Thursday, January 17, 2019

Ex-NPA member now an active IP youth advocate in Caraga region

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 17 (PIA) - In time with the conduct of the Regional Youth Leadership Summit held here, Roel “Datu Igtudan” Gano of the Manobo tribe based in Agusan del Sur shared how his life has changed when he surrendered to the government and experienced life in the mainstream society.

Datu Igdutan is one of the 13 members of the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Youth Organization (MIPYO) who has been going around places to intensify their advocacy with other youths against the terrorist New People's Army (NPA) group.

Now that he enjoys living a life with his family free from causing harm to other people, Datu Igtudan said he is happy that he was able to see his tribesmen during meetings and other big events in the regional and national levels.

“Ang tinud-anay sa dihang ania nako sa gobyerno, nindot na akong kahimtang. kay ngano, makuyog nako ankong katribu, ma-invite nako kung naa mi meeting para makabalo pod sila. So dakong kalahian adtong tua ko sa bukid sauna ug karon nga naa ko sa MIPYO (The truth is, right after I surrendered to the government, I experienced good life and I was able to bring my tribesmen with me during meetings so they will also learn new things as well. Life in the mountain is very different compared with my life now with the MIPYO),” explained Datu Igtudan.

Datu Igtudan further stressed that the NPAs have long been abusive with the indigenous peoples.

The NPAs use them in their extortion activities, killing of innocent people and even in the conduct of senseless rallies on the streets, he said.

He added that he could not forget how he and his relatives suffered the ruthless acts of the NPAs and hoped that it will serve as a lesson to all the youths.

“Ang tan-aw nako nga matabang namo sa among grupo nga among agnihon ang ubang tribu kadto nakasulod ug wala pa kasulod sa NPA nga magbalik-loob sa gobyerno ug magminatarong ang uban nga wala pa kasulod sa NPA, ug manginabuhi  og tarong (I think our organization could help by convincing other youths especially those who already joined the NPA to surrender to the government. While those who were not yet exposed to the ruthless acts of the NPAs, they should choose to live rightfully and peacefully),” said Datu Igtudan.

He also underlined that the implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao helps in securing the safety and protection of the people as security measures have been intensified thru the Philippine Army. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

DOST, DepEd to install STARBOOKS in Butuan schools

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 17 -- Fifteen districts of Butuan City Division allied with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga will be the beneficiaries of the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosks (STARBOOKS) that provide access to Science and Technology information and digital learning materials to students and teachers, principals, school IT personnel and teacher librarians.

During the STARBOOKS orientation held here recently attended by 130 participants from 40 schools of Butuan City Division, Division Librarian II Imie Concepcion Valdez  described the roles of school principals, IT personnel and teacher librarians in the implementation of the program.

“We invited specific people for we know they will directly affect the implementation," Valdez said.

"The principals will give the ‘go’ signal, while the school IT personnel will handle the technical work and teacher librarians will market the technology and monitor utilization of the materials,” she added.

The installation of STARBOOKS software will be scheduled after consultation with qualified schools in Butuan City. Additional training on the maintenance of the system will also be provided to school IT personnel and librarians.

Dr. Bebelyn Corvera, Curriculum Implementation Division Chief, expressed her support in expanding the scope of the program in Butuan City.

“STARBOOKS is suitable for the curious children today. It is only a matter of how we will start but if we take a step, there will be a positive effect on the student’s learning environment,” Dr. Corvera said.

Local government units, non-government organizations and educational institutions can avail of STARBOOKS. It is a technology developed by Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) - a “library in a box” that contains thousands of digitized S&T resources in various formats, text, and video/audio.

Aside from providing information, it aims to create interest among youngsters to enroll in S&T courses and encourage entrepreneurship and research.

To avail of the system, the organization needs to make a formal request to the nearest Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) or DOST Regional office.  (DOST Caraga/PIA Caraga)

Tagalog News: PNP, COMELEC nagsanib pwersa sa pagpatupad ng checkpoint sa SurSur

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Enero 17 (PIA) – Nagsanib pwersa ang Philippine National Police (PNP) at Commission on Elections (COMELEC) sa pagpapatupad ng checkpoints sa probinsya.

