138 farmers graduate from 'University-on-the-Air' in Surigao Sur

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Oct. 11 (PIA) - A total of 138 farmers graduated from the University-on-the-Air (UOA) on White Corn Production in Surigao del Sur.

The graduation rites held at the Provincial Social Hall in Tandag City on Thursday, Oct. 10 was joined by farmer students of San Miguel (63), Tago (49), Bayabas (11) and Tandag City (15).

The UOA on White Corn Production was a radio program lesson based on the course module that was discussed on the air. It was anchored by Japhet Sugian with David Naungayan, the Provincial Corn Coordinator, as a resource speaker and was aired thru Sure FM every Tuesday morning from June to August, 2013.

It can be recalled that early this year, a mass briefing and enrollment was conducted in the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte and in Butuan City.

The Department of Agriculture thru its AgriPinoy corn program recognized the power of radio in communication and information dissemination direct to the beneficiaries on the ground.(NGB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Workshop scheduled on strengthening ‘Protection of Children’ in Tandag City

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 13 (PIA) -- An orientation workshop is scheduled in this city to the members of the City Council for the Protection of Children (CCPC) on further strengthening children’s protection.

City Social Welfare and Development officer Tessie Buniel said the activity is spearheaded by the City Government of Tandag City thru the office of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Office on August 22 at the Season’s Park Apartelle.

The activity aims to strengthen the council as the new administration under city mayor Roxanne Pimentel has just assumed into office more than a month ago. The event also seeks to come-up a comprehensive plan for the protection of children in collaboration with the council members.

Roles and functions of the CCPC are also expected to be discussed by the speakers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Caraga Region and other protected laws for children by the Department of Justice.

In a related development, the construction of “Bahay Pag-asa”, a transition and rehabilitation home for disadvantage children in Tandag City is about to be completed, according to Buniel.(NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Eye Care Medical Mission served 914 patients in Surigao del Sur

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 29 (PIA) -- The Surgical and Eye Care Medical Mission recently held in Surigao del Sur successfully served 914 patients in Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) and Social Hall at the Capitol Hills a venue for final screening, according to Dr. Chris Buniel, PEB Executive Director.

Dr. Buniel said during the culmination dubbed “Governor’s Night” that a total of 76 cataract patients and eight Ptyredium operations were successfully performed during the medical mission, while 400 patients benefited the free eye examinations and received reading eyeglasses donated by the Montero Medical Missions Team from Virginia, USA.

Buniel also said that aside from the eye care services, around 400 patients were screened for Diabetes and 30 People With Disability (PWDs) benefited for prosthetic cast. The said beneficiaries are identified less fortunate Surigaonons from the cities and municipalities of this province.

The activity was first conducted and was launched in 2011 by the Provincial Government in partnership with the Montero Medical Missions (MMM) Team headed by Dr. Juan Montero II together with other partner-stakeholders advocating the Vission2020-Surigao del Sur the Right to Sight, aimed to reduce if not eliminate preventable blindness.

The program implementation was in line with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) promoted by the national government that involved Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and stakeholders to become part for the success of the activities in delivering services to the people.(FEA/NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Surigao del Sur provincial gov't, partners hold eye care medical mission

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 24 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Surigao del Sur is conducting a Cataract-Pterygium Surgical and Eye Care Mission from July 22-25 at the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Center in Tandag City.

The activity is part of “Surigao del Sur Vision 2020” campaign which aims to eliminate preventable blindness by year 2020. This is in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), Montero Medical Missions, and other organizations.

"We are very fortunate to have the Montero Medical Missions with us in this endeavor for giving us free Cataract-Pterygium Surgical operation," Governor Johnny Pimentel said. "This operation is very expensive costing to P35k per patient when operating in a private health facility."

The medical mission will provide services to 100 cataract patients. Some 500 patients may avail themselves of free eye examination and free glasses.

The Montero Medical Missions, a faith base international non-government organization that has been working with the DOH through the National Committee on Sight Preservation in line with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness - Vision 2020 The Right to Sight initiative, which now started replication process in several strategic areas of the Philippines.

Partner agencies include the Loving Presence Foundation, Rotary Club of Central Tandag, American Orthotic and Prosthetic Center, Surigao del Sur Medical Society, Philippine Nurses Association of Surigao del Sur, Beach Eye Care, Virginia Center for Eye Surgery, Community United Methodist Church, Philippine Medical Association of Southeast Virginia in United States of America, Surigao del Sur Provincial Health Office, League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Surigao del Sur, and Philippine Red Cross.(JPG/PIA-Caraga)