(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Thursday, 22 May 2025) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. Easterlies affecting the rest of the country. 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 cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. 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 East to Northeast will prevail with slight to slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 1.5 meters).


PIA News Service - Friday, Oct. 22, 2010

PCC Chair Aquino graces Prov’l Coop Assembly

Province of Dinagat Islands (October 22) - “The spirit of cooperativism should be upheld among members, because it is the life’s blood of every cooperative,” aphorized Agapito “Butz” Aquino, the Chairman of the Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC) and author of the Cooperative Act of the Philippines, on the Provincial Cooperative Assembly in San Jose at the Aurelio covered court last October 15, 2010.

Shown here is Philippine Cooperative Center Chairman Butch Aquino (left) who served as the guest of honor during the Provincial Cooperative Assembly at San Jose, Province of Dinagat Islands held recently.
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Butz Aquino emphasized, to the 2,000 attending coop members, that the decadence of values and virtues within their threshold would mark the collapse of any cooperative. He noted that the Philippines was hailed third worldwide to establish a coop conglomerate fostering the logic of cooperativism. To some extent, the country has now 18,000 registered cooperatives which function as financial, insurance, producer, advocacy, and cooperative service. 

The net surplus of the 24 emerging cooperatives in the province is in constant upsurge, in which Butz Aquino was grateful to know. He motivated the PCDC to consider putting up either solar, wind, or hydro power source in the future, in lieu of the existing petro-plant. “Large cooperatives grew from small,” he encouraged.

The cooperative movement, if successful in both the distributive and manufacturing fields, is a significant force in the Philippine economy, often called “the middle way” between the individual enterprise and the national government – as to what Aquino pointed out.

He added that during the 10th National Cooperative Summit in Manila, a substantial agreement was brought to terms: to link with the low-level cooperatives so that they could form with the expanding economic system of the larger cooperatives, and empower them through education programs. Nevertheless, the CDA (Cooperative Development Authority) will not meddle with the affairs of the local cooperatives, instead they encourage the latter to be self-sufficient.

In addition, CDA Reg’l Director Manuela E. Pelaez reiterated the cooperative universal values; honesty, self-help, cooperation and integrity, to curb corruption within the ranks. “The objective of the cooperative transcends even towards socio-economic development,” she remarked. 

Pelaez presented that Caraga Region has 2,800 registered cooperatives; whilst 24 among the 101 listed from Dinagat Islands made into the Top 200 Strong and Progressive Cooperatives.

Furthermore, Alvin dela Cruz, the Prov’l Coop Officer, expressed gratitude to PCC Chair Butz Aquino and CDA Reg’l Director Pelaez for attending the assembly. 

“Your presence has inspired our members to intensify our strife for growth and development,” he concluded. (PIO-Province of Dinagat Islands/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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SC says Dinagat Islands not a province anymore
Issues final entry of judgment 


By Fryan E. Abkilan

Surigao del Norte (October 22) – It’s final, the Supreme Court (SC) has finally recorded an Entry of Judgment to its decision dated February 10, 2010 nullifying a law that created the province of Dinagat Islands.

In an interview, Atty. Victor Bernal, one of the 3 petitioners said the entry of judgment was already made last May 18, 2010 and that they only received a copy on October 05, 2010 from the Deputy Clerk of Court & Chief, Judicial Records Office of the Supreme Court, Ma. Lourdes C. Perfecto.

“It means that the Supreme Court has affirmed the unconstitutionality of R.A. 9355 which created the province of Dinagat Islands,” Bernal said.

The SC maintained that Dinagat Islands did not meet either the land area or the population requirement for the creation of the province.

Bernal said the copies of the entry of judgment were also forwarded to the Provincial Legal Office, Office of Gov. Sol Matugas, Atty. Leonardo Palicte III of Legal Affairs Dep’t of the House of Representatives, Speaker Feleciano Belmonte, Exec. Sec. Paquito Ochoa, Gov. Geraldine Ecleo, Office of the Senate Legal Counsel, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, The Solicitor General and Chairman Jose Melo of the Commission on Elections.

Special Election is imminent

Bernal is optimistic that a special election will likely to take place. “It might happen later this year,” he said.

It may be recalled that COMELEC issued Resolution No. 8790 dated March 9, 2010 on the status of the election-related matters such as the electoral posts that were available and considered in the area.

With this recent development, the Province of Dinagat Islands will likely be reverted to its previous status as part of the First Legislative District of Surigao del Norte and that the result of the May 2010local election will have to be nullified. 

Accordingly, a special election for Governor, Vice Governor, Member of the House of Representatives of the First Legislative District of Surigao del Norte, and Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the First District of Surigao del Norte (with Dinagat Islands) will have to be conducted. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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Cebuano News: Bag-ong MTRCB ug PNP Chief nanumpa kang Aquino

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Pormal na nga nanumpa ang bag-ong gitudlo nga mamuno sa Movie and Television Review and Classification Board ug sa Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, nga sila si Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares ug Director General Raul Bacalzo ngadto kang Presidente Benigno “Noynoy” Simeon Aquino III, didto sa Malacanang.

Si Dir. Bacalzo uban ang iyang kapikas nga si Librada ug tulo ka mga anak ang nanumpa atubangan sa Prisedente isip mauy modumala sa 130,000 ka organisasyon sa kwerpo sa kapulisan human nga gihulipan niini ang miretiro nga si General Jesus Versoza niadtong September.

Nauna na nga gihuptan sa hepe ang Directorial Staff niadtong miaging bulan sa August samtang nadawat niini pasidungog nga 3rd star sa rango nga Deputy Director General.

Sa laing bahin, si Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, kinsa anak ni kanhi movie-actor ug presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. ang muhulip ni outgoing MTRCB Chair-Consoliza Laguardia.

Si Llamanzares giubanan sa iyang kapikas nga si Teodoro ug tulo ka mga anak samtang nanumpa isip bag-ong chairperson sa MTRCB.

Giplanohan niini ang paglihuk sa industriya sa telebisyon ug pelikula nga mapatas-an ang kalidad ug mapalambo ang pag-ila sa pelikulang Pilipino nga makatabang sa ekonomiya sa nasud.

Gisaad usab nga magpili kini og mga personahe sa industriya nga dunay igong tahas isip mulingkod para sa mga nabakanteng Board.

Ang MTRCB ang ahensya nga mupakgang sa mga sensitibo ug malaw-ay nga gipasalida sa telebisyun ug pelikula. (PIA-Caraga)

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Cebuano News: TLW mihupot sa matuod nga kinaiya sa kabataan

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Ang True Love Waits (TLW) Philippines, Inc., nagtinguha nga maghupot sa unang youth conference karong November 13, 2010 didto sa Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Gymnasium, ni’ng dakbayan.

Katuyuan sa True Love Waits (TLW) nga mapaduol ang relasyon sa kabataan ngadto Ginoo ug mamahimo kining matinod-anon sa ilang kaugalingon.

Gipaneguro ni TLW Butuan Coordinators Ms. Odette M. Andaya nga ang hagit sa kabataan sa Butuan mao ang pagpili niini sa maayong direksyon ug magtubo kining adunay personal nga panlantaw sa kausaban nga makab-ot ang tiunay nga transpormasyon sa syudad.

Adunay registration fee nga P100.00 sa moapil nga partisipante. Gi-andam usab ang mga kalingawan sama sa pagpalit sa mga ticket alang sa himoon nga raffle draw atol sa youth conference.

Gitahasan ang TLW nga mopahat sa dakung responsibilidad sa pagtudlo sa kabataan sa matarong nga ideyalismo kalabot sa isyu nga sekswal ug pagtu-on sa lakang sa kaminyuan. 

Hingpit nga gilauman sa TLW nga adunay makuha ang kabataan nga makatabang sa ilang lamdag nga panlantaw sa kaugmaon, ang programa naglawig ubos sa temang “Unashamed: Equipping Leaders celebrating Purity”. (PIA-Caraga)

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Legarda wants review of government’s climate change adaptation policy for agri sector  

Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, today called for a review of the government’s policies and programs on addressing the vulnerability of the agriculture and fisheries sector to the impact of climate change.

Legarda made the appeal after Typhoon Juan, which battered the northern part of Luzon, damaged an initial estimate of Php1.556 billion worth of crops, mostly corn and palay.

According to the Department of Agriculture, affected palay crops in Regions 2 and 3 reached 68,250 metric tons (MT) and 2,310 MT, respectively. Crop damage figures for Region 1 and damage reports for vegetable crops and fisheries are not yet available.

“Typhoon Juan damaged more than a billion worth of crops in Northern and Central Luzon. We have to know what steps would the government take regarding this problem. What are the alternatives so that these losses would not affect the country’s food security? What assistance would the government give to our farmers and fishermen who were affected by this disaster?” Legarda said.

“We already know that changes in temperature, rainfall and sea level would be disastrous to the agricultural sector. In fact, crop yield potential is estimated to decline by 19% in Asia toward the end of the century and rice yield in the Philippines would decline by 75%. We have to ensure that we have the appropriate policies that would shield us from the destructive effects of climate change,” she added.

Legarda, the Asia-Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, had already filed Senate Resolution 175, which seeks a review of the government’s climate change adaptation policies for the agriculture and fisheries sector.

The Senator stressed that the inquiry is imperative to the institution of robust adaptation strategies that would enhance food security and alleviate rural poverty.

“The country’s agricultural adaptation program must ensure more investments in agricultural research and infrastructure, improved water governance and land use policies, better forecasting tools and early warning systems, a strengthened extension system that will assist farmers to achieve economic diversification and access to credit to make significant improvements in our food security goals,” Legarda said.

“We have to institute policy solutions to enable the agriculture sector to adapt rapidly to the impact of climate change and to safeguard poverty reduction gains in the rural areas,” she concluded.
(Office of Senator Loren Legarda/PIA-Caraga)


POLICE REPORTS
By PO3 Criselda Bulahao-Nalam

Illegal possession of firearms and Comelec Resolution # 9049

Elements of BCPS4 led by PSINSP GAUDIOSO CAJUTOL JR, OIC BCPS4 conducting comelec checkpoint at Villamonte, Brgy Basag, Butuan City on October 21, 2010 at around 9:30 in the morning which resulted to the apprehension of one (1) Richie Longgakit y Revira, 38 yrs old, single, and a resident of said place. 

Confiscated from his possession and control was one (1) pc .45 caliber pistol, with SN: 2100069 with one (1) magazine loaded with four (4) live ammos tucked at his waist line. Initial investigation disclosed that abovementioned suspect was riding a Yamaha crypton color blue with plate number 1115185 without driver's license. Suspect was brought to BCPS4, BCPO while a case of violation of comelec resolution number 9049 was filed at City Prosecutor's office an inquest case. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

Report on traffic accident

On October 20, 2010 around 6:40 in the evening particularly along the national high way, Brgy Pasta, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, one (1) unit motorcycle (no description of mc of this report) driven by Mark Ian Carbillo, single, member of Phil Army based 402nd Brigade, Awa, New Leyte, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, was accidentally bumped by a Mitsubishi jeepney with plate number KCF-233 covered under OR # 6641980, CR # 91440053-6 owned by Andrelio Barvo was driven by Sanny Dequito y Celes, 38 yrs old, married and a resident of P-3, Brgy Lapinigan, Agusan del Sur with driver's license KD8-01-006757. 

