NGO commends gov't agencies
on hosting Dagyaw 2020
By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 30 (PIA) -- Speakers of the first episode of Dagyaw 2020: Virtual Town Hall Meeting praised the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga, Department of Budget Management (DBM) Caraga and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga for spearheading the event, which helped shed light on the strong partnership between civil society organizations, private sector, and the government.
Glenn Bais, regional coordinator of Philippine Partnership for the
Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) – Mindanao, who
discussed the first topic of the said episode “Building Resilience” commended
the said agencies for hosting the event.
“We are so happy that through Dagyaw and other platforms, we are able to
display the spirit of partnership and collaboration between and among CSOs and
the government and even with the private sector,” he said.
Dagyaw is one of the main campaigns of the current administration that aims
to bring the government closer to the people. This year’s campaign focused on
making the actions of the government and non-government stakeholders and
partners on the current issues, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic.
The event was launched virtually on Thursday via Facebook Live on DILG
Caraga and PIA Caraga's official Facebook pages. This was aimed to make it more
accessible to the public without compromising their health and safety.
The organization head discussed how Caraganons can build resilience, the
ability to overcome and recover from challenges and difficulties, despite the
pressure brought by the pandemic.
This entailed nurturing the said trait in oneself by keeping a positive
outlook in the situation and facing stressors head-on. Having a strong support
system can also help with maintaining resilience, which could comprise of
friends and families or even peer groups.
Financial literacy was also briefly discussed. According to Bais, to
achieve financial freedom, certain habits must be formed.
“These include making financial goals, budgeting, identifying firstly
the needs before wants, knowledge on managing finances, investing, and taking
care of one’s mental health. You must also be willing to commit to these
habits. Doing so will guarantee financial freedom,” he said.
The PHilDHRRA head also emphasized the need to prepare for future
uncertainties. On the part of the government, it is suggested that a recovery
master plan that includes innovative strategies that address and mitigate
multifaceted issues and a financial literacy program must be made. Government
agencies and local government units (LGUs) must also mobilize CSOs to deliver
its programs to the marginalized and vulnerable groups.
He concluded his presentation by lauding the efforts of the government
to strengthen their links with non-state actors (NSAs) such as PhilDHRRA.
“I am so happy that the government is opening its doors. We all know
that social accountability works when there is an open and responsive government.
Through this, we can also fortify our partnership. When we are united, we can
extend more help especially during this unprecedented crisis.”
"Dagyaw", the Hiligaynon word for "bayanihan," is a
series of Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Participatory Governance
Regional Townhall Meetings launched by the DBM and DILG with support from the
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and non-government
partners.
The event serves as a platform for productive, valuable, sincere and
visible engagement between senior officials of government and the citizens,
promoting and disseminating information on the open government and
participatory governance initiatives of the Duterte administration.
Episode two of this year’s series entitled “Urban Gardening and
Livelihood” will be aired on November 5, 2020 at 2:00 pm via Facebook Live,
which can be streamed on DILG Caraga and PIA Caraga’s official Facebook pages.
(DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
BSP to Caraganons: Learn to save money all the time
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 30 (PIA) -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) here
emphasized that saving money as a practice means people are financial literate.
“Learn to save money all the time not only during this time of crisis,
but always,” said Glizriel Rose Quijada, bank officer II of BSP Butuan as she
discussed building resiliency through financial literacy during the first
episode of Dagyaw 2020 virtual conference held on Thursday.
Quijada revealed that there are people who do not have savings and
assets even at the time of their retirement due to "poor cultural money
practices, small psychological wallet, and life cycle event."
“Only four out of 10 Filipino adults save. Such low statistics is caused
by lack of knowledge on saving and budgeting and the discipline it requires to
maintain it. This can be aided by financial planning, which can be done by
visioning financial goals, evaluating financial condition, specifically current
needs, and listing down all sources of income and expenses,” Quijada bared.
Quijada added that one should take courage to start saving money from
his/her monthly income no matter how small or big the amount is. "We can
not save if we do not know how to budget. At times, we lack the motivation and
courage to save due to lack of financial literacy. This is why, we should learn
and practice the habit of saving from our earnings," she said.
