22 former rebels in
Agusan del Norte receive financial aid
By Nora C. Lanuza
BUTUAN CITY, June 18 -- At least 22 former rebels (FRs), who surrendered
in Agusan del Norte, received a total of P2.8 million cash assistance under the
Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) and firearm
remuneration.
According to Provincial Director Ellen Vee Chua of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Agusan del Norte, each FR received P86,000
comprising government's livelihood, immediate and reintegration assistance that
can be used to start a new and peaceful life with their families far from chaos
and abuses.
In an interview with one of the former rebels, Alyas Karla, who was
recruited when she was still 14 years old, said the terrorists took advantage
of her innocence by giving her false hope that they will help her finish her
studies. She expressed thanks to the government for the new life she has now.
Alias Boyka, one of the FRs, also cited that living a peaceful life with
his family is the main reason why he left the Communist New People's Army
Terrorist (CNT) group.
Meanwhile, 10 FRs received firearms remuneration during the activity.
Director Chua said the cash incentives that they received depend on the type of
firearms surrendered.
Agusan del Norte Governor Dale B. Corvera, Agusan del Norte
Representative Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba, DILG Caraga
Regional Director Lilibeth Famacion, BGen. Maurito Licudine, and PCol. Ramir
Perlito Perlas led the distribution of the assistance and witnessed by the
Provincial Peace and Order Council members held in Butuan City.
Also, during the meeting, Rep. Matba expressed her full support for
the passage of the anti-terrorism bill.
“Let’s support the Anti-Terrorism Bill to completely end terrorism and
wipe out the CNTs and its supporters," she said.
"Let us not forget the sacrifices that our military and police are
doing for us,” she added. (NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Caraga RTF-ELCAC
intensifies efforts vs insurgency amid pandemic
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Cabinet Secretary Karlo A.B. Nograles is
joined by NTF-ELCAC Vice-Chairperson and National Security Adviser Sec.
Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr., NSC Deputy Director General Usec. Damian L. Carlos,
and Caraga region’s local leaders.
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BUTUAN CITY, June 18 (PIA) -- The Caraga Regional Task Force to End
Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) continues the fight against
insurgency amid the limitations posed by the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic.
During its 5th (Second Quarter 2020) Meeting last June 16 presided by
Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Caraga
region, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious
Diseases (IATF-MEID) Co-Chairperson, and the task force chairperson Cabinet
Secretary Karlo Alexis Nograles, member agencies reiterated their
counterinsurgency initiatives during the health crisis.
On the issue concerning the closure of the remaining Tribal Filipino
Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS) and Alternative Learning Center for
Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) schools in the region,
Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga regional director Francis Cesar Bringas
bared that the department has already issued final notices of closure to the
said schools, which are allegedly used as training grounds of the
communist-terrorist groups (CTGs) in Caraga.
Director Bringas also apprised the body that the construction of
makeshift classrooms for the affected Indigenous People (IP) students in
Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur and in Mahaba, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur are
already in progress, which were made possible through the funding from the
concerned local government units (LGUs) and assistance from the Engineering
Brigade of the Philippine Army.
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The heads of the regional offices of the
DILG, NEDA, PNP, DepEd, DOH, and the Commanding Officer of the 4th ID provide
updates concerning developments in the region.
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The task force was also able to cover key issues and concerns such as
the pending request to be recognized by the IATF-MEID and NTF COVID-19 as the
regional policy-making and coordinating body concerning COVID-19 in Caraga
Region; the pending accreditation of the proposed COVID-19 laboratory testing
centers; and the request to include the region on in the second tranche of the
SAP distribution.
In addition, DOH Caraga, Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13), and the 4th
Infantry Division, Philippine Army (4ID, PA) provided updates on the health,
peace and security, and insurgency situation in the region.
Relative to the region’s fight against insurgency, the body also passed
the Caraga RTF-ELCAC Resolution No. 12-A, S. 2020, entitled “Supporting the
Passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.”
The Inter-Regional Task Force of Joint Regional Task Force (JRTF)-ELCAC
9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
(BARMM) is scheduled to convene on June 25 via teleconference to discuss on the
current security updates and efforts in Mindanao. (DMNR/Amethyst Joy A. Galos,
NEDA Caraga/PIACaraga)
Tricycle drivers,
farmers receive aid anew from AgSur town
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, June 18 (PIA) -- While the local government unit (LGU)
ensures protection of the local residents against the spread of the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19), it also provides relief assistance to the affected
sectors in the municipality of Trento, Agusan del Sur.
Despite lowering to a Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) as
the quarantine classification for Caraga region including Trento, Agusan del
Sur until the end of June, the transport sector’s livelihood is still affected
due to the limited operation of the public utility vehicles (PUVs).
To address this concern, the local government unit of Trento has once
again reached out to the affected sector and distributed rice subsidy to more
than 900 tricycle drivers during the second wave distribution this month of
June.
The distribution of rice assistance was based on the records from the
Municipal Business Permit and Licensing Office and only those with updated
permits were given the said assistance.
Meanwhile, apart from the tricycle driver beneficiaries, more than 600
farmers who are into poultry farming have also received five pullets or
cockerels from the LGU.
Through the aid extended by the Municipal Agriculture Office of Trento,
Agusan del Sur, the Provincial Veterinary Office led the distribution of
“Basilan” and “Dekalb” type of pullets and cockerels to the farmers registered
from different associations as Crisis Intervention Program to support them
during this COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Dr. Konnielou Verdin, a P7-million fund was allocated for
the Agusan del Sur Provincial Veterinary Office in the distribution of said aid
to the 14 LGUs in the province to include Trento. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Mga tricycle drivers
at magsasaka tumanggap ng ayudang bigas at sisiw
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 18 (PIA) - Sa kabila ng banta ng coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) sa bansa, hindi pa rin tumitigil ang lokal na pamahalaan
sa pagbigay ng ayuda sa mga apektadong sektor sa bayan ng Trento, Agusan del
Sur.
Ibinaba man sa Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) ang
quarantine classification ng naturang bayan, hirap pa rin sa pamamasada ang
tricycle drivers.
Para matugunan ang ilan nilang pangangailangan, tumanggap ng tig-iisang
sakong bigas ang 946 tricycle drivers sa ikalawang bugso ng rice subsidy ng
lokal na pamahalaang ngayong buwan ng hunyo.
Ang ayudang bigas sa mga drivers ay batay sa tala ng Municipal Business
Permit and Licensing Office at pawang may 2020 renewal ng Permit to Operate.
Samantala, maliban sa mga tricycle drivers, tumanggap din ng tiglilimang
sisiw ang mahigit sa 600 benepisyaryong magsasaka na nag-aalaga ng manok sa
kani-kanilang bakuran.
Sa tulong ng Municipal Agriculture Office ng Trento, Agusan del Sur
ipinamahagi ng Provincial Veterinary Office ang mga sisiw ng “Basilan” At
“Dekalb” sa mga magsasakang rehistrado sa kani-kanilang asosasyon bilang
“Crisis Intervention Program” laban sa hirap na dulot ng kasalukuyang pandemya.
Ayon kay Dr. Konnielou Verdin, nasa 7-million pesos ang
itinalagang pondo ng Agusan del Sur Provincial Veterinary Office sa pamamahagi
ng mga sisiw sa may 14 na local government units sa buong probinsya at kabilang
rito ang bayan ng Trento. (JPG/AJL/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
