(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, August 3, 2011

Butuan Mayor reports positive result of city’s fiscal mngt

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, August 3 (PIA) – City Mayor Ferdinand Amante recently said the city’s fiscal management gains positive result with the increase of tax collection and licensing fees.

In his report to the city on Monday, Amante said the city obtained the 50 percent tax collection target from January to June 30, 2011 base on this year’s target amounting to Php 400 million. “Our tax collection increased by Php 27 million compared to the same period last year,” Amante said.

Amante also reported that the city’s collection in the permits and licensing fees increased by 83%. The Real Property Tax also increased by 61% and the Business Tax is up by 60%.

Amante said basing on the reported figures, collections drastically increased by more than 50 percent. “This only shows the trust and confidence given by the Butuanons and for the smooth and effective tax collection system implemented to this administration,” the chief executive said.

Further, the mayor of the region’s capital center reported that an efficient, business-friendly system has been installed through the Business Permits and Licensing System which reduced the duration of processing permits from three weeks to less than 10 minutes.

He said the system has become a model for other LGUs and has boosted the confidence of the business sector in the system. “This resulted to an increase of 450 business permits and licenses more than last year,” Amante said.

However, Amante said his administration will not stop as he calls upon the city’s revenue officers to a revenue summit, “to diagnose well and recommend strategies to further increase revenues without unnecessarily increasing the taxes.” (PIA-Caraga)


City’s budget deficit drops drastically, Mayor Amante says

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, August 3 (PIA) – Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. said his administration successfully brought the city’s finances to a positive balance of P300,000 at the end of 2010, from the P23 million deficit incurred by the previous administration in 2009.

During Monday’s State of the City Address (SOCA), Amante said the city’s budget deficit drastically went down drastically by a huge amount of percentage.

This, according to Amante, is because of the efforts made by City Administrator Leah Mendoza, together with the Business Permits and Licensing Office, City Treasurer’s Office and City Assessor’s Office.

“Kaluoy sa Diyos, ang mga tseke karon sa City Government of Butuan dili na gyud manguntol. Up to date na usab kita sa pagbayad sa atong utility bills. No more bouncing checks, no more delayed payment of bills,” Amante added.

Mayor Amante also stressed the deficit that his administration inherited from the previous administration was partly brought by the jaw-dropping P123 million that was spent on procurement of goods and services from April to June 2010 alone.

Because of the strict compliance of the procurement law and the judicious spending, Amante said the city government only spent P35 million of goods and services this quarter as compared to P123 million in the same period last year.

“It is our procurement policy to buy the least-best price! Ang alcohol kaniadto nga tag P1,500, karon P62 pesos na lang. (The price of the alcohol before which is P1,500 per bottle, now it’s only P62),” he said.

To move further, Amante said his administration has developed a Public Finance Management Plan and conceptualized more revenue-generating strategies without increasing the cost of doing business. “All of these will be implemented within the last two quarters of this year,” Amante said.

Furthermore, the chief executive reported that the Bids and Awards Committee has sanitized the procurement and other transactions involving the city government, which led to the termination of contracts that did not go through the mandated processes.

Meanwhile, Amante said the city government under his leadership has fully implemented the Generics Act resulting to the substantial reduction of prices of medicines at the Butuan Medical Center. He added the price of the Cefuroxine now is only P57 compared before which is priced at P400.

“These are some of the reasons why our budget has drastically dropped,” Amante stressed. (PIA-Caraga)


2 wounded rebs in Trento raids brought for treatment in Surigao del Sur, PNP confirms

by Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, August 3 (PIA) - Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Director SSupt Julito Diray confirmed two (2) wounded rebels who took part in Trento Police Station raid in Agusan del Sur were brought to Bislig City District Hospital, in this province.

Diray said they were rushed here the morning after the incident on Saturday, July 30 at about 5:00 a.m.

Diray identified the suspected rebel-patients as Ricky Salde, male 28 years old, a resident of New Bataan, Trento and Sanny Calbayan, 35 years old, married, a resident of La Fortuna, Veruela, all in Agusan del Sur.

However, Diray clarified, the wounded rebels are now in the custody of the Provincial Officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT) of Agusan del Sur after they were immediately turned-over by Bislig City Chief of Police (COP) Supt. Ronelo Jaurigue three (3) hours later.