Initial investigation revealed that the said Honda motorcycle was running opposite direction and upon reaching at the aforementioned place, the said Mitsubishi vehicle overlook the ahead vehicle when accidentally bumped the said motorcycle which resulted to fall down to the cemented road and the driver sustained injuries and brought immediately to DOP Memorial Hospital for medical treatment due to serious condition while the driver Sanny Dequito together with his driven vehicle voluntarily surrendered to San Francisco MPS for proper disposition. Progress report follows.
(PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

Report on shooting incident

On October 20, 2010 around 7:00 in the evening at P-2, Brgy Cagbas, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, one Mansolito Pilapil y Batis, 38 yrs old, married, driver and a resident of P-6, Brgy Salvacion, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur was shot to death by unidentified persons with the use of short firearms of unknown caliber. 

Upon receipt of the report, elements of Bayugan MPS led by PI CZYMEERE NICANOR ATEO-AN VELENCERINA immediately proceeded to the place of incident and conducted on scene investigation and hot pursuit operation for possible identification/arrest of the suspect. Initial investigation revealed that the victim sustained one (1) gunshot wound on his head that causing his instantaneous death. Suspect fled to unknown direction after the incident. Progress report follows. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)


PIA News Service - Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010

OWWA-13 inks MOA with Caraga Reg’l Hospital for medical program for OFWs

By Fryan E. Abkilan

SURIGAO CITY (OCTOBER 21) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-13) has partnered thru a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Caraga Regional Hospital (CHR) as its medical institution partner for its Health Program for Overseas Filipino Workers (HEALTHPRO).

The agreement was signed by OWWA-13 OIC Director Marietta Lumawag, CHR Chief of Hospital Dr. Ponciano Limcangco and in partnership with the provincial government of Surigao del Norte thru the Provincial Administrator Romeo Cal.

The event was held at the Provincial Governor’s Conference Room, Wednesday morning (Oct. 20).

Dir. Lumawag said the CHR is the first medical institution partner for the HEALTHPRO in the region. HEALTHPRO is a subsidized medical and hospitalization services for OFWs who need medical treatment for illnesses contracted while working abroad.

The medical assistance will be up to P100,000 for active OWWA member OFWs and P50,000 for the distressed OFWs regardless of membership status who is in urgent need of medical assistance. For Job Site hospitalization/confinement abroad assistance offers up to $3,000 for OWWA member and $1,500 for the distressed OFWs. 

Another feature of this program according to Dir. Lumawag is a medical reimbursement for emergency cases, “this is a reimbursement scheme for an OFW-patient requiring immediate medical attention/pre-evaluation of illnesses to access hospital services and initially shoulders his hospital bills.”

Dir. Lumawag also revealed that OWWA has been authorized to enter into agreements with other government hospitals and private hospitals throughout the region for the same purpose. (PIA- Surigao del Norte)
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58th IB culminates Battalion Retraining Program

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – After hurdling more than 3 Months of rigorous training, the 58th Infantry Battalion braced up as the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army culminates the Battalion Retraining Program (BRP) at Camp Kibaritan, Kalilangan, Malinao, Bukidnon on Wednesday, October 20, 2010.

The 58th IB is composed of Officers and foot soldiers headed by Lt. Col. Emmanuel L Mariano who undergone and completed the said training.

Major General Victor A Felix AFP, 4ID Commander said that said retraining is to hone the soldier’s skills and knowledge ranging from rescue operations, community development and combat operations.

The troops, with complete equipment in full battle gear diligently listened as MGen Felix emphasized his guidance to the newly graduates. “I only have two advices to soldiers as well as to the commanders… accomplish your mission and take care of your men.”

As the 58th IB continues to perform its duty, MGen Felix likewise reminded them of its overall mission which is to protect and serve the people well. (4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine Army/PIA-Caraga)


DAR distributes land to Dinagat farmers

The Department of Agrarian Reform is set to distribute a total of 120 Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to 97 farmer beneficiaries in the Municipality of Tubajon, Province of Dinagat Islands on Friday, September 10, 2010.

The titles will cover a total land area of 102.0839 hectares spreading to four (4) barangays namely Sta. Cruz, Mabini, Diaz and San Roque.

Akbayan Representative Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao together with local government officials and DAR officials is expected to lead the ceremonial distribution to be held in Tubajon Covered court.

“This is part of our continuing commitment of bringing social justice especially to the rural communities”, says DAR-Regional Director Faisar Mambuay. He also emphasized the very important role of women in nation-building and economic development that should start in the countryside.

Of the total recipients, 48 are female ARBs.
(Joie L. Ceballos, DAR-13/PIA-Caraga)
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DAR gives 150 titles to Sibagat farmers

150 individual Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) were distributed by the Department of Agrarian Reform to the farmers of Sibagat Agusan del Sur last 14 October 2010. The area covers a total of 244 hectares in the barangays of Afga, Anahawan and Mahayahay, all of Sibagat.

The awards were distributed to 102 male and 48 female ARBs by DAR Regional Director Faisar Mambuay together with Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward G. Plaza, in time for the Governor’s 100 days celebration.

Gov. Plaza expressed joy for the farmers and encouraged them to make the land productive. He also thanked DAR for the various interventions that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) has brought to the province.

RD Mambuay informed both the people and leaders during the gathering that about 1000 hectares in Sibagat are for distribution by the end of the year. “ This is part of our commitment to improve our farmers, to improve our communities,” says Mambuay.

Sibagat Mayor Thelma Lamanilao was happy of the good news. She hoped that with this land ownership component of CARP, revenue collection will also improve in the days to come.

Also present during the activity was Agusan Sur Vice Governor Santiago Cane and Sibagat Vice Mayor Allan LaΓ±as. (Joie L. Ceballos, DAR-13/PIA-Caraga)


POLICE REPORTS
By PO3 Arturo Suganob Campania

Report on ambush incident 

PNP personnel of Prosperidad Police Station led by Chief of Police, PCINSP APOLLO BLAZO ABAO was ambushed at Brgy Libertad, Prosperidad, Agsaun del Sur on October 20, 2010 at 1:20 PM by more or less thirty (30) fully armed men believed to be members of CTs which resulted to the Wounded In Action (WIA) of the following: PCINSP APOLLO BLAZO ABAO, SPO2 Mellardo Lumain, PO3 Leo Rhoderick Urbiztondo, PO2 Marcial S Corvera and one wounded civilian identified as Rosalie Rufon y Mabali, Brgy secretary of Brgy Libertad of said town. Information received states that said PNP personnel were on their way back to the station from rendering security during the distribution of land titles by the Local Government Unit of Prosperidad at Brgy Mabuhay of said municipality. 

Firefight ensued which lasted more or less 10 minutes. As a result of said incident, said personnel were over powered and subdued with the overwhelming strength by the CTs and were robbed of their issued firearm consisting four (4) m16 rifles, one (1) 9mm pistol, four (4) bandoleers and ten (10) magazines of m16 and damaged Patrol Vehicle. Immediately thereafter, Wounded PNP personnel and a civilian were brought to DO Plaza Memorial Hospital for medical treatment. Meanwhile, PNP personnel of Agusan del Sur PPO, Provincial Public Safety Company and Special Action Force personnel jumped off to the area upon receipt of the information and conducted hot pursuit operation. 

All PNP station established checkpoints to check the enemy while Police Regional Office 13 Regional Director, PCSUPT REYNALDO SERRANO RAFAL, immediately jumped off and proceeded to the scene of the incident to personally supervise hot pursuit operation undertaken by the joint forces of Regional Public Safety Battalion, Provincial Public Safety Company, Special Action Force and the Phil Army and to look into the welfare of the victims under medications. Progress report to follows. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

Illegal explosive dynamite and paraphernalia for dynamite fishing

Joint PNP elements of Cagwait Police Station and LGU-DA personnel led by PINSP REY BONALOS MORCILLO, conducted search at one storey house located at Purok Arangasa Island, Brgy Areas-asan, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur owned by Ruel Pizarraz y Lauron, 28 yrs old, married, fisherman on October 19, 2010 at 5:10 AM by virtue of search warrant Nr 1-2010, issued by Hon Judge Ambrosio N Moleta, MCTC Judge dated October 15, 2010. 

Confiscated from the possession of suspect were two (2) red detonating cord (measuring 16 inches and 7.5 inches long), one (10 brown detonating cord measuring 8.5 inches long, one (1) 12 oz empty bottle of Pepsi tied up with red cellophane at the tip, two (2) empty bottle of 8 Oz Coke tied up with red cellophane at the tip, small amount of ammonium nitrate powder and one (1) pc White PVC pipe used as detonating cord container measuring 19 inches long. 

The search was conducted in the presence of Mr Ruel Pizarraz together with Mr Alvincito Arreza, DA-LGU Fisheries Officer and Charlie Opiana y Lofranco and Mr Diosdado Inguito, both Brgy Kagawad as witnesses. Suspect together with confiscated items were brought to Cagwait Police Station for proper disposition. Progress report to follows.
(PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

Report on shooting incident 

One Alias lalay Lamon, legal age, and res of P-4, Brgy Poblacion, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur was shot by two (2) unidentified suspects with the use of short firearm of unknown caliber at P-9, Brgy Taglatawan, Bayugan Agusan del Sur on October 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm. 

Victim sustained gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body while stray bullet hit the two minors namely Floravic Moralla y Villaberde, 13 yrs old and Jomar Moralla y Villaberde, 2 yrs old. Victims were rushed to New Bayugan Community Hospital for medical treatment while suspects fled to unknown direction. PNP elements of Bayugan Police Station still conducting investigation for possible identification and arrest of the suspect. Progress report to follows. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

Report on illegal logging 

PNP personnel form Regional Public Safety Battalion led by PINSP PATRICK DELA CRUZ LUMBA, under the close supervision of PSUPT FRANCISCO D DUNGO JR, Battalion Commander conducted operation against illegal logging at Brgy Bit-os, Butuan City on October 19, 2010 at 11:00 PM and confiscated approximately 200 pcs of assorted species of logs. 

Said logs were turned-over to CENRO, Bit-os for proper disposition and documentation. Progress report to follows. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

 
Legarda urges barangay leaders to combat climate change through rehabilitation of forest lands

Senator Loren Legarda today urged local governments, particularly in the barangay level, to take the lead and start the rehabilitation of the country’s ecosystems as a way to combat the destructive effects of climate change.

