AgNor OKs ordinance granting financial assistance to SK officials

AgNor OKs ordinance P ovincial News

granting financial assistance to SK officials

BUTUAN CITY - An ordinance authored by honorable Keefe Blue R. Leonar, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation president, granting financial medical assistance to all SK officials

The said signing was attended by Governor Dale Corvera and other provincial officials and witnessed by SK officials from the different municipalities and city of the province.

Governor Corvera, in his message, challenged the SK officials present to regularly conduct activities for the betterment of the youth in the province. In his response, Leonar thanked the provincial government for supporting the SK officials and members. “The financial assistance adds motivation to the SK to perform more and be an active instrument for other youth to even do good,” he said.

In the Provincial Ordinance No. 544-2020, all SK officials (elective and appointive) in the province of Agusan By Nora C. Lanuza in the province of Agusan del Norte, has been signed on Monday at the provincial capitol lobby, here.

P ovincial News AgNor SK officials del Norte may avail of the financial assistance in the maximum amount of P10,000 during their hospitalization. Also, the granting of such assistance shall be based on the billing in excess of PhilHealth deduction but not to exceed the P10,000.00 subject for evaluation by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, and only be availed once by the SK officials.

The province of Agusan del Norte has 167 barangays with 1,670 SK officials. (NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)

to benefit from new ordinance By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY - The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in the province of Agusan del Norte are grateful with the new ordinance to be implemented by the local government unit, which allows them to benefit from the financial assistance intended for their medical needs.

According to Kefee Blue Leonar, the SK Federation President of Agusan del Norte, the P10,000 budget as financial assistance to SK officials is really of great help, as they could use it for medication or hospital expense.

“Based on Republic Act 10742 which is the SK Reform Act of 2015, it does not mention that the SK members, secretaries and treasurers are to receive honorarium, so considering that the work or function of the SK is really not that easy, this would be one of the solutions to also recognize their effort,” bared Leonar.

With this new benefit, Governor Dale Corvera urged the SK officials to continue in improving their performance and come up with regular and useful activities for the local populace particularly the youths in the barangays and impart their knowledge on how they would be able to maintain peace and order in the community.

“Do not focus your mind in infrastructure development or projects, leave that aspect to your punong barangays, to your mayors, to your governors. Instead, focus on your own development because that is the purpose why we have this SK. And as the governor, I will support you in all your activities,” Corvera underscored. The said financial assistance is just one of the benefits being provided by the provincial government. Leonar is optimistic that there would be more plans and opportunities for the youth sector in the coming months.

“We will have an orientation regarding the functions and responsibilities of the SK because I know the youths really have a great role to play in attaining our goals for Agusan,” said Leonar. (JPG/PIA-Caraga) February 22-28, 2020 Caraga Infocus 30

P ovincial News 31 former rebels receive

E-CLIP benefits

By 1Lt. Miguel O. Borromeo

The said benefits which have been given to the FRs included financial assistance, food packs and personal hygiene kits. Before being given the benefits, they were first subjected to some assessment and interview.

Sheryl Ann C. Disucatan, the Regional Social Welfare development Officer encouraged the FRs in her statement, “While there is life, there is hope. So, never lose hope and keep on believing that change and a better day for every one of you will surely come. Remember that taking up arms against each other will never be a good solution to any of our problems. Yes, the government is willing to help, but the government will not be there all the time for you, you need also to help yourself. Because the change and help that you are all seeking will primarily start from YOU, and the rest will just follow.” Rosalind R. Sur, Provincial Social Welfare Development Officer reminded the FRs that these E-CLIP benefits are government programs to help them, “So, please plan and spend it well on CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte - Thirty-one former rebels (FRs) who already have surrendered to the 29th Infantry (MATATAG) Battalion (29IB), Philippine Army recently received the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) benefits at the headquarters of 29IB, Brgy. Del Pilar, this city.

P ovincial News things that will help and benefit yourself and your family. I hope there will be more training sessions and programs that other agencies will offer for your benefit,” she said.

Lt. Col. Isagani O. Criste, Commanding Officer of 29IB, said he was grateful and happy to see how mindful the government is to its people especially in fulfilling its promise to help those former rebels who have once lost their way but have now found their way back. “This Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government is truly a blessing to our brothers and sisters who are now willing to change for the better,” he said.

