Region XI

Details: Category: Region 11; Published: 23 November 2020

Brand Aid MANILA, November 18 -- Christmas is one of the most significant celebrations in the Philippines. And one of its highest points is the Noche Buena, where families come together to share stories of love and hope over their favorite Filipino meal. But this year, Christmas will be different for millions of Filipinos due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as a recent survey revealed that 7.6 million Filipinos experienced involuntary hunger at least once during the third quarter of this year.

Most of these families may not be able to afford to put food on the table or even think of preparing Noche Buena. And because of this, Unilever Philippines, RFM Corporation, Dole Philippines, Century Pacific Food, Inc., and Lazada have come together to offer some respite for Filipino families that are part of this staggering statistic.

Together with Rise Against Hunger Philippines—an international hunger relief organization—the brands are launching an initiative called Brand Aid: Noche Buena Para sa Lahat. It is the first ever collaboration of the biggest food companies in the Philippines to spark hope and bring Noche Buena to Filipinos in need.The companies commit to work with each other, and together with other sectors of society, to actively advocate for a Philippines that is free from hunger. And through Brand-Aid: Noche Buena Para sa Lahat, they embark on this journey with a pledge of 100,000 Noche Buena kits for Filipino families, including those affected by the recent calamities.

Details: Category: Region 11; Published: 22 November 2020

Image davao del sur farmers reimbursement Highlighting the significance of rice to local food security and price stability, rice farmers in Davao del Sur receive fertilizer reimbursement for the 2020 wet cropping season from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Plant, Plant, Plant Program - Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) to help rice farmers cut down production cost and meet its objective of ensuring optimum rice yield.

“The Fertilizer Assistance thru Reimbursement Scheme is one of the major components of the Rice Resiliency Project which objective is to ensure optimum yield and increase local rice production” said Engr. Ricardo M. Onate, Jr., Regional Executive Director of Department of Agriculture – Davao Region.

While the reimbursement scheme is only for the 2020 wet cropping season, the Department of Agriculture assured the farmers that for the current cropping season, they will receive fertilizer bags based on their rice production area.

Details: Category: Region 11; Published: 19 November 2020

Several scholarship programs are being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Authority in the region (TESDA-XI) in the midst of the pandemic to provide more technical and vocational job seekers an enhanced employability and entrepreneurial opportunities.

TESDA-XI Regional Director Lorenzo Macapili said that among TESDA-XI’s major programs is the Training for Work Scholarship Program which aims to fill up the skills gaps required by the priority industries with high employment demand.

He explained that TESDA will subsidize the training and assessment fees, and will provide each learner an insurance coverage, training support fund of P160 per day, internet allowance of P500, and personal protective equipment.

Details: Category: Region 11; Published: 21 November 2020

Image Housing for Magsaysay Quake Victims

DAVAO CITY, Nov. 13 – The municipal government of Magsaysay in Davao del Sur is fast tracking the turnover of another batch of housing units to earthquake victims in order to reduce the number of remaining families who are at risk in the evacuation centers.

Magsaysay Mayor Arthur Davin bared that about 100 housing units are ready for turnover this month, saying that this would add up to the more than 500 units which were already given to the evacuees.

Davin said that if the additional units would be turned over, they would then serve decent abode for about half of the more than 1,500 families who lost their homes during the series of strong earthquake that severely hit the municipality last quarter of 2019. He added that the National Housing Authority Region XI (NHA-XI) is continuing the construction of the remaining houses which are part of the 2,002-housing unit project for Magsaysay with a budget allocation of P579,579,000.

Details: Category: Region 11; Published: 18 November 2020

Image arbos partnership for SF1 Southern Mindanao Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SDMC) started initial talks with Biao Agrarian Reform Cooperative (BARBCO) for the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Supplementary Feeding Program of the DSWD. The partnership aims to provide packed champorado utilizing SDMC-produced tablea to the 52 Day Care children of the municipality of Sta. Maria, province of Davao Occidental.

In a MOA signing between the two organizations last 17 November 2020, it was stipulated that SDMC will supply quality cacao beans to BARBCO. The latter as the anchor organization in the partnership, will provide technical and marketing assistance in cacao production and DTI for the business development services, processing equipment/facilities, among others. BARBCO is a Davao City-based cooperative, primarily engaged in cocoa production, marketing, cocoa liquor & chocolate production.

Details: Category: Region 11; Published: 20 November 2020

BIDA Solusyon sa COVID 19 DAVAO DEL NORTE, Nov. 9 – The local government units and national agencies in the Davao region are set to implement the BIDA bastonero/bastonera as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID19.

The implementation was discussed during the ‘BIDA Re-orientation’ online meeting between Information Officers throughout the Davao region and the Department of Health (DOH) XI. Yasmin M. Avila, Health Education and Promotions Officer III of DOH XI, said that the BIDA bastonero/bastonera will subsequently encourage people to adhere to health protocols.

According to Avila, the bastoneros/bastoneras are authorities officially designated in a certain workplace to ensure health protocol adherence. They will inform the staff and employees about the BIDA Solusyon Campaign and the Infection and Prevention Control measures.