Day: April 25, 2024

MANILA: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will soon build a regional complex on a five-hectare land in Magalang, Pampanga donated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to better serve the marginalized and disadvantaged sectors in the Central Luzon region.

DSWD Undersecretary for General Administration and Support Services Group Edward Justine Orden and DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Office Rowena Niña Taduran signed the Deed of Transfer on Wednesday at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Magalang.

‘This transfer of ownership not only ensures the legality and security of the DSWD facility but also symbolizes our enduring dedication to deliver our mandate of protecting the most vulnerable,’ Orden said during the signing that marked the official turnover of the land currently occupied by the RRCY.

The Deed of Transfer, Orden said, will allow the DSWD to offer more services to marginalized and disadvantaged sectors through its planned Welfare Ville in
the region.

‘As we witness the formal signing and turnover of the Deed of Transfer from the DAR to the DSWD, we reaffirm our commitment to the well-being of our nation’s youth,’ he said.

Other facilities to be built in the proposed Welfare Ville are the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC), Lingap Center, Trafficking in Persons’ Processing Center, and a DSWD satellite warehouse.

‘We, at the DSWD, commit to continuously provide a nurturing out-of-home placement for children in need of assistance to enhance their psychological, emotional, and psycho-social well-being,’ Orden said.

Aside from the turnover of land, the RRCY also officially inaugurated its infirmary and therapy room.

The RRCY is a rehabilitation facility run by DSWD Central Luzon for over 44 years, providing care and rehabilitation services to male children in conflict with the law who are below 18 years old.

DSWD Undersecretary for International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies (ASA) Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, Assistant Sec
retary Elaine Fallarcuna, and Administrative Service Director Karina Antonette Agudo, Field Office-3 (Central Luzon) Regional Director Venus Rebuldela, Assistant Regional Director for Administration (ARDA) Maribel Blanco and Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Armont Pecina attended the signing ceremony.

Other government officials present during the event were DAR-Bureau of Land Acquisition Domingo Roque and DAR Region-3 – Land Tenure Service head Marissa Nagun.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Thursday commended the police for its swift assistance to a freelance photojournalist whose belongings were illegally seized by members of a private security agency in Silang, Cavite.

In a news release, the PTFoMS said Jose Monsieur Santos, 23, a member of the Filipino Freelance Journalists’ Guild and correspondent of news outfit One PH, sought the task force’s assistance after unidentified members of the Jarton Security Agency forcibly confiscated his equipment while covering a demolition operation in a disputed property in Barangay Tartaria past midnight on April 20.

Among the confiscated items were Santos’ Nikon D750 DSLR camera, two camera lenses, press chest vest, Kevlar helmet and backpack containing his computer tablet, laptop, mess kit and other personal items.

Despite introducing himself as a member of the press and repeated appeal to have his seized personal items returned to him, the security guards refused, Santos told PTFoMS.

U
ndersecretary Paul Gutierrez, PTFoMS Executive Director, sought police assistance through Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A) Director, Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas and Cavite Police Director Col. Eleuterio Ricardo Jr.

Gutierrez also sought the assistance of the PRO-4A press corps in disseminating the incident.

Silang Police chief Lt. Col. Louie DC Gonzaga received PTFoMS’ request and took the initiative of recovering the items seized, in coordination with the office of Mayor Alston Kevin Anarna.

However, since the recovered belongings were incomplete, Santos refused to claim them, upon the advice of his lawyer.

They are now preparing the filing of criminal charges against Jarton Security Agency for theft.

Despite this, Santos still expressed gratitude to the PTFoMS for its prompt action in assisting him.

Meanwhile, Gutierrez commended the Calabarzon police office and Anarna for their effort in not only assisting Santos and the affected tenants but also in easing the tension in Barangay Tartaria
.

A reported 137 farmers were reportedly being evicted from the property by the security agency hired by private firms despite the pending decision of the Supreme Court and the Department of Agrarian Reform on land ownership.

Gutierrez particularly lauded Gonzaga for ensuring the return of Santos’ stolen items and his assurance that the photojournalist would get full police assistance and security in Silang should he decide to pursue charges against Jarton Security Agency.

‘It this kind of voluntary and sincere inter-agency cooperation that makes the PTFoMS effective in discharging its mandate as the government’s official mechanism to address all violations of media rights,’ Gutierrez said.

‘With every agency working together, we assure our colleagues in the media that their right to perform their job as truth seekers is being protected by the government,’ he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MALASIQUI: The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet) has provided free vitamins, deworming, and other veterinary services to farm animals in the province to ensure their health against the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.

The La Union Provincial Information Office (PIO) told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday that almost 900 small and large ruminants such as cattle, carabao and goats have benefited from the OPVet’s programs since last March.

“The project initiated by Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David seeks to enhance the health and wellness of farm animals, as the El Niño phenomenon is expected to take a toll on them,” it said.

The common illnesses livestock experience in times of drought are heat stroke and heat stress, the PIO said.

The OPVet is also providing other services such as castration, artificial insemination and estrus synchronization, it added.