“And yes, the government is doing its best to help and support its people. But I hope you may realize also that not all the time will there be a government who will look after all of your needs, a government that could always provide you whatever you want in an instant. No, that doesn’t work that way because just like us, our government isn’t perfect. But you and I know that we can do something to support the government and more so can we do something to help ourselves,” Criste ended. (CMO Officer, 29IB, PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)

P ovincial News Siargao LGUs formulate

disaster contingency plan

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY - Considered as a hazard-prone island in the province of Surigao del Norte, employees from the local government units of Siargao Island have actively participated in the four-day training on Contingency Planning held recently in this city.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) officers, medical doctors, municipal health officers, social workers and school principals of the said island took part in the creation of their contingency plan.

With the said training, participants gained a better understanding and in-depth knowledge on DRRM, as well as the importance of having a contingency plan particularly in times of disaster or any eventualities, as this would serve as a guide in responding to affected areas for the provision of appropriate intervention.

Dr. Marrietta Tagalo, principal of San Benito Central Elementary School in Siargao, was one of those who shared inputs for the contingency plan.

She expressed that she is determined to also relay the knowledge she gained from the training to other teachers, parents, and students,

P ovincial News especially that schools usually serve as the immediate evacuation center during disasters.

“DepEd is also asking us a plan, and we are not able to provide because we are not that equipped on how to draft a concrete contingency plan, yet with the aid of this training, we have gained enough information and were trained so we could manage it well in times of disaster,” said Tagalo.

As the municipal health officer in the municipality of Burgos in Siargao, Dr. Alyssa Felsophie Silor learned the significant functions and responsibilities of the various sectors in the creation of a concrete contingency plan.

“From the planning, there is already a role for each agency such as the health sector that we can contribute there and from there, we could operationalize what the contingency plan contains,” Silor cited.

April Rose Ann Sanchez, head of the policy development and planning section and training course monitoring officer of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Caraga, also bared that the contingency plan is a hazard-specific plan and is a mandatory and nonnegotiable plan.

“The contingency plan would not be implemented only in the national, regional, provincial levels but also in the barangays, as this would help them particularly in their response actions to be undertaken during any disaster or calamity,” said Sanchez.

Siargao Island is composed of nine municipalities, namely Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, San Benito, Pilar, San Isidro, Santa Monica and Socorro. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

P ovincial News US gov’t awards grants to Marawi’s displaced communities

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairman Emmanuel Piñol joined U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Economic Development and Governance chief Jeffrey Lehrer during the recent handover ceremony in Iligan.

Each micro-grant is valued at P260,000 ($5,000) and will support community learning facilities, including training spaces and daycare centers. The micro-grants are part of SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte - The United States (US) awarded six microgrants to community groups composed of Marawi’s displaced citizens and their host families.

February 22-28, 2020 Caraga Infocus 35

USAID’s three-year, P1.35 billion ($25 million) Marawi Response Project, which supports the economic recovery and social cohesion of displaced and host communities in Marawi, Lanao Del Sur, Lanao Del Norte, and Iligan.

Launched in 2018, the project is a partnership between USAID and international non-governmental organization Plan International, with support from local organizations Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits, Inc. and Maranao People Development Center, Inc.

“The US government, in partnership with the Philippine government, is committed to supporting Lanao communities in their journey to recovery,” said Lehrer in his message to grant recipients.

Representatives of Task Force Bangon Marawi, Lanao Del Sur provincial government, and city governments of Marawi and Iligan joined the event.

Nikki Macaraub, a beneficiary of the Marawi Response Project, worked with others in her community to set up a learning center for livelihood opportunities.

“Now that we have a facility for teaching sewing and dressmaking, we can help more displaced women like me in restarting businesses to support our families and to rebuild our lives,” said Macaraub.

To date, the United States, through USAID, has committed more than P3.4 billion ($63.6 million) for humanitarian and recovery work in and around Marawi. (U.S. Embassy in the Philippines/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

P ovincial News SMILE project addresses

off-grid islands’ power, dev’t needs

A Solar ComMunityBased Island Tourism and Livelihood Energizer Platform (SMILE Project) was being piloted in four sites of this province which addresses the islands’ power and development needs.