The BSP’s main responsibility is to formulate and implement policy in
the areas of money, banking and credit with the primary objective of preserving
price stability. It has also been conducting financial literacy campaign in the
different cities/municipalities of the region.
The Dagyaw 2020 is hosted by the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) Caraga, in partnership with the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DTI recognizes CeMAP
initiative vs mislabelled imported cement
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recognized the initiative and effort of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) in monitoring the quality of Philippine-made and imported cement products being sold in the country.
In a press statement, the DTI revealed it saw the need for a new
regulation following a review conducted by the Bureau of Philippine Standards
(BPS) on the policy regarding the manufacture and importation of cement
products.
The department has recently announced that it will be issuing a
Memorandum Circular (MC) on the Supplemental Guidelines for the Implementation
of Department Administrative Order (DAO) 17-06, Series of 2017 after CeMAP
raised concerns about imported cement being labelled with “Made in the
Philippines.”
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the new policy will promote
transparency and accuracy on the product markings for both locally manufactured
and imported cement products.
“It is incumbent upon the importers and/or manufacturers to properly
label their products and reflect the country where these products were
produced,” said Lopez.
The official added that the policy will properly guide consumers and
help boost the campaign patronizing locally produced products to help the
economy recover from the effects of the pandemic.
“While consumer safety is always one of the department’s priorities, it
is also the mandate of DTI to protect and support local manufacturing
industries. This is why the DTI strongly promotes the Buy Local, Go Lokal
campaign, encouraging all local consumers to patronize Filipino products and
services,” Lopez underscored.
Meanwhile, the local cement manufacturers also commended the DTI for
immediately taking action and issue the needed policy that will also ensure
consumer protection against mislabelled cement products in the market. “This is
a welcomed development and a huge victory for the local cement industry and the
thousands of workers that it employs,” the CeMAP said in a statement.
The group said it will also ensure that legitimate local producers will
benefit from the government’s initiative that give preference to
Philippine-made construction materials for its infrastructure projects.
“We are hoping that through this issuance, the rampant mislabelling of
imported cement products as locally made will be completely eradicated,” the
group said.
It was learned that upon the issuance of the supplemental guidelines,
the DTI-BPS will be conducting verification and monitoring of cement bagging
facilities in the country to ensure immediate compliance with the prescribed
product markings.
Under this MC, all locally manufactured and imported cement products
shipped in bulk and bagged in a PS licensed bagging facility shall be
permanently marked with the name and address of the manufacturer, the country
of manufacture, and the words “Bagged by:”, followed by the name and address of
the bagging facility, among others.
In addition, manufacturers and operators of bagging facilities are
directed to immediately cease all printing operations of previously approved
cement bag designs indicating “Product of the Philippines” even if the cement
products are imported.
The DTI-BPS will be conducting an inventory of all printed cement bags
for recording purposes and employ immediate corrective action to reflect the
correct country of manufacture.
“We encourage and support investments in additional cement processing
facilities, but we will also not waiver in our pursuit to ensure level playing
fields, both for locally manufactured and imported products,” said Secretary
Lopez. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
NGCP secures reliability of transmission services in NE Mindanao
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 30 -- The Northeastern Mindanao area will now experience greater reliability of power transmission services as National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) energized its new Butuan-Placer 138 kiloVolt (kV) line 2 earlier this month.
The project involves the construction of 100-kilometer of overhead
transmission line which connects Butuan Substation in Agusan del Norte to
Placer Substation in Surigao del Norte.
With the new line in place, cooperatives in Surigao del Norte and
Surigao del Sur will benefit from improved voltage level, reduced transmission
system losses, and the mitigation of unwanted power interruptions in the area.
The ERC-approved project costing to P1.1 billion is one of the
components of the Mindanao Reliability Compliance Project 1. The old existing
Butuan-Placer line, which has been in operation since 1995 was reinforced with
a secon, alternative circuit to avert load dropping caused by unplanned
outages.
The new transmission line fulfills the N-1 requirement of the Philippine
Grid Code, which is the ability of the grid to withstand a major system
disturbance through redundancies in the grid system.
“We fully recognize the potentiality of Mindanao and are preparing for
significant load growth in the coming years. Through the energization of this
project, we are able to deliver quality service and a strengthened transmission
network to support the region’s continued growth,” NGCP stated.
