Pre-SONA roadshow well received by Caraganons
By
Doreen Marielle N. Rosales
BUTUAN
CITY, Apr. 20 (PIA) -- The first leg of the Pre-SONA (State of the Nation
Address) yielded success in its launch in Caraga region, where it was well-received
by participating members from various sectors.
Launched
by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO), and the Office of the Executive Secretary, the “Kasama sa
Pamana: Regional Pre- SONA Series” aims to share updates and insights on the
policies, programs, and accomplishments of the Administration in the past six
years, as well as its responses and updates in mitigating the impact of
COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
“Minabuti
po naming umikot sa lahat ng regions para ipagbigay-alam sa lahat ng ating mga
kababayan kung ano yung partikular na accomplishments at achievements ng
Pangulong Duterte sa bawat region para makakakuha din tayo ng feedback kung ano
yung kailangan nating gawin sa remaining term ni Pangulong Duterte,” said
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles during the launching of the first leg of the
roadshow in Butuan City on Thursday, April 15.
Through
the unwavering efforts of concerned government agencies, organizations, and
implementing partners, Caraga region was able to top in particular hunger and
poverty initiatives launched by the current administration under its Task Force
on Zero Hunger, chaired by the cabinet secretary.
In
2020, 24 farmer organizations recognized by the Department of Agriculture (DA)
topped the earnings for farming and marketing activities in the country, with
over P81 million earned. This success was made possible in part to the agency’s
continuous support to farmers and fisher-folks, where 594,300 were paid over
P3.5 billion by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
The
Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Institute (DOST-FNRI)
continues to tackle food security in the region by implementing its knowledge
transfer programs through webinars. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
was also able to establish 169 Shared Service Facilities for the said concern,
71 of which were turned over to co-operators. Business facilities will also be
set up.
To
tackle malnutrition, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga leads the
implementation of advocacy activities and provision of training and capacity
building for local government units (LGUs) in the region and released the
interim guidelines for the delivery of nutrition services during the pandemic.
The Operation Timbang Plus Monitoring and Rapid Coverage Assessment was also launched.
Participating
members from the barangay councils, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation, civil
society organizations, and employees from government agencies viewed the
initiative as ‘timely’, especially with the current demand for wider access to
information as the whole nation faces a great crisis.
“Information
is power and information empowers. The power of information, as of this time in
our situation with the pandemic, is necessary and very vital that will reach to
our constituents, to the Filipinos, para makita nila na may ginagawa talaga ang
ating gobyerno,” said Zandro Etic, who serves as the information officer for
the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in Caraga.
Youth
participants also saw the roadshow as an appropriate avenue for reminding the
public of the efforts of the government in the past years.
“Okay
po tung ganitong activity kasi po nabibigyan po ng information yung mga tao
regarding sa mga projects ng gobyerno natin. I hope po na itong ganitong
activity hindi lang dito sa atin mangyari kundi pati na din sa ibang municipalities
para naman po mainform yung mga tao na may mga ganitong uri ng projects ang
gobyerno at hindi nila tayo pinapabayaan," said Judeben Duro, Sangguniang
Kabataan chairperson of Brgy. J.P. Rizal, Butuan City.(DMNR/PIA-Caraga)
Nograles turns over
VCO, face shield to LGU-Butuan
By
Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN
CITY, Apr. 20 (PIA) -- In time with the recent conduct of the first leg of the
Kasama sa Pamana: Regional Pre-SONA Series in Caraga region, Cabinet Secretary
Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security
(CORDS), turned over 72 liters of virgin coconut oil (VCO), 2,000 pieces of
face shield, and one huge box of medicine that helps lower cholesterol in the
blood to the city government of Butuan.
These
were generously provided by the MalacaΓ±ang official out from a private fund to
benefit those who need it.
Nograles,
who also co-chairs the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious
Diseases, demonstrated earlier his advocacy on exploring all sorts of safe and
possible treatments for COVID-19. He, however, clarified that such pursuit was
on his own volition and not in any way officially relates to the IATF
undertakings.
