(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 - Monday, October 3, 2011

Surigao del Sur GPK evaluation, assessment starts today

by Nida Grace B. Tranquilan



SURIGAO DEL SUR, Oct. 3 (PIA) - The “2011 Gawad Probinsiya sa KAPALIGIRAN” (GPK) program started today the annual evaluation and assessment of the province's 17 municipalities and 2 cities.



The evaluation and assessment were divided into three categories according to the income classification of the local government unit (LGU).



Categories include City Category, Category A (1st to 3rd class municipality), and Category B (4th to 6th Class Category).



The program will recognize the positive impact to the component cities and municipalities that institutionalize the value of saving the environment as a way of life among Surigaonons.



Last year's winners were Bislig City in the City Category, Hinatuan in Category A, and Carrascal for Category B. Hinatuan has already won three years in a row.



The team of evaluators are now in the municipality of Lingig, 2nd District of this province. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

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Peace underlies development, says Butuan mayor



by Maria Rebecca C. Ayaton



BUTUAN CITY, October 3 (PIA) ­ Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. told a youth audience that attainment of peace in the community is needed for progress to be realized.



During the closing ceremonies of the Peace Month, Amante told members of the National Youth Commission that “development can not be attained without peace.”



To formally close the celebration, the NYC and the local government of Butuan spearheaded a Peace Parade. Highlighting the program was the unveiling of and signing by participants of the Manifesto of Peace written on a Freedom Wall.



According to NYC Assistant Secretary Earl Saavedra, the aim of the program was to unite the efforts of peace stakeholders in Mindanao such as government agencies, LGUs, and NGOs including youth organizations in Butuan City.



During the opening program of the said activity, Atty. Faisal Mamintal, Legal Officer of the NCMF said that the youth must take part in bringing peace in Mindanao.



The activity was attended by NYC's inter-agency Regional Advisory Council (RAC) members, Butuan City Police, students from Agusan National High School, Butuan City Special Education Center and Butuan City School of Arts and Trades; Caraga Muslim Youth Federation, Local Youth Development Council, National Commission on Muslim Filipino (NCMF) Caraga, Ong Yiu Muslim Youth Group and other government agencies.



Aside from promoting peace, the Mindanao-wide celebration of Peace Month aimed to bridge the gap between Muslim Filipino and non-Muslim Filipino youth. (MRA/PIA-Caraga)

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Communist rebels attack Taganito Mining Corp., Platinum Group Metals Corp.



by PSupt Martin M. Gamba



BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 3 (PIA) - Some 200 heavily armed members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army and National Democratice Front under unknown leader raided Taganito Mining Corporation in Claver, Surigao del Norte.



The rebels reportedly took into custody Jose Anievas, resident manager of Taganito Mining Corporation, together with other unidentified VIPs and security guards.



Two managers of said mining company were also abducted by the communists.



Another group of rebels put up road blocks at the following areas in Claver, Surigao del Norte: Baoy Bridge at the boundary of Claver-Gigaquit, and in Brgy Hayanggabon, Sitio Capangan, Barangay Urbiztondo and at Claver Public Cemetery.



Further, the Platinum Metals Group Corporation located at Sito Kinalablaban, Cagdianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte was also attacked by some 200 fully armed insurgents. Security guards of said company were disarmed.



Meanwhile, joint elements of Hayanggabon Patrol Base, 13th RPSB, Claver Municipal Police Station and troops from DRC, 4ID, PA proceeded to Taganito, Claver for reinforcement.



Police Regional Office 13 Director, PCSupt Reynaldo Rafal condemned these terroristic acts of the local communists.



The PNP and AFP are on top of the situation, he said. RD Rafal also requested the citizenry to immediately report "suspicious characters and situation" to the police. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

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RAFI Triennial Awards calls on entries for blogging contest



by Haidee Emmie K. Palapar



BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 3 (PIA) -- To promote the inspiring stories and work of recognized development workers in the Visayas and Mindanao, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) is calling on individuals between 13 and 35 years old based in the Visayas and Mindanao to join the RAFI Triennial Awards Blogging Contest.



