred certified seeds through RRP's Expanded Inbred Sub-project.
Zenaida T. Quimno, 51, from P-5 Poblacion said that the intervention
will lessen her production cost for the wet cropping season.
"I spent around ₱1,500 to buy 40 kg rice
seeds for a hectare, but through the free certified seeds I availed under DA's
RRP this is a big help for me," she shared.
For the municipality of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, about 300 rice
farmers also received the said support.
Alfredo J. Jurado, 64, from P-6 Brgy. 5 shared his excitement to plant
the NSIC Rc18 in his area.
"Given to have favorable weather I am looking forward to having a
good harvest because I will be planting certified seeds this is comparable from
the home saved seeds the I’ve been using before," he said.
The project targets to increase local rice production through the use of
high-quality seeds and sufficient fertilization based on recommendations. The
recipients will be given the option to choose among the top-performing
varieties accepted in the region such as NSIC Rc 222, 18, and 160.
Aside from the free rice seeds, farmers will also be given two bags of
fertilizers. To avail of free inputs, farmers must be listed in the Registry
System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). They also need to present
empty sacks of their purchased fertilizer and official receipt upon claiming
their fertilizer subsidy from the Municipal/City Agriculture Office.
(DA-Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Manobo association
receives rice seeds from DA-SAAD
By Mark Angelo Pineda
BUTUAN CITY, June 22 -- The members of Ocao Farmers’ Association of
Rosario, Agusan del Sur have received 30 bags of inbred rice seeds through the
Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of
Agriculture (DA) Caraga on June 11, 2020.
Together with his members, Rodel Rodrigo, chairperson of the Manobo-led
association, received the rice seeds turned over by Ariel Obillos, SAAD Area
Coordinator, at Novele, Rosario, Agusan del Sur.
“Mapasalamaton mi nga naay gihatag [nga supply] ang DA…kay usa sad ni
nga makatabang ma-lessen among gastos. Kung mupalit mi ani nga similya mahal
baya, muabot og P1500. Dako gyud ni’g tabang ang SAAD (We are thankful that the
DA through SAAD has provided us with rice seeds. This would have cost us
P1,500. With these free seeds, our production cost is lessened),” said Rodrigo.
The supply of rice seeds and other agricultural inputs is part of the
SAAD interventions that aim to establish agri-communal enterprises in areas
with high poverty incidence in the region.
Since 2019, members of Ocao FA (27 indigenous people and 3 non-IPs) have
undergone technical trainings on rice production. With the trainings and
agricultural inputs, the association will have the means to plant rice by the
next cropping season covering 30 hectares.
For this year, the association will receive a total worth of ₱875,800 for rice production support.
Rice production and livestock production are the main forces in the
labor market in ADS. As such, this intervention will eventually help address
concerns on food production and poverty at the local level.
DA-Caraga, although slightly hampered by the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) outbreak, continuously rolls out interventions to the SAAD
recipients in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. (DA-SAAD Caraga/PIA-Agusan
del Sur)
DBP eyes more tie-ups
with financial firms for financial inclusion
BUTUAN CITY, June 22 -- State-run Development Bank of the Philippines
(DBP) will forge ahead with its financial inclusion initiatives this year by
tapping financial technology companies (FinTech), non-bank financial
institutions (NBFIs), as well as rural banks while optimizing available
information technology (IT) applications to improve service delivery to its
customers, a top official said.
DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel G. Herbosa said the
bank will harness synergies from existing partnerships with NBFIs and FinTech
companies in providing essential banking services while reassessing plans for
further branch expansion in the mid-term.
“DBP views its partnerships with FinTech firms, NBFIs, and potential
alliances with progressive rural banks as a means to bridge the so-called “last
mile” in providing essential banking services especially in the far-flung and
unbanked communities,” Herbosa said.
DBP is the eighth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and has
a branch network of 129 branches including 11 branch units, most of which are
located in underserved and unbanked areas of the country. The bank also has 837
automated teller machines nationwide.
Herbosa cited the bank’s programs with the Social Security System and
the Department of Agriculture where an NBFI and a prominent FinTech firm were
extensively used in disbursing cash aid to low-income beneficiaries such as
farmers and minimum wage workers.
