(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Saturday, 09 November 2024) At 3:00 AM today, a Low Pressure Area was located based on all available data at 1,150 km East of Southeastern Luzon, (14.5°N, 115.8°E) TROPICAL CYCLONE OUTSIDE PAR AS OF 3:00 AM TODAY TYPHOON YINXING (2422) (FORMERLY MARCE) LOCATION: 500 KM WEST OF LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS MORTE (18.6N, 115.8E) MAXIMUM SUTAINED WIND: 155 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 190 KM/H MOVEMENT: WEST NORTHWESTWARD AT 20 KM/H. 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 Localized Thunderstorms. 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 NorthEast to North will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


PIA News Service - Wednesday, April 13, 2011

TESDA offers computer skills training

by Nora CL Molde

BUTUAN CITY, April 12 (PIA)
- The Rotary Club of Central Butuan in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga region is offering a five-day skills training on Computer-Aided Design (Auto- CAD 2D/3D) on April 25 to 29, this city.

According to National Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Competency Assessment and Certification (NATCAC) regional focal person Romel M. Natad, the training aims to provide participants’ acquire and upgrade their skills. 

Natad also said, after the training, participants will also be tendered with a free assessment by TESDA NATCAC. Successful passers will be awarded with National Certificate (NC) that could be used here and abroad.

A training fee of P5,500 will be charged to interested participants on a first come first serve basis.

TESDA is a government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical education and skills development. It provides direction, policies, programs and standards towards quality technical education and skill development. 

For more information on the training, direct queries to Romel Natad at cell number 0921-906-8093.
(PIA-Caraga)


Preparations up for 4th Siargao international game fishing tourney

SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Apr. 13 (PIA)
- Preparations are now in full gear for the 4th International Game Fishing Tournament which will be held on April 28 to May 1, 2011 in Pilar town, Siargao Island.

Pilar Mayor Lucio Gonzales, in an interview, revealed that at least 80 foreign and local anglers have already confirmed their participation in the four-day tournament.

“The participating anglers came from Sweden, Russia, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States (US), and the Philippines,” said Gonzales.

The anglers will be vying for the following categories, namely: 1. Main Category (Using outrigger boat) a. Biggest Billfish Category; b. Biggest Wahoo/Tanguigue; c. Biggest Talakitok; d. Biggest Dorado; e. Biggest Others except shark, stingrays, puffer fish, dolphin and turtles, 2. Open Category (Using private yacht or any fishing boat) a. Biggest Catch and b. Highest Total Catch.

Each entry should have a minimum size of 15 kilogram.

Gonzales said Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Alberto Lim is expected to witness the opening program.

Prior to the big event, Gov. Sol Matugas along with Mayor Gonzales will lead the launching of “Kalimpyo, Kahapsay, Kalinaw sa Siargao” on April 27 to be followed by a tree planting activity at the Municipal Tree Forest Park of Pilar. (FEAbkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)


LTFRB-Caraga assures PUJs, tricycle drivers of fuel aid

TANDAG CITY, April 13 (PIA) – The Land Transportation Office– Department of Transportation and Communications (LTO-DOTC) Caraga regional director Atty. Alim Pangandaman, concurrent chair of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Caraga assures both public utility jeepneys (PUJ) and tricycle drivers of fuel subsidy. 

Having in mind EO No. 32 or the Pantawid-Pasada Fuel Subsidy Program, Pangandaman told in his interview that all legitimate PUJs and tricycles are entitled to such state, and added that they have records of these passenger vehicles.

Also, according to an official statement from Malacanang, a monthly Smart Card amounting to P1,050 will be given to drivers of said vehicles. 

As of press time, Pangandaman admitted his office is still awaiting the mechanics/guidelines of the said order. (GTJ/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

168 pensioners receive P1,500 each from DSWD

by Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

TANDAG CITY, April 12 (PIA) – A total 168 pensioners from 21 barangays of this city received from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga cash amounting to P1,500 each for its beneficiaries covering the first quarter of this year (January to March), held today during the launching of DSWD’s Social Pension to senior citizens at Seasons Park Apartelle, this City.

