(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of 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.


PIA News Service - Wednesday, May 18, 2011

May 19 is special non-working holiday in Butuan

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, May 18 (PIA) – It's a special non-working holiday here tomorrow (Thursday) as the the city marks the celebration of the Balangay Festival in honor of the feast of its Patron Saint, St. Joseph the worker.

Proclamation No. 166 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. by authority of President Benigno S. Aquino III was issued so that the people of the city can be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the festivities.

Highlighting tomorrow’s festival is the Balangay Theater Float Parade Competition at the city’s Sports Complex.

Unlike the usual street dancing competition, the theater float parade requires participants to perform theatrical presentation right on the float depicting the rich cultures and traditions of the city as reflected in the construction of Balangay boat, the first wooden watercraft ever excavated in Southeast Asia.

Also known as the Butuan boat, this artifact is evidence of early Filipino craftsmanship and their seamanship skills during pre-colonial times.

According to the City Tourism Council, big cash prizes await the winners.

Moreover, a synchronized Manobo dancing will be conducted with around 2,000 participants coming from the different sectors dancing to the drumbeats of Manobo tunes and music. This will serve as an intermission number during the lunch break. (PIA-Caraga)


LGUs in Surigao del Sur get Pantawid Pasada checks for trike franchisees

by Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, May 18 (PIA) – The Provincial Office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Surigao del Sur have already handed out recently the fuel subsidy checks for tricycles to all Local Government Units (LGUs) concerned.

According to DILG Provincial Director Pedrito Alacaba, 12 out of 19 LGUs are entitled to Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) or the Pantawid Pasada Program since these are the only municipalities that have tricycles-franchisees in the province.

“The undertaking is covered by a memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the DILG and the concerned LGUs,” Alacaba said.

The LGUs that has received the said checks are the cities of Tandag and Bislig along with the municipalities of Barobo, Cantilan, Carmen, Carrascal, Lanuza, Lingig, Madrid, San Miguel, Tagbina and Tago.


Alacaba said the cash distribution amounting to P150 each for every tricycle-franchisee will start this week by the respective LGUs concerned.

However, Alacaba added, there is no advice if said amount of assistance is lump sum or will go on a periodic basis. (Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Security strengthens in Surigao del Sur as investors start investment activities

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, May 18 (PIA) – Following the confirmation of two top fruit companies pouring in some investment opportunities to the municipality of Tagbina in Surigao del Sur, local authorities in the province are strengthening security in the area to ensure that the investors will be free from possible harassments of lawless elements such as the New People’s Army (NPAs).

In today’s Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) regular meeting, Tagbina Mayor Donnell Polizon said local authorities have intensified security measures especially now that Dole Stanfilco has just started its land preparation for their banana plantation.

Mayor Polizon further said that aside from Dole Stanfilco, Sumitomo Fruits is also set to start developing the area for their plantation in two months time. “Thus, there is a need to strengthen the security of our town,” Polizon added.

When asked what measures to be undertaken by the government troops including the police officers, Polizon said the army and the police should at all times be ready and serve as partners to counter harassments of the leftists.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army through the 75th Infantry Brigade Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Ruben Agarcio and the Philippine National Police (PNP) through SSupt. Julito Diray, Provincial Police Director have pledge their all out support to secure the area from untoward incidents and insurgents.

The peace and order council meeting was also graced by Lt. Col. Virgilio Luna, Brigade Executive Officer who manifested their support.

The investments of the two top fruit companies in the country will surely boost the economic activity not only of Tagbina, but as well as in the province and in Caraga Region, as more employment opportunities will be generated from this endeavor. (PIA-Caraga)


SME Negosyo Caravan set in Surigao City

SURIGAO CITY, May 18 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Program (RUMEPP) will be conducting a Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Negosyo Caravan on May 30-31, 2011 at the City Cultural Center, Surigao City.

The Caravan intends to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs through the provision of business development services (BDS). This 2-day event will feature motivational and knowledgeable resource speakers on the field of entrepreneurship, marketing and product development.

For the food MSMEs, there will also be sessions on packaging/labeling and good manufacturing practices. During these sessions, entrepreneurships will be given inputs on improved methods and advantages of appropriate packaging, labeling and processing technologies.

Also in response to climate change, a half-day briefing on Green Manufacturing will highlight the second day. Environment friendly processing technologies and how this will enhance enterprise efficiency will be discussed.

Simultaneous to this will be a separate session on Franchising Forum. Potential and attractive franchising package as well as the mechanism of venturing into various business opportunities will be explained by experienced resource persons in this field.

To complement the event, a Diskwento Caravan, tourism related photo exhibits, and technology livelihood demonstrations will be undertaken to take advantage of the presence of 300 participants to the SME Negosyo Caravan.

The Diskwento Caravan will offer for sale to the general public selected basic and prime commodities at discounted prices through in-store sales promotions (Gasa para sa Masa) at selected participating retail establishments in the City, and selected OTOP/RuMEPP products at discounted prices, including NFA I-Rice, at the City Gymnasium on May 28-31, 2011. (DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


PSWDO in Surigao del Sur bares accomplishment in early 2011

by Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, May 18 (PIA) - The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) in Surigao del Sur bared its accomplishment since the start of 2011 up to present.

Mrs. May Salinas, PSWD Officer here anchored the accomplishments to the seven basic programs and services.


Salinas cited the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K), Child and Youth Welfare, Women Welfare Program, Elder Persons and Persons with Disabilities, Emergency Assistance, and Referral, as well as crises intervention.

Of the programs she presented, Salinas gave more emphasis on the 4Ps. She said, except for Bislig City, all 17 municipalities and the City of Tandag are covered by the program where to date, there are 32,653 household beneficiaries and cash card payroll amounting to more than P77.06M.

