DOH-13 IDs 41 areas
with local transmission in Caraga
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN
CITY, April 12 (PIA) -- At least 41 areas across Caraga region have been
identified by the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga with cases of local
transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
As of
Wednesday, April 7, Surigao del Sur tops the list of areas with recorded local
transmission cases, with 12 out of 17 of its municipalities (Barobo, Cantilan,
Carmen, Carrascal, Hinatuan, Lanuza, Lianga, Lingig, Madrid, Marihatag,
Tagbina, and Tago) and its two component cities, Bislig and Tandag, affected.
Agusan
del Sur follows the list, with eight municipalities (Bunawan, Loreto, Rosario,
San Fransisco, San Luis, Sta. Josefa, Talacogon, and Trento) and the city
of Bayugan grappling with the impact of the local transmission of COVID-19.
Seven
municipalities of Agusan del Norte (Buenavista, Carmen, Jabonga, Kitcharao,
Magallanes, Nasipit, and Tubay) were not able to prevent the transmission,
affecting especially its capital city, Cabadbaran.
Despite
the strict implementation of community quarantine and travel protocols, four
municipalities in the Surigao del Norte (Alegria, Bacuag, Claver, and Placer)
as well the municipalities of Dapa, San Isidro, and Socorro in the Siargao
Islands were unable to preempt the transmission of the fatal virus locally
despite being geographically-isolated from the mainland.
This
was also the case of the municipality of Loreto in the Province of Dinagat
Islands, with its point of entry in San Jose town located 26 kilometers away
from Surigao City.
While
strict implementation of travel protocols is still in place in some provinces
coupled with an intensified enforcement of minimum health standards across
Caraga region, DOH Caraga predicts that local transmission may reach areas with
zero local transmission cases in the incoming months.
“An
influx of returning residents is anticipated in the summer season so we can
expect cases to rise during that time period,” said Dr. Dioharra Aparri of the
Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of DOH Caraga during the 29th
Regional Task Force against COVID-19 (RTF COVID-19) Meeting on Thursday, April
8.
As
prevention, coordination and close monitoring are still being done by
government agencies and local government units handling returning overseas
Filipino workers (ROFs), returning residents, and local tourists.
The
Province of Dinagat Islands requiring incoming travelers to contact the local
government unit of their destination and prepare health declaration forms while
a negative RT-PCR test result is required for all those entering the province
of Surigao del Norte via sea or air travel while those traveling via land are
to adhere to the travel protocols set by the LGUs.
The
province has also issued an order on Tuesday, April 6, prohibiting the entry of
those coming from Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna,
and Rizal except residents of the province, government Authorized Persons
Outside Residence (APOR) on a special mission, and private APOR with urgent
transactions in the province. (DMNR/PIACaraga)
High-powered
firearms, landmines seized in SurSur clash
By Nida
Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG
CITY, Surigao del Sur, Apr. 12 -- The Philippine Army has recovered
high-powered firearms and landmines in a clash with the Communist New People’s
Army Terrorist (CNT) in Carmen town on Thursday, an army official confirmed.
Lt.
Col. Jezreel Diagmel, Commanding Officer of the 36 Infantry (Valor) Battalion
(36IB), said his soldiers encountered the CNTs believed to be members of
Platoon 2, Guerilla Front 30 of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee
(NEMRC) under Noel Tumarlas Alacre alias Megan/Hardy around 2:00 pm, April 8,
2012, at the vicinity of Sitio Togopon, Barangay Hinapoyan in Carmen.
Diagmel
said the local residents in the community reported the presence of the
CNTs roaming around the community. They also received reports of extortion
activities conducted by the terrorist group.
Lt.
Col. Diagmel added that the firefight lasted for about 15 minutes.
Seized
during the operation were one M4 rifle; one M653 rifle; one 4-liter improvised
explosive device (IED); one rifle grenade, one Asus smartphone, one amazon
mini-tablet, 100-meter wire, short and long magazine for M16, olive green
sweatshirt with NPA markings, ammunition of AK47 and M16, backpacks, assorted
medicine and assorted personal belongings.
“The
36IB assures relentless efforts to prevent the CNTs from spreading damage and
violence to the peace-loving people of Surigaonon,” said Lt. Col. Diagmel.
(PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Farmers get drinking water through DAR’s CP-WASH Project
By Gil
E. Miranda
BUTUAN
CITY, Apr. 12 -- An Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (ARBO) assisted
by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte is now enjoying
a safe drinking water after the agency has recently turned over the
Community-Managed Potable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (CP-WASH)
project.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO II) for Agusan del Norte, Andre B. Atega, CESO V noted that the DAR turned over the project to Samahang Magsasaka ng Rizal Association (SMRA), a DAR-assisted organization in Brgy. Sumile of Butuan City.
PARPO
II Atega noted that the agency’s CP-WASH project aimed to shore up the
community’s supply of water they need at home and to address the threat of
water-borne diseases.
Ellen
Torralba, officer-in-charge Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer of the
Program Beneficiaries Development Division of DAR-Agusan del Norte said the
project directly benefitted to at least 549 households that include 577 ARBs
within the barangay of Sumile.
