(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 19 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds coming from Northeast to North will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).



TOP STORIES – Monday, 18 March 2024

TOP STORIES from online and print media monitoring)

As of 5:00 p.m., Monday, 18 March 2024

1. Marcos condemns Maguindanao del Sur ambush, vows justice for 4 slain soldiers

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5, The Manila Times, Philstar, Rappler]

https://news.tv5.com.ph/breaking/read/despicable-marcos-condemns-killing-of-four-soldiers-in-ambush-in-maguindanao-del-sur

2. Gov't signs landmark deal for NAIA rehab, modernization

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5, Philstar, Rappler, The Manila Times]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/900815/gov-t-signs-landmark-deal-for-naia-rehab-modernization/story

3. DFA: China’s claim of historic rights to South China Sea ‘baseless and misleading’

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5, Philstar, The Manila Times]

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/17/baseless-misleading-dfa-disputes-china-s-claim-of-historic-rights-to-scs

4. Philippines to repatriate 63 OFWs amid violent gang activities in Haiti

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5, Philstar, The Manila Times]

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/17/philippines-to-repatriate-63-of-ws-amid-violent-gang-activities-in-haiti

5. North Korea fires ballistic missiles as Blinken visits Seoul

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Philstar, Rappler, The Manila Times]

https://www.philstar.com/world/2024/03/18/2341446/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-blinken-visits-seoul

6. Foreign debt reaches all-time high in 2023; BSP says external debt still at 'prudent levels'

[BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Manila Standard, Philstar, Manila Bulletin, Malaya, The Manila Times]

https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/03/18/2341265/foreign-debt-reaches-all-time-high-2023

7. House: RBH 7 passed before Holy Week break

[Daily Tribune, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, The Manila Times] https://tribune.net.ph/2024/03/17/house-rbh-7-passed-before-holy-week-break

8. House resolution filed on probe into Chocolate Hills resort

[DZBB, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Standard, Philstar] https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1919994/fwd-reso-seeking-probe-into-resorts-construction-within-chocolate-hills-filed-at-house

9. Senate panel insists on issuance of arrest order vs Quiboloy

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1919972/senate-panel-insists-on-issuance-of-arrest-order-vs-quiboloy

10. Diesel prices to go down Tuesday; gasoline to go up

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5, Philstar, The Manila Times]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/900816/diesel-prices-to-go-down-tuesday-gasoline-to-go-up/story

11. LRT 1, LRT 2 to suspend operations for Holy Week

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, News5, Rappler, The Manila Times]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1919935/lrt-1-announces-suspension-of-operations-during-holy-week

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit

Monday, 18 March 2024

Insurgency finally ends in Surigao Norte

By Renelle Escuadro

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. has declared the province of Surigao del Norte insurgency-free.

Teodoro was the keynote speaker in the ceremony where the formal declaration was made. Other high-profile personalities who attended the ceremony were Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C.  Abalos Jr., National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Director Ernesto C. Torres Jr., and General Romeo B. Brawner Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“I am very proud of this historic declaration. This will not happen if not for you Surigaonons, who said that you don’t want it anymore and that you sincerely want insurgency to end in the province,” Teodoro said.

The last batch of surrenderees, composed of thirty-seven friends rescued (FRs), were presented on the declaration and pronouncement of Surigao del Norte as an insurgency-free province. Fourteen are for awarding, 15 of them are in process and eight are newly surrendered. Photo courtesy of 4DPAO.

The defense secretary shared the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to create a multi-threat arm force that will be capable of addressing both internal and external threats.  

“Today, our main focus is to re-orient, re-train, re-equip, and re-strategize how the department and  the armed forces manage and do things. We are expecting the DILG, with direct contact on governance, to allow the armed forces greater latitude to do its principal mission of defending our territorial integrity and sovereignty rights of the State,”  Teodoro added.

DILG Sec. Abalos highlighted the activity by welcoming the 37 FRs who chose peace and returned to the government, stating, “Every week rebels surrender to the government because of the strong collaboration of the local government units and other government agencies."

He emphasized that collaboration should not end during the surrender of the rebels, reiterating that "we are mandated to help and take care of them and to ensure they will have livelihood, their children can go to school, and be equipped with the right skills to live a productive life."

The friends rescued, who also composed the last batch of surrenderees in the province of Surigao del Norte, received different financial assistance from the government that will help them reintegrate smoothly into mainstream society.

Each of them received a check for P65,000 from the DILG under its Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) as immediate financial and livelihood assistance. Each also received hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and vitamins from the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga, P10,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and another P5,000 from Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert S. Lyndon Barbers.

In his message, Torres of the NTF-ELCAC said, "We finally found the formula for solving insurgency by looking into the root causes. It takes a long time, and we thought that this day of reckoning would remain a dream, but we are able to do the impossible. And with the help of everyone, we have weakened the guerrilla fronts in the whole of Mindanao. Thus, we express our heartfelt congratulations to Surigao del Norte province, as it is a testament to good governance."