According to Salinas, such fund is apart from over the counter cash grant of more than P69.5M through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). (Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA Surigao del Sur)


Tagalog Feature: Pagsaayos ng basura pinaigting

by David M. Suyao

Umabot na sa 190 ang gumaganang material recovery facilities (MRF) na siyang imbakan ng mga basura sa buong lalawigan ng Agusan del Sur. At meron ding 22 trak na syang maghahakot ng mga basura mula sa MRF para dalhin sa malaking imbakan. Ito ay nabili ng panlalawigang pamahalaan para ipatupad ang tamang pagsaayos at malinis na pag tatabi ng basura upang maiwasan ang mga sakit na dala ng maruming kapaligiran. Ang malaking imbakan na nabili ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ay gagawing ecopark landfill baling araw.

Mula ng ipasa ang Republic Act. No.9003 na tinatawag ding Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act of 2000, ang pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Agusan del Sur, sa pamagitan ng Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO-LGU) ay naghanda ng mga programa at proyektong siyang mag susuporta sa wastong pagtatabi ng basura na ipapatupad sa lahat ng bayan sa Agusan del Sur.

Sa pamamagitan ng kautusan ng batas, isang lupon na magpapatupad sa batas na pinamumunuan ni Gob. Adolph Edward Plaza ang binuo at sya ring tinularan ng lahat ng bayan kung saan, ang kanikanilang alkalde rin ang mamumuno. Pero, sa kasamaang palad, halos lahat ng nabuong lupon na itinatag ng mga bayan, ay halos hindi gumagana at halos hindi pa nagpupulong, ayon sa PENRO-LGU. Sa kasalukuyan, sampung bayan pa lamang ang nagkakaroon ng pang sampung taong plano at ito ay isinumiti sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 13 (DENR-13) para ito ay maaprobahan ng NESWM.

Sa buong lalawigan, tatlong bayan lamang ang nagpapatupad na paghihiwalayin ang mga basura, paggamit ng maari pang gamitin na mga basura at nagkakaroon ng tamang tapunan ng mga basura, at ito ay ang mga bayan ng Esperanza, Veruela at Trento. Gumawa din sila ng balon na tapunan ng basurang pwedeng gamiting pampataba ng mga halaman. Dahil dito ang mga bayan ng Esperanza at Veruela ay kinilala at pinarangalan noong taong 2009 dahil sa kanilang katangi-tanging ginawa.

Para sa taong ito, ang pamahalaang panlalawigan ay nagplanong palawakin at maging masigasig sa kanilang pagpapatupad ng ESWM sa pamamagitan ng malawakang pagtuturo at kampanya. Magbibigay din sila ng tulong na teknikal at magsagawa ng mga pagsasanay. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Cebuano News : Aquino mihimo ug executive committee alang sa pagpangandam sa 7th Asia-Europe meeting dinhi sa Pilipinas

ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Mayo 18 (PIA) - Si Pangulong Aquino mihimo ug executive committee aron planohon ug pagadumalahon ang mga aktibidades alang sa pagahimoong 7th Asia-Europe meeting on interfaith dialogue sa gobyernong Pilipinas karong Oktubre 13 ug 14, 2011.

Sumala sa Adminstrative Order (AO) No. 13 nga gipirmahan ni Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. niadtong Mayo 2, 2011, ang Pangulo mimugna ug executive committee nga paga-pangulohan sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) alang sa pag organisa ug pag-implementar sa mga aktibedades kalabot na sa Philippine hosting sa 7th Asia-Europe Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue (ASEM-IFD 7). Ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) ug ang National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) ginganlan isip mga miyembro sa maong komitiba.

Ang ASEM mipalambo ug komprehensibo nga panag-uban tali sa Asya ug Uropa pinaagi sa hiniusang aktibedades ug kooperasyon sa iyang politikanhon, ekonomiko ug katilingbanong-kultura, ang sulti sa AO.


Ang sultihay sa ASEM, dugang ingon sa AO, nagbunga ug daghang hiniusang pagsinabtanay sa katilingbanong-kultura nga mga isyu pinaagi sa tinuig nga tigom.

Isip maoy nag-unang tigpasiugda sa interfaith dialogue sa international nga natad, ang Pilipinas maoy mokuha sa turno sa unang higayon sa pagpahigayon sa 7th ASEM on Interfaith Dialogue (ASEM-IFD 7) karong Oktubre 13-14, 2011 uban sa tema nga “ Harnessing the Benefits and Addressing the Challenges of Migration Through Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue”.

"The Executive Committee shall closely coordinate with and call upon the heads of other relevant agencies and local government units for technical, financial and administrative support in implementing activities for, and ensuring the success of ASEM-IFD7," ang AO.

Ang AO usab nagbungat nga ang executive committee maoy mohimo sa work program ug budget plan alang sa pagpahigayon sa ASEM-IFD 7 ug uban pang iglabot nga mga aktibedades.

Ang komitiba kinahanglan mo-implementar sa work program ug mosuperbisar ug mo-monitor sa tanang mga aktibedades.

Laing dugang lihok usab sa komitiba mao ang pagkuha sa suporta, bulig ug kooperasyon sa international, intergovernmental ug non-governmental organizations ug private sector ug mga entidad sa maong preparasyon ug pagpahigayon sa ASEM-IFD 7, kung gikinahanglan.

"The committee was also tasked to subject to existing laws, rules and regulations, enter into agreements and contracts in implementing this administrative order," ang AO nag-ingon.

Ang gikinahanglang pondo alang sa preparasyon ug pagpahigayon sa maong kalihokan nga mokabat sa P8,230,000 ikarga ngadto sa International Commitments Funds. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)