CONTENTS 4-10 June 2016Volume 1, No. 10

REGIONAL NEWS

PROVINCIAL NEWS

MINDANAO NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS

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14 Caraga PNP units bag silver eagle award

COVER

AgNor set to celebrate Sadow Festival, Independence Day on June 12

Corn output in AgNor up in Q1

Army troopers conduct Bayanihan Job Fair in AgSur

DPWH implements 3B road maintenance along Daang Maharlika

Butuan police units to receive silver eagle award

PNP AgSur joins Brigada Eskwela 2016

Displaced worker turned DOLE staff thru SEnA

PNP 13 nabs over 406 individuals linked to illegal drugs

Red Cross activates response systems, goes on full alert for the rainy season

OPAPP launches publication on Bangsamoro peace process under President Aquino

CHED goes online for the K to 12 transition

Naliyagan Festival to kick-off on Independence Day

DOLE awards livelihood grant to Surigao dockworkers labor union

Rice yield drops anew in SurSur

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OTOP tindahang pinoy stores now open at robinsons place, gaisano mall 10

23Tandag Water District takes part in Brigada Eskwela

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News BriefsGSIS active members born 1982 & later may view their profile, service record, loan accounts thru eGSISMO. To access & register, go to http://egsismo.gsis.gov.ph/

The province of Agusan del Norte will be celebrating its 49th Araw ng Agusan del Norte on June 12-17 with the theme

“Makanunayong Pag-usbong Alang sa Dugang Katikaran sa Lunhaw'ng Agusan.” Agricultural and forest products of

the province will be displayed starting June 15 to 17 at the provincial capitol covered court in Butuan City.

The grand opening of the Naliyagan Festival & 118th Independence Day celebration on June 12, 2016 in Agusan del Sur will start with a Thanksgiving Mass at Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church in Patin-ay, Prosperidad to be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Dr. Jose Rizal monument. Opening program will then be held at Patin-ay Cultural Center Main Stage. Municipal mayors, national government heads & provincial government of Agusan del Sur department heads are expected to attend said celebration.

Around 250 assorted school supplies that include pencils, ballpens, paper pads & notebooks were given to the Panaosawon Elementary

School in Bayabas, Surigao Sur. The supplies came from a joint effort of the LGU Bayabas & the 36IB Philippine Army.

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Eleven (11) police stations and three (3) maneuver units of Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 on Monday received Silver Eagle Award during the

Performance Governance System (PGS) Conferment and Awarding Ceremony in Butuan City.

14 Caraga PNP units bag silver eagle awardCover StoryBy: PO2 Ryan C Cagula

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14 Caraga PNP units bag silver eagle award

Among the awardees were: the Provincial Public Safety Company, and police stations of Bunawan, San Francisco, Esperanza and Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur; City Public Safety Company, Police Station 3, and

Police Station 4 of Butuan City; Public Safety Company and 3rd Company of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 13; and police stations of Bislig City, Tagbina, Lanuza, and Marihatag in Surigao del Sur. Silver Eagle is the second highest award given to any PNP unit that garnered an average score of 90% to 94.99% during any of the four stages of the PGS. Judge Emmanuel Escatron, chairperson of PNP Caraga Regional Advisory Council and the guest of honor and speaker, commended the police force for doing the jobs with “excellence” and for providing quality services to the community.

Respective Advisory Council members of the police stations and maneuver units attended the conferment and awarding ceremony.

Compliant status was conferred to all PNP units in Caraga after passing the requirements during the 2nd stage (Compliance Stage) of PGS last January to March 2016.

Meanwhile, PRO 13 is preparing for the upcoming third stage of PGS-the Proficiency Stage. (PNP-Caraga)

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Department of Environment & Natural Resources CaragaYouth Forum on Biodiversity & Protected Area Management

7 June 2016Photo Gallery

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REGIONAL NEWSDPWH implements 3B road

maintenance along Daang Maharlika

BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is all laid out to exploit more than P3 billion for five years or 1,800 calendar days for asset preservation and maintenance of the Daang Maharlika which stretches from Lipata, Surigao City in Surigao del Norte to Boundary Agusan del Norte Section in Caraga Region. This project is dubbed as “Hybrid Long Term Performance Based Maintenance Contract (LTPBM), PBM-4 Maharlika Highway Surigao (Lipata) – Boundary Agusan del Norte Section (K1113+500 – K1237+000) Asset Preservation Contract – Preventive

Maintenance (APC-PM) Component, JICA L/A No. PH-P247” which contract cost is P3,321,551,974.95 to be exact. It started in October last year and expected to expire on September 2020.