Legarda made the call to all local leaders as the country is set to hold on October 25 the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.

“Whenever disasters strike, the effects and losses are always greatly felt in the local level, but sometimes invisible from a national or global perspective. That is why I call on our Barangay and SK leaders to include in their priority programs the formulation and implementation of a climate change action plan,” the Senator stressed.

“Furthermore, our efforts to increase resilience to disasters and combat climate change would be more efficient and effective when we begin in the local level, and we must start through the rehabilitation of our ecosystems,” she added.

Legarda, the Asia-Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, said that one of the drivers of the nation’s vulnerability to disasters and climate change is the continuous decline of the ecosystems.

“The degradation of our ecosystems make us more susceptible to threats of disasters, particularly flooding and landslides. In fact, the destruction brought by typhoon Ondoy last year was intensified by massive deforestation, particularly the degradation of the forests of Sierra Madre,” she explained.

To address this concern, Legarda had already filed Senate Bill No. 6, the Barangay Greening and Forest Land Rehabilitation and Protection Act of 2010.

The bill seeks to empower local officials to advance greening and rehabilitation and protection of forest lands as a priority adaptation strategy from the provincial to the barangay level.

It proposes the promotion of forestland rehabilitation and protection through the conservation, management and development of forest resources and biodiversity.

It also seeks the formulation of local greening programs with the aim to build, develop and maintain forest parks in provincial, city, municipal, barangay parks, roads, elementary school grounds and other public open spaces where appropriate. (Office of Senator Loren Legarda/PIA-Caraga)
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New business name guidelines to attract more businesses

Starting October 7, 2010, business name (BN) registrants will enjoy easier and faster registration process.

Pursuant to Department Administrative Order No. 10-08 series of 2010 issued by the Department of Trade and Industry, business name applicants will fill up only 16 instead of the 35 entries in the application form. This will cut processing time approximately by more than half, from 30 minutes to 5-10 minutes only. Applications may be lodged in any DTI Office regardless of the location of the proposed business and may be filed anytime before the commencement of the business operations.

The new guidelines also feature a territorial scheme for business name registration wherein a BN registrant shall be authorized to make use of his/her approved business name within the territory he/she may choose regardless of the number of branches/outlets said registrant may set up within the given territory. Territories are identified as : BARANGAY, CITY/MUNICIPALITY, REGIONAL, and NATIONAL.

There will be different BN fees to be implemented later this year depending on the territories being applied for. The current BN fee is P300.00 plus documentary stamp of P15.00. (Lorijane D. Sacote & Mary Grace M. Sanchez, DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)


DTI intensifies monitoring and enforcement against uncertified Christmas lights

The Department of Trade and Industry through its provincial offices will intensify monitoring and enforcement activities starting this month to clear the market of uncertified lighting chains and christmas lights. This is in view of the forthcoming Christmas season and the increasing demand for christmas lights.

Consumers are advised by the agency to look for the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers that are affixed on the items for imported and printed Philippine Standard (PS) mark for locally-made lights and to doubt the safety and quality of these items especially when they are being sold cheap in the market.  

Only christmas lights with ICC stickers issued from January 2008 up to the present should be sold by retailers to the public. Those imported lights sold with ICC stickers earlier than January 2008 will be confiscated by the DTI enforcement teams in the region.

The mandatory certification on these commodities included light emitting diode or LED christmas lights and compliance to the set product standards should also be checked on these items.

The public is advised to report to any nearest DTI office the business establishments that sell uncertified or sub-standard Christmas lights. (Lorijane D. Sacote & Mary Grace M. Sanchez, DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)


DTI celebrates “green” Consumer Welfare Month in 2010 

“Consumers: Green Multipliers,” this is the year’s theme for Consumer Welfare Month Celebration this October. With the given theme, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) takes the center stage as the lead agency.

The month-long celebration regionwide is anchored on the said theme which highlights the responsibilities of consumers to protect and preserve the environment.

 Among the activities lined-up for the month are Fun Walk, Coastal Clean-up of the Masao Beach, information advocacy, consumer education seminars, fair trade law enforcement and monitoring, tree planting, consumers fora, quiz bowl and workshops on go green advocacy.

Consumer welfare month is celebrated every October per Presidential Proclamation 1098 issued in September 1997. (Lorijane D. Sacote & Mary Grace M. Sanchez, DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)
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TLW Phils. to hold “UNASHAMED” youth conference

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – True Love Waits (TLW) Philippines, Inc., a non-profit organization with the goal of connecting the Filipino youth with God and His ultimate plan for purity will hold the first youth conference here dubbed as “Unashamed: Equipping Leaders Celebrating Purity” come November 13, 2010 at Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Gymnasium, this city.

According to TLW Butuan Coordinator Ms. Odette M. Andaya, the goal is to challenge the Butuanon youth to be unashamed in making radical choices that will birth to personal change leading to social transformation of our city.

Registration fee is only Php 100.00 (to cover conference materials) for every participant. Those who will buy tickets on October 2-30, 2010 will have chance to win in the raffle draw during the youth conference.  

TLW is committed to give impact to the youth by teaching them to be pure in heart which will lead them to make the right choices especially in the issue of sexual abstinence until marriage. (PIA-Caraga) 


Butuan City gov’t steps up preparations for SK, brgy elections

BUTUAN CITY – The local government, national line agencies and some private stakeholders here convened recently during the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) meeting at the city mayor’s conference room to discuss further the plans, preparations and other issues and concerns on the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and barangay elections on October 25, 2010.

LTC Erwin Rommel P Lamzon of the Philippine Army briefed the council on the security measures during the election, and stressed the major need of coordination by the council from its preparation until end of election.

Lamzon also emphasized the big roles of the barangay election inspectors (BEIs), personnel in-charge from the Commission on Election (COMELEC), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other concerned agencies in ensuring a clean, honest and peaceful election.

Meanwhile, PSSUPT Benson Leleng, City Director of Butuan City Police Office bared that far-flung areas especially those considered as election-watch-list areas will be secured by PNP and AFP. 

City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. assured that the city government will fast-track its preparations and coordination with all the concerned agencies. 

With this upcoming SK and barangay elections, the general public is also encouraged to exercise their right to vote. (PIA-Caraga)

   
Cebuano News: Surigao rescue gituki ang preparasyon sa posibleng kalamidad

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Gumikan sa mga nakat-unan nga danyos ug kadaot nga hatod sa kalamidad ug bagyo nga nasinati sa nasud, ang Surigao rescue team apil ang mga rescue volunteers nagkahiusa alang sa pagpangandam sa kumunidad sa pagbansay-bansay nga malikayan ang posibleng mahitabo.

Ang Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) mipaluyo sa paghimo sa pagpatapok sa mga sakop sa rescue community aron hisgutan ang mga inisyatibong lakang kalabot sa pagpangandam sa kalamidad, niadtong Lunes (October 18,2010) didto sa Hotel Tavern, Surigao City.

Gipadayag sa maong tipon ang mga updates lambigit sa pagresponde sa lakat sa panahon ug lakip na ang responsibilidad nga buhaton panahon sa kalamidad.

Si SCCI Presidente Jake Miranda ang nagkanayon nga nakita niini ang kakulangan sa mga sakop sa Provincial ug City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management councils ang angayan tutokan ug hatagan sa igong pagtuon.

Gikinahangalan niini ang pagtudlo sa uban nga mga aspeto sa trainings aron mas epektibo ug alerto kini gawas sa ilang mga gi-destino nga assignments.

Samtang si Quick Action Response Team (QART) representante Ralph Rowan ang mitudlo kabahin sa pagpangandam pananglit adunay mahitabo sulod sa eroplano.

Gi-apil usab ang pagtuki kalabot sa pagresponde sa mga ambulansya diha sa airport ug ang pag-alerto lambigit sa fire drill kung adunay dakung sunog. 

Gibutyag sa maong pulong-pulong nga adunay 6 o 9 ka ambulansya ang Surigao City sanglit nasuta nga maglisod gyud kini pagresponde sa mga pasyente gumikan kay ang eroplano nga Bombardier Q400 and the ATR-72 aircraft adunay pasahero nga mokabat 70 ka personahe.

Si Caraga Regional Hospital’s Dr. Panfilo Tremedal ang gitahasan nga mamuno sa airplane disaster drill nga maglangkub sa CRH, QUART, apil ang pribadong ospitals ug Bureau of Fire Protection.

Samtang ang kwerpo sa kapulisan ang magdumala sa pagkontrolar sa katawhan ug trapiko.

Dugang gitug-an nga ang Philippine Air Force nga nagbase sa Cebu ang motampo sa ilang koordinasyon kung gikinahanglan ang dugang rescue operation. 

Gipresentar ni Philippine Coast Guard Commander Nestor Torre ang iyang grupo (Coast Guard) nga preparado kini sa pagsalbar panahon sa kalamidad. Sumala niini nga adunay mga wooden passenger vessel nga kompleto sa maritime broadband radio, gamit sa fire drill, ug nakapwesto nga mga Coast Guard diha sa City Boulevard nga may permanenteng impormasyon nga gipaagi sa AM ug FM radio station.

Ang local nga kagamhanan pinaagi kang Engr. Elmer Tecson kauban ang Provincial Administrator Romy Cal ang mitampo nga tun-an ug andam nga motabang pagpahiluna sa mga proyekto ug pasilidad lambigit sa programa sa disaster.

Nagmalampuson ang panagtigom nga gitambongan sa mga nag-unang ahensya sa pagresponde sama sa Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Quick Action Response Team, Miranda Hospital ug kapulisan. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: DTI-Caraga misorpresa sa pag-monitor sa mga x-mas lights

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Ang department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Caraga kaabag ang probinsyal nga kagamhanan uban ang mga ahensya sa gobyerno ang milusad sa monitoring ug surpresang pagbisita sa mga establisemento sa dakbayan aron pagsuta sa mga uncertified lighting chains ug Christmas lights, dili pa lang dogay.

Duol na gyud ang selebrasyon sa kapaskuhan ug dili malikayan nga mopatigbabaw ang mga dekorasyon nga maghatod sa espiritu sa pasko usa niini ang adorno sa Christmas lights.

Ang konsumador gitambagan sa ahensya nga mopili sa dekalidad ug kadtong mga Christmas lights nga adunay gitatak nga Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers nga gipapilit sa items nga otorisadong gi-aprobahan sa imported ug Philippine Standard (PS).

Kini nagpasabot nga luwas sa disgrasya ug segurado sa seguridad nga dili peke ang maong Christmas lights.

Dugang niana nga ang mga Christmas lights nga gibaligya sa mga tindahan kadtong adunay ICC stickers nga gipagawas sugod sa Enero tuig 2008 hangtod ni’ng tuiga ang gitugotan lamang nga paliton sa konsumador.

