Friday, November 29, 2024

Tag: NorMin

DA to strengthen halal industry in NorMin

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10), under the helm of DA-10 OIC Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, welcomed DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns and for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Engr. Zamzamin L. Ampatuan, during his visit on March 10, 2023 at the agency compound

The DA-10 Regional Agricultural and Engineering Division (RAED), Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), and the Livestock Program convened with the DA official to discuss halal production and its market demand in Northern Mindanao.
Recognizing the growing population of Muslims and their demand for halal-certified products, DA USec Ampatuan underscored that halal production should be vigorously pursued in the region, as it plays a major role in improving food safety and quality, as well as in providing employment opportunities for communities locally.

The undersecretary added that it will also help promote cultural awareness and understanding between different religious groups.
To meet said demand, DA-10 assures to strengthen its production of beef, goat, and chicken, as these are among the most popular types of halal meat. Of which, priority for production are those high-density cities in NorMin, where Halal sections in different markets are eyed to be established.

Overall, to strengthen the Halal industry, the body looks forward to the construction of a village-type Halal slaughterhouse to be designed by RAED; the establishment of a Halal multiplier farm courtesy of the Livestock program; and the continued conduct of a series of Halal production workshops to be spearheaded by AMAD. # (RDMElloren/DA RFO-10)

Super Health Center to rise in Pangantucan

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PANGANTUCAN, Bukidnon – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Super Health Center facility in far-off barangay Bacusanon, Pangantucan, Bukidnon, on March 3

Go said the center would provide vital health services with specialized health facilities at the local level, such as an outpatient department, laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound, birthing services, diagnostics, pharmacy, and emergency services.
Asked about the distinction between Malasakit Center and Super Health Center, the Senator explained that the Super Health Center is a medium-sized polyclinic larger than a rural health center but not as big as a hospital.
“I express great bliss that the Department of Health (DOH) chose a strategic location here in town. The government will build additional 20 Super Health Centers in Northern Mindanao this year, with six in Bukidnon, four in Cagayan de Oro, three in Lanao del Norte, two in Misamis Occidental, and five in Misamis Oriental,” Go said.
DOH-10 Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna Jr. emphasized that establishing a Super Health Facility would help decongest other health facilities, as it will supplement rural health centers in the province.
“The goal is to bring government services closer to the people,” he said.
Fourth District Representative Laarni Roque thanked Senator Go for building projects in her district. She said that the Super Health Center would immensely help the people of Barangay Bacusanon, which does not have a government hospital.
Meanwhile, Pangantucan Mayor Miguel A. Silva Jr. urged his constituents to take good care of the government projects.
“Not all cities or towns are fortunate enough to receive such facility. I urge our villagers here to take good care of this Super Health Center,” the mayor said. (BGE/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

30 firms in NorMin to benefit from DOST’s consultancy program

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Thirty firms in northern Mindanao are expected to benefit from the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) implementation of the Manufacturing Productivity Extension (MPEX) Program this year

This consulting program is meant to help firms reach their full potential and be more productive.

MPEX offers consultations and assessments to help business owners find ways to improve, adopt new technologies, and get better at running their businesses.

Through the 27 competent in-house experts of the agency, enrolled MSMEs in the manufacturing sector are expected to increase efficiency and profitability through improved processes, better equipment, and more.

MSMEs get help with their FDA LTO application, Certificate of Product Registration, plant layout, and food safety trainings like basic food hygiene and good manufacturing practices. MSMEs are also assisted in their packaging and labeling.

Six companies from each province have signed up for MPEX so far for 2023. Most of these companies are in the food processing business.

The completion of each productivity consulting project shall be accomplished in six months. The six-month period comprises the onsite visit and consultation for the data gathering for the technical needs assessment and installation of recommendations and online consultations for monitoring and progress on the implementation of the recommendations. The team will submit a technical report at the end of the consultancy documenting the assessment, analysis, recommendations, and evaluation.

