Caraga InFocus –March 12-18, 2022

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DILG CARAGA EMPOWERS WOMEN FRS THRU ENTREPRENEURIAL DEV’T SKILLS TRAINING

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FP SERVICES PROVIDED TO SIARGAONON WOMEN

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DTI-13 CELEBRATES 2022 WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY

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DILG CARAGA WELCOMES WOMEN’S MONTH 2022 WITH BAZAAR, MODELING FOR A CAUSE

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DA CARAGA BOOSTS LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY AMID PANDEMIC

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PROVINCIAL NEWS 15 16 17 19

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SIARGAO TEENS JOIN FIGHT AGAINST TEEN PREGNANCY

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OVER 60% NOW FULLY VACCINATED IN SURIGAO NORTE DEPED GENSAN, TACURONG HAND RELIEF TO 6 ODETTE-HIT ADOPTED SCHOOLS IN SIARGAO

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MATAAS NA KALIBRE NG ARMAS AT MGA ILEGAL NA PAMPASABOG, ISINUKO SA MGA KASUNDALUHAN SA SURIGAO NORTE DA-13 TURNS OVER CARAGA’S FIRST MONOLITHIC STORAGE FACILITY TO AGSUR LGU

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PAGBAKUNA SA KABATAAN EDAD 5-11, GISUGDAN SA BUENAVISTA TEMPORARYONG PAGTAAS SA PLETIHAN SA MOTORIZED TRICYCLE SA TUBAY GIAPRUBAHAN P10.8-M ALANG ASIGA RIVER FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT SA SANTIAGO GIAPROBAHAN SA SP AGNOR LGU GI-REGULATE ANG SAFETY MEASURES SA MGA TRUCK BISLIG FS RECEIVE NEW FIRE TRUCK FROM BFP

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MINDANAO NEWS OVER P230-M FOR MINDANAO YOUTH PEACEBUILDING PROGRAM UNDERWAY DUTERTE SAYS HE FULFILLED HIS PROMISE TO BRING PEACE TO MINDANAO

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NATIONAL NEWS PH WON’T COMMIT FORCES TO A US-LED WAR, MUST MAINTAIN NEUTRALITY - PRESIDENT DUTERTE GOV’T EYES MORE RESTRICTION DOWNGRADES IN PROVINCES, CITIES TO BOOST THE ECONOMY PRESIDENT DUTERTE SAYS COUNTRY MUST END DECADES-OLD COMMUNIST REBELLION PRESIDENT DUTERTE OKAYS GRANT OF P200 MONTHLY CASH AID TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

COVID-19 NEWS GOV’T INOCULATES 1.8M PEOPLE IN EXTENDED NAT’L VAX DRIVE 4TH NATIONAL VACCINATION REACHES 97% TARGET: DOH 1.2M KIDS AGED 5-11, 9.7M MINORS VACCINATED: DOH

CONTENTS

REGIONAL NEWS

INFOCUS

COVER

Caraga

Volume VI, No. 11 March 12-18, 2022

Mga punong barangay sa Nasipit, nagpaabot ng testimoniya sa mga programa ng Duterte admin

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

Naging emosyonal ang pagtitipon ng mga punong barangay at iba pang lokal na opisyal sa Nasipit, Agusan del Norte nang ibinahagi nila ang mga magagandang programang kanilang naranasan sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte, kung saan nagdulot ng

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malaking pagbabago sa mangiyak-ngiyak si kanilang buhay maging Junic Saballa, isa sa ng mga constituents. mga natulungan ng Duterte Legacy habang Sa isinagawang Duterte ibinahagi niya ang Legacy Campaign: benepisyong natamasa Barangayanihan ng kanyang asawa sa Caravan Towards tulong ng programa ng National Recovery Commission on Higher noong Lunes, Marso Education (CHED) 14, sa Brgy. Triangulo, kaya ito nakapagtapos Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

ng pag-aaral. Ayon sa kanya, hindi man siya nabigyan ng pagkakataon noon na makapagtapos, masaya siya dahil natupad naman ang ambisyon ng kanyang asawa.

“Malaki ang aking pasasalamat kay President Rodrigo Roa Duterte dahil pangarap namin ng aking asawa na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral sa tulong ng Unifast-CHED, at least sa aming mag-asawa may nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Bilang representante ng mga kabataan, sana ay mas mapalaganap pa ang adbokasiya ng gobyerno lalo na

sa mga Sangguniang Kabataan,” ani ni Saballa.

Sa kampanya naman laban ilegal na droga, binigyang-diin ni Punong Barangay Calvin Pasaon, na dati rati ay hindi naman sila gaano ka-aktibo, hindi tulad ngayon na may aksyon agad dahil na rin sa mahigpit na direktiba ng pangulo na masugpo ang problema sa droga.

“Dahil dito sa seryoso na war on drugs ni President Duterte, ang mga kapulisan at ang barangay officials ay nagkaisa. Nagkaroon kami ng tapang dahil sa koneksyon namin

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

sa pulis kaya malaki ang naitulong ng barangay at pulis sa war on drugs kaya sana ay maipagpatuloy ito sa susunod pang mga administrasyon,” banggit ni Pasaon.

Ang naturang caravan ay pinangungunahan ng Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

“Itong mga legasiyang ito, hindi ito magiging epektibo kung hindi rin dahil sa inyong aktibong suporta at partisipasyon.

Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit may gobyerno,” mensahe ni PCOO ASec. Jusan Vincent Arcena.

(JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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News Briefs The Philippines is 3rd in the vaccination administration among 10 ASEAN countries, 11th out of 47 countries in Asia, and 17th out of 205 countries globally, with a total of 139,066,734 vaccine doses administered as of March 14, 2022. The Philippines ranks 3rd among ASEAN countries in terms of seven-day average daily rate of 283,005 doses administered. xx

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), through the Office of the Global Media and Public Affairs (OGMPA) and various national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs), hold a #DuterteLegacy Caravan in Agusan del Norte.

Launched by the PCOO, the Duterte Legacy Caravan aims to showcase and promote the programs, policies and legacies of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Anchored on the President’s ‘Tapang at Malasakit’ brand of governance and people-centric public service, various government services are ready on the ground to be available to the public.

The Regional Disaster Response Committee (RDRC) is holding its Regional Distaster Response Plan Enhancement Workshop at the Balanghai Hotel and Convention, Butuan City. The said activity aims to update and enhance the RDRP in consideration of new memorandum circulars and inclusion of other national government agencies in the Committee.