Gisuroy sa enforcement sa DTI-Caraga kauban ang pipila ka mga ahensya sa gobyerno ang mga establisemento sa dakbayan nga namaligya sa Christmas light ug gipang sukit-sukit kini kung mituman sa maong standard ug kalidad nga produkto.

Ang mandato sa sertipikasyon lakip na ang light emitting diode kon (LED) ug pagtuman sa insaktong presyo sa nasangpit nga produkto ang apil nga gisusi niini.

Matud pa nga ang masakpan nga namaligya sa hupas nga tuig gikan sa Enero 2008 paubos ang ilang gipang-kumpiska ug adunay tukmang silot sa molapas sa maong salaod.

Gipahibalo ang mga kosumador nga mahimong isumbong sa duol nga buhatan sa DTI-Caraga ang mga establisemento ug tindahan nga wala mituman sa patakaran ug milapas sa kalidad sa produckto sama sa sub-standard Christmas lights. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: DAR mi-apod apod og yuta sa mga-uuma sa Dinagat

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Dili masukod ang kalipay sa mga mag-uumang nakabenipisyo sa 120 ka Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) didto sa Municipality Tubajon, Probinsya sa Dinagat Islands, dili pa lang dogay.

Ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ang nanguna sa programa subay sa pag-angkon sa mga mag-uuma sa titulo nga mikabat sa total land area 102.0839 ektarya nga yuta sa upat ka baryo ang Barangay Sta. Cruz, Mabini, Diaz ug Barangay San Roque.

Si Akbayan Representative Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao kauban ang mga opisyales sa lokal nga kagamhanan ug opisyales sa DAR ang mipahigayon sa seremonyal nga pag-apod apod.

Si DAR-Regional Director Faisar Mambuay sa iyang mensahe nagkanayon nga “This is part of our continuing commitment of bringing social justice especially to the rural communities”.

Gidugang niini nga ang kababayen-an ang dunay dakong papel sa pagtukod sa nasyon ug kumunidad apil na niini ang paglambo sa ekonomiya diin ubay-ubay sa kababayen-an ang nakabenipisyo sa maong land area.

Sumala sa naitala 48 ka kababayen-an ang naapil nga benipisyari. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: 150 ka titulo sa yuta gihatag sa mag-uuma sa Sibagat


Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Mikabat sa 150 ka Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) ang nadawat ngadto sa mga mag-uuma nga taga Sibagat, Agusan del Sur niadtong October 14, 2010.

Sa nakuhang impormasyon gikan sa Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) gibutyag nga ang 244 ektaryang yuta ang giduso ngadto sa mga mag-uumang nakabenipisyo niini nga anaa sa Barangay Afga, Barangay Anahawan ug Barangay Mahayahay sa lungsod sa Sibagat.

Mismong sila si DAR Regional Director Faisar Mambuay uban si Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward G. Plaza sa iyang ika-100 days celebration gi-atol ang pag-apod apod ngadto sa 102 ka lalaki ug 48 ka babaye ang nakabenipisyo sa yuta.

Gipa-abot ni Gov. Plaza ang iyang dakong suporta ngadto sa mga mag-uuma nga mamahimong produksyon sa ekonomiya, gitumbok usab niini ang pagpasalamat ngadto sa DAR nga milihuk sa pagpatuman sa Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) nga mahatod sa Probinsya sa Agusan del Sur.

Si RD Mambuay mipagawas sa impormasyon nga duna pay 1000 ka ektaryang yuta sa Sibagat ang naka-andam nga ihatag sa dili pa matapos ang tuig. “This is part of our commitment to improve our farmers, to improve our communities,” sulti niini.

Mapasalamaton si Sibagat Mayor Thelma Lamanilao sa maong programa, gipanghinaot niini nga magpadayon ang pagpa-angkon sa mga yuta sa maong probinsya aron mapalambo ang panginabuhian ug produksyon sa ekonomiya. (PIA-Caraga)


Community should condemn NPA atrocities and plans

Camp Rafael C Rodriguez, Libertad, Butuan City - While the government and other organizations are doing with good projects and activities, the CPP/NPA would like to be remembered for terror and atrocities. 

This belies the claim of the CPP/NPA that they are pro-people. The people should not be forgiving, but should condemn these acts. Caraga Police Director PCSUPT REYNALDO SERRANO RAFAL, CEO VI said that the recent action of the rebels only proves that the NPA's obvious motive is to destabilize the government by spoiling the economic opportunities in the region and the country as a whole. The trademarks of the rebels is sowing terror and do atrocities, but still the Philippine National Police together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the region are on the top of the situation.  

RD RAFAL denounced the ambush made by the Communist Terrorist in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur yesterday afternoon. Elements of Prosperidad MPS led by PCINSP APOLLO BLAZO ABAO together with three (3) PNCOs namely SPO2 Mellardo p Lumain, PO3 Leo Rhoderick Urbiztundo and PO2 Marcial S Corvera while on their way back to Prosperidad Police Station after securing the LGUs in distributing land titles at Brgy Mabuhay of said municipality, upon reaching at Brgy Libertad, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur at 1:30 PM were ambushed by more or less fifty (50) CTs and fierce gun battle/firefight ensued which lasted more or less ten (10) minutes. 

As a result of said incident, abovementioned personnel were over powered and subdued with the overwhelming strength of the CTs and were wounded and robbed of their individual issued firearms consisting four (4) M16 rifle, one (1) 9mm pistol four (4) bandoliers and ten (10) magazines of M16 and damaged patrol vehicle. Immediately thereafter, the Wound-in-Action (WIA) PNP personnel were brought to DO Plaza Memorial Hospital where they are now undergoing treatment.  

Joint force from Agusan del Sur PPO, PPSC and SAF personnel jumped off to the area upon receipt of information and conducted pursuit operation, while all police stations in the province immediately established checkpoints. General RAFAL upon receipt of information of the incident immediately jumped off and proceeded to the scene of the incident to personally supervise the hot pursuit operations undertaken by the joint forces of PNP RPSB, PPO PPSC, SAF and the Phil Army and to look into the welfare of the victims under medical treatment.  

The government forces commends the heightened awareness on the part of the citizens for taking an active part in maintaining the peace and order of the region by being vigilant and courageous in cooperating with our law enforcers. (PCI Nelly Tabornal Villagarcia, PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

PIA News Service - Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010

NSO-Caraga spearheads stat seminar in Surigao City today

By: Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (20 October) – The Regional Office of the National Statistics Office (NSO) here spearheads the conduct of a statistics seminar and its crucial role in governance, in line with the World Statistics Day which is celebrated today, October 20, 2010 as directed by the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Carmelita N. Ericta, NSO Administrator, the seminar seeks to inform stakeholders, specifically planning officers, on the available data from NSO in commemoration of World Statistics Day. 

Also, the activity builds capacities in NSO Provincial and Regional Offices for data dissemination, and demonstrates the use of public-use files.

In Caraga Region, the activity takes place at Barton’s Restaurant in Ceniza Heights, Surigao City. Simultaneously, 19 provinces nationwide will also conduct the said seminar. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Philippine CeC Program, gipasidunggan

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Ang Commission on Information and Communication Technology’s (CICT) Philippine Community eCenter Program ang mitumaw nga top winner ubos sa Digital Inclusion Category sulod sa 22 ka categories ilalom sa FutureGov Awards ning tuiga.

Ang awards ug annual nga selebrasyon sa sector sa publiko nga gilusad sa Asya gipahigayon didto sa FutureGov Awards Gala Dinner sa Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, niadtong miaging October 15.

Sa impormasyon nga nakutlo, ang Philippine CeC program usa ka National digital inclusion program nga naghatag kahigayonan sa mga Pilipino nga makadawat sa serbisyong Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Sumala sa taho nga daghan nga mga opurtunidad ang gipaagi sa Community eCenters (CeCs) aron masuta ang 869 nga nominations gikan sa organisasyon sa public sectors sulod sa 16 ka mga nasud.

Buot nga ipaabot sa Digital Inclusion ang pagpasidungog sa mga programang nagamit sa teknolohiya isip tulay sa kalamboan nga naglambigit sa globalisasyon.

Gawas nga gipasidunggan ang Philippine CeC program, ang Digital Inclusion migahin usab ug award nga gidag-an niini kabahin sa CICT nga mitumbok sa mga nagkadaiyang school projects sa miaging tuig 2009.

Ang FutureGov awards gihandum nga organisasyon kini sa FutureGov Asia Pacific Magazine usa ka independente nga trade journal nga naglantaw sa sector sa publiko aron kini matudloan sa modernisasyon.

Ang pasidungog gipamunuan sa senior panel civil servants lukop Asya nga gidumalaan ni Chairman Laurence Millar, Editor-at-Large of the FutureGov Asia Pacific magazine ug kanhi Government Chief Information Officer sa New Zealand. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: DOLE-RCC 13 nagregalo’g jobs-fair, panginabuhian ug techno -transfer

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Naglunsad ang Department of Labor and Employement-Regional Coordinating Council (DOLE-RCC 13) sa usa ka One Stop Shop Unlad Kabuhayan: Usapang Negosyo, mga jobs fair, panginabuhian ug techno-transfer, didto sa City Cultural Center, Surigao City.

Si Regional Coordinating Council Chairperson Ofelia Domingo misaysay nga ang “one stop shop” ang magsentro sa jobs-fair, apil na ang skill assessment/ profiling, promo diskwento, operation pawis, mga itudlo nga financial literacy para sa Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) ug abilidad sa panginabuhian.

Kini nga programa sa DOLE ang nagmugna sa prosesong direktang nagtudlo sa mga overseas work aron pagpresentar sa 22 ka point-agenda sa labor and employment ilalom sa administrasyon ni Presidente Benigno Noynoy Aquino III.

Sa gituki nga Pangkabuhayan-Techno ang departamento migahin ug training aron tudloan sa abilidad nga magtuon kabahin sa pagbuhat ug hand sanitizer making, pahumot (perfume), cologne, dishwashing liquid, fabric softener ug trendy balloon. 

Gitinguha sa ahensya nga mapakunhod ang kalisud ug mapasaka ang kalidad sa panginabuhian sa katawhan lakip na dinhe sa rehiyon sa Caraga. (PIA-Caraga)


Nestle’ Phils distributes books for South Cotabato school kids 

“Books hasten the learning process. The more we read, the more knowledge we gain and better pupils we become”, says Anthony John Bercades, Grade VI student, as he received the books handed to him by Dennis Llovido, Nestle’ Philippines AVP for Transport Operation and Connie Deligero, CSR Officer from Ramcar-Motolite, Inc. 
With funds generated from used recycled batteries under the Balik-Baterya Program, Nestle’ and Motolite purchased textbooks for school children of Teresita Elementary School and Ambalgan Elementary School all of Sto. NiΓ±o Town in South Cotabato. Both schools have a total enrolment of 209 and 572 students respectively. 