By means of the Subject Matter Specialist Program, the DOST has accredited the agency’s MPEX technical consultants. Among their lines of expertise are food technology, chemical processing, mechanical engineering, and business management. Through a series of consultations, productivity improvement measures will be recommended for immediate implementation as they gear toward their goals.

DOST implements MPEX on a yearly basis throughout the nation to continuously develop MSMEs. Upgraded firms are expected to contribute to the overall economic growth of the country and become globally competitive and sustainable.

Interested MSMEs may indicate their interest by writing a letter of intent addressed to the director of the nearest provincial science and technology offices. (DOST-10/PIA-10)

Manolo Fortich team wins provincial football race

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MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon – In preparation for the highly anticipated Department of Education (DepEd) sports meet, the Manolo Fortich football team secured first place in the recently concluded provincial meet, March 4

The Municipality of Manolo Fortich hosted the football tournament, which included both elementary and high school categories, and was played at the soccer field in Camp Philips.

Two teams, Manolo Fortich, and Maramag, participated in the elementary category, while four teams, Manolo Fortich, Libona, Maramag, and Quezon, competed for first place in the high school category.

Manolo Fortich won the elementary division by beating Maramag 14-1. This made sure that they would be able to represent the Province of Bukidnon at the regional meet. In the high school category, Libona defeated Maramag with a score of 1-0 in the elimination round, while Manolo Fortich defeated Quezon 4-0 in the second game.

In the high school finals, Quezon won third place by beating Maramag 5-1, while Manolo Fortich won the title by beating Libona 7-0. As a champion in both categories, Manolo Fortich earned the right to represent Bukidnon in the upcoming regional meet.

The team will now prepare for the regional meet, where different provinces and highly urbanized cities will compete. Champions from the area will go to the national meet in April to represent northern Mindanao. (JAKA/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

NorMin transport group rejects weeklong strike

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A group of public transportation cooperatives here signified it would not join a planned weeklong transport strike and disassociated itself from Manila-based organizers

In a statement released on the evening of March 01, the Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Service Cooperative (Nomfedtrasco) said it opposes the declaration of Manibela, led by its chairperson Mar Valbuena, for a nationwide transport strike.

The statement, signed by Luzminda Escobidal and Melvin Erederos, Nomfedtrasco’s chief executive officer and chairperson, respectively, noted that the group’s members are compliant and supportive of the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

“There were (at least) 20 transport service cooperative members that already have operational modernized units, and they comprise 45 percent of our total membership,” it said.

Nomfedtrasco has 47 primary transport service member-cooperatives.

It also made clear that it is not affiliated in any way with Manibela, which is urging other transport groups to join the nationwide weeklong strike starting March 6.

Manibela opposes the PUV modernization plan being implemented by the Department of Transportation, which calls for the phaseout of old jeepney units.

Nomfedtrasco said it supports a memorandum circular issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board that has given old PUV operators and drivers until June 30 this year to join modern transport cooperatives for the upgrading program.

“The transport strike could prejudice the right of the riding public to access public transport,” it said. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

DA-SAAD debuts phase 2 in NorMin

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – After getting the go signal in 2022, the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) officially commenced its phase 2 implementation in Northern Mindanao this year through DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado

In a planning workshop with SAAD Phase 2-implementing local government units (LGUs) on February 10 in Cagayan de Oro City, SAAD Northern Mindanao Regional Program Management Support Office (SAAD NorMin RPMSO) outlined Social Preparation activities to be conducted as preliminary steps for the implementation of community-based agri-enterprise projects in priority localities in the region.

SAAD is a special program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) designed to curb poverty in economically depressed areas in the country by providing agri-livelihood projects to marginal farmers.

For phase 2, SAAD will be implemented for a six-year period from 2023 to 2028 in 26 municipalities belonging to the 5th and 6th class, having the highest poverty incidence in four provinces of the region.

