CONTENTS Caraga Infocus 7
26 October - 01 November 2019
7 8 10 11 13
REGIONAL NEWS Caraga beefs up security for Undas 2019 BSP intensifies Piso Caravan in Caraga 36 Butuan SK chairpersons complete basic citizen’s military training Mga drivers sa Butuan City, boluntaryong sumailalim sa drug test Agusan Norte LGUs sumailalim sa crisis management training
Volume III, No. 63
PROVINCIAL NEWS
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SurSur FRs surrender firearms; receive cash assistance from gov’t
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SOA swine production program nagmalampuson
18 19 20
‘AGUSAN UP!’ giya sa kalamboan gipresenta ni Gob. Corvera SurSur farmers to start raising native chicken for business Deed of sale alang barangay site sa Bangonay gitakdang pirmahan
MINDANAO NEWS
22 23
MinDA to launch Green Mindanao project Mindanao airports report no damage after strong quake: CAAP
NATIONAL NEWS
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Andanar urges corporate sector to stand for peace and development SSS releases P84M for unemployment benefit Palace vows to work harder to fight hunger, poverty
Rehab of Surigao City airport runway portion done ahead of schedule
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News Briefs The DTI Caraga handed the Bagwis Awards to 35 recognized business establishments from the different provinces of Caraga region. These establishments have been compliant with the fair trade laws and uphold consumer rights. DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade, together with PPA General Manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago; LTO ASec. Edgar Galvante; ASec. Lino Dabi, assistant secretary for Maritime under DOTr; and Admiral Joel Garcia, commandant of Phil. Coast Guard led the blessing of the Activity Center - Terminal Management Office in Butuan City. Personnel of PPA and guests joined in the activity.
Legal Cooperation Cluster Meeting under the Caraga RTF-ELCAC held in Butuan City, regional prosecutor John Magdaraog, cluster chair bared that prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in the region will be participating in various related seminars, including capacity building by next year 2020, to enhance their capabilities in handling cases.
Governor Dale Corvera of the province of Agusan del Norte has been appointed by the President as the Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) Chairperson for the 2019-2022 term of office.
Cover Story
Rehab of Surigao City airport runway portion done ahead of schedule
S
URIGAO CITYThe partial rehabilitation and repair of a portion of the Surigao City Airport runway is now complete, much earlier than the committed November 2019 deadline.
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October 26 - November 01, 2019
With the additional restored 400 meters of the provincial airport’s runway now ready for use, it is expected that the number of flights by commercial airlines in the city to and from Cebu and Manila will increase. The airport has been limited in its operations after a magnitude 6.7 quake damaged the runway on February 10, 2017 and is only able to We, Surigaonons, owe you and Secretary Art [Tugade],” he said in a utilize 1 kilometer of its runway since. text message, further requesting the Presidential Communications DOTr chief to inaugurate the runway Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary once it is fully restored. Martin Andanar, who was requested According to the airport’s to intervene and help fast track the rehabilitation efforts for the airport contractors, Vicente T. Lao Construction welcomed the speedy completion of and Pacific Concrete, their works on asphalt overlay and pavement the project. concreting projects are already done. Sec. Andanar also thanked the The airport development project Department of Transportation for closely monitoring the progress of the which covers 700 meters repair and rehabilitation of the runway is expected ongoing repairs. to be completed by February of next “Thanks, Asec. [Giovanni Lopez]! year. (PCOO/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
October 26 - November 01, 2019
Caraga Infocus
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REGIONAL NEWS
Regional News I Empowering Communities
Caraga beefs up security for Undas 2019 By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY - The “Task Force Undas” led by the Philippine National Police and other government agencies has intensified security measures to ensure safe and secure observance of the All Saints Day and All Souls Day in Caraga region. Based on the record of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-13, more than 200,000 individuals are expected to visit different cemeteries in Caraga region this All Saints Day. According to Police Brigadier General Joselito Esquivel Jr., regional director of PRO-13, more than 4,000 PNP personnel were deployed to some 194 cemeteries, including airports, seaports, and bus terminals. Public assistance desks are also in place, ready to help the locals.
peaceful observance of the All Saints Day and All Souls Day. “Don’t bring sharp objects, firearm, sound system and other items that would disrupt the peaceful observance this All Saints Day in the cemeteries. Let us help maintain peace and order in our region,” said Esquivel. The official also said that they have intensified their checkpoint operations, and have caught individuals violating several laws.