As member company of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Nestle’ and Motolite has been in the forefront of addressing shortage of textbooks among target public schools in Mindanao and other parts of the country as an expression of corporate social responsibility for depressed communities. (Danny Escabarte, PBSP-MRO/PIA-Caraga)


PopCom stages PopQuiz a new

Butuan City – Nine schools division contestants will compete for the mind-boggling quiz show and vie for the title in the Regional Population Quiz on October 27, 2010, at the Butuan City People’s Hall with the theme “Everyone Counts.”

The contest is designed by the Commission on Population and the Department of Education to promote values supportive of population and development and sustain awareness and interest among in-school youth and the general public.

Just like in the previous years, participants are fourth year high school students coming from the different divisions, to wit: 1) Reymar A. Dimaano, Agusan del Norte; 2) Mark Lloyd G. Dapar, Agusan del Sur; 3) Rennelbert P. Agopitac, Bislig City; 4) Rexbelle Mae A. Caliguid, Butuan City; 5) Jumar D. Cruzada, Province of Dinagat Islands; 6) Krixia V. Llanto, Siargao; 7) Bryan Allan M. Talisay, Surigao City; 8) Csarina V. Apa, Surigao del Norte; 9) Genadel M. Palacio, Surigao del Sur.

20 questions are framed for the Regional Population Quiz classified into three categories: easy, average and difficult. The questions are framed based on family life & responsible parenthood, gender & development, population and reproductive health, environment & sustainable development.

Winner in the regional competition shall represent the region to the national contest at Tarlac City on February 2011. (Angie Balen, POPCOM-13/PIA-Caraga)
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Surigao rescue community reassess disaster preparedness

SURIGAO DEL NORTE (October 20) - To prepare the province from possible calamities now that the country is entering the typhoon season, the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) took the initiative of gathering members of the rescue community to an informal luncheon meeting last Monday, October 18, 2010 at Hotel Tavern Surigao, to update everyone on the current preparedness of the province in response to air and maritime disasters. 

SCCI President Jake Miranda saw the need for the members of the Provincial and City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management councils to be proactive and identify pre-emptive measures rather than just assign committees. 

Quick Action Response Team (QART) representative Ralph Rowan gave a briefer on the preparedness of the agencies responsible in case of an airplane disaster. The need for an ambulance at the airport was stressed and a community-wide fire drill was scheduled. It was also known during the meeting that there were only between six to nine ambulances available at any one time in Surigao City, making it difficult to quickly ferry patients and casualties from a plane crash site since the Bombardier Q400 and the ATR-72 aircraft that fly to Surigao carry almost 70 passengers each.

Caraga Regional Hospital’s Dr. Panfilo Tremedal was tasked to head the airplane disaster drill which will involve the CRH, QART, private hospitals and the Bureau of Fire Protection. The PNP representative also committed to crowd control and traffic management during the drill and the actual disaster. It was also learned that the nearest Philippine Air Force asset is located in Cebu, to come to Surigao in case of the need for complicated rescue that the PAF can provide. The Philippine Coast Guard’s nearest stationed asset is six hours away at Cagayan de Oro.

PCG Commander Nestor Torre likewise presented the preparedness of the Coast Guard in case a typhoon like Typhoon Juan would hit the province. Several measures were identified including the need of every wooden passenger vessel to have maritime broadband radio, fire drill aboard ships, permanent stationing of the Coast Guard at the City Boulevard, and dissemination of safety information through AM and FM radio. 

The city government through its representative, Engr. Elmer Tecson, committed to seeking assistance from the city council on requiring wooden ferry pumpboats to carry marine band radios, and allocating a permanent space at the boulevard for the Coast Guard.

The provincial government through Provincial Administrator Romy Cal will study the viability of purchasing a steel-hulled ferry to become the province’s logistics and rescue vessel. The provincial government would procure the vessel while the Philippine Coast Guard would commit to maintain it and spend for its fuel during rescue operations.

Radio manager Jun Galeon also committed to disseminating information to fishermen to always wear orange or bright-colored clothing at sea and to bring with them AM radios and flashlights when going on fishing trips.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Quick Action Response Team, Miranda Hospital, and the PNP. (SCCI/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano News: Sagunson nga pagpangatake sa Surigao Sur, gikondena ni Gov. Pimentel

Ni Michael Imbo

Butuan City - Gikabalak-an karon ni Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel ang matud pa sagunson nga pagpangatake sa mga killer nga mitala sa 14 ka mga insidente sugod sa bulan sa Hulyo hangtod Septembre ni’ng tuiga.

Ang probinsya sa Surigao del Sur ang usa sa giilang baga sa kinaiyahan ug puno sa bahandi sa kabukiran ug kadagatan nga nakapa-agni sa turismo ug ekonomiya.

Ang maong insidente ang nakapahadlok sa Gobernador sanglit nakaapekto kini sa turismo sa probinsya.

Kahinumduman nga niadtong milabayng October 15, ni’ng tuiga gipatay ang Barangay Kapitan Eligorio Cuartero sa Barangay Esperanza, Carmen, Surigao del Sur.

Lain pang insidente mao ang pagpanigbas sa mga sagingan didto sa usa ka Banana plantation nga gipanag-iyahan sa DOLE-Estanfilco sa lungsod sa Tago niadtong October 26.

Misaka ang tensyon sa dihang nahitabo ang giyera sa tropa sa kasundalohang 75 Infantry Battalion (IB) batok sa rebeldeng grupo nga gituhuang mga sakop sa New Peoples Army (NPA) didto sa Sitio Mabog, San Roque, Bislig City.

Sumala sa taho tulo ang patay sa maong insidente diin duha ka sibilyan ug usa ka rebelde ang nakabsan sa ilang kinabuhi.

Si Gov. Pimentel mimando kang Police Provincial Director Julito Diray aron pa-imbestigahan ang mga nasangpit nga krimen apil na ang kamatayon ni Barangay Kapitan Cuartero.

Hugtanong gituohan ni Pimentel nga ang kamatayon sa Barangay Kapitan dili lambigit sa politika. (PIA-Caraga)
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Cebuano News: Aquino gi-aksyunan ang tukmang pagpakunhod sa kapobrehon  

Ni Michael Imbo

Butuan City - Giplanohan sa administrasyon ni Presidente Benigno Noynoy Aquino III ang tukma ug kompletong aksyon aron mapakunhod ang problema sa kapobrehon sa nasud.

Sa gipahigayong press-briefing sa Malakanyang, si Presidential Spokeperson Edwin Lacierda misulti nga si Presidente Aquino nagpatawag og panagtigom sa anti-poverty group niadtong Lunes alang sa pagtuki sa poverty-alleviation.

Sumala ni Lacierda nga gimandoan na sa Presidente ang tanan nga multi-agency cluster sa nasud aron pagbuhat sa master-plan aron mapatuman ang himoong plano nga masulosyunan ang problema sa kapobrehon sulod sa lima ka tuig.

Gidugang niini nga gusto sa Chief Executive nga ipadayon ang speedier benchmark system aron makab-ot ang kausaban sa nasud sa maong programa.

Kini ang usa sa gitutokan sa programa sa administrasyon nga mapasaka ang panginabuhian sa katawhang Pilipino.

Gi-presentar usab sa mga cabinet secretaries ang ilang framework sa programang poverty reduction.

Gisaksihan ang panagtigom sa mga sakop sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health (DOH) ug uban pa.

Gitambongan usab kini ni Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Teresita “Ging” Deles diin misugyot nga ang isyu sa proseso sa kalinaw ang usa sa hinungdan sa kapobrehon sa nasud.

Ang United Nations bag-ohay lang nag-obserbar sa International Day para sa Eradication poverty sa tanan nga nasud apil na niana ang kalamboan sa nasyon. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Bislig City luwas sa red tide toxin

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Giingon nga luwas ang Bislig Bay sa Surigao del Sur sa mikalat nga red tide toxin diin gikabalak-an kini gumikan sa mikalat nga hilo sa nagkadaiyang parte sa Pilipinas.

Sumala sa impormasyon nga gipagawas sa Regional Office of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) mibutyag nga negatibo sa red tide toxin ang maong lugar.

Gipamatud-an nga luwas ang mga shellfish sa Bislig City ug walay angayan nga kabalak-an ang mga katawhan niini.

Base sa resulta sa laboratory sa BFAR gikataho nga ang baybayon sa Bislig, Hinatuan ug Lianga sa Surigao del Sur luwas kini sa nasangpit nga red-tides ug uban pang dapit sa Luzon ug Visayas.

Apan matud pa sa BFAR nga sa talaan sa Shellfish Bulletin ang mga shellfish nga nakolekta sa pipila ka baybayon sa Dumaquillas, Zamboanga del Sur, Matarinao, Eastern Samar, Murcielagos, Zamboanga del Norte ug Misamis Occidental, Sorsogon ug sa Carigara sa Leyte adunay listahan nga nag-positibo pa gihapon kini sa paralytic shellfish poison apan kontrolado na kini sa ahensya nga nagdumala niini. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: NSO CARAGA mipahigayon og seminar sa Surigao City

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Gipahimuslan sa National Statistic Office (NSO) ang kahigayonan sa paglusad og seminar lambigit sa importansya nga batonan sa panggamhanan subay sa selebrasyon sa World Statistics Day, karong adlawa (October 20, 2010).

Ang kalihukan subay sa kamandoan sa United Nations General Assembly nga hatagan sa pagtuon ug mga hisgutanan nga mamahimong mabungahon ang maong aktibidades pinaagi sa himoong seminar.

Si National Statistic Office Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta, mitug-an nga ang maong seminar nagpahibalo sa mga katawhan ug sa organisasyon aron mapalapdan ang impormasyon gikan sa NSO agi’g pagsuporta sa World Statistics Day.

Gidugang niini nga ang kalihukan magtukod sa kapasidad sa mga buhatan sa probinsya ug apil na niana ang mga Regional offices aron mas-madali ug paspas ang pagpakatag sa mga serbisyo sa pagamit sa publiko sa ilang mga talaan kabahin sa NSO.

Dinhe sa rehiyon sa Caraga gihimo ang seminar didto sa Barton’s restaurant sa Ceniza Heights, Surigao City.

Nagpadayon nga gilusad ang parehong seminar sa 19 ka probinsya sa nagakalain-laing dapit sa nasud. ( PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: ConsumerNet Caraga nagpatawag og public forum
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Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY (October 20) - Ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ang nangulo sa Consumer Network (ConsumerNet) Caraga ang nitakdang nagpatawag og tigom karong Miyerkules (October 27, 2010), didto sa Funtion Hall, Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO), Inc., ni’ng dakbayan.

Gilauman nga tambongan kini sa mga representante gikan sa nagkadaiyang sector sa mga kunsumador sa rehiyon sa Caraga, mga senior citizens, non-government organizations, empleyado sa kagamhanan, transport groups, estudyante ug uban pa.