The company also appeals to the public to help keep the ROW corridor of
this line free and clear from any obstruction that may hamper its ability to
transmit electricity efficiently.
"We call all the residents and the local government univ leaders of
areas where our transmission lines traverse to help us safeguard these
facilities. They can only continue to serve your area if the ROW corridors are
kept clean. Not only can these obstructions cause unplanned power
interruptions, but it may also pose a danger to life and property," NGCP
said.
NGCP’s projects in Mindanao also include the Mindanao Backbone project
and the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project. Both projects aim to further
enhance the reliability of transmission services for the entire region.
NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating,
maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority
shareholders and vice-chairperson of the Board Henry Sy, Jr. and co-vice
chairperson Robert Coyiuto, Jr. (NGCP/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Trabaho at kita ng mga trabahante sa daungang nasasakupan ng Agusan del Norte patuloy
By Nora C. Lanuza
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Oktubre 30 (PIA) -- Hindi naging problema ang trabaho at kita ng mga manggagawa sa Masao port dito sa lungsod kahit paman apektado ang buong bansa dahil sa coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, ng dahil sa ginawang modernisasyon ng nasabing daungan, tuloy-tuloy ang kanilang trabaho.
Masayang ibinahagi ni Alfredo Paler, ang supervisor ng Concord Arrastre
Stevedoring Corporation dahil sa patuloy na may kinikita ang mahigit 40
trabahante na kanyang sinasakupan sa Masao port. Ayon sa kanya mas lumaki pa
ang kita nila ng dahil mas marami na ngayon ang mga barkong dumadating dito.
Ayon din kay Agusan port management office (PMO) ng Philippine Ports
Authority (PPA) manager Mildred Padilla, dahil apektado ang operasyon ng
Nasipit port dahil sa banta ng COVID-19, malaki ang naging kontribusyon ng
Masao port sa revenue ng PPA-PMO Agusan, dahil sa patuloy na pagdating ng mga
cargo vessels sa nasabing daungan.
Umaabot hanggang 15 cargo vessels ang dumadating sa Masao port
buwan-buwan, ngunit patuloy itong napatiling COVID-19-free dahil sa striktong
implementasyon ng mga health protocols dito.
Dagdag din ni Clarissa Rosales, ang Masao port manager, mahigpit nilang
ipinapatupad ang mga health protocols upang maprotektahan ang kanilang mga
tauhan lalong-lalo na ang mga trabahante na araw-araw pumapasok upang
magampanan ang kanilang mga responsibilidad.
Upang matugunan din ang new normal, kung saan maging limitado ang
pagtanggap ng mga pasahero sa Nasipit port, patuloy ang ginagawang pagpapalawak
ng passengers terminal building, paggamit ng contach tracing app, at plano na
ding ipatupad ang e-ticketing sa mga pasahero ng barko sa susunod na mga araw.
(NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Rice techno forum demonstrates efficient clustering approach
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 30 -- To accomplish a mission, one must find
allies to support its views and causes.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has found a strong ally in vigorously
pushing farm clustering and consolidation through a Public-Private Partnership.
DA-Caraga in collaboration with the Rice Productivity Advocacy Inc. or
the Rice Board and the Local Government Unit of Butuan City successfully capped
the 11th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF) held at Barangay Lemon, Butuan
City, on October 14-16, 2020.
NRTF is a semi-annual event that aims to promote the use of modern rice
farming technology such as the hybrid rice in increasing rice productivity and
income of rice farmers.
“The six months preparation of the activity encountered limitations but
we admired the collective effort by the DA Regional Office and attached
agencies, LGU-Butuan, private seed companies, and local farmers who made it
possible,” said Ebenezer Basco, Rice Board Secretary.
Basco added that the partnership continues to support a food secure
Philippines by demonstrating new technology in rice farming and aim to reach
more farmers across the country.
Hybridize and Mechanize
The 11th NRTF 100-hectare demo area showcased the best farming practices
that Caraga farmers can feasibly adopt to increase their efficiency and
productivity.
