Caraga InFocus –April 2-8, 2022 by Caraga InFocus

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INFOCUS

COVER

REGIONAL NEWS PRRD TO VISIT BUTUAN CITY; JOIN MEMBERS OF NTF/ RTF-ELCAC

PROVINCIAL NEWS 10 11 12 13

DTI AGNOR CONDUCTS 2022 CMCI ROADSHOW FOR NORTHEAST AGNOR LGUS

AGNOR BAGS TOP ADAC AWARD

SP AGNOR HUGTAN ANG ILEGAL NGA PAGBALIGYA OG PRODUKTONG DILI FDA-REGISTERED

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UBAY-UBAY NGA SERBISYO GIPADANGAT ISIP CULMINATION ACTIVITIES SA USA KA BULAN NGA WOMEN’S MONTH

PERSONAHE SA PLANT! PLANT! PLANT! GIBANSAY SA PHILFIDA PAGBANSAY SA PAGDUMALA OG NURSERY SA ABAKA SURSUR PPO HOLDS DRONE REFRESHER TRAINING SURSUR NANGUNA SA TALA NG FULLY-VACCINATED POPULATION KONTRA COVID-19 SA CARAGA NATIONAL HIGHWAYS SA SURSUR, TITIYAKIN NG DPWH NA MADAANAN PA DIN NGAYONG SEMANA SANTA

MINDANAO NEWS

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INT’L MONITORING TEAMS CRUCIAL TO PEACEKEEPING GAINS IN MINDANAO MINDANAO COFFEE PRODUCERS GET ENTERPRISE, TECH SUPPORT

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NATIONAL NEWS BG PARTY-LIST VOWS TO SUPPORT IMPROVED MALASAKIT, HEALTHCARE SERVICES

BG PARTY-LIST PUSHES FOR FAST-TRACKED REHABILITATION OF SIARGAO, CEBU, OTHER ODETTEDAMAGED AREAS PRESIDENT DUTERTE INSPECTS NEWLY CONSTRUCTED TEMPORARY SHELTER IN BATANGAS PRESIDENT DUTERTE JOINS MUSLIMS IN RAMADAN OBSERVANCE GOV’T TO CONDUCT AGGRESSIVE IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN TO AVOID VACCINE WASTAGE PRESIDENT DUTERTE INTERIOR CHIEF REPORTS P28.7-MILLION DRUG HAUL MANDATORY BOOSTERING WILL AID GOV’T WIDEN VACCINATION COVERAGE, SAYS HEALTH CHIEF

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COVID-19 NEWS PH COVID-19 CASES AVERAGE REMAIN LOW AT 366 PER DAY 73.5% OF TARGET POPULATION NOW VACCINATED VS. COVID-19 WHO LAUDS PH PANDEMIC RESPONSE

CONTENTS

Caraga

Volume VI, No. 14 April 2-8, 2022

official receipt/sales invoice to the Public Assistance Complaints Desk (PACD) Officer in the RDO 103 or any revenue collection offices (RCOs) for validation and stamping. Their name, contact number, address, entry number, and month of the raffle draw they are participating in must be written in their receipt after validation. Filled-in receipt/sales invoice entry will be dropped at the drop box located at the PACD at the RDO 103, or in RCOs across Agusan del Norte. Participating taxpayers can submit a maximum of 10 entries per month.

BIR-Butuan fast-tracks taxpayers’ awareness program thru raffle draw

BIR Revenue Region 17 regional director Jose Eric Furia said that the raffle draw also provides taxpayers an insight on the taxation system in the country and in turn avoid tax evasion.

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

A monthly raffle draw was launched by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 103 in this city to fast-track the bureau’s taxpayers’ awareness campaign.

importance of paying taxes especially among business owners. As a result, we can collect a greater amount of taxes, which we can use to generate revenue for government expenditures,” he added.

The “Resibo Mo, Panalo Ko!” raffle draw aims to encourage taxpayers and consumers to ask for receipts/sales invoice in any transaction with establishments and even from individuals they are conducting business with.

The promo is open to all taxpayers/ consumers who have made a purchase in any establishment in the province of Agusan del Norte, except for employees of the bureau. Every valid official receipt/ sales invoice issued starting in the month of April 2022 with no minimum amount of purchase can be a raffle entry. Only official receipts/sales invoice that are issued during the month covering the period of the raffle draw will be accepted.

“Issuance of receipts or sales invoice guarantees us that these establishments/ businesses are paying their taxes properly,” said Revenue District Officer Dante Tan. “By cultivating the practice of asking for such document, we are also instilling the

“Tax collection starts with the issuance of a receipt. If a receipt is not issued, definitely, little or no tax is being collected from that establishment,” he said. Value-added tax (VAT), or the tax levied on the price of a product or service in each process of production, distribution, or sale, is an indirect tax that is being paid by the consumer. “In every good or service paid by a consumer, they are entrusting their money to the establishment they have made a transaction with. When a receipt is not issued, the money may not be remitted to the BIR, therefore, their taxes may be pocketed,” Furia said. “I encourage everybody, taxpayers or not, to ask for a receipt or sales invoice in every purchase of goods and services,” he added. The raffle draw and announcement of winners will be held at the end of the month. One winner will receive PhP2,000 worth of grocery packages while 10 others will receive a limited edition freebie. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

Participating taxpayers must present their Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

News Briefs The Philippines is 3rd in the vaccination administration among 10 ASEAN countries, 11th out of 47 countries in Asia, and 16th out of 205 countries globally, with a total of 142,236,006 vaccine doses administered as of March 30, 2022. The Philippines ranks 4th among ASEAN countries in terms of seven-day average daily rate of 181,223 doses administered. xx