The commemorative stamps feature the official Centennial Poster for Bislig City, the famous Tinuy-an Falls, the wondrous Kawa Kawa and the joyous Karawasan Festival, and the official First Day Cover that features the placid scenery of Lawigan Beach Resort and the Philippine Eagle.

REGIONAL NEWS

DILG Caraga empowers women FRs thru entrepreneurial dev’t skills training

With a renewed hope for a better life back in the mainstream society, 18 women former rebels (FRs) and wives of FRs in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte engaged in Women’s Forum on March 10, 2022, at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga Regional Office, this city.

In line with the Women’s Month Celebration, the DILG Caraga through its Gender and

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Development Focal Point System (GFPS) initiated an entrepreneurial skills training entitled “Jumpstarting Business in the New Normal.”

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga representatives were invited to mentor and share the stepby-step process of starting a small business and present information about some

opportunities that the participants can avail themselves of from the said offices.

Aside from the knowhow on business, the participants also received free pampering sessions such as haircuts, manicures, and pedicures as a way of celebrating their womanhood and appreciating them for braving whatever it was that cost them in finally coming back to the fold of the law.

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

DILG Assistant Regional Director Donald Seronay expressed his gratitude towards the participants for their bravery.

“Along with this celebration is our direction to reset and bounce back.

Mobangon kita (We will rise up) and we will guide you as you transition back into civilian life by helping you realize whatever business you have in mind. I am happy to see you slowly reintegrate back into your communities and start a new, normal life together with your families,” he magamit gyud namo said. sa pang adlaw-adlaw na panginabuhian.

As a Women’s Month Gawas niini, gipagwapa gift, the GFPS also pa gyud ming mga handed out beauty kababaehan. Salamat and hygiene kits to the sa nag conduct niini participants. ug sa mga nagsponsor ug sa mga nag train sa Liza (not her real amoa. Salamat kaayo name) was among the sa DILG, salamat na participants who shared gihatagan mig ingher appreciation to the ani na training (I am agency for providing grateful to those who them this opportunity. led this training since it has widened my “Ako nagpasalamat understanding of how to nga naay ingon ani na start a business, and I am programa nga mag confident that this will guide sa amo na mag help us in our everyday sugod ug business, kani lives. I appreciate those Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

who organized and sponsored it, as well as those who trained us.

Thank you so much, DILG, for making this training possible),” she said.

The GFPS is set to conduct various activities for the month-long celebration. This includes a webinar on GAD Planning and Budgeting on March 17, and DILG’s GAD Talent, a variety show showcasing the talents of the men and women of DILG Caraga on March 31. (DILGCaraga/PIA-Caraga)

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FP services provided to Siargaonon women

Nearly a hundred married women from the municipalities of Dapa, Sta. Monica and Del Carmen of Siargao Island received free Progestin Subdermal Implant or PSI from the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Mindanao Regional offices and the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga during the conduct of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Delivery, an outreach program initiated for Typhoon Odette-stricken communities of Siargao Islands on February 22 and 24, 2022.

Thirty-two women from the municipality of Dapa availed of the free family planning service, while 18 from Sta. Monica and 11 from Del Carmen. The clients from the said municipalities also received food packs, snacks, and lunch from the POPCOM Caraga and POPCOM regional offices in Mindanao.

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One of the recipients is Marlin Congreso, with her husband Robert Congreso, a couple from Brgy.

Tangbo, Sta. Monica, Siargao.

According to Mrs. Congreso, she availed of the PSI to plan her next pregnancy for another child but emphasized that it should be at the proper time.

Another client from the same barangay is the couple Sherwin Martinez and Jesinell Japa. Japa preferred to have PSI insertion because of the length of its potency that could reach up to three years.

The couple, having two children already, has no plan of having another child in the future. She also added that she would again avail of the implant once it reached its expiration date. (Gabrielle Paolo M. Mordeno, POPCOM-Caraga/PIACaraga) Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

DTI-13 celebrates 2022 World Consumer Rights Day

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga celebrates the “World Consumer Rights Day ‘’ through conducting several activities around the region on March 15, 2022.

The celebration aims to raise global awareness of consumer rights, consumer protection and empowerment. DTI Caraga also aims to widen the reach of consumer initiatives of the government for proactive, responsible, and informed consumers in the country.

This year’s celebration theme “Fair Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

Digital Finance” calls for a global movement to ensure fair digital finance that is inclusive, safe, data protected and private, and sustainable. As the digital financial services have created new risks that can lead to unfair outcomes for consumers.

World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by President John F. Kennedy, who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. (DTI-Caraga/MFC/ PIA-Caraga)

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DILG Caraga welcomes Women’s Month 2022 with bazaar, modeling for a cause The indispensable role of women in society was the center of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga’s welcome of the 2022 National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) on March 1 -- a celebration that, according to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), endeavors to highlight the gains achieved for women and girls, assess actions towards gender equality, and look forward to steps that must be taken to ensure progress in empowering women.

Convened at the well-decorated Local Governance Regional Resource Center, the men and women of DILG Caraga honored the brave Juanas through “I-rampa ang Agenda”, a modeling search with advocacy where 15 lovely models from the Regional Office dressed up according to the 15 different agenda or

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sectors based on the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) Plan 2019-2025, and Juana’s Bazaar, a space for DILG entrepreneurs and artists to display their products for sale.

The office also launched its Health and Wellness Program where personnel participate in sports and Zumba activities every week to promote holistic wellbeing and work-life balance.

“Various activities have been prepared for the whole month to commemorate this momentous cause. We do this to honor the hard work of both men and women who make sure

DA Caraga boosts livestock industry amid pandemic

that we are a society that is safe and fair for all genders,” said DILGCaraga regional director Lilibeth Famacion in her message.

The Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) of the DILG Caraga has organized diverse activities not just for its personnel, but for its clients as well such as Women’s Forum: Jumpstarting Business in the New Normal on March 10, a webinar on GAD Planning and Budgeting, and DILG’s GAD Talent, a variety show showcasing the talents of the men and women of DILG Caraga on March 31. (Estela Marie M. Vallespin, DILGCaraga/PIA-Caraga)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga has taken different initiatives to boost the livestock industry amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Caraga Region has the capacity to produce its own livestock feeds.”

This was the statement of DA-Caraga regional director Engr. Ricardo Oñate, Jr., as he emphasized the vast opportunities in the

livestock industry, during the Regional Dialogue for Livestock Program in Butuan City on March 8-9, 2022.

together with livestock program coordinators in the local government units.

