(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of 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.


PIA News Service - Friday, December 11, 2009

Pres. Arroyo to sign House Bill 5110 establishing the Caraga State University

BUTUAN CITY (11 December) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to sign House Bill 5110 on Monday, December 14, 2009 establishing the Caraga State University (CSU) in the Caraga Region by integrating the Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology (NORMISIST) in Ampayon, this city, and the Northern Mindanao College of Science and Technology (NMCAST) in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte, with its main campus here in the city.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Mar A. Roxas and has passed in the Senate’s second reading during the Upper House’s hearing on November 9, 2009. Per Committee Report No. 1240, it was authored by Congressman Jose S. Aquino II of the First District of Butuan City and Las Nieves.

Other representatives of the lower house authored the bill include: Congressmen Angara, Villar, Lagman, Javier, Remulla, Amante, Romarate, Padilla, Madrona, Nicolas, del Mar, Amatong, Mitra, de Guzman, Garay and Angping.

According to the Bill, Caraga State University shall offer undergraduate and graduate courses within its areas of specialization, specifically, but not limited to, the fields of agriculture and environmental studies, fishery, engineering, forestry, industrial technology, education, law, medicine and other health related programs, information technology, arts and sciences and other fields as the Board of Regents may deem necessary to carry out its objectives, particularly to meet the needs of the Caraga Region.

Also, the Bill stated that the existing high schools shall be transferred to the jurisdiction and supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd). Provided, that the high schools shall be allowed to remain and operate within the campus of the University until the students, who are currently enrolled, shall have completed their high school education. Provided, further, that the University may operate a reasonably-sized laboratory school, if it has a College of Education.

Meanwhile, Pres. Arroyo is also set to inaugurate the Lake Kasili Resort in Mainit, Surigao del Norte, as well as the Corn Postharvest Processing and Trading Center in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur on the same day. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-Caraga)
.
.

PGMA to inaugurate new Mainit Kasili Lakeside Legacy Resort

Surigao del Norte (11 December) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to inaugurate the newest lakeside resort-hotel in Lake Mainit – the Mainit Kasili Lakeside Legacy Resort at Mainit town this province on Monday, December 14, 2009.

The inauguration of Mainit Kasili Lakeside Legacy Resort is expected to boost the tourism potential of the lake which has been known as the fourth largest and the deepest lake in the entire country.

Mainit Mayor Ramon Mondano personally supervises the construction of the LGU-funded multi-million structure.

“I want to prove to all that this leadership could give rise to a multi-million structure despite absence of the expertise of a construction engineer but the LGU manpower including myself, to manage and supervise the construction; and from meager funds generated locally. The structure if completed could become a concrete landmark of my administration- my legacy to the people of Mainit, which for generations the Mainitnons could take pride of,” the mayor said.

The 58-rooms two-storey hotel are already tiled and painted including the four suite rooms, two conference rooms, two swimming pools- one for children with slides and one for adults, plus the six concrete cottages and two lounging areas.

Its formal opening is expected to generate new employment opportunities to the Mainitnons. (Fryan E. Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)
.
.

Cebuano News: Produkto sa enerhiya sa Mindanao, gituki

BUTUAN CITY (11 December) – Sa gipahigayong 2009 National Energy Consciousness Month, giduso ang pagpatapok sa nagkadaiyang konsumante sa nagkalain-laing sekor gikan sa mga ahensya sa gobyerno, lokal nga kagamhanan, ug mga pribadong organisasyon lakip na ang mga konsumante ug negosyante sa dagkong kompanya sa petrolyo lambigit sa downstream Oil Industry, didto sa Hotel Karaga, ni’ng dakbayan.

Gipangunahan ang selebrasyon sa Department of Trade and Industry pinangulohan ni DTI-Caraga Regional Director Brielgo Pagaran. Ang programa gisugdan sa may alas 8:45 sa buntag subay sa gipadalang mensahe ni Butuan City Mayor Hon. Democrito O. Plaza II pinaagi kang City Assistant Administrator Adeadatos Itao alang sa presentasyon nga mabulokong panagtapok sa hisgutanan alang sa enerhiya dinhe sa Mindanao.