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A total of 123.5 kilometers is covered in this contract implemented under performance-based maintenance (PBM), which is a new concept of road asset preservation designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of road maintenance operations that ensures all physical conditions of the road, is adequate for the need of road users over the entire period of the contract, and compliant to required service levels.

According to DPWH Assistant Secretary Dimas S. Soguilon, who recently visited the region on February 2, 2016 to conduct ocular inspection on operations for the said project, “this concept is a type of contract that significantly expands the role of the contractor, from simple execution of works to the management and preservation of road assets.”

The project is currently implemented by DPWH-Unified Project Management Office (UPMO), but periodically submits report to DPWH-Regional Office 13. Also, a team is created by virtue of D.O. 76, series of 2016 to monitor and check compliance of the contractor to the levels of service under the maintenance portion of their contract which consists of Representatives from: the Maintenance Section of the District concerned, Maintenance Division of the Regional Office concerned, Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) RUPP, Road Cluster I, JRUPP Consultants;

and Bureau of Maintenance.

UPMO Project Engr. Emigio L. De Leon discussed in details the background of the Hybrid LTPBM Contract during the Regional Coordination Conference held at Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. “The major item for this project is asphalt overlay which is equivalent to more than 67% of the total contract cost,” he said.

Program of works for the project includes rehabilitation and minor improvement to maintainable standards of existing pavement, shoulder reformation, cross-fall reinstatement, road safety related improvement, cross drainage improvement work and bridge structure maintenance work.

Performance based works are also included such as maintenance of the carriageway by preventive maintenance work using asphalt concrete overlay with 50 mm – 75 mm thickness, as well as roadside maintenance including drainage and vegetation.

He also informed that twin bridge known as Paypay Bridge in Brgy. Poblacion of Santiago, Agusan del Norte will be reconstructed into four lanes as included in the contract during the initial 18 months of contract period; but the design for the bridge was currently on the process of finalization.

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As of April 2015, 2016, the project’s actual rate of accomplishment is at 28.0% and currently expended P933,488,207.52 for 187 calendar days that have elapsed.

This project became feasible from JICA Loan Agreement No. PH-P247 as the fund source. (DPWH-Caraga)

PNP 13 nabs over 406 individuals linked to illegal drugs By: PO2 Ryan C. Cagula

Based on the record, the PNP seized a total of 1,398.27 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” and 17.90 grams of marijuana which the Dangerous Drug Board valued at P16.3 million.

They have also conducted a total of 280 operations mostly buy-bust, checkpoints, implementation of search warrants, and saturation drives.

“The days of drug pushers/users are already numbered as our troops will stage more police operations to

bring them behind bars,” said PNP-13 regional director P/CSupt. Rolando B. Felix.

Included in the arrested persons were three PNP personnel: SPO2 Elmer L. Dela Torre, PO1 Edgaro M. Aquino, and SPO1 Eleonor N. Osico.

Felix warned that erring PNP personnel caught in illegal drugs activities will be dismissed from the service.

The region’s top cop also urged

BUTUAN CITY - The Philippine National Police (PNP) 13 had intensified its operations against illegal drugs making a total of 406 persons arrested from January 1 - May 29, 2016.

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OTOP tindahang pinoy stores now open at robinsons place, gaisano mall

OTOP Tindahang Pinoy store sells the best town favorites that are locally produced with global quality. These products are made in Butuan City and other towns in Caraga. Products sold ranges from local delicacies and specialty food to a variety of goods. Undersecretary Nora K.Terrado, the keynote speaker during the launching said that Butuan OTOP Tindahang Pinoy stores have the distinction of being the first to have met the more stringent criteria to carry the OTOP brand. Thru its Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotions ( BDTP) DTI will provide package of assistance in promoting the stores. “Your stores are now advertised with SMILE magazine of Cebu Pacific courtesy of DTI- BDTP,” she added.

DTI Caraga regional director Brielgo O. Pagaran said that with these two OTOP Tindahang Pinoy stores in the region, entrepreneurs will now have a strategic place to sell their products. OTOP Tindahang Pinoy store is a good place for local and foreign tourists to shop and buy their “pasalubong / souvenirs.” Stores are open from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. at 2nd Floor Robinsons Place Butuan and at the Ground Floor Gaisano Mall this city.