Also, Jekem Sanchez, “We have the raw Regional Livestock materials, our farmers Program focal person, produce it here, so why said that the activity not produce our feeds to also served as an help our livestock raisers avenue of preparing and the farmers as well,” LGU counterparts in the he added. devolution of agricultural extension functions upon The two-day activity the full implementation was participated by of the Mandanas-Garcia municipal, city, and ruling. (DA-RFO XIII, provincial veterinarians RAFIS/PIA-Caraga)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

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Siargao teens join fight against teen pregnancy More than a hundred adolescents from the communities in Siargao Islands struck by typhoon Odette took part on the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health forum conducted by the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Caraga Region in partnership with the POPCOM regional offices in Mindanao.

PROVINCIAL NEWS

Seventy adolescents attended the forum on February 21, 2022 in Dapa, Siargao Islands.

Julie Ann Reyes, one of the nurses from the Rural Health Unit of Dapa, gave her testimony on how her life changed by making the right decisions regarding teenage pregnancy.

Juvy Arreza of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Siargao and the teachers of Dapa National High School also provided assistance and coordinated the students of the said school.

Dasha Angelica Chu, a 16-year-old from Dapa,

Siargao Islands is one of the participants of the said forum. She stated that teenagers should open their eyes to the consequences of premarital sex and that they should not rush such activity.

Another ASRH forum was held at the Sta. Monica Gymnasium on February 24, 2022. Seventy adolescents from Sapao National High School gladly participated despite the severe damage sustained by the venue from typhoon Odette.

One of the participants is Kat Merlin, 17 years old, from Sta. Monica, Siargao Islands. According to her, teenagers should be mindful and

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

knowledgeable about the results of engaging early in sexual activities.

She also said that parents should guide their children in the right way to keep them away from pre-marital sex.

The program manager for Adolescent Health and Development Program of POPCOM-Caraga, Angelita Antonio, presented topics on teenage pregnancy through short films and slideshow presentations.

Alconsita Portillano of the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga Region provided additional insights and clarifications regarding teenage pregnancy. (Gabrielle Paolo M. Mordeno, POPCOM-Caraga/PIASurigao del Norte)

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Over 60% now fully vaccinated in Surigao Norte

DepEd Gensan, Tacurong hand relief to 6 Odette-hit adopted schools in Siargao Over 60% of the target population for COVID-19 vaccination in the province of Surigao del Norte are now fully vaccinated, per the Department of Health (DOH)-Caraga’s report on March 13, 2022.

vaccination. This equates to 60.97% of the 80% target population in Surigao del Norte.

Among the provinces with the highest number of fully vaccinated population, the province Of the 437,439 individuals ranked 4th, falling behind the provinces of included in the master Surigao del Sur (68.48%), list of citizens in the Agusan del Norte province eligible to get (64.99%), and Agusan the COVID-19 vaccines, a total of 266,713 del Sur (64.34%). The have completed their Province of Dinagat

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Islands, having the lowest number of target individuals, came in last, recording 53.99% only.

Meanwhile, among the six cities in the region, Surigao City, the province’s capital, ranked 6th, recording 60.04% or 83,457 fully vaccinated residents out of the 138,997 individuals included in their vaccine master list. (DMNR/PIASurigao del Norte)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

The chief executives of Department of Education (DepEd) General Santos and Tacurong City Divisions transported on February 28, 2022 the relief donations to their adopted badlyhit schools in DepEd Siargao namely, Bailan Elementary School, Baybay Elementary School, Bongdo Elementary School, Garcia Elementary School, Jaboy Elementary School, and Tigasao Elementary School.

Said relief donations consisted of mosquito nets, blankets, bath soap, toothpaste, ball pen, scissors, class record, bond papers, pentel pen, rechargeable lamps, and printed self-learning modules.

In a ceremonial turnover held at the DepEd Siargao Division Office, DepEd GenSan Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Dr. Romelito Flores, current president of the association of all superintendents in Region 12 and

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

vice president of the Philippine Association of School Superintendents (PASS), clarified that the purchased items were based on the list of needs submitted to them from the adopted schools through the Schools Division Office (SDO) Siargao office.

Due to the limited load capacity of their transport vehicles, he added that additional printed modules from DepEd GenSan are set to be delivered next week at the Surigao City port.

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Mataas na kalibre ng armas at mga ilegal na pampasabog, isinuko sa mga kasundaluhan sa Surigao Norte

Flores assured that the department will continue to help its affected constituents in the region.

“Kita sa DepEd, barog ra ta always. Padayon lang jud ta. Kita nga taga-DepEd ang magtinabangay kay kita ra man pud ang magsinabtanay (We in DepEd, we must rise again. We must move forward. We share a connection so we must help each other),” Flores said.

“While traveling to Siargao, I can still see the beauty of the island. I can still see that there’s hope even if your place was devastated by the typhoon. Indeed, nature has its own way of regaining its original beauty,” he added.

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Aside from the relief supplies afforded to the recipient schools, SDS Flores and DepEd Tacurong City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Miguel Fillalan, Jr. also provided cash assistance to their partner schools, which can be used for the minor repair of their offices while waiting for the budget from the Central Office.

The cash donations were handed over to the school head of the aforementioned partner schools during the onsite visit of the two division teams.

In a response message, SDS of DepEd Siargao Dr. Nelia Lomocso expressed her heartfelt appreciation for all the support that SDO

GenSan and Tacurong City Division extended to their division.

“Even if we were ravaged by ST Odette, we still feel the love and support from our generous donors.

True enough, DepEd Siargao is not alone in our recovery journey because we have friends and families from DepEd Gensan and DepEd Tacurong, who traversed the island just to personally turnover their relief donations.

From DepEd Siargao, daghang salamat. Ang Ginoo ang magabalos kaninyo. (From DepEd Siargao, thank you. The Lord will bless you),” Lomocso said. (Edgar R. Gorgonio, Jr., DepEdSiargao/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

Dalawang matataas na kalibre ng armas at mga pampasabog ang isinuko sa mga kasundaluhan ng 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB), PA, nitong ika-1 ng Marso 2022 pagkatapos na makipagtulungan ang dating miyembro ng Milisyang Bayan sa mga kasundaluhan.