Provincial veterinarian Dr. Domingo Bobby Calub III, in a statement, said they are visiting communities to provide technical assi
stance and capacitate residents on veterinary services.

‘Our visits to the communities also enable us to gather primary data on livestock population in each barangay, which shall form part of our digital registry that will be our basis for data-driven animal services in the future,’ he said.

He said pet and livestock animals should be hydrated and sheltered in shaded areas.

Ortega-David said this initiative seeks to uphold the livelihood of farmers and livestock industry players to increase their production and sustain food sufficiency in the province.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LAOAG CITY: A total of PHP40.7 million worth of agriculture inputs and equipment were turned over by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Ilocos Norte’s provincial government to local farmers and fishers here on Thursday.

A total of 949 individual farmers and 26 farmer associations received 680 bags of organic and inorganic fertilizers, 8,442 bottles of foliar fertilizers and insecticides, 26 units of agri-machinery, such as water pumps, grass cutters, forage choppers, knapsack sprayers, plastic crates, and 98 packs of assorted vegetable seeds, palay, and corn seeds, distributed under the provincial government’s “Agri ka Dito!’ program.

Under the fuel subsidy program, 110 farmers from Marcos, Ilocos Norte also received PHP3,000 each, while 137 livestock raisers from Dingras received one goat each, and 500 livestock raisers from Sarrat and Dingras received 500 heads of free-range chicken.

At least 32 farmers from Paoay received PHP4,500 each as a cash incentive for the provincial government-initiated bamb
oo rehabilitation project.

A total of 313 fishermen from the towns of Bacarra, Banna, Batac, Dingras, Pagudpud, Paoay, Pasuquin, Piddig, Sarrat, and Solsona also received one piece of fishnet each, which included nets and weights, worth a total of PHP2.7 million.

About 264 fishermen from Bacarra, Badoc, Bangui, Burgos, Currimao, Laoag, Pagudpud, Paoay and Pasuquin also received one-gill net each, which included nets and cords, worth a total of PHP1.2 million.

In addition, 26 farm machinery amounting to PHP21,180,412 were given to farmer associations under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). These included eight four-wheel hand tractors and 10 hand tractors, two walk-behind transplanters, two rice reapers, and four rice threshers.

‘We are so happy that all our requests were granted,’ said Dominador Ignacio, a farmer from Laoag City.

Ignacio said they were able to establish a sustainable community garden in Navotas South because of the free agricultural inputs being distributed by the governm
ent to boost food security.

During harvest day at the community garden, every household gets a share of fresh in-season fruits and vegetables.

Through word of mouth, Rodrigo Sadian, who has a livestock and poultry farm in Barangay Salbang, Paoay tried to request for a water hose under the Agri Ka Dito hotline of the provincial government.

After verifying his identification card in the local registry of farmers, Sadian said he received a text message informing him that the water hose he requested was ready for pickup.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Thursday confirmed that the majority of ‘payaos’ (fish aggregating devices) installed near Rozul Reef are now missing.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said they received verification on April 20 following a livelihood support mission of BFAR’s BRP Datu Pagbuaya.

“We have found out na iyong mga ibang payao, pagdating doon. ay wala na. I think sampu iyong nailagay, pero dalawa na lang ngayon ang nakita doon (that some of the payaos are gone. I think 10 were installed there, but only two were found there when the ship arrived),” he said.

Briguera said there are only two possible reasons for the missing payaos – that they may have been carried away by the current, or have been deliberately removed.

Meanwhile, he said the BFAR is yet to conduct further research on the status of corals in Rozul Reef.

“Kailangang tingnan iyong doon sa parang mga buhangin o coral rubbles, titingnan kung man-made ba ito
, o ito talaga iyong natural appearance ng mga coral sa lugar (We must look on the sandbars or coral rubbles, to check if it is manmade or that’s just the natural appearance of corals in the area),” he said.

Initial reports, however, showed that marine biodiversity in the area remains in “good condition,” Briguera said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA: The provincial government here commenced on Thursday the revalidation of families and barangays affected by El Niño as it gears to provide assistance to those hit by the weather phenomenon.

Michael Tolentino, officer-in-charge of the Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) response team led the revalidation.

He said severely affected individuals in crisis situations (AICS) would receive assistance.

As of April 25, the province has 53,099 affected families, equivalent to 196,991 individuals, from the 12,552 families or 50,292 individuals on their April 15 data.

‘The Antique provincial board, during its declaration of the state of calamity, has also approved the utilization of PHP10 million out of the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for assistance,’ Tolentino said in an interview.

Fifty percent of the QRF will go to AICS, and the remaining amount for purchasing mobile water tanks, hoses, a
nd other accessories for barangays already suffering from a lack of water for drinking and hygienic purposes.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) will have gasoline allocation for water rationing in the barangays.

‘Emergency procurement of the water tanks is also ongoing, so it could be delivered already to the barangays,’ Tolentino said, adding that they will acquire 63 mobile water tanks.

Barangays in Sibalom are among priority, the first town in Antique to declare a state of calamity.

Aside from the PHP74 million worth of losses on rice, corn, and other high-value crops, eight barangays of the town suffer from a lack of water.

Source: Philippines News Agency