Digital learning
support amid the pandemic
By
Venus L. Garcia
With
the distinctive rise of e-learning, whereby teaching and instructions are
undertaken on digital platforms, the local government unit (LGU) of Surigao del
Norte guarantees to provide appropriate support to the learners through its
“Tablet Ko, Kaugmaon Mo” project as aligned in the “Padajon an Edukasyon”
program of Gov. Francisco Matugas.
Even
with the sudden shift from classroom to online learning due to the pandemic,
the governor still affirms the importance of education. That even with the
inevitable disruption of normal classes, he puts priority of assisting students
to keep up with the demand of digital schooling.
Some
350 Senior High School students of Surigao Norte National High School (SNNHS)
under the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand have
received each a tablet computer to make their learning easier.
Assistant
provincial administrator Simeon Vicente Castrence, representing Gov. Matugas,
handed over the devices to the student beneficiaries during a turnover activity
recently held at the SNNHS. This was also attended by Department of Education
(DepEd) – Surigao del Norte Schools Division Superintendent Teresa Real,
faculty and staff of SNNHS led by school principal Jose Gil Escabal.
Castrence
expressed that the said undertaking is in response to the daunting challenges
and to the needs of the students for them to continually comply with the school
requirements in an unprecedented environment.
He said
this gesture of the governor exemplified the kind of leadership that the local
government unit (LGU) of Surigao del Norte province has. “It showed
the importance of education in the lives of every Surigaonon. You
see, this is how education goes far beyond what we can read in a textbook, by
learning to be compassionate, generous, and kind to others,” he enunciated.
For her
part, Nicole Jay Villalobos, a Grade 12 student of SNNHS, was delighted for the
gadget he obtained as this is most useful for her learning. “This is truly a
great help not only for us students but for our parents as well. This lessens
the burden of thinking where to find money to buy or where to rent every time
we needed to go online for our lessons,” she said.
Meanwhile,
Real also expressed her gratitude to the LGU-Surigao del Norte for the
continued support to the agency especially to the students. This, she said, is
a supplement to their Network Academy Project.
There
are, however, other challenges to overcome in the transition from face-to-face
classes to offline learning, e-learning, and other modalities being introduced.
These
might be the catalyst to create a new and more effective education system
during this new normal. (Venus L. Garcia/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte town eyes programs vs insurgency amid pandemic
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN
CITY, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- “This administration will not stop delivering equality
and equitable public services and better governance.”
This
was the statement of Sison town mayor Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia on the local
government’s efforts to address and end insurgency in their area.
In her
guesting in the Laging Handa Network Briefing episode today, January 22, the
local official hinted some of their plans to address pressing concerns on
insurgency, particularly on infrastructure.
“Yung
concreting of roads… yun talaga ang main concern dito sa amin since there are
still [some] dilapidated roads in Sison na nagpapahirap for the transportation
of our agricultural products,” the mayor said.
They
plan on using their Assistance to Municipalities funds for last year from the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to construct local access
roads. The mayor hinted that the project is in preparation for their housing
project for local farmers.
Last
week, the local government was able to implement the Community Support Program
(CSP) in Brgy. Ima after having been cleared from the influence of communist
terrorist groups, which required neutralizing more than 100 residents who
supported the leftist cause.
“Plan
namin po na pagbutihin talaga yung services namin. We have to package all our services
and bring them to the grassroots level. Yun talaga yung aim namin,” Mayor
Fetalvero-Paronia said.
As they
continue to pursue the fight against insurgency, the local government is also
hopeful for the establishment of the Provincial Mobile Force Company in their
town to better equip the local police force. A hectare of land was donated for
such a project.
Ending
insurgency is paramount to what the town mayor has envisioned for Sison, which
is to transform it into the main government hub in the province. The Civil
Service Commission (CSC) has already established its provincial office in the
area. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)
provincial office is expected to establish its own office in the town as
well. Next on that list is, hopefully, the Philippine Economic Zone
Authority (PEZA) office, she said.
“[In]
the soonest possible time, Sison will soar high and rise among the
municipalities here in Surigao del Norte after masolve namin ang insurgency. We
have a lot to offer here. Malaki po yung future ng Sison na we will be able to
surpass all these things,” said Mayor Fetalvero-Paronia. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga RTF-ELCAC capacitates LGUs to attain
common goals vs insurgency
By
Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, Jan. 22 (PIA) – The local government units (LGUs) with its respective
officials actively participated during the Levelling and Consultation Session
conducted by the Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communists Armed
Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) held on Thursday. Through the help of the resource
persons, participants were capacitated in addressing various issues and
concerns that would directly or indirectly resolve the insurgency problem in
the region.
