(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 19 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds coming from Northeast to North will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


PIA News Service - Monday, April 18, 2011

NYC commends Agusan Sur hostage-taking crisis management team

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, April 18 (PIA) -- Following the hostage-taking incident that resulted in the safe release of the 13 hostages in Agusan del Sur, the National Youth Commission (NYC) commended the crisis management team of the province for the peaceful resolution of the incident.

In a resolution sponsored by NYC Commissioners Earl Saavedra and co- Laurence Arquiza, stated that the role of the Crisis Management Team is worthy of commendation considering that it focused solely in negotiating for the safe release without ransom of those held captives.

“Thus, the team must be commended for its commitment to uphold social order after its successful efforts in saving the lives of civilians and upholding self-sacrifice amidst danger and threats so that liberty be given to those who seek it,” the official said. Meanwhile, the official said the crisis management team headed by Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza and Prosperidad Mayor Albin Magdamit acknowledged the commendation of NYC. (PIA-Caraga)


Greening program lures 500 participants at Mt. Mayapay

BUTUAN CITY, April 18 -- More than 500 volunteers and environment advocates from 50 stakeholders of the Mt. Mayapay Rehabilitation Task Force (MMRTF) joined the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in planting 10,000 dipterocarp seedlings in the iconic Mt. Mayapay in Barangay Nongnong, this city, Friday.

This year’s first leg trek to rehabilitate the heavily deforested mountain coincided with the launching of the National Greening Program (NGP) which seeks to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide in six years from 2011 to 2016, as outlined by the February 1, 2011 Executive Order No. 26 of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

The massive tree planting activity covering Block 18 of the military reservation area in Barangay Nongnong, this city also marks year 2011 as the “National Year of the Forests” as declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 125 on March 15, 2011.

Musa C. Saruang, Regional Technical Director for Forest Management of DENR-13 who represented RED Leonardo R. Sibbaluca said the “Year of the Forests” aims to raise the level of awareness of the people worldwide on sustainable forest management, conservation and development already shown by the convergence of volunteers from the government, non-government, business, academe and religious sectors and the police and armed forces.

The DENR official said volunteers throughout Caraga region are simultaneously planting and re-greening the mountains and every area available in pursuit of NGP and IYF.

Saruang also said that last week, the Butuan City government in cooperation with the DENR and all government and private sectors have conducted the roadside re-greening project dubbed “Balanghayan – Grow a Million Tree” as contribution to the NGP.

“The NGP is not only about planting trees, it is also about doing our share in caring for nature like properly disposing, recycling and reusing waste and the sustainable use of our limited resources” RTD Saruang said adding that the rains and slippery path did not dampen the hearts of the participants.

As this developed, six departments of the national government met on April 15, 2011 for the 1st Consultative Summit on the National Greening Program (NGP) to prepare for the formal launch of the campaign to plant 1.5 billion trees until 2016.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje said the one-day summit, held at the Social Hall of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City, involve the civil society, academe, private sector and other stakeholders.

Six departments are leading in the implementation of the NGP which are the DENR, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD).

"The Summit is a high-level forum for all the stakeholders taking part in the National Greening Program from both the government and the private sector to address critical issues related to identifying opportunities for both sides to work closer and more efficiently not only to rehabilitate of our denuded upland areas but also reduce poverty, promote food security and mitigate the impacts of climate change," said Paje.

President Aquino issued Executive Order No. 26 on February 24, 2011 and established the NGP as a national priority aimed not only to reforest 1.5 million hectares of land but also to promote a sustained environmental awareness campaign in the face of the deleterious effects of climate change.

Earlier, Mr. Aquino issued Executive Order No. 23 that banned logging in natural and residual forests nationwide.

DA Secretary Prospero Alcala and DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes graced the occasion as keynote speakers while DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Chairman Roque Agton, Jr. gave their statements of commitments to the program.

Specifically, the summit aims to: Get inputs on how to raise national awareness, knowledge and appreciation of the NGP; solicit commitments from all stakeholders identified in EO 26 in promoting the NGP; organize and build a network of NGP advocates from various sectors such as government line agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, civil society, academe and media, and set up the National Environment Stewardship Advisory Services (NESAS) which will lay down the groundwork for the advocacy and social mobilization activities and pave the way for establishing the Local Environment Stewardship Advisory Services (LESAS) at the regional level. (Ronnel Calo with reports from the Public Affairs Office, DENR Central)


Cebuano News: 1 sa top 10 most wanted person sa Surigao City, nadakpan sa kapulisan

BUTUAN CITY, April 18 (PIA) - Nasikop sa intelligence personnel sa Surigao City Police Precinct 2 ang usa sa top 10 most wanted person sa maong siyudad human kini nasapon sa may Purok 5, Sitio Tagbangkaan, Brgy. Orok, bag-ohay palang.

Nasikop ang 25-anyos nga ulitawong si Dindo Virtudazo base na usab sa alias warrant of arrest nga gi-isyu ni Judge Evangeline Yuipco Bayana-executive judge sa Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 32 sa kasong murder nga wala'y girekomendang pyansa alang sa iyang temporaryong kagawasan.

