(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 - Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010

RDC endorses expansion of Sta. Josefa irrigation project

More farmers in nearby barangays in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur will soon improve their yield when the expansion of Sta.Josefa Pump Irrigation Project will be implemented. The expansion of service area of the projects was endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) during its meeting held on August 20, 2010 for funding by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

An additional cost of PhP57.7 million is required to expand the service area from 2,000 hectares to 2,787 hectares. Presently, only the barangays of Angas, Awao, Sayon, Concepcion, San Jose and Patrocinio in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur are covered by adequate irrigation water supply. 

Engr. Greg Y. Pang of NIA said that an additional service area of about 787 hectares will be irrigated in barangays San Jose and Binongahan in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur. The pump irrigation project’s main canal has a capacity of 3.76 cubic meters per second with a length of about 12.12 kilometers, making it possible to convey more irrigation water, he added.
 Getting comments from Governor Amante during the deliberation of the Sta. Josefa Pump Irrigation Project, NEDA-13 RD Carmencita S. Cochingco presides over the RDC-13 Reorganizational Meeting in her capacity as OIC Chair and ex officio Vice-Chair of the Council.
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NEDA-13 Regional Director Carmencita S. Cochingco, who presided over the meeting in her capacity as officer-in-charge and ex officio Vice-Chair of RDC 13, commented that the project will enable the Caraga Region to attain its rice production and food sufficiency targets. (Paris Raymond S. Gaballo, NEDA-13/PIA-Caraga)


Governors Amante, Pimentel nominated to chair RDC 13


Governors Erlpe John M. Amante of Agusan del Norte and Johnny T. Pimentel of Surigao del Sur were nominated as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) – 13 during its meeting on August 20, 2010, Butuan City.

To be appointed by the President, the RDC 13 chair and co-chair shall serve for a fixed term of three years as provided under Executive Order 325 of 1996. This term shall coincide with the regular term of the elective officials without prejudice to reappointment.
Governors Erlpe John M. Amante, Johnny T. Pimentel, Adolph Edward G. Plaza and Mayor Alexander T. Pimentel attend the RDC reorganizational meeting.

Also nominated as RDC 13 co-chairperson were Engr. Leonel A. Santos and Mr. Marlon C. Advincula, who are both private sector representatives to the newly reorganized Council. The same EO sets out the condition that if the chair comes from the government sector, the co-chair shall be chosen from the private sector and vice-versa.

NEDA-13 Regional Director Carmencita S. Cochingco, who presided over the reorganizational meeting, has been the officer-in-charge of the Council for almost three years since former President Arroyo did not appoint RDC chair and co-chair for Caraga Region.

The RDC was created by the Constitution to strengthen the autonomy of the local government units and accelerate the socio-economic development of the regions. (Graziella C. Harting, NEDA-13/PIA-Caraga)


RDC 13 confirms membership of 10 PSRs

Ten private sector representatives (PSRs) in the Regional Development Council (RDC) – 13 were confirmed recently during the Council’s reorganizational meeting on August 20, 2010 at Butuan City.

Among the confirmed PSRs who will serve for three years, four had already previous experience in the RDC, namely: Mr. Gregorio P. Hontiveros, chairperson of Propegemus Foundation, Butuan City; Engr. Leonel A. Santos, president of the Surigao Economic Development Foundation (SEDF), Surigao City; Ms. Carolina R. Tidalgo, program officer of the Surigao Sur Organization for Human Development, Inc. (SSOFHDEV), Tandag City; and, Mr. Greggo B. Uriarte, member of the Surigao del Norte NGO Coalition for Development, Surigao del Norte. 
PSRs participate in the discussion of issues during the RDC 63rd Full Council Meeting at Butuan City.
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Neophyte PSRs who are also taking their seats in the region’s highest policy-making body are the following: Mr. Vidal M. Luna, chairperson of the Tago Agro-Industrial Development Cooperative (TAGINDECO), Surigao del Sur; Mr. Rex T. Linao, member of the Human Economic and Development (HEED), Inc.; Mr. James Jay C. Satorre, president of the Educational Discipline in Culture and Area-based Development Services, Inc. (EDCADS), Agusan del Norte; Mr. Marlon C. Advincula, executive director of the Loving Presence Foundation, Inc., Bislig City; Dr. Bernardo T. Mora, president of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, Inc. (FPOP); and, Mr. Ricky C. Neniza, chairperson of the Dinagat Islands Federation of Cooperatives, Dinagat Islands.

