Caraga IPs join gov't in solving insurgency problem
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 3 (PIA) - The Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Caraga region are getting more participative in their involvement to government’s activities, particularly in solving the problem on insurgency. This is their way of support to the implementation of Executive Order 70 (EO70) of President Rodrigo Duterte to end local communist armed conflict.
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Caraga has intensified the conduct of capability building to IP leaders in the region to equip and give them the opportunity to contribute in finding solutions on the different issues and concerns, as well as the challenges that every community are facing today.
According to Director for Operations Leouel Santos of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the IP sector is voluntarily getting involved in the activities that form part to the efforts and initiative of the government to address the concerns particularly in the conflict-affected areas.
“We continue conducting dialogue with the IP sector to know their issues and concerns and to assess what instrumentalities that the government has in order to address these concerns and help the sector excel in what they do in their respective communities,” bared Santos.
For Bae Bebeth Enriquez, a Mamanwa from Barangay Mahaba, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, the New People’s Army (NPA) has been causing too much chaos and distress to the IP communities, which hinders development among the tribes. Hence, she hoped for the defeat of the NPA terrorists in order to ensure bright future of the next generation.
“We could no longer take what the NPAs are doing to our communities. They have been abusive to the IP tribes and they are the main reason why we do not progress. We really hope and pray that with the government’s effort to put a stop on the armed conflict, the IP tribes would also experience a peaceful and developed life,” underlined Enriquez.
Meanwhile, NCIP-Caraga Regional Director Ferdausi Saniel Cerna encouraged all IPs to continue to have perseverance in all their undertakings and to remain strong along with the government in the fight against the NPAs in Caraga region.
“The President has always been very supportive to the IP sector and I believe it was among his inspiration in coming up with the implementation of EO70,” Cerna cited. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Army belies alleged ceasefire violation in AgSur
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 3 -- The Philippine Army in Caraga was quick to address the allegation against them by the Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) groups operating in Agusan del Sur regarding the violation of the ceasefire last December 23, 2019.
The 26th Infantry Battalion (26IB) allegedly staged attacks against the New People’s Army (NPA) near the village of San Vicente, Esperanza in Agusan del Sur despite the declaration of the Christmas truce, according to a certain Nicolas Marino of the Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the NPA.
Lt. Col. Romeo C. Jimenea, 26IB Commanding Officer, clarified that such statements are fabricated and that no such attack transpired and no personnel of his battalion were involved.
“Such statement is to further their ploy to redeem themselves in the eyes of the public, especially after the cruelty they displayed in the killings made in the different areas in Visayas,” the Army official said.
The killings that were referred to are the encounters in Labo, Camarines Norte and Tubungan, Iloilo that resulted to the death of one soldier while over eight more were injured.
The act of perpetuating lies by the CNT groups for the purpose of tarnishing the reputation of the Philippine Army is not a recent phenomenon, as clarified by Brigadier General Maurito L. Licudine of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army. BGen. Licudine expressed his support to the 26IB should they choose to resort to such countermeasure especially when circumstances require it.
“Your soldiers are disciplined, responsible and professional. We support whatever the Commander-In-Chief declares as long as it is within the bounds of our constitutional mandate,” he added. (DMRosales/402nd Brigade/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga LGUs intensify protection, preservation of Agusan Marsh
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 3 (PIA) - To further ensure protection and preservation of the Agusan River, being the largest wetlands in Caraga region, various government agencies led by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and private sector convened recently and planned for ways and means on how to prevent it from possible deterioration.
The Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary forms part of the Agusan River, which was declared as protected area by former President Fidel V. Ramos. The marshland acts like a sponge, as it nestled in the midwaters of the Agusan River drainage basin.
It also helps Agusanons to be spared from floodings during rainy season or typhoon.
According to Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr., the government sternly implements the Environment Code for the Agusan Marsh.
He also urged the Caraganons to take responsibility and help preserve the naturally grown trees within the wetlands, as it gives life to the Agusan Marsh.
For a grade 12 student like Eugene Taw-on from Bayugan National Comprehensive High School, the youths play a vital role in the fulfillment of the ongoing research of the government and private institutions, as well as in maintaining the beauty and usefulness of the wetlands in the region.
“We are working closely with the local government units in the province and we are glad that they are recognizing us in whatever contribution that we could give especially in the field of research to ensure the protection and preservation of the Agusan River and the Agusan Marsh,” bared Taw-on.
Meanwhile, DENR-Caraga regional director, Atty. Felix Alicer emphasized the importance of the Agusan River and the benefits it provide to the Caraganons. This, he said, is known to be one of the tourist attractions in the region.
The Agusan Marsh covers the municipalities of San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Veruela, Loreto, Talacogon and La Paz in the province of Agusan del Sur. It was declared as a Ramsar Wetland Site in 1999. Ramsar Convention is a multilateral agreement aimed at protecting wetlands globally. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga LGUs receive awards from DOH-NNC
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 3 (PIA) - The Department of Health – National Nutrition Council (DOH-NNC) has recognized the local government units (LGUs) in Caraga region that consistently implement quality programs and services that promote the welfare of the children particularly in ensuring that they get proper nutrition.