The
said activity was aimed to further capacitate the local Task Force with the
knowledge on the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army –
National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) strategies, tactics, programs;
emphasize the need to address the 10 CTG programs; synchronize the effort from
the national down to the regional, provincial, city, municipality and
barangay level Task Forces; and sustain the gains of the task force's efforts
in ending local communists' armed conflict.
Cabinet
Sec. Karlo Alexei Nograles, Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and
Security (CORDS) for Caraga, stressed that ending local communists armed
conflict still remains as a top priority of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. And
this levelling session and consultation was aimed to provide guidance to all instrumentalities
of the government in Caraga region to achieve this common goal.
“This
activity also aims to generate active support and involvement of all sectors
thru a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach in fighting insurgency
in the region,” added Nograles.
The
official further reiterated that the president is keen on putting an end to
local communists armed conflict under his administration. "With this
levelling session and consultation in the region, we hoped to attain a common
understanding on the battle against the CPP-NPAs, and ensure economic
development and security particularly in the conflict-affected areas," he
remarked.
During
the course of the session, participating LGUs through its representatives were
able to raise questions and clarifications, as well as shared strategies on how
they would be able to help the national government and the task force in
fulfilling the objectives and goals towards ending local communists armed
conflict.
The
group also discussed to take into consideration the following plan of action:
strengthen network with stakeholders; orchestrate government programs as part
of good governance; assist in the preparation of sectoral agenda; promote
government programs and narratives and clarify burning issues; identify policy
gaps and structural deficiency to attain good governance (social reform
agenda); continue the conduct of sectoral studies; and sustain the IEC on
sectoral studies.
Meanwhile,
Secretary Allen Capuyan, executive director of NTF-ELCAC, urged all the LGUs
and government agencies involved that also compose the task force to strive
more and continue to implement their respective programs in line with the
President’s Executive No. 70.
The
creation of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict
(RTF-ELCACs) is anchored on the Executive Order No. 70 signed by President
Duterte in 2018 which mandates a “Whole-Of-Nation” Approach in resolving the
communist rebellion.
Under
EO 70, LGUs shall take the lead in the conduct of local peace dialogues as a
way of peacefully engaging the rebels and convincing them to return to the
folds of the law. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Surigao Norte town upbeat on local vaccination program
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN
CITY, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- The local government of Sison town in Surigao del Norte
is “hopeful” to have its people vaccinated in time for the vaccine rollout of
the national government next month.
Municipal
Mayor Klarissa Fetalvero-Paronia said during the Laging Handa Network Briefing
episode today, January 22, that while funding is a great concern, they are
identifying possible sources of funds to implement the program.
“Being
the poorest town in the province, we are trying to gather resources especially
from our DRR (Disaster Risk Response) funds for this quarter. But we still have
to establish that first. Above all, we want the marginalized sector to be
addressed first,” she said.
The
indigenous people (IP) communities and the vulnerable sectors such as the
elderly, the disabled, and pregnant and lactating women will be among the first
to receive the vaccines.
The
local official is optimistic that they can carry out vaccination for its people
with the help of national government agencies and non-government organizations
(NGOs) that can help them in their endeavour, as well as the provincial
government of Surigao del Norte. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
PMO Surigao customers
widely accept e-payment system
By
Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- Customers at ports under the Port
Management Office (PMO) Surigao has apparently adopted the e-Payment “cashless”
system, enabling them to be among the top PMOs in the country with the highest
number of online payment transactions.
PMO
Surigao Acting Port Manager Froilan Caturla said that since the e-Payment
system was launched, all Permit to Operate (PTO) and Philippine Port Authority
(PPA) Accreditation fees were paid through the online facility.
“We
have encouraged our customers to avail the online system, and at times even
went our way to assist them in making online payments,” Caturla added.
Rolled
out at PMO Surigao in the 3rd quarter of 2020, the PPA Electronic Payment
System or e-Payment is initially made available for clients paying for Port
Ancillary Services Permit fees as well as PPA Accreditation fees.
Accessible
through the Electronic Payment Portal (EPP) at the PPA website, the e-Payment
is integrated with the PPA’s other online systems such as eAS, ePMS, iPORTS and
also linked to Cargo Handling Operator (CHO) and Private Port Operators’ (PPO)
online systems. (NC Nusog, PMO-PPA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Army engineers,
Philsaga turn-over one school-building to DepEd
AGUSAN
DEL SUR, Jan. 22 – The Army Engineers and Philsaga Mining Company finally
turned-over to the Department of Education (DepEd) the newly constructed
school-building in Wasian Integrated School, Rosario, Agusan del Sur on January
18, 2021.