The stores are managed by the GDH Entrepreneurs Inc., and the CREATE Food Inc. These two organizations led the region’s Industry Clusters on processed food and gift, decors and housewares ( GDH). (DTI-Caraga)

By: Irene L. Mecheca

BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Caraga in partnership with Gifts, Decors and Housewares (GDH) Entrepreneurs Inc., and CREATE Food Inc. opened OTOP (One Town One Product) Tindahang Pinoy with two branches at Robinsons Place Butuan and Gaisano Mall.

the community to strengthen its cooperation with the PNP to sustain

these substantial gains against illegal drugs. (PNP-Caraga)

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Association of Caraga Executives Caraga Region Meeting

DBM Conference Room, Butuan City6 June 2016

Photo Gallery

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PROVINCIAL NEWS

By: Nora C. Lanuza Molde

The activity will commence with the raising of the different municipal colors headed by provincial governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba at the provincial capitol

covered court, this city.

Provincial tourism officer Edgar Palarca, Jr. said the Sadow Festival seeks to highlight the cultural tradition

AgNor set to celebrate Sadow Festival, Independence Day on June 12

BUTUAN CITY – The province of Agusan del Norte will kick-off the Sadow Festival in time with the celebration of the 118th Independence Day this June 12. This year’s Philippine Independence Day celebration caries the theme “Kalayaan 2016: Pagkakaisa, Pag-aambagan, Pagsulong.”

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By: Nora C. Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY – The corn production in the province of Agusan del Norte has increased in the first quarter of 2016, says PSA chief.

Corn output in AgNor up in Q1

of the different indigenous tribes to include the Manobo, Mamanwa and Higaonon tribes of the province. Tribal parade and tribal dance competition will be held on June 15, it was learned. Other activities during the week-long celebration include: Quiz bowl covering the topics on the history of the province and tourism module to be participated by high school students; Medical Outreach program in Matabao, Buenavista; Celebration of the 46th Cabadbaran District Hospital Day; Agro Fair; and Agusan Masterchef featuring the local and ethnic delicacies of the province at the capitol covered court.

On June 16, employees will compete in “Laro ng Lahi” in the morning while Butuanons and Agusanons are invited to participate in the Battle of the Band Contest in the evening at the provincial capitol covered court. Meanwhile, governor Matba will also be will be reporting her 2015 administration’s accomplishments on her State of the Province Address (SOPA) on June 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Big Daddy Convention Center, this city and an awarding ceremony in the evening at the provincial capitol covered court. All these activities form part of the province’s 49th founding anniversary. (PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Reynelo S. Magno, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Agusan del Norte, said the province has increased by 1.1 percent in its corn production for the

first quarter of 2016 with an estimated 577 metric tons (MT) higher than the January 2016 standing crop forecasts of 571 MT.

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Butuan police units to receivesilver eagle awardBUTUAN CITY - Three police units of the Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) will be awarded with Silver Eagle Award by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 on June 6 at Camp Rafael Rodriguez here.

By: PO2 Anthony S. Echin

Harvest area based on standing crop forecasts were all realized since there were no damages in area being monitored,” said Magno.

Magno also said that the increment in production was attributed to the increase in yield. “Yield grew by 1.1 percent from 2.55 MT per hectare in 2015 to 2.58 per hectare in 2016,” Magno added.

Magno further said that compared to last year’s level, the total corn production registered an increase of 135.6 percent from 245 MT to 577 MT. The increase in production was attributed to the increase in area and yield. “Harvest area has expanded by 89.8 percent from 118 hectares in 2015 to 224 hectares this year,” he said.

More farmers were encouraged

to plant white corn for consumption and due to availability of seeds from the Department of Agriculture-Local Government Unit (DA-LGU).

Magno likewise said that more plantings of yellow corn were observed due to higher demand resulting from good price and yield per hectare increased from 2.08 MT in 2015 to 2.58 MT this year, or by 24.1 percent owing to more usage of high quality seeds.

