Caraga InFocus - December 24-31, 2016

CONTENTS 24 - 31 December 2016

Volume 1, No. 39

REGIONAL NEWS

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‘Welcome 2017 in a healthy, harmonious manner’ - DOH

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CHED offers development packages for displaced personnel

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DTI calls on public to utilize ‘e-Presyo’ app DOLE Caraga taps LGUs to ensure success in ending ‘ENDO’

PROVINCIAL NEWS

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31 junior responders graduate from WASAR training in SurSur town

HEALTH NEWS nutrient rice kernels can 26 Multi fill gaps in rice fortification

MINDANAO NEWS

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President Duterte to village leaders: Let us make our promise a reality

COVER Aggie department promotes brown rice servings

NATIONAL NEWS

31 petrochemical projects worth BOI approves three Php15.8B

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Gov’t ‘more open’ to RCEP trade pact- Dominguez

on ‘white alert’ for 14 ASTMMC holidays Surigao Norte conducts 15 DAR consultative meeting

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Surigao Norte guv to replicate Cuba’s best health practices

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PDRRMO holds 1-day 19 Dinagat ICS executive course training

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‘Hot’ logs seized in Agusan del Sur

AgSur holds training 21 DAR for BARC strengthening Brigade celebrates 22 401st AFP day with gift-giving

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pamasko’ 23 ‘Handog benefits 400 drug

surrenderers in AgNor town

recognizes 25 LGU-Butuan Most Child-Friendly Barangays

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News Briefs A Centenarian Incentive worth P100,000 was recently given to Agusan del Norte’s 102 years old Lola Conchita Hurod.

The P50,000 came from the provincial govt. of Agusan del Norte and another P50,000 from governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) extends the period for the exchange or replacement of New Design Series banknotes up to March 31, 2017.

For year 2016, DA Caraga has distributed a total of 372,520 kgs. of high quality seeds (HQS) to 3,863 rice farmers in the region.

A joint launching of MASA MASID BADAC Summit was recently held at the Municipal Evacuation Center Brgy. IV, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. It was spearheaded by DILG & PNP of said province. Also, present during said event were DILG Agusan del Sur provincial director Arlene Ann R. Sanchez; municipal mayor Jenny D. De Asis; Peace & Order Committee vice chair Arth Ryan Palabrica, & 27 Barangay Chairmen of San Francisco together with their respective BADAC members.

Cover Story

Aggie department promotes brown rice servings By: Venus L. Garcia

B

UTUAN CITY - In support to the campaign of consuming brown rice to help increase income of farmers and attain rice sufficiency, the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is recommending to all regional line agencies, bureaus and attached corporations to serve brown rice during trainings, meetings, feeding programs and other gatherings.

The Regional Development Council (RDC)- Economic Development Committee (EDC) expressed support for the advocacy of brown rice in the region through crafting a resolution.

Engr.

Leonel F. Santos, representative of RDC-EDC, said that based on the study conducted

by George Mateljan Foundation, converting brown rice into white rice through complete milling and polishing destroys 67 percent of Vitamin B3, 80 percent of Vitamin B1, 90 percent of Vitamin B6, 50 percent of manganese,

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50 percent of phosphorus, 60 percent of iron and all the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids.

The use of ‘brown rice’ in Caraga region offers both economic and health benefits, such that it may generate greater demand for brown rice that will eventually attract farmers to produce more. Supported with effective marketing and good pricing mechanism, the ensuing rise for brown rice production will also help improve the farmers’ income. In general, intensifying brown rice production

REGIONAL NEWS improves rice production sufficiency “Also, the Philippines is included in the region, bared Caraga Regional in the top 15 countries in the world in Development Council secretariat. terms of prevalence of diabetes as indicated in the International Diabetes

The health benefits that can Federal website,” added Engr. Santos. be derived from consuming brown rice will help lessen the household’s Accordingly, the use of brown expenditures for medicines and rice in government undertakings, health services and reduce a person’s namely meetings and seminars, exposure to specific diseases; hence, may generate greater demand for increasing a person’s life expectancy. brown rice that will eventually attract farmers to produce more. Supported

Based on the report released with effective marketing and good by the United Nations’ Food and pricing mechanisms, the ensuing rise Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), it is in brown rice production will also estimated that around 13.7M Filipinos are help improve the farmers’ income. undernourished in 2016. Apparently, the In general, intensifying brown rice country’s undernourished population production improves rice production reduced only by 17.9 percent since sufficiency in the region. (VLG/PIA1990.

Caraga)

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Photo Gallery Department of Agriculture Caraga Region Knowledge Sharing & Learning for Local Media and Recognition of Partners Prince Hotel, Butuan City 29 December 2016

By: Nora C. Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY – “Welcome the year 2017 in a harmonious, peaceful and healthy manner,” a DOH Caraga official says.

Dr. Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. DOH Caraga regional director has released an advisory encouraging everyone to use other merry-making instruments and/or activities to produce sounds and noise like car horns, ‘torotot’, ‘videoke’, parlor games, drums and other musical instruments in welcoming the new year.