Project
Coordinator Engineer Raul Hermoso said that the agency provides technology
trainings and materials including the construction of water and sanitation
facilities amounting to PhP50,000.
Chairman
Rufino Ladao of SMRA said that the project is indeed a blessing that brings a
huge impact in the lives of the farmers in his community.
According
to Ladao, they are planning to make this project an income-generating to
significantly increase the organization’s income in the future.
“Kaniadto problema namo ang tubig mainom, pasalamat mi sa DAR sa tabang dinhi sa among dapit (We used to have a problem with drinking water, we thank DAR for the help here in our village)," said Ladao. (DAR Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Smart rice
agriculture soon to hit the airwaves in Caraga Region
By Rhea
C. Abao
BUTUAN
CITY, Apr. 12 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA)- Caraga together with the
DA-Agricultural Training Institute-13 and DA-Philippine Rice Research
Institute-Agusan gears up for the implementation of the Unified
School-on-the-Air Program on Smart Rice Agriculture (SOA-SRA) in the region
through a weeklong orientation with LGU partners regionwide.
Agriculture
Secretary William D. Dar's Eight Paradigms enunciated rural transformation,
foremost of which is the modernization and competitiveness of the Philippine
Agriculture through the use of cutting-edge technologies.
In line
with this is the implementation of a radio-based distance learning program on
modern rice agriculture with a targeted reach of 3,000 farmers in
municipalities and cities with average yields of less than 4t/ha in the region.
Tapping
radio as a medium is a strategic and creative solution of the Department to the
massive information and educational needs of farmers. Radio also amplifies the
limited reach of agricultural extension workers and stands as a practical
platform during a pandemic such as COVID-19.
DA-Caraga
Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo said that the context of
Smart Rice Agriculture revolves around climate change adaptation and mitigation
at the same time addressing national food security.
“The
expected outcome of SOA-SRA is the widespread awareness and understanding of
modern, climate-smart rice agriculture technologies with corresponding support
services, increasing the productivity and income of rice farmers,” Monteagudo
said.
In
coordination with the Local Government Units, SOA-SRA is now accepting farmer-enrollees
who have registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture
(RSBSA). Other interested farmers who have not registered in the RSBSA or have
not availed of any of the Government’s assistance are encouraged to participate
in the SOA-SRA program.
SOA-SRA
will be airing on May-August 2021 in the local radio stations in the Caraga
region. Rice farmers may coordinate with their respective LGUs for enrollment. (DA-Caraga
RAFIS/PIA Caraga)
Improved technology for increased productivity
By Vanessa P. Sanchez
They
say that to succeed in any field, continuous education is a must.
And
this is what Bruno G. Ampoloquio, a farmer from Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, must
have bore in his mind as even though he holds a degree in agriculture and has
already a number of years of experience in farming, he still joins training and
seminars to learn new things and be kept abreast of the new technologies in agriculture.
Ampoloquio
is engaged in banana, mango, and vegetable farming. He is a member of the
Nasipit Vegetable Growers Association (NAVEGROWA).
Last
year, their association was chosen to be the project cooperator of the Techno
Demo on Vegetable Production conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) -
Caraga through the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and in
coordination with the Municipal Agriculture Office of Nasipit.
He said
that the technology that he learned from the techno demo such as proper land
preparation, use of plastic mulch, use of quality seeds, balance and timely
application of fertilizers, proper pruning, sufficient irrigation, and
Integrated Pest and Disease Management, he now applies on his own vegetable
production.
He said
that there is really a notable difference in his production of ampalaya
compared to previous croppings.
"In
my previous ampalaya venture, I used to harvest an average of 100 kilos from
400 hills, but for this cropping, applying what I have learned from our techno
demo last year, I have been harvesting an average of 300 kilos from 240 hills.
And bigger production means bigger income,” he said.
Ampoloquio said this is why he does not close his door to learning new things, and because he believes education is a continuous process. In addition, he encourages other farmers to also take part in training so that they too can improve their farming practices and succeed in their farming endeavors. (DA 13 – RAFIS/PIA Agusan del Norte)
PPA Surigao culminates Women’s Month 2021 celeb
By NC Nusog
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Apr. 12 -– The month-long celebration of the 2021
National Women’s Month was aptly concluded with a simple lunch at the Gender
and Development (GAD) Center of the Port Management Office (PMO) of Surigao.
The celebration was concluded with
a lunch in recognition of, and a gesture of appreciation for, the valuable
contribution of women colleagues serving the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
PMO Surigao Acting Port Manager
Froilan U. Caturla spearheaded the arrangements for the noontime fellowship
which also included the awarding ceremonies for the Tiktok Challenge,
mini–Badminton Tournament and the GAD Awareness Online Quiz Bowl.
Zumba sessions were also regularly
held during the month-long celebrations.
On the other hand, the PMO’s Port
Police Division (PPD) also took part in the Surigao City PNP’s “Si Aleng Pulis”
– a community-based public affairs program streamed live via the Surigao City
PNP’s Facebook page.
Almira A. Olayvar, Port Police
Officer II of the PMO Surigao PPD participated as one of the panelists during
the Women's Month special live stream.
She also discussed, among others, various law enforcement initiatives and programs of the PPA, particularly those that involve the protection and security of women and children at our ports. (PMO-PPA, Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