Gikostudiya na karon ang suspek sa Surigao City Police Station alang sa tukmang disposisyon. (BR - PIA 13, Caraga)


Cebuano News: Lokal nga panggamhanan sa dakbayan sa Butuan gilatid ang pagpatuman sa seguridad sa Semana Santa

ni Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 18 (PIA) -- Kalabot sa pagaulog sa semana santa kung diin nagsugod na kini kagahapong adlawa, Dominggo pinaagi sa ginatawag nga “Bendita sa Lukay” (Palm Sunday), gilatid sa dakbayan ang mga buluhaton niini aron subling ipatuman ang hugot nga seguridad sa katawhan.

Sa pakighinabi sa usa sa mga lokal nga estasyon sa radyo ni’ng dakbayan karong buntag, gibutyag ni City Councilor Ryan Anthony Culima nga ang lokal nga panggamhanan pinaagi ni City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. mimando sa buhatan sa city police pinaagi ni PSSupt. Jose Carillo aron hugot gayud nga ipatuman ang seguridad sa katawhan pinaagi sa pagbutang og mga kapulisan sa mga lugar kung diin ipahimutang ang mga nagkadaiyang kalihukan atol sa pagsaulog ni’ng semana santa.

Gibutyag sa maong opisyal nga ang tinuig nga relihiyosong kalihukan nagatigum og dul-ang libu-libo ka mga debotante gikan sa nagkalain-laing religious sector ilabi na gayud ang simbahang katoliko.

Tungod niini, si Culima nagkanayon nga gikinahanglan gayud ang police visibility sa mga nagkadaiyang lugar ilabi na sa mga simbahan kung diin nagkalain-laing kalihukan usab ang ginabuhat sa matag parokya. “Ug tungod kay magkadungan-dungan man ang mga kalihukan, gikinahanglan nga aduna gayud ang presensya sa atong kapulisan sa matag parokya,” si Culima nagkanayon.

Ang Diocese sa Butuan namugna niadtong Marso 20, 1967 nga naglukop sa probinsya sa Agusan del Norte ug Agusan del Sur, kung diin ang titulong patron niini mao si Señor San Jose nga mao usab ang patron sa dakbayan sa Butuan.

Dinhi sa dakbayan, ang diocese nagalangkop sa walo ka mga parokya: St. Joseph Cathedral, Christ the King Parish sa Brgy. Tungao, Holy Cross Parish sa Brgy. Ampayon, Holy Redeemer Parish sa Langihan, Sto. Niño Parish sa Brgy. Libertad, Immaculate Concepcion Parish sa St. Joseph Subdivision, Our Lady of the Light Parish sa Brgy. Bading, ug ang St. Ezekiel Moreno Parish sa Brgy. Baan.

Kung mahinumduman, ang korpo sa kapulisan ni’ng dakbayan gimanduan usab ni Mayor Amante niadtong milabay’ng semana sa pagpatuman sa hugot nga seguridad alayon sa pag-host niini sa 2011 National Schools Press Conference, ang tinuig nga kalihukan sa mga campus journalists sa nasud, kung diin ang DepEd-Caraga mao’y nagpasi-ugda sa maong nasudnong kalihukan nga gibuksan niadtong Lunes, Abril 11 ug natapos niadtong adlaw’ng Biyernes, Abril 15. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Herbosa, bag-ong hepe sa Securities and Exchange Commission

ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, April 18 (PIA) -- Gitudlo ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang abogadong si Teresita Herbosa isip bag-ong hepe sa Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Kini gikumpirma ni Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigael Valte sa pakighinabi sa Radyo ng Bayan niadtong Sabado.

“Yes that is confirmed. We are supposed to announce it today, that Teresita Herbosa is the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Department of Trade and Industry,” si Valte miingon dihang siya gipangutana sa pag kumpirma sa mga gibalita sa mga mantalaan kalabot sa maong appointment.

Si Valte usab mi-anunsyo ug mikumpirma sa pagtudlo kang kanhi Commission on Election Chairman Jose Melo isip miyembro sa board of directors sa Clark Development Corp. Si Herbosa maoy mopuli kang SEC chairman Fe Barin, nga nahimong SEC chairperson niadtong Septyembre 1, 2004.

Si Herbosa nga experto sa pagresulbar sa mga bikil, maoy co-managing partner sa Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Office (ACCRA). Siya maoy nangulo sa law firm’s Litigation Department sukad niadtong 1993 hangtod 2003.

Si Herbosa migraduwar sa University of the Philippines sa Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, ug Bachelor of laws degree, cum laude.

Niadtong 1980, siya mikuha sa iyang Master of Comparative Law degree didto sa University of Michigan Law School, Ann Harbor, Michigan.

Ang bag-ong SEC chairperson usa ka professional lecturer on remedial law didto sa College of Law sa University of the Philippines.

Ang SEC chairman ug commissioners, isip presidential appointees, adunay termino nga moluntad sa pito ka tuig. (PIA-Surigao Norte)


Cebuano News: NYC, mihatag pasidungog sa Agusan del Sur hostage-taking crisis management team

ni Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, April 18 (PIA) -- Human ang nahitabo’ng hostage-taking nga miresulta sa pagbuhi sa 13 ka mga hostages sa probinsya sa Agusan del Sur niadtong milabay nga mga semana, ang National Youth Commission (NYC) mihatag og pasidungog sa hostage-taking crisis management team.