Nangyari ang nasabing pagsuko ng mga armas habang nagsasagawa ng Community Support Program (CSP) ang mga tropa ng 30IB sa komunidad ng Brgy. Magtangale, San Francisco, nitong lalawigan. Sa patuloy na pagsasagawa ng mga aktibidades ng CSP ay matagumpay na nahikayat ang buong komunidad na makipagtulungan sa gobyerno at isuko ang pagsuporta nila sa teroristang grupo ng New People’s Army o NPA. Kung kaya, isang aktibong miyembro ng Milisyang Bayan ang nagsiwalat ng impormasyon ukol sa pinagtataguan ng mga

armas at pampasabog ng mga NPA. Upang kumpirmahin ang nasabing impormasyon ay agad na nagsagawa ng retrieval operation ang 30IB upang mabawi ang matataas na armas at mga pampasabog na ginagamit ng mga NPA para sa kanilang pananakot at pakikipagdigmaan. Dito na nakumpirma at nakuha iligal na pampasabog o improvise explosive device (IED), isang 5.56 M16 rifle at isang M79 grenade launcher sa bulubundukin bahagi ng nasabing barangay.

Sa pahayag ni Lt. Col. Ryan Charles Callanta,

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

pinuno ng 30IB, pinasalamatan niya angpatuloy na pakikiisa ng mga mamamayan sa pamahalaan upang makamit ang minimithing kapayapaan.

“Nagpapatunay ito na lahat tayo ay nagnanais ng isang masagana at mapayapang pamumuhay. Ang inyong kasundaluhan sa 30IB ay patuloy kayong poprotektahan sa abot ng aming makakaya.

Patuloy tayong magkaisa para sa kapayapaan at kasaganaan sa Surigao del Norte,” ani ng sundalong opisyal. (30th Infantry Battalion, PA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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DA-13 turns over Caraga’s first monolithic storage facility to AgSur LGU A year after its official groundbreaking, the first ever Monolithic Storage Facility in the region, constructed in the Municipality of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur has finally been turned over by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga to the local government unit of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. The PhP20-million worth of Monolithic Dome Cold Storage and Packing Facility resembles a big refrigerator that helps in keeping the freshness of the perishable goods such as vegetables and fruits by slowing down the deterioration process and prolonging its shelf life for several weeks, thus decreasing losses.

In terms of its resilience

Gilusad atong Marso 9, Miyerkules, ang Resbakuna Kids o vaccination alang sa pediatric group nga 5-11 years old sa Municipal Gym, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. in different climate conditions, Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca Atega emphasized that the dome is air tight, super insulated, and can offer absolute protection against calamities due to its disaster resistant structure.

domes.

San Francisco Mayor Solomon Rufila also said that in order to maximize the use of the facility, a benchmarking activity will be conducted to regions with existing monolithic

The facility funded under the Bayanihan II or Bayanihan to Recover as One Act aims to establish a resilient food system that leads to food accessibility and availability amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Training is necessary so we will conduct a field visitation to different sites.

Through that, we can duplicate their activities, quality control techniques, and different technologies applied to their dome,” Rufila said.

The inauguration was also attended by DA-Caraga’s HVCDP Coordinator Marco Morido, Municipal Agriculturist Vina Ranoco, and some SB Members of LGU San Francisco. (DARFO XIII, RAFIS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

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Pagbakuna sa kabataan edad 5-11, gisugdan sa Buenavista

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

Sumala pa ni Dr. Amethyst Kathleen Alicante, Rural Health Physician sa Buenavista, usa sa tumong niining pagpamakuna sa mga kabataan isip pagpangandam sa umaabot nga face to face classes.

ang 80% gikan sa 4,100 sa populasyon sa mga kabataan “Kini para pod sa face to ang mabakunahan sa lungsod. face nga sinugdanan,” dugang ni Alicante.

Ubay-ubay ang nagpa rehistro alang Gidayeg ni Alicante ang mga kabataan nga sa pediatric group ug gitarget nga 200 ka mga nagpakita og kaisog samtang gi bakunahan. kabataan sa lungsod ang mabakunahan atol “Nakita nato sa atong sa gihimong launching. simulation isog kaayo atong mga kabataan, Padayong gi-awhag sila pa ang mag unauna og lingkod,” sangpit sa Probinsyal nga Panggamhanan ang niya. tanang ginikanan nga adunay mga kabataan Gitarget nga makuha Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

sa pangidaron nga 5-11 years old nga magpabakuna na aron ma protektahan batok sa COVID-19.

Subay sa kampanya nga gipadagan ni Gob. Dale B. Corvera, gidasig ang matag agusanons nga magpabakuna tungod kay sumala pa sa panawagan sa probinsya, “Sa Bakuna, Luwas ta Bai!” (Shena Mae Pabia ug Ydheil Zagado, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

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Temporaryong pagtaas sa pletihan sa motorized tricycle sa Tubay giaprubahan Giaprubahan bagohay pa lamang sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa Agusan del Norte ang Municipal Ordinance No. 2021118 nga gikan sa Lokal nga Panggamhanan sa Tubay nga temporaryong patasan ang plete sa mga pampublikong motorized tricycle sa nasangpit ngadto sa PhP10 nga lungsod. hangtod sa PhP30 depende sa lugar nga Ang maong lakang ilang adtoan ug adunay gipangamahanan ni special fare discount Sangguniang Bayan nga 20% ang tanan Member Anacleto Page, estudyante, PWD, ug Jr., nga nagtumong senior citizen. matabangan mausbawan ang kita sa transport sector nga maoy dako nga naapektohan sa kasamtangan nga regulasyon nga tulo lang ka minimum nga pasahero ang pasakyon aron masunod ang health protocol ilabina sa panahon sa pandemya.

Patas-an ang plete

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Subay usab sa maong mando nga exempted ang bata nga nagedad 7 ka tuig paubos sa pagbayad sa plete kong sila giuban sa mga hamtong na og pangidaron ug tanan driver kinahanglan magsul-ob og polo o t-shirt, pantalon, ug sapatos.

Ang makasupak sa maong balaod pahamtangan og multa nga PhP500 hangtod PhP1,000 ug cancellation of franchise.