He said the bank leveraged on the broad network and IT capabilities of
these institutions to achieve efficiency in both scale and scope, which enabled
faster and more seamless pay-outs.
“These collaborations could be a model for future undertakings that would
require massive amounts of disbursements to individual recipients in a short
period of time,” Herbosa said.
Herbosa said that DBP is looking at scaling down its expansion plans
adding that "the current market situation and trends dictate the need to reevaluate
the viability of the brick-and-mortar approach to banking.”
He said DBP would rechannel its resources at widening customer
touchpoints by capitalizing on available and emerging technologies and
enhancing existing banking infrastructure and systems.
“Moving forward, DBP as a development bank would need to beef up its
retail banking capability while catering to its niche of institutional
customers such as local government units, water districts, as well as micro,
small and medium enterprises,” Herbosa said. (DBP/PIA-Caraga)
DTI trains Surigao
Norte IPs in handicraft making
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 22 -- Twenty (20) members of the
Mamanwa tribe in Brgy. Camp Edward, Alegria were trained in handicraft making
through the partnership of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the
National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on June 10 -12, 2020.
The indigenous peoples (IP) were trained to produce mats, bags, baskets
and other handcrafted products using indigenous materials growing prominently
in the area.
The materials include abaca, rattan strips (lagus), and golden sika
(sayabay).
The said training aimed to equip select participants with necessary
skills as preparation to potential bulk orders since only a few from the
community has enough knowledge on handicraft products as seen through the
validation conducted by DTI-Surigao del Norte.
Manny Venus and Felix Abatayo, skilled weavers in Brgy. Camp Edward,
served as the trainers who supervised the three-day activity.
To help the Mamanwas meet their assigned tasks during the workshops,
starter kits and tools were given for their processing activities.
Participants were expected to execute and produce at least five designs
for product enhancement and mass production.
The outputs of this activity will be market matched in the local and
regional market and will also be showcased in trade fairs.
“Gusto namo nga pag mahisgotan ang Mamanwa sa Alegria, ang produkto ang
malambigit sa amo, dili lang ang among royalty (We want that the Mamanwa in
Alegria will also be known because of our products, not just because of our
royalty,” one of the participants said. (DTI Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del
Norte).
Agrarian org receives P1.3M farm
facilities from DAR Surigao Norte
By Daryll M. Tumbaga
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 22 (PIA) -- The Department of
Agrarian Reform in Surigao del Norte (DAR-SDN) handed over to Himamaug Agrarian
Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (HARBCO) the P1.358 million-peso worth of farm
machineries and equipment on June 3, 2020 in Brgy. Himamaug in Taganaan, this
province.
The program is under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support
Project, which aims to lessen the burden of long hours of heavy manual labour
for land preparation in farming activities.
The said service facility machineries that included a four-wheel drive
tractor, a rotary biller, and a trailer are expected to benefit some 100 agrarian
reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who are HARBCO members and other farmers in
Himamaug.
During the turnover, DAR-SDN provincial agrarian reform program officer
Maria Elizabeth L. De Guzman reminded HARBCO of why they were entrusted by DAR
of the service facilities.
She said the organization deserved the said machineries because they saw
the passion for them to really make an improvement and development, both
organizationally and individually, and they demonstrated utmost interest and
participation in all DAR’s agrarian activities conducted for them.
De Guzman added that she will be looking forward to the time when HARBCO
becomes a supplier of vegetables in the local market.
On his part, Mayor Cesar B. Diaz challenged HARBCO officials and members
to take care of the equipment and farm machineries and follow rules and
regulations under its operations and maintenance that this blessing will be
used to its full potential and assured HARBCO that Taganaan LGU will always
support them.
In response, HARBCO chairperson Lilibeth Beberino expressed her
gratitude and thanked DAR for entrusting them the said machineries that will
help the members lessen their burden and increased their income.
The DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project is also
being implemented to provide farm machines with the end goal of improving farm
productivity and enhance the earning capabilities of ARBs in a sustainable
manner through their organization. (DAR-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Local transmission sa
Butuan City, kinumpirma ng DOH Caraga
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 22 (PIA) -- Kinumpirma ng Department of Health
(DOH) Caraga na may local transmission na ng coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) dito sa lungsod.