For a healthy celebration, the DOH official advises everyone to consume well-balanced meals with vegetables

and fruits on the table and to eat in moderation nutritious foods to sustain daily activities with avoidance of salty and fatty foods.

Also, Llacuna says that in order to protect the liver from damage, too much alcohol must be avoided. “Ensure the cleanliness and freshness of the food prepared, meat products must be well-cooked to avoid poisoning,” he says.

Llacuna warns that when handling or lighting firecrackers, light at outdoors one at a time and don’t hold item while lighting. Never pick up failed firecrackers as this may create delayed explosion, he says.

However, Llacuna says that in case of injury, wounds must be immediately washed with clean, running water until visible dirt and gunpowder residue is removed; put pressure when there is tearing of body part or skin and proceed to the nearest health facility for proper medication.

Meanwhile, DOH Caraga, in its December 26 advisory, bared that three firecracker-related cases were reported to the department’s Surveillance Unit. The three cases came from the urban areas with piccolo as the type of firecracker used. (NCLM/ PIA-Caraga)

REGIONAL NEWS

‘Welcome 2017 in a healthy, harmonious manner’ - DOH

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REGIONAL NEWS

CHED offers development packages for displaced personnel By: Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY – Following the implementation of K to 12 Basic Education Program in the country, wherein it affects several higher education institution (HEI) personnel, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is receptive GMANetwork.com in addressing the concerns and welfare of the personnel from colleges and universities who are greatly affected in the event of transition.

They are encouraged to avail of the various government support programs. These are accessible by the HEI personnel, teaching or non-teaching, with employments terminated, or contracts not renewed because of the K to12 implementation.

CHED offers various professional development programs for displaced personnel such as scholarships for graduate studies, professional advancement grants, postdoctoral study grants, sectoral engagement grants and research grants, said CHED Caraga regional director Maricar Casquejo as she gave updates during the 89th Regional Development Council

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Meeting held recently in this city.

These grants are available to personnel who are retained in their respective colleges and universities but receive reduced workloads.

Accordingly, CHED is also laying out the program to extend these scholarships and grants to displaced HEI personnel.

Apart from these, the other government line agencies are also helping out in providing employment, livelihood and entrepreneurship programs.

The Department of Education (DepEd) through its Green Lane Program prioritizes the displaced HEI personnel in the hiring of Senior High School (SHS) teachers.

at CHED’s wordpress site.

It was also learned that “TESDA offers regular training programs to displaced HEI personnel for their immediate employment.

DOLE endorses the said personnel to their nearest TESDA Provincial Office for the issuance of training vouchers. Also, displaced personnel who aim to teach in the Tech-Voc track in SHS may also avail of the Competency Assessment and Certification provided in TESDAadministered institutions.” (VLG/PIACaraga)

REGIONAL NEWS

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment Adjustment Measures Program (DOLE-AMP) provides monthly financial support and employment facilitation to displaced HEI personnel to protect them against continued loss of income by covering three to six months of financial support.

Also, through the DOLE Kabuhayan Program, displaced personnel are given opportunities to upgrade their skills through TESDA programs, entrepreneurship training, and livelihood opportunities, as mentioned

DTI calls on public to utilize ‘e-Presyo’ app By: Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga called on the consuming public to utilize and access their “e-Presyo” application, wherein consumers, retailers, distributors, and manufacturers can check for the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) and prevailing prices of all basic and prime goods being monitored by the DTI including those stores selling at the lowest prices.

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REGIONAL NEWS

“The e-Presyo app can be accessed through the DTI website at www.dti.gov.ph or can be downloaded from Play Store using any Andriod device,” disclosed DTI regional director Brielgo Pagaran during the last media briefing with the civil society organizations (CSOs) recently conducted at the DTI regional office here.

Pagaran further emphasized that through the e-Presyo, netizens would become updated from time to time on the prices of the all the basic and prime commodities without any hassle.

The DTI is the executive department of the Philippine Government tasked to expand Philippine trade, industries and investments as the means to generate jobs and raise incomes for Filipinos. It acts as catalyst for intensified private sector activity in order to accelerate and sustain economic growth through comprehensive industrial growth strategy, progressive and socially responsible trade liberalization and deregulation programs and policymaking designed for the expansion and diversification of Philippine trade - both domestic and foreign. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

DOLE Caraga taps LGUs to ensure success in ending ‘ENDO’

BUTUAN CITY - “We will end ENDO now” is the tag line for the regionwide forum dubbed Exploring Local Government Units’ (LGUs) Role In Ending “ENDO” (End-of-Contract) held recently in the city.

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Institutionalization Act was also discussed reiterating the need for its creation such as building a strong market-oriented PESOs which can respond to training and labor market needs.

DOLE Caraga OIC-Regional Director Evelyn R. Ramos presented the ENDO status and the way forward. As of November 24, 2016, there are 2,693 regularized workers in Caraga Region.

