Caraga InFocus – January 22-28, 2022

Volume VI, No. 04 January 22-28, 2022

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REGIONAL NEWS ADDRESS CHALLENGES IN PH FINTECH INDUSTRY TO SUSTAIN GROWTH, PIDS STUDY SAYS DBP SIGNS FINANCING PACT WITH KEY SHELTER AGENCY GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SA MGA EVACUATION CENTERS, TINUTUKAN NG IDP PROTECTION CLUSTER P80-K SHABU SEIZED IN BUTUAN DURING DRUG BUST

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PROVINCIAL NEWS 14 16

DTI CARAGA VOWS TO ASSIST ODETTE-HIT TOWN IN SURIGAO NORTE PHILIPPINE ARMY’S MOBILE KITCHEN DEPLOYED ODETTE-AFFECTED FAMILIES IN SURIGAO CITY

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SURIGAO CITY BARANGAY CHAIR ARRESTED FOR SHABU

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DRUG STING NETS 2 HIGH-VALUE SUSPECTS IN SURIGAO NORTE PAGBABAKUNA KONTRA COVID-19 SA SURIGAO SUR, HIGIT PANG PINAIGTING MATAPOS ITAAS SA 100% ANG TARGET POPULATION PROGRAMANG AICS SA NASIPIT, GIMUGNA ASOSASYON SA MGA MAG-UUMA SA RTR IPATUMAN ANG RICE PRODUCTION PROJECT PAGDEVELOP SA NURSERY SA NASIPIT, GISUGDAN NA

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MINDANAO NEWS LEADING AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE MINDANAO DOH OBSERVES ‘SUSTAINED’ HIKE IN COVID-19 CASES IN VISMIN

CONTENTS

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INFOCUS

COVER

Caraga

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NATIONAL NEWS DAVAO CITY MAYOR INDAY SARA DUTERTE LED THE VIRTUAL PROGRAM FOR THE BLESSING AND INAUGURATION OF THE MENTAL WELLNESS CENTER FOR HOMELESS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022.

DOTR LAUDED FOR ITS PANDEMIC EFFORTS VACCINE CZAR: GOV’T TO ROLL OUT VACCINATION FOR MINORS AGED 5 TO 11 YEARS NEXT MONTH

COVID-19 NEWS VACCINATION KEY TO EXIT PANDEMIC: NTF EXEC QATAR TO DONATE P23-M WORTH OF VACCINES TO PH GOV’T TO START VAXXING 5-11 YEARS OLD BY FEB. 4: GALVEZ

Caraga cops honor SAF 44 The Police Regional Office 13 joins the entire nation in remembering the heroism of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members in a simple ceremony on Tuesday, January 25, held at Camp Col. Rafael Rodriguez in Butuan City.

PBGen. Ronaldo Olay, Acting Director for Logistics of the Philippine National Police (PNP), graced the occasion and served as the guest of honor and speaker.

The activity started with a mass at around 7:00am followed by a wreath laying ceremony and a commemoration program at the PRO 13 Law Enforcement Memorial.

PBGen. Olay relayed the message from PNP chief Police General Dionardo B. Carlos, who says that this commemoration should be taken as an opportunity to reflect on the 44 SAF troopers’ unselfish deeds for our country and that the country owes their families a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid.

PRO 13 regional director PBGen. Romeo Caramat, Jr. said that through

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the celebration of the National Day of Remembrance, the Filipino people, particularly in Caraga region, will be able to continue to honor the lives and heroism of the fallen troopers. “[These] 44 members of the police force made the supreme sacrifice in order to fulfill their duty to serve and protect,” he said.

BGen. Caramat also said the exceptional brand of gallantry and love of country that these policemen showed in Mamasapano should be engraved in the minds of Filipinos not just today but also in the future.

The National Day of Remembrance shall be observed as a working holiday to let the country commemorate the heroism shown by the 44 fallen members of the police force who died seven years ago in a botched counterterrorism operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Under the measure, all public institutions and military installations are mandated to lower the Philippine flags to half-mast every National Day of Remembrance.

(PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga) Caraga INFOCUS

News Briefs The Department of Education (DepEd) in Caraga has recorded a total of PhP1.5 billion worth of damages sustained by 10 schools division offices in Caraga from the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette. Per their report presented during the RDRCEducation Cluster Meeting at least 1,039 schools reported damages while 622 classrooms were completely wrecked by the super typhoon. xx

With a total of 124,510,386 vaccine doses administered, the Philippines ranked 3rd in the vaccination administration among 10 ASEAN countries, 11th out of 47 countries in Asia, and 18th out of 205 countries globally as of January 25. The country, meanwhile, took the 4th spot among ASEAN countries in terms of 7-day average daily rate with 550,257 doses. The country has administered 3,851,802 doses in the past 7 days. There are 65,676,742 first doses administered while 57,844,436 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. There were 6,683,976 booster doses administered.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned the public against so-called “COVID-19 vaccination exemption cards” that can allegedly be used by unvaccinated individuals to be exempted from stay at home orders, ride public transportation, and enjoy other privileges.