Sa 25 na bagong kasong naitala sa Caraga region, dalawa dito ay may
travel history sa Butuan City at tatlo ay nanatili lamang sa nasabing lungsod
sa kasagsagan ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Binubuo naman ng apat na Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) at 16
Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) ang natitirang kumpirmadong kaso.
Dahil dito, isinailalim muli ng city government ng Butuan sa Modified
Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) ang 33 na mga barangay sa lungsod: Agao;
Agusan PequeΓ±o; Ambago; Baan Km. 3; Baan Riverside; Bading; Bayanihan;
Buhangin; Dagohoy; Diego Silang; Doongan; Dumalagan; Fort Poyohon; Golden
Ribbon; Holy Redeemer; Humabon; Imadejas; J. P. Rizal; Lapu-lapu; Leon Kilat;
Libertad; Limaha; New Society Village; Obrero; Ong Yiu; Raja Soliman; San
Ignacio; San Vicente; Sikatuna; Silongan; Tandang Sora; Urduja; at Villa
Kanangga.
Naipatupad na ang MECQ simula noong Hunyo 18. Ibinalik muli ang mahigpit
na control points sa mga naturang barangay. Lahat din ng mga residente ay
kinakailangang gumamit ng mga quarantine passes sa kanilang transaksyon.
Nananatiling nasa Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) ang
natitirang 53 na mga barangays nito.
Sa kabuuan, may 56 cases na ang Caraga region. Apat na pu’t siyam dito
ay active cases habang pito dito ay nakarecover na. Walang pang naitalang
namatay sa rehiyon. (DMNR/PIACaraga)
DAR namahagi ng
P1.3-M makinarya sa mga magsasaka sa Surigao Norte
By Venus L. Garcia
LUNGSOD NG SURIGAO, Surigao del Norte, Hunyo 22 (PIA) -- Sa gitna ng
kasalukuyang pagsubok na nararanasan ng bansa dulot ng pandemya, walang patid
sa pagpapatupad ng kanilang mga programa ang Department of Agrarian Reform -
Surigao del Norte.
Namahagi ito ng gamit sa pagsasaka na nagkakahalaga ng P1.358 milyon sa
Himamaug Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (HARBCO) sa bayan ng
Taganaan, Surigao del Norte. Ito ay naisakatuparan sa ilalim ng Climate
Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project ng ahensiya.
Mahigit kumulang 100 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) na miyembro ng
HARBCO ang direktang makakabenipisyo nito.
Kabilang sa naipamahagi ay four-wheel drive tractor, rotary tiller, at
trailer. Ang mga makabagong kagamitan na ipinagkaloob sa mga
farmer-beneficiaries ay makakatulong na mapabilis ang pagtatanim at maitaas ang
produksyon.
“Itong farm implements ay talagang makakatulong sa pagsasaka lalo na sa
modernong panahon ngayon at ang ating pamahalaan, sa pamamagitan ng DAR, ay
libre itong ipinamigay sa kanila,” sabi ni Provincial Agrarian Reform Program
Officer (PARPO) Maria Elizabeth de Guzman ng DAR-Surigao del Norte.
Habang pinapagaan nito ang pagtatanim ay inaasahan naman ng nasabing
kooperatiba na madagdagan ang kanilang ani at kita. Sa tulong ng mga makinarya
ay umaasa rin sila na magiging taga suplay ng mga prutas at gulay sa lokal na
merkado.
Dagdag pa ni De Guzman, namimigay din sila ng food packs, food
supplement, pesticides, fertilizers, at farm production kits sa lahat ng mga
ARB.
Nagpapasalamat naman si Lilibeth Beberino, HARBCO chairperson, sa
DAR-Surigao del Norte at sa lokal na pamahalaaan ng Taganaan sa suporta upang
lalong maging maunlad at produktibo ang kanilang kooperatiba.
Ang Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project ng DAR ay isang
proyekto na naglalayong masustain ang produksyong pang-agrikultura bilang
pangunahing paraan ng pangkabuhayan ng ararian community at isa ring kahandaan
laban sa epekto ng climate change. (SDR/VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
