DOTr urges contractors to fast-track repair of airport’s runway in Surigao City
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 -- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), urged contractors to fast-track repair of the runway at the Surigao City airport, which was damaged by the 6.7 magnitude earthquake last February 10, 2017.It can be recalled that right after the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte and his cabinet members in Surigao City to assess the situation of the quake victims, the operation at the Surigao City airport also resumed, however, only 1,000 meters from the standard 1,700-meter runway are being used until this time, and has only one airline company being accommodated and operating.
The limited flights posed an impact on the tourism industry of the said city.
In the recent surprise visit at the airport led by Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), together with DOTr Asec. Giovanni Lopez, CAAP Director-General Jim Sydiongco, and Regional Director Abner Caga of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, the officials thoroughly assessed and checked the condition of the runway.
“The provincial development council of Surigao del Norte requested yours truly to help follow-up the repair of the runway. That’s why I’m here, though this is the job of the DOTr and CAAP, we wanted to fast-track its repair and finish it within the timeline,” said Andanar.
The government has allocated more than P123-million fund for the Surigao Airport Development Project. Andanar and Lopez agreed that the contractors, the Pacific Concrete Products and VT Lao Construction, should set-up a concrete plant and batching plant near the airport to avoid similar delays in the future.
“While it is true that there is a delay of this project, but like what the secretary has said that the original contract duration is February 2020, that is non-negotiable. We are looking for ways really make that happen. We will deliver within the same period of time regardless of the delay,” Lopez said.
The 1,400 meters runway is expected to be finished by November in order to accommodate the high demand of flights in the Christmas season.
While the entire 1,700 meters will be completed by February 2020, CAAP emphasized that they will be monitoring the progress of this project. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Pagkumpuni ng nasirang runway sa Surigao City airport, pinamamadali
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 13 (PIA)- Pinamamadali na ni Secretary Arthur Tugade ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) at ng Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) ang pagkumpuni ng nasirang runway ng Surigao City airport matapos ang 6.7 magnitude na lindol noong February 10, 2017.Matatandaan na matapos bumisita ni President Rodrigo Duterte at gabinete nito sa mga biktima ng lindol sa lungsod ng Surigao, nagbalik operasyon ang nasabing airport ngunit hanggang sa ngayon 1,000 meters lamang ng runway ang nagagamit at isang airline company lamang ang nakakagamit nito.
Dahil dito, apektado na rin ang turismo sa lungsod dahil sa limitadong biyahe rito.
Sa isinagawang surprising pagbisita sa nasabing airport na pinangunahan ni Secretary Martin Andanar ng Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), kasama si DOTr Asec. Giovanni Lopez, CAAP Director-General Jim Sydiongco, at Regional Director Abner Caga ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, sinuri ng mga opisyal ang kondisyon ng runway.
“Ang provincial council ng Surigao del Norte ay nagpasa ng Resolution No. 103, series of 2019, at nirequest po nila ang inyong lingkod, Sec. Andanar na tumulong na maipadali na ang pagkumpuni ng paliparan, kaya huwag po kayong magtaka kung bakit nandito ang communications secretary, ito po’y trabaho ng DOTr at ng CAAP,” sabi ni Andanar.
Naglaan ang gobyerno ng mahigit P123-milyong na pondo para sa pagkumpuni ng paliparan. Napag-alaman din na hindi natapos ng dati nitong kontraktor ang pagkukumpuni at ngayon ay ang Pacific Concrete Products at VT Lao Construction na ang tatapus ng proyekto.
“Totoo po na naantala ang proyektong ito pero sabi ho ni Secretary na kahit naantala ang orihinal na contract duration sa February 2020, yan po ay non-negotiable. Ang ginagawa natin, gumagawa tayo ng paraan ngayon, para yan po talaga ang mangyayari. Matatapos ang proyektong ito sa itinakdang panahon bagamat may delay sa pagsagawa nito,” sabi ni Lopez.
Napagkasunduan ng mga kinauukulang ahensya ng gobyerno at bagong kontraktor na tatapusin ang 1,400 meters runway bago mag-pasko ngayong taon. Habang ang kabuuan nito na 1,700 meters ay makokompleto sa February 2020. May monitoring ding gagawin ang CAAP para dito.(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Mga bata tumanggap ng regalo mula sa RIACAT-VAWC Caraga
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 13 (PIA)- Mahigit 30 bata ang masayang tumanggap ng regalo mula sa Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women And Children (RIACAT-VAWC) Caraga dito sa lungsod at bayan ng Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.Ito ay bilang bahagi sa selebrasyon ng World Day Against Trafficking (WDAT). Sila ang mga batang nakatira sa Home for Boys sa Barangay Antongalon, Butuan City, at GESU Eucaristico Incorporated sa Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. Tumanggap ang mga ito ng ibat-ibang personal hygiene kits at food packs.
Laking pasasalamat ni Sister Marilou at Mang Cleto, tagapamahala ng nasabing mga centers sa lahat ng bumisita mula sa ibat-ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan at sa regalong binigay nila para sa mga batang napasailalim sa ‘child at risk,' child in conflict with the law, at batang nabiktima ng karahasan.
Nananawagan din si Sister Marilou, sana ay matulungan din sila ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor sa pagpapatayo ng center para sa mga batang may special needs; pagkakaroon o pagtalaga ng developmental pediatricians na titingin sa kalagayan ng mga batang may special diagnosis; at scholarship para sa mga batang nasa center.
Pakiusap naman ni Mang Cleto na sana ay tutukang mabuti ng mga magulang ang kanilang mga anak upang malayo ito sa kapahamakan at lumaki nang maayos.
Samantala, ibinahagi naman ni Catherine Aranas, Social Welfare Officer ng Department of Social Welfare and Development Caraga at Focal Person ng RIACAT-VAWC na mataas pa rin ang kaso ng trafficking sa rehiyon, subalit indikasyon daw ito na nairereport na sa otoridad ang mga insidente hinggil dito. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
DA-Caraga helps boost cassava industry in Dinagat
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 13 -- With the inclusion of cassava in the priority commodity of the province of Dinagat Islands (PDI), the Provincial Agriculture Office conducted series of activities to come up with community-based target setting of the crop.The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist – PDI, through its corn and cassava focal person Rico Galinato, spearheaded the conduct of the cassava utilization training and stakeholder's forum in the Municipality of Libjo, August 6-7, 2019.
The activities were participated in by cassava processors, farmers association leaders, cooperative representatives, local government unit program coordinators and Department of Agriculture (DA) - Caraga staff.
Francis Louie Parina, DA-Caraga Cassava focal person, said that the department can support PDI's plan with the provision of high yielding variety, farm mechanization, and technical training. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
BFAR-Caraga promotes fishery products
By Salve M. Dinolan
BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 13 -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - Caraga joins the Department of Agriculture in the 6th Regional Technology Forum and Product Exhibition held here.The two-day technology forum that runs from August 8 to 9, 2019 showcases products and lectures on technologies for tilapia, coconut, cacao, soybean and sorghum production.
"Product exhibition, as part of product promotion of value-added fishery and aquatic products from potential producers among the fishers of Caraga region, is one of the approaches being used by BFAR to help the fisherfolk family's level of income. This scheme is aligned with the new Secretary of the Department's priority strategies in the first 100 days at DA," said BFAR-Caraga regional director Visa Tan-Dimerin.The forum brought together farmers, agripreneurs, agricultural extension workers, representatives from academe, agricultural institutions and local government units.
This year's theme is “Technologies from Agri-Fisheries as Catalyst for Sustainability and Competitiveness.” (BFAR-Caraga/VLG/PIA-Caraga)