“We have additional checkpoints Esquivel asked the public for their from the regular areas where support and cooperation, and to follow checkpoints are conducted to ensure the rule of the law in order to attain a that no lawless elements could cause October 26 - November 01, 2019
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Regional News I Empowering Communities harm to other people, hence, keeping our locals safe and secure,� Esquivel added. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Caraga also implements tighter security measures for passengers. According to PCG station commander Lawrence Roque, since October 26 of this year, they have been keen in inspecting the passengers and their belongings. The PCG through its coast guard K9 also conducts regular random checks to ensure safe and comfy sea travel of passengers. It also ensures that no boat or shipping vessel would carry passengers beyond limitation, to prevent any untoward incident. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
BSP intensifies Piso Caravan in Caraga By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)Butuan City branch has intensified the conduct of Piso Caravan in the different provinces of Caraga region.
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October 26 - November 01, 2019
Regional News I Empowering Communities This is to give opportunity and convenience to the locals to exchange their old and mutilated banknotes and coins with new ones. According to Glizriel Rose Quijada, bank officer II of BSP Butuan City branch, many of the Caraganons are still not aware that there is a regular free service in the bank wherein they could directly exchange their old banknotes and coins. This is why the BSP also reaches out to the public in the different provinces to promote the integrity of Philippine money by using clean and fit notes and coins.
money that is old and mutilated,” said “This Piso Caravan is a one- Helen Celana. time activity to inform the public that Quijada also stressed the we have a regular banking service, wherein people could exchange their importance of the responsible use of old banknotes and coins to a new one. money and maintaining its integrity. “There is really a need to increase In day to day financial transaction, we should use clean and fit notes and public awareness that the banks coins for easy identification of genuine provide regular service to the people versus counterfeited money. In this in the day to day financial transactions, way, we could also prevent different which include exchanging of old notes diseases caused by bacteria from the to new ones,” Quijada added. money being circulated,” said Quijada. Quijada added that there are Local residents were also corresponding penalties for those who delighted to have availed the services will be caught violating the provision of of BSP which make it more convenient the law on the right use of banknotes and coins. for them to exchange notes. “We’ve heard about the Piso Caravan, that’s why we immediately went to the venue to have our old notes exchanged with the new banknotes and coins. Stores no longer accept
Meanwhile, the BSP Butuan branch has also scheduled in the coming months a Piso Caravan in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and Surigao City. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
October 26 - November 01, 2019
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Regional News I Empowering Communities
36 Butuan SK chairpersons complete basic citizen’s military training
By John Charles E. Malazarte
BUTUAN CITY - Some 36 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons in this city are now among the enlisted army reservists after passing the Basic Citizens Military Training under the 15th Regional Community Defense Group, Army Reserve Command, which was also in time with the conduct of the three-day 1st SK Butuan City Leadership Development Training held recently in Brgy. Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. The program was aimed to enhance the leadership and organizational skills of the youth particularly the SK chairpersons, as they
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have the potential to become future political leaders of the country. This also forms part of the government’s initiative to help the
October 26 - November 01, 2019
Regional News I Empowering Communities youth by keeping them involved in nation-building, as they play a vital role in curbing the insurgency problem in the region, and preventing them from being lured and recruited by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
administration in its fight against criminality and insurgency. We, as youths have a big role to play in our society. Let’s be responsible citizens of this country,” he said.