Ayon kay Police Senior Inspector Joemel Maquiling, hepe ng Tago Municipal Police Station, naging epektibo ang itinatag na checkpoint na makikita malapit sa Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU), kung saan hanggang sa pangatlong araw ng pagpapatupad ay wala pa itong naitala na may lumalabag dito.

Naniniwala naman si Atty.  Riza Ann Donalyn Constantino, Provincial Election Supervisor, na malaki  ang naitutulong ng pagpapatupad ng COMELEC checkpoint para mapanatili ang kapayapaan at malaki ang naitutulong nito sa pagsugpo ng iba’t ibang krimen sa probinsya.

Sinuportahan naman ito ng Police Provincial Office, na pinamumunuan ni PSSupt. Francisco Dungo Jr., na hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang naitalang nahulihan o anumang paglabag sa lahat ng pinatutupad na COMELEC checkpoint sa buong probinsya.

Dagdag pa ni Atty. Constantino na base sa guidelines ng pagtatayo ng COMELEC checkpoint, ang bawat bayan o lungsod ay kinakailangan na magtatag ng atleast isang checkpoint. (PIA Surigao del Sur)

PAGASA debunks claim of Dr. Lagmay

DOST-PAGASA
Press Release
16 January 2019

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) has debunked the claim of Dr. Mahar Lagmay, UP NOAH Executive Director, that the agency allegedly issued "wrong forecasts and late warnings" during the passage of Tropical Depression Usman.

Dr. Lagmay alleged in his Facebook Account post the wrong forecasts on TD Usman has caused a number of deaths due to landslides and floods particularly in the Bicol Region. He said that PAGASA issued a moderate to heavy rainfall forecast in Bicol on December 28 and 29 2018 instead of intense and torrential rainfall.

On this, PAGASA Administrator Vicente Malano countered such claim and clarified that the agency defines moderate to heavy rainfall in its Severe Weather Bulletins (SWBs) as 24-hour daily accumulated rainfall of 60 to 180 mm and more than 180, respectively. In this premise, the December 28 to 29 PAGASA forecasters had sufficiently warned that the 24-hour accumulated rainfall of moderate to heavy would trigger massive flooding and landslides.

Moreover, Dr. Malano emphasized that PAGASA provides localized rainfall and thunderstorm warning in near-real time through its PAGASA Regional Services Division (PRSD). In the case of TD "USMAN," the Southern Luzon PRSD based in Legazpi City issued a separate color-coded Heavy Rainfall Warnings as supplemental to the HRWs stressed that there was an immediate threat of floods and landslides indicative of emergency actions.

He also explained that although PAGASA downgraded TD Usman into a Low Pressure Area (LPA) upon landfall, PAGASA Central Office and the SLPRSD reiterated their warnings of flooding and landslides as moderate to heavy rainfall would still persist.

Dr. Malano appealed to some concerned sectors to be more careful in the issuance of sweeping statements that may damage the credibility of PAGASA as a warning agency.

"The men and women of PAGASA remain fully committed to their mission of providing reliable and accurate weather-related information," he said.

For more information and clarification, please contact:

Dr. VICENTE B. MALANO
Administrator
(02) 929-4865

Public Information Unit
(02) 434-2696, (02) 9279308

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF DOST-PAGASA ON THE HEAVY RAINFALL EVENT ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL DEPRESSION USMAN

16 January 2019

This is to clarify claims of “wrong forecasts and late warnings” on the heavy rainfall event associated with Tropical Depression (TD) Usman as alleged by the following:

1. Dr. Mahar Lagmay on his Facebook account dated 04 January 2019 entitled, “Simpleng analysis kung bakit maraming namatay sa Bicol dahilsa #UsmanPH”, further quoted by different media sources, as follows:

"Ang forecast noong December 28-29, 2018 ay moderate (light blue) to heavy (dark blue) rainfall sa Bicol (Rappler 2018). Ang totoong nangyari ay intense (yellow) to torrential (red) ang pinakamalalakas na ulan. Malaki ang diperensiya nito, lalung-lalo na dahilang sukat ng moderate (2.5-7.5 mm/hr), heavy (7.5-15 mm/hour), intense (15-30 mm/hour) at torrential (>30 mm/hour) ay kada oras. Tumagal ng ilang mga oras ang intense at torrential rainfall sa Bicol.”