According to the Reuters COVID-19 Global Tracker, infections continue to decrease in the Philippines, with 362 new infections reported on average each day as of end-March. The number is among the lowest in Southeast Asia and East Asia, where some nations log an average of hundreds of thousands of cases per day. Reuters is collecting daily COVID-19 infections and deaths data for 240 countries and territories around the world, updated regularly throughout each day. View the complete and latest data here: https://graphics.reuters. com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/ The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), and the NAPC Women Council endeavor to boost efforts in mainstreaming gender and assessing the anti-Violence Against Women law implementation. In time with the 2022 National Women’s Month Celebration, the parties signed the partnership agreement in a virtual online ceremony. La Niña starts to weaken over the Tropical Pacific. Most climate models combined with expert judgement suggest its likely persistence through June-July-August 2022 season (~53% chance) and the return to ENSOneutral levels is favored thereafter.

REGIONAL NEWS

PRRD to visit Butuan City; join members of NTF/RTF-ELCAC By Jennifer P. Gaitano

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is scheduled to visit this city on Tuesday, April 12, to join the members of the National Task Force and Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-RTF ELCAC) in a meeting to be held at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort.

message during the visit of PRRD while Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, national security adviser (NSA) and vice chairperson of the NTFELCAC, is also expected to deliver his message.

Some 600 individuals from different government agencies involved, local During this event, the government units, NTFjoint task forces will RTF ELCAC members, present the highlights media, and other guests and responses of will be attending the said the ELCAC project activity. All were required beneficiaries in Caraga to undergo RT-PCR test Region. and present its negative result along with the Butuan City Mayor copy of their vaccination Ronnie Vicente Lagnada card. Antigen test is also will deliver his welcome required, which will be

administered during the event. As one of the highlights, PRRD will join the member-agencies as they hand over their programs and services to their respective beneficiaries. This included the former rebels (FRs), indigenous peoples (IPs), and local farmers, among others. It has been emphasized by the organizers and working committees that strict health protocols will be implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). (JPG/PIACaraga) Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

PROVINCIAL NEWS

DTI AgNor conducts 2022 CMCI roadshow for northeast AgNor LGUs

The Department of Trade and Industry - Agusan del Norte (DTI-ADN) on Tuesday facilitated the conduct of its second 2022 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Roadshow for the local government units (LGUs) of Magallanes, Cabadbaran City, Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, and Kitcharao, all in the province Agusan del Norte, held in Cabadbaran City. DTI Agusan del Norte provincial director Lorijane Sacote said that the activity is to provide an overview of the index emphasizing its importance as

a tool to measure competitiveness. This also served as a venue to discuss the indicators and timeline of the 2022 CMCI cycle targeted to be completed by the end of the first semester of this year to acknowledge the incumbent officials responsible for such success, she added.

for International Development. Cities and municipalities are ranked on their competitiveness based on an overall competitiveness score which is the sum of scores on five pillars that pool data from several sub-indicators. These pillars are economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation. Scores are determined by the values of the actual data and the completeness of the submitted data. The higher the score of a city or municipality, the more competitive it is.

The CMCI 2022 cycle is now in the data collection phase for The CMCI is an submission to the online annual ranking of CMCI Portal by the end Philippine cities and municipalities developed of April 2022. This will then be followed by the by the National Competitiveness Council validation in the month of May with the tentative through the Regional schedule for awarding Competitiveness in June of this year. (DTICommittees with Agusan del Norte/PIAthe assistance of the Agusan del Norte) United States Agency Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

AgNor bags top ADAC Award

The Province of Agusan del Norte has been conferred with the Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Award by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga for the years 2019-2020 in a ceremony conducted recently.

Among the municipalities in the province, Las Nieves town and the City of Cabadbaran got high functionality performance in 2020. The municipalities of Buenavista, Carmen, RTR and Las Nieves got the same in 2019.

Provincial Vice-Governor Ramon A.G Bungabong received the award on behalf of the ADAC Chairperson Governor Dale B. Corvera during the Regional Awarding Ceremony held in one of the convention centers in Butuan City.

The municipalities of Jabonga, Nasipit and Tubay were also awarded with the perfect score functionality performance in 2020, and Magallanes, Santiago, and Tubay in 2019. (Karen Kie Decamotan, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

SP AgNor hugtan ang ilegal nga pagbaligya og produktong dili FDA-registered Lim, Jr. uban ang mga representante sa FDA ug CIDG lakip na usab ang complainant nga si Marianita P. Anciano kauban ang iyang Legal Counsel nga si Atty. Gene Prisco.

Giaksyonan sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa Agusan del Norte sa Committee of the Whole bagohay pa lamang ang usa ka reklamo gikan sa konsamante laban sa usa ka haplas nga gialigahan nga wala pay Certificate of Product Registry (CPD) gikan sa Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Atol sa meting sa pagpanguna ni Board Member Elizabeth Marie Calo niadtong Marso 16, nahisgutan ang kabahin sa pagmugna og saktong regulasyon ug disposisyon sa mga tambal nga ilegal nga