They were then brought to Patin-ay Provincial Hospital in Agusan del Sur for referral. (Radyo ng Bayan/PIA Surigao del Sur)


Surigao del Sur Gov. to fix state workers’ pay hike

by Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, August 3 (PIA) – Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel is in quandary on the pay hike to be given to capitol employees here amidst the projected cut in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) next year.

Gov. Pimentel admitted his administration will not be able to give what is due for the third tranche under the salary standardization law.

At present, the provincial government needs P38M to cover up for said salary increase which will be started to implement on January 2012.

With this, Gov Pimentel further explained his administration can only give up to 50% pay hike because of the prevailing scenario that will affect the budget of local government units at all levels because of the Supreme Court’s decision favoring the decision to the 16 municipalities that were converted to cities, where Tandag City here is one of those cities.

However, Pimentel cited that DBM memorandum circular is giving the LGU a freehand in the implementation of the salary increase.

Meanwhile, Gov. Pimentel had recently announced that he will call a meeting with all the department heads while on Monday, August 8, he is set to attend a meeting with all the governors regarding this matter. (Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA Surigao del Sur)


Lower House funded projects underway in Siargao Island

by Michael Conte

DAPA, Siargao Island, August 3 (PIA) - The Department of Public Works and Highways, in line with the government’s program to provide each Filipino with quality infrastructure facilities, will soon undertake various lower house funded barangay and municipal projects in Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands.

In a statement, Monitoring Engineer Demelyn M. Castrence said that “a total of 116 projects are on the list of to be implemented projects in different barangays and municipalities of Siargao Island costing around P20 million pesos.”

“Among the identified priority projects are several farm to market roads, repair/rehabilitation of multi-purpose buildings, water systems, and repair/rehabilitation of barangay roads,” Castrence added.

The funds of the projects are sourced from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Surigao del Norte first district Representative Francisco T. Matugas. (DPWH 2nd Engineering District/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Tagalog News: Paaralang modelo ng kagalingan sa Agsur umabot na sa 22

by David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 3 (PIA) – Umabot na sa 22 ang mga tinaguriang modelo ng kagalingan na mga paaralan sa lalawigan ng Agusan del Sur habang anim pa ang ilulunsad hanggang sa katapusan ng buwan ng Agosto.

Noong Hulyo 6, inilunsad ni Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza ang dalawang na paaralan bilang modelo ng kagalingan sa mga bayan ng Veruela, ang Sinobong Elementary School at ang Sayon Elementary School sa bayan ng Sta. Josefa. Noong Huly 12, inilunsad din Gov. Plaza ang East Bayugan Central Elementary School sa lungsod ng Bayugan, at ng Hulyo 14, ang Esperanza Central Elementary School sa bayan ng Esperanza, at ang Bunawan West Central Elementary School sa bayan ng Bunawan. Ang katapusang modelong paaralan na inilunsad noong Hulyo ay ang Pasta Elementary School sa Barangay Pasta, bayan ng San Francisco.

Sa Buwang ito ng Agosto, itutuloy ni Gob. Plaza ang paglunsad ng Loreto Central Elementary School, Sagunto Elementary School sa Lapaz, Sta. Ines Elementary School sa San Luis, Labnig Elementary School sa Talacogon, Dona Rosario Elementary School sa Prosperidad, Wasian Elementary School sa Rosario, Villangit Elementary School sa Sibagat at ang Patin-ay Elementary School sa Prosperidad.

Ang pagkilala sa ibat-ibang paaralan sa Agusan del Sur na maging modelo ng kagaligan ay parte ng programang “Pagtoon Alang sa Masanag nga Kaugmaon program” ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Agusan del Sur sa pakipagtulungan ng Department of Education.

Ito ay may tatlong layunin. Una, ito ay naglalayon para paunlarin ang lahat ng paaralang elementary sa buong lalawigan ng Agusan del Sur para maging modelo ng kagalingan sa pamamagitan ng pagbigay ng mga libro para sa mga baryo. Ang mga librong ito ay galing sa America at lahat ng mga ginagastos para sa pagdala ng mga librong ito ditto sa lalawigan ay sagot ng pamahalaang panlalawigan at ng mga local na pamahalaan.

Pangalawa sa layuning ito ay ang pagtaas ng antas ng edukasyon ang nangunguna kung saan lahat ng paaralang elementary ay magkaroon ng library, computer laboratory atg speech laboratory.