The selection of Mr. Alfredo L. Baluyut, Jr, member and adviser of the Butuan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., Butuan City and Mr. Romeo C. Dahuyag, chairperson of the Cabadbaran Civil Society Organization Network, Cabadbaran City are yet to be confirmed in the next Council’s meeting. Labor sector and Bayugan City representatives’ selection is still going on.

PSRs comprise a quarter of seats in the Council where it determines sectoral and geographical allocations. Caraga’s RDC allocates a total of 14 seats for the private sector. Of the 14 seats, 11 are for the geographical representatives of provinces and cities while the other three seats are for the sectoral representatives. (Graziella C. Harting, NEDA-13/PIA-Caraga)


Caraga Region to prepare 2010-2016 development plan


Caraga Region will be preparing its successor Regional Development Plan (RDP) for period 2010-2016 after the Regional Development Council (RDC) approved during its 63rd Full Council Meeting on August 20, 2010 the guidelines for the formulation of a successor plan, also known as the Medium-Term Regional Development Plan (MTRDP).  

Since the previous RDP will expire this year, the successor plan will set the development direction of the region in the next six years, starting 2011 under the administration of President Benigno C. Aquino III.

The guidelines underscore the guiding principles to be adopted in the successor plan namely inclusive growth and poverty reduction, application of participatory and human rights based approaches, integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation concepts and strategies, gender equality and development, vertical and horizontal plan integration and support to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). 
Engr. Emmanuel Z. Gidacan, technical staff of NEDA 13, presents the guidelines of the successor plan during the RDC meeting on August 20, 2010, Butuan City.
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Consequently, a series of regional and local consultations will be conducted by the NEDA Caraga in the formulation of the successor plan. Said plan is targeted to be completed, legitimized and adopted by the Council in October 2010. (Graziella C. Harting, NEDA-13/PIA-Caraga)


Armed men torched high school building

Two unidentified masked men armed with firearms of unknown caliber torched the extension room of a high school building made of light materials and set ablaze its canteen, an hour before midnight, Sunday before making their escape to some unknown direction.
 
Moises Pinchenavis, of legal age, designated as watchman of Maningalao High School, of Brgy. Maningalao, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte reported to Las Nieves Municipal Police Station that two armed men wearing a ski mask (bonnet) suddenly entered the school premises. He told the police investigators that he could not accost the intruders since both were armed, but could only conceal himself at a dark portion of the place watching their every move. 
 
He narrated to the police that he saw the two armed men set on fire the extension room of the school building made of light materials. The suspects also blazed the school canteen before making their escape to some unknown direction.
 
After the armed men were gone, he went out of his hiding place and cried for help calling up the attention of the nearby residents who immediately went out of their residences and helped him put out the fire.
 
He then reported the incident to the police, which immediately sent a team to the area to render the necessary security and assistance and to conduct an investigation.
 
Las Nieves police is conducting a deeper probe on the incident to ascertain the motive, identify the perpetrators and file the appropriate charges in court. (Noel B. Najarro, Butuan Star/PIA-Caraga)


DILG launches public assistance center

To bring the Department closer to the people, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo today led officials of the Department in launching its Public Assistance Center (PAC).

The center, located at the ground floor of the DILG central office in Quezon City, will receive and quickly respond to and act on requests for assistance as well as complaints that are brought to the attention of the Department by the public.

“We would like the ordinary Filipinos to feel the Department’s presence and ensure them that we are a listening and working DILG,” he said.

Robredo said a similar public assistance center shall also be established in every regional office of the Department nationwide.

He explained that “through the center, the people will feel the presence and services of the Department and bring the government closer to them.”

According to the DILG Secretary, anyone who would like to avail himself of the service of the Public Assistance Center may personally visit the DILG office or send his request for assistance through e-mail at dilgmail@dilg.gov.ph, or text message at DILG 2256, or telephone nos. 9250343 and 9250366.

Robredo said the center, which will be supervised by a management committee, shall be manned by designated action officers from the bureaus and attached agencies of the Department who shall receive and act on grievances and other related concerns from the public, and provide timely feedback on how such concerns are being acted upon.

The DILG secretary said the committee shall also develop a performance measurement tool to gauge the success of the system, and define the delineation of responsibilities and functions of all concerned units on the various offices of the Department. (DILG/PIA-Caraga)