(March 1, 2012) - Civil Service Commission Chairman Francisco T. Duque III visited Butuan City today to formally inaugurate the "Botika Para sa Taumbayan" (BPT) outlet of the City Government.

As a joint project, the   Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Health (DOH) forged a Memorandum of Agreement creating the BPT Program. Under this program, the DOH shall grant the CSC an initial P15 Million worth of medicines to initiate the establishment of drug retail stores in 300 government agencies nationwide. These outlets will sell low priced but high quality medicines. 

The establishment of BPT outlets in every government agency is in line with the CSC’s commitment to promote health and wellness in the public sector and provide additional health benefits for the state workers. This is anchored on the perspective that a healthy and sound bureaucracy is an effective and productive bureaucracy.

        City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr., a medical practitioner himself, accepted the medical products worth P50,000.00 in behalf of the City Government of Butuan. The BPT will be operated by the Butuan City Government Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. (BCGEA) under its Chairman Mr. Samuel P. Carampatana who manifested their commitment to the program.

          Chairman Duque, accompanied by Mayor Amante, then proceeded inside the City Hall to check on the different departments. Mayor Amante was very happy to hear praises from the Chairman especially on the City Hall’s No Noon Break policy, compliance to the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) and the much improved 4-step process of the Business Permit and Licensing System. (HRMD/CMO-PIO)

      (February 20, 2012) – Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. recently took his oath as the new Chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) of Caraga Region. The oath-taking ceremony was held last Friday, February 17, 2012, at Almont Inland Resort, Butuan City. The oath was personally administered by Sec. Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Chairman of the National Peace and Order Council (NPOC). Present during the oath-taking were other Local Chief Executives of Caraga Region, as well as regional directors of the different line agencies and officers from the PNP and the AFP.

In his acceptance speech, Mayor Amante admitted that he was initially hesitant to accept the post considering the challenges that comes with the position. He only accepted after being assured of the full support from the National Government through DILG Sec. Robredo. He also related peace and progress to the common chicken-and-egg problem. Mayor Amante said that while it is true that there can never be progress without peace, it is also hard to achieve peace if the people remain in poverty. To solve this dilemma, Mayor Amante said that the whole community must exert parallel efforts towards peace and community development. Mayor Amante also emphasized the importance of unity and called on the stakeholders to converge in the peace efforts of the region.

The RPOC meeting immediately started after the oath-taking ceremony with the newly-inducted RPOC Chairman calling the session to order. Strategies, plans, and presentations were then discussed to achieve and maintain peace in the region. 

        Sec. Robredo discussed in his keynote address that one of the root causes of divergence in the region is the conflict of interests between the government and the private sector. According to Sec. Robredo, strengthening the government, showing sincerity, and offering what is lacking can provide solutions to this issue. He further added that more than the much needed unity of all concerned, it is essential to: 1) have a council that will dig deeper into the peace problem and serve as a medium for insurgents to rejoin the community, 2) sustain unity in governance, and 3) strengthen the forces of the PNP and the AFP. – Maria Luisa Dianah Z. Generalao/CMO-PIO

        (February 13, 2012) – Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. received the award for Butuan City as one of the Top 50 Outstanding Municipalities/Cities of the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards for 2011 dubbed as "Mga Bosing ng Palayan". The awarding ceremony was held last Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala as guest of honor.

       Joining Mayor Amante at the awarding ceremony were DA-13 Regional Executive Director Edna Mabeza, City Agriculturist Alberto Buca, and Ms. Gertrudes Fortun of the City Agriculturist's Office who also received an award as one of the Outstanding Agricultural Extension Workers. The City Government received Php1 Million while Ms. Fortun received Php20,000. 

        According to Mayor Amante, the cash award will be spent on the city’s Organic Farming Program to further enhance rice production. It was learned that Butuan City’s rice production rose drastically from 2.6 metric tons in 2010 to 5.1 metric tons in 2011. 