DILG warns public vs. “COVID vax exemption cards:” No such thing! https://bit.ly/3Kl8wVS The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated a total of P9.365 Million under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program for five LGUs in Surigao del Sur, namely Tandag City, Tago, Cagwait, Cortes, and Bayabas. A total of 1,873 rice farmers availed the cash assistance worth PhP5,000.

REGIONAL NEWS

Address challenges in PH FinTech industry to sustain growth, PIDS study says

The Philippines has a “strong” financial technology (FinTech) industry, as indicated by the increasing number of FinTechs in the country. However, challenges affecting the industry need to be addressed to sustain its growth.

This was according to a recent study of state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) authored by PIDS Senior Research Fellow Francis Mark A. Quimba, PIDS Supervising Research Specialist Mark Anthony A. Barral, and PIDS Project Evaluation Officer Jean Clarisse T. Carlos. The study looked into the country’s FinTech industry landscape and explored possible ways to further Caraga INFOCUS

develop its ecosystem.

The Financial Sector Forum defines FinTech as “any software, service, or business that provides technologicallyadvanced ways to make financial processes and transactions more efficient than traditional methods”.

According to the authors, the country’s FinTech industry is “very promising” given that the Philippines has been identified as one of the fastest-growing FinTech destinations, based on the Global Fintech Index 2020. “[The report] identified the Philippines January 22-28, 2022 |

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and Vietnam as among the countries to watch out for because of their rapidly increasing FinTech scores.

Findexable also found the Philippines excelling in the following FinTech categories: payments, enabling processes and technology, and banking and lending,” the authors explained.

In addition, the study estimated the growth of digital payments in the Philippines at 27 to 30%, compared to 25% in emerging Asian neighbors. In 2021, Findexable listed 183 FinTechs in the country, most of which are in the National Capital Region, while the remaining ones are in Cebu.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the growth in demand for FinTech, as demonstrated by the increased use of digital payment platforms.

“The [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] reports that the number of transactions using the PESONet and Instapay has continued to rise and even grew during the pandemic. The value of the transactions [has] consequently risen during this time as well,” the study said.

Despite the industry’s growth, the authors noted that the FinTech ecosystem “needs to be strengthened for the sector to flourish”.

Among the weaknesses they identified include issues arising from access

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points and the distrust from using technologies. Poor connectivity and the high cost of the internet in the country also affect the industry’s growth.

Another significant weakness the authors noted is the “existence of archaic policies imposed on the new sector”.

As a way forward, the authors underscored the need for a FinTech policy that would define and monitor the sector’s progress. They pointed out that “the lack of statistics on the sector prevents a thorough assessment of its progress”.

To further support the industry, the study emphasized the importance of supporting venture capitalists, which are an important source of funding for FinTechs.

It also highlighted the role of the academe in developing the FinTech industry and urged the government to update the current curriculum of FinTech-related disciplines “to better prepare graduates and make them more competent, particularly those considering careers in FinTech”.

The authors also called on the government to empower Filipinos across all socioeconomic strata in using FinTech services. (PIDS/PIACaraga) Caraga INFOCUS

DBP signs financing pact with key shelter agency

State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) – a key shelter agency, to provide financing to qualified housing contractors and developers in order to expedite completion of socialized housing projects, a top official said.

DBP president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Caraga INFOCUS

G. Herbosa said the DBP Credit Facility for SHFC Contractors and Developers will provide short-term loans to SHFCaccredited contractors and developers and advance payment for housing projects approved by SHFC for community associations participating under its Community Mortgage Program (CMP).

the country’s shelter production, especially for those who belong in the low-income bracket,” Herbosa said.

DBP is the fifth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; “DBP sees this partnership environment; social with SHFC as a good services and community opportunity to better development. The carry-out our shared bank’s support to the goal of increasing country’s housing January 22-28, 2022 |

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agenda is an integral part of the DBP’s inclusive growth priorities and business thrusts.

SHFC is an attached agency of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development that takes the lead in the government’s social housing programs.

It administers the CMP and the Abot Kaya Pabahay Fund Program which cater mainly to the formal and informal sectors in the lowincome bracket.

Herbosa said that DBP has an existing P115-million loan accommodation to an SHFC contractor for the construction of 223 houses for members of the Muslim-Christian Women Homeowners Association in Cagayan de Oro City who have been rendered homeless by typhoon Sendong, displaced during the Marawi siege, and are

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residing along riverbanks and danger zones in the city.

He said that the Credit Facility for SHFC Contractors and Developers is a subcomponent of the DBP flagship program on the housing sector, the Building Affordable Homes Accessible to Every Filipino (BAHAY) program, which covers the end-to-end process of housing development from land acquisition to site development and shelter construction.

“DBP will continue to align its programs for the upliftment of the living conditions

of underprivileged communities by providing viable financing to key players in the shelter sector to help address the country’s housing backlog,” Herbosa said.

Interested borrowers who wish to avail of the DBP Credit Facility for SHFC Contractors and Developers should be duly-licensed by the PCAB or the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board and should secure endorsement from the SHFC, which shall conduct both project accreditation and technical evaluation.