Torres also reiterated to the key lead agencies of NTF-ELCAC to stay vigilant and sustain the whole-of-nation approach to prevent the return of terrorism in the province.

He announced the construction of a one-stop shop peace center in the province, with the approved conversion of the halfway houses, to better assist the FRs in their reintegration journey.

Elisa D. Evangelista-Lapana, head of Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Local Conflict Transformation-Field Implementation Support Unit (OPAPRU-LCT-FISU) in Mindanao, commended  the leaders of Surigao del Norte for practicing good governance.

“Kining Surigao del Norte ganhan mi mo-partner diri nga probinsya kay ang amo peace efforts and resources dili masayang,” Lapana said in her message of commitment.

[We like to partner with Surigao del Norte because our peace efforts and resources will not be put to waste.]

The dignitaries, during the declaration and pronouncement of Surigao del Norte as insurgency-free province on March 15, 2024 in Surigao City, showed their signed Pledge of Commitment for Peace. They pledged to "commit to work in ensuring a just society where every individual has equal opportunities and protection under the law and to relentlessly carry out counter-insurgency initiatives in pursuit of permanent peace and sustainable development.” (Photo of PIA-SDN)

In his message of acceptance, Gov. Barbers said that the official declaration and formal pronouncement of Surigao del Norte as an insurgency-free province is a giant milestone.

“The place we call home finally now has stable internal peace and security. We embraced dialogue over discord, understanding over ignorance, and cooperation over conflict; in doing so, we transformed the province into a beacon of hope and inspiration for the entire country,” he said.

The governor cited the barangay health workers who were afraid to go to remote and far-flung barangays in the province, as they were approached by communist terrorists in the areas.

“We invited them today so they may know that they can now safely deliver the healthcare services of the government to these barangays,” he assured.

The declaration and pronouncement of Surigao del Norte as insurgency-free province was based on the issuance of Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) Resolution No. 11-2023, entitled “Affirming the Declaration of Weakened Northland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee as Dismantled.”

Its Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Development Council (PDC) further issued Joint PPOC-PDC Resolution No. 01, series of 2024 which declared the province in a state of stable internal peace and security. (RLE/PIA-Caraga)

Monday, 18 March 2024

Butuan City’s HIV treatment hub delivers medicines to your doorstep

By Renelle Escuadro

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The Butuan Medical Center (BMC) - Palliative and Wellness Care Center, a treatment hub for PLHIV is globally and officially translated as people living with HIV, continues to implement its ARVider program to ensure that their patients get unhampered access to treatment.

ARVider is a door-to-door delivery of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV, and other treatment requests necessary for the medication of the PLHIV to their residence or preferred pick-up location.

It addresses the concerns of PLHIVs who are unable to visit the facility during office hours to claim their free medicines.

In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Oscar Clint K. Villanueva, nurse of the HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Core Team, or HACT, shared that the ARVider started as an initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was lockdown and travel restrictions impeded the continuous treatment of PLHIVs.

Oscar Clint K. Villanueva, nurse of the HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Core Team, narrated how the home delivery service of the Butuan Medical Center (BMC) - Palliative and Wellness Care Center has helped HIV patients in the city and nearby towns receive their timely medication and other treatments despite their hectic schedules, distance and other challenges. (Photo of PIA-Caraga)

“Sa panahon sa pandemic, lisod kaayo sa mga PLHIV kay makopromiso ang confidentiality kay sa checkpoint pangutan-on sila sa mga pulis ug pangayuan pa gani ug medical record,” Villanueva said.

[During the pandemic, it was very difficult for the PLHIV as their privacy got compromised because at the checkpoint, police officers would ask probing questions and sometimes would require them to present medical documents.]

“With HIV/AIDS remains a sensitive concern, and there is still social stigma. Most of them opted to stop the treatment because they were afraid that their identity would be revealed and this would worsen their health condition; thus, we came up with this solution,” the nurse added.

Since the program received positive feedback from the patients and their families, the treatment hub decided to continue the practice after the pandemic to better deliver this healthcare service to this vulnerable group in society.

The ARVIder is a program of the Butuan Medical Center - Palliative and Wellness Care Center designed to deliver HIV medication to patients. This program ensures the treatment of patients is unhampered, as this is significant to their health recovery. Photo courtesy of BMC- Palliative and Wellness Care Center.
Villanueva said the driver of the ARVider is an employee of the treatment hub, so the personnel is accountable for any violations and takes ownership and responsibility for the patient's profile and privacy  as the rider is bound by a contract of confidentiality.  

He also disclosed that for PLHIV to avail of this delivery service, they need to message the official Facebook page of the treatment hub or call their hotline number.

“Lately, we are receiving an average of 10 requests per week, and we are happy that utilization of ARVider has improved,” Villanueva said.

“Unhampered treatment plays a significant role in the recovery of the PLHIV, as well as an effective method of prolonging their life. We provide free  medicines and walk-in and online consultations. The facility is trying its best to have a stable supply of ARV from DOH and LGU funding, so there is no more reason why PLHIV should delay or stop their treatment,” he underscored.