Ang resolusyon nga pinirmahan sa mga dagko’ng opisyal sa maong ahensiya ug gimugna pinaagi nila ni NYC Commissioner Earl Saavedra ug gi-co-sponsor usab ni Commissioner Steve Laurence Arquiza, nagabutyag nga ang NYC nagatuo nga ang prinsipyo sa kalinaw mao’y pinakadako ug pinaka-importante nga parte sa pagpauswag sa katilingban ilabi na ang mga hisgutanan kalabot ang mga kabatan-onan.

Gipanguluhan ni G. Leon Flores III, chairman ug chief executive officer sa maong ahensiya sa panggamhanan, ang maong pasidungog nagasuporta sa mga pagpaningkamot sa nasudnong panggamhanan sa pagsugpo sa terrorismo isip parte sa Mindanao Agenda pinaagi sa pag-implementar sa mkga programa ug proyekto nga nagatutok sa mga dialogo sa nagkalain-laing sector sa katilingban, consultasyon sa kalinaw, emersions, ug pag-reporma sa mga batasan o kinaiya.

Nagkanayon ang maong opisyal nga ang nahitabo’ng hostage-crisis sa Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur niadtong Abril 1 nakahatag og alarma sa commission, butang kung diin hugtanon gyud kining gi-kondena sa maong ahensiya.

Subli’ng gibarogan sa commission ang ilang pagkondena sa grupo nila ni Ondo Perez kansa mao usab ang nahimong mga suspetsado sa pagdagit sa dul-ang 75 ka mga inosenteng katawhan sa maong munisipyo sa Agusan del Sur.

Sa maong mga panghitabo, nakita sa pamunuan sa NYC nga angayan gyud nga hatagan og pasidungog ang mga miyembrong naglangkop sa Crisis Management Team tungod kay kini gitutukan pag-ayo sa maong grupo ang pag-negosyar sa luwas nga pagbuhi sa maong gipangdagit nga walay ransom nga gihatag isip bugti sa kaluwasan sa mga biktima.

Gi-asoy usab sa maong NYC Chairman ug CEO nga personal gyud sila nga mi-adto sa maong lugar niadtong Sabado, Abril 16 aron ipadangat ang maong pasidungog. (PIA-Caraga)



NYC supports RH Bill

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 18 -- In a two-page resolution adopted on April 11, 2011, the National Youth Commission (NYC) expresses its support to the legislation and implementation of a National Policy on Reproductive Health.

As a prime mover in inclusive youth development, the NYC stresses its responsibility to promote and protect the physical, intellectual, and social well-being of the Filipino youth; and in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs 2015), the Commission pushes for the improvement of maternal health by reducing maternal mortality and increasing access to reproductive health services.

The NYC rests its decision to support the RH Bill from the youth development study conducted by the commission which acknowledges that there is a need to ensure the acceptability, accessibility, availability, and affordability of culturally and gender-sensitive/responsive health services and facilities for adolescents and youth; and from the resolution adopted by the 7th National Youth Parliament, convened by the NYC in 2008, that urges the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the 14th Philippine Congress to approve RH Bill.

The NYC does not encourage young pregnancies; it does however recognize the study of the State to provide the youth with proper reproductive health information and life-saving services, states in its resolution. (NYC/PIA-Caraga)


NYC launches 9th search for TAYO

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 18 -- The National Youth Commission (NYC) recently announced the opening of the ninth search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO).

Hailed as the country’s leading search for outstanding organizations of young Filipinos that are instrumental in the development of the country through simple, worthwhile and notable projects implemented in their communities, TAYO Awards is open to interested youth groups, organizations, clubs and societies whose membership and leadership are composed of at least 15 members who are 15-30 years old.

At stake is a cash grant of P50,000.00 which will be given each to ten youth organizations nationwide, who will be declared as winners.

TAYO 9 was launched in ceremonies coinciding with the release of the book entitled “[R]evolutionaries”. This book commemorates the first six years of the TAYO search, and contains the inspiring stories of some of the TAYO awardees.

This year, TAYO aims to be more accessible online, with a newly-updated website, www.tayoawards.net. Interested youth organizations cannot only access information about TAYO and the search on the site, they can also submit their entry forms there.

In the interest of having a paperless search, the TAYO secretariat will be accepting entries sent online. This also opens the search to more organizations from a wider area and cuts down on mailing or transportation costs.

Interested applicants may also download the entry forms at www.nyc.gov.ph. Applicants may as tetxt 0917 TXT-TAYO (898-8296) or e-mail tayo.secretariat@gmail.com for information about the TAYO search. Deadline for submission of entries is on July 31, 2011.

TAYO is presented by Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc., organized by NYC, TAYO Awards Foundation and the Office of Senator Kiko Pangilinan. It is being supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, and the Philippine Center for Young Leaders in Governance. (NYC/PIA-Caraga)