DSWD-Caraga regional director Mercedita Jabagat who graced the occasion, said that the beneficiaries are indigent senior citizens, non pensioners of SSS, GSIS, and veterans, and are not supported by his/her children with the age of 77 - up can avail the program.

It gives the cash grant as additional lifetime benefits and privileges to qualified indigent senior citizens as augmentation for their daily subsistence and other medical needs, Dir. Jabagat added.

Accordingly, Social Pension is a National Government Program mandated under the Republic Act 9994 otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010". (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


SSS strives for fund perpetuity

MANILA, April 13 (PIA) - The Social Security System (SSS), striving to guarantee future benefits of members, has started to implement reforms to gradually bring back its fund life to perpetuity, a senior official said. 

"We are taking small steps towards our goal of having a perpetual fund or a fund life of at least 75 years," said SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros Jr.

He said since the SSS started in 1957 until September 2010, benefit payments of P734 billion exceeded contribution collections of P732 billion and "were it not for cumulated investment income of about P350 billion, the fund would have long been depleted." 
In the last actuarial valuation in 2007, the SSS fund life was estimated to last until 2039, a big drop from the valuation in 1980, which was then valued to last to perpetuity. 

De Quiros said pension benefits increased 21 times from 1980 to 2007 but the contribution rate was pegged at 8.4 percent for 23 years and was only increased to 9.4 percent in 2003 and to 10.4 percent in 2007. 

"We need to implement reforms, but we don’t want a drastic one-time increase in contribution," he said. "We prefer to do it gradually."

The Social Security Commission, the SSS governing board, has approved in principle a proposed increase in the contribution rate by 0.6 percent from 10.4 percent to 11 percent of the monthly salary and the maximum monthly salary credit, the ceiling that serves as basis for contribution payments, to P20,000 from P15,000.

The proposed increases would lengthen the fund life until 2046 and result to higher sickness, maternity, disability, retirement and death benefits and bigger short-term loan amounts for members. 

The 0.6 percent increase will be divided equally by the employer and employee. The employer share in the contribution will increase to 7.37 percent and the employee to 3.63 percent. 

Contributions are savings, an investment for the future, and should not be considered as expense, De Quiros said, adding that the proposed increase should not be lumped with rising cost of commodities. 

"We are still in the process of consulting our stakeholders. We will submit the results to the Social Security Commission and the proposed increases will be presented to MalacaΓ±ang for approval," De Quiros said. (SSS-Butuan City/PIA-Caraga)


NFA-Caraga intensifies palay procurement

BUTUAN CITY, April 12 - The National Food Authority (NFA) has intensified its average daily palay (paddy rice) procurement as the region’s harvest season starts.

Regional director Javier P. Lozada Jr. assured the public of the availability of NFA rice to last a few months despite the threat of prolonged rainy weather pattern this year.

NFA Caraga provincial offices are targeting to buy 69,300 bags for 2011. According to RD Lozada, the NFA has earmarked a total of P61 million for palay procurement for the whole year. The amount is higher than last year's procurement budget for the whole year when the agency was able to buy some 21,374 bags of palay.

Provincial offices within the region had already prepared its buying stations and warehouses for the procurement operations. Additional pick-up points were also installed.

ARD Camilo Magtrayo said that management expects the farmers to sell their produce to NFA and avail of the government’s better price.

At present, the NFA buys palay from farmers at P17 per kilogram. The agency gives additional incentives for drying and transport, each worth 20 centavos per kilogram. On top of these, a 30-centavo per kilogram incentive is granted to members of farmer cooperatives for the post-harvest buildup of their organizations.The grant of these incentives brings the agency's effective palay buying price to P885 per 50 kg.

He then urged the public to send their comments, suggestions, queries, and complaints in case of rice diversion, rebagging, and overpricing to NFA office at (085) 342-7898. (CP, NFA/PIA-13)


Cebuano News: NSPC 2011 makatabang sa pagpalambo sa turimo sa Caraga – Konsehal Dano

ni Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, April 13 (PIA) – Giangkon dili pa lang dugay ni Butuan City Councilor Erwin Dano nga ang ginahimong National Schools Press Conference makatabang sa pagpalambo sa turismo sa rehiyon sa Caraga, ilabi na gayud dinhi sa dakbayan sa Butuan.