“The said figure is already a positive development albeit a fraction of the total workers in Caraga. The forum is one way forward and we can do more with LGUs strong support in the policy directive of President Rodrigo Duterte,” said Ramos.

Ramos’ message encouraged and motivated the participants to support the drive on ending “ENDO”.

The highlight of the forum was the expression of support coming from the key officers of different LGUs in the region. Some of these are the following: Board Member Virgilio Escasinas, Jr. of Agusan del Norte, expressed his enthusiasm in ending ENDO.

Mayor Philip Pichay of Cantilan conveyed that he will be supporting the drive of DOLE in ending ENDO as well as the PESO Institutionalization and the drive to eradicate the provincial rate and making the minimum wage the same across the board.

Butuan City Councilor John Gil Unay, Sr. mentioned that they will

REGIONAL NEWS

A first in Caraga, the forum was graced by no less than Undersecretary Joel B. Maglunsod of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

An overwhelming 180 participants from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan/ Panlungsod members, SB memberCommittee on Labor, PESO managers, DOLE personnel, Regional Coordinating Council and media partners were able to attend. The interactions of the public servants from the different cities, municipalities and provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands became a venue for sharing common illegal contracting arrangements and practices; and manifesting commitments to deliver tangible results in putting an end to “ENDO”.

Usec. Maglunsod shared the need to end the unfair and abusive practices under labor contractualization and the highly controversial end-of-contract or ‘ENDO’ scheme. He reported the series of orientation and consultation meetings conducted in different parts of the country reiterating to the Filipino people the drive in ending ENDO. He is enthusiastic in bringing back the trust and confidence of the Filipino people in the government and one way to do this is to make sure that Filipino workers are given importance.

The directives of DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, shared by Usec.

Maglunsod, were supported by an Orientation on Labor Laws Relating to Contractualization. The PESO

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PROVINCIAL NEWS 12

create a resolution to institutionalize the PESO. He mentioned also of OSSCO that was already operational, emphasizing that this is the right time to “walk the talk”.

Atty.

Arturo Charlos Egay, Jr., vice-governor of Surigao del Norte expressed his willingness to support by requiring business establishments to be compliant with labor laws in renewing business permit to ensure that illegal contractualization will be avoided. PESO Institutionalization will be supported too but he is seeing the budgetary requirement as a challenge.

SB Member Ronilo Bohoc of Buenavista, expressed his support and as a matter of fact they had just conducted a meeting related to ENDO and they will fully support the drive. They will create an ordinance to have a meeting with the businessmen in Buenavista to ensure that they are DOLE compliant. Candelario Viola, vice-mayor of Hinatuan, mentioned that the government should interfere on the contract of the businesses to see to it that all contracts are legal.

SB Member Gerardo Magluctao of Veruela, Agusan del Sur was honest in mentioning that this drive is not timely for them as they already submitted their budget preparation for 2017.

However, Director Ramos suggested that it can be included in the supplementary budget. Hon. Edelberto Bastareche, SP member, Agusan del Sur reported that they already follow the PESO Institutionalization. He pointed out the number one commitment stated that “all” establishments should comply but he wanted to make exceptions for those businesses with minimal employees. Director Ramos explained that the Agusan del Norte proposes to exempt all establishments, however, the details can be ironed out in the provisions of the resolution or ordinance.

The significant activity ended with the signing of the commitment of support by the participants, facilitated by the field office heads.

The overwhelming support is indeed a boost to the workers in Caraga region with the realization that DOLE is not alone in this journey. “Together we can put an end to ENDO,” exclaimed director Ramos. (DOLE-13)

By: Nida Grace P. Barcena

BAYABAS, Surigao del Sur – Thirty one junior responders in Bayabas town graduated on Monday from the water search and rescue (WASAR) training in simple ceremonies hosted by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) of Bayabas here.

According to Bayabas DRRM Officer Geralyn Guibao, majority of the Junior Responders or Junior Bayabas SERTSS (Search for Emergency and Response Team of Surigao del Sur) are Senior High School Students of Solomon P. Lozada National High School.

PROVINCIAL NEWS

31 junior responders graduate from WASAR training in SurSur town

Provincial DRRM officer Abel de Guzman confirmed the 31 young graduates during the closing ceremony. In his mesage, he emphasized the great role of being a ‘responder,’ that is, to save lives, and to ‘rescue,’ which is a life saving activity. Said initiative according to de

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PROVINCIAL NEWS

Guzman is the first in the province and allow their children to voluntarily join the entire region. the training has a great factor to make this happen,” said Mayor Limbaro.

On the other hand, Bayabas mayor Maria Clarita Limbaro thanked Last July 21, 2016, some 30 Senior the young participants and their High School Students of the same school parents for their strong commitment in also underwent a Basic Life Support supporting the activity.

Training spearheaded by the LGU thru the local DRRM office. (PIA-Surigao del

“The consent of the parents to Sur)

ASTMMC on ‘white alert’ for holidays By: Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – The Adela Serra Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) based here is on “code white alert” to prepare for possible holidayrelated incidents.