The contest highlights the RAFI Triennial Awards and its awardees and finalists. Guided by the theme, “Shaping the big picture of change”, entrants are expected to do background research on the lives and works of RAFI Triennial awardees and finalists nearest their area.



The RAFI Triennial Awards is an awards program of RAFI given every three years to recognize the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic efforts of individuals and institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao in enhancing the quality of life of the communities they serve. It is now on its 5th run with conferment of awards in 2012.



To join the RAFI Triennial Awards Blogging Contest, individuals should register through www.rafi.org.ph. Entrants must have an existing and updated blog for at least six months.



All blog entries must be original and written in English, with a minimum of 1,000 words and maximum of 4,000 words. Entries should not have been entered or won in previous competitions. Writers must at the end of their blogs indicate, "This is an official entry to the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Triennial Awards Blogging Contest." and include a link to the RAFI website.



The criteria for judging include 50 percent for content (originality and alignment to the theme and research value) and 50 percent for writing style or composition (including technicalities).



A contest participant is allowed a maximum of three blogs that feature different awardees and finalists.



After posting their entries on their blogs, entrants should email application form, URL of the blog post, and electronic copy of at least one valid ID to ellen.red@rafi.org.ph with the subject header: Entry to the RAFI Triennial Awards Blogging Contest.



The blogging contest starts on Sept. 30, 2011. Deadline for the submission of blog entries is Dec. 15, 2011.



Entrants must ensure that their blogs are accessible until winners are declared in January 2012.



First prize winner will receive Php 25,000; second prize Php 20,000; and third prize Php 15,000. All entries of winners and finalists will be consolidated and published into a book.



For more information on the RAFI Triennial Awards Blogging Contest and to check on the awardee or finalist nearest you, visit www.rafi.org.ph. (RAFI/PIA-Caraga)

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DSWD conducts convergence caravan



by Stella Maris V. Barcelon



BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 3 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga Region recently launched its first Convergence Caravan in one of the local convention centers here.



The activity aimed to showcase the three core programs of the department: the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.



Highlight of the activity was the sharing of testimonies of beneficiaries and partners on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and reading of letters for Congressman Aquino and ceremonial turn-over of SEA-K checks.



The Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Agency (NEDA) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are among the government agencies who attended the caravan.



Different booths were also set-up which included SEA-K booth, Grievance booth and Beneficiary Update System booth. Different SEA-K products were also displayed. Booths for other agencies such as TESDA, DTI and DOLE were also set-up to answer queries from the participants.



The Convergence Caravan was participated by the 1st district local government units in Las Nieves and Butuan City. About 300 beneficiaries participated in the Caravan, it was learned. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

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Simultaneous Pantawid Pamilya cash card distribution conducted in Bayugan, Barobo



by Stella Maris V. Barcelon



BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 3 (PIA) - A simultaneous distribution of Pantawid Pamilya cash cards were conducted recently in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur and Barobo, Surigao del Sur.



In Bayugan, Vice Governor Santiago Cane Jr., Vice Mayor Charles P. Anggayong and Mayor Kim Lope A. Asis were present during the said activity.



Congresswoman Maria Valentina Plaza also attended the activity to show her support to the program. In her message, she reminded the beneficiaries to comply with the conditions for them to stay in the program.



Furthermore, Agusan del Sur Vice Governor Santiago Cane Jr. asked Mayor Asis to negotiate with Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) Bayugan branch to put additional two Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to accommodate the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. Mayor Asis assured Vice Governor Cane that he will discuss with the LBP branch manager about it.



Meanwhile, the cash card distribution in Barobo, Surigao del Sur was attended by Congressman Florencio C. Garay, Municipal Mayor Felixberto S. Urbiztondo, Vice Mayor Joey S. Pama and other members of the Local Government Unit (LGU).



