PCOO chief: PRRD
continues to help uplift the lives of Filipinos
By
Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, Apr. 15 (PIA) -- In time with the conduct of the Regional Pre-SONA (State
of the Nation Address) Series, which the first leg was held here on Thursday,
Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office
(PCOO) emphasized that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration continues
to help uplift the lives of the Filipino people amid challenges and during this
health crisis.
Andanar
has acknowledged President Duterte for his commitment and dedication to serve
the country and uplift the lives of the Filipino people. "The leader of a
nation represents its voice, face, and aspirations. It is also said that leadership
is a matter of destiny or chosen by fate. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte rides
on the crest of both," he said.
"On
the sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26, we shall
listen to the embodiment of how people's aspirations have been achieved. At its
center lies the realization that every Filipino has, indeed, been touched by
his words, his actions, and his leadership," Andanar added as he enjoined
everyone to support and look forward to PRRD's last SONA this year.
According
to Andanar, since Duterte became the president of the country, he has been
consistent in his words and performance in government service. His commitment
and dedication were also manifested in how his administration run the
government by ensuring that necessary and significant programs shall be
provided to the people in the communities.
"His
most significant contribution to the legacy of his presidency is the vision
that every Filipino must have a life of dignity and comfort. This vision is
reflected in the policies, programs, projects, and progressive plans already
done over the past five years, and about to be completed by the end of his
term. The details on how this administration has fared would be summarized by
the Cabinet Secretaries heading their respective clusters to better coordinate,
monitor, and improve the progress of every regions," underscored Andanar.
Emphasizing
on how the government continues to survive from the current health crisis, the
good secretary also highlighted that with Duterte leading the country, the
Filipino people can cope with the challenges and adapt to the new normal.
"Despite the pandemic's cruel and invasive nature, we have the president
in sight, regularly talking to the nation, calming our fears, and delivering all
possible assistance for the most vulnerable and deprived. He assures the people
that the commander-in-chief is leading. He knows what he is doing, and what he
is doing is for the good of all," he said.
Also,
as he described President Duterte being the leader of this country and how his
administration managed to address all the pressing issues and concerns, Andanar
elaborated that the president has been true and sincere in his commitment to
serve the Filipinos and provide them a better life.
"He
is surreal, charismatic, and inspiring. Traits that radiate from his time as
the mayor of the city of Davao, with the strength of his power coming from the
people in the streets, the sidewalks, and the derelict sitios. He defies all
odds, unorthodox in many of his ways, sometimes with sardonic humor, fighting
first the illegal drug networks, the corruption in government, and now this
vicious virus. At best, he converses with the people in a language
understandable enough. Without the high-sounding platitudes of political
oratory, he gained the people's trust by speaking from his heart and opening
his soul for the benefit of the country," revealed Andanar.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
11 former rebels in Surigao Norte get assistance under E-CLIP
By Venus L. Garcia
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, Apr. 15 (PIA) -- The eleven former rebels (FRs) in the
province of Surigao del Norte were provided with assistance from the government
through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) in a
simple ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol, Surigao City, April 14.
Also,
non-monetary items were given to the former rebels such as food packs and
health kits.
Surigao
del Norte Gov. Francisco Matugas and 901st Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier
General George Banzon led the distribution of said cash aid to the NPA
combatants who surrendered to the government during the late months of 2020 and
early of 2021.
To make
the former rebels more productive and sustain their lives as they go back to
the mainstream society, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte will
also aid them through trainings, employment, and community-based
income-generating activities.
Overall,
the package of assistance provided to the 11 former rebels amounted to P2.1
million.
Banzon
reiterated that returning to the fold of the law is still the better option. He
urged other NPA rebels to restore their allegiance to the government.
Through
E-CLIP, FRs can be reintegrated back to the community, be with their families,
and start over with their new, normal lives with the help of the financial
benefits intended for their development. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
581 trainees in Agusan Norte PRLEC priority
villages finish skills training
By
Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN
CITY, Apr. 15 -- A total of 581 graduates from Sitios Hinandayan, Mimbahandi
and Salaysayon, all of Barangay Camagong, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte have
finished skills training and received Certificate of Training Completion from
Sec. Isidro S. LapeΓ±a of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA).
“You
can guarantee that the knowledge you obtained from the trainings will be yours
forever… Wherever you will go, you will always bring with you the skills you
have now,” LapeΓ±a said in Tagalog dialect.
Sec.
LapeΓ±a also said that the government has high hopes that this will serve as a
way to transform the lives of every resident in Brgy. Camagong. “Thus, we hope
that you will make use of the new skills that you have to transform not only
your lives but as well as the lives of the people here in your community,” he
said.
The
official also committed to find a way so that the graduates can make use of
what they have learned in the training. “If we can provide toolkits for our
graduates so that they can immediately apply what they have learned, then we
will do it,” addressing the directive to TESDA-Agusan del Norte Provincial
Director Rey M. Cueva.