ASTMMC chief Dr. Janice Pagaran Alcordo said the code white alert status started on December 20, 2016 and will run until January 2, 2017, as per directive from the Department of Health (DOH). Code white alert means all hospital personnel should be on standby in case of emergency and

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influx of patients.

ASTMMC management assured the public that they are ready to accommodate victims of firecrackers.

Based on the report, no firecracker injuries recorded during its first day of implementation. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

By: Daryll M. Tumbaga

PROVINCIAL NEWS

DAR Surigao Norte conducts consultative meeting

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte - The provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Surigao del Norte (DAR-SDN) conducted a one-day consultative meeting with coconut farmers through its assisted agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) on December 8, 2016 at the Claver Women’s Center in Claver town.

The meeting focused solely on the economic benefits and interests that coconut farmers can avail from the Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (Project CONVERGE),

a joint endeavor of the DAR and International Fund for Agricultural Development.

IFAD consultant Ton Mercader facilitated the said consultation meeting

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PROVINCIAL NEWS

and at the same time presented to the The said ARBOs represented group the feasibility study on coco coir the municipalities that comprise product processing. the CLAGIBAPLA (Claver-GigaquitBacuag-Placer) clustered Agrarian

The said meeting was participated Reform Communities. by the DAR-assisted ARBOs that included Claver Coconut Farmers Multi-purpose According to Elmo Espinosa, Cooperative (CLACOFARMCO) of manager of CLACOFARMCO, “being Daywan, Claver; San Isidro Multi- the lead ARBO, we are very happy purpose Cooperative of San Isidro, and elated with the coming of Project Gigaquit; Cabugao First Farmers Agra CONVERGE in our area. It is a very big Consumers Cooperative of Cabugao, project and opportunity for the farmers Bacuag; and Mabini United Farmers’ in CLAGIBAPLA.” Cooperative of Mabini, Placer.

“It will be a very big help to the

Present also were the coco farmer- farmers because of the direct additional members of Pautao Coconut Farmers income that it can generate that will at Association of Brgy. Pautao, Bacuag least help uplift the economic status of and San Antonio Women’s Association our coco farmers,” he added. (DARof Brgy. San Antonio, Gigaquit.

SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Surigao Norte guv to replicate Cuba’s best health practices By: Ivonnie B. Dumadag

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte – Governor Sol F. Matugas will replicate Cuba’s best practices in health, following her recent visit to Cuba last Nov. 23-25, 2016 together with officials from the Department of Health and representatives from the executive and legislative departments in the province.

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On day one, the team was oriented on the evolution of Cuba’s health system. Presently, it has about 120,000 doctors serving their 12M population all over the 14 provinces.

Families in a community is provided with doctors who handles their immediate health needs. Patients that requires treatment from specialists are referred to polyclinics and only those requiring specialized medical treatment are sent to the hospitals.

The team visited a tenement with an assigned family doctor, the Policlinico Universitario 19 De Abril, one of Cuba’s polyclinics, and the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital which is a highly specialized state-of-the-art hospital that provides a wide range of medical services and medicines to Cuban residents for free. The hospital has a capacity of 650 beds, manned by 600 specialized doctors, 800 nurses and support staff, but does not accept emergency cases, only referrals from polyclinics. It is also a teaching hospital for post graduate medical courses with about 800 doctors being trained at present to specialize various fields in medicine.

visited by the team. This includes the Casa de Abuelo Plaza dela Revolucion, a government facility that provides wellness and recreational activities to physically fit elderlies. There are about 247 centers of this kind all over Cuba.

The Centro Communitario de Salud Central, a community mental center was also visited by the team.

It provides programs for persons who needs counselling, rehabilitation, undergoing trauma and stress, at any given age. It also has a program on drug addiction which is implemented in coordination with the family and the community. Another facility visited by the group was the La Esperanza del Mundo, a maternity halfway house for high-risk pregnant women which monitors their health conditions before and after giving birth.

PROVINCIAL NEWS

“Cuba and the Philipines has a similar program on health, the Community Health System, but Cuba is known to have the best in the world,” said Gov. Matugas. “Thus, when DOH Sec. Paulyn Jean Ubial encouraged us to visit the place, I immediately took the chance,” she added.

Since Cuba is a disasterprone area, their government gives priority to disaster risk reduction and management program. The team visited the Unidad Central de Colaboracion Medica (UCCM) and the Museo dela Colaboracion, a Center for International Cooperation that has already provided disaster response to 62 countries worldwide.

“What we can adopt from Cuba is their strong community referral system, from their family doctors to the polyclinics, all the way to the hospital.

We can also replicate how they operate health care support facilities

Support facilities to complement such as their center for the elderly,” their health care program were also Gov. Matugas added.

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PROVINCIAL NEWS

After a series of site visits, the team met with the officials of the Cuban Health Ministry and manifested their requests. “We asked for Surigao del Norte’s membership to the International Cooperation on disaster response and the possibility of establishing partnership between the government of the Philippines and Cuba to enable us to request for Cuban physicians to assist us in providing health services in our primary health care facilities,” said Gov. Matugas.