Congressman Garay in his message exhorted the beneficiaries to go to health centers, provide their family with nutritious foods and encourage their children to go to school.



The Congressman shared to the beneficiaries how the budget for DSWD was approved in the House of Representative. He told them that they had to stay overnight at the Plenary Hall for the budget hearing to show their support for the program and eventually pass the budget in the congress.



Congresswoman Valentina Plaza and Congressman Garay have always been supportive of Pantawid Pamilya and other programs of DSWD. In fact, Congresswoman Plaza has attended 3 cash card releases in Agusan del Sur. While Congressman Garay if caught-up with his hectic schedule never fails to send a member from his office to attend the activities.



The LBP as the authorized government agency to release the Pantawid Pamilya cash cards distributed 5,611 cash cards in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur and 3,207 cash cards in Barobo, Surigao del Sur. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)



Tagalog News: 67 titulo inihandog sa mga benepisyaryo ng DAR


by David M. Suyao


AGUSAN DEL SUR, Okt. 3 (PIA) - Humigit-kumulang 67 mga benepisaryo ng repormang agraryo (ARBs) ang tumanggap ng mga titulo o tinatawag na certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) bilang patunay na sila na ang nagmamay-ari ng lupaing kanilang sinasaka mula sa Kagawaran ng Repormang Agraryo (DAR), Agusan del Sur provincial office, sa Barangay Katipunan. Ang pagbigay ng mga titulo ang naging sentro ng pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Barangay Katipunan.


Ang 67 na titulong ito ay bahagi ng 460.6553 hektaryang lupain na matatagpuan sa Barangay Katipunan, Lungson ng Bayugan na siyang ipamimigay sa 282 na benepisaryo na naging miyembro ng Katipunan Agratian Reform Beneficiaries Association (KARBA) na pinagbukod noong April ng taong ito.


Ipinamalas ni Bayugan City Mayor Lope Kim Asis ang kanyang kagalakan habang tinatanggap ng kanyang mga nasasakupan ang mga nasabing titulo at siya ay umaasang lalaong maging produktibo ang mga naturang ARBs habang sila na mismo ang nagmamay-ari ng mga lupaing kanilang sinasaka.


“Ako’y nagagalak at nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kasama galing sa DAR at naipamigay nila ang mga titulo sa ating mga benepisaryo. Kaya hiling ko ay sana maging masigasig kayo sa inyong pagsasaka at mataniman ng iba’t ibang gulay, prutas at iba pang kapakipakinabang na pananim ang inyong lupain at hindi lamang goma at niyog naitanim na ninyo. Sa ganitong paraan, segurado akong mabigyan ninyo ang magandang buhay ang inyong mga pamilya,” sabi Mayor Asis.


Ayon naman kay Assistant Regional Director Alejandro Otacan, ang mga lupaing ito ay dapat alagaan. “Hindi natin dapat sayangin ang ating mga pinagpaguran at pera na ginastos para maibigay sa inyo ang mga lupaing ito. Dapat ninyong alalahanin na ang mga titulong ito ay hindi pwedeng ilipat, isanla o ipagbili sa ibang tao. Kaya ngayon pa lang, sinasabihan ko na kayo na huwag ninyong gawin iyon. Ang sino mang lumabag sa patakarang ito ay mapaparusahan,” Sabi ni ARD Otacan.


Hinimok ni Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Myrna Ferer na mga benepisyaryo na lalong magsumikap ngayon ngayong nasa kamay na nila ang titulo ng mga lupang kanilang sinasaka.


Ayon pa kay Roberto Molina, isa sa mga benepisaryo, gagawin nila ang lahat para maging produktibo at kapakipakinabang ang mga naturang lupain.


Ang nasabing mga CLOA ay ipinamahagi sa pamumuno nina DAR Assistant Dire. Alejandro Otacan at Mayor Kim Lope Asis, kasama sina PARO Myrna Ferer at iba pang mga opisyales ng DAR at lokal na pamahalaan ng lungsod ng Bayugan. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)