The
544th Engineer Construction Battalion (544ECBn), 52nd Engineer Brigade
Philippine Army led by Lt. Colonel Rodel V Pangilinan, constructed one
school-building with two classrooms of DepEd which was funded by the Mindanao
Mineral Processing and Refining Corporation (Philsaga Company). The project
started last June 15, 2020 and was completed on January 18, 2021.
The
establishment of these school-building project becomes successful through the collaborative
efforts of the Army Engineers, Philsaga Mining Company, Local Government Unit
of Rosario, Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades – Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (ASSAT-TESDA) and DepEd.
Engr.
Rupert Joseph D. Tortal, representative from Mindanao Mineral Processing and
Refining Corporation; Hon. Eduardo E. De Paz, Barangay Captain of Wasian,
Rosario, Agusan del Sur; Nilo B. MontaΓ±o, Division Supervisor; Faculty members
headed by Renante P. Probo, School Principal and parents attended the said
event.
“We are
very happy to have been given this opportunity to assist in the implementation
of this school-building project. We have worked hand in hand with our
counterpart agencies and stakeholders for the success of this project,”
underscored Pangilinan.
“This
effort is in consonance of the Executive Order No. 70 or the Whole-of-Nation
Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC). We assure you that we
will continue to bring our services to areas in dire need,” Pangilinan ended.
(544th Engineer Construction Battalion/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
PDI town allocates
P1.6M for COVID-19 vaccine
SAN
JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- The local government unit (LGU) of
Libjo town in the province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) earmarks an initial fund
amounting to P1.6 million for the procurement of coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) vaccine.
Libjo
town Mayor Sonny Llamera said that the said fund is ready once the vaccine
becomes available and hopes that all his constituents will be vaccinated
against the COVID-19 virus.
He
sought the assistance of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force to help the LGU
in the procurement process.
According
to Mayor Llamera, for the LGU to procure, there has to be an agreement among
the national government, LGU, and the manufacturer.
PDI
Governor Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao also issued an executive order making
vaccine procurement a top priority of the LGU.
Meanwhile,
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Libjo town
encourages the punong barangays to update their registry of barangay
inhabitants as a preparation for the vaccine program roll-out of the national
government, which is set to commence in the 2nd or 3rd quarter this year.
(DILG-Libjo/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Andam na ang Agusan
del Norte alang sa pag-arangkada sa Process! Process! Process!
By
Karen Kei V. Decamotan
DAKBAYAN
SA BUTUAN, Enero 22 -- Gipirmahan ni Gobernador Dale B. Corvera karon sa
probinsya sa Agusan del Norte ang siyam ka Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
alang sa hiniusang paglihuk pagpahiluna og mga Core Processing Projects sa mga
lungsod sa Agusan del Norte ug niini andam na ang probinsya sa pag-arangkada sa
Process! Process! Process! Project, ang kaluhang proyekto sa Plant! Plant! Plant!
Project ubos sa AGUSAN UP!
Ang
AGUSAN UP! mao ang kampanya sa pagpalambo sa administrasyon ni Gob. Dale B.
Corvera kaabag ang buhatan ni Kongresista Angel Amante-Matba.
Ang
Core Processing Projects mao ang mahimong dugokang ekonomikanhong kalihukan sa
pagproseso ug mahimong merkado sa abot sa mga kalihukan sa Plant! Plant! Plant!
o sa mga hilaw nga materyales nga abunda ang usa ka lugar, sumala pa kang Gob.
Corvera.
Pinaagi
sa maong mga processing projects gilantaw sa probinsya nga makab-ot ang
panglantaw niini nga mahimong agri-processing center sa rehiyon sa Caraga,
mahimong mas produktibo pa ang resources niini, makamugna og libuang trabaho ug
mahaw-as ang daghan sa pamilya niini gikan sa kawad-on.
Kasabot
sa probinsya sa maong mga MOU ang mga Local Chief Executive o Mayor sa matag
lungsod o syudad ug mga nag-unang industry players, ang buhatan ni Kongresista
Amante-Matba ug mga nasudnong ahensya.