Also, corn production forecast for the second quarter of 2016 may reach 7,232 MT, 64.7 percent above the last quarter’s forecast of 4,391 MT and the increase in production forecast was attributed to the increase in area and yield. Corn area was forecasted at 2,119 hectares from 1,965 hectares based on planting intentions, Magno said. (PSA-Agusan del Norte)

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Said award is in line with the BCPO’s PATROL (Peace and Order Agenda for Transformation and Upholding of the Rule-Of-Law) Plan 2030 compliance stage.

According to P/SSupt Francisco Dungo, acting city director, the award is a clear manifestation that BCPO renders trustworthy law enforcement as a key for progressive nation to achieve affluence in global circuits.

“These units have successfully passed the Compliance Evaluation Process composed of three sequential phases – the Strategic Readiness Test or SRT, the Performance Audit, and the Unit Revalida,” Dungo said. The Certificate of Silver Eagle Award will be given to Butuan

City Police Station 3; Butuan City Police Station 4; and Butuan City Police Public Safety Company. The award will be given due to the effective implementation of PATROL Plan for a highly capable, effective and credible police service which will be received by the chiefs of police, company commander and Advisory Council Chairperson from PRO 13 regional director P/CSupt. Rolando B. Felix.

The PNP PATROL Plan 2030 institutionalizes a quantifiable tool in measuring accomplishments, various plans, programs and activities embodied in the agency scorecard to ensure the continuity of change and transformation within the organization. (BCPO)

RPSB 13, PSUPT Bersaluna w/ Battalion Advisory Councils received Silver Eagle Award.

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Agusan del Norte

Anti-Drug Abuse Council

Technical Working Group MeetingDILG Agusan del

Norte Confrence

Room9 June 2016

Agusan del Norte

Provincial Development

Council Social

Development

Committee MeetingProvl. Investment

Promotion Center,

Capitol Compound,

Butuan City8 June 2016

Agusan del Norte

Provincial Development CouncilInstitutional Development Sector MeetingProvl. Investment

Promotion Center,

Capitol Compound,

Butuan City8 June 2016

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Naliyagan Festival to kick-off on Independence Day By: Jennifer P. Gaitano

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – In time with the Independence Day celebration on June 12, the provincial government here will also spearhead this year’s Naliyagan Festival grand opening.

The Naliyagan Festival is celebrated yearly as part of the 49th Founding Anniversary celebration of the province with the theme “Productivity and Unity in Diversity” from June 12-17, 2016. The grand opening of the Naliyagan Festival and 118th Independence Day celebration on June 12 will start with a Thanksgiving Mass at Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church in Patin-ay, Prosperidad to be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Dr. Jose Rizal monument. Opening program will then be held at Patin-ay Cultural Center Main Stage. Municipal mayors, national government heads and provincial government of Agusan del Sur department heads are expected to attend said celebration.

During the opening program, Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza will deliver his message and will lead the releasing of balloons, freeing of doves and ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Vice-Gov. Santiago Cane Jr, First District Representative Maria Valentina Plaza, and Second District Representative Evelyn Mellana are also expected to deliver their inspirational messages. Also, a Kalayaan Jobs Fair will be held at the Naliyagan Cultural Center Ground in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur. Meanwhile, among the activities that will be held in the evening include the following: Naliyagan Cultural Show; TM Republikaravan sa Naliyagan featuring Siakol and Daybreak Band; Naliyagan Acoustics, Naliyagan Fireworks Display and Naliyagan Rave and Foam Party. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)

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Army troopers conduct Bayanihan Job Fair in AgSur By: Rizza Marie S. Obedoza & Olga Virginia A. Demata

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur - The 401st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army under the supervision of Col. Alexander Macario sponsored the recently concluded Bayanihan Job Fair in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga and Agusan del Sur Field Office, and Philippine Employment Service Office (PESO) Provincial Office held at Gaisano Mall, San Francisco Branch, this province. This is in celebration of the 119th Philippine Army Anniversary with the theme “Asenso sa Katawhan,” giving the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) the opportunity to showcase their recruitment processes. Out of the 57 qualified applicants, nine were hired on the Spot (HOTS) and 10 were pre-qualified for further screening for the 401st Infantry Brigade Philippine Army. A total of 1,868 local job vacancies

were opened during the said fair.

