(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 04 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "JULIAN" {KRATHON} was estimated based on all available data at 240 km North Northwest of Itbayat, Batanes (22.6°N, 120.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It is almost stationary. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Southwest to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


PIA News Service - Sunday, April 24, 2011

PIA-Caraga’s SMS strategy works

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 24 (PIA) -- “Because the public has the right to know and the right to access information in a timely, accurate, and relevant manner,” was the answer of Abner Caga, Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Caraga OIC when asked by local mediamen here on the significance of the short messaging system (SMS) better known to the public as texting and its use as the information dissemination strategy of the PIA.

In a roundtable discussion marking the office’s launching of the “share-an-info” campaign held recently at PIA-Caraga, Caga emphasized that texting is a big boost in the updating of situations in real time and its significance in the quick response of concerned government agencies.

Caga pointed out that the SMS is one of the fastest means of transmitting and receiving information. It is also inexpensive. Unbeknownst to many, texting could save lives through the dissemination of critical information. It can pinpoint situations that print could not. It is also fast, reliable, and accurate, for as long as the recipient and receivers are members of a communication group ready to send and receive relevant information anytime, anywhere.

As a matter of fact, said Caga, PIA-Caraga recipients also gave the mobile numbers of their friends and relatives to PIA and requested to include them as recipients of critical information.

Furthermore, information officers of other government agencies and the local government units are among the recipients of PIA information dissemination. They voluntarily share any information from their workplaces that will serve as SMS input to be sent to all the PIA recipients.

During the spate of floodings in Caraga early this year, PIA-Caraga’s SMS recipients also played important roles in disseminating information on the status of the road networks in the region.

The monitoring of the water level in Agusan River through the LGUs were also texted by local chief executives to PIA for airing in the region. “Information was immediately aired by broadcasters who were on-board during the time they received the SMS,” Caga explained.

Further, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (RDRRMC) Disaster Update, including the PAGASA update, and even the status of the flight and ship schedules, through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) were also texted to PIA for dissemination.

“Through this strategy, we were able to create networks of SMS recipients and through these relevant information, we were able to help the community especially during a disaster,” Caga explained.

In a separate interview, Fr. John Christian Young, president of Father Saturnino Urios University here said that through PIA’s SMS, it seems that the recipients readily tuned-in their radios, television sets, and were so involved as to read the newspapers every hour, every minute, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

As of March 31, PIA-Caraga was able to have 603 SMS recipients to include religious organizations, non-government organizations, student leaders, academe, AFP and PNP officials and personnel, regional line agencies, LGUs, local and national media correspondents in Caraga, and government information officers in the region, among others. (PIA 13, Caraga)


IPs converged in Surigao del Sur for peace and unity

by Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

DIATAGON, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, Apr. 24 (PIA) –- In its effort to uphold unity among tribesmen, the Indigenous Peoples (IP) of Surigao del Sur converged in an activity dubbed as Kahimunan 2011 held recently at Km. 16 of this town which is part of the Andap Valley comprising the municipalities of San Agustin, Marihatag and this municipality.

According to Larry TaΓ±ola, newly elected president and spokesperson of the group said the activity is aimed at uniting the four IP tribes composed of Manobo, Mamanwa, Mandaya and the Higaonon, and discussed the present status in accordance with the Indigenous People's Rights Act particularly on the issue of their ancestral domain. TaΓ±ola said most of them are now leaving the areas due to the threat of Communist People's Party/New Pople's Army (CPP/NPA).

In a discussion with the local media here, the group said what they want is peace in the area particularly in Andap Valley, where the IPs claim as their ancestral domain (yutang kabilin) land. The group presented several lists of their leaders’ Datus and civilians who were victims of killings allegedly perpetrated by CPP/NPA in the province.

According to the IPs, they are the ones suffering the most as civilians every time there is combat operation conducted by the government troops against the CPP/NPA.

The IPs are also complaining on their claim of ancestral domain. Accordingly, most of the areas are now owned by migrant people, referring the Samilla Corporation, a logging company operating in the area.

Having informed of the complaint, National Commission of Indigenous People's (NCIP) Provincial Officer Engr. Charlyn Binghoy said the IPs in the said community must unite as their office is always willing to assist them for any legal actions with regards to the issuance of title of the said ancestral domain.

Binghoy said to date, six Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) were already approved by the NCIP in Surigao del Sur and their office is still looking into the other applications for CADT issuances.

The said activity was facilitated by the Philippine Army who secured the area, where accordingly, most of the IPs who joined the activity received death threats prior to the conduct of the Kahimunan.

Kahimunan is a local term which means gathering and the IPs intentionally converged in a place where several IPs have been displaced before to serve as eye opener to the community that progress and prosperity will be achieved if there is unity among them.

According to the lumads, the place is a battleground of the military and the Communist Party of the Philippine/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) for more than a decade now.

The provincial government of Surigao del Sur thru Governor Johnny Pimentel made efforts in mobilizing the participants using the LGU’s dump trucks to transport the IPs to and from the area. (PIA Surigao del Sur)


Tagalog News: Hepe ng PRO-13 nagpasalamt kay Cong. Aquino sa ibinigay nitong 14 bagong armas sa BCPO

ni Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 24 -- Malaking pasalamat ni PCSupt. Reynaldo Rafal, Regional Director ng Police Regional Office-13 kay Congressman Jose “Joboy” Aquino ng unang distrito ng probinsya ng Agusan del Norte sa ibinigay nitong 14 na bagong armas sa Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) kamakailan lamang.

Sa ginawang simpleng programa na ginanap sa PRO-13 Conference Room sa camp Rafael Rodriguez, Libertad, siyudad ng Butuan, binigay ni Dir. Rafal ang kaniyang taos-pusong pasasalamat sa nasabing opisyal na nakilala bilang isa sa mga crime busters ng siyudad.

