(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 04 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "JULIAN" {KRATHON} was estimated based on all available data at 240 km North Northwest of Itbayat, Batanes (22.6°N, 120.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It is almost stationary. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: 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 ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Southwest to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


PIA News Service - Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009

PDEA to hold 1st Caraga Drug Prevention and Awareness 

BUTUAN CITY – To strengthen collaboration among various agencies and sectors in the fight against illegal drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will hold the 1st Caraga Drug Prevention and Awareness Week on November 9 to 13, 2009. 

The launching of the weeklong celebration will be on November 9 at Barangay Santiago, Butuan City following a mass at St. Joseph Cathedral and a motorcade around the city.

The celebration will be graced by Gen Dionisio Santiago, Director General of PDEA. In honor of the General a dinner will be hosted by Congressman Jose Aquino III at Almont Inland Resort.  

It is expected that during the dinner, the Director General will personally thank the different sectors for their support and assistance in the anti-drug programs of PDEA. 

It was also learned that the PDEA Director General will confer and discuss the current thrusts and concerns of the agency during dinner.  

Several activities will also be conducted to underscore the weeklong celebration. There will be a dental and medical mission, blood letting, mass feeding and gift giving on November 9.

There will also be a chess tournament, poster making contest, fun run and cheer dance competition. PDEA will also be destroying and burning confiscated drug and non-drug evidence of resolved cases at D.O. Plaza government center in Patin-ay, Agusan del Sur. (Lovely Laudette Gamba, PIA-Caraga)
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Stronger inspection of removal, handling and disposal of asbestos needed says ALU-TUCP
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MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) must inspect removal, handling and disposal of asbestos to ensure the health and safety of workers, their families and the public, said the Associated Labor Unions (ALU), Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) in a forum held recently.
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The two government departments must also work with local government units for demolition of buildings with and disposal or clean up of asbestos in their areas. This will push companies, including waste management service providers, to comply with asbestos rules and regulations.
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This came to light after Globecare Services, a waste management service provider, showed proper handling, removal and disposal of asbestos and the personal protective equipments (PPEs) and equipments needed in such tasks. The meticulous process follows the most basic or minimum safety requirements set by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR.
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The inspection results on asbestos removal at the Manila Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) presented by the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) of the DOLE and EMB raised more questions than answers. Conscientious efforts to look at the alleged violations documented by TUCP/ALU/BWI as sent to said agencies and posted at http://tinyurl.com/tucp-mtpp were not enough. There was no coordination between BWC and EMB considering that they have separate but not unrelated functions.
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The EMB report on the dumping of asbestos by Lepanto Mining Corporation also lacked information on why the asbestos wastes ended up in Mankayan, Benguet and what could have prevented such incident.
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The BWC inspection of some 25 companies engaged with asbestos need to be expanded since EMB lists 82 companies in its registry. EMB should work to include other companies in the list particularly those using boilers and geothermal and power plants. There is a high possibility that asbestos materials are used as insulator in these companies because of its heat-resistant property.
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Architects and constructors using alternative materials
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The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) confirmed that its members have stopped using asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in designing buildings and structures because of hazards to human health.
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The Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) also stopped using ACMs in all its projects in early 1990s in its message sent to the forum. Imported materials are tested and pre-screened to check contents and conformity with product standards. Asbestos is present only in brake shoes or pads and clutch linings of construction heavy equipment because of its abrasive quality required for stopping the machines.
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PCA is concerned with asbestos used in roofing materials in 30-40 year-old housing projects, water pipes laid up to early 1980s in subdivisions, insulation in old centralized air-conditioning systems and training and the health and safety of workers in handling and disposal of asbestos.
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Another concern is the listing of structures with asbestos-containing materials. This is worth considering since PCA and UAP members might have built or designed these structures themselves. (dtuvera, TUCP/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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Final firearms amnesty program extended 

Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the extension of the Final General Amnesty Program for another 30 days from November 1-30, 2009. 

PGMA signed the extension of the said Final Firearms Amnesty under Executive Order no. 817-A on October 30, 2009. PDG Jesus Ame Verzosa, Chief, PNP directed all the Regional Directors to direct the Provincial Directors down to the lower units to conduct massive information campaign regarding the Firearms Amnesty Program and to continue processing the applications from interested applicants.

All applications submitted after November 30, 2009 will no longer be entertained. PRO 13 Regional Director PCSUPT Lino De Guzman Calingasan urged the populace and gun owners to avail of the said program to legalize their ownership. (PCI Nelly Tabornal Villagarcia, PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)
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POLICE REPORTS
By PO2 Darlin Cabalinan-Migullas; PO3 Arturo Suganob Campania

PNP arrests wanted persons 

On November 4, 2009 at around 1:30 in the afternoon, personnel from Surigao City Police Station led by PO3 Carlito Dela Rama arrested a certain William Dahug Pacatan, 55 years old, married and a resident of Brgy Silop, Surigao City. Said suspect was arrested at the above-mentioned by virtue of Warrant of Arrest (WOA) issued by Hon. Judge Evangeline Yuipco Bayana, RTC 10th Judicial Region, Branch 29, Surigao City charged for the crime of Arson docketed under criminal case number 3865 with recommended bail bond of twelve thousand pesos (P12,000.00). 