In response, although his above-stated definition is correct in terms of PAGASA’s hourly rainfall intensity classification as per PAGASA Memorandum dated 20 June 2012, PAGASA defines moderate and heavy rainfall in its Severe Weather Bulletins (SWBs) as 24-hour (daily) accumulated rainfall of 60 to 180 mm and more than 180 mm, respectively. The forecasts for 28 – 29 December 2018 indicated the “forecast 24-hour accumulated rainfall” of moderate to heavy, which would trigger flooding, and landslides. Verification of the observed 24-hour accumulated rainfall values for Bicol area showed that the amount falls within the moderate to heavy categories, as forecasted.

2. For the segment “Weather Forecast” of the TV show “Failon Ngayon” aired on 12 January 2019, as follows:

“Nang aming balikan ang mga forecast ng PAGASA, tanging Quezon at Visayas lamang ang binigyan ng Heavy Rainfall Warning nung gabi bago tumama ang bagyong Usman at Southern Quezon lamang ang may Yellow Heavy Rainfall Warning kinabukasan. Ang tanging Heavy Rainfall Warning at General Flood Advisory naapektado ang Bicol Area ay inilabas alas sais na ng gabi.” – Ted Failon

In response, supplemental to the issuance of SWBs, the Southern Luzon PAGASA Regional Services Division (SLPRSD) at Legazpi City, Albay also issued separate color-coded Heavy Rainfall Warnings (HRWs) that covered hourly and 3-hourly rainfall forecast over Bicol Area. The first Heavy Rainfall Warning issued for TD Usman by SLPRSD was a Yellow Warning for Sorsogon at 2PM on 28 December 2018. Albay, where disastrous landslides occurred, was placed under Yellow Warning at 7PM on 28 December 2018. This was further elevated into an Orange Warning at 8PM and later a Red Warning at 11PM of the same day. These warnings, especially those of higher levels, are indicative of the need for “emergency” actions.

"Yun ang problema eh, from Number 1 downgrade naman sila to Tropical Depression and Low Pressure… Yun ang nakalito sa mga tao. [sic]” – Mariano San Felipe Jr., Municipal Administrator, Sagňay, Camarines Sur

Based on available meteorological data at that time, TD Usman has weakened into a Low Pressure Area at landfall, which led to the lifting of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #1. However, this does not imply that weather will rapidly improve and the threat of flooding and landslides are immediately reduced. In the Final SWB issued at 8AM on 29 December 2018, PAGASA stated that moderate to heavy rains will continue over Bicol Region in the next 24 hours. This was reiterated in the Weather Advisory for LPA and Tail-end of Cold Front issued at 11AM of the same day.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal System, which has been in effect since 1930s, is based solely on expected winds and its impacts over a locality, and has no relation with the accompanying rainfall of such tropical cyclone (TC). However, PAGASA has always emphasized the threat of heavy rains and other hydrometeorological hazards and its impacts associated with each TC in it's HRWs and SWB.

PAGASA had ensured that warnings and pertinent information were disseminated to disaster managers at the national and local levels.

In addition to the regular issuances of SWBs and HRWs, among other warnings and information, during the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) at the national and local level, PAGASA warned the DRRMOs/NDRRMC of prolonged heavy rainfall over areas to be affected by TD Usman, which could trigger flooding and landslides. It was also emphasized that rainfall over the past week made the soil very saturated, and even light to moderate rains could still trigger landslides in mountainous areas. Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB)had provided a list of areas with very high-high risk of floods and landslides during the PDRA.

The hardworking men and women of PAGASA remains committed to their mission of delivering reliable and relevant weather-related information, products and services to develop communities resilient to, among others, hydro-meteorological hazards during extreme weather events.

VICENTE B. MALANO, Ph.D.

Administrator