Prior
to the turn over of said supplies to the local government of Butuan, the Palace
official has also personally led the distribution of a number of VCO bottles to
two NCR Level 1 hospitals - SDS Medical Center and Novaliches General Hospital
in Quezon City, and in Caloocan City Medical Center, San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s
Hospital, and Ospital ng Malabon.
According
to Nograles, study results have already been released by the Department of
Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Institute (DOST-FNRI) on VCO as
adjunct supplement among COVID-19 probable and suspect cases, in which patients
manifested diminishing signs and symptoms.
“Of
course, with the series of clinical trials and with little or no risks
involved, these possible treatments that are backed up by science could be
worth a try,” he said.
Nograles, manifesting his innate giving spirit, said that in these times of crisis and ongoing pandemic every Filipino should support one another, display kindness, and take concrete actions in order to triumph in the bout against COVID-19 and other pressing challenges. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
AgSur town SK
official shares advantages of COVID-19 vaccine
By
Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY, Apr. 20 (PIA) -- As a youth leader and active advocate of the
government’s vaccination program, Ralf Frias, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
Federation President of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, shared during his virtual
guesting over Network Briefing News his positive outlook of receiving the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.
According
to him, safety is more important in this new normal than anything else. “No one
is safe until everyone gets vaccinated. We would not be able to protect others
if we could not even protect ourselves,” added Frias.
Frias,
further, revealed that the SK officials and the youths in their municipality
have been active partners and advocates in intensifying the information drive
on the government’s vaccination program. “We use the social media platforms in
disseminating relevant information about the vaccination program to inform
everyone on the advantages of having the vaccine against the spread of the
virus. This is also to keep the youth become productive amid the COVID-19
pandemic,” he bared.
Frias
also encouraged all the youths to take an active part in the government’s
effort to control the spread of the virus and be safe at all times. “With the
difficult situation that we are experiencing right now due to the COVID-19
pandemic, it is important that we should always practice the health protocols
to keep ourselves and our families safe from the spread of the virus,” he
underscored. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DA continues fertilizer support to Caraga farmers
BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 20 -- Fertilizer distribution to rice farmers resumes in the Caraga region starting April 19 – May 30, 2021. This is under the Department of Agriculture (DA) Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) II with the remaining allocation of ₱105.75 million will be distributed to the remaining 68,560 farmer-recipients in the region.
To ensure systematic and more efficient implementation of RRP II, DA-Caraga coordinated the 35 accredited merchants on April 16 to brief them on the updated guidelines on the release of fertilizers.
Ronald
A. Cayomo, proprietor of Farmers Edge Agriventures, Inc. has seen the relevance
of the project for the farmers at the same time for his agri-enterprise.
“RRP
II is one of the best programs of the DA, I appreciated the public and private
partnership initiated for the small and medium enterprises in the region. As
the DA helps the farmers to increase their productivity through the use of
additional inputs, the project also opened the opportunity for our business to
earn as the farmers become our direct customers,” said Cayomo.
DA-13
Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Rebecca R. Atega appeal to the
fertilizer dealers to adhere to the approved guidelines to have a smooth
process during the release.
“We
are still looking for additional dealers, distributors, and Farmers’
Cooperatives & Associations (FCA) to become accredited merchants under the
RRP II Fertilizer Component to fast track the release of the fertilizers to
farmer-recipient in the region,” RTD Atega said.
"Ideally,
it is better to have participating merchants per city or municipality so that
farmers will have the accessibility to avail of the free fertilizers," she
added.
Further,
to become an accredited merchant, interested dealers and FCA’s need to comply
with the following requirements: Business Registration (DTI/SEC/CDA and BIR),
Fertilizer & Pests Authority Certificate of Accreditation, Official
Receipt, Availability of Stocks (Urea), and attendance of RRP II Program
Briefing.