On the other hand, at about 5:30 in the afternoon of same date, elements of Claver Municipal Police Station and Surigao City Police Station arrested one Pedro Sulapas Salarda, 67 years old, married and a resident of Barangay Tayaga, Claver, Surigao del Norte. Suspect was arrested by virtue of WOA issued by Hon. Judge Evangeline Yuipco Bayana, charged for the crime of Rape docketed under criminal case number 7620 with no recommended bail bond. Arrested persons are now detained at Surigao City Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)

Surrender of Communist Terorist (CT) member 


One Lindon Mangumihay Ebrado alias “Ka Ivan”, 18 years old, single and a resident of Sitio Salaysayon, Barangay Jaguimitan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, member of Communist Terrorist (CT), Front Committee-4A under the command of Santo Ligayna voluntarily surrendered to Barangay Captain Felisimo Hermoso Laurito of the said Barangay at about 1:00 O'clock in the afternoon, November 4, 2009.

Said CT member surrendered without firearms and was brought to Nasipit Municipal Police Station on November 5, 2009 at around 9:00 O'clock in the morning for documentation. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)  

Report on loose firearm

One unit caliber .22 (Airgun) Estrella Parco bearing serial number 0588 without license was confiscated by elements of Tago Municipal Police Station led by PO3 Anthony Feril from one Jolixes Flores Palada, 25 years old, married, farmer and a resident of Barangay Kinabigtasan, Tago, Surigao del Sur.

Said items were confiscated on November 3, 2009 at 12:00 O'clock midnight from the said suspect who was under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Said suspect and item are now under the custody of Tago Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)

Report on shooting incident 

On November 1, 2009 at around 9:00 O'clock in the evening, a certain Nathaniel Dimaangay Dumanig, 32 years old, married, farmer and a resident of Barangay Alipao, Alegria, Surigao del Norte was allegedly shot by one Nestor Abucay, 40 years old, married, farmer, member of Barangay at Pulisya Laban sa Krimen (BPLK) and also a resident of the said place.

Suspect allegedly shot the victim once using caliber .38 revolver hitting the victim's left eye who was then brought to Caraga Regional Hospital for medical treatment, which was declared on safe condition by the attending physician. 

Suspect fled to towards the mountainous area of the said Barangay to evade the arrest by the responding elements of Alegria Municipal Police Station. Motive - land conflict. Appropriate case is now being prepared by Alegria Municipal Police Station for filing in court. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)  

Report on carnapping 

One unit XRM motorcycle color red, bearing plate number MR 5889 with chassis number XRM 14003820 and engine number XRM14E03819 owned by Patnubay Gabonada Samonte, of legal age, and a resident of Ochoa Avenue, Butuan City was stolen by unidentified suspect while park infront of block tiendas, 2nd gate, Langihan Public Market, Butuan City at around 5:45 in the morning on November 2, 2009.

Butuan City Police Office is still conducting follow-up investigation to possibly identify and arrest the suspect. Progress report follows. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)  

Report on illegal gambling 

One Cristobal Cabantug y Pana, 31 years old, single, a resident of Purok 5, Barangay Crossing, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte was apprehended by joint team from Agusan del Norte PPO and elements of Kitcharao Municipal Police Station on Nov 1, 2009 at 12:00 noon while actually caught tallying swertres numbers at Barangay Crossing of said municipality.

Confiscated from suspect's possession were two stubs filled with number combinations, tally sheet with recorder numbers, bet money amounting to Php 165.00 in different denominations and one piece ball pen. Suspect is now detained at Kitcharao Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)

Report on vehicular accident 

On October 31, 2009 at 3:00 in the afternoon at the Provincial Road of Sitio Tapnigue, Barangay Sangay, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, one unit ten wheeler cargo truck bearing plate number MVJ 104, driven by Rodrigo Tabat, 25 years old, loaded with falcata round logs accidentally bumped on the hilly portion of the road which resulted to the death of truck helper Melchor Amorado, 25 years old and one Ac Batli and injuring the following laborer: Nestor Najial, Allan Gumapao, Nilo Pasli, Jayvee Ardimer, Dondon, Lerasan, Junior Macabinlad, Ernie Labrador and Roger Lerasan.

Victims were rushed to Provincial Hospital for medical treatment. The driver voluntarily surrendered to Buenavista Municipal Police Station while case is on the process of investigation for proper disposition. (PNP-13/ PIA-Caraga)