Si Engr. Edmar Derla sa Department Of Energy nagpasabot nga ubay-ubay ang konsumante nga wala gyud mahatagan sa insaktong impormasyon lambigit sa kahinungdanon sa gasolina ug enerhiya sa nasud.

Gisentro ang pagtuki dinhi sa isla sa Mindanao, gibutyag ni Derla nga ang atong isla ang dunay dakong source sa Hydro. Dugang niana nga dunay sa Leyte, ug Negros Oriental.

Gipresentar niini nga ang nasud Pilipinas sukad pa kaniadto ang nailang crude imports gikan sa Middle East.

Ang gipakitang regulatory framework nahimutang ang sectoral demand nga mas taas ang gilamoy sa transportasyon nga may 63 percent, ang residensyal dunay 8 percent, commercial 5 percent samtang ang agrikultura ang pinakaubos nga naa sa 3 percent.

Sa ikaduhang hugna sa panagtigom si Engr. Nilo Geroche, DOE ang mipadayag sa LPG rules and regulations.

Ang unod sa gibatbat ni Geroche nga mas dagkong pahat ang gamit sa household nga mokunsumo sa 8,570 barrels, gisundan sa industrial nga may 2,344 barrels, ug ang Transportasyon nga may 719 barrels.

Dinhe sa rehiyon sa Caraga usa lang ang kompanya sa refilling nga tua sa may Barangay Taguibo, Butuan City.

Nunot sa gipagawas nga babala pinaagi sa pagpamalit ug pangangalakal lakip na ang seguridad sa luwas nga pagamit sa LPG.

Si Marson Jan Dolendo-DTI ang mituki pod sa paghatag sa dugang impormasyon kalabot sa safety tips ug lakang nga pagahimoon sa paglikay sa peligro nga hatod sa mga deli otorisadong tangke sa LPG. Dunay gipanday nga balaod para ma-proteksyunan alang sa pagpatindog ug planta o pang-negosyo sa LPG nga naglatid kini sa sections 5 ug 7, Rule II sa Republic Act 8479.

Sa katapusang bahin si Senior Inspector Patricio Vasquez, City Fire Marshall ang migahin sa mga luwas nga paagi aron malikay sa disgrasya ug kalamidad lambigit sa sunog ug electric faulty wiring.

Si Delia SY sa DOE ang mihupot sa selebrasyon aron mahimong mabungahon ang resulta nga mahatod ngadto sa publiko isip pagsaulog sa temang “Enerhiya, Kalikasan, Kinabukasan”. (Mike A. Imbo, PIA-Caraga)
.
.
PRO 13 help solve hostage crisis in Agusan del Sur 

Caraga Police Director PCSUPT Lino De Guzman Calingasan, CEO VI said the PRO 13 is on top of the situation. Joint elements of PNP from Agusan del Sur PPO and Special Action Force (SAF) immediately proceeded to the area following report of the alleged hostage taking at Sitio Maitum, Barangay San Martin, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur at 8:00 in the morning yesterday (December 10). 

Reportedly, there are more or less 75 persons being held hostage carried out by more or less 15 armed men with one M16 and one M14 rifle and undetermined number of shotguns, believed to be members of Ondo Perez group, a criminal group operating in the area.

Report further state that hostages include two foresters from Casilayan Softwood and Development Corporation; one backhoe operator; one school teacher and unidentified civilians. As of this report, negotiations were being made by representatives from different concerned agencies and individuals for the safe release of the victims. Reportedly, initial demand of the abductors was the presence of media personnel. 

RD CALINGASAN said that the task group will surely do their share to help solve the problem the soonest possible time. (PCI Nelly Tabornal Villagarcia, PNP-13)
.
.

Two teachers escaped from hostage takers and 18 were released 

by PCI Nelly Tabornal Villagarcia, PNP-13

As of December 11, 2009 at 12:00 noon, two teachers Marilou Gregorio and Nene Alemendares, teachers of Maitum Elementary School, Barangay San Martin, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur were able to escape their hostage takers. They are now under the custody of their District Supervisor. 

