DA Caraga Sets in Motion for Women Empowerment

Mabuhay ang mga Kababayen-an!

The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 13 (DA RFO 13) strongly supports the empowerment of women by allocating 5% of its budget for Gender and Development (GAD) activities pursuant to Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW). 

Aside from funding support, DA RFO 13 took an active role during the celebration of women’s month every March through participating the civic parade, sports activities, forums and showcase of talents.

This year, Paterna Velasques, chairperson of Mangagoy Fishermen Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MAFISCO) in Bislig City was awarded as regional winner for the Search for Outstanding Rural Women.

She will be the contender for Caraga Region in the national level and the national awarding is tentatively set during the World Food celebration on October.

To capacitate the women, organic vegetable production training was conducted in Anticala, Butuan City recently. 

Other trainings are on the pipeline such as cacao production, banana chips processing and coffee production, including the conduct of reproductive health forum.

Implementation of GAD related activities and facilitating women concerns are given utmost priority through DA RFO 13 GAD focal person Isabelita Ocampo. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga).

=-###-=

DA Caraga Employs Youth for Summer Job

1st Batch of the DA Caraga's SYIP 2016             Photo by: Fred Abrea

Earning while learning!

The Department of Agriculture is now opening an opportunity for the youth to take part in government service and make their summertime more meaningful and productive through the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP).

SYIP is DA’s participation to the Government Internship Program (GIP) in line with Section 13 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution which provides that the State shall promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, and social well-being of the young people and inculcate in the youth the spirit of patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.

This year, 30 youth were successfully accepted in the SYIP wherein the first half will be reporting for duty from April 1 to April 30 while the second batch will start on May 1 to May 31, 2016.

SYIP successful applicants were assigned in different divisions or sections in DA Regional Office performing ordinary office works such as typing, encoding, sorting, machine reproduction and the like. 

The youth participants shall render service for eight hours daily at regular office hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm) from Monday to Friday.

Maria Victoria Monteclaro, Chief of the Human Resources Management Office said that SYIP participants will receive the prevailing minimum wage in Caraga amounting to P268.00 per day to be released every 15 days.

“This is one of our way of serving the country by molding the minds of our youth and exposing them in the government service, helping them to earn as a preparation for the next school year,” Monteclaro said.

Summer Youth Internship Program is open for young people, 15-25 years old, students or out of school youth that hasn’t stopped school for more than 2 years and preferably farmer or fisherfolk family member and or Indigenous People (IP).

Cherry Mae Rojo Bonane, 19 years old from Santiago, Agusan del Norte, one of the successful youth applicants said that her earnings will be allocated for her enrollment fee in the incoming school year and for expenses of her stay in Butuan City while working. 

“I am so grateful to DA for giving an opportunity for the youth and I am hoping that this program will continue so more family who are in need will benefit as well,” she said. 

Cherry Mae Bonane is an incoming third year student taking up Bachelor in Agricultural Technology (BAT) in Surigao State College of Technology (SSCT) Mainit, Surigao del Norte campus.

Now on its 6^th year, SYIP is an annual program of DA Regional Field Office 13 implemented since 2011. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

=-###=-