Tungod niini, gipasar sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang Provincial Resolution No. 153-2022 sa gipamaligya sa mga pagpangunahan parmasya sa probinsya. ni Bokal Calo nga Human ang masusing naghangyo sa FDA diskusyon, nagkahiusa nga magpahigayon og ang maong komitiba tukmang imbestigasyon nga magbuhat og sa mga manufacturer ordinansa ang SP dinhi sa probinsya nga aron mamahimong nakasupak sa balaod sumbanan sa insaktong subay sa RA No. 9711 aksyon batok sa mga o ang FDA Act of manufacturer ug seller 2009. Tumong niini nga nga namaligya og dili mapahamtangan sa aprobado o rehistradong saktong disiplina ug produkto sa FDA. penalidad ang mga nisupak sa maong Gitambungan usab ang balaod. committee meeting nila ni Bokal Rodulfo Pitogo, Ang maong resolusyon Francisco Chan, Jr., Dick giaprobahan Victor Carmona, Meriam kaniadtong Marso 21, Pagaran, Keefe Blue 2022 atol sa ika-130th Leonar, Nieva Famador, regular session sa SP. Erwin Dano, Virgilio (AgNor Bulletin/PIAEscasiñas, Jr., Benjamin Agusan del Norte) Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

Ubay-ubay nga serbisyo gipadangat isip culmination activities sa usa ka bulan nga women’s month Gihimo kaniadtong Marso 29 ang culmination sa 2022 National Women’s Month, sa Provincial Capitol Lobby, Butuan City. Ang Women’s Month Celebration gi-selebrar sa matag tuig sa bulan sa Marso ug gisaulog kini dala ang tema nga “Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran”. Subay ang maong tema sa nagdagan nga unom na ka tuig nga tema nga “We Make Change Work for Women.” Mahinumdumduman nga gisugdan ang Women’s Month Celebration 2022 pinaagi sa kick-off ceremony niadtong Marso 8, sa Provincial Capitol Lobby. Ubay-ubay ang kalihukan nga nag-apil sa empleyadong kababayenan sa probinsyal nga panggamhanan sama sa mobile photography contest ug pagpupugay para kay Juana (Woman of the Year) ug pagbansay pagluto og sa bread and pastry sulod sa bulan. Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

Lakip usab sa mga kalihukan sa culmination karon ang libreng massage, pedicure, manicure, libreng blood sugar test, pagkuha sa timbang, blood pressure, ug pasundayag uban ang 23rd IB band. Atol sa culmination gihapon, gi-anunsyo ang mga mananaug sa mobile photography ug makadawat og premyo 1st placer-Php5,000; 2nd placer-Php3,000; 3rd placer-Php2,000; 4th ug 5th placer makadawat og tagsa-tagsa ka-keypad phones, Php500 cash, ug Php100 worth of load.

Kaabag sa probinsya sa pipila ka kalihukan ang Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) ug uban pang ahensya. “Ang agenda sa kababayen-an is really towards sa kalambuan sa community ... Not to compete with men, ang atong gi advocate is partnership between men and women in development,” sumala ni Board Member Elizabeth Calo, chairperson sa Committee on Social Welfare and Population Development. (LGUAgusan del Norte/PIAAgusan del Norte)

Personahe sa Plant! Plant! Plant! gibansay sa PHILFIDA pagbansay sa pagdumala og nursery sa abaka saging, bulanghoy, kape, cacao, rubber, commercial trees ingon man mangga ug uban pang prutas. Aron maka-produce sa mga seedlings sa maong crops, nagpahiluna ang probinsya karon og tulo ka nurseries nga naay area nga mosuma sa kapin sa lima ka ektarya.

Miagi ang siyam ka personahe sa proyektong Plant! Plant! Plant! sa AGUSAN UP! og duha ka adlaw nga pagpbansay pagdumala og nursery sa abaca. Ang pagbansay, nga gihimo sa nursery sa Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFida)-Caraga sa Pigadaulan, Butuan City, gidumala sa mga personahe sa PhilFida mismo. Tumong sa maong pagbansay nga mahimong andam ang mga personahe sa nursery sa Plant! Plant! Plant! sa pagpadagan sa gipahiluna nila karon nga nursery sa abaka. Ang probinsyal nga

panggamhanan, pinaagi sa AGUSAN UP!, nagpunting nga makatanum og abaka sa 4,000 ektaryas nga luna pag-abot sa tuig 2027. Niini magtanum kini sa 667 ektaryas nga luna matag tuig sa mosunod nga unom ka tuig. Sa tag 1,100 ka kinahanglang semilya matag ektarya, kinahanglan makaproduce kini og 733,333 ka semilya sa abaka matag tuig. Ang abaca usa lamang sa mga high value crops nga pakusgan sa probinsya ang pagpananum hangtud sa tuig 2027. Nag-apil kini og walo ka lain pang commodities nga itanum sa mosuma sa 125,000 ektaryas. Ang ubang mga commodities mao ang

Ang pagpananum sa mga mga crops kabahin sa flagship program sa AGUSAN UP! nga Plant and Process for Prosperity. Magsilbing kaluhang proyekto dinhi sa Plant! Plant! Plant! ang Process! Process! Process! Ang abot sa mga uma gipunting dinhi nga iproseso ra usab sa mga processing companies nga ipahiluna sa probinsya mismo, panukaran pagkab-ot sa panglantaw niini nga mahimong “AgriProcessing Center sa Caraga” pag-abot sa tuig 2027. Ang AGUSAN UP! mao ang kampanya sa pagpalambo sa administrasyon ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera kaabag ang buhatan ni Kong. Angel Amante-Matba. (AGUSAN UP! Nursery Team, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIAAgusan del Norte) Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