(DBP/PIA-Caraga) Caraga INFOCUS

Gender-based violence sa mga evacuation centers, tinutukan ng IDP Protection Cluster Kahit abala ang iba’t-ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan sa kanilang relief operations sa Caraga region, tinututukan pa rin ng Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Protection Cluster ang mga posibleng kaso ng genderbased violence (GBV) sa mga apektado ng bagyong Odette.

Ayon kay Jessie Catherine Aranas, hepe ng Protective Services Division ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga at focal person ng Regional InterAgency Committee Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women and their Children (RIACATVAWC), ang GBV ay posibleng nangyayari sa mga evacuation centers lalo na at siksikan ang mga residenteng pansamantalang naninirahan dito.

“Ang gender-based violence ay tumutukoy sa ano mang gawaing direktang nakapagdudulot ng kapahamakan sa indibidwal ano man ang kanyang kasarian. Ibig sabihin, hindi lang ito usapin ng mga babaeng inaabuso

Caraga INFOCUS

or ini-exploit kung hindi lahat po ng tao pwedeng maging biktima ng gender-based violence,” ani ni Aranas.

Ang GBV ay nangyayari sa paraang pisikal, sexual, psychological at iba pa.

“Kadalasan, ‘yung mga kaso nga natin nabibiktima pa sila sa sarili nilang bahay, mas lalo na sa evacuation centers kung saan iba-iba at hindi mo alam kung sino ang mga kasama mo,” dagdag niya.

Binigyang-diin din ni Aranas ang mahalagang papel ng lokal na pamahalaan sa pagmomonitor at pagpapatupad ng kanilang referral system, at bilang mga first-hand responders sa

mga biktima.

Ilang kaso na sa Surigao del Norte ang isinampa laban sa mga perpetrators.

Nanawagan din si Aranas sa mga biktima o sa mga may alam ng pang-aabuso na agad ipaalam sa otoridad o kaya ay itawag sa kanilang hotline.

“Mayroon po tayong psychological first aid o mga counselling session bilang intervention natin sa mga biktima. May temporary shelter din tayo para sa kanila. Kabilang din dito ang medical, educational, financial at livelihood assistance,” banggit ni Aranas. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

January 22-28, 2022 |

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P80-K shabu seized in Butuan during drug bust seized by the anti-drug operatives while the arrested high-value drug suspect is now temporarily detained at PDEA Caraga Custodial Facility for proper disposition.

A high-value drug personality was arrested in Brgy. Baan Km. 3, Butuan City in the evening of January 20, 2022 during the conduct of joint anti-drug operation by the elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga and Butuan City Police Station-1. More or less PhPP80,000 estimated worth of shabu was seized from Orlando V. Pacaña Jr. alias ‘JunPacs’ after several weeks of monitoring and surveillance.

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The black motorcycle and the cellular phone used in his illegal drug transactions were

Criminal charges for violation of the Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” are now being prepared for filing before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Butuan against the suspect.

(PDEA-Caraga/PIACaraga)

Caraga INFOCUS

PROVINCIAL NEWS

DTI Caraga vows to assist Odette-hit town in Surigao Norte

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga, through Regional Director Gay Tidalgo, expressed its commitment to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that have been heavily affected by Typhoon Odette in this municipality.

After its landfall in the province on December 16, 2021, Odette swiped off establishments, affecting 285 businesses in the municipality.

“We are truly disheartened with what has happened and we

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cannot imagine how you manage to live by this reality that Odette has left,” said Tidalgo during the municipality’s Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan (RRP) Conference that was attended by 45 potential funding agencies last January 19.

San Francisco that will soon be provided with livelihood kits amounting to P8,000 each and we promise to soon profile the remaining 85 so that they may be assisted too,” RD Tidalgo said.

Tidalgo assured that these MSMEs will be assisted through the Department’s livelihood seeding programs that will provide starter kits to “help MSMEs recover from their loss.”

Tidalgo also added that a special no-interest loan window under the Department’s financing arm Small Business Corporation (SB Corp), will soon be opened to cater to the MSMEs and other agricultural and tourism-based businesses.

“We have so far profiled 200 MSMEs in

To help in rebuilding the residents houses, DTI Caraga INFOCUS

Caraga will also soon launch a Diskwento Caravan that will sell construction materials at a cheaper price.

“We would want to commend the municipality of San Francisco for being the first municipality in the region to come up with this very comprehensive Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan after typhoon Odette hit,” Tidalgo said, adding that the plan will help the municipality rise again as it taps on the programs of different government agencies.

Said RRP aimed to address the social economic impacts of the typhoon especially on agriculture, livestock and poultry, fisheries, trade and commerce, association and cooperatives, tourism, and price control.

“It is my strong desire to immediately restore the situation of the municipality back to its normal situation because watching the sufferings and hardships of my constituents every day is a burden in my heart; I am thankful to all of our Caraga INFOCUS

national government agencies who expressed their commitment to realize the indicative projects of this plan,” said Municipal Mayor Val Pinat.

Pinat added that as of press time, 4,019 families in the municipality have lost their homes and properties, and are still sheltered in the evacuation centers, relying mainly on food ration.

“Thousands of individuals in the municipality are jobless and have lost their main economic source of income. This is the reason why we crafted a systematic, organized, and proactive RRP that will primarily outline the

rebuilding of homes and communities and reviving the livelihood of the people,” Pinat said.