Base sa rekomendasyon sa SP Committee on Energy and Transportation diin tsirman si Bokal Erwin Dano, ang maong municipal ordinance naaprobahan pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 124-2022 atol sa sesyon regular niadtong Pebrero 28. (Shena Mae Pabia, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

P10.8-M alang Asiga River flood control project sa Santiago giaprobahan sa SP Gi-aprobahan sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa Agusan del Norte ang realignment sa mga pondo gikan sa lain-laing mga proyekto ubos sa General Fund sa probinsiya aron pondohan ang usa sa importanteng proyekto, ang rehabilitasyon sa Asiga River flood control project sa lungsod sa Santiago nga gi-endorso sa Provincial Development Council pinaagi sa PDC Execom Resolution No. 02, serye sa 2022.

Gihatagan ug prayoridad sa probinsiya ang Development Economic Programs, Projects and Activities (PPAs) base sa Eight-Point Agenda nga nakaangkla sa vision, mission, ug goals sa kasamtangang administrasyon.

Gikuha ang mga pundo gikan sa tulo ka lain-laing mga proyekto ubos sa General Fund sa Probinsiya aron pondohan ang river flood control project nga mokabat sa kantidad nga PhP10,800,000.

Aron mapadali ang pagpatuman sa gitumbok nga prayoridad nga proyekto nga subay sa pagpauswag sa mga kapabilidad sa pagdumala sa LGUs alang sa paghatag sa mga batakang serbisyo ug pasilidad sa Probinsiya ilabina sa pagpugong sa baha, ang Committee on Finance and Appropriation sa pagpanguna ni Vice Governor Ramon A Bungabong nagrekomendar alang sa pag-aprobar sa maong

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

realignment sa pondo, nga nahisubay sa mga probinsyon sa RA 7160, ug sa Implementing Rules and Regulations sa realignment sa pondo, ingon man sa Budget Operations Manual para sa mga LGU. Ang rason ug merito sa gisugyot nga realignment balido subay sa giaprobahan nga Annual Investment Program (AIP) sa probinsiya. (Jessica O. Mellejor, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

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AgNor LGU gi-regulate ang safety measures sa mga truck Gi-aprubahan ug gi-deklara nga balido sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang Municipal Ordinance No. 156-2021, gikan sa lungsod sa Santiago, Agusan del Norte, nga nag-regulate sa safety measures sa tanang sakyanan nga nagkarga/ nagdala og balas ug graba ug uban pang mga mineral nga materials niini, pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 092-2022.

ug magdala, maghakot og balas ug graba ug uban pa nga sama sa mineral nga mga materyales nga adunay gidaghanon nga labaw sa napulo ka metro kubiko o labaw pa sa minimum nga kapasidad sa trak (overloading) samtang moagi sa mga dalan sa munisipyo, ug mga dalan sa banrangay sulod sa teritoryo nga hurisdiksyon sa munisipyo sa Santiago;

Base sa record sa kapulisan, nasuta sa Sangguniang Bayan sa Santiago nga nagkadaghan ang insidente sa pagkatagak sa mga bato, bato ug graba gikan sa paghakot sa mga trak nga maoy hinungdan sa mga aksidente nga miresulta sa pagkaangol sa mga tawo, mga sakyanan ug mga kabtangan.

2. Dili mag tabon sa truck nga adunay karga nga sand and gravel samtang anaa sa pagbiyahe sulod sa lungsod gamit ang mga material apan dili limitado sa naylon, mga pukot, gaho nga plastik nga tabon o bisan unsang paagi nga gigamit sa pagtabon sa balas, graba sama sa uban pang mga mineral nga materyales gikan sa pagkahulog samtang ang sakyanan anaa sa pagbyahe.

Ubos sa Seksyon 1 sa maong ordinansa, sa pagpangamahan ni Sangguniang Bayan Member Sulpicio Dedumo, sa tanan nga mga sakyanan nga nagkarga/ nagdala ug balas ug graba ug uban pa gidili ang mga mosunod: 1. Bisan kinsang mga drayber/operator sa trak/salakyanan nga magmaneho/mag-operate

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Ang nasangpit nga Municipal Ordinance subay sa Provincial Ordinance No. 452-2017, “An Ordinance Declaring Unlawful for Any Loaded Trailer Truck and Hauler Track, or Carriage which Tailgate is not Securely Closed or which Backload is not safety covered from running

Bislig FS receive new fire truck from BFP

along the Provincial Roads, National Highways Within the Province of Agusan del Norte, Providing Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes”.

Ang drayber/operator sa trak nga madakpan nga nakalapas silotan sa mosunod: responsibilidad sa driver/operator sa trak alang sa konkretong rehabilitation sa naguba nga dalan sa munisipyo ug mga barangay road tungod sa kaguba sa dalan hinungdan sa overloading sab alas ug graba; multa sa unang paglapas - PhP1,500; ikaduhang paglapas PhP2,000; ikatulo ug sunod sunod nga paglapas PhP2,500.

Gi-aprobahan ang maong ordinansa sa pagduso ni Provincial Board Member Erwin Dano, atol sa ika 126th Regular Session. (Jessica O. Mellejor, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

The Bislig City Fire Station received a new 1000-gallon capacity fire truck under the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Program.

The local government unit of Bislig, through Executive Assistant Paul Vicencio and Bislig City personnel headed by Acting City Fire Marshal Insp. Dindo Burnea, received the new fire equipment from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in a turnover

ceremony on March 7, 2022, held at the BFP-Caraga Regional Office in Barangay Rizal, Surigao City. The event was attended by local chief executives/ representatives and dignitaries who were also recipients of the new fire trucks.

Presently, the city of Bislig already has five operational fire trucks.

The BFP Modernization Program is implemented

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

under the Republic Act 11589 or the BFP Modernization Act, which mandates the BFP to develop and implement the fire protection modernization program which will expand their functions and provide the Bureau resources to improve their facilities and equipment, one of which is through the acquisition of new fire trucks. (CIOBislig City/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

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Over P230-M for Mindanao youth peace-building program underway

PEACE-BUILDING PROGRAM. Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. (left) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH/German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) Country Director Immanuel Gebhardt (right) sign an agreement on March 11, 2022 for the implementation of Strengthening Youth for Peace and Non-violence in Mindanao (YOUCAP) Project. German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel (center) has witnessed the signing of the deal. (Photo courtesy of OPAPRU)

MINDANAO NEWS

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Tuesday said EUR4 million (PHP230.63 million) worth of peace-building projects for youth are slated to be implemented in Mindanao.

This, after the OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH/ German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) Country Director Immanuel Gebhardt, signed a pact on March 11 for the implementation of Strengthening Youth for

Peace and Non-violence in Mindanao (YOUCAP) Project.