SurSur PPO holds drone refresher training The Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDS PPO) successfully conducted the 2-day Drone Refresher Training and 1st Provincial Director Aerial and Photography Competition on March 29-30, 2022 held at the SDS PPO Camp Vicente L. Pimentel Sr., Tandag City. Provincial Director PCol Joseph Boquiren disclosed that the said activity was participated by four non-commissioned police officers coming from the 1st and 2nd SDS Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) who are designated as drone operators. The activity is in line with the Philippine of aerodynamics, National Police Master weather, regulations, Training Plan 2022. and safety to unlock many potential uses The purpose of the and benefits of drones Drone Refresher Training, in anti-insurgency according to the official, surveillance operations. aims to ensure that the operators have a Participants from the basic understanding 1st SDS PMFC were Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

declared as winners in the single-shot photography while the 2nd SDS PMFC won the aerial video competition and was adjudged as the overall champion. (PNP-Surigao del Sur/ NGPB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

SurSur nanguna sa tala ng fullyvaccinated population kontra COVID-19 sa Caraga

Nangunguna ang lalawigan ng Surigao del Sur sa limang probinsya sa rehiyon ng Caraga sa porsyento ng mga indibidwal na fully-vaccinated kontra COVID-19, batay sa ulat na ipinalabas ng Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOHCHD) noong Abril 3.

na may 69.81% ang fully-vaccinated. Sumunod naman dito ang Agusan del Norte na may 66.85%; Agusan del Sur na may 64.06%; Surigao del Norte na may 62.63%; at ang Probinsya ng Dinagat Islands na may 54.93%.

Sur na may 77.33%; Cabadbaran City na may 75.28%; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur na may 68.94%; Surigao City na may 61.58%; at Bayugan City na may 61.40%.

Samantala, isinailalim na ngayon ang Surigao del Sur sa Alert Level 1. Bagamat naibaba na Sa antas naman ng ang alert level status mga lungsod sa rehiyon, sa buong probinsya, Sa inilabas na report ng nanguna ang Butuan patuloy na isinasagawa DOH-CHD sa Caraga, ang pagbabakuna sa target nitong 80% ng City na may 78.62% ang fully-vaccinated. kontra COVID-19. populasyon, nanguna Sinundan ito ng Tandag (NGPB/PIA-Surigao del ang Surigao del Sur sa Sur) antas ng mga probinsya City sa Surigao del

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

National highways sa SurSur, titiyakin ng DPWH na madaanan pa din ngayong Semana Santa

Nakahanda na ngayon ang mga maintenance personnel ng mga district engineering offices ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sa Surigao del Sur na tiyaking madadaanan ang national highway sa probinsya sa panahon ng Semana Santa. Ayon kay Engr. Anabelle Acma, assistant district engineer ng 1st District Engineering Office ng DPWH dito, nakahanda Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

ang mga tauhan nila sa maintenance section na rumesponde sakaling may problema sa national highway ngayong Semana Santa. Inihayag rin ni Engr. Noel Oclarit, district engineer ng 2nd District Engineering Office, pananatilihin nilang madadaanan ang mga highway sa probinsya sa panahon ng Semana Santa at nakaabang ang mga tauhan nila sa maintenance section

para tumulong sa mga motorista. Kaugnay ng pagsasagawa ng Lakbay Alalay o ang pagtulong nila sa mga motorista, sinabi nina Engr. Acma at Engr. Oclarit na wala pa silang natanggap na direktiba o memorandum kaugnay ng pagsasagawa nito. (John Cuadrasal, DXJS RP-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Int’l monitoring teams crucial to peacekeeping gains in Mindanao efforts and resolving various ceasefire-related issues in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” GPH-MILFCoordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities cochair Butch Malang said.

EXIT CALL. The government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities chairperson, Brig. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete (right), and co-chair Butch Malang (left) flank International Monitoring Team M-16 head of mission, Maj. Gen. Datuk Hamdan Bin Hj Ismael, on Wednesday (April 6, 2022) in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. The International Monitoring Teams were awarded certificates of appreciation for helping the Philippines sustain the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process. (Photo courtesy of OPAPRU)

MINDANAO NEWS

The Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) cited the major contributions of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in sustaining the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process. OPAPRU said the IMTMindanao 16 (Malaysia) and 17’s (Brunei) official tour of duty in the southern part of the Philippines will end in June. The IMT was launched in October 2004 to oversee the on-ground implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It is tasked to, among others, monitor the security, humanitarian, rehabilitation and development, socioeconomic assistance, and civilian protection aspects of the agreement. The neutrality of the IMT as a third-party monitoring team is crucial to creating and strengthening the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process over the years, OPAPRU said in a statement on Friday. “The IMT has become the government’s effective partner for pushing peace

On Wednesday, OPAPRU awarded the IMT delegates, including M-16 head of mission, Maj. Gen. Datuk Hamdan Bin Hj Ismael, with certificates of appreciation. “In a few more weeks, the Malaysia Contingent of IMT M-16 and the Bruneian Contingent of IMT M-17 members In Shaa Allah will leave this wonderful Mindanao. We have observed and monitored the peace process in IMT AOR, specifically in the BARMM area. Your continuous support and cooperation are greatly appreciated,” Ismael said during the ceremony. The IMT also assists in the compilation of all signed agreements between the GPH and MILF Implementing Panels from August 2016 to date. Three IMT teams are stationed in Cotabato City, Iligan City, and Zamboanga City. (PNA)

Mindanao coffee producers get enterprise, tech support

HANDS-ON TRAINING. Participants of the “Training of Trainers (TOT) on Farm Management and Training on PostHarvest Handling and Processing” by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DAPRDP) last month acquired skills on the proper way of coffee processing. On Friday (April 1, 2022), DA-PRDP pledges its continuing support to the ‘Up the Mindanao Cup’ undertaking through enterprise subprojects and technical support for coffee production and marketing. (Photo courtesy of DA-PRDP)

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) reiterated Friday its continuing support for the “Up the Mindanao Cup” initiative through enterprise subprojects and technical support for coffee production and marketing in the

island region.

