DA lauds movers in NorMin rice sector by Mary Grace Sta. Elena
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Now on its fifth year, the AgriPinoy Rice Achievers’ Award (APRAA) is bestowed to the country’s top rice producing provinces, cities/municipalities, Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and Local Farmer Technicians (LFTs), outstanding Irrigators Associations (IAs) and Small Water Impounding System Associations (SWISAs) for their exemplary contribution in attaining the agency’s twin goal of food security and sustainability.
Receiving P1 million project grant as hall of famer of the outstanding rice producing municipality is Lala, Lanao del Norte. Meanwhile, the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte received consolation prize amounting to P500, 000 each as outstanding rice producing provinces. Proponents shall submit their project proposal to the DA Central Office as requirement for the release of their respective awards. On the other hand, there were 17 AEWs and 1 LFT recognized and awarded with cash prize amounting to P20,000 each. The awardees include Remedios Sarzuelo, Rachelle Organiza, Florencia Mutia, Anita Macabugto, Deofel Omagap, Aida Cambel, Generosa Saraos, Pinky NapiĂąas, Kristina Soria, Josie Rulida, and Ma. Lilith Turan from Bukidnon; Elizabeth
Talam, Melissa Sinconigue, Virginia Namocatcat, and Agnes Gracia Sue Butalid from Misamis Occidental; and Juanita Saporno and Pura Abadies of Lanao del Norte while Julieta Ebio of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon was awarded as outstanding LFT. The 2015 APRAA awardees were chosen based on their contribution to the increase in rice yield per hectare by encouraging rice farmers to use high yielding rice varieties and modern technologies that honed them to be climate-change resilient; number of farmers assisted; budget devoted to rice projects, among other initiatives The honoree received their award at the Resorts World, Pasay City on April 20, 2016 with Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Undersecretary Edilberto M. de Luna, gracing the event.
DSWD brings employment opportunities closer to the people thru PESO
by Jamila M. Taha
MARAMAG, Bukidnon – In its aim to improve socio-economic condition of poor families through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducts Employment Facilitation of beneficiaries who are graduates of technical courses.
This was made possible through the supervision and support of the Philippine Employment Service Office (PESO) in the municipality of Maramag, Bukidnon. Considering the distance of the communities from the main city of Cagayan de Oro, the department seeks to amplify employment opportunities closer to the people. “More than the assistance, our goal is to empower our beneficiaries and encourage them to be confident about themselves through participation in community activities,” says Leah Viray, SLP provincial coordinator. The Employment Facilitation activity, highlighted matching of applicant’s competence vis-à-vis the job offers. Possible placement agencies for either local or international employment were invited for the initial screening of applicants. Subsequent processes will be done by the respective agencies considering the legal processes and bulk of applicants that needs to be reviewed. Maricel Reños, on the other hand, shared that she seeks for local employment to support her husband who works as a farm laborer. Although the education of her two children is being supported under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the income of his husband is not sufficient to support the greater needs of the family. “Dagko kaayo ang kausaban sa akong kaugalingon, human ko naka graduate ug technical course, confident
na ko makig-abi abi sa ubang tawo. Karon pod nga gitagaan ko ug dagkong oportunidad makatabang sa akong bana para sa maayong kaugmaon sa among pamilya. (After earning my certificate in technical course, I feel confident about myself especially in engaging with other people. This employment opportunity is really a blessing for me, to be able to support my husband and earn as well for the future benefit of our family),” says Reños. About 600 beneficiaries coming from Maramag and nearby municipalities, join the activity along with participating placement agencies and partner Technical Vocational Institutions. “If only we continue to conduct similar activities, unemployment will be a memory,” says one placement agency representative. The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a multi-stakeholder program of the department that aims to improve the standard of living of poor households by facilitating opportunities for development and management of resources viable for micro-enterprises, community empowerment through skills trainings and employment facilitation. It gives significant priority to the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in all its interventions since they are considered to be the poorest of the poor as signified by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).
Mushroom production eyed in Mambajao by Jorie C. Valcorza
MAMBAJAO, Camiguin – Local agriculturists and farmers alike, recently undergone a 3-day mushroom culture production training to provide appropriate technology and be able to counter the demand in the local market soon. The activity was initiated by the local government unit of Mambajao in hope to provide additional agrilivelihood that will augment the income of the farmers. Agriculturist Peter Eñola said mushroom is ideal because it can be grown commercially or in small-scale using cheap materials and agricultural waste. “Mushroom is one of the most delicate plant to grow, and securing
spawns here in the island is a challenge that we are also facing, that is why part of the training was also teaching participants how to propagate the mushrooms,” Eñola added. Mushroom culture in the province is still on its early phase, some farmers have successfully produced, but still small scale, and this technology transfer is hoped to perk up the industry.
ARMM hires 562 teachers in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – The Education Department in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) hired 562 teachers in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. The signed their deployment to different
newly-hired teachers appointment papers and orders for assignments public elementary and
secondary schools in the region on April 25. ARMM Education Secretary Dr. John Magno, chief of staff Atty. Rasol
Mitmug Jr., and other DepEd-ARMM officials attended the mass signing. Of the 562 newly hired teachers, 238 will be deployed in Maguindanao and 324 in Lanao del Sur. “More quality teachers are now being hired because our department (DepEd-ARMM) has improved its hiring and screening process,” Sec. Magno said. Before signing their appointments, the teachers had to pass competency examination, panel interview and teaching demonstration. “This mechanism guarantees that only quality teachers will be hired and we want teachers that will guide the students on the right road towards a progressive future,” he added. “At first I was hesitant in applying for a teaching position in DepEd-ARMM because I’ve heard there is ‘palakasan system’ (system of patronage), but still I tried and now I’m glad because out of thousands of teacher applicants, I’m signing my appointment now,”
said Hasniya Abas, 25, of Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur. She said the current hiring process is more transparent, unlike before when it was tarnished by issues of bribery and connections. She was a private school teacher for two years and applied for a DepEd-ARMM teaching position last April 2015. She said it is her calling to help mold the minds of school children in ARMM. The newly hired teachers’ first task will be to lead activities under the National Schools Maintenance Week, or the ‘Brigada Eskwela,’ starting May 30. Sec. Magno said newly appointed teachers’ signing of appointments in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi is scheduled next week. The Commision on Elections (Comelec) has exempted several government agencies, including DepEd, from the ban on hiring during election season in connection with the May 2016 polls. As stated in Comelec Resolution No. 10030, the Comelec has given the authority to hire, appoint, or transfer officers or employees to the Office of the President, the courts and several other government agencies.