Aside from DTI, agencies that also expressed their commitments during the conference include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), among others.

(Mike Ariel P. Plaza, DTICaraga/PIA-Caraga) January 22-28, 2022 |

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Philippine Army’s mobile kitchen deployed Odette-affected families in Surigao City Bukidnon, 10th Forward Service Support Unit (FSSU) under Ltc. Vladimir DC Sta. Maria, the 42nd CMO Company troopers led by 1Lt. Alvin Jay Carulasan, currently under operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade.

The 901st Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, with the 4th Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Battalion, and 10th Forward Service Support Unit (FSSU) deployed the Philippine Army’s Mobile Kitchen at Barangay Lipata, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte on January 20, 2022.

provision of free meals,” they said in their post.

The success of the activity was made possible through a collaboration with the local government unit of Surigao City, the Propelling Our Inherited Nation Through Our Youth (POINTY) Inc., Project Binuligay of

“We continue to support and participate in activities for the benefit of our countrymen. The dedication and sincerity displayed by our soldiers contributed much for the upliftment of the condition of our fellow Caraganons affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon ODETTE,” their post read. (4th CMO Battalion, 4ID, PA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

In a Facebook post made by the 4th CMO Battalion, the mobile kitchen served around two hundred food packs with bottled water.

“As the affected families begin the reconstruction of their damaged houses, interventions to alleviate their plight are very important, as such, the Philippine Army utilized its mobile kitchen to help residents through the

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Caraga INFOCUS

Surigao City barangay chair arrested for shabu

An incumbent barangay chairman was arrested in Surigao City for selling shabu to an undercover agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga on January 18, 2022 at Brgy. Togbongon during the conduct of joint antidrug operation together with the local Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel.

Caraga INFOCUS

The arrested high-value suspect was identified as Luther Bugas Elumba, Brgy. Togbongon’s incumbent barangay chairperson, who was a subject of monitoring and surveillance prior to his arrest.

The joint elements of PDEA Caraga, Surigao del Norte Police Provincial

Office - Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (SDN PPO-PDEU), and local PNP operatives were able to confiscate from the suspect more or less PhP45,000 worth of shabu and an unlicensed .9mm caliber pistol with 10 live ammunition and a magazine.

The arrested barangay official will face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” and the RA 10591 or the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act”. (PDEA-Caraga/ PIA-Surigao del Norte)

January 22-28, 2022 |

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Drug sting nets 2 high-value suspects in Surigao Norte

Joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga, Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office (SDN PPO), and Tubod Municipal Police Station successfully apprehended two high-value drug personalities in Brgy.

San Pablo, Tubod, Surigao del Norte during a buy-bust operation which resulted in the confiscation of more or less PhP65,000 worth of methamphetamine

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hydrochloride, locally known as ‘shabu’.

The suspects were identified as Faith Jorney Jamorol Dela Cruz and Aviron Jamorol Gacos, both residents of said barangay.

The buy-bust money consisting of one genuine PhP1,000 bill and 34 PhP1,000 bill boodle money were recovered in the possession of the suspects. The operatives also seized the cellular phones of the suspects

which were used in their illegal drug transactions.

Violations of RA 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” are now being readied for filing before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Surigao del Norte while the suspects are temporarily detained at PDEA Caraga Custodial Facility for proper disposition. (PDEACaraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte) Caraga INFOCUS

Pagbabakuna kontra COVID-19 sa Surigao Sur, higit pang pinaigting matapos itaas sa 100% ang target population

File photo

Dahil nasa 200,000 indibiduwal pa ang hinahabol ng Department of Health (DOH) sa Surigao del Sur para mabakunahan matapos makuha ang inaasintang herd immunity, doblekayod ngayon ang isinasagawang turukan kontra COVID-19 hindi lang sa primary series kundi pati na rin sa Caraga INFOCUS

booster shots.

Ayon kay Dr. Glynna Andoy, hepe ng Provincial Health Team (PHT) Office ng DOH, nakuha na ng probinsya ang katumbas ng 70% sa kabuuang populasyon subalit kinakailangan pang bakunahan ang 200,000 na mga eligible na residente alinsunod sa bagong kautusan ng DOH na itaas sa 100%

ang target population.

Kasabay ng patiyak na sagana ang supply ng bakuna, paulit-ulit din ang panawagan ni Dr. Andoy sa publiko na tangkilikin ang hakbang bukod sa laging tumalima sa minimum health protocols. (Greg Tataro, Jr., DXJS RPTandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur) January 22-28, 2022 |

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Programang AICS sa Nasipit, gimugna

Prayoridad karon sa lokal nga panggamhanan sa lungsod sa Nasipit ang pagtabang sa mga insidente niini pinaagi sa gimugnang programa nga Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation kun AICS isip suporta sa ilang pagbangon.

Kini ang unod sa bagohay pa lamang giaprobahan ug gideklarang balido sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang Municipal Ordinance

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No. 005-2021 nga gipangamahanan ni Sangguniang Bayan Paterno S. Corvera nga nagtumong nga mahatagan og daliang tabang pinansyal nga medikal, burial, o transportasyon ug kadtong anaa sa krisis, kalisod o emerhensiya nga kaso.