Private companies that participated in the said Job Fair were Sweetsation, Inc., Gaisano Grand Mall, Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation, Inc., Philsaga Mining Corp., Taytay sa Kauswagan Microfinance Corp., Timberland Security Agency, Rose Bakeshop, and E-Performax. Also, the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur joined with 95 job vacancies offered. (DOLE-Caraga)

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The PNP is committed to support said activity to strengthen the partnership between teachers, parents and pupils in promoting healthy and secure premises in relation to the opening of classes this school year 2016-2017. In the municipality of San Francisco, the Municipal Police Station provided road security during the conduct of a motorcade and attended Brigada Eskwela’s kick-off ceremony held at Teodoro B. Ong Yiu Memorial School in Barangay Hubang. In Sibagat, the PNP has also provided security measures to all the participating individuals at Sibagat National High School of Home Industries and Sibagat Central Elementary School.

Meanwhile, the PNP personnel

in Rosario provided road security assistance together with the force multipliers during the caravan and kick-off ceremony of Brigada Eskwela 2016 at Datu Lipus National High School and Wasian Elementary School. Said activity was followed by a short program spearheaded by the school principal and were attended by the different Bayanihan Volunteers from private sector, national agencies, local government unit, parents, teachers and students. Also, in Bayugan City, the PNP provided same support to all the participating groups during said activity held at Noli National High School. OIC/Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Imelda N. Sabornido together with DepEd personnel and teachers of Bayugan City Division worked together to finish the tasks. (PNP-Agusan del Sur)

PNP AgSur joins Brigada Eskwela 2016

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – The Philippine National Police (PNP) in this province has joined this year’s conduct of Brigada Eskwela with the theme: “Tayo Para sa Paaralang Ligtas, Maayos at Handa Mula Kindergarten Hanggang Senior High School.”

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DOLE awards livelihood grant to Surigao dockworkers labor unionBy: Xriel Bravo & Olga Virginia A. Demata

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has recently awarded the Surigao Dockworkers Labor Union (SDLU) a livelihood grant under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) as a jumpstart to their existing rice retailing project. The grant includes 400 sacks of rice and two weighing scales with plastic cellophanes. The said livelihood grant gives priority assistance to the employees’ union with programs engaged in livelihood activities that need capitalization to spur their economic initiatives.

“This livelihood assistance will not only earn income for the union but will also serve as assistance to the beneficiaries by way of promoting their rice requirements through credit schemes,” said union president Arcisco Artiquio Jr. (DOLE-Caraga)

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Displaced worker turned DOLE staff thru SEnA

Rowena E. Arañez, a displaced worker in the province of Dinagat Islands, proves the effectiveness of the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as she got back from the mainstream of the society.

Arañez was previously employed at Water Ups Multi-Purpose Cooperative as the Human Resource-Admin Services Manager together with her husband Johnbert Arañez, a Sales and Marketing Manager, and they both experienced the dilemma of losing a job.

With the change of the cooperative’s administration and some net loss, they got separated from work on January 16, 2016.

After which they decided to create an organization with the other

displaced employees from Water Ups MPC and some farmers. On February 25, 2016, they both filed a Request for Assistance to DOLE- PDI Satellite Office, and as a result, the displaced workers signed a quitclaim together with the employer on March 13, 2016 with an amount equivalent to their 13th month pay.

Then, on March 17, 2016, the first ever displaced workers association was created which they called “Integrated Displaced Workers-Farmers Association.”

In order to sustain the vital needs of their families, the organization will provide employment for their displaced members through livelihood programs.

They opted to tap to different government agencies that could provide these livelihood assistance to them, apart from the organization created, an opportunity opened for Arañez to land a job as DOLE support staff in the PDI-Satellite Office on April 1, 2016.

“I am grateful for this job opportunity from DOLE. SEnA program paved the way for me to land to this new job as a public servant and I really treasure my work now,” said Arañez. (DOLE-Caraga)

By: Olga Virginia A. Demata

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Rice yield drops anew in SurSur

Citing the adverse effect of mild El Niño followed by the infestation of “Brown Plant Hopper, Stem Borer, Rice Blasts and Rodents,” harvest had been all the more kept down, he noted.

On the “RICE INDUSTRY SITUATION” status report as of April 30, 2016, OPAg had posted a shortfall of 0.60 metric tons per hectare in just three top performing municipalities, specifically, Madrid, Carmen, and Cantilan.