Studies show that the use of hybrid seeds can increase farmers’ yield by
at least 15% than the use of inbred varieties. Its increased vigor makes it
more competitive and increases its resistance to diseases and insects.
DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo
highlighted the importance of farm mechanization that should complement the
high-yielding rice varieties to optimize productivity.
“The combination of rice hybridization and mechanization is one of the
formulas to improve the production and enhance the productivity of farm labor,”
Monteagudo said.
Rey Miot, a farmer-cooperator, and member of the Basag-Lemon Irrigators
Association has comparative experience with manual and mechanical
transplanting.
According to him, walk-behind transplanters save cost and time. Using
mechanical transplanter will only take 2-3 hours in one day per hectare with
four farm laborers. This would cost around ₱2,500 – ₱3,000,
while manual transplanting would cost ₱6,000
per hectare with 10 farm laborers.
“The free farm inputs and the help of farm machines have cut down my
production cost from ₱12 to ₱8 per
kilogram. I am hoping that for the next cropping season this outcome will
continue,” Miot said.
Efficient clustering approach
This year, NRTF does not only promotes the Hybrid Rice Technology but
also demonstrates how farm clustering works towards more efficient and
productive rice farming.
The 100-hectare compact demo area in Barangay Ampayon, Basag, and Lemon
is managed by 61 Farmer-Cooperators in Butuan City.
Participating farmers benefitted from production inputs, farm machines,
market information and linkage, and technical support from the implementing
agencies.
Ruel Arman, a member of Barangay Lemon Integrated Farmers Association
recalled his hardship when he is not yet affiliated with the group.
“Organized group versus individual farming has a big difference. I am
one of those who benefitted from the minimal cost of the pre and post-harvest
facilities owned by our association,” Arman said.
Before, his awareness of rice production was limited but now he was
given the chance to access information and technical services. He was once tied
to private financiers but now he was able to access credit and financial
assistance from the DA-ACPC that offers zero interest rates and flexible
payment terms.
“Heeding to the call of Agriculture Secretary William Dar we are now
into clustering and consolidating farms to bring down the cost of operations
and improve the harvests of the rice farmers in the region,” said Director
Monteagudo.
Cluster farming is a strategy where farmers’ cooperatives and
associations are merged to optimize the interventions and assistance provided
by the DA and other government agencies.
The majority of rice farmers in Caraga are smallholders such that
farmers’ associations need to collaborate and consolidate. To participate in
the competitive market, small farmers need to remain unified. One such
consolidation effort that may prove to be useful in cluster farming, Monteagudo
said.
The farmer-cooperators of the three barangays in Butuan City will now be
considered a hybrid rice cluster in the region.
Further, extension services and activities for the clustered area will
continue. DA-Caraga targets 12,000 hectares for hybrid rice production for the
September-March 2020 - 2021 cropping season. The 100-hectare demo on hybrid
only kick starts the identification of additional hybrid cluster areas in the
region for wide-scale adoption of the technology. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)
Showcasing Caraga
agri products through various platforms
By Vanessa P. Sanchez
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 30 -- Leaving no stones unturned in its pursuit for
development of the farmers, fisherfolk, and Agri-entrepreneurs in the region,
the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga through the Agribusiness and
Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) is tapping various portals to showcase the
region’s agriculture and fishery products.
During DA Secretary William D. Dar’s visit in Caraga on October 22-23,
DA–Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo and Agribusiness
and Marketing Assistance Service Division (AMAD) Chief Lynn A. PareΓ±as
presented the various initiatives of DA-Caraga to assist the farmers, fishers,
and local Agri processors to market their products.
One such marketing initiative was the One-Stop Agribusiness Center
(OSAC) which was launched early this year. It is an agribusiness hub and a
showroom for Caraga’s agricultural and fishery products. Located at the
DA-Caraga grounds, OSAC serves as an avenue for farmers and agri-processors to
promote and sell their products, as well as to connect and negotiate with
suppliers and buyers. Sec. Dar led the unveiling of the OSAC marker.
On the other hand, the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita mobile market which has
been done regularly since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic hit
the country. Kadiwa is a marketing strategy that connects the farmers and
Agri-processors direct to the consumers. Through the Kadiwa, the consumers are
given an opportunity to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and other fishery
products, fresh and frozen meat and poultry products, as well as some dry
goods, right at the premises of their community.