Sa gihimong pakighinabi sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA), gibutyag sa batan-ong konsehal nga bisan nakasugakod og sunod-sunod nga problema ang dakbayan u gang rehiyon tungod sa mga pagbaha nga nahitabo sa unang quarter ni’ng tuiga, gipaningkamotan gayud sa mga opisyales sa dakbayan uban sa rehiyon nga buhatan sa Department of Education (DepEd) tungod kay nakita ang dakong impact sa maong kalihukan ilabi na gayud ang pag-promote sa turismo sa maong rehiyon.

Gidugang ni Dano nga ang dakbayan sa Butuan naila nga usa ka historical city og gina-promote sa lokal nga panggamhanan ang “historical tourism” tungod kay nakita niini ang dakong potensyal sa pag-uswag sa panginabuhian sa mga lumulupyo ni’ng dakbayan.

Tungod niini, matud sa maong opisyal, ang mga delegado sa maong nasudnong kumpetisyon nga mga campus journalists mamahimong makatabang sa pag-promote sa dakbayan og sa rehiyon pinaagi sa ilang pagahimuon nga mga articles sama sa straight news o kaha feature, si Dano nagkanayon.

“Ang dakbayan sa Butuan ug ang ubang kasingpit nga probinsya ni’ng rehiyon naga-promote og industriya sa turismo, ug ang atong pag-host niini nga nasudnong kalihukan makatabang gyud og dako sa promotion nga mga kalihukan usab sa atong turismo,” salmot ni Dano.

Gidugang ni Dano nga ang maong kalihukan usab makatabang sa mga negosyante ni’ng dakbayan tungod kay aduna’y mga potential customers nga mamahimong mupalit sa ilang mga produkto.

Ang tinuig nga kumpetisyon sa mga campus journalists gibuksan niadtong Lunes, Abril 11 ug matapos sa adlawn’g Biyernes, Abril 15. (PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano news: DA mipasalig igo ang supply nga bugas sa atong nasod

by Susil Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, April 13 (PIA) - Ang atong gobyerno kampante nga adunay igong supply nga bugas ang atong nasod sukwahi sa nauna ng gibalita.

Sa usa ka press briefing didto sa MalacaΓ±ang niadtong Martes, si Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala miingon nga ang atong nasod adunay igong supply sa bugas sukwahi sa gikahadlokang posibleng pagkulang sa supply niini nga maoy makapa-aghat kayagaw ug mamahimong isyu sa atong nasodnong seguridad nga kono gibalita sa National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

“Sana po ay makatulong naming kayo (media) para sabihin po sa ating mga kababayan na huwag silang mag-alala sapagkat wala pong mangyayaring pagkukulang ng butil na bigas sa ating bansa,” Si Alcala miingon.

Si Alcala miingon, nga wala sila makadawat og bisan unsang report gikan sa NICA, dugang pa niya sa dihang ila kining gi-verify, ang NICA nanghimakak nga sila nag pagawas niini aron mawala na kining maong isyu nga pagkulang kono sa supply sa bugas.

Si Alcala miingon, nga kung itandi niadtong miaging tuig ang ani sa dry season nga 6.6 million metric tons, ang gobyerno mi target ug at least 7.6 million metric tons karong tuiga o 15 porseyento nga usbaw sa harvest.

Ang dry season naglangkob lamang sa duha ka quarters sa tuig. Si Alcala nag-ingon nga ang kinatibuk-ang projected nga ani sa 2011 mokabat 17.46 million metric tons o mas taas pa sa gipaabot nga usbaw sa ani karong dry season.
(PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano News: Mag-uuma ug mangingisda apil na sa fuel subsidy

by Susil Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, April 13 (PIA) - Pagkahuman sa pampasaherong jeepney ug tricycles, ang mga mag-uuma ug mangingisda apil na sa fuel subsidy nga ipanghatag ni Presidente Aquino aron pagkunhod sa epekto sa nagkataas nga presyo sa imported nga produktong petrolyo ngadto sa transport setor ug food producers.