Province-wide, in all three ecosystems—irrigated, rainfed, and upland—production had been badly hit as harvest was only averaging 3.15

metric tons/hectare. In 2015, farmers in Madrid town had hit an average production of 4.83 metric tons/hectare; but during the first cropping this year, yield had gone down to as low as 2.16 metric tons/hectare, based on reports released by the same office.

Also, this year, in areas serviced by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the target to be planted with rice was placed at 12,760 hectares, but only 12,603.79 hectares were able to be accomplished—a difference of 156.21 hectares.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – A streak of undesirable condition has continued to harm the rice industry in the province, despite the mitigating measures that had been put in place to blunt the impact of the dry spell as well as other plagues, according to Marcos Quico, chief of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg).

By: Greg Tataro Jr.

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The above figure was apart from the rainfed and upland areas of 1,125.61 hectares combined that were missed to be planted.

In January, this year, Quico said that in 2014, a total of 33,701 hectares were reported to have been planted as compared to only 31,059 hectares in

2015.

Worse, during the first cropping this year, only a total of 23,772.39 hectares were reported to have been planted in spite of the 24,898 hectares being targeted, it was learned. (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag)

TWD General Manager (GM) Annie Ty said that Dr. Marilou Dedumo, schools division superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd), this province, was delighted and grateful of their participation which led to a well-checked water connection.

“We made sure that schools serviced by TWD had all their pipes thoroughly inspected to be leaked-free,” the GM pointed out, indicating that such check made would not only ensure that water bills correspond to consumption but also redound to good sanitation and water conservation.

Meanwhile, Ty claimed that TWD had two new water supply sources,

hoping that in the near future they could get to develop a couple of new ones, citing the ongoing drilling for a ground source in Barangay Rosario, this city.

She likewise stressed that under her watch, TWD had started to venture in expanding their services to remote barangays.

By now, TWD had some 7,500 water consumers and counting, GM Ty bared.

A year ago, upon assumption to office in May, she said that there were just about 6,500 of these. (Greg Tataro Jr., Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag)

Tandag Water District takes part in Brigada EskwelaTANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – Tandag Water District (TWD) has participated in the ongoing Brigada Eskwela 2016.

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Department of Environment & Natural Resources CaragaEnvironment Month Celebration

Press ConferenceDENR Caraga Training Center, Butuan City

6 June 2016

Photo Gallery

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MINDANAO NEWS

PASIG CITY – A publication containing a collection of selected speeches and statements made in the course of the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be launched on Thursday, 9 June, in celebration of the achievements of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III in advancing peace in Mindanao.

OPAPP launches publication on Bangsamoro peace process under President Aquino

Entitled Junctures: Selected Speeches and Statements, the book features the speeches made by the President in key junctures of the process, and those delivered by GPH

chief negotiator Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and MILF panel chair Mohagher Iqbal in several forums and discussions on the Bangsamoro peace negotiations held under the Aquino

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administration. Produced by the Government Peace Panel Secretariat, the book is published by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. Also included are speeches delivered by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, GPH peace panel member Senen Bacani, MILF panel member Professor Abhoud Syed Lingga, and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao in landmark events. Major statements issued during the same period make up the second part of the book. “The book is a tangible record of the thinking and sentiments of the main actors in the negotiations for and implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) through the good times and the bad. Junctures

will provide readers with an insider’s look of our journey the past few years from the signing of the Framework Agreement that preceded the CAB in October 2013 up to May 2016, with the signing of the Declaration of Continuity of the partnership between the government and the MILF,” said Ferrer of the publication. Ferrer underscored the important role played by the President and the Executive Secretary in steering the direction of the peace negotiations. “Kaya naging matagumpay ang peace process natin sa ilalim ni President Aquino ay dahil naging bukas ang linya sa pagitan niya’t ng kanyang opisina at ng MILF, at maraming napag-usapang tuwiran at diretso na may tiwala sa isa’t isa (The peace process succeeded under President Aquino because of the openness between him and his office and the MILF, which allowed matters to be discussed directly, with trust in each other),” she said. (OPAPP)

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NATIONAL NEWS

QUEZON CITY - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) sealed partnerships with various organizations to ensure an efficient roll-out of the different projects under the K to 12 Transition Program.

CHED goes online for the K to 12 transition

The ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement was on 6 June 2016, at the Higher Education Development Center (HEDC) Building. In attendance were Kalibrr, Edukasyon PH, and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). These separate collaborations are intended to make processing of scholarships and grants faster and responsive to the needs of the higher education institutions (HEIs) faculty and staff.