Chiang further emphasized that According to Engr. Wen Kok the Philippine Army is always ready to Chiang, SK Federation president protect the nation, and they deserve of Butuan City, the SK officials are people’s trust and confidence. considered as duty-bearers, hence, they should serve as a good example Brigadier General Maurito Licudine, of being a leader to other youths and commander of 402nd Brigade, should give their best in serving the Philippine Army also underlined the people. value of capacitating the youth with the leadership skills and enhancing He also encouraged other youths their capabilities. He hopes that more to be vigilant not to be recruited and youths would volunteer themselves exploited by the communist NPA and become part of the said training. group. “Let us support the Duterte (JCM/JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Mga drivers sa Butuan City, boluntaryong sumailalim sa drug test By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN - Ala-sais palang ng umaga nitong Lunes, handa na ang mga tauhan ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga sa Langihan Bus Terminal para isailalim sa drug test ang mga drayber at konduktor.
October 26 - November 01, 2019
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Regional News I Empowering Communities Buo naman ang kooperasyon ng mga ito maging ang mga pasahero lalo na at layon nitong tiyakin na ligtas at maayos ang mga biyahe para sa Undas. “Sang-ayon po kami sa isinasagawa ng PDEA upang malaman at matukoy talaga Bagamat isasailalim pa sa kung sino sa mga drivers ang nagbibisyo at gumagamit confirmatory test, dadaan pa rin ito sa ng illegal na droga,” sabi ni Arnold counseling at rehabilitation. Cucharo, bus driver. Naka-hold na rin ang lisensya nito “Alam naman po naming na sa Land Transportation Office (LTO) maganda po ang intension ng PDEA para hindi muna makapagmaneho. sa pagsagawa ng surprise drug test at “Layon ng ahensiya na ito’y para mas masigurong ligtas ang mga pasaherong bumabiyahe,” sabi matulungan ang mga draybers na sangkot sa illegal na droga na sila’y ni Sostenes Lomayog, bus driver. ma-counsel at ma-rehabilitate. At Bagamat nagmamadali sa masigurong ligtas ang mga pasahero sa biyahe, sumuporta naman ang pagbiyahe,” pahayag ni Abellanosa. mga pasahero sa mga draybers at din niya na konduktor na sumailalim sa drug test. Binigyang-diin “Mas mabuti na rin yan nang malaman magpapatuloy ang pagsasagawa ng natin sinu-sino yung mga draybers na Oplan Harabas o surprise drug test. lumalabag sa batas,” sabi ni Gilmarie Sinabi pa ni Abellanosa na Sedon. hawak ng mga drayber ang kaligtasan Ayon kay Dindo Abellanosa, ng kanilang mga pasahero kaya’t regional information officer ng PDEA- mainam na matiyak na wala ang mga Caraga, may isang drayber at isang ito sa impluwensya ng iligal na droga konduktor ang nag-positibo sa initial at nasa maayos na kondisyon habang nagmamaneho. (JPG/PIA-Caraga) test.
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October 26 - November 01, 2019
Regional News I Empowering Communities
Agusan Norte LGUs sumailalim sa crisis management training By Nora L. Molde
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN - Mahalaga na ang mga pinuno mismo ng lokal na pamahalaan ang may sapat na kaalaman sa pagtugon sa anumang krisis o sakuna.
Iyan ang binigyang diin sa tatlong araw na crisis management training sa lungsod ng Butuan na dinaluhan ng mga local chief executives mula sa iba’t ibang bayan ng Agusan del Norte. Ayon kay Kitcharao mayor Aristotle Montante, napakahalaga ang nasabing pagsasanay lalo na at ang kanilang bayan ay isa sa may pinakamaraming barangay sa probinsya na apektado sa insurhensiya.
Paliwanag pa ni Provincial DRRMO chief Erma Suyo, napakaimportante ang kaalaman ng isang local chief executive sa pagresponde sa isang krisis dahil sila ang unang responders. Malalaman nila kung paano ang pagresponde.