Specifically, the municipalities of Sagay, Catarman, Mahinog, and Guinsiliban in Camiguin; Libertad, Gitagum, Sugbongcogon, Balingoan, Lagonglong, Kinoguitan, and Binuangan in Misamis Oriental; Don Victoriano Chiongbian, Baliangao, Panaon, Sapang Dalaga, Sinacaban and Concepcion in Misamis Occidental; Tangcal, Sapad, Salvador, Tagoloan, Magsaysay, Matungao, Pantar, Poona Piagapo and Linamon in Lanao del Norte.

Late in 2022, the SAAD NorMin profiled 1 Farmers’ Cooperative, Association (FCA) in the said municipalities, to ascertain the farmer-members’ eligibility as SAAD recipients.

According to Lana May S. Racines, SAAD NorMin focal person, the program is set to conduct Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) in the first quarter of 2023 to determine the suitability of the proposed agri-enterprise to the FCAs’ locality, the capacity of the FCAs and its members to man the SAAD project, as well as market feasibility of the proposed enterprise.

Under the SAAD guidelines, eligible FCAs may propose agri-enterprise projects focused on rice, corn, livestock, or high-value crop production.

SAAD will grant production-to-marketing assistance to the FCAs. Qualified FCA and their proposed enterprise will be officially endorsed by the Local Chief Executive to SAAD NorMin signifying the DA-LGU partnership in SAAD implementation.

In his message, DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado, challenged the LGUs to implement the SAAD Program with a strong intent to develop the local agriculture sector.

He also called on the LGUs to look after the previously granted SAAD and DA projects for the benefit of the farmers. (DA RFO-10)

NTC to look into ‘syndicate’ behind telco modus in Mindanao

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The National Telecommunications Commission in Northern Mindanao (NTC-10) said last February 27, 2023, that it will conduct an investigation on the involvement of individuals or groups claiming to represent telecommunication companies (telcos) in order to infiltrate private premises

NTC-10 Director Teodoro Buenavista Jr. said these individuals may be linked to a wider network or syndicate operating not only in the region but throughout Mindanao.

“We have a relative who experienced this lately; some individuals claiming to be from a telco but when verified, they were not associated with any firm,” he said in an interview here.

Buenavista noted that telecommunications giant PLDT-Smart warned the public recently about the modus operandi.

In a statement, the telco raised concerns about rising incidents of unauthorized modem collection in General Santos City, Cotabato, and Zamboanga areas.

Cathy Yang, First Vice President and Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart, said customers should only transact with authorized PLDT personnel, especially inside their premises, and always check for proper identification in case of doubt.

“PLDT personnel will never collect modems from customers without replacing them first. Our campaign is part of PLDT Group’s strengthening of its asset protection efforts as part of a broader program to elevate the quality of customer experience,” she said.

In a similar incident, city resident Karen Laisa shared that some individuals claiming to represent another telco were asking her parents for a copy of the land title and map of their residence for a supposed installation of a satellite tower.

“The process was easy because they said it was in a rush due to a target deadline,” she said.

She also said her parents were told to pay PHP7,500 as a “notarial fee” after a contract signing.

Upon verification with NTC-10, the telco in question denied such operations existed and that no such project is taking place as of the moment. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

Teenage pregnancy declines in PH, Normin tops in cases

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Teenage pregnancy cases in the country had gone down from 8.6 percent in 2017 to 5.4 percent in 2022, yet despite the decrease in cases, Northern Mindanao records the highest percentage of adolescents who have been pregnant at 10.9 percent

“Forty-four per 1,000 female adolescents aged 15–19 have given birth in 2020, which means approximately 30 adolescents give birth in the region daily,” Commission on Population (POPCOM)-10 Assistant Regional Director Richmond Charles Gajudo said.

According to data from 2020, the three provinces with the highest rates of teen pregnancy are Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro City. Each of these three provinces is responsible for 43% of all births to teenagers. The youngest age at which a teen was known to be pregnant was 11 years old in Cagayan de Oro City. In Valencia City, the young mother was 12 years old.

