Kadiwa on Wheels” rolls out in Butuan’s remote barangays

“Kadiwa on Wheels” rolls out in Butuan’s remote barangays Regional News

BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Agriculture - Caraga has served three barangays on its first “Kadiwa on Wheels.” The program aims to bring the market to residents observing the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed in the city and the entire region.

Farmers’ associations in cooperation with individual entrepreneurs and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have displayed commodities such as fresh vegetables, fruits, dressed chicken, pork cuts, fish, and other food supplies. Residents from Barangay Pagatpatan, Agusan Pequeño, and Bading are given the opportunity to APRIL 11-17, 2020 | 11

“We’re glad for this action from the government. Residents here don’t need to buy at the market or grocery stores, because our needs are already brought here,” said Chairperson Larry Abuzo of Barangay Agusan Pequeño.

The Department’s initiative is in support to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

“We’re bringing the market here in the barangays so we can help limit the going in and out of the people just to buy food,” said Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division Chief Lynn Pareñas. Pareñas said that the strict implementation of protocols, such as social distancing and wearing of face masks, among buyers at the barangay hall covered court are being followed.

Suppliers of the “Kadiwa on Wheels” are farmer-members of Sumilihon-Taguibo Farmers’ Association (SUTAFA), Lemon Integrated Farmers’ Association, JVV Farms, Andrew’s Dressed Chicken, and Surigao City Fish Buyers Association.

The consolidated gross sales of the suppliers reached a total of PHP 79,440 for the three barangays. “This is also a good way to help our farmerentrepreneurs have their products sold and still earn despite the pandemic,” said Pareñas. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)

DA assures available food amid COVID-19 threat Regional News

BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Agriculture (DA) boosts up its commitment to provide adequate support to food production. This is to ensure that there will be available and affordable food for every Filipino family.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar assures that the country has enough rice for the next three months, with additional supply from dry season harvest expected to sustain stock inventory level until June. to produce 315,947 metric tons or an equivalent of 134% rice sufficiency by the end of the first semester of the year based on the data of the DACaraga Rice Program through the consolidated planting report of the local government units.

during the duration of the localized community quarantine in the region. On top of the department’s budget for this year, we are expecting a supplemental fund under the Plant, Plant, Plant Program or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Laban sa COVID-19 Program,” DA Caraga OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R. Atega said. Regional News

The Plant, Plant, Plant Program is an initiative of the DA to increase farm productivity and ensure food sufficiency during the COVID-19 emergency.

In the region, rice consumption average of 118.14 kilograms per person annually. Surigao del Norte posted the highest per capita consumption of rice at 121.07 kilograms per person annually.

The least consumption is registered in the Province of Dinagat Islands at 114.61 kilograms.

The pressure in the rice industry to produce more is a vital action amidst the challenging time. DA-Caraga is again calling on the public to patronize other alternative staple food such as white corn, sweet potato, banana (saba), and cassava rather than relying solely on rice. This is to take part in the advocacy to be rice responsible consumers.

“The department considers the rice farmers and other workers in the sector as one of the food security frontliners. Despite the concerns brought by the COVID-19 pandemic we will continue to empower them to ensure continued production, through the provision of high-yielding seeds, farm inputs, technologies, and the rehabilitation and establishment of the small-scale irrigation projects that will improve the production,” Atega said.

Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program, the department through the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) – Agusan is now set for the distribution of high-quality inbred seeds that will benefit more than 40,000 farmers. This will be planted in May for the wet cropping season.

Along with this, the Rice Program is set to release around 1,600 bags of hybrid rice for the early planters in the region.

On the other hand, the agricultural modernization intervention last year to 280 farmer associations and cooperatives under RCEF and Rice Program will contribute to bringing savings in input and labor cost.

Equipment such as mechanical rice transplanters, four-wheel-drive tractors, rice combine harvesters, hand tractors, rice threshers, rice reapers, seed spreaders, and pump and engine sets are the mechanized systems that will help the rice farmers in the region.

is expected that each rice farmer will increase their yield by 1-2 metric tons per hectare.

Further, OIC-RTD Atega also commended the Regional Task Force for COVID-19 One Caraga Shield- a harmonized guidelines for the regional community quarantine in the region to address the threat of the disease.