Competition 2022.

This came about as farmers from the provinces of Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, and Bukidnon gained recognition and awards as among the best coffee producers in the country recently at the Philippine Coffee Quality

“They are the star of Mindanao’s coffee. Mindanao coffee farmers continue to have high hopes that soon their beans will eventually reach the international market,” DA-PRDP said in a statement. Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

Currently, DA-PRDP has a total of seven coffee subprojects in its portfolio: two coffee subprojects in Region 10 with the “Coffee Processing and Marketing Enterprise” in Maramag and “Arabica Coffee Processing, Consolidation, and Marketing” enterprise in Bukidnon; two in Region 12 with the “Enhancement of Production and Marketing of Dried Green Coffee Beans” in Tupi South Cotabato, and the “Production and Marketing of Green Coffee Beans” subproject in Sultan Kudarat. DA-PRDP maintains a subproject in Region 13 with the “Integrated Green Coffee Beans” enterprise in Surigao del Sur; two in Region 11 with the “Coffee Processing and Marketing Enterprise” in Davao del Norte; the “Green Coffee Beans Processing and Marketing Enterprise” in Davao del Sur. “These enterprise Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

subprojects aim to increase coffee farmers’ production and improve the quality of their dried fermented and roasted coffee beans to fetch higher prices for their beans at the market,” the agency said. In line with DA Secretary William Dar’s advocacy, the PRDP said it remains committed to practice an inclusive agribusiness approach based on the value chain system. On March 24, the PRDP invited coffee farmers and partner groups from the six Mindanao regions to the third round of the Mindanao Online Convergence for Agriculture and Fishery Enterprise (CAFE), featuring the topic “Let’s Up the Mindanao Cup: A Knowledge Sharing Session on Coffee Beans Fermentation.” DA-11 coffee rejuvenation project focal person and licensed Q1 coffee grader John Paul Matuguinas spoke about coffee post-

harvest processing, bean grading, and sensory evaluation during the activity. In line with strengthening support to coffee producers in Mindanao, PRDP collaborated with other line agencies to provide technical assistance to coffee farmers in the “Training of Trainers (TOT) on Farm Management and Training on PostHarvest Handling and Processing” in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat. Jeremias Galon, a member of the New Calinog Coffee Growers Association and one of the farmers who benefitted from the training, said he learned new techniques in farming coffee that he had not tried since he began farming. “I learned so many things about planting coffee. I will surely adopt everything I learned on my farm and I will share it with other farmers in our area,” he said. (PNA/ Che Palicte)

BG Party-List vows to support improved Malasakit, healthcare services BG Partylist first nominee Alelee Andanar on Monday vowed to continue to support the provision of financial and medical assistance to indigent families through the instituted Malasakit Center Act and the Universal health Care Act. She said that they are eyeing to improve the implementation of the Malasakit Centers across the country as well, stressing that this will help promote the well-being of the Filipino people, especially as they push for more inclusive and accessible public services.

NATIONAL NEWS

“Isa ito sa pundasyon ng taos-pusong serbisyo ng Duterte administration na nakikita kong dapat na ipagpatuloy at gawing prayoridad ng susunod na administrasyon. At ako naman ay gagawin ang makakaya ko sa Kongreso para ipagtuloy ito lalo na’t malaki po ang ginhawa at tulong na hatid nito sa mga kapuspalad nating kababayan,” she said. As of March 2022, there are already 151 Malasakit Centers in the country with the one in Quirino Provincial Medical Center (QPMC) in Cabarroguis town as the latest to be inaugurated.

government units, may also open their own provided they meet a standard set of criteria to ensure the sustainability of its operations. “Sa aking pag-iikot sa mga lalawigan, isa talaga itong Malasakit center at healthcare law sa mga ipinapasalamat ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan. Hindi po biro ang magkasakit ngayon, kaya salamat sa Malasakit Center na inisyatibo nina Pangulong Duterte at Sen. Bong Go,” Andanar said.

Meanwhile, Atty. Mico Clavano, BG partylist’s second nominee, backed this, adding that they will ensure that these policies will not be politicized. He mentioned that they have been receiving reports about patients who were not Andanar said that it is high time that Filipinos, whatever their status, should not shy away from given referrals for medical assistance because of differences in political views. seeking medical help because of financial constraints. “Huwag naman sanang ganoon. Tandaan niyo po, ang serbisyo publiko ay walang pinipili. Ang Considered as a Duterte Legacy, President programang ito ng Pangulo ay wala rin pong Duterte signed into law the Republic Act kulay,” he said. No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which was authored by “Kapag magpapatuloy ang mga ganyang Sen. Go. pag-abuso, ipapanukala ko ang batas na magpaparusa sa mga pumopolitika sa The law mandates all DOH-run hospitals to Malasakit Centers sa buong bansa,” he added. establish their own Malasakit Center. Other (BG) public hospitals, including those run by local

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

BG Party-list pushes for fasttracked rehabilitation of Siargao, Cebu, other Odette-damaged areas

The group was one of the first responders in Siargao Islands and Surigao City in December 2021, where they distributed basic necessities, organized soup kitchens for affected families, collated donations from its partners and helped locate individuals who were incommunicado with their families while communication lines were still awaiting in the said areas. These efforts complemented the operations of the government spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), of which the government helped more than 1 million affected families in areas where Typhoon Odette took its path.