In
the region, a total of 6 accredited merchants are situated in Butuan City and
Agusan del Norte, 17 in Agusan del Sur, 2 in Surigao del Norte, and 10 in
Surigao del Sur. ( DA-Caraga RAFIS/PIA Caraga)
SurSur LGU organizes
local tourism orgs
CARRASCAL,
Surigao del Sur, Apr. 20 -- With the aim to enhance the tourism potentials of
the town, the local government unit (LGU) of Carrascal in Surigao del Sur
headed by Mayor Vicente “VJ” Pimentel, III, recently organized the different
local tourism-related sectors.
Among
the relevant sectors organized recently by the Municipal Tourism Office (MTO)
included PINTADA Carrascal Guild of Artists; RAKUT Carrascal Performing Arts;
LGBTQ, LANTAW Creatives; HITSURA Carrascal Creative Make-up Artists; and
Tourist Boat Operators Association.
These
sectors were actively involved in the previous activities of the Municipal
Tourism, Culture, and Arts council including the council’s planning and project
implementation activities in the town.
Meanwhile,
the MTO has also organized the Carrascal Food and Souvenir Association that
composed of owners of food services establishments and potential souvenir
makers.
These
organizations play a vital role in sustaining inclusive economic growth in the
municipality’s tourism industry amidst the pandemic.
They
would be consulted on crafting the municipality’s tourism economic recovery
plan to cope with the new normal, it was learned. (with a report from
LGU-Carrascal/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Pagbawi ni Pangulong
Duterte sa moratorium sa pagmimina sa bansa, suportado ng Gobernador sa SurSur
LUNGSOD
NG TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Abril 20 -- Suportado ni Surigao del Sur
Gobernador Alexander Pimentel ang naging pasya ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na
pagbawi sa ban/moratorium sa lahat ng mga bagong kasunduan para sa pagpapatakbo
ng minahan sa bansa.
Sa
isang panayam, inihayag nito na makakatulong ang nasabing desisyon upang muling
sumigla ang ekonomiya ng bansa na labis nalugmok dahil sa coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID 19) pandemic.
Ayon pa
kay Pimentel, kailangan na umanong humanap ng mapagkukunan ng pondo ang
presidente para sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa at proyekto ng bansa na
nakapaloob sa General Appropriations Act (GAA) ngayong taon.
Sa
katunayan, una na ring sinang-ayunan ng Inter-Agency Task Force Against (IATF)
COVID-19 ang pagbubukas ng mas marami pang industriya at pagpapapasok ng mga
investor dahil labis na nangangailangan ngayon ng pera ang bansa.
Matatandaan na kilala ang lalawigan ng Surigao del Sur na may nag-ooperate na mga malalaking minahan sa buong bansa. (DXJS RP-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Panukalang batas sa pagkakaroon ng 500-bed capacity hospital sa bawat rehiyon, isang paraan ng pagtugon sa problema ng pandemya
By Nerissa Espinosa
LUNGSOD NG TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Abril 20 -- Isang panukalang batas ang inihain ni Surigao del Sur Representative Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr. sa kongreso na naglalayong magkakaroon ng 500-bed capacity Apex or End-Referral Hospital ang bawat rehiyon.
Ani
Pichay na sa kasalukuyang problema na kinakaharap ng bansa sa coronavirus
diseasee 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic kung saan punoan na ng ospital sa kaMaynilaan
dahil sa pagdami na naman ng kaso sa COVID 19, malaking tulong ito upang
matugunan ang problema.
Napag-alaman
mula sa kanya na dito sa Mindanao ay dalawa pa lamang ang Apex Hospital sa
Davao City at Tagum City, kung kaya’t makikita ang malaking kakulangan sa
larangang ito.
Ang
apex hospital ay ang final referral hospital na malaking ginhawa kung bawat
rehiyon ay makakaroon ng ganito kalaking ospital lalo na sa panahong ito na
merong pandemyang kinakaharap ang bansa.
Kaugnay
nito ay siniguro ni Pichay na gagawin niya ang kanyang makakaya upang maipasa
na ang nasabing panukala sa kongreso. Inihayag ito ng mambabatas sa okasyon ng
60th anniversary ng Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) na
sinisikap na ma-upgrade at maging Apex Hospital ng Caraga region. (DXJS
RP-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
