(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Sunday, 01 December 2024) Northeast Monsoon affecting Eastern section of Northern Luzon. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to Intertropical Convergence Zone (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 Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


PIA News Service - Thursday, March 17, 2011

Palarong Pampook 2011 Update: AgSur smashes Butuan City, 3-2

SURIGAO CITY, Mar. 17 (PIA) - Jeverlou Dones of Agusan del Sur smashed his way to victory against Ken Rojard Barneso of Butuan City, in a breath-taking game of Boys Table Tennis - secondary category, Single A at Surigao State College and Technology (SSCT) Academic Hall, March 15.

Both players showed their aggressive moves in the first and second sets of the match. Dones did his best to defend every smash of his opponent but Barneso didn’t give up, grunting up some extra power in every smash that nailed the vying score 11-7, 11-9.

Inspired by two consecutive wins, Barneso maintained his extraordinary moves but Dones tried everything, spraying the ball all over the table, a little serve and volley and even boosting up his power that made the jam-packed crowd tenser. Luckily Dones’s efforts loosen the focus of his opponent in the third set, 9-11, maintaining the vigorous strategy of Dones that led him to snatch the victory in the fourth set, 9-11 and tied with Barneso having two consecutive wins.

Breaking the tie became more intense for both players. Dones was leading but Barneso kept on striving and showed his eagerness to win. Finally, a wild smash from Dones overpowered Barneso and ended the game, 18-16. (Ivan Gallegos/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Palarong Pampook 2011 Update: Agusan del Sur tramples Siargao, 49-19

SURIGAO CITY, Mar. 16 (PIA) -- Point guard Jerome Napao led Agusan del Sur to victory as they crashed the Siargao delegation basketball team, 49-19, yesterday, March 15 at the Provincial Sports Complex. The team proved to be a tough contender for the basketball tournament championships as they gained two consecutive wins in their last two games.

The close first quarter of the game intensified the already charged emotion of the crowd. Agusan del Sur’s Napao decided to expand the lead by his fast break ending with a good lay up for a 20-12 scoring. Siargao forward Goyonan struggled against the odds with his 3-pointer in a desperate attempt to close the widening gap.

But Agusan del Sur center Jaison Bde’s coast to coast shooting at the fourth quarter sealed their fate and catapulted their score to 40-17 in their favor. He further added 6 more points during the rest of the quarter creating a 13-2 run over the Siargao team. The game ended with the Agusan del Sur being victorious of a 30-point lead over the Siargao delegation 49-19. (Era Penera/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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Palarong Pampook 2011 Update: Surigao del Sur trounces Agusan del Sur, 2-0

SURIGAO CITY, Mar. 17 (PIA) - Launching a booming spike, Surigao del Sur pulverized Agusan Sur in Sepak Takraw secondary game 11, that swept a score of 21-12, 21-12 at the DPWH covered court, Capitol Road, Surigao City.

The game opened with the smooth moves of Jay Daryl Realista, John Angelo Pongos, and Dingding Socrates of Surigao del Sur. In response, Agusan del Sur lifted their team with determined smashing spikes. But it did little to the opposing team’s stance which maintained their different technique in a creative fashion and enabled them to score 21-12.

The second set started with a love for Agusan del Sur and an advantage to Surigao del Sur to make a 2-0 score. Surigao del Sur took the second set easily making it look like a child’s play. Surigao del Sur sealed a win 21-12 in the second set. (Kristoff Polo Mosquito/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Supply of rice still sufficient for Caraganons

by Nora CL Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 17 (PIA)
– “Supply of rice still enough for Caraganons”, says National Food Authority (NFA) assistant regional director Camilo T. Magtrayo.

In an interview, ARD Magtrayo said that as of March 14, NFA-Caraga still have a stock inventory of 838,256 bags of rice to cater to the needs of the Caraganons.

The province of Agusan del Norte has an available stock of 126,246 bags; Agusan del Sur – 330,229; Surigao del Norte – 254,689 and Surigao del Sur has 127,092.