        Other awardees from the Caraga Region are the Municipality of Trento and the Provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. - CMO-PIO

           (February 9, 2012) – Butuan City’s Task Force Likas had its first organizational meeting today at the City Mayor’s Office Conference Room. The group was organized by City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. by virtue of Executive Order No. 53, which was signed on January 13, 2012, to relocate all settlers along the floodway zone of the Agusan River. This was done to prevent the risk of lives, similar to what happened in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan at the height of Tropical Storm Sendong. Task Force Likas is a composite team composed of representatives from Butuan LGU, PNP, CDRRMC, DPWH, CARBDP, NHA, ANECO, BCWD, PCUP, and concerned barangays. 

          In his message, Mayor Amante emphasized the urgency of the relocation given the unpredictability of weather patterns. “For us, there’s no tomorrow. Disaster may strike anytime,” Amante said. “It may take years to complete the relocation but what is important is that we start doing what we can today”, he continued.

Mayor Amante also acknowledged the initiative of the late  Mayor Democrito Plaza II who started the relocation of informal settlers under the Magsaysay Bridge in 2003 through the Balangayan Butuan Project. The project brought down the number of families for relocation from 6,000 to 4,800 as of January 2012. Mayor Amante also added that the City Government needs a total of Php575 Million to complete the relocation, of which Php141 Million was already spent since 2003. Given the financial challenge, Mayor Amante is hopeful that the national government will intervene and provide funds for the project. He committed that he will discuss the matter during his upcoming meeting with DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo and DBM Sec. Butch Abad. 

During the open forum, several issues were raised by the participants, particularly from the barangay captains of the affected areas. Some Punong Barangays expressed their concern over the possibility of the relocation of entire barangays especially along the west bank of the Agusan River.  

A workshop was done in the afternoon by the different sub-committees of Task Force Likas to allow them to come up with their initial action plan according to their specific tasks. These plans were then presented to the body to solicit further inputs from other members.  

Task Force Likas intends to start the intensive information campaign among the settlers on February 20, 2012. Dismantling of settlements will start by March this year with priority on houses that are currently encroaching on the waters of Agusan River. – CMO-PIO 

(February 8, 2012) - After complying with the voluminous requirements for registration, the Butuan City Government Employees Association (BCGEA), headed by Mr. Samuel P. Carampatana, finally received its Certificate of Registration, with No. 1835 dated January 17, 2012, from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 180, dated June 1, 1987, and the Implementing Rules and Regulations Governing the Exercise of the Right of Government Employees to Self-Organization, the BCGEA is now officially recognized as the sole representative of the city employees to negotiate for them with regards to the collective negotiation agreement (CNA), and to undertake activities not contrary to the law or public policy for the furtherance of the interest of all members.

DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and CSC Chair Dr. Francisco T. Duque III affixed their signatures to the certificate, affirming the BCGEA's registration with these governing agencies.

This accomplishment was the result of the concerted efforts of the BCGEA officers and office representatives  and   the Human Resource Management Division   with the support of City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. - (R.A. Cortez/HRMD)

(February 6, 2012) – 1,900 armchairs were turned over last Friday, February 3, to Butuan Central Elementary School, as part of the PNoy Bayanihan Project. The turnover ceremony was attended by DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro, TESDA Sec. Joel Villanueva, PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr., and DENR Asst. Sec. Michelle Angelica  Go, a native of Butuan and daughter of Atty. Dolfuss Rosales Go, representing Sec. Ramon Paje. Also present to witness the turnover were Butuan City Representative Cong. Jose "Joboy" Aquino II, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., Agusan del Norte Governor Erlpe John Amante, , Cong. Angelica  Rosedel Amante-Matba (2^nd district, Agusan del Norte), and Cong. Maria Valentina G. Plaza (1^st District, Agusan del Sur).

The PNoy Bayanihan Project, which was started last year, aims to convert confiscated logs into school chairs and desks to help address shortage of school furniture in public schools nationwide. It is a collaborative project between DENR, DepED, TESDA, and PAGCOR.

A total of 6,096 units were intended for beneficiary schools in Butuan City which include Agusan National High School (2,000 units), Butuan City School of Arts and Trade (800 units), La Trinidad Elementary School (450 units), San Vicente Elementary School (350 units), Villa Kanangga Elementary school (260 units), Libertad Central Elementary School (186 units), Ong Yiu Elementary School (100 units), and Kinamlutan Elementary School (50 units). – CMO-PIO