According to Dr. Gerna Manatad, OIC-administrative officer of DOH-Caraga, this is a yearly activity as their way of thanking and acknowledging the efforts and initiatives of the LGUs for their dedication and sincerity in providing the people with the right programs that address malnutrition in the region.
“In this annual event, the DOH-NNC recognizes the local government units and other partner stakeholders who are consistent in providing the programs and services that ensure good nutrition of the children,” cited Dr. Manatad.
Solidad Garcia of Barangay Baan, Butuan City was one of the awardees for this year. She was recognized for being the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar. She also shared their best practices towards achieving community development by providing locals with the basic social services they need.
“We do various activities in our barangay. We allow the local residents to actively participate in community activities which would benefit especially the children. We also provide seedlings for the families so they could have backyard garden and eat nutritional food in their respective homes,” said Garcia.
Meanwhile, Leah Vina Vargas, Nutrition Officer of NNC-Caraga called on LGUs of Caraga region to be more sensitive in assessing the needs of the populace particularly the health and nutrition concerns. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Different sectors learn good saving techniques, planning of family expenses
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 3 (PIA) - Different sectors in Caraga region have learned the effective ways and tips on how to save money, as well as financial planning for their family.
The Financial Literacy Forum held in Butuan City was made possible through the help of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga, together with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and other financial institutions.
According to Michelle Palacay-Dela Calzada, chief economic development specialist of NEDA-Caraga, the government aims to teach Caraganons to be responsible enough in budgeting their hard-earned money in their daily expenses, and the importance of saving a portion of their earnings which they can use in times of emergency.
This also forms part of the government’s advocacy towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“The NEDA-Caraga, together with other financial institutions in the region have converged efforts to help Caraganons become financial literate in a way of capacitating them on how they could better save money for their family and plan on the future of their children. This is also one way of making Caraganons get rid of debts and suffer poverty,” bared Dela Calzada.
Clyde Hikilan, a media practitioner in Butuan also shared his positive views on the said forum. “This is very useful. I learned the advantage of investing money to business especially that Caraga has a growing economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, for Marko Davey Reyes, an employee of the DSWD-Caraga, this kind of forum is a great help particularly to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“This forum really helps especially for us in DSWD because we have programs for our beneficiaries and through this, we could also help them make use of the government’s funds provided to them be used responsibly. We will be imparting this kind of information to them so they could plan better on how to spend their money well,” said Reyes. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Mga IP sa Caraga region, aktibong nakikilahok sa implementasyon ng EO70
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Enero 3 (PIA) - Dumarami pa ang mga Indigenous Peoples (IP) sa Caraga region na aktibong nakilahok sa mga aktibidad ng gobyerno tungo sa epektibong implementasyon ng Executive Order 70 (EO70) ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte o ang whole-of-nation approach na layong sugpuin ang insurhensiya sa bansa.
Sa pangunguna ng National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Caraga, puspusan ang pagsagawa ng capability building ng ahensiya kasama ang mga IP leaders ng rehiyon upang sila ay mahasa at makatulong rin sa pagbibigay solusyon sa mga kinakaharap na hamon ng bawat komunidad.
Ayon kay Director for Operations Leouel Santos ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), boluntaryong nakikilahok ang mga IP leaders ng Caraga at nakikibahagi sa diskusyon ng gobyerno sa pagtugon sa mga isyu at concern ng lipunan lalu na sa mga conflict-affected areas.
“Patuloy ang gobyerno sa pagsagawa ng dayalogo sa ating mga kababayang IPs upang sa ganun ay makuha natin mula sa kanila ang kanilang mga isyu at concern at malaman natin kung anong mga instrumento meron ang gobyerno na maaaring makatulong sa sektor. Mas nagiging aktibo na sila ngayon lalu na sa pagresolba ng insurgency sa rehiyon,” sabi ni Santos.
Para naman kay Bae Bebeth Enriquez, isang mamanwa sa Barangay Mahaba, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, sobra-sobra na ang pasakit na idinudulot ng New Peoples Army (NPA) sa kanilang tribu dahilan kung bakit mabagal ang pag-usbong ng kanilang mga tribu. Kaya nais na nilang mawakasan ito para na rin sa magandang kinabukasan ng susunod pang henerasyon.
“Hindi namin lubusang maranasan ang kaunlaran sa aming komunidad dahil pa rin sa presensya ng mga NPA. Sana ay mawakasan na ang kanilang pang-aabuso sa aming mga tribu at tuluyan na kaming mamuhay nang matiwasay at makaranas ng maginhawang buhay sa tulong na rin ng gobyerno,” ani ni Enriquez.