Binigyang ng military Side Honor si Cong. Aquino ng mga kasapi ng 13th Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) bago niya pormal na ibinigay kay Supt. Rafal ang 14 na M16 (M4) rifles.

Matapos tanggapin ni Rafal ang mga nasabing armas, pormal din niya itong ibinigay kaagad kay PSupt. Francisco Dungo, BCPO’s Deputy City Director for Operations, pagkatapos ng ginawang paglalagda ng Deed of Donation.

Sa kaniyang pananalita, sinabi ni Rafal na ang mga ibinigay na mga high-powered rifles ni Cong. Aquino ay may malaking maitutulong sa mga kawani ng PRO-13 kung saan napasailalim nito ang pangagasiwa sa BCPO upang mapalakas ang kanilang operasyon at kapasidad sa pagsugpo ng iba’t-ibang krimen sa siyudad matapos nitong mabuo PNP BCPO’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team nu’ng mga nakaraang buwan.

Samantala, sa kaniyang talumpati, pinangakuan ni Cong. Aquino ang PRO-13 at BCPO ng kaniyang walang humpay na suporta at sinabing ito ang isa sa kaniyang mga prayoridad bilang opisyal ng unang distrito ng Agusan del Norte at isa sa mga nabigyan ng responsibilidad na sugpuin ang krimen na nangyayari sa kaniyang distrito.

Nangako rin si Aquino na magbigay ng anim na multicabs upang magamit ng puwersa ng kapulisan ng BCPO na maipalaganap ang seguridad ng mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng police visibility. Sinabi ni Aquino na ibibigay niya ang mga nasabing sasakyan bago matapos ang taong ito.

Matatandaang namigay din ng mga multicabs ang nasabing mambabatas sa 86 na mga barangay dito sa siyudad ng Butuan at ng Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte upang magamit bilang service vehicle ng mga nasabing barangay lalung-lalo na sa panahon ng emergency. Ang siyudad ng Butuan at Las Nieves ang bumubuo ng unang distrito ng Agusan del Norte.

Dumalo sa turn-over ceremony ang mga miyembro ng PRO-13 Command Group, ilang matataas na opisyal ng PNP sa rehiyon ng Caraga sampu ng kanilang mga personahe at mga miyembro ng BCPO PNP SWAT Team. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Katahom sa kinabuhi, maaninaw sa pagkabanhaw ni Hesus - CBCP Pres.

BUTUAN CITY, Abr. 24 -- “Tuguti nga ang matag-kasing-kasing, dili mubati og kagubot. Pagpuyo sa kalinaw tungod kay karong adlawa, ang katahom sa kinabuhi mu-aninag sa pagkabanhaw sa Diyos.”

Kini ang Easter message ni Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) ug Tandag Archbishop Nereo Odchimara sa katawhan sa pagsaulog sa pagkabanhaw sa atong Manluluwas nga si Jesukristo.

Matud ni Odchimar, ang kinatibuk-ang Kristiyanismo naghandom karon sa mahimayaong kalihukan sa Pagkabahnhaw kon Easter. Sa Kristuhanong tradisyon, ang Easter mao ang pinakasayo’ng kapistahan sa Simbahan nga kanunay'ng gisa-ulog sa tanang adlaw'ng Dominggo sa kinatibuk-ang liturhikanhong tuig.

“Kini nga kapistahan n ga naila’ng inahan sa tanang mga piyesta, espesyal nga gisa-ulog sa pagtapos sa Semana Santa og Sacred Triduum, og nagtimaan sa sinugdanan sa Easter Season kon panahon sa Pagkabanhaw,” si Odchimar nagkanayon.

Gidugang sa pangulo sa CBCP nga alang sa mga Kristiyanos, ang wala'y hunong nga selebrasyon sa Easter mahinungdanon kaayo tungod kay kini nga okasyon mag-aghat man sa matag-tumutuo pagpamalandong sa pinaka-maayong pagpadayag sa gugma sa Diyos kansa hingpit nga gipakita ni Kristo kinsa namatay tungod sa sala sa katawhan og subling nabuhi aron pagparot sa gikahadlukang kamatayon.

“Niining masadyaong okasyon, ang matag-usa ilabina kadtong nagsubo og nagmamingawon, aron saksihan ang kahayag sa kaadlawon og aron subling puy-an ang mga kalipay og konswelo nga dala sa kada-ugan sa kinabuhi,” ang pagtapos ni Odchimar.

Sa laing bahin, bisan sa kadaot sa panahon nga nahi-aguman sa pipila ka lugar dinhi sa Caraga Region, malampuson guihapon ang gihimong pagsaulog sa Dominggo sa pagkabanhaw sa atong Ginoo.

Nagkalain-laing paagi sa pag-pahigayon og Easter Mass ang ginahimo sa nagkalain-laing parokya ni’ng rehiyon. Alas tres pa lang sayo sa kaadlawon, wala panumbalinga sa mga katawhan ang kalapok nga mipatigbabaw sa mga nag-una’ng karsada ni’ng dakbayan mahitungod sa walay pu-as usab nga pag-ulan-ulan nga nasinatian dinhi ni’ng nakalabay’ng mga adlaw, aron lamang sa pagsaksi sa pagahimuon nga “Sugat” sa matag parokya, samtang ang uban usab ato-a karon sa mga beach resorts aron sa pagsaulog sa pagkabanhaw ni Kristong Hesus.

Sa pagkakaron, nahibalu-ang wala’y naitala nga mga dagkong panghitabo atol sa pagsaulog sa Easter Sunday. (BR/PIA-Caraga)