Specifically,
LapeΓ±a stressed that toolkits in prepare bakery production must be provided so
that the community will already have its bakery, since there is a total of 67
graduates in the Prepare Bakery Products. “In this way, they will no longer go
to Nasipit proper just to buy bread and pastry products,” he said.
Since
the mode of transportation in the three sitios are motorcycle, the 67 graduates
in Small Engine Repair and Maintenance will be given a livelihood opportunity
by means of putting up a repair and maintenance shop. “Aside from providing
livelihood opportunity to these graduates, the people of Brgy. Camagong can
avail of its services without going to Nasipit proper,” LapeΓ±a added.
In
Sitio Salaysayon, Sec. LapeΓ±a said there is a need for the local residents to
experience electricity. In this case, he said that the 29 graduates in Basic
Solar Power Installation will be given an opportunity to apply what they have
learned so that solar electric will be installed in the area.
LapeΓ±a
likewise informed those in attendance that TESDA will also train the community
in agri-crop production to ensure that there will be food in the table of each
family. “The Department of Agriculture through their attached agencies like the
Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Philippine Coconut Authority
(PCA) will assist us in providing you with the skills needed,” he said.
At the
Regional level, TESDA-Caraga Regional Director Tarhata S. Mapandi, CESO III is
hands-on in the implementation of Priority Barangay Development Program through
Sustainable Enterprise Development focusing on Agriculture and its added value
chain interventions under EO 70 Framework. (TESDA Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
AgNor tribal
chieftains express gratitude, continuous support to TESDA
By Robert
E. Roperos
BUTUAN
CITY, Apr. 15 -- Higaonon tribal chieftains in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte have
expressed their gratitude and continuous support to Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in its quest to achieve long-lasting peace
and development.
In
their messages, Datu Talagsaon – Jimbo M. Mansaguinda, Sitio Minbahandi Tribal
Chieftain, underscored the services extended by Poverty Reduction, Livelihood
and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) member-agencies led by TESDA for the different
programs given to them.
He also
cited the efforts made by Agusan del Norte Governor Dale B. Corvera and Nasipit
Municipal Mayor Enrico R. Corvera for converging the government agencies so
that more residents of the barangay will benefit from its programs and
services.
Also,
Datu Salangkuan – Revise S. Mandahinog, Indigenous People Mandatory
Representative (IPMR) stressed that without peace, there will be no progress
and development in a certain area.
He also
pointed out that with the convergence that government agencies have conducted,
it is a clear manifestation that the government is serious in its quest to
achieve long-lasting peace and development.
“With
the gestures that these officials of our government have shown, I believe that
the present administration is certain that through the convergence efforts,
long-lasting peace and development is not impossible to achieve,” he said.
Datu Bawang – Eddie S. Ampiyawan said because of the remarkable help that they received from the government, we commit to be of service to their community and continue the legacy that the present administration has made. (TESDA Caraga/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Chocolate City on the
rise in Agusan del Norte
By Vanessa
P. Sanchez
Dreams
become a reality when intentions turn into action.
And
with this in mind, the members of the Nasipit Cacao Farmers Ventures
Association, Incorporated (NACAFAVA) are working hard to make their dream of
making their hometown Nasipit of Agusan del Norte a Chocolate City, a reality.
The
association availed of a Cacao Production project under the Bottom-Up Budgeting
Program of the Department of Agriculture. Members were provided with planting
materials according to the size of their production areas. They were also given
fertilizers and fermentation boxes.
Along
with the inputs provided, the members of NACAFAVA were also given technical
assistance including various training from which they learned how to take
better care of their cacao trees.
NACAFAVA
member Marcelita D. Romo shares that being part of an organization has been a
big help to their cacao venture.
“Previously,
our knowledge in cacao farming is very limited, but through the trainings, we
learned a lot about new technologies and farming practices such as proper
planting distance and pruning which improves our production,” he said.
Romo
added that since they were also able to avail of a Shared Service Facility
project from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last year, they now
have access to post-harvest equipment which come in handy for their processing
activities.
“The
quality of our tableya has really improved due to our processing equipment.
Now, I prefer to process my harvested beans rather than just sell the dried
beans since I can earn much more from the tableya,” Romo said.
According
to Romo, a kilo of dried cacao beans sells for P150 per kilo while a kilo of
tableya would sell for about P300.
NACAFAVA
President Merlyn B. Lumocso said that they are thankful that the government
agencies are working together to assist farmers and farmers’ associations in
their endeavors.
“We
are happy that more and more of our members are now engaging in cacao
processing because this is one way that we can contribute to achieving the goal
of Nasipit to be a Chocolate City,” she said.
Lumocso
also shared that NACAFAVA has just started processing cacao beans into tableya.
The association buys beans from the members and processes them in their
facility. Some of the tableya were bought by some members while the others were
displayed at the DTI’s Negosyo Center.
Little by little, Lumocso said that they are getting closer to realizing their dreams, not just of improving their farming ventures, but also in making a name in the cacao industry. (DA 13 – RAFIS/PIA Agusan del Norte)