Ang
Core Processing Projects nga sumala pa sa MOU pangunahan sa probinsya ang
pagpahiluna mao ang mosunod: Nasipit Agusan del Norte Industrial Estate o NANIE
ug Chocolate Procsessing City sa lungsod sa Nasipit; Orchard Stopover o
pagproseso ug prutas sa Carmen; Beyond Rice sa RTR o ang pagproseso sa bugas
ngadto sa kakanin, bino ug uban pang produkto; Waste to Energy Power Plant sa
Magallanes; Abaca Handicraft Village sa Syudad sa Cabadbaran; Mineral
Processing sa Tubay; Integrated Coconut Processing Center sa Jabonga, ug; Food
Basket o ang pagtanum ug pagproseso og pagkaon sa Kitcharao.
Kasamtangang
gi-proseso usab ang mahimong kasabutan alang sa Feed Mill sa Las Nieves, sa
Sardine Processing sa Buenavista ug sa Banana Processing sa Santiago.
Gitakda
nga himoan ang nahisgutang mga proyekto og feasibility studies, hulmahon ang
mga corporate entities niini, pangitaan sa gikinahanglang investments unya
dayon na sa pagpatuman niini. (Agusan Up, LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del
Norte)
LGU CBR mohatag pribilehiyo sa mga
differently-abled persons nga operators sa motorized trycycle
By Ramil
L. Pasco
DAKBAYAN
SA BUTUAN, Enero 22 -- Aprobado na ug gideklarang balido sa Sangguniang
Panlalawigan sa Agusan del Norte sa ikaduhang pagbasa atol sa sesyon regular
kaniadtong Enero 05, 2021, ang City Ordinance No. 2020-038 nga gikan sa
Sanguniang Panglungsod sa Cabadbaran ning probinsya, nga nagtugot nga walay
bayad ang tanan Differerently-Abled Persons (DAP) nga mga operator sa motor
traysikol sa rehistro ug uban pang mga singil alang sa katuyoan nga makuha ang
mga permits/prangkisa sa pagpadagan sa mga traysikol nga mga pampoblikong
sakyanan.
Naaprobahan
kini base sa Chapter 6, Section 26 of RA 7277, kong giila nga "Magna Carta
of Disabled Persons" nga nagkanayon nga hatagan og katakus ang tawo nga
adunay kapansanan ug gitugotan nga magmaneho sa mga sakyanan nga motor
traysikol nga nahiuyon sa mga balaod ug regulasyon nga giisyu sa Land
Transportation Office (LTO) nga may kalabotan sa kinaiyahan sa ilang
kakulangan.
Ang maong lakang giaprobahan pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 003-2021, nga gipangunahan ni Board Member Francisco Y. Chan, Jr., tsirman sa Committee on Ways and Means inubanan nila ni Board Member Rodulfo A. Pitogo ug si Board Member Erwin L. Dano isip mga co-authors. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
CSP ng 75th IB naging
matagumpay sa nakalipas na taon
By Raymond
Aplaya
LUNGSOD
NG TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Enero 22 -- Maliban sa pagpapaigting ng kanilang
combat operation, tututukan rin ngayong taon ng 75th Infantry Battalion (75IB),
Philippine Army ang kanilang Community Support Program (CSP) sa mga komunidad
na kanilang nasasakupan kung saan kilala nang tagasuporta ng rebeldeng New
Peoples Army (NPA).
Inihayag
ni Lt. Col. Jeffrey Villarosa, Battalion Commander ng nasabing army battalion,
na bagama’t maituturing na naging matagumpay ang nasabing programa sa nakalipas
na taon, mas paiigtingin pa rin nila ang pagsasagawa nito ngayong taon sa
pamamagitan ng mga Grand Pulong – Pulong o Serbisyo Caravan sa mga
kinokonsiderang focused areas o mga lugar na mataas pa rin ang impluwensya ng
mga komunistang grupo.
Dagdag
pa ni Col. Villarosa, na patuloy ang kanilang isinasagawang pagpapaunawa para
sa mga naninirahan sa nasabing mga komunidad sa totoong problema ng bansa
kungsaan dapat umanong maiintindihan na hindi solusyon ang armadong pakikibaka.
Kaugnay
nito, nagpapasalamat na lang si Col. Villarosa sa positibong tugon ng mga
naninirahan sa nasabing mga komunidad dahil sa unti - unting pagputol nang
kanilang suporta sa mga rebelding grupo.
Ito
umano ang isa sa mga magagandang resulta na naidudulot ng Whole–of–Nation
Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict kung saan marami na umanong mga
rebeldeng NPA ang sumuko at muling bumalik sa pamahalaan. (DXJS RP
Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