Gebhardt described the OPAPRU as a long-standing partner of the GIZ to effectively push peace and developments within the The deal for YOUCAP Project targets to strengthen conflict vulnerable areas. the approaches used “The YOUCAP Project is by formal education highly committed to the institutions for youthyoung people as change oriented peace-building; agents to get sustainable, the gender-sensitive and inclusive peace now and in culturally aware civil society the future,” Gebhardt said. initiatives for peace-building and non-violent conflict In a statement on Tuesday, transformation, with a OPAPRU Undersecretary focus on vulnerable youth; Isidro Purisima said the Philippine government and capacitating state institutions to push strategies welcomed the efforts and initiatives of the German for gender-sensitive and government to “perform culturally aware-youth a more active role in development and peaceadvancing peace and building programs.

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

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development in conflictaffected and vulnerable areas in Mindanao.”

Purisma said the YOUCAP project also supports the efforts of the OPAPRU to localize the government’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS); assist in the formulation of the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security (NAPYPS); as well as mainstreaming peace education and Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Promotion (CSPP) approach of the nation’s peacebuilding efforts.

OPAPRU said youth members from the regions of Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Davao region, and in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM, are among the target beneficiaries for the YOUCAP project.

Also, participants from intermediary levels such as policymakers and personnel of government and public institutions; employees of formal and non-formal education institutions located within the project regions; and key actors engaged in youth and peace work, are also included as project beneficiaries.

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Galvez, who is the presidential peace adviser, reiterated the OPAPRU’s commitment to closely working with the GIZ and the German Government, for the country to completely achieve peace and development, especially within the marginalized areas.

“As we continue to strengthen our partnership for peace, the OPAPRU assures the German Government of our agency’s full cooperation and support, as we jointly implement peace-building interventions such as the YOUCAP project,” he said.

Galvez is confident in smooth implementation of the youth programs.

“We are confident that this program will be able to meet its objectives – to further strengthen the capacities of your partners and beneficiaries such as members of civil society and the academe, and contribute to gendersensitive, youth-oriented peace-building and non-violent conflict transformation in selected areas in Mindanao,” he said.

On the other hand, German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel, said the German government

has recently renewed its funding commitment to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), the peace process mechanism overseeing the decommissioning process of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and their weapons as part of the Normalization program under the Bangsamoro peace process.

Duterte says he fulfilled his promise to bring peace to Mindanao

“Our commitment is reflected in our strategy with the overarching goal of strengthening peace and stability in the region.

Germany, in this regard, focuses on supporting the efforts on disarmament of former militants and their social reintegration,” Reiffenstuel said.

She said the success of the peace process in Mindanao is crucial to pushing sustainable developments in conflict-cleared areas and even the entire country.

“Sustainable peace and stability are essential preconditions for development, progress, and prosperity of communities in the whole country,” she added.

OPAPRU is tasked to provide overall policy direction in the conduct of the comprehensive peace process. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

PEACEFUL MINDANAO. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte poses for a photo with the legislators and negotiators in the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as well as top military and police officials during the presentation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to the MILF at Malacañan Palace on Aug. 6, 2018. Duterte on Saturday (March 12, 2022) said that he has been able to deliver his promise to bring peace to Mindanao.

(Presidential file photo)

With his term ending in over three months, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte believes that he has been able to deliver his promise to bring peace to Mindanao.

In a prerecorded interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired Saturday on SMNI, Duterte also gave credit to Bangsamoro leaders for the end of decades-

old conflict in Mindanao.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), led by Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim, was able to “somehow calm” the situation in the region, Duterte said.

“I think we have relatively a peaceful Mindanao,” he said.

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

“We have a good rapport with the Moro of Mindanao. And I think that just allow them in the governance of our country and give them enough elbowroom to, you know, just govern without interference of armed groups.”

Duterte also hoped that the peace and development in Mindanao would be

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sustained even after his term ends.

“I think that we have achieved militarily the objectives of keeping the peace in Mindanao. God willing, if the equilibrium nami-maintain (will be maintained), we are trouble-free. I hope and I pray of course,” he said.

Duterte has decided to maintain the status quo on the current composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the interim government with executive and legislative power over the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The BTA was tasked to oversee the threeyear transition period

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from 2019, followed by an election of BARMM officials.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. in February said over 10.3 million euro (PHP601.9 million) worth of project grants are set to be implemented in support of the normalization process in the Bangsamoro government.

Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona earlier reported that the Police Regional Office-BARMM has listed 102 areas of concern in this year’s national and local elections in BARMM. Of the 102 election hotspots, 99 are municipalities and the three others are the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, and Lamitan, Cabalona said.

On March 7, OPAPRU said some 19,345 former Meantime, officials of the MILF combatants have BARMM and the Moro already been through Islamic Liberation Front the three phases of (MILF) vowed Friday to decommissioning help ensure a peaceful, process and another clean, and orderly 14,000 MILF members elections on May 9 this are scheduled to be year. decommissioned this year. (PNA/ Ruth Abbey BARMM police director Gita-Carlos) Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

NATIONAL NEWS

PH won’t commit forces to a US-led war, must maintain neutrality President Duterte President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday said he won’t allow Filipino soldiers to fight alongside American forces should the United States is drawn further into the ongoing RussiaUkraine conflict, insisting the Philippines should maintain its neutrality.

The Philippines maintains a defense pact with the United States.

“I won’t commit. If the Americans engage in a war and they’re here, why will I send my soldiers? It’s not our battle to fight. If the violence spills over and the war somehow gets here, that will be very difficult. I won’t, I really won’t. For as long as I’m President, I won’t send a single soldier of mine to go to war.”

The President has said previously that the country “Other countries — there’s should refrain from taking violence in Europe, and sides amid the conflict Russia has wreaked havoc between Russia and Ukraine, there. So we better — we fearing further escalation better maintain our neutrality. could result in a nuclear war.

Let’s avoid meddling in it so that we won’t get involved,” Since assuming office, President Duterte said during President Duterte has forged the inauguration of the New warmer ties with Russia and Leyte Provincial Government China, the Philippines’ nonComplex and distribution of traditional partners, under his land certificates to former independent foreign policy rebels. approach.

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The country’s paramount concern is ensuring the welfare of Filipinos living or working in Ukraine in the midst of unabated bombardment of its major cities by Russian forces.

The West has imposed crippling sanctions against Russia following its February 24 invasion of Ukraine that has killed scores of soldiers and civilians, destroyed the country’s infrastructures, and created an exodus of millions of refugees to its neighboring countries.