Speeding up recovery efforts and aligning priority projects for typhoon-affected areas, including Siargao, Bohol, Cebu, Negros provinces, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, and Palawan, will be one of the primary initiatives of the BG Partylist once it sits in Congress, First Nominee

Alelee Andanar said on Tuesday. Ensuring the welfare of indigent Bisayas in the islands of Visayas and Mindanao remains the key focus of the BG Party-list. “Sa lawak ng pinsala ng bagyong Odette noong

Disyembre, ramdam pa rin hanggang ngayon ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan. Maraming sektor ang sinira nito tulad edukasyon, pangkabuhayan, kabahayan, agrikultura, turismo, at pagkain,” she said. Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

Andanar said much needs to be done to help the people get back into their lives and take back their lost sources of income. “Bagama’t ginagawa ng Duterte administration ang mga tamang aksyon tulad Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

ng shelter assistance, rehabilitation plan, cashfor-work programs, batid ko na aabutin ng ilang taon bago tuluyang makabangon ang mga tinamaan ng Bagyong Odette.” she said. “Kaya isusulong natin sa national budget na mapabilang sa prayoridad ang paglalaan ng rehabilitation fund na nakatuon lamang sa mga Odette-damaged areas,” she added. Meanwhile, BG Partylist second nominee Atty. Mico Clavano said that they will also push for additional fund allocation to help local entrepreneurs build their livelihood that will in return also create more jobs locally. “Kapag may simpleng kabuhayan na, unti-unti maipapatayo nila ang kanilang mga nasirang bahay, may pangkain na rin tatlong beses sa isang araw, tulong sa pagpapaaral sa mga anak, at babalik na rin ang sigla ng ekonomiya sa kanilang mga pamayanan,” he said.

Clavano also believes that the passage of the Disaster Resilience Act filed by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go will help consolidate the efforts to manage disasters in the country. Sen Go’s bill seeks to create the Department of Disaster Resilience that will concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better. “Kung hindi man maisabatas ang Disaster Resilience Act sa loob ng natitirang buwan ng Duterte administration, ipapanukala ko ulit ito at susuportahan ko si Senator Bong Go sa pagsusulong na maisabatas ang pagbuo ng bagong Department of Disaster Resilience na makatutulong para mas streamlined, organisado at proactive ang tugon ng gobyerno sa epekto ng kalamidad at anumang sakuna o disaster,” he said. (BG)

President Duterte inspects newly constructed temporary shelter in Batangas

President Duterte joins Muslims in Ramadan observance

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the inspection Monday of one of evacuation centers constructed by the government in Batangas aimed at boosting the country’s disaster preparedness. Bearing the lessons learned from Taal Volcano’s January 2020 eruption, President Duterte directed the establishment of evacuation centers in Lipa City, Tanauan, and municipalities of Malvar, Talisay, and Laurel. “After two years, we are finally here, marking the completion of this facility that can house 150 families or 600 individuals during calamities,” the President said during the event held in Mataasnakahoy, Batangas. “Now that we are experiencing challenges brought by the recent eruptions of Taal Volcano, I am confident that the Evacuation Center in Mataasnakahoy will be of great service to our affected kababayans.” He commended the people who have worked hard to complete the center with a strong sense of urgency, noting its establishment would not have been possible without their passion and dedication. In the past months, President Duterte said his administration opened many establishments and inaugurated structures that will endure the test of time, and at the same time institutionalized long-term

solutions for the Filipinos that are free from politics. “It is during these times that the bayanihan spirit burns even brighter in the hearts of Filipinos. It is when we become heroes for one another, demonstrating the highest form of compassion for our people,” he noted. “Let us always keep our momentum towards building a better and more resilient nation for everyone.” The Mataasnakahoy Evacuation Center is one of three evacuation centers strategically located in three municipalities within Batangas outside the danger zone of Taal Volcano’s April 4 eruption. Constructed through the BALAI (Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive Filipino Communities) Assistance Program of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the evacuation center can accommodate more than

100 families and can fit approximately 106 modular tents inside. It has key amenities and facilities such as an administrative office, storage room, kitchen and mess hall, children’s area, clinic, prayer room, separate female and male comfort rooms, and conjugal rooms, among others. Last March 31, DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario led the inauguration and turnover of the three evacuation centers to their respective local government units (LGUs). The construction of the temporary shelters in Batangas is part of government efforts to boost the country’s disaster preparedness. Joining the President were Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Secretary Del Rosario, Batangas 3rd District Rep. Ma. Theresa “Maitet” Collantes, Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, and other Batangas local officials. PND

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Sunday joined Muslims in the observance of the holy month of Ramadan, hoping for it to bring spiritual renewal and enlightenment for the benefit of the Muslim population and the nation as a whole amid the present challenges. “This sacred month is not only a period for Muslims to concentrate on prayer and making amends but also a time for them to experience and enjoy Allah’s mercy,” President Duterte in a message released by the Palace. “Similar to how the period of fasting ends Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

with feasting, it is my hope that all your efforts for discipline and reflection will be rewarded with revelation as well as a deeper connection with Allah.” “May this occasion likewise allow the teachings of the Qur’an to take precedence over all your decisions – even the smallest ones. Let the enlightenment that comes with your contemplation lead you to live with integrity for yourselves and for the nation, especially now when it is needed most.” The Bangsamoro government announced

that the observance of Ramadan in the country will begin on Sunday, April 3. For Muslims, Ramadan is the annual month-long commemoration of the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad of the first verses of the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book. It is one of the Muslims’ foundations inscribed in the Qur’an. Muslims practice fasting during the day for this period to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of the less fortunate. PND