Gikataho nga ang forum magtuki sa mga serbisyong pampubliko, mga hisgutanan kabahin sa kina-iyahan ug isyu lambigit sa negosyo apil na ang mga updates sa ConsumerNet.

Dugang gisaysay nga tutokan ang isyu lambigit sa mga kunsumador ug ang pormal nga pasidunggan ang bag-ong mga establisemento nga nakarehistro sa DTI-Caraga.

Human sa forum adunay ipahigayong 5th Regional Quiz Show didto sa ANECO Conference Room ug isunod ang awarding sa mga mananaug.

Nasayran nga ang kasaulogan sa kalihukan subay sa selebrasyon sa “Consumer Welfare Month” ni’ng bulan sa Oktubre ubos sa Presidential Proclamation Number 1098 pinetsahan September 26, 1997.

Gipaluyohan kini sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources ilalom sa temang “Consumers: Green Multipliers”. (PIA-Caraga)


Barangays get P51-billion IRA shares this year

The country’s more than 42,000 barangays have a total of P51-billion in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) at their disposal for development programs and projects at the grassroots level this year, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Citing reports from the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said that based on the National Summary of IRA for Barangays, a total of P51,865,195,577.00 has been allocated for 42,025 barangays nationwide this year.  

The Local Government Code defines the IRA as the share of local government units (LGUs) from the national internal revenue taxes, 60 percent of which goes to the national government and 40 percent is allocated to LGUs as IRA. Barangays get a share of 20 percent of the IRA, while provinces and cities receive 23% each, and municipalities, 34%. 

Section 286 of the Code also provides that the share of each LGU shall be released, without need of any further action, directly to the provincial, city, municipal or barangay treasurer on a quarterly basis.

Robredo said punong barangays have a great responsibility and accountability to ensure that their IRA is fully utilized to support local development projects.

“They should make sure that barangay funds and the IRA up to last centavo are channeled to projects that will somehow better the lives of their constituents,” he said.

Based on the same NBOO report, barangays in Calabarzon got the highest total IRA with P6,051,123,993.00; followed by Central Luzon with P4,868,985,120.00; the National Capital Region with P4,706,042,169.00; Western Visayas with P4,459,770,152.00; and Eastern Visayas with P3,676,933,919.00. 

The DILG Chief stressed that “barangays must not be dependent on IRA,” and should exercise their taxing power to generate more revenues to fund their development projects.

“Barangay officials have an obligation to judiciously utilize their resources, including IRA, and report the same to their constituents,” he said.

In a related development, Robredo said that the Department will propose to Congress several legislative measures to provide LGUs greater flexibility in revenue generation and to raise their fiscal and financial resources. 

One of these proposed legislations involves the provision of a five percent adjustment fund for LGUs with a negative transfer or where their current IRA does not cover the cost of devolved services, and another five percent performance-based grant to support LGUs which exhibit good performance in fiscal management and local service delivery. (DILG-Office of Public Affairs/PIA-Caraga)


Legarda to Retailers: Recycle, Reuse Plastic Bags

Senator Loren Legarda today asked retailers all over the country to establish a recycling mechanism for plastic bags and reuse plastic bags.

“Our urban areas are crowded with malls, supermarkets, grocery stores,palengkes, tiangges, and other sales outlets. Purchases in these stores are concluded with customers walking out of the mall or store carrying several plastic bags.”

“Some of these plastic bags are reused while others are dumped either properly or improperly. In instances where these bags are dumped improperly, they end up clogging drainages, polluting waterways and even endangering marine animals and ecosystems,” the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Climate Change asserted.  

“What people don’t know is that the production of plastic bags requires considerable amounts of crude oil and natural gas, “ 

“A plastic bag reuse-recycle program will provide an opportunity for the public to return to the store clean plastic bags that originated from the store or from any store of a chain of five or more retail establishments.”

Legarda’s bill specifies that the recycling program provided by the operator of a store shall require:

1. A plastic bag collection bin to be placed at or near the entrance to each store, and such bin shall be highly visible and indicate that the bin is intended for the reusing of plastic bags and not for the discarding of garbage. Such collection bin shall be easily accessible to the costumer; and such collection bin shall be clearly marked that the collection bin is available for the purpose of collecting and recycling plastic bags only.

2. That all plastic bags collected by the store are to be collected, handled and recycled in a manner consistent with all applicable laws or any pertinent rule or regulation.

3. That the operator of the store shall direct store personnel to reuse plastic bags collected through the program as container for purchases of customers instead of using new plastic bags until the collected bags in abatch of collection were used.

4. That costumers making subsequent purchases from the same store or from any store of a chain of five or more retail establishments who reuse the plastic bags from the same shall be provided with a discount or given a promotional item, details of which shall be made by the establishment or chain of establishments.
(Office of Senator Loren Legarda/PIA-Caraga)


Efficient early warning and early action are crucial in reducing disaster losses, disaster – resilient cities must be continuous goal – Legarda

Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change reminded that, “The early warning system, to be effective, must translate into public alertness, preparedness and responsiveness. It is encouraging to note that as typhoon 'Juan" raged through significantly, less lives were lost compared to the previous storms and typhoons because of heightened public awareness and action.”

“Typhoon Juan, the strongest storm the Philippines has experienced in four years, is consistent with the trend that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) identified in its 4th Assessment Report which stated that there is more than 90% chance that things will get worse in the future – with stronger typhoons, heavy rainfall and other weather extremes.”
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“In reducing disaster risks and adapting to climate change, effective early warning system and early action must be at the heart of our efforts. Reducing disaster risks is a matter of utmost importance to the country, where calamities abound and are most likely to worsen.”

Legarda urged that making disaster resilient cities, towns and municipalities ought to be the continuous goal, where the whole populations live in homes and neighborhoods served by good infrastructure (piped water, good sanitation and drainage, all weather roads, electricity), provided with efficient services (health care, schools, garbage collection, emergency services), and provided with structures that meet sensible building codes where there are no informal settlements on flooded plains or steep slopes.

“The local government units must be supported with the necessary resources and have the capability to organize itself before, during and after a natural disaster. Ideally, the people participate, decide and plan for their city together with the local government authorities.”

“The central campaign of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) for this year, ‘Making Cities Resilient,’ enjoins cities and local governments to get ready, reduce the risks and become resilient to disasters.”

“Rising urban populations and increased density, weak urban governance, unplanned urban development, inappropriate construction and disregard for the environment all put cities at risk.”

“The challenge is to help make cities resilient to hazards because losses due to disasters are always greatly felt in the local level. There must be competent and accountable local governments that cater to sustainable urbanization, with active participation from all stakeholders.”

Concerned about the farmers and losses in their crops, Legarda also recommended that “Focus must also be on the socio-economic development of the community. Not only do we want to protect human lives, but also socio-economic gains and opportunities. We must extend better support for our farmers, whose livelihoods are at the mercy of weather fluctuations.” 

“The country's agricultural adaptation program must ensure more investments in agricultural research and infrastructure, improved water governance and land use policies, a strengthened extension system that will assist farmers to achieve economic diversification and access to credit,” Legarda concluded. (Office of Senator Loren Legarda/PIA-Caraga)

PIA News Service - Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

Butuan City to host 8th NYP

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY – The local government of this city will host the 8th National Youth Parliament spearheaded by the National Youth Commission (NYC) come November 5-8, 2010 at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort with the theme: “Kabataang Pilipino: Ako ang Pagbabago”. 

NYC bared that more than 150 youth leader-delegates representing the 17 regions of the country and Sangguniang Kabataan members are expected to participate in the said event. 

Aside from the delegates, representatives from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and other partner agencies will also attend as observers.

With this big event, the local government of Butuan and NYC hope for the full participation and support of the general public especially the youth.

NYP is a gathering of the best and the brightest young people in the country ready to make a difference. (PIA-Caraga)


Surigao, DOH officials lead Caraga's first Treatment & Rehabilitation Center unveiling of marker and blessing ceremonies

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY - City Mayor Ernesto Matugas and DOH Undersecretary Dr. David Lozada, Jr. led last October 15 the unveiling of marker and blessing ceremonies of the P35-million Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center at Barangay Anomar this city.

Mayor Matugas in his message of support said that it’s a huge honor for the city to be chosen as the site for this very important project, “an indication that government is doing its mandate for the well-being of its people through the Department of Health.”
Matugas bared that he will put up a special project - sort of spiritual guidance counseling inside the rehabilitation center through his personal funds, “the project will be headed by Dr. Manuel Tan, a former city councilor.”

Meanwhile, DOH Undersecretary Dr. David J. Lozada, Jr, revealed that on 2011 budget the Drug Rehabilitation Center will get 20 million for the implementation and operating budget to assure its accessibility and sustainability.

He also congratulated the Center for Health and Development – Caraga and other partner agencies for developing this new facility and for allowing more access to drug abuse patient.

The Treatment and Rehabilitation Center was created as part of the department of health’s implementation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002 and due to the high incidence of drug abuse problem in the Caraga Region. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
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Bishop YΓ±iguez to gov’t: “Provide jobs to poor, not just giving dole-outs”

By: Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (19 October) – Caloocan Bishop Deogracias YΓ±iguez, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Public Affairs Director said the government should provide jobs to the Filipino populace especially to the poor and not by giving dole-outs like the conditional cash transfer program as an anti-poverty drive of the government. 

Also, Bishop YΓ±iguez said dole-outs are only given during emergency cases and not regularly. “The government should teach the people not to be idle but instead, to uphold the importance of working for a living,” he said. 

Bishop YΓ±iguez also said slothful or lazy people should not be given food to eat. “We should teach them how to catch fish, and not just giving them fish,” he said.
(PIA-Caraga)

 
Granting of amnesty to Magdalo soldiers, “not tampered” – PAF Capt. Pogoy

By: Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (19 October) – Philippine Air Force (PAF) Capt. Joenel Pogoy said the amnesty granted to Magdalo soldiers by the Aquino Administration is “not tampering” and instead, it is a way of correcting the wrong doings of the previous administration.

In an interview with a local radio station here, Capt. Pogoy explained that the detaining of the Magdalo soldiers for seven years is illegal since a Court Martial is only an administrative court.

“What President Noynoy is doing right now tells the irregularities of what the previous administration is doing with the PAF and the Philippine Army,” Capt. Pogoy said.

It was learned that Cap. Pogoy was released yesterday after he was jailed for two years because of exposing the irregularities inside the PAF.

Said official is also determined to continue exposing irregularities and anomalies of the previous administration especially in the PAF and the military.
(PIA-Caraga)
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ConsumerNet Caraga to meet the public in a forum

By: Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (19 October) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), lead agency of Consumer Network (ConsumerNet) Caraga is set to meet the public in a forum on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at the function hall of the Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO), Inc. 

Expected participating sectors are representatives of consumer organizations in the region, senior citizens, non-government organizations, government employees, transport groups, and the academe, among others.