Kwento naman ni municipal DRRM officer Roberto Calubag, Jr. batay sa kanyang karanasan ay maraming internally displaced persons ang nangangailangan ng tulong sa mga lugar na nagkaroon ng bakbakan “Napakahalaga ang training ay isa na ang bayan ng Kitcharao. na ito, dahil nadagdagan ang aming kaalaman kung paano ang tamang Ayon kay doctor Kristoffer Berse ng pagresponde sa panahon na may krisis University of the Philippines Resilience ang aming bayan, lalo na’t sa mga Institute, ang mga kalahok ay tinuruan kagagawan ng mga NPAs kung saan din ng mga naaayon na paraan sa apektado ang maraming residente,’ pagresponde sa isang human-induced pahayag ni Montante. crisis. (NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte) October 26 - November 01, 2019
Caraga Infocus
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PROVINCIAL NEWS
Provincial News I Empowering Communities
SurSur FRs surrender firearms; receive cash assistance from gov’t By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY - More than 40 former rebels (FRs) from the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered their firearms as part of their commitment to support the government towards sustainable peace and development.
This was in time with the conduct of the 3rd Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) held in Tandag City, which was witnessed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, together with other officials.
They all expressed their gratitude to the government for the assistance extended to them.
“I’m happy that they (government) still accepted us despite our mistakes for joining the NPAs with the wrong ideology. We also thanked them for These former rebels vowed to giving us livelihood assistance,” a fully support the government and former rebel from Bislig City said. to live peacefully in their respective communities. “We chose to surrender to the government’s fold because we knew Each of them received financial and realized that joining the NPA does assistance and firearms remuneration nothing good for us,” added former with a total amount of P1.6-million. rebel from Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. October 26 - November 01, 2019
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Provincial News I Empowering Communities CabSec. Nograles also thanked the FRs as they voluntarily surrendered. He stressed that the government is serious in implementing Executive Order 70 of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel also assured that the locals would continue to experience the services from various government agencies through the conduct of Serbisyo Caravan and “This battle against the local immersion in the areas affected by communist armed conflict is a whole- insurgency. of-nation approach. All sectors from the national down to the local This is to show the local populace levels are united in doing different that the government is sincere in strategies to solve the insurgency,� addressing their basic needs. (JPG/PIAcited Nograles. Caraga)
SOA swine production program nagmalampuson
By Jessica O. Mellejor
DAKBAYAN SA CABADBARAN Mokabat sa 600 ka mga partisipante sa School-On-TheAir (SOA) Swine Production Program ang mi-gradwar niadtong Oktubre 16, 2019 didto sa E&G Convention Center sa dakbayan sa Cabadbaran. Ang SOA gipangunahan sa lokal nga panggamhanan sa Agusan del Norte pinaagi sa Provincial Veterinary Office (PVET) sa pakigtambayayong sa Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 13, ug Cabadbaran City Agriculture Office.
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Kini ang pinakauna nga higayon sa pagdumala sa usa ka SOA Program sa maong buhatan. Dako ang nahimong responsibilidad sa office sa PVET tungod kay sila man ang gitahasan nga maoy
October 26 - November 01, 2019
Provincial News I Empowering Communities mo dumala sa maong programa ug sa mga katuyoan ug mga pamaagi niini labina na sa kadugayon sa pagimplementar niini ingon man ang target sa mga enrollees ug gitahasan usab nga mahuman ang gilaraw nga hilisgutan o giya sa pag-broadcast lakip na ang pagtudlo niini.
masulbad ang mga problema ug panginahanglan sa produksiyon sa mga baboy.
Kini gitambungan ni Provincial Board Member Meriam Pagaran, isip representante ni Governor Dale B. Corvera ug ni City Vice Mayor Rey G. Jamboy, representante ni City Mayor Kini gisugdan niadtong Mayo nga Judy C. Amante, uban ang mga adunay usa ka oras matag semana personahi sa ATI-RTC 13, Dr. Belen nga sesyon sulod sa 16 ka semana. Aruelo sa PVET office ug mga LGU Coordinators. (LGU Agusan del Norte/ Ang SOA nagtumong aron PIA Agusan del Norte)
‘AGUSAN UP!’ giya sa kalamboan gipresenta ni Gob. Corvera By Aimee B. Sienes
DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN Gipresenta ni Agusan del Norte Gobernador Dale B. Corvera ang ‘AGUSAN UP!’ nga maoy giya sa probinsya aron matahak ubos sa iyang administrasyon ang sakto nga direksyon ug dalan paingon sa kalamboan.