“The harmonized guidelines in the region answers the Department’s appeal to all local chief executives to let agri-fishery essential commodities to easily pass through quarantine exit and entry points through the DA issued food lane conduct pass,” Atega said. The food lane accreditation of DA-Caraga has already served around 3,000 walk-in and online clients in the region.

Another move to boost domestic supply is the promotion of urban agriculture. Each household in the region is encouraged to grow their food like leafy and lowland vegetables and other root crops. These plants are low maintenance and can easily grow, Atega added.

The DA together with its attached agencies and bureaus are doing the proactive measures as an initiative in combating the threats of COVID-19. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)

Rice farmers get P5.6 million cash assistance from DA Regional News

Each farmer received P5,000 financial support for their farm inputs, food, or anything they need for their families. The program is intended for the rice farmers who are tilling 0.5 hectares to two hectares of land and registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). For the municipality of Trento, Agusan del Sur 281 rice farmers have received the cash aid. BUTUAN CITY - Around 1,124 rice farmers from the Caraga region received the cash assistance under the Department of Agriculture’s - Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) Program.

For the province of Agusan del Norte, the municipality of Kitcharao has 343 beneficiaries and 500 qualified farmers for RTR’s second batch of recipients. The direct cash transfer is intended to help farmers affected by the implementation of the rice tarrification law. Joseph M. Libres, 47, rice farmer from P-5 Barangay Humilog, RTR, Agusan del Norte said he will use the amount to buy food and if there still some he will also buy fertilizers for his one-hectare rice area. “The cash assistance is a big help for my family and for my continuous production of local rice,” Libres said. The release of the cash support is in close coordination with the Local Government Units. In the region, a total of 2,529 rice farmers have been served by the program with total cash released worth P12.6 Million. The distribution of the cash aid continues until the 35,471 target eligible rice farmers in the region will receive financial assistance. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga) Additional ‘uniformed Regional News

heroes’ sent off to regional borders vs COVID-19

BUTUAN CITY - During the send-off ceremony held here on Monday, another multitude of uniformed personnel have been deployed to the four regional border quarantine control points to contain the spread of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Caraga.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 Director Brigadier General Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr. disclosed that a total of 168 cops shall reinforce the troops manning the regional land borders in Brgy. Tagcatong, Carmen, Agusan del Norte; Brgy. Sisimon, Veruela, Agusan del Sur; Brgy. San Roque, Lingig, Surigao del Sur; and Brgy. Langkilaan, Trento, Agusan del Sur.

Aside from the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Army and Philippine Coast Guard also sent additional personnel to the land boundaries as the region closed its borders since the implementation of enhanced community quarantine on

April 6, 2020.

Prior to the deployment, the troops were briefed well on their duties and responsibilities including the safety tips of protecting themselves from COVID-19 infection. They also received face masks, face shields, alcohols, vitamins, thermal scanners, gloves, and other personal protective equipment from PRO13.

“Based on the update from the Department of Health Caraga yesterday, our lone COVID-19 patient tested negative in his second confirmatory test and only one negative result is needed to declare him clear of the virus. With this, let us continue doing our share in this fight. We are in the last line of defense,” BGen. Esquivel Jr., added. contributions of uniformed personnel in addressing the pandemic citing their pivotal roles in the implementation of guidelines and procedures set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The deployed police personnel shall perform 10-day duty and will eventually undergo 16-day quarantine at the places identified by the unit commanders. Afterwards, they can go home for six days. This regular rotation of duty has been observed for them to have enough rest and sleep.

No less than the National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. cited Caraga region along with Baguio City and Davao as good role models in relentless efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. (PNP Caraga/PIA Caraga)

COVID-19 augments measures vs pandemic, activates local response unit

BUTUAN CITY - The National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 continues to formulate better interventions to the health crisis as the highly fatal virus continues to plague the country. By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales For donations intended to address the crisis situation on COVID-19, Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force COVID-19, says donors can coordinate with the nearest Office of Civil Defense regional office in their area. (File photo)

Chief implementer Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., stated during his interview on the Laging Handa Network Briefing with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Martin Andanar that the government is now focusing on creating better and efficient interventions as they anticipate a second wave of the attack of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country. Over the observance of the Holy Week, the task force concentrated on furnishing their logistics and resource management. As hospitals are being capacitated by the Department of Health (DOH), they were able to conduct an assessment on the capabilities of the hospitals in Luzon to cater to the necessities for COVID-19.