This year’s month-long activity is spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The activity is an interactive discussion on all basic services, issues and concerns, and update of all ConsumerNet members. 

It also highlights information on current environmental issues and the formal recognition of new DTI-certified establishments in Caraga.

Meanwhile, the 5th Regional Consumer Quiz Show will also be showcased on the afternoon at the ANECO Conference Room where the awarding of the winners is set after the forum.

The conduct of the activity is in time with the celebration of Consumer Welfare Month this October as declared under Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 dated September 26, 1997 with this year’s theme, “Consumers: Green Multipliers”. (PIA-Caraga)
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Bislig Bay in Surigao del Sur is negative from red tide toxin

By: Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (19 October) – As per information from the Regional Office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bislig Bay in Surigao del Sur is negative from red tide toxin, thus shellfish from this area are safe for human consumption. 

Based on the latest laboratory results of BFAR as stated in the latest shellfish bulletin, Bislig Bay, Hinatuan Bay and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur are continued to be free from toxic red tides along with some coastal waters in Luzon and Visayas.

However, according to BFAR shellfish bulletin, shellfish collected at Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Matarinao Bay in Eastrern Samar, Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental, Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, and Carigara
Bay in Leyte as still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit. (PIA-Caraga)
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SHSB celebrates golden anniversary

By: Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY (19 October) – Sacred Heart School of Butuan (SHSB), formerly Sacred Heart Kindergarten School, one of the first education institutions in the city offering nursery, kindergarten, and grade school educations is celebrating her 50th anniversary on October 23 to 26, 2010.

The four-day celebration will be highlighted with the coronation of the Mutya at Bayani ng Yubileyo and the conduct of the Star of the Night on Monday, October 25 at Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Gymnasium.

Prior to the activity, a thanksgiving mass will be celebrated at the Saint Joseph Cathedral, the city’s parish on October 23, Saturday, to be followed by a Barrio Fiesta Salu-salo and field demonstration.

Meanwhile, a family fun run awaits the parents-children tandems in the preschool and grade school. The fun run is for the benefit of the Bidlisiw Foundation. Accordingly, friends of the school including their families and alumni are welcomed to join the fun run. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Barangay ug SK eleksyon, gipangandaman

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Gipangandaman sa kwerpo sa kapulisan lukop rehiyon sa Caraga ang umalabot nga piniliay sa Barangay ug Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) karong Lunes (October 25, 2010).

Sa gipahigayong flag raising ceremony didto sa Police Regional Office-13, Camp Rafael Rodriguez gipagawas ni Comelec Regional Director Atty. Francisco Pobe ang pamahayag nga gikinahanglan ang suporta sa kapulisan alang sa ipahigayong piniliay.

Sumala ni Pobe nga mas pahugtan sa kapulisan ang ilang pag-alerto sa maong piniliay. “The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections is expected to be a heated one compared to the May 2010 polls, as politicians take this as a prelude to the 2013 national and local elections,” sulti niini.

Gipahugtan usab ang mga check-points ug pagpangandam sa seguridad sa mga kandidato gumikan kay nakita niini nga kritikal ug tensyunado ang umalabot nga piniliay tungod sa mga personal nga bikil ug kumbati sa pagpapili isip mga lider sa Barangay.

Gimando sa tag-as nga opisyales sa PNP Caraga ang pagtutok sa mga panghitabo nga naglambigit sa insidente kabahin sa eleksyon sama sa vote-buying ug pagpanikas.

Ang COMELEC Regional Office nagtaho nga adunay mga ekpose ang mga bag-ong kabataan kinsa gikonsinte sa mga ginikanan ngadto sa dirty-politics.

Nagsugod ang campaign period niadtong October 14, ug matud pa ni Dir. Pobe nga istriktuhon gyud ang implementasyon sa check-points lakip na ang pagpatuman sa total gun-ban.

Nagpagawas sa Resolusyon ang COMELEC sa pagtugot sa mga kandidato sa pagka-Barangay opisyales ug Sanguniang Kabataan nga maka-angkon ug mga security personnel alang sa ilang seguridad.

Gipanawagan sa COMELEC ang Police Caraga sa pagpangulo ni Police Regional Director Reynaldo Rafal nga mahimong mabungahon ug hapsay ang piniliay pinaagi sa mga kumunikasyon ug koordinasyon sa kapulisan ngadto sa mga opisyales sa eleksyon.

Apil niana ang hinlo nga piniliay aron makab-ot ang kausaban, kaugmaon good governance ug responisibilidad nga magsugod sa barangay opisyal.
(PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Butuan City Lions Club mipahigayon ug medical mission

Ni Michael Imbo

BUTUAN CITY - Gituohan nga ang himsog nga panglawas ang puhunan sa himsog nga kumunidad hinungdan nga adunay mga health programs alang sa mga kabus, niadtong Domingo, didto sa Colorado, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

Ang Butuan City Lions Club District 301-E ang naghatag sa ilang libreng medical mission lakip na ang mga libreng serbisyo sa panglawas.

Sumala ni Club President Ms. Jocelyn F. Yee, ang medical nga tabang sa kabus mao ang prayoridad nga programa sa ilang grupo dinhe sa dakbayan sa Butuan ug probinsya sa Agusan del Norte.

Gi-apod apod ang libreng mga medisina ug libreng pagpakunsulta sa kumunidad aron mahatagan sa himsog nga panglawas ang katawhan ug luwas nga mga balatian sa lawas.

Ang Lions Club International ang pinakabaga nga organisasyon nga may dedikasyon sa kumunidad ug lukop globalisasyon.
(PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Kabataang lider tapukon alang sa ipahigayong 8th National Youth Parliament

Ni Michael Imbo

Butuan City - Gitakdang adunay ipahigayon nga 8th National Youth Parliament (NYP) nga pamunuan sa National Youth Commission (NYC) aron tapukon ang kabataang lider didto sa Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, karong November 5 hangtud 8, 2010.

Nasayran nga hisgutan sa maong kalihukan ang mga nag-unang isyu nga nakaapekto sa mga kabataan lakip na ang mga diskusyon lambigit sa nasud ug gobyerno.

Subay sa Akta Republika 8044 ilalom sa Section 13 ang gikatahong Youth in Nation Building Act gilatid niini nga himoon ang National Youth Parliament (NYP) nga pagadad-on sa National Youth Commission (NYC), gitumbok nga ilusad kini matag duha ka tuig aron mag-abot ang tanang lider nga kabataan sa paghatag ug mga rekomendasyon og polisiya nga matutokan kini sa mga lider sa gobyerno ug aron matagad ang isyu sa kabataan.

Sulod sa 14 katuig sugod niadtong 1996 ang NYP malampuson nga nakapanday sa mga policy-making process pinaagi sa parliament.

Giasoy ni Commissioner Steve Laurence Arquiza, NYC’s Commissioner-at-Large and National Organizing Committee Chairman of the 8th NYP nga mokabat sa 150 ka mga youth liders ang motambong gikan sa nagkalain-laing sector ug mga organisasyon (out of school youth, eskwelahan, mga empleyado) sulod sa 17 ka mga rehiyon sa nasud apil na niana ang mga sakop sa Sanguniang Kabataan members.

Gidugang ni Commissioner Arquiza nga gawas sa parliament sessions adunay himoong piniliay sa mga lider alang sa ika-8th National Youth Parliament (NYP) kinsa ipailalom sa training program ug adbokasiya sa NYC.

Magpabilin ang mandato sa NYC ilalom sa pagdala sa NYP nga matud pa protektahan ang pisikal, moral, ispirituwal, intelektuwal, ug sosyal nga panginabuhian sa mga kabataan nga mamahimong matood nga responsableng mga lider sa kumunidad dala ang temang “ Kabataang Pilipino: Ako ang pagbabago”.
(PIA-Caraga)


Gov. Pimentel, anxious of series of insurgency-problems in Surigao del Sur

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel is worried for the series of insurgency-related problems in the province as report recorded 14 incidents from July-September this year.

In addition, the three incidents recently happened worries the governor as this may affect the tourism industry and economic situation in the province.

It can be recalled that on October 15, 2010, Brgy. Captain Eligorio Cuartero of Esperanza, Carmen, Surigao del Sur was shot to death. Another incident is the hacking of banana trees at a banana plantation owned by the DOLE-Estanfilco in Tago last October 16, and the last was the encounter between the 75IB and NPA also on October 16 at Sitio Mabog, San Roque, Bislig City resulted to three killed in action (two villagers and one NPA) and two wounded, all of this province.

In this connection, Gov. Pimentel instructed Police Provincial Director Julito Diray for proper investigation of the incidents especially the shooting incident where incumbent Brgy. Captain Cuartero of Esperanza, Carmen was the victim.

However, Gov. Pimentel believed that the killing of Cuartero is not politically-related, it was gathered. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Surigao del Sur Mamanwa, Manobo tribes set NCIP deadline to step up actions to stop logging operations 

Non-action by government agencies on continuous illegal logging has recently prompted the Mamanwas and Manobos to stage a protest rally at the national highway of Sibahay, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur and in front of the gates of the local NCIP. Together with more than 100 members and support groups from church, civil society and media, KATRIMMA called for the immediate halt in logging operations over ancestral domain.
 
Members of KATRIMMA, whose lands within the municipalities of Lanuza, Cortes and Tandag (LACORTAN), are now being threatened by Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) application and on-going logging operations by Ventura Timber Corporation (VTC). The lumads are claimants of Certificate of Ancestral Domain (CADT) over 17,765 hectares of forest land. They say that VTC has also failed to attain free and prior informed consent (FPIC) in the face of strong opposition by the indigenous peoples.
 
Probable collusion 
 
Tribal leaders of KATRIMMA look at a possible collusion between VTC and local government agencies, DENR and NCIP. Members of KATRIMMA say they have been invited by NCIP regional office in Butuan City to a consultation meeting last February that led towards MOA signing.
 
In addition, VTC has bribed the IPs with an amount of Php 40,000 for IFMA/ logging application in the presence and intimidation of unidentified armed men during the said meeting.
 
The MOA, without proper acknowledgement and signature of notary public, was reportedly manipulated by DENR and NCIP. Eventually, it has paved the way for the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), now serving as the basis for VTC’s on-going logging operations today.
 
Moreover, although the local SB has expressed condemnation of VTC, logging operations persist with the help of Mayor Salvacion Azarcon of Lanuza.
 
Denouncing unhampered logging operations in the area and disputing the legality of ECC, Sr. Lydia Lascano, Social Action Directress of Tandag, explained the matter succinctly, “VTC claims they have ECC. ECC is not equivalent to a logging permit. KATRIMMA leaders said they did not give FPIC, hence the claimed ECC is questionable.”
 
Non-action by public officials on the issue 
 
KATRIMMA has released resolution revoking the MOA and sent NCIP in Surigao del Sur and Manila letter of complaints but apparently to no avail. Non-action by government agencies has prompted the lumads and other environmental advocates stage a protest rally at the national highway of Sibahay, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur last September and another mass mob at the gates of the provincial office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Tandag on October 1.
 