Being pregnant at such a young age is bad for young people, both in terms of their health and their finances. It was also said that having a child at such a young age is bad for a teenager’s health because their bodies aren’t ready to carry a child and can sometimes lead to the death of newborns and infants.

Since the childbearing years of a female are between the ages of 15 and 49, there is a tendency to have repeat pregnancies, which may lead to having more children and the possibility of having multiple partners, which is a health risk.

According to the commission, based on studies involving the very young adolescence of 10–14 years old, female teens who get pregnant have older male partners. Due to this, Republic Acts 11596 and 11648 were created to protect the said age group from child marriage and increase the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 years old.

With the number of teenage pregnancies going up, POPCOM-10 and the local government units (LGUs) have stepped up their efforts to stop them. The commission helps the LGUs plan and get ready for programs that will be used, like setting up a teen center to deal with the problems mentioned above.

“We have a new program being implemented for teen moms and their children called a “social program for adolescent moms and their children.” It is like 4Ps, where they will receive a monthly stipend to support them finish their studies and livelihood programs for them to be able to support the needs of their child,” says POPCOM-10 Technical Section Head Jeremias Cabasan.

POPCOM urges everyone to work together to better address the teenage pregnancy case in the region. Teenage pregnancies are caused by many things, including the teens themselves, their families, the community, and even how policies are put into place. This means that the solution can’t just be found in POPCOM, the Department of Health, or the Department of Education. Instead, there needs to be a collaboration between different agencies and sectors. (JAKA/PIA-10)

DTI-10 turns over POS equipment to OTOP hubs

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Eight One Town, One Product Philippines (OTOP) hubs in northern Mindanao were granted a point-of-sale (POS) terminal worth P25,000 each by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 on February 22

OTOP Hub is a one-stop shop that offers a general outlet for quality OTOP products. Strategically located hubs also act as “pasalubong centers,” showcasing the locally rooted products that carry the culture and tradition of a particular place. Its establishment is one of the most impactful interventions under the OTOP program of the DTI.

Through the provincial offices, DTI-10 has worked to keep the hubs in good shape and make sure that its operations run smoothly by constantly keeping an eye on them. The turnover of POS will help the OTOP hubs improve their operations and make it easier for them to keep track of sales, keep books, and manage their inventory.

KaHero, the company that made the POS, also gave a briefing and orientation on how to use the system to the people who worked at the OTOP hubs.

The eight OTOP hubs that received assistance were OTOP Malaybalay and OTOP Valencia in Bukidnon; OTOP Iligan and OTOP Tubod in Lanao del Norte; and OTOP Ginama, OTOP Kuyamis, OTOP Claveria, and Lunâ by Oro Creatives in Misamis Oriental. (DTI-10/PIA-10)

N. Mindanao DRRMC OKs P3.3-B rehab plan for calamity-hit LGUs

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Government agencies comprising the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Northern Mindanao (RDRRMC-10) on Thursday approved the PHP3.3-billion Regional Rehabilitation Plan (RRP) in support of its local government units (LGUs) affected by flooding and landslide in December last year

In an interview, RDRRMC-10 chair Antonio Sugarol said the passage of the budget was part of the mandate of President Ferdinand R. Marcos to identify the priority projects that every LGU need.

“This will be forwarded to the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), so they can review with the proceedings and particulars as to projects that will be appropriated,” Sugarol, also the concurrent Office of the Civil Defense–10 directors, said.

The December 2022 shear line weather disturbance mostly affected LGUs in the Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental provinces.

The amount of the fund was introduced to the RDRRMC-10 in its special meeting on a post-disaster needs assessment by Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño, director of the National Economic Development Authority-10.

The total fund amount will cover infrastructure and social services-related programs and projects, including agriculture development.

For 2023, about PHP900 million will be initially rolled out to benefit the affected LGUs, while PHP1.3 billion will be sued by 2024.

The rest of the funding will be utilized from 2025 onwards.

“Since the LGUs were given devolved function (from the national government), they can shoulder 74 programs and projects (for the RRP),” Cariño said. (Nef Luczon/PNA)