The Butuan Medical Center (BMC) - Palliative and Wellness Care Center, the pioneer HIV treatment hub in Caraga Region, has expanded its services for the PLHIV. It is now a confirmatory testing center, and its hospital has a dedicated room for inpatient PLHIV, equipped with five beds and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

The treatment hub perseveres to bring its services closer to the patients, as its next project on home service testing will be implemented soon. (RLE/PIA-Caraga)

Monday, 18 March 2024

Agusan Norte establishes village for former rebels

By Nora Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The provincial government of Agusan del Norte has established a village and initially awarded housing units to 17 former rebels (FRs) and their families.

The New Hope Village is a community created by the provincial government and other stakeholders for the FRs as part of their reintegration into mainstream society.

“The New Hope village is proof that the government is sincere in ending insurgency in the province. We are committed to eradicate the CTGs because we value the lives of not only the Agusanons but all Filipinos,” said Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante.

The New Hope Village in Cabadbaran City has 17 fully furnished housing units for the former rebels and their families. Another 34 units will be built and awarded to another batch of FRs in Agusan del Norte. Photo: PIA-Agusan del Norte.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga interviewed Jay-r, a former member of the New People’s Army for four years who surrendered to the 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB), Philippine Army in August 2018, and is one of the recipients of a housing unit of the village as his new home, together with his family.

He was also chosen to join and be part of the government force, saying, “I am forever grateful to the government, to Gov. Angel Amante, to Mayor Judy Amante, and to Lt. Col. Gargar for giving me and my family the chance to live in this village. They never abandoned us and provided us with means to meet our daily needs, especially my work in the government forces.”

Tisa, a former NPA for 15 years, is now happy with her family, as she currently operates her own sari-sari store in the village. She is determined to protect her family, especially her children, by always choosing the path of peace and not violence

“I see to it that my children will be given the right education and will not be deceived by the NPAs, just like what happened to us,” she said.

Jay-r and Tisa, together with the other families living in the village, also received other interventions from the government, like livelihood training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), and other agencies.

Aside from the housing units in the New Hope Village, the former rebels in Agusan del Norte were able to establish livelihood projects with the help of the government. Some are into animal, poultry and vegetable farming. Photo:PIA-Agusan del Norte.

“We always see to it that they have a livelihood to address their needs; they send their children to school and perform their daily tasks,” said 29IB Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Cresencio C. Gargar, during his interview with the Philippine Information Agency inAgusan del Norte. 

Gargar relayed that the provincial government of Agusan del Norte and the city government of Cabadbaran provided rice allowances to the FRs living in the village and at the headquarters of the 29IB.

“In addition to the support provided to them, we also motivate them to be productive, such as through the monthly conduct  of the Best Improved Garden contest, which is participated in by all of the FRs, and the winner will receive a sack of rice,” Gargar added.

Aside from gardening, the Provincial Agriculture Office also helped them put up a livelihood project on piggery and egg layering.

With the guidance of government troops, the FRs now have a registered cooperative, and they are now earning.

Gargar further announced that the New Hope Village also received support from other partners, such as Cabadbaran City led by Mayor Judy Chin Amante, to build the perimeter fence of the village.

“With the support of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), another 34 units will be constructed in the village this year, in addition to the 17 existing housing units built with the help of the National Housing Authority,” Gargar shared.  (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Monday, 18 March 2024

Children in conflict areas in Agusan Norte get psychological first aid

By Nora Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – A total of 332 schoolchildren affected by conflict situations in the town of Tubay, Agusan del Norte received psychological first aid (PFA) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga

These learners were affected by the recent armed encounter between the government forces and the communist terrorist groups (CTG) in the neighboring area of Tubay town.

DSWD deployed a total of 17 social workers, assisted by 13 interns led by DSWD Caraga’s retained community-based services head Michael Andohuyan, to provide PFA to the students, together with the teachers of Doña Telesfora Elementary School (DOTES). 

DSWD’s PFA team observed the cooperation and resilience of the children by sharing their emotions and experiences.  

With the intervention given to them, the PFA team revealed no significant signs of extreme stress among them that made them ready to resume their attendance at school and join their classes.

The psychological first aid team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga conducted an intervention with the learners of Doña Telesfora Elementary School in Tubay, Agusan del Norte. These children were affected by the recent armed conflict in the area. Photo courtesy of DSWD-13.

Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairperson of Doña Telesfora and a social work student, Guyle Ochia, expressed his appreciation for the intervention given to the children, saying, “Validating the mental needs of vulnerable children in times of crisis is very important.”

DOTES School Head Liezel Santos expressed her gratitude to DSWD for the timely response to their request, saying, “DSWD is ready to respond to our requests during problems and crises that require their intervention.”

The PFA intervention is designed to alleviate stress symptoms and support the positive recovery of children and individuals after stressful and traumatic incidents and experiences. It emphasizes its relevance in situations like human-induced crises, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and even personal crises. 

The armed encounter between the government forces and the CTG was a result of the government’s efforts to stop and eradicate insurgencies in the area. (NCLM/ PIA-Agusan del Norte, with a report from DSWD Caraga)