Si Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala Jr., mihimo niining maong anunsiyo Martes sa hapon atol sa press briefing didto sa Malakanyang, iyang giingon nga ang listahan sa mga farmers and fisherfolks benificiaries gisumetir na didto sa opisina ni Energy Secretary Rene Almendras.

Siya nag-ingon nga ang listahan sa mga benipisyaryo gikuha gikan sa rekord nga nakarehistro sa Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) samtang ang listahan sa mga tractors ug irrigation pumps gikuha gikan sa registered traders ug sa nagkalain-laing municipal agriculturists sa tibuok nasod.

Si Alcala miingon nga iya gyud dayong gisumetir ang mga listahan ngadto sa opsina ni Secretary Almendras pagkahuman mapresinta ang proposal nga maghatag ug fuel assistance ngadto sa pampublikong Transportation Industry didto sa gabinete.

“Right after mai-present sa cabinet meeting ni Secretay Almendras ay may instruction na siya sa akin na ihabol yung listahan, kaya nag collate na kami,” sulti ni Alcala.

“Nung mag-announce na magbibigay ng subsidy hindi naman kami (Department of Agriculture) pumayag na iwanan namin yung mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda,” dugang pa niya.

Si Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.,dili pa lang dugay nag-ingon nga ang Executive Department pwedeng mo hangyo sa mga “wealthy” local government units pagtabang sa contingency funds aron sa subsidy expansion sa maong programa.

Bag-ohay pa lamang ang Presidente mipagawas ug Executive Order No. 32 nga nag mugna sa Public Transport Assistance program (PTAP) o ang nailhan nga Pantawid Pasada program sa gobyerno nga naggahin ug pasiunang P450.000 million aron pagtabang sa mga transport group sa atong nasod. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano News: Konsehal sa Butuan, mipasalig sa seguridad sa mga delegado sa NSPC

ni Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, April 13 (PIA) – Mapasaligon si Konsehal Erwin Dano ni’ng dakbayan sa seguridad sa mga campus journalists nga kasamtangan’g ania karon sa dakbayan aron sa pagsalmot sa tinuig nga National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) kung diin ang dakbayan sa Butuan mao’y mapasigarbuhon nga mi-host sa maong kalihukan.

Sa gihimong pakighinabi sa Philippine Information Agency, gi-angkon sa maong batan-ong opisyal nga bisan and siyudad malinawon apan gihingusgan gayud ang seguridad sa korpo sa kapulisan tungod kay mukabat sa 4,000 ka mga delegado nga naggikan sa 17 ka mga rehiyon sa nasud ang nagtigi sa kaalam sa journalism.

“Gusto namo’ng masiguro ang seguridad ug kaluwasan sa mga delegado samtang ani-a sila dinhi sa atong dakbayan aron sa maong tinuig nga kumpetisyon,” si Konsehal Dano nagkanayon.

Ang maong opisyal usab nagkanayon nga ang City Police Office pinaagi ni PSSupt. Jose Carillo ang gihatagan na og instructions ni Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. nga kanunay mapangandamon ug isiguro and kaluwasan sa mga bisita pinaagi sa pagbutang og mga miyembro sa kapulisan ilabi na gayud sa may sentrong bahin sa dakbayan kung diin gipahiluna ang billeting headquarters sa mga delegado og sa mismong venue sa maong kumpetisyon.

“Ato gyud i-project ang impression sa mga delegado nga ang atong dakbayan malinawon og tanang mga bisita nga gusto muanhi dinhi safety,” nagkanayon si Konsehal Dano. Dugang pa sa maong opisyal, tungod niini, mamahimong maka-aghat ang maong nasyunal nga aktibidades og mga future investors.

Ang NSPC ang pinakataas nga ang-ang sa kumpetisyon sa panulat nga diin pagasalmotan matag tuig sa mga estudyante sa pampubliko og pribadong tulunghaan sa nasud. (PIA-Caraga)