October 26 - November 01, 2019
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Provincial News I Empowering Communities Kini napahitabo atol sa gipahigayon nga upat ka adlaw nga Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) Formulation Workshop ug bechmarking activities didto sa Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City niadtong September 18-21. Ang AGUSAN UP! namugna nga ang tumong ug tuyo padulong sa Agricultural and Processing productivity Optimization; Genuine Concern for the Welfare of the Poor and the Marginalized, Youth and Children, Differently-Abled Persons, Elderly and the Indigenous Peoples; Utilizing, Capitalizing on Government Assets to Raise Revenues; Sustaining the Gains of the Previous Administration and Strengthening Cooperation with the National Government Agencies; Advance the Cause of Peace and the Rule of Law and Order; Natural Greening of Environment and Resiliency to Disasters; Unity of Vision, Complementarity of Mission and Close Coordination in the Implementation of Programs and Projects Among all Government Functionaries in the Province; and People’s Participation.
ug i-implementar karon sa termino sa kasamtangang opisyal sa lalawigan. Matod pa ni Gob. Dale nga sa iyang liderato karon ang AGUSAN UP! Mao ang iyang eight-point agenda aron makab-ot ang hayahay nga kahimtang ug pamuyo sa katawhan sa Agusan del Norte.
Ang iyang mga programa naglangkob sa nagkalain-laing programa ug proyekto nga ang Puno sa kalagsik si Gob. Dale pinakatumong mao ang poverty nga nag-presenta sa AGUSAN UP! alleviation o pagkawala sa kapobrehon atubangan ni Bise Gobernador Ramon sa tawo. AG. Bungabong, Provincial Board Members, Chiefs of Office ug Chiefs of Hugot ang suporta sa Hospital. Sangguniang Panlalawigan ug magpalabang kini og resolusyon aron Ang development team sa sa pag-adopt sa AGUSAN UP! Aron probinsya nagdiskusyon sa plataporma masugdan na dayon ang mga angay sa governance, katuyoan ug stratehiya buhaton nga lakang aron matinuod nga gipaluyohan sa mga lehislasyon ang mga damgo alang sa kalamboan nga nahisubay sa mga prayoridad sa sa probinsya. (LGU Agusan del Norte/ national government nga pagahimoon PIA Agusan del Norte)
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October 26 - November 01, 2019
Provincial News I Empowering Communities
SurSur farmers to start raising native chicken for business By Rhea C. Abao
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur - Raising native chicken is considered by the farmers in Barangay Cancavan, Carmen Surigao del Sur a feasible enterprise to augment their monthly income. “The income that we earn from planting crops and fishing is not enough to supply our daily needs. We need to have an alternative source of income to support our families,” said Rosalie Birador, member of Barangay Cancavan Corn Growers Association.
After they completed the training, they received one unit of poultry house, 90 heads of native chicken, and feed support for two production cycles. “DA-SAAD Caraga supports the farmers, particularly to families with limited resources. The participants are pre-identified by the Area Coordinators assigned in the municipality,” said DA-SAAD Caraga Deputy Program Coordinator Roberto Hipolao, Jr.
Rosalie has five children, she works at the Barangay as a Kagawad where she takes home P4,500 a month. Her husband, a fisherman also earns P1,800 – P2,400 a month. All of her children and four grandchildren are still dependent on The purpose of raising native chickens them. For a family earning below P7,000 a is to provide the group an additional month, daily living is a struggle. income at the same time a good source for protein for each household. Chicken According to the Philippine Statistics raising is a feasible livelihood for them Authority 2015 data, a family of five needs because of the small investment and short P9,064 every month to meet both basic time to income, Hipolao added. food and nonfood needs. To provide an additional good source of income to Rosalie and his fellow members, the Department of AgricultureCaraga (DA-Caraga) through the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program recently turned-over the native chicken production project to the association with a total worth of P380,362. As a start, the 29-member association underwent training on native chicken production to ensure readiness and equip them in managing the intervention properly.