Samantala, nanawagan naman si NCIP-Caraga Regional Director Ferdausi Saniel Cerna sa lahat ng IPs na patuloy na maging matatag at matapang sa pagharap ng hamong ito at patuloy rin sa pakikipagtulungan sa gobyerno sa pagsugpo sa mga karahasan at pang-aabuso ng NPA sa buong rehiyon. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
NPA na namatay sa Luzon, naiuwi na sa Agusan
By Nora C. Lanuza
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Enero 23 (PIA)-- Labis ang pagdadalamhati ni Erlinda Cabachete, ina ng rebeldeng si Bertoldo Cabachete, Jr. o kilala sa mga kamag-anak na si Junjun at alias LJ sa mga NPA na namatay dahil sa pneumonia habang siya ay myembro pa ng New Peoples Army (NPA) sa kabundukan ng Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.
Mula Luzon, dinala ng mga military ang labi ni alias LJ o Junjun at dumating sa kanilang tahanan sa bayan sa Nasipit, Agusan del Norte noong Disyembre 29 ng hapon.
Isinisi ni Erlinda ang pagkamatay ng kanyang anak sa grupong NPA. Ayon kay Erlinda, ang NPA ang nagdala sa kanyang anak sa kamatayan kaya't nanawagan siya ng hustisya para sa kanyang anak.
Ayon din sa kapatid ni Junjun na si Roberto, noong taong 2018 magkasama pa sila sa Maynila. Nagpaalam daw sa kanya si Junjun na pupuntang Nueva Ecija upang doon magtrabaho, ngunit hindi na ito bumalik pa. Hindi nila inakalang isa na pala siyang miyembro ng NPA.
Dahil sa tulong ng isang dating rebelde na kasama ni Junjun sa Nueva Ecija, nalaman ng pamilya ang mga nangyari kay Junjun gayundin ang mga gawain ng mga NPA.
Sa kwento nito, pinabayaan ng mga NPA si Junjun dahil siya ay nagkasakit ng pneumonia at wala ng silbi sa kanila hanggang ito ay mamatay. Itinuro din niya sa mga militar kung saan siya inilibing kaya’t nagkaroon sila ng panahon na hukayin ang kanyang mga labi at ihatid sa kanyang pamilya sa Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.
Dahil sa nangyari, nananawagan si Mayor Enrico Corvera ng Nasipit sa mga kabataan na maging aktibo at huwag magpalinlang sa mga NPA. Ayon sa alkalde, patuloy ang pinaigting na paglaban ng local government unit at militar sa pagrerecruit ng mga NPA sa kanilang lugar.
Malaki ang paniniwala ni Lt. Col. Francisco Molina, Jr., ang commanding officer ng 23rd Infantry Batallion na isang biktima ng pagbrainwash ng NPA si Junjun, pinangakuhan ng tulong ngunit pinabayaan. (with reports from 23IB/NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Ibat-ibang sektor tinuruan ng mga techniques sa pag-iipon at tamang pagplano sa gastusin
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Enero 3 (PIA)– Iba’t-ibang sektor sa Caraga region ang tinuruan ng mga epektibong paraan para makapag-ipon, maging sa tamang pagplano ng pera para sa mga gastosin ng pamilya sa pang-araw araw.
Ito ay sa tulong na rin ng National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), kasama ang Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) at iba pang financial institutions sa isinagawang Financial Literacy Forum sa lungsod ng Butuan.
Ayon kay Michelle Palacay-Dela Calzada, chief economic development specialist ng NEDA-Caraga, layon ng pamahalaan na ituro sa ating mga kababayan ang kanilang responsableng pagasta ng pera at ang kahalagahan ng pag-iipon o pagkakaroon ng savings para matustusan ang mga pangangailangan ng pamilya.
Ang hakbang na ito ay parte rin sa isinusulong ng gobyerno na Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Nais ng gobyerno na matulungan ang ating mga kababayan at isa lamang ito sa mga hakbang para matugunan ang mga isyu ng mamamayan lalu na ang tamang pagasta ng pera ng bawat pamilya upang maging maginhawa ang kanilang buhay at matutung mag-ipon,” pahayag ni Dela Calzada.
Ibinahagi naman ni Clyde Hikilan, isang media practitioner ang kanyang natutunan sa nasabing forum. “Marami akong natutunan sa forum. Isa na rito ang kagandahan ng pag-iinvest sa negosyo para lumago pa ang perang inilaan dito lalu na’t patuloy na umuusbong ang ekonomiya ng Caraga region,” banggit niya.
Para naman kay Marko Davey Reyes na isang government employee ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga, malaking tulong ang ganitong forum lalu na sa mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“Malaking tulong talaga ang ganitong forum lalu na sa amin sa DSWD dahil mayroon kaming mga benepisyaryo sa mga programang ipinapatupad ng ahensiya at isa na rito ang 4Ps. Sa pamamagitan ng forum na ito, maibabahagi rin naming sa kanila kung papaano maging epektibo sa pagplano ng gastosin sa pamilya sa pang-araw-araw at nang makapag-ipon din sila. Mahalaga na maging responsible sila sa pagamit ng pera na mula sa gobyerno,” sabi ni Reyes. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