The SMILE project, which is being funded by the European Union (EU), is aimed at enhancing their capacity and resiliency against the impacts of climate change by harnessing the power of technology, such as renewable solar energy that have lowto-zero GHG emissions and connected to a resilient and efficient power network to provide sustainable and adequate 24/7 electricity; provides environmentally sound livelihood interventions to attain longer term human and environmental resilience; and developing the islands’ ecotourism potentials. All these were made possible by the World Wide Fund for NaturePhilippines (WWF-Philippines), together with the University of the Philippines Asian Institute of Tourism (UPAIT), Association of Isolated Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) through its subsidiary, AIEC Missionary Green Energy Corporation (AIEC MGEC), Siargao Electric Cooperative (SIARELCO), Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative (DIELCO), the Municipality of Del Carmen, and Dinagat Province Tourism Council, in cooperation with the local government units of the Province of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.

P ovincial News Small-scale fishing communities often live a vulnerable existence. Physically, fishing is a demanding job. It also solely depends on what nature can offer at a particular time. And fishing is fraught with danger, even at the best of times.

In these days where the global community is facing a climate emergency, fishing resources, just like any other environmental resources that sustain households and communities are on a steady decline due to overexploitation in some parts that resulted to a diminishing supply. This put intense pressure on fishing families and communities to make ends meet.

A disruption in fishing is also a disruption in the community since fishing is not just a livelihood, especially in the islands, but a way of life. And this is more pronounced in the islandbarangays of Anajawan, where 17 percent of residents aged 15 years old and over are dependent on fishing; Cab-ilan (22 percent); Halian (25 percent); and Kanihaan (17 percent). Anajawan and Halian, located in the municipalities of General Luna and Del Carmen in Siargao, Surigao del Norte, respectively; and Cabilan and Kanihaan, in the municipalities of Dinagat and Libjo, both in the Province of Dinagat Islands; have huge eco-tourism potentials but their lack of 24/7 electricity services, isolation and climate vulnerabilities are hindering the economic opportunities such as livelihood and their development.

They are also very vulnerable to

climate shocks. Identified climate change drivers of risks are sea-level rise (SLR), storm surge, tropical storm, increasing air and sea surface temperature and changing rainfall patterns. The risks also include loss of adaptive capacity and ecosystem services on which lives and livelihood of small island inhabitants depend.

Tourists are already visiting these islands to surf, dive or snorkel, among others, but due to lack of reliable 24- hour power and accommodation, there is hardly any development going on in the communities. conservation, have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples.”

An essential part of sustainable eco-tourism is an eco-friendly accommodation that combines conservation with relaxation, whose operations integrate sustainability into its core. Eco-tourism is hailed as a more sustainable form of tourism since the tourists aim to reduce their impact on the environment while partaking in activities that immerse them in nature and promote the conservation of the natural environment they have come to enjoy.

Eco-tourism, according to the World Conservation Union, is an “environmentally responsible travel to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote Integral to eco-tourism is the use of renewable energy in the project sites. In the case of the SMILE project, a solar powerhouse will be constructed on each site. Powering these powerhouses is an array of solar panels on the roofs of the micro hotels which will also be constructed in the four barangays to accommodate tourists.

With such power plant, the islands become self-sufficient in terms of energy and will no longer rely on GHG-emitting and noisy diesel-fueled generator sets that disturb locals, tourists and guests, and also the wildlife. The islands then have zero to low carbon emissions to help mitigate climate change. (WWF-Philippines/ VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

CNT member, Militia ng Bayan surrender in SurSur P ovincial News

Capt. Jonald Romorosa, 36IB civilmilitary operations officer, identified the CNT member as alias “JR”, 32 years old, and a former member of Platoon 8, Guerilla Front 19 (GF 19), North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC). He brought along with him one M16 rifle and short steel magazine eight rounds of live ammunition. Accordingly, alias “JR” was a Manobo tribe member and a resident of Barangay Bagyang in San Miguel town.

Another personality who surrendered was identified as alias “Jay”, 33 years old, and a former MB Assistant Team Leader of GF 16, NEMRC. He brought with him one caliber 45 and two short magazines with four rounds of live ammunition. He was also a Manobo tribe member and a resident of Barangay Poblacion in San Miguel town.

Both surrenderees revealed that they wanted to live a normal life with their family. Diagmel, 36IB commanding officer, said that because of the relentless military operation of the 36IB troopers and the pursuit of localized peace with the terrorist group, other sectors of the society and the people themselves are becoming more and more active in supporting Executive Order Number 70.

“The CNT learned the genuine offer of the government towards achieving peace and development. They have made the worthy decision of laying down their arms and return to the folds of the law,” he said.