“This is the manifestation of our commitment to the educational reform. We’re coming together in order to mitigate some of the challenges in the K to 12 transition. I have complete faith that we need each other,” said Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, CHED Chairperson.

Kalibrr is an online job-matching and recruitment platform whose mission is to transform the way

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candidates find jobs and companies hire talent, by delivering a faster, smarter, and more sophisticated way of job matching. Kalibrr sees sharing its expertise and knowledge as a moral obligation towards the country. It will provide support as the temporary online matching tool for the Sectoral Engagement Grants, a component of the Instruction, Research, and Sectoral Engagement (IRSE) Grants. It will aid in ensuring that the IRSE grantees will be assigned to the ideal sectoral partners. This enables the grantees to easily review and choose from almost a hundred partners from industry, civil society, and government sectors. Likewise, the screening and assessment of grantees become more streamlined for the sectoral partners. “CHED needed an efficient way to connect the professors with opportunity. So, Kalibrr in partnership with CHED helped develop the platform that allows us to do this without paper and to do it with technology and make it a seamless, efficient, and modern process,” said Paul Rivera, Kalibrr CEO. Edukasyon PH is a go-to source of information on educational opportunities both locally and internationally. With its partnership with the Scholarships for Graduate Studies, it will provide an avenue for delivering higher education institutions (DHEIs) to promote the degree programs they offer for scholarships. Edukasyon PH is like a one-stop portal for HEI faculty and staff to check available degree

programs they can apply to. “We worked many, many nights and weekends. And we are really impressed by the diligence and speed of the team. Congratulations! You are very well helped,” said Henry Motte Munoz, Edukasyon PH Founder. DBP will help ensure an efficient disbursement of financial support for all grantees and scholars. They will be issued DBP Prepaid Cards individually so that the disbursement of funds will be done directly to them, eliminating possible delays in fund transfer. “It was good to be part of this program in some way or the other. And to finally see the fruition of the complete efforts that CHED is doing to help alleviate some of the difficulties in the transition program that, really I agree, the country badly needs,” said Antonio Owen S. Maramag, DBP Senior Vice President. The implementation of the K to 12 is seen as a reform with efforts not exclusive to the Department of Education (DepEd), but encompasses the whole landscape of the Philippine education and labor. It brings unique impact on each sector; therefore a collective action is expected. CHED does all efforts following the commitment to provide support for HEIs faculty and staff during this transition period. This includes the collaboration across sectors which will also contribute to the successful shift to a stronger education system in the future. (CHED)

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Red Cross activates response systems, goes on full alert for the rainy season

PRC Chairman and Senator-elect Richard J. Gordon advised the public to keep safe by keeping in mind and following the 4 Ps in disaster management – Predict, Plan, Prepare and Practice. “We have to be ahead of every disaster. By monitoring the news, we can make an assessment of how an

approaching disaster could impact our communities. Then we can make plans on how to mitigate its effects and undertake necessary preparatory measures. It is also important that we plan so we will not be taken unaware,” he said.

Gordon further reminded the public to maintain proper health and

QUEZON CITY - With state weather bureau PAGASA having declared the official onset of the rainy season, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) goes on full alert, activating its response systems, ready to take action in case of disasters.

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sanitation habits to avoid contracting diseases that are commonly associated with the rainy season such as dengue fever,leptospirosis, colds, flu, cholera, among others. He likewise assured that the PRC has undertaken preparations to ensure effective and efficient response in any disaster that the season may cause. In preparation for the rainy season, PRC management issued an administrative memo instructing all its chapters nationwide to ensure that the PRC will fulfill its mandate of alleviating human suffering, especially the most vulnerable. Anticipating that the rainy season may cause disasters that impact lives, properties and livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, PRC chapters are directed to ensure an effective and efficient disaster response, and to be on full alert and to activate response systems immediately as needed. In case of severe weather forecasts, the chapters are also instructed to activate the Red Cross Action Team and the Red Cross 143 volunteers in the communities. They are also directed to conduct awareness campaigns or early warning dissemination for early actions especially in communities at risk, and to prepare assistance for preemptive evacuations.

The chapters were also reminded of the steps to be taken when providing emergency response during disasters and the need to coordinate with local authorities during relief and rehabilitation operations. (PRC)

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