In addition to the two aforementioned initiatives, DA-Caraga has also
tapped the online portal to market Agri-fishery commodities.
DA-Caraga’s AMAD partnered with the private organization Sprout Lab IT
Services for the creation of the Agrikultura Kadiwa Online, an e-commerce
platform for fresh agricultural produce. It aims to provide farmers,
fisherfolk, and local processors with direct market linkage among institutional
buyers, manufacturers, and individual customers through an online platform. On
the other hand, it provides consumers easy access to affordable agricultural
products delivered directly to their households. Further, it aims to minimize
foot traffic in public markets to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus
disease.
Sec. Dar was on a two-day visit in the region to grace the culmination
of the National Rice Techno Forum as well as to meet up with agriculture
stakeholders of the region.
“I move around the country to inspire and bring hope to the frontliners
of the agriculture industry despite the pandemic and to make the presence of
the government be felt,” Dar said.
Dar also went around Butuan City and Agusan del Norte to visit various agricultural projects, as well as to the Agricultural Training Institute and PhilRice Agusan. (DA13-RAFIS/PIA Caraga)
BFP Caraga patuloy
ang ginagawang modernisasyon, pagpapatayo ng fire stations
By Nora C. Lanuza
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Oktubre 30 (PIA) -- Upang mas lalo pang mabigyan ng
mas magandang serbisyo ang mga Caraganons, tinututukan ng Bureau of Fire
Protection (BFP) Caraga ang modernisasyon ng mga kagamitan at ang patuloy na
pagpapatatayo ng mga fire stations sa iba’t ibang munisipyo ng rehiyon.
Naniniwala naman si Direktor FSSupt. Fred Trajeras, Jr. na hindi
problema ang kakulangan ng fire fighters upang maibigay ang maayos na serbisyo,
kelangan lang tulong –tulong upang magkaroon ng ligtas na pamayanan. Patuloy
ang pagbibigay ng safety awareness campaign sa mga barangays at ang pagkakaroon
ng maayos na basihan sa pagseserbisyo. Ayon kay Trajeras, dapat ang mga fire
fighters ay magkaroon na tamang pag-uugali, "maging Friendly, Reliable,
Energetic at lalong lalo na Dedicated o FRED sa kani-kanilang trabaho."
Ang Caraga region ay kilala din sa magigiting na mga firefighters,
matatandaang may itinatag ang BFP Caraga na ‘all female fire stations’ una sa
buong bansa. Ito ay nagpapatunay na kaya ng mga kababaihan ang pagbigay ng
maayos na serbisyo para sa Caraganons at hindi hadlang ang kasarian.
Ayon kay Trajeras, lahat ng mga personahe ng ‘all female fire stations’
ay nagagampanan ang tungkuling magsilbi. Sa kasalukuyan, may limang ‘all female
fire stations’ na ang rehiyon, ito ay sinimulan ng dating Direktor na si SSupt.
Romel Tradio.
Aminado din si Agusan del Norte at Butuan City fire marshall Rex Arvin
Afalla na problema sa kanyang sinasakuopan ang mga masisikip na lugar
kung kaya't, gumawa sila ng paraan upang maging involved ang mga taga
barangays sa mga gawaing makakatulong sa kanila lalo na ang agarang pagresponde
sa panahon na may sunog. Dagdag din ni Afalla, prayoridad nila ang pagbili ng
mga maliliit ng fire trucks na gagamitin sa pagresponde sa mga barangays at
patuloy ang koordinasyon sa mga opisyales at pagbibigay ng kailangang
pagsasanay.
Ayon kay Afalla, kahit paman sa banta ng COVID-19, tuloy pa rin ang
ginagawang safety awareness campaign ng ahensya sa iba’t ibang lugar.
Samantala, inilunsad din kamakailan lang ng ahensya ang Oplan Ligtas na
PamayanaN (OLP) gamit ang social media upang maipaabot sa mga Caraganons ang
iba’t ibang serbisyo at mga tips upang tuluyang masugpo ang pagkakaroon ng
sunog. (NCLM/PIA Caraga)