The world’s major companies also halted or scaled down their Russia business operations, protesting the war’s tremendous human toll to the Ukrainian population.

PND

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

Presidential Adviser for COVID response, Secretary Vivencio Dizon gives an update to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on March 15, 2022. ROEMARI LIMOSNERO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Gov’t eyes more restriction downgrades in provinces, cities to boost the economy The government is aggressively working to widen vaccination coverage in many provinces and cities to ease quarantine restrictions and help revive the national economy, a presidential adviser on the pandemic said on Wednesday.“What we are trying to do now, Mr. President, is we are trying to push all the other provinces and cities to really achieve these levels of vaccinations so that they can also

deescalate to Alert Level 1 at the soonest possible time,” Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Secretary Vivencio Dizon said during President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Talk to the People.

“Hopefully within the month of March so that they can all help the economy move forward and we can all address the economic storm that we are facing together as a country.”

And the good thing

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

is that the InterAgency Task Force of the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), through the leadership of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, authorized the immediate shift to Alert Level 1 of provinces and cities hitting the required vaccination targets, according to Dizon.

Government experts will be reviewing the numbers on a daily basis moving forward, he told

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President Duterte says country must end decades-old communist rebellion the President.

Following the conduct of the fourth National Vaccination Days, the presidential adviser said nine provinces and highly urbanized cities were added to the list of jurisdictions under Alert Level 1.

“Ibig sabihin po nu’n ay talaga pong umaandar na ang kanilang mga ekonomiya at marami po dito ay malalaking siyudad tulad ng Iloilo, ng Cebu, Ormoc, Tacloban, Butuan, at Lucena City,” Dizon reported.

“At nagdagdag din po tayo ng tatlong malalaking probinsiya, lalong-lalo na ang Batangas, which is a major industrial hub.

At ang dalawang probinsiya sa Region

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III, ang Nueva Ecija at Zambales na napakaimportante naman po sa ating agricultural production at sa ating food production sa Pilipinas.”

Such downgrade is timely, Dizon said, adding it will aid the country weather the current crisis particularly with the continuous increases in fuel prices as a result of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Also during the President’s address, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that so far, 69.8 million individuals have received the first dose of COVID-19 shot.

Some 64.6 million Filipinos or 71.84 percent of the 90-million target were

given two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

In terms of regional coverage, Galvez reported that seven regions have more than 70 percent fully vaccinated individuals, while the other eight regions have more than 60 percent with two doses of the jab.

Only two regions— the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Soccsksargen recorded below 60 percent of fully vaccinated persons.

The country has logged 3,915 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, a 30-percent drop in the number of cases compared to last week’s 5,534, the Department of Health (DOH) said. PND

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

The country must put an end to the decades-long communist insurgency, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said on Thursday, as he made a renewed call to the rebels to return to the fold of the law while he is still in office.

“Tell them I don’t want war.

Tell them to come down here. Let them know that this is my policy, I’m now laying down the policy.

I will guarantee it, but I don’t know about the next president,” President Duterte said in a speech during the inauguration of the new Leyte Provincial Capitol and distribution of land certificates in Palo, Leyte.

“I’ve been calling for this for at least three years. If they surrender, I’ll accept them.

But if they take their time and wait to decide, then the problem there is I’m about to step down from the Presidency. But if I stay a bit longer, then they will get to experience it, I’ll distribute lands. We have to end this stupid war.”

Aside from attending the inauguration rites, the

President led the partial turnover of completed housing units in Peace and Prosperity Village in San Isidro, Leyte.

He also spearheaded the distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) to representatives of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

During the inauguration, President Duterte unveiled the project marker of the new government structure together with Leyte Governor and Leyte Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) Chairperson Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.

Following his event in Palo, President Duterte also inaugurated the Tacloban City Bypass Road and unveiled the project marker in a ceremony in Barangay Caibaan, Tacloban City.

The 6.4-kilometer Tacloban City Bypass Road starts at Daang Maharlika in Barangay Nula-tula and ends along the same road in Barangay Caibaan.

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

The newly completed project is expected to ease traffic congestion in the area, improve road network accessibility, increase development potentials, and reduce travel time from 1.5 hours to just 30 minutes.

At least 1,000 motorists per day are seen to benefit from the new infrastructure project.

Joining the President were Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Agrarian Reform Acting Secretary Bernie Cruz, Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Isidro Lapeña.

Also present were Public Works and Highways Acting Secretary Roger Mercado, National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., Leyte 5th District Rep. Carlos Nicolas Cari, Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, and other officials.

PND

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President Duterte okays grant of P200 monthly cash aid to low-income families President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with key government officials at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on March 15, 2022. ROEMARI LIMOSNERO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved the recommendations of the finance department to support poor households in response to the rising fuel prices, the Palace announced on Wednesday.

The recommendations include the retention of the fuel excise taxes and the grant of P200-per-month cash aid to the bottom 50 percent of Filipino households, acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said.

During President Duterte’s Talk to the People aired on Wednesday, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said that retaining fuel excise tax collection will benefit at least 12 million individuals from low-income households in the country.

Apart from the poor sector, the excise tax on fuel imposed under Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law will also provide the budget for the salaries of state workers and help fund infrastructure developments in the country, Dominguez pointed out.

Tax collections from fuel will provide the budget for target subsidies of 200 per month per household from the lower 50 percent of the Filipino population or roughly 12 million individuals, amounting to 33.1 billion per year, he noted.

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The finance chief also refuted claims that suspending the collection of fuel excise tax will help soften the blow of the oil price hike, saying that this will instead cause more harm than good if it causes the Philippines’ debt-togross domestic product (GDP) ratio to increase.

“If we suspend this, and we don’t collect it, what will happen is our debt-to-GDP ratio will go up from an estimated 7.7 percent to 8.2 percent. And it will mean that if we — if we will continue to spend the same amount of money, we will have to borrow more money and the amount of — and that will bring up our debt-to-GDP ratio by — to about 61.4 percent,” he said.

If the tax on fuel is reduced, it will only benefit the top 10 percent of income earners in the Philippines, which consume almost 50 percent of all the fuel.

“In other words, if we — and if we look at the top — bottom 50 percent of the Philippines, they only consume 13 percent of the fuel,” he argued.

Continuing the collection excise tax on fuel will therefore soften the blow for all sectors, making the measure “very equitable” for all Filipinos and not the country’s top earners and car owners, said Dominguez.

Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua who was also present in the meeting, said he agrees with the finance department’s recommendations, noting NEDA is closely monitoring inflation in the country to minimize its massive impact on the whole population.

In his report to President Duterte, Secretary Chua recommended three measures to curb the effects of inflation: providing targeted relief to vulnerable sectors, doing unconditional cash transfer, and promoting energy conservation through the implementation of 10hour, four-day work week.

Shortening the regular work week to just four days would reduce work commute and help the government manage the economy, according to the NEDA director general.

Similar measure was also implemented in 2008 in a bid to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices, he added.

Under NEDA’s proposal, public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers will receive service contracting subsidy of at least P6,500 per month for two months. PND

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

Gov’t inoculates 1.8M people in extended nat’l vax drive

population na kailangan natin na i-protect (We need to really work on this to really encourage them to get vaccinated because they are the most vulnerable population that should be protected),” Rosario said, noting that the extension of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4 was really intended to ramp up the vaccination coverage of priority groups, specifically the senior citizens.

VAX JAB. A health worker administers the Covid-19 vaccine to an eligible individual in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental in this undated photo. The government on Saturday (March 19, 2022) said it has vaccinated 1.8 million individuals belonging to its targeted population during the fourth leg of the national vaccination drive. (File photo from the Lupad Dumaguete Facebook page/City PIO)

The government has vaccinated 1.8 million individuals belonging to its targeted population during the fourth leg of the national vaccination drive dubbed the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan,” the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Saturday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, NVOC co-lead Dr. Krezia Lorraine Rosario, said vaccination sites nationwide have inoculated over 255,000 children and more than 90,000 senior citizens throughout the fourth national vaccination drive that started on March 10 and was extended until March 18.

Rosario cited the need to

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make vaccination drives more convenient and accessible to the elderly population, even as houseto-house vaccination, more conversations, and social preparations are being pushed.

She said some of the elderly are still hesitant to get vaccinated due to fear of the possible side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine, adding that some have even said “they’re already in dying age [anyway] so no need for them to get protection” against the dreaded virus.

“Ito po kailangan natin pagtrabahuan na talagang ma-encourage natin sila na mabakunahan kasi po sila yung ating mga vulnerable

Rosario said there are also some unvaccinated individuals of all ages who are still having fears and doubts about availing of the Covid-19 jabs.

But the government is still going to great lengths to urge more people to get vaccinated, she said.

“We see that we have a lot of groups or populations—if they get proper information and explanation of the benefits as well as the risk— they can be encouraged to get vaccinated,” Rosario added. “This is really the goal—we need to educate and advocate the vaccination.”

More than 64.8 million Filipinos have received primary series against Covid-19 as of March 17, with 11,291,687 fully vaccinated individuals having been administered booster doses.

(PNA/Lade Jean Kabagani)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

4th national vaccination reaches 97% target: DOH The fourth edition of the national vaccination drive, Bayanihan Bakunahan, has reached 97 percent of its target, a health official said Friday.

In an online media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said a total of 1,814,315 doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines have been administered as of March 17.

“We were able to vaccinate indigenous peoples (IPs) and those living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. In total, 65 million or 72.28 percent of target population have been fully vaccinated while 70.2 million or 77.96 percent have received their first dose,” she said.

A total of 6.6 million senior citizens were also fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and 1.9 million received their booster shots as of March 17.

Moreover, about 1.4 million of the pediatric population were inoculated while 9.7 million of the adolescent population were vaccinated.

The Department of Health encourages senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities to get their booster shots for continued

(PNA file photo by Joey Razon)

protection against Covid-19.

“Batay po sa pag-aaral ng (Based on the study conducted by the) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, being boosted reduces the risk of hospitalization by 81 percent based on their data during the peak of Omicron variant wave,” Vergeire said. “A study from John Hopkins University showed cases are translating into deaths at a much higher in Hong Kong than in New Zealand where the vaccination rate among senior citizens are higher”.

The country’s data show that 8 out of 10 individuals admitted to hospitals are unvaccinated.

Vaccine immunity wanes

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

over time so the government emphasizes the importance of booster shots, Vergeire said.

To date, about 11 million individuals were already boosted.

Only adults aged 18 years old and above can receive booster shots.

Individuals inoculated with two-dose primary series of Covid-19 vaccine can get their booster shots three months after their second dose while those who received the single dose Janssen vaccine can get the booster shot after two months. (PNA/ Ma. Teresa Montemayor)

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1.2M kids aged 5-11, 9.7M minors vaccinated: DOH

parents of the pediatric population that the government continues to procure appropriate Covid-19 jabs for minors to protect them against Covid-19.

On March 11, the Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Sinovac’s CoronaVac which allows the Chinese vaccine to be used for pediatric vaccination.

KIDS VACCINATION. Parents hold their crying 7-year-old son, Asher Jude Agbayani, while being inoculated with the reformulated Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine during the rollout of the jabs for children aged 5 to 11 years old at the Ugnayang La Salle Gymnasium in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Tuesday (March 15, 2022). Some 381,433 kids under the 5-11 age bracket are now fully vaccinated. (PNA photo by Gil Calinga)

A total of 1,233,017 children aged 5 to 11 years old have been inoculated against Covid-19 since the Department of Health started the pediatric vaccination on February 7.

In an online media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said some 381,433 kids under the 5-11 age bracket are fully vaccinated.

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“Sa kabilang banda, 9.7 million na ang bakunadong 12 to 17 years old (Meantime, there are 9.7 million vaccinated 12-to-17year-olds),” Vergeire said.

She said government employees who will accompany their children to their vaccination schedule “may avail of special leave privileges”.

Vergeire assured the

In a televised public briefing Tuesday, National Vaccination Operations Center Chief Myrna Cabotaje said the country’s vaccine experts are finalizing the guidelines for the administration of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine for children 6 years old and above.

Cabotaje added that the jab will provide additional quantities of protection for the children and parents who may not want to use the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. (PNA/Ma. Teresa Montemayor)

Caraga Infocus • March 12-18, 2022

Regional Office Jose Rosales Avenue, Butuan City piacaraga@gmail.com; pia_caraga@yahoo.com.ph (085) 341-5285; (085) 815-1991 Philippine Information Agency Caraga @PIACaraga

Information Centers AGUSAN DEL NORTE Jose Rosales Avenue, Butuan City (085) 815-1991 pia.northagusan@gmail.com PIA Agusan del Norte

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