DSWD Memorandum Circular No.11-2019 i-implementar pinaagi sa Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office kun MSWDO.

Ang maong lakang giaprobahan pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 010-2021 sa SP sa pagpanginahan ni Bokal Elizabeth Marie Ang programang AICS R. Calo atol sa ikanga subay sa mga 121st sesyon regular. probisyon sa Department (SVDeligero, LGU-Agusan Of Social Welfare and del Norte/PIA-Agusan Development kun del Norte) Caraga INFOCUS

Asosasyon sa mga mag-uuma sa RTR ipatuman ang rice production project Gihatagan og otoridad sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa Agusan del Norte si Provincial Governor Dale B. Corvera aron sa pagpirma sa Memorandum of Agreement tali sa Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte ug sa Tagbongabong Farmers Association sa tubag alang sa pagpatuman sa Rice Production for Marginalized Rice Farmers Project ubos sa assistance program sa mga marginalized rice farmers sa probinsiya sa Agusan Ang target nga maka del Norte. benepisyo mao ang mga Basi sa maong programa, marginalized rice farmers nga adunay mga rice nagtumong kini sa farm areas sa lungsod sa pagtabang sa mga marginalized rice farmers Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR), ning probinsya. aron mahatagan sila sa gikinahanglang pondo ug inputs aron maseguro ang agricultural productivity.

Mokabat sa PhP3 milyon ang kantidad sa maong proyekto aron masuportahan ang gasto sa produksiyon nga gikinahanglan sa mga mag-uuma.

Caraga INFOCUS

Molangkod sa 86 ka ektarya ang estimated area sa rice land nga adunay sa katloan ug PhP35,000 nga gasto sa produksiyon matag ektarya base sa plano ug budget sa umahan, apan kung ang gasto sa produksiyon molapas sa kantidad nga gipahayag,

Corvera

ang mag-uuma, maghatag og dugang gasto o katugbang.

Kini gi-aprobahan sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan pinaagi sa pagpaningkamot ni Provincial Board member Virhilio R. Escasinas, Jr., chairman sa Committee on Agriculture and Agrarian Reform pinaagi sa sangguniang Reslution Number 493-2021, atol sa ika 115th regular session.

(Jessica O. Mellejor, LGUAgusan del Norte/PIAAgusan del Norte) January 22-28, 2022 |

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Pagdevelop sa nursery sa Nasipit, gisugdan na semilya sa siyam ka priority high value crops nga mao ang abaka, saging, cacao, kape, rubber, lubi, cassava, kahoy (apil na ang falcatta) ingon man ang magga ug laing prutas.

Gisugdan kaniadtong Enero 19, sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte ang pag-develop sa nursery sa Sitio Balaatan, Camagong, Nasipit, usa sa mga mahimong pundasyon sa proyektong Plant! Plant!

Plant sa AGUSAN UP!, ang kampanya sa pagpalambo sa administrashyon ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera kaabag ang buhatan ni Kong. Angel Amante-Matba.

Ubos sa Plant! Plant!

Plant!, gipunting nga makapatanum ang probinysa og high value crops sa 125,000 ektaryas nga underutilized o bakanteng mga luna pagabot sa tuig 2027 aron makabaton ang probinysa og igo-igong suplay sa hilaw nga materyales nga mahimong panukakaran sa processing activities. Ug

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usa sa mga requirements aron makatanum sa maong gidak-on nga luna mao ang mga seedlings nga pangtanum.

Aron maka-produce sa gikinahanglang gidaghanon sa seedlings, usa sa gitutokan karon sa mga personahe sa Agusan Up Coordinating Center mao ang pag-develop sa tulo ka nurseries nga kasamtangan gipadagan karon sa programa, usa na niini ang naa sa Sitio Balaatan. Ang laing duha ka nurseries mao ang nahimutang sa Kinabjangan, sa Nasipit gihapon ug ang anaa sa Agusan Up Compound sa kapitolyo.

Target karong tuiga nga matamnan ang 6,000 ektaryas nga bakanteng luna. Niini, nanginahanglan ang probinsya makaproduce og 6 milyones nga seedlings sa nagkalain-laing high value crops.

Mamahimo usab kaabag sa probinsya ang 80% membro sakop sa indigenous people (IPs) o tribung Higaonon sa Sitio Balaatan sa pagpahiluna ug pagdumala nga maong nursery isip mamahimo na usab nila nga panginabuhian.

Mahinumduman nga gihimo ang ground breaking sa nursery sa Sitio Balaatan niadtong Nobyembre.

Partner sa probinsya ang mga sakop sa tribung Higaonon sa pagpalambo sa maong lima ka ektaryang nursery. (Karen Kie Decamotan, LGUAng nasangpit nga nurseries Agusan del Norte/PIAmag-produce og mga Agusan del Norte)

Caraga INFOCUS

MINDANAO NEWS

Leading an energy-efficient and sustainable Mindanao

Montenegro

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MinDA Deputy Executive Director ASec. Romeo Montenegro provides a broad context on the importance of pursuing efficient, affordable, and sustainable energy consumption through local policy support during the Local Energy Code Training-Workshop for the City Government Unit of General Santos today via Zoom, 26 January.

private sector and the local governments in terms of framing the kind of development that we all desire for our respective LGUs – a development that is not only looking at economic metrics or addresses poverty situation, but a kind of development that looks at the impact of the current situation,” Montenegro stressed.