ARD Magtrayo further said that the supply of rice is expected to increase on the last month of second quarter due to harvest season of farmers.

He also said that most of the imported rice available in the region is coming from Vietnam country.

NFA is vested the functions of ensuring the food security of the country and the stability of supply and price of the staple grain-rice. (PIA-Caraga)

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POEA-Caraga facilitates recruitment of skilled workers for employment abroad

By: Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, March 17 (PIA) –- The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) facilitated the conduct of the two-day recruitment initiated by Lefebvre Engineering FZC based in Hamriyah Free Zone, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates for OFWs who were displaced due to recent political conflicts and disasters abroad. 

In an interview with POEA-Caraga Regional Director Marietta Bellotindos, she said the two-day recruitment was able to interview 262 applicants coming from different provinces of the region.

Bellotindos also said the Managing Director of Lefebvre Engineering FZC, Mr. Pierre Lefebvre personally interviewed the applicants, for which successful applicants will be revealed within this week.

“This is a great opportunity for Caraganons since top official from the said company personally came here to undergo the recruitment process,” Bellotindos said.

The POEA Director also said qualified applicants are no longer required to have a placement fee “thus, this is really a rare opportunity for Caraganons especially those displaced workers from this region to be employed in this company,” she said.

Bellotindos further said Mr. Lefebvre already came here last November 2010 and was able to recruit a number of Caraganons. She said, when Lefebvre was asked on the status of those who were hired last year, he said Filipino workers are doing good in UAE which made their company decide to go back here in Caraga Region to recruit additional manpower for their company.

Accordingly, Lefebvre Engineering FCZ is recruiting 90 welders, fabricators, electricians, and machine operators. “Qualified applicants will be immediately hired and will sign a two-year contract with the company,” Bellotindos said.

Meanwhile, Dir. Bellotindos stressed that another series of recruitments will be scheduled this month for Caraga Region. (PIA-Caraga)


Agusan Norte delegate is Bb. Palaro 2011

By: Susil Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Mar. 17 (PIA) -- Crowd favorite Kathery Marie Paez of Agusan del Norte delegation was crowned Bb. Palaro 2011, held Monday evening, Mar. 14 at the Provincial Gymnasium.

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Paez, a top sports achiever bested the 8 equally-competitive stunners. She received P10,000 pesos cash and trophy. First runner -up was from the Surigao City delegation with P8,000 cash and trophy, Ronica Paler of Caraga Regional Science High School. The second runner-up went to the Surigao del Norte delegation, Marie Angelique Tugay, she received P6,000 cash and trophy.

Special awards were given to Yumi Ann Jumalon from Dinagat delegation for Best in Neo-Ethnic Attire and Best in Sportswear. Best in Talent and Best in Gown all went to Kathery Marie Tupaz of Agusan del Norte.

Around two thousand spectators witnessed the said prestigious event. The activity was also witnessed by no less than Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas with the full support of League of Municipal Mayors of the Phils. (LMP) President and Bacuag Mayor Sheila Mae Cebedo and Senior Board Member Myna Madelo Romarate. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Palarong Pampook 2011 Update: Agusan del Norte archer hits 1st spot

SURIGAO CITY, March 17 (PIA) - Hawk-like vision and unparalleled accuracy empowered Bryan Juanico of the Agusan del Norte delegation to snag the 1st place of both the 50 m and 30 m target shooting in the field of archery, held at the Caraga Regional Science High School Oval Tuesday, March 15 at 7:30 am.

Juanico, along with 18 other archers from the delegations of Agusan del Norte, Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat and Surigao del Sur, competed for 12 ends in the 50 m distance target shooting. Juanico’s stance and drawing power took him to an early lead halfway through the round with a partial score of 110. This was more than doubled when the game ended with Bryan Juanico having 222 as his final score. The 2nd and 3rd place were won by Joeciano Nicholas Mojica of Surigao del Sur and Michael Cumahig of Agusan del Norte.

