(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 11 December 2024) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the western section of Mindanao and Palawan. Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 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—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


PIA News Service - Saturday, November 5, 2011

Caravan for Peace campaign to arrive in Manila

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA)
-– Around ‎200 participants comprising of Muslims, Christians and Lumads from Mindanao are going to travel all the way to Manila by land and sea to campaign for peace.

The "Lakbayan para sa kapayapaan, a Caravan for Peace" kicked off Thursday in Cagayan de Oro City. The group also stopped over in Butuan City and was welcomed by local officials led by Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr, with a short program held at the city's Rizal Park.

Ms. Norkhaila Mae Mambuay-Campong, Caravan Coordinator bared that with approximately 1352 kilometers of land travel and two sea transfers, the caravan is going to pass by cities of Butuan, Surigao, Maasin, Tacloban, Calbayog, Allen, Matnog, Sorsogon, Legazpi, Naga, Lucena, San Pablo and Calamba.

“The caravan, with 35 vehicles, is expected to be in Manila by November 5, 2011. The Muslim participants will join thousands of Muslims in Manila who will pray at Quezon City Memorial Circle on November 6 in celebration of Eidl Adha while a Concert for Peace will also follow as part of the culminating program of the caravan,” said Campong.

Mayor Amante, meanwhile expressed his admiration to the efforts of the Muslim community, Christians and Lumads in Mindanao who are campaigning for a genuine 'All out Peace', instead of 'All out War' in the country. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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BAC warehouse to rise in Butuan City

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA)
-- The near completion of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Multi-Purpose Warehouse (Phase 1) in the city is a considered a breakthrough as it will help in the conscientious utilization and storage of office supplies and materials for the City Government of Butuan.

The warehouse located at Motorpool Compound with an area of 180sq.meters and worth Php 1,994,606.14 will house all supplies and materials procured by the City through City General Services Office.

This facility was initiated by the City’s Bids and Awards Committed led by its Chair Leah A. Mendoza and funded by the city government through City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. The BAC recommended the establishment of the warehouse following a study tour in Marikina City where the BAC members were made aware of the city’s best practice in procurement and warehousing systems.

The funding for Phase 2 will be set next year 2012 with inclusion of computers, soft wares and training of manpower. It will be the first LGU facility here in Caraga Region to have an effective and efficient computer system that can be compared to private warehouses.

The technology of warehousing will be manned by competent IT specialists and to be trained supply officers and administrative officers.

The establishment of the BAC warehouse is seen to eliminate illegal vales, cash advances, undeclared balances of supplies and materials stocked at the different storage rooms of the New City Hall Building.

It will also mean big savings for the city government in the procurement of office supplies and materials. (LGU-Butuan City/PIA-Caraga)

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Robredo directs local execs to lead “all-out justice” campaign in Mindanao

MANILA, Nov. 5 (PIA)
-- Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo has directed all local executives, particularly in the “conflict areas” in Mindanao, to lead and carry out the government’s “all-out justice” campaign by working for the arrest of lawless elements and wanted persons staying or hiding in their localities.

The DILG chief, who was with Social Welfare and Development Sec. Dinky Soliman and Presidential Peace Adviser Ging Deles, issued the directive Friday during separate visits in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay to deliver the president’s message and government assistance to evacuees in the strife-torn areas in said provinces.

During the meetings, Robredo said all elected local officials have sworn duties and are mandated under the law to lead the peace and order campaign, including going out after lawless elements and wanted persons, in their respective localities.

“In carrying out those tasks, the governors, mayors, barangay chairmen and their councils can seek out help from concerned national government agencies, like the AFP and the PNP, in maintaining peace and order and development of their areas,” he said.

“If local executives won’t do anything against lawless elements and fugitives present in their areas, there would be no peace and development thereat. If those problems persist in their locality, no amount of money and infrastructure projects would make them succeed,” he added.

Robredo, Deles and Soliman’s visit in Mindanao was part of the government’s response on the recent encounters between government troops and lawless elements from the Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Al-Barka in Basilan and in three towns of Zamboanga Sibugay.

The separate encounters resulted in the killing of at least 20 government troops and at least 10 lawless elements from the MILF and the displacement and evacuation of more than 2,000 families in the affected areas.

During the separate meetings with Basilan and Zambonga Sibugay provincial peace and order council members, which was attended by top local military and police commanders, and other stakeholders, Robredo underscored the vital role of local chief executives in preventing the prevalence of killings, extortion, kidnapping and other illegal activities being perpetrated by lawless elements in their localities.

“If a concerned local chief executive does nothing against lawless elements or even harbors fugitives in their areas, they are liable under the law. We can file criminal and administrative cases against them such as harboring fugitives or dereliction of duty under the Local Government Code of 1991,” he said.

Robredo also explained the government’s policy of “all-out justice” instead of an “all-out war” being espoused by some quarters against rogue MILF elements and Abu Sayyaf members in the region, saying that a military solution, based on past experiences, is not the correct answer to the peace and order problem prevailing in some parts of Mindanao.

“It is the responsibility of the government to go after and work for the arrest of lawless elements and fugitives hiding or staying in MILF-controlled areas. And it does not mean we are up against the MILF. The peace negotiations with them should push through. I hope that the public, particularly the Muslim-dominated areas in Mindanao, would understand that line,” he explained.

The DILG chief urged local chief executives and their sanggunian members, the local PNP and AFP commanders, the NGOs and CVOs and other stakeholders in a particular “conflict area” to unite and work hand in hand for the attainment of peace and development in their locality. (DILG Public Affairs Office/PIA-Caraga)