In addition, the governor asked the ministry to allow the sharing of Research Journals to complement the soon-to-be-established Health Training and Research Center in the municipality of Placer.

“We are so happy that the Cuban Ministry on Health was very receptive to our requests. Also, we are thankful to Sec. Ubial for the invitation to visit

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Cuba, as health care is the top priority of my administration and the insights we gained from the trip will help us improve further our health services for the Surigaonons,” Gov. Matugas concluded.

The Philippine delegation to Cuba was composed of the former congressman of the first district, Atty.

Francisco T. Matugas, officials from the DOH represented by Assistant Sec. Dr. Leonita P. Gorgolon and DOH Caraga regional director Dr. Jose Llacuna, Board Members Constantino B. Navarro and Leonila Gorgolon, Provincial Health Office chief Dr. Ma. Isabel B. Makinano and Provincial Planning and Development Office chief Ivonnie B. Dumadag. They were assisted by representatives from the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, headed

by Ambassador Eduardo Jose de Vega.

(LGU-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

By: Susil D. Ragas

PROVINCIAL NEWS

Dinagat PDRRMO holds 1-day ICS executive course training

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands - The provincial government of Dinagat Islands through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in collaboration with the office of the Civil Defense (OCD) recently conducted an Executive Course on Incident Command System (ICS) held at Provincial Guest Center, Barangay Cuarenta, San Jose town.

PDRRMO Officer Rosario Inday RoxasAlon Jr. said the one-day activity aims to increase appreciation of ICS as the vital tool for effective disaster response and incident/event management and to understand ICS background, concepts, principles and features, organizational roles, facilities and the common responsibilities of the ICS under the five modules.

and Staffing; ICS Facilities; Organizing and managing Incidents/events; and Common Responsibilities.

Roxas further said the five courses under the said modules are helpful to everyone in understanding roles and responsibilities when incidents happen.

The said activity was participated by chief executives and municipal council, provincial board members,

She said that the five modules national line agencies and provincial are composed of Introduction to functionaries. (SDR, PDRRMO-Dinagat Command System; Organizational Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)

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PROVINCIAL NEWS

DAR AgSur holds training for BARC strengthening By: Rechel D. Besonia

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur - A total of 38 Barangay Agrarian Reform Councils (BARC) from the municipalities of Rosario and San Francisco, this province attended the Training on BARC Strengthening Program and Orientation of its Laws and Legal Basis on December 7-9, 2016 at Mabe’s Savory Place here.

BARC is a local, multi sectoral implementing body for Agrarian Reform Program composed of private sector and government representatives. It operates on voluntary and self help basis.

The activity was attended by resource speakers Felipe Ranoco, Shirley Salcedo and Barangay Officials of the 38 barangays of Rosario and San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

“The role of the BARC in the implementation of Agrarian Reform

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Program is very crucial especially in the identification of qualified Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB),” said Ranoco.

This activity was specifically conducted to refresh their minds on their functions and role in the implementation of Agrarian Reform Program that includes mediation and conciliation between parties involved in an agrarian dispute including matters related to tenurial and financial arrangements, assist qualified beneficiaries in obtaining credit from lending institutions, assist in

For Sustino, the role given to him was a new opportunity to establish close ties among each other to attain the successful implementation of the program. “I am thankful for the opportunity given to me to lead the association of BARCs, together we will help this agency on their continuous effort to provide us a better quality of life,” he said. (DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIAAgusan del Sur)

PROVINCIAL NEWS

the initial determination of the value of the land, assist the DAR representatives in the preparation of periodic reports and coordinate the delivery of support services to beneficiaries.

After the training, election of officers for BARC Association followed wherein Emmanuel Sustino, BARC of Barangay Maligaya, Rosario, Agusan del Sur was elected as its president.

‘Hot’ logs seized in Agusan del Sur BUTUAN CITY - Environment authorities seized 75 pieces of “lawaan” logs amounting to P464,280.00 during the anti-illegal logging operation Wednesday in Brgy. Langag, Esperanza town, Agusan del Sur.

Chief Supt Rolando Felix, Caraga Police Director, said the joint operation of Esperanza Municipal Police Station, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) recovered the forest products with estimated volume of 15,467 board feet around 1:15PM.

The operation stemmed from a tip of a concerned citizen.

Investigation is underway to

identify the owner of confiscated logs that are placed under the custody of MENRO-Esperanza.

“This success is attributed to the combined efforts of the PNP, DENR, and other partner agencies in protecting and conserving the forests in Caraga region,” Felix added.

He also urged the communities to continuously support the intensified antiillegal logging campaign by providing reliable information to the authorities.

(PNP-13/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

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PROVINCIAL NEWS

401st Brigade celebrates AFP day with gift-giving PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – To highlight the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP’s) 81st Anniversary, some 50 Indigenous Peoples (IP) households and 150 children from selected IP communities in the barangays of San Jose, Puting Buhangin and Awa of this municipality were recently treated by the Army’s 401st Brigade to a simple Gift-giving Christmas activity.

