DAR to ink ARC connectivity agreement with state university
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr. 1 (PIA) --- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here is set to ink a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) in Dumaguete City to roll out a program that will improve production yield among agrarian reform beneficiaries.
The MOA signing for the implementation of the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) will be led by DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Jeffrey Pacturan and NORSU President Dr. Henry Sojor on April 2, 2012 at 1:30 p.m at the university main campus here.
ARCCESS is DAR’s project that aims to transform agrarian reform beneficiaries in a community into viable entrepreneurs by providing them the support services needed to increase their net income and farming capabilities, said Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Stephen Leonidas in a statement.
Under the inter-sectoral partnership, NORSU will deliver the agricultural and agribusiness instruction, research and extension activities to the beneficiaries in the province.
DAR, on the other hand, will provide the shared common facilities such as farm implements and other production and processing equipment and machineries to the organized agri-enterprise groups.
Local DAR Information Officer Aileen Alaban-Villaseca quoted DAR Secretary delos Reyes as saying that through ARCCESS, the agrarian department will teach agricultural technology and business development to farmer organizations nationwide.
This will also help reduce inefficient agri-production.
DAR Information Officer Aileen Alaban said the program is being implemented nationwide in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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DAR, NORSU to ink ARCCESS partnership
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr. 1 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) inks partnership with Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) for the implementation of projects that increase farms productivity and income of the agrarian reform beneficiaries.
The DAR and NORSU will formally sign the memorandum of agreement on Monday to signify the implementation of DAR's Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) program at 1:30 p.m. at NORSU main campus.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Stephen Leonidas of DAR said that ARCCESS aims to transform agrarian reform beneficiaries into viable entrepreneurs by providing support services that will increase their net income and farming capabilities.
Meanwhile, Secretary Virgilio De Los Reyes said that through ARCCESS, DAR will teach agricultural technology and business development to farmer organizations and provide farm equipment and machinery to improve and increase their yield.
Delos Reyes added, this will also help reduce inefficiencies in agri-production.
ARCCESS is implemented in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
To ensure the achievement of the program’s goal, NORSU shared common services to agrarian reform beneficiaries to organize and develop them into viable and sustainable agri-enterprises.
On the other hand, DAR provides farm implements and other machineries to increase farm production. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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NegOr, Cebu teachers participate in e-Learning seminar
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr. 1(PIA) -- School teachers and administrators from Negros Oriental and Cebu participated in the regional eLearning seminar hosted by Silliman University recently.
Spearheaded by the College of Computer Studies (CCS), the regional seminar of the Philippine eLearning Society (PeLS) served as a venue for participants to discuss various topics on tools, trends and methodologies in eLearning.
The training aimed to promote eLearning in carrying out the tri-focal function of instruction, research and extension among academic institutions.
Presentations and discussions took on the theme “Substantive Content, Appropriate Pedagogy and Use of Technology for eLearning”.
CCS Dean Dr. Dave Marcial, who concurrently serves as vice president for PeLS Region 7, headed both the planning team and the delegation from Silliman.
Invited speakers were from the University of the Philippines-Los Banos: Dr. Maria Ana Quimbo, Director of the College of Public Affairs and Administration as resource for “Theoretical Foundations of eLearning”) and Ms. Benevieve Daamo-Villanueva of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs for “Instructional Design Principles: Putting Forward the Pedagogical Perspective of eLearning”).
Dr. Raffy Mananghaya of the College of Economics and Management discussed on “Mahara, Facebook-Like eLearning Facility”. Silliman’s Information Technology Department Chairperson Engr. Ed Omictin III also shared the University’s experience in developing and promoting the use of its online learning platform, in his presentation, “The Silliman Online University Learning (SOUL): Challenges and Opportunities”.
PeLS president Leandre Dacanay, a consultant to the Asian Development Bank, capped the lectures and sessions with his presentation “Connecting Communities through PeLS”.
A professional organization, PeLS continues to develop programs aligned with its thrust: “to lead the development of eLearning competencies through education and trainings and to promote collaboration among eLearning practitioners”.
An election of officers took place before the closing ceremony with the following officers elected for the PeLS Region 7 Chapter: president Engr. Ed Omictin III of Silliman University; vice-president Ralp Laviste, Cebu Institute of Technology University; secretary, Joy Dy of Metro Dumaguete College; treasurer, Dr. Elve Nasvik, Balanced Achievement School of Excellence, Inc.; and Dr. Virgilio Y. Abellana, of University of San Jose Recoletos as auditor. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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Women's summit tackles climate change
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr. 1 (PIA) -- Over a hundred women leaders and advocates gathered for the Women’s Summit at Silliman University recently.
The gathering of women was in observance of International Day for Women and National Women’s Month that focused on the role of women in disaster risk reduction.
Women leaders from the 30 barangays in Dumaguete City and members of the Local Council for Women (LCW) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office attended the whole-day seminar-workshop which centered on the theme: “Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility”.
The Gender Studies Center (GSC) of Silliman University, headed by Coordinator Prof. Phoebe Tan, coordinated the said conference.
Tan said this year’s Women's Summit was intended to “help women adapt to climate change since they are the ones first affected by disasters and calamities, given their nature and traditional roles as homemakers and caretakers of family and children.”
Association of Barangay Captains in Dumaguete City chairman Albert Aquino served as the speaker during the morning session.
Aquino presented an assessment on the city’s disaster response during the Typhoon Sendong and related how the barangays were not prepared for such a natural calamity.
He later discussed the importance of disaster preparedness and the role of women as agents of change, capitalizing on their capabilities in addressing climate change.
Participants also had “role playing” activities. They were grouped into four and were each assigned a calamity under which condition they needed to identify risks and come up with a disaster preparedness plan.
They were later requested to act out scenarios and their works were evaluated by some members of the LCW. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)