Manila and the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital were observed to have excellent facilities and welltrained staff to handle patients of the disease while the Lung Center of the Philippines, East Avenue Medical Center, and the Quezon Institute, all located at Quezon City, is ready to render medical services. Regional News

Major stadiums and coliseums are also currently being refurbished to quarantine areas, such as the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, World Trade Center, and the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum is scheduled to take in patients on Monday.

The task force is also on the works in mass sourcing personal protective equipment (PPEs) from China. Sec. Galvez, Jr., bared that apart from suppliers in China, certain national government agencies are continuously looking for suppliers elsewhere. Albeit the shortage, private sectors continue to donate needed equipment for hospitals.

As the occurrence of the novel coronavirus creates a worldwide frenzy due to its understudied properties, several studies have concluded the possibility of a relapse on the disease, wherein a patient cured of COVID-19 may contract it again. Galvez Jr. urges local government units to heighten its surveillance on residents who has a travel history in Manila which is the virus epicenter in the country. He emphasized the need for a more ‘aggressive’ approach towards eliminating threats through conducting repeated tests.

“Once a person is observed to be a potential carrier of the disease, they should be tested and isolated right away,” he added.

The task force is currently looking for a model for efficient response to the current health crisis, particularly in preventing relapses on patients from occurring.

They aim to conduct approximately 10,000 tests a day to enable the muchdemanded mass testing. Testing centers that are yet to improve their facilities to conduct the appropriate tests for SARSCoV-2 are currently under the process of acquiring an accreditation.

Localizing the approach to the pandemic

The NTF’s organizations, particularly the strategic communication and response operations, are now being systematized in order to create a national action plan encompassing the regional and provincial levels hence the activation of the Local Incident Command.

But while provincial governments are requesting for additional assistance to continue their operations against

COVID-19, Sec. Galvez, Jr. strongly recommends local governments to localize their problems concerning the pandemic.

He underscored that in addition to conscientiously following health protocols set by the national government, a harmonized approach among the regional and local government units to the issues arising from the health crisis enables a swift and efficient response. The Local Incident Command in Eastern Mindanao is supervised by MGen. Jose Faustino Jr. while Caraga region is being handled by MGen. Franco Nemencio M. Gacal of the 4th Infantry Division. Regional News

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is looking into the needs of the different local governments in Caraga. Sec. Galvez, Jr., further emphasized the role of the local government units (LGUs) in flattening the curve.

“A localized response to this crisis is the most effective way to reap the success of our interventions,” he affirmed. “While the provincial government oversees, the LGUs and their barangays serve as the catalysts in the situation,” he said. (PIA-Caraga) National Task Force COVID-19 assists LGUs in addressing issues, concerns in crisis situation

BUTUAN CITY - With the recent crisis situation on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country, the National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 also provides assistance to the different local government units not just in the Caraga region but all the regions in the country. By Jennifer P. Gaitano Knowing that the region has declared lockdown of all its entry and exit points to individuals from outside who wish to enter the region, Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force COVID-19, said that the NTF respects the decision of the One Caraga Shield as it only wanted to

protect the lives of the people from the dreadful virus.

“We will respect that (lockdown in the region). What the President wants to reiterate is that we don’t discriminate those who are not from our places or regions. For OFWs coming in, we let them undergo proper sanitization and quarantine. Before they are being allowed to go back to their respective regions, we make sure that they have already undergone the necessary quarantine,” said Galvez.

The official added that the task force is closely coordinating with the concerned government agencies to continuously provide assistance to the stranded individuals in Luzon who are from Visayas and Mindanao.

When asked on how the national task force could help address the different concerns in the regions, Sec. Galvez bared that the NTF helps capacitate the personnel of the health facilities through the Department of Health (DOH) and helps them address their logistical needs. “All the COVID-19 task forces at the regional level in the country are also intensifying their strategic communications and initiatives to address and execute appropriate actions and response to all pressing issues in the regions,” Galvez added.

For donations intended to address the crisis situation on COVID-19, Sec. Galvez emphasized that donors could coordinate with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) offices in the different regions for proper accounting/ recording and intended hospitals for their donations. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) could also help facilitate in delivering the goods and donations to the different regions.

“Let’s just trust our President and the government on whatever it is doing for our country. The government only wants to save our lives from the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to follow all the health protocols. We are here to help especially our local government units. Stay at home. Keep safe. Practice proper hygiene and social distancing,” underscored Galvez. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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