“The coming up of local energy code will serve the purpose of guiding all stakeholders, the

Following the signing of Republic Act 11646 or Microgrid Systems Act

by President Rodrigo

| January 22-28, 2022

Duterte last 21 January 2022, he also said that such law, along with the current Energy Efficiency Act, will promote microgrid set up in many off-grid and unconnected areas across the country.

“This is exactly the direction we want to pursue vigorously in Mindanao to achieve 100% electrification target even before, and the move towards energy transition and a decarbonized economy in Mindanao is very Caraga INFOCUS

much aligned with the Mindanao Peace and Development Framework, the Philippine Medium and Long-Term Plans, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

According to him, the 25 years that South Cotabato Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO) had been able to contract with power companies is going to be nothing over the next couple of years at the rate of economic growth that General Santos is seeing, which makes the city reflective

Caraga INFOCUS

of how it is in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga in terms of economic tools.

“As we endeavor to codify our energy plans and programs, and with General Santos City being the lead in Mindanao is a very important, giant step towards demonstrating that we have the matters in our hand in developing the kind of energy to effectively address the longterm adverse impact of climate change and promote energy transition,” he further emphasized.

The USAID-Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) organizes the activity to discuss and present the actual process of developing Local Energy Code (LEC) using an enhanced template as per Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2020-01 of the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The training also employs a mentoring approach to ensure that the LEC developed is contextualized based on the local conditions of General Santos.

January 22-28, 2022 |

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DOH observes ‘sustained’ hike in Covid-19 cases in VisMin A sustained increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has been observed in the Visayas and Mindanao, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

In an advisory, the DOH noted infections in the Visayas rose by 87.35 percent while those in Mindanao increased by 164.72 percent from the previous week.

“Regions 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), and 11 (Davao Region) have been the top regions in the VisMin (Visayas-Mindanao) island groups based on their seven-day moving average since Jan. 19, 2022, with bed utilization at moderate risk and ICU utilization at moderate risk,” the DOH said.

Image from DOH

Its current average daily attack rate is 69 percent while its seven-day positivity rate is 40 percent.

individuals a Covid-19 patient can infect, is down to 2.99 from last week’s 4.64.

Positivity rate is the percentage of Covid-19 tests performed that turned out positive in a certain area or region.

The health care utilization rate in the city is now moderate at 68 percent.

However, the region’s reproduction number,

The intensive care unit utilization rate is also low at 42 percent. (PNA/Ma. Teresa Montemayor)

Meantime, the OCTA Research Group said Cebu City is classified as “high risk” for Covid-19.

The city’s seven-day average of new cases increased to 722 from January 19 to 25 from last week’s 325.

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| January 22-28, 2022

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NATIONAL NEWS

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte led the virtual program for the blessing and inauguration of the Mental Wellness Center for Homeless on Friday, January 21, 2022 The Mental Wellness Center for Homeless Building, which costs 26 Million is located at SPMC-IPBM Compound, Claveria St, Poblacion District, Davao City.

This building, which started construction in February 2021, not only serves as a facility for mentally challenged homeless individuals but also as an outpatient counseling service center.

In her speech, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte congratulated everyone

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| January 22-28, 2022

behind the completion of the Mental Wellness Center for the Homeless as it helps safeguard the emotional and psychological well-being of the homeless people, who are at higher risk of getting mental illness as they struggle to get through the day in the streets.

“The establishment of the Davao City Mental Health Center for the homeless is a welcome initiative of the local government not only to provide a comfortable refuge for our homeless

and mentally ill residents but also to address the stigma surrounding mental health and raise awareness in the community,” the mayor said.

She added that hopefully, the initiative will inspire everyone to support each other to find ways to overcome difficulties, maintain healthy well-being, and promote the importance of mental health.

The mayor also thanked Dumper Partylist Representative Claudine Caraga INFOCUS

Bautista for helping the city government with the funding for the building of the Mental Wellness Center for the Homeless.

Meanwhile, Center Head of the Mental Wellness Center for Homeless Building, Dr. Annaliza Malubay also said that the establishment of the Center is an achievement for the City Government of Davao because this is the first of its kind in the country.

them because of their special needs and kining mga special needs nila mao ang gihatagan ug pagtagad sa atong local government. (The “This facility was created facility was created because our local because our local government saw the government saw the need for a shelter that need for a shelter that caters to those psychotic caters to those psychotic vagrants or the mentally vagrants or sa mga challenged in the streets, mentally challenged especially during the na latagaw, especially pandemic. Although our during the pandemic. city has existing shelters Although our city has for the homeless, we existing shelters for the homeless we cannot just cannot just integrate integrate our clients with our clients with them

because of their special needs and these special needs are what the local government is giving focus on,” she said.

Malubay said that providing shelter is not enough, “ We have to give more than we have to make them feel safe and protected. We have to provide holistic care.”

She added that being assigned to the facility is an eye-opener for mental illness as the most neglected health problem.

“Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to establish livelihood programs and other services both medical and non-medical that can benefit not only admitted clients but also outpatients,” Malubay said. CIO

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January 22-28, 2022 |

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DOTr lauded for its pandemic efforts

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañan Palace on January 24, 2022. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte praised the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for its contributions to the country’s ongoing efforts to help contain COVID-19 particularly with the emergence of a more transmissible Omicron variant.

During President Duterte’s regular Talk to

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| January 22-28, 2022

the People on Monday, he said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and his department did a good job addressing the concerns posed by coronavirus to the department and commuters.

“I am sure that the response of Tugade and his men there did everything they [could]

to help,” President Duterte said.

Tugade said during the meeting with the President that the DOTr is working to put up onsite vaccination facilities in public transportation places such as ports, bus stations, airports, and MRT/LRT stations to immunize unvaccinated commuters.

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The department has also started its mobile vaccination drive at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) aimed at vaccinating 500 people every day.

“The vaccination facility that we will put up in all the sectors of the Kagawaran will be in accordance with the details, policies and requirements of DOH,” Tugade said.

At the same time, the transport chief reported that 136 Tausugs who were stranded at Manila North Harbor have been taken care of and allowed to board a vessel for their travel to Zamboanga and other destinations.

The stranded passengers were given the permission to leave after they presented negative antigen results and their respective local government units (LGUs) gave the nod for their entry.

Another group of passengers, composed of 140 individuals, were also permitted to travel to Zamboanga, Bacolod Caraga INFOCUS

City and Dumaguete City, Tugade said, adding the processing of the stranded passengers was done through the coordination between different government agencies.

“Ito ho ay nangyari sa pagtutulungan ng mga ibang ahensiya at departamento ng ating pamahalaan. Kaya nga ba’t nagpapasalamat ako sa DSWD na kung saan kasama ang PPA, kasama ‘yung DOH, kasama ‘yung DILG ay

sila’y nagkapit-bisig upang matugunan itong problemang ito,” he said.

“Ang DSWD po ay nagbigay ng ayuda, P5,000 bawat tao na involved diyan.

Iyong DOH ho nakipagtulungan nang sa ganoon magawa ‘yung tinatawag natin na antigen testing.

Iyong DILG ay tumulong sa amin upang makipag-usap sa mga local government.”

PND January 22-28, 2022 |

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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his Talk to the People at the Malacañan on January 24, 2022.

KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Vaccine czar: Gov’t to roll out vaccination for minors aged 5 to 11 years next month The government will begin administering COVID-19 jabs to children aged five to 11 years next month as the country intensifies its fight against the coronavirus particularly after the emergence of the more contagious Omicron variant, the country’s vaccine czar said Monday.

In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte

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| January 22-28, 2022

during a meeting on government’s COVID-19 interventions, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said pediatric vaccination could start on February 4 as the government expects the delivery of vaccines for minors next week.

A memorandum guidance will be issued this week and town hall meetings, as well as series of trainings will also be conducted by the

Department of Health (DOH) in preparation for immunizing minors five to 11 years old, according to Galvez.

“Mr. President, prepared na po tayo sa vaccination ng five to 11 years old. Last January ay nagkaroon po tayo ng live orientation ng pagbabakuna ang US Embassy ng mga bata sa ganitong edad,” he said, adding similar Caraga INFOCUS

orientations will be held in other regions.

Galvez assured that the pediatric vaccination is “very safe,” noting that a lower dosage will be given to children.

“Makaka-assure po tayo sa ating mga magulang na very safe ang ating gagamitin na bakuna dahil ito ay mas mababa ang formulation na angkop para sa mga bata. Kaya kung makikita po natin sa vials may color coding, ‘yung orange at saka po ‘yung purple. Iyong orange po para po sa five to 11 years old,” he said.

The first leg of pediatric vaccination, which was for children aged 12 to 17, has also made the country more prepared and more experienced in handling vaccine rollout for minors, Galvez noted.

Capacity building of vaccination teams, vaccination site preparation, and vaccine site inspections also form part of the country’s preparation for the pediatric vaccine rollout, he said.

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To expedite the vaccination of minors, the vaccine czar said two vaccination sites will be opened immediately in Metro Manila and gradually expand throughout the country by opening both hospital and non-hospital vaccination sites in different regions.

The Philippines aims to inoculate around 39 million minors aged zero to 17 years, he said.

Galvez, who is also the National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer, said pediatric vaccination is part of the Duterte administration’s strategy to acquire a “wall of protection” against the deadly coronavirus disease that will ensure population immunity against any COVID-19 strain or mutation. Other strategies include the booster shot program and vaccine rollout in pharmacies, he said.

The administration of boosters, which has a three-month interval between doses, will prevent the vaccine’s

efficacy from waning, while vaccine rollout in pharmacies and clinics will expand the vaccination even in far-flung locations where pharmacists will be authorized to administer the jabs for walk-in vaccination, he explained.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who was present during the meeting, wants the government to incentivize pharmacies and clinics participating in the vaccination drive to entice more establishments to join. Senator Go is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health.

As of January 24, at least 59.7 million Filipinos or 76.2 percent of the target population have received the first dose of COVID-19 jab, while 57.2 million individuals or 73.33 percent of the target population are fully vaccinated.