“We are now excited to make our time more productive through the intervention we have received from DASAAD Caraga. We will do our share for the sustainability of this project,” said Rosalie Birador. The association is projected to get income from selling dressed chicken and eggs in their locality and sooner within the CARCANMADCARLAN (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, and Lanuza) areas. (DA-Caraga RAFIS/PIA Surigao del Sur)
October 26 - November 01, 2019
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Provincial News I Empowering Communities
Deed of sale alang barangay site sa Bangonay gitakdang pirmahan By Jay Vincent Demain
JABONGA, Agusan del Norte - Gitakda nang pirmahan ang deed of sale alang sa yuta nga himoong barangay site sa Barangay Bangonay, Jabonga human giaprobahan sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang usa ka resolusyon nga naghatag og otoridad kang Governor Dale B. Corvera nga mopirma sa maong dokumento.
Ubos sa deed of sale nga pirmahan sa panggamhanang probinsyal ug Mr. Emmanuel E. Rosales nga maoy nanag-iya sa yuta, mokabat ang yuta og 15,263 metro kwadrado nga maoy himoong ikaduhang site sa Barangay Bangonay agig tubag sa road widening project sa Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH) nga nakaapekto sa ubang residente sa barangay.
sa landslide prone area sa barangay diin sila kasamtangan nagpuyo.
Basi sa rekomindasyon sa SP Committee on Human Settlement, Land Use & Provincial Properties nga gipangunahan ni Bokal Rodulfo A. Pitogo, gihatagan otoridad si Governor Corvera ubos sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 119-2019 diin suportado kini sa kompleto na nga mga dokumento nga gikinahanglan aron mapirmahan Matod pa, 50 ka mga pamilya gilayon ang maong deed of sale. nga walay yuta ang prayoridad sa (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del bag-ong luna aron mabalhin sila gikan Norte)
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October 26 - November 01, 2019
MINDANAO NEWS
Mindanao News I Empowering Communities
MinDA to launch Green Mindanao project By Che Palicte
DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will soon launch the “Green Mindanao Project converting unproductive tribal lands into trees and bamboo farms to generate income for the indigenous communities and bring back trees to bare mountains. The project is set to be launched early December with Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib who volunteered the vast tribal lands in Talaingod town as the pilot area. Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, MinDA chairperson, has seen the need for the project following the three-day trip to the Mindanao Pacific Rim last October 16 to 18, where deforested mountains and scarce water supply were familiar.
“I learned that wood processors alone would need an estimated 200,000 cubic meters of wood for doors, windows, and cabinet”, Piñol said. “Instead of importing wood from other countries, especially Eucalyptus, they can source their wood and bamboo supplies from the vast tribal lands of Mindanao,” he added.
Green Mindanao will address multiple problems of deforestation, flooding, and “I was confronted with the sights of deforested mountains and problems of landslides, water problems, and provide water supply in coastal communities,” Piñol sustainable income to indigenous peoples. said. “The project is designed to bring back He added that there is the vast trees in the deforested mountains, ensure potential of tree and bamboo farming, sustainable water supply and provide a which will provide a livelihood to tribal livelihood to the Tribal communities which communities given a high demand for have long been neglected”, Piñol said. (PNA) stable wood and bamboo supply.