In the 30 m shooting competition, Juanico concentrated even more to surpass his own personal record of 311 points. But some of his shots were starting to miss, however, Juanico still managed to get to the top of the game in the 12th end with a score of 269. His teammates, Michael Cumahig and Dennis Rosell Tupaz, got the 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.

The qualifiers have started training for the ½ FITA round to be held today in order to get to the finals. (Adrian Auditor/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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SSS to employers: “Avail penalty condonation program”

By: Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, March 17 (PIA) – Employers can now avail of the Social Security System (SSS) penalty condonation program for unremitted or delinquent short-term loan amortizations of employees.

This is the call of Ma. Raine Jamero, SSS Butuan Banch Manager during the taping on Wednesday of “Caraga in Focus,” a regular TV program of the Regional Office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Caraga.

According to Jamero, employees who have not paid their loans must inform their employers to avail of the program so that the employer’s loan records will be updated.

Also, Jamero said by availing the program, the short-term member loan privileges of their employees will be restored, subject to the existing guidelines on salary loan granting. 

“However, said privileges will again be suspended in the event of violation of any terms and conditions set by SSS,” Jamero added.

Further, Jamero said another benefit the employers can get in availing the program is that, their employees can fully enjoy their SSS benefits in times of contingencies.

The SSS condonation program is intended for employers who are delinquent in the remittance of their employees’ loan amortizations in salary, calamity, emergency, educational, special educational loan for Y2K conversion, stock investment and privatization fund.

This includes employers with pending or approved installment proposals under the Installment Payment Scheme of SSS. It also include employers with pending or approved applications to settle loan obligations through Dacion en Pago of the SSS, and those employees with pending cases before the SSC, Courts of the Office of the Prosecutor.

Moreover, Jamero said the program only applies to penalties on unremitted or delinquent loan amortizations including principal and interest due on or before April 1, 2010.

Modes of payment can be made by full or in installment basis. Full payment means payment of the full amount of delinquent loan within the period of implementation of the program.

Installment payment, on the other hand means payment in equal monthly installment not exceeding 24 months, total amount due shall bear interest rate of 3% per annum, and the current contribution and loan amortizations of employees shall be paid every month as they fall due. (PIA- Caraga)


PRC Agusan del Sur Chapter transfers to temporary office

By: David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, March 17 -- The Philippine Red Cross Agusan del Sur (PRC-AdS) Chapter today transferred to its temporary office at the Gov. D.O. Plaza Government Center in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, while the fund for land preparation of the new building will be released within this month.

According to PRC-AdS Medical Technologist Julie Lapides, the provincial government has already approved the release of P1M for the filling-up of the area where the new building of the Red Cross will be constructed. The land, with an area of 800 sq. meters is also donated by the provincial government, including the building that will cost P5 Million.

“PRC-AdS has to transfer to temporary office at the provincial capitol and soon to its new building because of the expansion of the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital and as everybody can see, it has already started its construction. Another 50 beds capacity building will soon rise right at the area where the PRC and the old barangay hall was located,” PRC administrator Crystelle Basan said.

According to Basan, she asked Dr. Esparagoza, Provincial Health Officer, if it is possible that they temporarily occupy a space at the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital, but when they look at the space, it cannot accommodate the facilities that the PRC-AdS have at present, so they have to temporarily occupy the office that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office DENR-PENRO) has vacated.

The PRC-AdS has been a close partner of the provincial government in life saving and relief and recovery operations. Last year, the Provincial Blood Coordinating Council led by the PRC-AdS has exceeded its target on blood collection with 2,693 bags against the target of 2,500.

According to record by the PRC-AdS, the blood collection mostly came from field donation where a team of medical technologists from the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH) led by Lolita Dumanon and PRC Agusan del Sur Chapter led by medical technologist Julie Lapides regularly conducting monthly blood collection by municipality. On record, field donation reached 2,428 bags, while replacement reached 120 bags, walk-in donors with 68 and patients directed to produce the needed blood, 77 bags. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)