TESDA recognizes FRs’ trust to gov’t
By Robert
E. Roperos
BUTUAN
CITY, Dec. 23 – Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA)-Agusan del Norte Provincial Office has recognized the efforts of some
918 former rebels (FRs) for putting back their trust to the government.
This,
after 28 members of the Militia ng Bayan (MB) and 890 Underground Mass
Organization (UGMO) surrendered and withdraw their support to CPP-NPA
Terrorists (CNT) in a ceremony held recently at Brgy. Durian, Las Nieves,
Agusan del Norte.
According
to the FB page of the Philippine Army’s 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion
(23IB), the FRs also voluntarily handed over three-caliber 22 rifles,
three-caliber 357 revolvers, one-caliber 38 revolver, one home-made 357
revolver, four home-made shotguns, and one power generator.
In his
message, TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Rey M. Cueva said that
TESDA is willing to help the local government unit of Las Nieves to revive the
training center in Brgy. Mat-i, Las Nieves.
The
official also vowed to facilitate the requirements needed in order to add TESDA
programs in the said training center. “In this way, more skills/qualifications
can be chosen by the residents,” Dir. Cueva said.
He also
stressed that TESDA will again provide scholarship slots as well as skills and
livelihood programs so that more residents of Las Nieves including the FRs can
avail of skills trainings that will somehow help improve and even transform
their lives.
Dir.
Cueva also pointed out that a pulong-pulong has been already set by the member-agencies
of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) in Agusan
del Norte on January 2021 to identify and assess the needs of the residents so
that skills and livelihood interventions will be provided.
Cueva
further said the FRs move to surrender and giving their trust back to the
government is a step towards achieving a long-lasting peace and development in
the municipality of Las Nieves in particular, and the province of Agusan del
Norte in general.
4 agrarian orgs get FDA-LTO approval
By Daryll
M. Tumbaga
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Dec. 23 (PIA) -- Four assisted agrarian reform
beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) of the Department of Agrarian Reform in
Surigao del Norte (DAR-SDN) acquired recently their Licenses to Operate (LTO)
from the Food and Drugs Administration through the Department of Agrarian
Reform’s Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) Project.
The
ARBOs are Garcia ARB Cooperative (GARBECO) of Sta. Monica, Honrado ARB
Cooperative (HONARBECO) of San Francisco and Trinidad ARB Cooperative (TARBECO)
of Surigao City all of Surigao del Norte; and Jacquez Agra Multi-purpose
Cooperative (JAMPCO) of San Jose in the province of Dinagat Islands.
With
the FDA approval, the ARBOs have secured licenses for their processing centers
to produce their agri-based products, namely: turmeric herbal powder, salabat,
malunggay powder, sambong powder and lagundi powder of GARBECO; pure tableya of
HONARBECO; banana chips and papaya pickles of TARBECO; and turmeric and ginger
powder of JAMPCO.
GARBECO
chairperson Tessie M. Vertudazo said they have waited for this moment that they
will be given licenses to operate of their processing centers.
She
said that it will be a big opportunity for GARBECO that they can now cater to
customers globally knowing that their products are FDA-LTO-approved.
The DAR
and Department of Trade and Industry’s synchronized and worked together in
improving the products of these agri-based organizations. As such, the ARBOs
underwent trainings on good manufacturing practices, promotional packaging,
product labeling and pricing.
Lilibeth
Arce, chairperson of TARBECO also expressed her gratitude, she said that after
many months of preparation and complying with all the necessary requirements,
including incurring additional costs, finally they are granted LTOs.
Aside
from the rigorous and laborious trainings, the said ARBOs also embarked on the
renovation and improvement of their processing centers to comply with the
standards of FDA.
Meanwhile,
DAR Provincial Office of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands led by PARPO
Maria Elizabeth L. De Guzman together with CARPO Alfredo Alvarez took pride in
these significant achievements of the said ARBOs for acquiring the LTOs for
their micro-enterprises.
In her
message, FDA representative Virginia Delani said it is a feat that should be
celebrated because the said processing centers of the ARBOs were the first of
its kind to have secured LTOs in both provinces the Surigao Norte and Dinagat
Islands.
On his
part, CARPO Alvarez said that is their goal that the rest of their assisted
ARBOs will have their processing centers FDA-LTO-certified.
“Our
next steps will be guiding the said ARBOs to access operation capitalization
from financing institutions leading to national and global markets,” said PARPO
De Guzman. (DAR-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
PMO Surigao exceeds
target revenue despite COVID-19
By NC
Nusog
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Dec. 23 (PIA)-- The Port Management Office (PMO) of
Surigao del Norte has a lot to be thankful for this year as it surpassed its
target revenue.
Despite
the challenges wrought upon by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic, the PMO not just managed to surpass target revenue, it went on to
register its highest annual income since it was established in 1977.
As of
December 2020, PMO Surigao reported earnings of P622 million, representing an
increase of around 8% from last year’s collections.
Rising
ship calls and cargo throughout, along with the expiration of the Board of
Investments (BOI) privileges of some private ports, fueled the increased
collections and managed to meet revenue targets as early as November.
In his
remarks during the Thanksgiving Fellowship held on Friday, Dec. 18, PMO Surigao
Acting Port Manager Froilan Caturla acknowledged the overwhelming contributions
of PMO Surigao personnel, particularly to the frontliners who kept the PMO up
and running despite the risks and challenges of COVID 19.
“Although we cap off the year with no festivities and parties, we are gathered here today to honor our frontliners and all those who have displayed wondrous performance in the midst of the pandemic,” Caturla said. (PMO-PPA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