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October 26 - November 01, 2019
Mindanao News I Empowering Communities
Mindanao airports report no damage after strong quake: CAAP By Ma. Cristina Arayata
MANILA - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said airports in the Mindanao areas rocked anew by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake on Tuesday morning have reported no damage. In a statement, the CAAP said the Butuan Airport, Davao International Airport, Cotabato Airport, General Santos International Airport, and Laguindingan Airport found no damage in their infrastructure, tower, runway, passenger terminal building, navigational aid shelter, and other facilities.
and Firefighting, Air Navigation Service, and the airports’ engineering offices conducted inspections after the quake that reportedly killed five people.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines (PAL) spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said that the flag carrier’s flights to and from Davao, General Santos and Cotabato remain operational and were not It added that officials of the affected by the quake. satellite airports in Ozamiz, Camiguin, and Iligan said they did not even feel She said PAL’s airport ticket offices the effects of the earthquake that and city ticket offices in these three hit North Cotabato, with epicenter areas, however, were temporarily located inland northeast of Tulunan closed to give way to “structural town. inspections.” Villaluna said ticket offices in Davao The CAAP Security and and Matina City remain open. (PNA) Intelligence Service, Aircraft Rescue October 26 - November 01, 2019
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NATIONAL NEWS
National News I Empowering Communities to help the poor and the marginalized.
SEC. MARTIN ANDANAR
He mentioned that the private sector in the region have not only become the government’s partners through the tax revenues they contribute but also for doing their part in providing relief packages for calamity-hit victims, creating homes for Filipino families, and building classrooms.
PCOO
NEWS CORNER
Andanar urges corporate sector to stand for peace and development
The PCOO chief highlighted the signed Executive Order No. 70 which underscores a whole-of-nation approach in ending armed-conflicts in the country, and asked the audience to understand the E.O. and relate it to corporate social responsibility.
He also noted that it is every Filipino’s responsibility to realize and - sustain peace.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar emphasized the important role that corporate social responsibility plays in attaining mutual understanding and peace in conflict-affected areas, as he spoke before stakeholders of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict (RFT-ELCAC) on Tuesday. Secretary Andanar, who is the designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Northern Mindanao (CORDS-X), urged the business sector to continue to invest in peace building by using their influence
“All of us, everyone, the whole of nation is dutifully responsible for [peace]. We produce peace from our homes, we pursue it outside our homes, and we preserve it in the whole of nation for all time and for all,” he added. Andanar shared that implementing the provisions of the order involves the responsibility of those who have more in wealth to share their resources to regain the trust of the others who were forced to rebel. “It has nothing to do with communism as an ideology, we now have a codex of the enemy within our gates: they are young, they dislike authority outside of their own, they relish the gun as the source and instrument
October 26 - November 01, 2019
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National News I Empowering Communities
of their power, and they would not investment in tutoring and sustaining hesitate to kill if they do not get what livelihood for these rebellious sectors they want,” he said. would be successful models for other disenfranchised communities,” he Secretary Andanar said the added. participation of the private sector helps provide a platform for the “We began with the statement misguided and misinformed to identify that the centerpiece of social and understand the root cause of their development is peace, and it has no defiance. substitute. It is our natural destiny, and we are gathered here today, together, “Our President is confident to claim it,” Andanar concluded. that the substantive weight of your (PCOO)
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October 26 - November 01, 2019
National News I Empowering Communities
SSS releases P84M for unemployment benefit
QUEZON CITY - The state-run Social Security System (SSS) over the weekend said it already disbursed more than P84 million worth of unemployment benefits in the first two months of implementation of this landmark provision of Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said the pension fund was able to provide immediate financial assistance to more than 6,900 actively-paying members of SSS who were involuntarily separated from the workforce.
labor of our lawmakers, stakeholders and SSS representatives who have crafted the SS Act of 2018. We are able to provide cash benefits to the qualified members who needed the SSS the most when they unexpectedly lost their jobs,� Ignacio said.