Ito ay nagbigay halaga rin sa pagpaunlad ng kaalaman ng mga guro kung saan, sila ay pinapadala sa ibat-ibang pagsasanay para mapaunlad ang kanilang kaalaman sa pagtuturo sa mga makabagong pamamaraan.

“Ang paghanda ng kinabukasan ay parte lamang n gating pinakamithiin sa Pagtoon program. An gating hinahanda talaga rito ay ang ating mga kabataan para sila ang magiging malakas, may tiwala sa sarili at kakayahan. Walang pinaka mahalagang bagay na ating maibigaysa ating mga kabataan kundi ang magaling na klase ng edukasyon. Kaya tayo ay nagkaroon nitong programang Pagtoon,” Sabi ni Gob. Plaza

Maliban sa pagpataas ng antas ng sistema ng edukasyon sa Agusan del Sur, ang pamahalaang panlalawigan ay mayroon ding scholarship program. Sa katunayan, ang mga scholars ng lalawigan ay umabot sa 234 para sa unang semester ng taong 2011-2012. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Surigaonon News: Gov. Matugas pinasidunggang bisita atol sa joint induction, acquaintance program sa Taft Nat'l High School

SURIGAO CITY, August 3 (PIA) – Niadtong miaging adlaw, Agosto 1, 2011 gipahigayon ang Joint Induction and Acquaintance Program sa Taft National High School sa Surigao City Gym diin si Governor Sol F. Matugas ang pinasidunggang bisita.

Atol sa maong okasyon, gipahigayon ang Launching sa Project Best ug ang Induction of Officers sa maong Project Best o Barangay Education Strategic Team nga diin ang kapitan sa Brgy. Taft Hon. Pablo A. Bonono, Jr mao ang president.

Pagkatapos sa maong induction misunod dayon ang pagpirma sa memorandum of understanding sa mga opisyales ug ni Governor Sol F. Matugas.

Gipamulong sa atong Gobernador nga ang Project Best usa ka pamaagi nga mamonitor ang attendance sa mga kabataan aron malikayan ang drop outs, nga kinahanglan ang tanang estudyante matapos sa ilang pagtoon, kay importante gayod ang edukasyon sa paghaw-as sa kalisud sa atong dakbayan.

Gipamahayag usab sa atong Gobernador nga ang probinsya mihatag ug 1 milyon pesos alang na sa pagtukod ug Women’s Center dinhi sa atong syudad ug kini gidungagan usab ug 1 milyon pesos sa atong City Mayor Ernesto Matugas.

Malipayon ug mapasalamaton gayod ang mga magtutudlo sa pagsanong sa ilang imbitasyon sa Gobernador ug sila misaad sa pagsuporta sa tanang mga programa sa atong probinsya pinanguluhan ni Governor Sol F. Matugas. (Provincial Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Surigaonon News: Gob. Sol Matugas moatinder sa 13th Quarterly NEDA Conference ug League of Governors Meeting sa kaulohan

ni Jun Parada

SURIGAO CITY, August 3 – Mugikan si Gobernor Sol Matugas karong adlawa aron mu-atinder sa ika 13th Quarter Conference nan National Economic Development Authority, Regional Development Committee Mindanao didto sa Dipolog City, ugmang adlawa Agosto 4, 2011. Si Gobernor Sol Matugas morepresentar sa Caraga Region isip Regional Chair sa Regional Development Council kauban ang mga RDC Chair sa Region 9, 10, 11, 12 ug ARMM.

Samtang human sa Agosto 8 gikatakda na moatinder sa tigum sa League of Provincial Governors sa tibook Pilipinas didto sa kaulohan.

Kagahapong adlawa isa ka adlaw nga mitambong si Gobernor Sol Matugas aron sa pagpaminaw sa 2011 Midyear Accomplishment Report sa mga department heads sa Provincial Government diin tinguha ni Gobernor Matugas na mahimong moangat ang lalawigan ngadto sa pagka first class province pinaagi na sa tabang sa mga sakop nan Sangguniang Panlalawigan ug mga Department Head, Local Government Unit ug ang Barangay apil na ang papalapad sa HEALS Program.

Karun adlawa si Bise Gobernador Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr. maoy magsilbing Officer In-charge sa opisina sa Governador ug sa lalawigan samtang magsilbing Officer In-charge isip Bise Governador si Senior Board Myrna Madelo Romarate. (Provincial Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)