Gov’t to conduct aggressive immunization campaign to avoid vaccine wastage - President Duterte The government will try to maximize the use of COVID-19 vaccines that will expire soon or donate them to countries with low vaccination coverage to avoid wastage, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said on Tuesday. In his weekly address, President Duterte said it’s not the government’s fault to buy vaccines commensurate to the number of Filipinos that would be vaccinated. The problem is that many Filipinos refuse or delay getting the jab. “So itong mga bakuna magexpire either ibigay natin ito sa mga countries na wala pa or siguraduhin natin na ano na lang — we’ll embark on a program last minute na maghouse-to-house na lang sa mga barangay. At ‘yung hindi pa nabakunahan — marami pa ‘yan — kailangan lumabas na at magpabakuna sila,” he said during his Talk to the People briefing. “So there is enough — they say there’s an excess. There is no excess actually. Binili natin ‘yan sa numbers. Ngayon kung ‘yung mga tao ay nagtatago o ayaw, mas mabuti na lang ‘yan kay gusto nilang magpabakuna o kailangan mabakunahan tapos wala.” “Eh mayroon nandiyan na ‘yan and we will try to maximize the use o utilization of the vaccines especially that ‘yung expiry

date nila malapit lang.” The government can’t expect 100-percent vaccination coverage, he said, adding at least the vaccines are here and ready to be utilized. President Duterte said the government can carry out lastminute program, going houseto house to deliver vaccines especially in the countryside. He also warned communist insurgents not to hamper government initiative to reach more unvaccinated people. “Kayong mga NPA, huwag ninyong barahin ‘yung mga tao na aakyat diyan especially the health workers. Sa totoo lang on grounds of humanity, eh kung gusto ninyo magpabakuna, ipasali ko kayo pero huwag ninyong — do not derail the program,” he said in issuing the warning. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said about 27 million

COVID-19 vaccines will expire in July. “Iyon pong sinasabi nilang 25 [million] to 27 million na mage-expire by July, ang tawag po natin diyan ‘yung theoretical expiration. Hindi pa po ito expired kasi July pa ‘yan, magagamit pa rin po natin ‘yan,” Duque explained. The country’s COVID-19 vaccine wasting rate is at 1.54 percent, he noted, adding it is far below the World Health Organization’s 10-percent suggested wastage rate. To widen vaccine coverage, the National Vaccine Operations Center has tapped pharmacies and clinics and tied up with the transportation sector, according to Duque. Local government units also conducted house-to-house vaccination to reach senior citizens and people with disability, he added. PND

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

Interior chief reports P28.7-million drug haul Authorities confiscated P28.7 million worth of illegal drugs during anti-drug operations conducted last week, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Tuesday. Reporting to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the latter’s Talk to the People, Año said law enforcers from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), conducted 744 anti-illegal drug operations from March 27 to April 2. Those operations resulted in the arrest of 1,091 violators, with 81 persons surrendering to authorities. One person died during the raids, he reported. “Iyon pong utos ninyo sa ating PDEA na magsagawa ng ulat sa lahat ng kabuuang nasamsam ay nag-comply naman po ang PDEA at ito po ay ipadadala nila sa mga kaukulang ahensiya na nagkukuwestyon sa Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año gives an update to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on April 5, 2022. ALFRED FRIAS/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

ating mga operasyon against illegal drugs,” he told the President.

ban covering the entire Philippines to prevent election-related violence.

To ensure peace and order for the conduct of the May 9 polls, Año said recent data show the police’s dedication of maintaining peace during election campaign period.

Data released on Monday showed 2,239 gun ban violations, and 13,895 surrendered firearms. Some 2,345 individual violated the gun ban and authorities confiscated 10,168 ammunitions.

Following Commission on Elections (Comelec) directive, he said the PNP has deployed 39,042 police personnel to 5,104 Comelec checkpoints across country. Since the start of the election campaign period on January 9, the PNP implemented gun

“Patuloy po ang pagpapatupad ng mga batas upang mapangalagaan ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan kasama na rin po ang kaligtasan nila laban sa COVID-19 pandemic,” Año said. PND

Mandatory boostering will aid gov’t widen vaccination coverage, says health chief Coming up with a legislation making vaccination mandatory specially the administration of COVID-19 booster shot will be helpful in the government’s immunization drive, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Tuesday. In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the latter’s public address, Duque said the government is having difficulty encouraging the people to get COVID-19 jab, especially booster dose. He told the President that the National Vaccine Operations Center has done everything possible and carried out measures to widen vaccination coverage such as tapping pharmacies and clinics, and tying up with the transport sector to reach more unvaccinated people. “Although, we would welcome, Mr. President, if the Senate or Congress will — if they can muster that will, political will, to make vaccination and booster a mandatory like in other countries ‘no,” he said. “Pero alam ko po this is going to be very controversial pero sana naman po ay intindihin nila na tayo po ay nag — bumili ng mga bakuna, tama po kayo, Mr. President, para maproteksiyunan ang publiko, ang atin pong mga kababayan.”

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gives an update to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Malacañan Palace on April 5, 2022. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

“Eh hindi naman po natin makontrol kung ayaw nung tao ang magpabakuna. Hindi naman natin puwede sapilitan. Pero kahit na ganoon din po, gumagawa pa rin tayo ng paraan.” During the government’s initial vaccination drive, local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila passed ordinances such as “No Vax, No Ride” policy, “No Vax, No Entry” in several establishments which have been successful, according to the health chief. There is a proposal to adopt similar measures to widen the coverage of administering COVID-19 booster dose, which, Duque said, only 25 percent of the eligible population has received the jab out of around 46.4 million individuals who are supposed to get it. For a variety of reasons, Duque said the public is delaying to get the booster dose. He encouraged Filipinos to get the jab, saying, “So sana po ay ‘wag nating

antayin magkaroon ng surge at saka doon po tayo magpapabakuna. Ngayon na po ang pinakamagandang panahon para magpabakuna.” Duque also reported that despite the lackluster vaccination, the country’s infection rate continues to drop, with its case classification still at minimal risk, while the healthcare utilization rates remain at low risk. The country’s experts are also monitoring regional trends as well as the transmission of COVID-19 variants and its sublineages in Asia and throughout the world. “At sinisigurado din natin na nananatili po tayong handa sa kabila ng mababa nating bilang ng kaso sa kasalukuyan, we are ready, Mr. President, in case of another surge and hopefully it doesn’t happen. But we are ready, Mr. President,” Duque said. PND

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

PH Covid-19 cases average remain low at 366 per day

vaccination have seen fewer deaths in recent surges of Covid-19 cases.