A bundle of gift of assorted goods and rice was distributed to each of the households while they were being entertained with Christmas carols rendered by the 401st Brigade Band led

by Capt. Jasper Gacayan. The soldiers were joyfully welcomed and cheered by the populace as they sung together with the band.

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“The mission of your Brigade is to bring peace and joy to everyone,” said 401st Brigade Commader Col. Cristobal Zaragoza.

The goods were part of the proceeds of the caroling done by the combo during this yuletide season.

(401st Brigade, PA/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

By: Nora C. Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY – Some 400 drug surrenderers of the municipality of Santiago in the province of Agusan del Norte benefitted the services from the different government agencies on Tuesday at the municipal gym.

The activity dubbed as “Handog Pamasko Para Sa’yo” was facilitated by the provincial government of Agusan del Norte in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial offices and other partner government offices.

According to PPOC secretariat and DILG OIC provincial director Ellen Vee Chua, the event is a take-off activity of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), which aims to instill to the minds of the surrenderers

PROVINCIAL NEWS

‘Handog pamasko’ benefits 400 drug surrenderers in AgNor town

that they are being taken cared of by the government.

“It is one of the flagship programs of governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba,” said Chua. It emphasizes to the drug surrenderers that the government is looking at their welfare and that the government wants to reintegrate them to the society.

Also, during the whole-day event, national line agencies like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) gave a lecture on the salient

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PROVINCIAL NEWS 24

provisions of Republic Act 9165; the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) talked on the Vocational and Skills Training; the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also discussed their livelihood opportunities while the Department of Education (DepEd) shared the Alternative Learning System and Senior High School; and the Department of Health (DOH) presented the ill-effects of prohibited drugs and healthy lifestyle.

The Philippine Army (PA) also gave a lecture on the recruitment process of the AFP to those who are willing to join the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

During the event, PNP Agusan del Norte provincial director Ernesto V Tendero, Jr. said that the gift giving event is only the start of a bigger activity

to start by 2017.

Tendero said that a communitybased rehabilitation program would start by February 2017.

Vitamins, t-shirts, cash prizes during games and raffles were given to the surrenderers.

Simultaneous to the event is also the conduct of the Medical and Dental mission and drug test by the DOH.

“The attendance and cooperation of the surrenderers is a manifestation of their willingness to help the government to end the drug menace,” Chua said.

Santiago town was chosen as the pilot local government unit for the ‘Pamaskong Handog’ because of its high surrender target rate, Chua added. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

By: Jennifer P. Gaitano

PROVINCIAL NEWS

LGU-Butuan recognizes Most ChildFriendly Barangays

BUTUAN CITY – The city government here has recognized the efforts of the different barangays in the implementation of the programs and services for the welfare of children.

Of the 86 barangays, 10 were awarded as Most Child-Friendly Barangays during the State of the Children’s Report of mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada on Tuesday.

The Top 3 Most Child-Friendly Barangays for 2015 are the following: 1st place - Brgy. Baan Km. 3 (received P50,000.00 cash prize with personalized plaque and trophe); 2nd place - Brgy.

Doongan (received P35,000.00 and plaque); and 3rd place - Brgy. San

Vicente (received P15,000.00 and plaque).

Other barangays that were among the Most Child-Friendly Barangays include Obrero, Baobaoan, Bayanihan, Golden Ribbon, Bonbon, Los Angeles, and Pagatpatan.

Mayor Lagnada thanked them for their hard work and dedication in doing their functions in their respective barangays. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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HEALTH NEWS

Multi nutrient rice kernels can fill gaps in rice fortification By: Abbie L. Padrones

Rice fortification in the Philippines began in the early 1940’s.

It was conceptualized by Dr. R.R. Williams, who incidentally also discovered vitamin B1 or thiamine.

Fortifying rice by adding thiamin, niacin, and iron was implemented in the country to alleviate the problem of beriberi or thiamine deficiency.

For instance, after a larger pilot-scale test of fortified rice in Bataan, mortality from beriberi was significantly reduced in the covered areas.

26

The success of the rice enrichment experiment in Bataan led to the enactment of the Rice Enrichment Law in 1952, which required all rice millers and wholesalers to enrich rice. Implementing the law had major setbacks, including noncompliance by rice millers to fortify rice.

in the economic and political structure of the country, enforcing the fortification law wavered.

Another hindrance to implementing the law was the high cost of monitoring for compliance throughout the country.

HEALTH NEWS

In the following year, mortality from beri-beri was virtually eliminated in covered areas in Bataan.

Interest in rice fortification was revived in the early 1980s to help address micronutrient deficiencies. The Food and Nutrition Research InstituteDepartment of Science and

Since rice millers and traders Technology (FNRI-DOST), has constitute a formidable sector been at the forefront of fortification technology developments since then in support to the Philippine Food Fortification Law of 2000 or Republic Act 8976.

The FNRI, for its part, has made significant researches on rice fortification using extrusion technology.

The FNRI developed an iron rice premix designed to alleviate the persisting iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in the country.