“We are now seeing the fruits of
As of October 21, 2019, or more
October 26 - November 01, 2019
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National News I Empowering Communities than two months since the pension fund started receiving applications for the unemployment benefit, SSS already paid a total of P84.27 million worth of unemployment benefit to 6,907 members who were separated from work. Makati Gil-Puyat Branch approved the highest number of unemployment benefit applications at 943 amounting to P13.76 million worth of disbursement. This was followed by Bacoor Branch with 876 applications received amounting to P8.98 million releases; Biñan Branch with 833 approved applications amounting to P9.74 million benefit paid; and Pasig-Pioneer and Cebu Branches, both with 437 approved applications with disbursements amounting to P6.10 million and P5.16 million, respectively.
Member-applicant must have paid at least 36 monthly contributions wherein 12 months of it should have been paid within the 18-month period before the month of involuntary separation. Ignacio reminded interested applicants that involuntary separation includes installation of labor-saving devices, redundancy, retrenchment, closure or cessation of operation, and disease or illness of the employee whose continued employment is prohibited by law or is prejudicial to his or her coemployees’ health.
Applicants must submit a DOLEissued certification establishing the nature and date of involuntary separation as well as a Notice of Termination from the employer or an The SSS unemployment benefit Affidavit of Termination of Employment. is one of the salient features of SS Act of 2018 which aims to provide a Likewise, applicants should cash benefit equivalent to half of the present an original and photocopy of member’s average monthly salary one primary ID card or document or in credit (AMSC) for a maximum of two the absence of which, any two ID cards months. or documents, both with signature and at least one with photo at any SSS local “SSS members who were branch or foreign office. involuntarily separated from work starting March 5, 2019, onwards can Applicants are also told that the avail the unemployment benefit,” unemployment benefit application Ignacio added. should be submitted within one year from the date of the involuntary To qualify for unemployment separation and that they can only benefit, members must not exceed claim the said benefit once every 60 years old at the time of involuntary three years starting from the date of separation. But for underground and separation from work. Further, if two surface mineworkers, and racehorse or more compensable contingencies jockey members, they must not exceed occurred within the same period, SSS 50 and 55 years old, respectively. will only pay the highest benefit. (SSS)
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October 26 - November 01, 2019
National News I Empowering Communities
Palace vows to work harder to fight hunger, poverty By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is stepping up its efforts to lower the hunger and poverty incidence in the country, Malacañang said on Friday. The assurance was made after the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that fewer Filipinos experienced hunger in the third quarter of this year.
Filipino families who experienced “involuntary” hunger from July to September 2019 period fell to 9.1 percent or an estimated 2.3 million, down by 0.8 percentage point from The SWS, in its September 27 to June’s 10 percent or an estimated 2.5 30 survey, noted that the number of million Filipino families. October 26 - November 01, 2019
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National News I Empowering Communities “The Office of the President welcomes the results of the survey administered by the Social Weather Stations for third quarter this year which indicate that self-rated hunger dropped from 10 percent in June 2019 to nine percent in September 2019,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
the President and his administration to continue implementing anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs aimed at uplifting the lives of the Filipino people. “The Chief Executive, together with his official family and their workforces, will, therefore, continue to hustle, not only to uplift more Filipino families out of the quagmire of indigence and hunger but also, to prevent our countrymen “Despite this, as well as the from falling or reverting back to poverty countless accomplishments it has by addressing its very root causes,” he attained, this Administration has never said. had an attitude to laze away or rest on its laurels,” he added. Duterte on October 10 approved the Expanded Partnership against Panelo said the poll results are Hunger and Poverty, a program consistent with the September survey involving more state departments that by the SWS, which showed a decrease will work closely together to eradicate among Filipino families who consider hunger in the country by 2030. themselves “poor.” On Thursday, Presidential He was referring to the poll which Communications Operations Office revealed that 42 percent or 10.3 million Secretary Martin Andanar said the results Filipino families believed they are poor, of the SWS poll were a testament that down by three percentage points from the efforts of the Duterte administration June’s 45 percent or 11 million Filipino to eradicate hunger in the country are families. “working.” (PNA) The improvement experienced by survey participants in relation to their socioeconomic status was among the reasons why Duterte “continues to win the satisfaction, approval, and trust of the Filipino people,” Panelo said. Panelo said the results of the SWS survey motivate
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