On the other hand, 8.72 percent of the target population have received booster shots.

PND January 22-28, 2022 |

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Vaccination key to exit pandemic: NTF exec part of the governmentprocured jabs with funding from the World Bank.

The Philippines has so far received 216.5 million doses of different Covid-19 vaccines, both procured and donated, from various pharmaceutical companies, with 124,510,385 doses already administered nationwide.

FRESH JABS. Officials led by Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor (2nd from right), chief of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 Strategic Communications sub-task group on current operations, do the Resbakuna sign during the arrival of 1,023,750 doses of Pfizer vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Wednesday night (Jan. 26, 2022). The shipment is part of the government-procured jabs funded by the World Bank. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

Vaccination is the key to the exit of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. an official of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 said Wednesday night.

Head of the NTF Strategic Communications subtask group on current operations, Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, urged anew unvaccinated Filipinos to avail of Covid-19 jabs to get enough protection against the dreaded disease.

ng pamahalaan, ang bakuna po ang sagot para malabanan po natin at tayo po ay makaalis – maka-exit tayo sa pandemyang ito (Once again, the government is encouraging you, the vaccine is the answer so we can fight and get out – exit this pandemic),” Mayor said shortly after the arrival of 1,023,750 doses of Pfizer vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 via an Air Hong Kong cargo flight.

“Muli ang panghihikayat

The latest shipment is

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At least 57.8 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated and 6,683,975 eligible individuals have received booster shots.

The government has urged those with complete shots to avail of booster shots for added protection.

Mayor likewise reiterated that all Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective against severe and critical symptoms of the disease and help prevent the hospitalization of coronavirus patients.

As of Wednesday, the Philippines has recorded 3,475,293 Covid-19 cases, with 3,191,219 recoveries, 230,410 active infections, and 53,664 deaths. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani) January 22-28, 2022 |

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Qatar to donate P23-M worth of vaccines to PH

special envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states Amable Aguiluz V, meanwhile, extended the Philippines’ gratitude to Doha and the Emir.

(File photo)

The Qatar government is providing USD450,000 (approximately PHP23 million) to help the Philippines procure 50,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine, the Qatar Embassy in Manila announced Tuesday.

“The aim of the support is to provide additional 50,000 doses of Sinovac anti-Covid-19 vaccine for the cost of USD450,000, to the people of Philippines.

The support comes as a continuation of Qatar’s response to provide wider access to Covid-19 vaccine,” it said in a statement.

“This assistance is an extension of Qatar’s commitment to stand with the brotherly and friendly countries affected by the pandemic, by providing

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| January 22-28, 2022

appropriate medical supplies to cope with the repercussions of Covid-19 and to provide health support to the people of the affected countries,” it added.

Qatar Ambassador Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Malki said this latest support “comes within the framework of humanitarian action” and serves as a way to extend relief to the Filipino people hit hard by the pandemic.

Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, director-general of Qatar Fund for Development, added that it affirms Qatar’s “active role and efforts” in battling the pandemic as well as its position to assist “friendly and fraternal countries” like the Philippines overcome the global health crisis.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s

“The Philippines is very fortunate to be included

by Qatar in its roster of friendly countries. Filipinos especially overseas Filipino workers have been treated fairly and have been beneficiaries of the benevolence of the Emir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani,” he said.

“This humanitarian gesture is a manifestation of strong diplomatic and friendly relations between the two nations,” he added.

Doha and Manila will mark 41 years of diplomatic relations on May 5, 2022.

Earlier, Al-Malki said Qatar would continue exerting efforts to link the two countries closer, especially in the areas of energy, education, culture, and health.

The envoy said the two nations’ four decades of bilateral relations are a testament to the “solid friendship” they have formed over the years. (PNA/Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)

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Gov’t to start vaxxing 5-11 years old by Feb. 4: Galvez The government will start administrating formulated Covid-19 vaccine to children aged 5 to 11 years old by February 4, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said Monday night.

“We are already prepared in the vaccination of 5 to 11 years old,” Galvez, also the vaccine czar, reported during President Rodrigo Duterte’s prerecorded Talk to the People.

Galvez said the government will issue the memorandum guidance this week, with town hall meetings to be conducted from January 24 to 28, for the rollout of the pediatric vaccination under the 5-11 years old age bracket.

The formulated lowdosing Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to be used for the younger population Caraga INFOCUS

(File photo)

will tentatively arrive on February 2, he added.

“We will open the hospital and nonhospital vaccination Galvez said the pediatric site and we will expand the sites further to other vaccination for this age bracket will be rolled out regions after one week.

Again, we will open our in two phases. vaccination rollout on February 4,” Galvez said.

A pilot run will be conducted in one The latest data from hospital-based and one the NTF showed that local government unit 7,246,430 adolescents, (LGU)-based vaccination or children aged 12 to site per city, within the 17 years, are now fully National Capital Region protected against the (NCR), for the first phase. disease.

After a week, it will be expanded to the rest of Metro Manila’s inoculation sites and other regions, for the second phase.

The government expects to vaccinate more than 39.41 million aged from zero to 17 years old. (PNA/Lade Jean Kabagani) January 22-28, 2022 |

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