Efficacy studies and market trials of the FNRI shows that feeding with iron fortified rice was cost effective and efficient in lowering IDA prevalence.

The institute also developed rice premix enriched with iron and zinc.

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HEALTH NEWS

The multi-nutrient extruded rice kernels (MNERK) can help reduce iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and the emerging zinc deficiency in the country.

The FNRI identified the optimum formula using a statistical tool that revealed acceptable sensory response from trained taste panelists.

Results of the MNERK study will be the basis for efficacy studies, market trial, and scaleup productions.

Studies are being conducted on the MNERK to estimate the shelf-life of the premix, determine

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the retention of the nutrients after cooking and investigate the possibility of incorporating vitamins and other minerals to the kernel.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email:mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRIDOST website: http://www.fnri. dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)

MINDANAO NEWS

President Duterte to village leaders: Let us make our promise a reality

DAVAO CITY - President Rodrigo Duterte rallied barangay (village) leaders of Davao City to back his all-out war against illegal drugs and corruption, crimes and terrorism and the peace process.

“Let us make our promise a reality,� the President said before the 182 barangay captains and over a hundred kagawad or councilmen during the gift giving activity at Davao City Recreation Center on Tuesday night.

Nina, President Duterte never showed exhaustion. He bantered with the village leaders; then, threw punches at the administration of outgoing United States President Barack Obama for its alleged shortsightedness and the church supposedly for hypocrisy.

Fresh from Virac, Catanduanes The President also expressed to visit affected families of Typhoon disappointment on the continued

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MINDANAO NEWS 30

attack against him extrajudicial killings.

over

the But the President vowed to continue the campaign against illegal drugs until the last day of his term. He

He then relayed to his A-1 asked the barangay officials to try to supporters – the 183 barangay arrest and to tell drug addicts and captains and kagawads – his life in drug lords to surrender peacefully.

Malacañan, the late-night working hours and the bunch of papers he He vowed to protect each one reads at night for signature and the of them including the police and travels from one province to another military for doing their job within legal to visit soldiers, inaugurate projects or means. for speaking engagements.

The President dismissed

The President also detailed accusations about extrajudicial his campaign against corruption, killings. “Wala ta ana (We do not have illegal drugs and wish for peace in that),” he said.

Mindanao. “Likayi ang korupsyon (Avoid corruption) because I cannot If they (barangay officials) are help you. It leaves a bad taste to involved in drugs, “do not expect me say,” he said, citing as example the to be nice with you.” “I am warning incident involving his Lex Taliones you to stop, otherwise you resign,” he fraternity brothers in alleged extortion said. at the Bureau of Immigration “I won’t allow drugs to spread,” (BI), some people at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Land he stressed. He reiterated that there Transportation Office (LTO) and the are 6,000 names in his list: almost 4,000 Land Franchising Regulatory Board are police officers, 2,000 barangay captains, about 1,000 mayors, a (LTFRB). few governors and one or two

“I promise you there will be no representatives in Congress. corruption,” he said. “The drive against

The President emphasized the corruption will continue.” crucial role of the barangay officials

He also spelled-out his continued in this campaign. According to him, all-out war against illegal drugs. With Davao City was successful in bringing an estimated four million addicts, the down drugs and drugs addicts because of cooperation.

President admitted the fight is never easy. “They have become slaves of

“We were able to strike fear. The people who sell drugs. “Siya (addict) problem of the Philippines is enormous. na ang gumastos, siya pa ang slave You are the only one to solve it,” the (He [addict] spends yet he is the President told the village leaders. slave),” he added.

(PNA)LAP/LCM/LDP

NATIONAL NEWS

BOI approves three petrochemical projects worth Php15.8B

MAKATI - The Board of Investments (BOI) recently approved three petrochemical projects of conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. (JGSHI) worth Php15.8 billion.

Two pioneering projects of whollyowned JGSHI subsidiary JG Summit Petrochemical Corp. (JGSPC) got the nod under the Preferred Activities of the existing Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) with the endorsement of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Another wholly-owned JGSHI subsidiary, JG Summit Olefins Corp.

(JGSOC) was given the greenlight for the expansion of its Naphtha Cracker that will produce additional Polymer Grade Ethylene, Polymer Grade Propylene, Mixed C4 and Pyrolysis (Py) gas with a project cost of Php8.6 billion.

The first JGSPC project is a Php4.2 billion plant for the production of butadiene and raffinate. The other JGSPC project is a Php3 billion project for the production of benzene, toluene, mixed xylene, C8+/C9+ Cut and nonaromatics.