As of 3:30 of same date 17 students and one adult were released to negotiator Josefina Bajade. 

Their initial demands of hostage takers are: 

a) Provide battery and cigarettes; 

b) Arrest of Jun Tubay, their opponent; 

c) Presence of media personnel; 

d) Stop the on-going Police and Military Operations against them; 

e) Cases filed against them be withdrawn. 

The Provincial Crisis Management Team has been activated composed of the following: 

Chairman: Mrs Josefina Bajade appointed by Gov Plaza 

V-Chairman: PSSUPT ANTONIO PAGUIRIGAN, PD, ADS PPO 

Member: Hon. Alvin Magdamit, Sanggniang Panlalawigan Member 

and Hon. Samson Osterio, Sangguniang Bayan Member 

Negotiator: Mrs Josefina Bajade 

Ground Commander: PCI APOLLO B ABAO, COP, Prosperidad MPS
.
.

PNP seeks peaceful resolution to Agusan hostage taking  

by PCI Nelly Tabornal Villagarcia, PNP-13

As the evening closes in on the negotiation of hostage taking that took place on December 10, 2009 in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, the PNP has high hopes that peaceful resolution will be reached soon and the hostages released unharmed. 

Earlier, the PNP reported on the hostage taking of more or less 70 people including some students, teachers and rural folks in Sitio Maitum, Barangay San Martin, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur by the group of Undo Perez. The negotiations spearheaded by the Crisis Management Committee under Governor Valentina Plaza had resulted to the release of 17 students and one elderly. 57 more hostages, however, are still being held captives by the group. 

After the release of the students, hopes had risen that the group of Undo Perez had become more open towards negotiating the release of the other hostages. The PNP, on the other hand, have expressed preference in the maximization of negotiation and are willing to defer aggressive police action unless very necessary.

According to PNP, this decision is premised on the fact that the crisis stemmed from a simple family feud between the Perezes and the Tubays. The crisis, after all, may serve as avenue especially for the Provincial Peace and Order Council to broker a lasting peace between the feuding families considering that they are blood relations. The PNP is also exploring the Lumad’s way of resolving family conflicts to put an end to the crisis. They hope that cooler heads especially among the Lumad elders will be able to convince concerned parties to sit down and resolve their disputes. The PNP also believe that there could be some relatives by the Perezes among the hostages which explains why they are being treated well by Undo Perez and his group. 

P/Chief Superintendent Lino De Guzman Calingasan, Regional Director, Police Regional Office 13, therefore, aired his appeal to everyone to allow negotiation to proceed unimpeded for the lasting resolution of the crisis at least in the spirit of Christmas. 
.
.
DAR Agusan del Norte conducts GAD Orientation Seminar

In line with the government’s thrust to empower the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), the DAR Agusan del Norte conducted a one-day Gender and Development Seminar held recently in Butuan City. 
.
Over sixty-five participants comprising PO Leaders, officers and ARBs from different municipalities in Agusan del Norte participated in during the said activity. It was facilitated by DAR HRD Core Team of Agusan del Norte. 
.
PARO II Atega said that the Gender and Development Code specifically stated equal treatment and opportunities among men and women specifically on the side of the ARBs. 
.
“This seminar is important to the ARBs in order to promote women’s rights and strengthen them to participate and actively involve in any programs and services in their community. Besides, It will also address the number of cases of violence against women and children and enable them to become a more productive and empowered agrarian reform beneficiaries”, PARO Atega added.
.
The guest speaker, in the person of Atty. Marylin Pintor, CHR Regional Director, discussed the RA 9262-violence against women; RA-9208-Anti Trafficking Law and RA 8353-Anti-Rape Law. 
The legal basis in the implementation of GAD and 2009 DAR Directives were also emphasized by Evelyn Daquipil and AFO Diomedez Maisog, both DAR Region personnel. (Gil E. Miranda, DAR-Agusan del Norte)