Result of the dialogue with the NCIP  
 
As a result of the mass mob last recently, NCIP has promised that they will report on their strategy to put an end to said illegal operations by VTC. NCIP representatives, provincial officer, Charlene Binghoy and Community Development Officer III, OrdoΓ±ez Rocero said that they will be submitting a comprehensive report about the situation and urge their central office to explain for its issuance of Certificate of Precondition for VTC’s IFMA application.
 
The Certificate of Precondition, according to Green Mindanao, one of the environmental groups supporting KATRIMMA, has been the concluding basis of the issuance of ECC. The said certificate would require FPIC, which the lumads say they did not give at all. (Butch Dagondon, Green Mindanao/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
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Surigao Chamber of Commerce bags its third Most Outstanding Chamber Award

SURIGAO CITY - For a third straight year, the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. was hailed the Most Outstanding Chamber in Mindanao for 2010, entering the Hall of Fame of Awardees. The award was given by no less than His Excellency President Benigno C. Aquino, during the concluding plenary of the 35th Philippine Business Conference (PBC) held last October 15, 2010 at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel, City of Manila. 

The PBC is the country’s largest and most important business gathering, attended by over 3,000 local and foreign businessmen and government officials.

The award is the third for the chamber as it leads the pack of the 38 business chambers in Mindanao, the largest chamber network in the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Overall there are more than 108 local chambers, 35,000 enterprises, 130 industry association and 30 bilateral business councils in the PCCI.

In the 2007 PBC, the Surigao CCI also received a special award for Membership Development and Entrepreneurship for its unique Surigao Young Business Alliance (SYBA) concept of recruiting the sons and daughters of its members as its second generation leaders as well as to pool young professionals and entrepreneurs in Surigao City. In 2008, Surigao CCI was recognized for efforts to consolidate all social and non-government organizations into one united community. In 2009, it was awarded for projects that strengthened public sector-private business partnerships. In 2010 it garnered praise anew for becoming financially self-sufficient and creating new municipal chambers.

The award came after thorough grilling by a panel of judges from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, consultants and representatives of national agencies done last October 6, 2010 at the PCCI head office.

The PBC awards are regarded as the highest recognition of achievements granted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to both business chambers and their corresponding local government units, and are seen to be important trophies of excellence that will attract more investors to their areas. 

The other regional winners are Muntinlupa CCI for National Capital Region, Metro Angeles for Northern Luzon, Metro Naga CCI for Southern Luzon, Mandaue CCI for Visayas and Metro Olongapo as Best New Chamber. Metro Naga CCI won this year’s national award following its triumphs in 2008 and 2009 as most outstanding chamber for the whole country. (SCCI/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Making their Mark: Filipino Youth unite for the 8th National Youth Parliament

All roads lead to Butuan City on November 5-8, 2010 for the 8th National Youth Parliament (NYP) at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort. This biennial event, spearheaded by the National Youth Commission (NYC), is a gathering of youth leaders in the country to discuss the prevailing issues that affect them.

Pursuant to Section 13 of the Youth in Nation Building Act (RA 8044), NYC holds the NYP every two years to convene youth leaders to formulate policy recommendations that will address youth issues and serve as the government’s guide in policy formulation and program development. For the past 14 years since its inception in 1996, the NYP has been successful in engaging the youth in the policy-making process through a parliament.

According to Commissioner Steve Laurence Arquiza, NYC’s Commissioner-at-Large and National Organizing Committee Chairman of the 8th NYP, more than 150 youth leader-delegates representing all sectors (in school, out-of-school, working, with special needs) and the 17 regions of the country and Sangguniang Kabataan members are expected to participate in the event. 

Commissioner Arquiza also said that aside from the parliament sessions, there will be an election for the 8th NYP officials. The elected officials will undergo further advocacy training program under the NYC.

With the theme: “Kabataang Pilipino: Ako ang Pagbabago,” the NYC remains faithful to its mandate thru the NYP which promotes and protects the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of the youth to the end that the youth realize its potential for improving quality of life. (NYC/PIA-Caraga)


JENESYS programme application now open

The National Youth Commission is pleased to announce that the “10-day Visit to Japan Programme” of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) Programme is now open to all applicants for Student Ambassadors and Supervisors. 

The JENESYS Programme is an all-expense-paid cultural trip to Japan and is funded by the Japanese Government through the Japan International Cultural Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan in Manila and the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE).

This programme is carried out in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat to deepen the delegates’ understanding of the different facets of the Japanese society including politics, diplomacy, economics, and culture and to form the basis of future vision and construct firm solidarity among Asian countries which will promote mutual understanding of the future generation of ASEAN and East Asia Summit member countries.

184 student ambassadors, who are 16 to 18 years old, and 16 supervisors, who are 30 to 50 years old, from all the regions of the country will be selected through a rigorous selection process.

Interested applicants may visit www.youth.net.ph to download the entry forms and the complete list of qualifications and requirements. All applications must be addressed to the JENESYS Programme Secretariat of the National Youth Commission c/o Ms. Marielou Chua, 4th Floor, Bookman Building, 373 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City or the NYC Area Offices not later than 5:00 p.m. on or before December 3, 2010. 

To know more about the JENESYS Programme, please call the JENESYS Secretariat at 7811406. (NYC/PIA-Caraga)
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POLICE REPORTS
By PO2 Darlin Cabalinan-Migullas

Report on violation of Comelec gun ban

On October 17, 2010 at around 5:25 in the afternoon, a concerned citizen reported to Claver Municipal Police Station thru their hotline number that an unidentified person illegally discharges his firearm while the public assembly meeting of 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) is on going at the Brgy. Gymnasium of Daywan, Claver, Surigao del Norte. 

Immediately, personnel of Claver Municipal Police Station led by Police Inspector Margarito Omega conducted hot pursuit operation , which resulted to the apprehension of the suspect at Sitio Pangi, Brgy. Ladgaron, of the said municipality. 

Said suspect was identified as one Jelver Bangga y Belaya AKA "Fuge", 22 years old, single, jobless, with no known group affiliation and a transient resident of P-2, Brgy. Daywan, Claver, Surigao del Norte. 

Confiscated from his possession were one (1) unit caliber 45 pistol, colt with serial number 212044 loaded with two (2) live ammunitions. Said suspect and confiscated items are now under the custody of Claver Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)  

Agusan del Sur cops arrest wanted person 

One Lito dela Cruz y Alonzo, 40 years old, married laborer and a resident of P-1B, Brgy Anislagan, San Luis, Agusan del Sur was arrested by elements of San Luis Municipal Police Station led by Police Chief Inspector Texon, Chief of Police at around 6:00 O'clock in the morning of October 18, 2010 at P-1A, Brgy. Baobaoan, Butuan City. 

Said suspect was arrested by virtue of Warrant of Arrest issued by Hon. Hector Salise, Presiding Judge, RTC Branch 7, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, charged for the crime of Child Abuse docketed under criminal case numbers 2760 and 2765 with recommended bail bond of P80, 000.00. 

Said suspect has also a standing Warrant of Arrest issued by Hon. Eliseo Campos, Presiding Judge of MCTC San Luis, Agusan del Sur, charged for the crime of Grave Threats docketed under criminal case numbers 4012 and 4013 with recommended bail bond of P3,000.00. 

Arrested person is now under the custody of San Luis Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.
(PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)
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Mosquitoe-repellent draperies to be hung soon in some city schools

Mosquitoes in some city schools may soon be facing their ‘final curtains’, and this is not a joke! This is a serious announcement by no less than DOH 13 Regional Director Leonita P. Gorgolon during a recent press conference at her office. She told local media practitioners that an upcoming project of her department is soon to be implemented, which is to hang some chemically-treated draperies in some schools here in Butuan City which can kill alighting mosquitoes.

Director Gorgolon said that this is one of their dengue cases reduction measures, and they planned to implement the project by the end of the year. The DOH chief said that they will be looking at schools in the city with the most number of Dengue cases listed and there they will be hanging the said curtains.

These curtains impregnated with chemical, Gorgolon said, can kill alighting mosquitoes. The curtains according to her are quite costly, but funds for the said project are already approved by their central office in Manila and they are now in the process of bidding the said items. The Director also said that she already had informed the city mayor to be present during the launching and be a partner for the said project.

Butuan City was chosen for the project, Gorgolon said as the city topped the list of the number of suspected dengue cases in the region at 753. The province of Agusan del Sur following it listed only 447 cases. However, even with the highest number of cases listed, there was no recorded mortality. The director credited the said development to good advocacy and dissemination of information.

Meanwhile, Dir. Gorgolon during the same forum, discouraged “fogging” as a means of eliminating mosquitoes. “Actually, the fourth ‘S’ in our four ‘S’s campaign against dengue is ‘Say No To Fogging,” she clarified.

Local government units according to her had already been informed not to resort to fogging as much as possible, as these activities may only drive mosquitoes existing in a barangay (village) to the next. Fogging, she said, does not kill mosquitoes but only drive them away some 100 to 200 meters from its present habitat when fogged. So fogging activities will only be resorted to as a last option, in cases when there’ll be outbreaks.

Nothing really replaces clean surroundings and proper sanitation, Gorgolon said and she assures that the 4 “S” which is to: 1) Search and destroy; 2) Seek immediate consultation; 3) Self protection measures and to 4) Say ‘No” to indiscriminate fogging is still the most effective way to fight dengue.
(Noel B. Najarro, The Butuan Star/PIA-Caraga)


Philippine CeC Program bags FutureGov 2010 Digital Inclusion award

The Commission on Information and Communication Technology's (CICT) Philippine Community eCenter Program emerged as the top winner for the Digital Inclusion category, one of the 22 categories of the FutureGov Awards 2010. The awards, an annual celebration of public sector innovation and best practices in Asia, were conferred during the FutureGov Awards Gala Dinner on October 15 at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

The Philippine CeC Program, a national digital inclusion program which aims to provide Filipinos access to ICT services and opportunities through Community eCenters (CeCs), was shortlisted from 869 nominations from public sector organizations from 16 countries - an unprecedented number in the awards' fourth-year run - before being declared as one of this year's winners. The Digital Inclusion category recognizes programs that makes use of technology to bridge the digital divide.

Aside from the Philippine CeC Program, the Digital Inclusion award has also been won by another CICT initiative, the iSchools project, in 2009.

The FutureGov Awards is organized by the FutureGov Asia Pacific magazine, an independent trade journal focusing on public sector modernization. This year's nominations were judged by a panel of senior civil servants from all over Asia and chaired by Laurence Millar, Editor-at-Large of the FutureGov Asia Pacific magazine and former Government Chief Information Officer of New Zealand.
(National Computer Center - Field Operations Office/PIA-Caraga)