73.5% of target population now vaccinated vs. Covid-19

She cited that both Hong Kong and New Zealand saw a recent surge in infections due to new variants of coronavirus. However, there were 38 times more deaths per one million people in Hong Kong which administered less vaccine boosters compared to New Zealand. (File photo)

The number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases remain low nationwide, averaging 366 only per day in the past week, a health official said Tuesday. Latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that the country logged 2,568 new infections for the week of March 29 to April 4. “Patunay ito na mababa na talaga ang ating case rates, nasa 1.8 percent na lamang po ang ating positivity rate mas mababa kumpara sa 2.1 percent noong nakaraang linggo (This is proof that case rates are truly low with 1.8 percent positivity rate which is lower than last week’s 2.1 percent),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during an online media forum. With the government’s continued effort, more than

66.2 million individuals are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 while 71.4 million have received their first dose of the life-saving jabs. The number of individuals with comorbidities who are now fully vaccinated have reached 8.9 million or 93.2 percent of the target population while about 66 million or 75.9 percent of the elderly population have completed their primary series. Meantime, there are more than one million children aged 5 to 11 and nine million adolescents who are fully inoculated. As for the booster shots, about 12.2 million out of the 46.8 million eligible citizens have received them. In her presentation, Vergeire said countries with higher rates of booster and

Vergeire noted that there are few senior citizens aged 80 years old and above who have been vaccinated in Hong Kong before the spread of the Omicron variant. “Less than 25 percent ito sa Hong Kong habang more than 90 percent naman ang bakunadong senior citizens sa New Zealand (It is less than 25 percent in Hong Kong more than 90 percent senior citizens are vaccinated in New Zealand),” she said. “Based on studies of US CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], being boosted decreases the risk of hospitalization by 81 percent per data during the peak of Omicron variant attack.” As over 13,000 public and private schools started faceto-face classes on Monday, the DOH reminded learners, parents, and teachers to continue adhering to the health protocols. (PNA/Ma. Teresa Montemayor)

Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

(PNA photo by Joey Razon)

About 73.47 percent of the country’s target population has been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. In its latest case bulletin, the DOH also reported that 75.83 percent of the senior citizens have been inoculated against the disease. The elderly group is composed of 8,721,357 individuals while the country’s target population for inoculation is 80 percent (90,005,357 Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

individuals) of the country’s out of the 2,990 intensive entire population. care unit (ICU) beds in the country are used while As of April 3, DOH data 16.7 percent or 4,230 out showed that 66,125,962 of 25,340 non-ICU beds are individuals are fully utilized. vaccinated while 12,154,567 people have For the period from March received their booster 28 to April 3, the DOH shots. logged 2,697 new cases while the daily average On healthcare utilization, cases for the recent week the DOH reported 692 is 382 or 2 percent lower severe and critical cases than the new infections admitted in hospitals reported from March 21 to nationwide due to 27. Covid-19 as only one case was added to the tally for The DOH recorded 329 the recent week. fatalities from March 28 to April 3. (PNA/Ma. Teresa Only 16.5 percent or 492 Montemayor)

WHO lauds PH pandemic response vaccinated against the disease. Vergeire said coronavirus cases in the National Capital Region and all island groups are experiencing a plateau.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (PNA photo by Jess Escaros)

The World Health Organization has commended the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

also commended our immediate purchase of Covid-19 vaccines. The government and Department of Health do all these for the protection In an online media forum, of all Filipinos),” she said, Health Undersecretary referring to the global Maria Rosario Vergeire said initiative for supporting fair WHO Regional Director for vaccine allocation. Western Pacific, Dr. Takeshi Kasai, commended Health As of April 7, more Secretary Francisco Duque than 66.5 million or 73.9 III’s “solid leadership” amid percent of our targeted the Covid-19 pandemic. population are already fully vaccinated against “Gayundin, binati ng Covid-19. Covax ang ating naging agarang pag-angkat Out of the 47.5 million ng mga bakuna sa eligible citizens, more than ating bansa. Lahat ng 12.3 million have received ito ay ginagawa ng their booster shots. ating pamahalaan at Kagawaran ng Kalusugan About 1.1 million children para sa proteksiyon ng and 9 million adolescents bawat Pilipino (The Covax have been fully

For the period of March 31 to April 6, the country logged 2,499 new infections which brought the total confirmed cases to 3,680,244 with only .88 percent of them active. The low number of cases indicates low positivity rate from last week’s 2 percent to 1.8 positivity rate for the recent week. The average number of daily cases is 357 -- two percent lower compared to the previous week. Vergeire noted that most of the Covid-19 admissions are mild and moderate cases. As of April 5, data from the National Admissions by Health Status showed that 1,142 of the cases were asymptomatic; 2,158, mild; 2,194, moderate; 476, severe and 231, critical. (PNA/Ma. Teresa Montemayor) Caraga Infocus • April 2-8, 2022

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