Lt. Col. Diagmel also called on the remaining CNT members to surrender and lay down their arms. “Return to the folds of the government and live a normal and productive life, and help the government to achieve a long and lasting peace that every peace-loving Surigaonons are longing for,” Lt. Col. Diagmel noted. TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur - A member of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorist (CNT), and a Militia ng Bayan (MB) have voluntarily surrendered with their firearms to the headquarters of 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB), Philippine Army in Barangay Dayoan, Tago town on Sunday, a military official confirmed.

The successful surrender was made possible with the help of the Indigenous People (IP) leaders, former rebels and the intervention of the 36IB through its Community Support Program, it was learned.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Jezreel Also, Capt. Romorosa revealed that the surrenderees would undergo the validation process for them to avail in the enrollment to the EnhancedComprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), the government intervention package for the former rebels. (PIASurigao del Sur)

P ovincial News Based on the report, the setting up of the checkpoint was aimed to facilitate the speedy tracking of persons who had traveled to countries affected by the COVID-19 and those infected with the deadly disease.

The members of the task force have already conducted a meeting on the matter earlier to map out its strategies to prevent the entry of the tourists coming from the places with identified cases of COVID-19.

Hinatuan Vice Mayor Atty. Tito Cañedo, Acting Mayor, signed the Executive Order No. 5 Series of 2020 last February 03, 2020, in the absence of Mayor Shem Garay, imposing a temporary ban on tourists from China and other nations with COVID-19 cases from entering the tourism destinations and facilities in the Municipality of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

Admission at the checkpoint is from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. with no early admission allowed. (with a report from LGU-Hinatuan Information Office/ PIA-Bislig City) SurSur town sets up checkpoint vs COVID-19 BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur - A checkpoint was set up by the local government unit of Hinatuan in entry point bound for Enchanted River, one of the famous tourist destinations in the province, as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

P ovincial News SurSur LGU bans pigs, pork products from areas affected by swine fever

Based on the report, Hinatuan Mayor Shem Garay, through an Executive Order No. 08 series of 2020, temporarily banned all live pigs, pork, and pork-related products, and by-products whether fresh, frozen, processed or cooked from ASF affected areas to prevent the spread of the swine disease and further protect the local hog industry in the municipality. to immediately report sick pigs or incidence of pig mortality to the Municipal Agriculture Office.

“The local government unit of Hinatuan will be adopting stringent measures to prevent the invasion of the ASF in the municipality and protect the hog raisers and the swine industry,” said Mayor Garay, in a press statement. BISLIG CITY Surigao del Sur - The local chief of executive of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur has issued on Tuesday a temporary entry ban on live pigs and porkby-products from Luzon and African Swine Fever (ASF) affected areas in Mindanao.

Likewise, the backyard hog raisers were prohibited from practicing swill feeding (locally known as ‘bahug’ or ‘lamaw’) to prevent further spread of the deadly pig virus as food leftovers may contain contaminated pork meat. Mayor Garay then urged the hog raisers, whether in small or commercial scale, to be vigilant and encouraged The coordination meeting has already been conducted in the said municipality participated by the concerned government agencies, barangay captains from the 24 barangays, and private individuals engaged in hog-related business. (with a report from LGU-Hinatuan/PIA-Bislig City)

MINDANAO NEWS

Power firm’s Mindanao reforestation drive hits 1.4 million By Nef Luczon Mindanao News

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITYRenewable power firm Hedcor said its tree-growing initiative in the past 20 years has already planted 1.4 million seedlings in Bukidnon and Davao areas.

The figure translates to around 47 percent of the three million trees it planted in the same period around the country as part of its corporate social responsibility, said Jessa John delos Santos, corporate communication specialist for Hedcor, a subsidiary of AboitizPower’s renewable energy arm. of Hedcor’s reforestation activities in Mindanao,” she said.

Hedcor has a hydropower plant located in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, where its nearby mountain ranges are recipients of the power firm’s tree-planting projects.

Delos Santos said in Bukidnon alone, over 400,000 trees have been planted with an 87 percent survival rate, as evaluated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Beginning in 2018, these efforts in the Bukidnon area comprise 30 percent Delos Santos also said part of the high survival rate of the trees planted was the strict monitoring with the support of the community and DENR.

“For the monitoring and illegal logging prevention, we have patrollers tapped from the community who we