JGSPC is part of the JG Summit Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the country. “We very much welcome investment projects such as these. The company’s initiative and innovation in expanding their petrochemical plants is definitely a big boost to the

31

NATIONAL NEWS

manufacturing industry and its sub- combined capacity of 320,000 metric sectors,” Trade Undersecretary and BOI tons (MT) annually of PE and 180,000 Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo said. MT of PP. The complex also houses the country’s first and only naphtha cracker

“Parameters in innovativeness/ facility, also a BOI-registered project of novelty of the activity, innovativeness/ JGSOC. novelty of products or processes or equipment to be developed, From the time the naphtha level of technological expertise cracker started commercial operations required, impact on increasing the in 2014, the upstream JGSOC has been level of science and technology in able to provide the downstream JGSPC the Philippines and possibilities for with a stable and competitive source commercial operation comply with of feedstock for its polymer plants. the requirements for a pioneer status of the projects,” the DOST said in its The naphtha cracker expansion endorsement letter. project of JGSOC in the next five years worth Php8.6B will allow the JGSPC

The JGSPC projects will generate to pursue construction of additional 112 jobs once fully operational new or expanded downstream units, in 2021. The firm is expected to to help further maximize the potential produce butadiene and raffinate at derivatives value from each of the 70,000 MT and 89,000 MT annually, newly-registered derivatives.

As respectively. Its other petrochemical soon as these projects become fully products will yield benzene at 126,000 operational, the firm will directly MT annually, toluene (76,000 MT), sell butadiene, benzene, and other mixed xylene (46,000 MT), C8+/C9+ petrochemical products to China, Cut (18,000 MT) and non-aromatics Korea and other Asian countries.

(29,000 MT).

(BOI)

The JGSOC project, on the other hand, is expected to enlist 21 personnel when the expansion operations start in July 2021. It will churn out additional amounts of ethylene (160,002 MT per year), propylene (51,000 MT), Mixed C4 (26,418 MT) and Py Gas (78,876 MT).

These projects will be located in the JG Summit Petrochemical complex in Batangas City. JGSPC currently operates two polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plants with a

32

the 10 ASEAN member-nations— the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam— and its six trading partners China, South Korea, Australia, India, Japan and New Zealand.

MANILA - ​Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Duterte administration ​will look “closely” at the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), given its new policy of moving the country swiftly towards economic integration with its fellowmembers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and major trade partners in Asia and the Pacific.

“I personally would like to look at RCEP closely because that’s the 10 ASEAN countries, I think. That one, we are more open to,” Dominguez said in a recent interview.

The RCEP​ is the proposed 16-nation free trade area comprising

NATIONAL NEWS

Gov’t ‘more open’ to RCEP trade pact- Dominguez

Before this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, trade ministers from the 16 countries comprising the RCEP met on Nov. 3-4, in Cebu City and discussed a wide range of issues, including the proposal to remove or drastically reduce duties on a number of goods traded across the region.

Dominguez said the head of the delegation of the European Union to the Philippines has also mentioned a possible free trade agreement between the EU and the Philippines “and we will look at that and give that our priority attention.”

He said that because the Duterte administration is a new one, it wants to thoroughly study these proposed free trade arrangements.

“So we have to think about [these] very carefully, we are a new administration, we want to see the pros and cons, we want to see how we will benefit,” Dominguez said.

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NATIONAL NEWS 34

The RCEP was conceptualized about a decade ago but was launched only in November 2012.

Its membership of 15 Asian countries account for almost half of the world’s population, almost 30 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over a quarter of the world’s exports.

In terms of merchandise exports, RCEP is larger than the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as China’s exports of $2.3 trillion alone as of 2014 are larger than the combined exports of the US ($1.6 trillion) and Canada ($474 billion), the two lead members of the TPP.

The RCEP covers trade in goods and services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property rights, competition policy, and dispute settlement, among other issues.

It does not cover labor, environment and state-owned enterprises

​D​uring the President’s state visit to China​, Dominguez and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said​ that while the Duterte administration will maintain its good relations with Western economies, it will now push for “stronger integration” with its neighbors in the region.

They said the Philippines’s economic integration with the ASEAN, along with China, South Korea and Japan, will open opportunities for trade and investment to a market of 1.8 billion people across the region.

“We will maintain relations with the West but we desire stronger integration with our neighbors. We share the culture and a better understanding with our region,” Dominguez and Pernia said.

Dominguez and Pernia said the regional integration envisioned by the Duterte administration “is similar to what has been done in the EU, NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in North America and Mercosur (Mercado Común del Sur) in South America.”

Dominguez told senators earlier that the President is not changing Philippine foreign policy but merely “recalibrating” it, following Mr. Duterte’s pronouncements that the Philippines would build new alliances with China and Russia.

He explained at a recent Senate hearing that the President’s recalibration of Philippine foreign policy would open the country to markets other than the traditional ones in the West.

“The President has indicated to us that he’d like to strengthen and exploit opportunities…in countries other than our traditional trading partners,” Dominguez said.

The Duterte administration plans to ramp up spending on infrastructure over 5 percent of the GDP next year, and maintain or even increase this in the succeeding years to sustain the country’s high growth and create jobs outside Mega Manila, in line with its 10-point socioeconomic agenda on inclusive growth. (DOF)

For more info. contact: Tel. No.: (085) 225-9219 / 300-0722 Cell Nos. 0908-875-9185 / 0917-580-2609 / 0925-556-2417 Email: inkboxinnovation@gmail.com

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