(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 - Saturday, December 3, 2011

Butuan City hall employees to receive Christmas bonus next week

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- Employees of the city hall here will receive their Christmas bonus next week.

Mayor Ferdinand Amante announced this Friday during the “Light Up Butuan” ceremonial switch-on held at the city hall ground.

According to Amante, all regular employees will receive cash bonus equivalent to a one month salary.

The official further said contractual and job order employees will also be receiving P5,000 cash bonus.

Amante, however said, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has yet to sign for the approval of the release of the cash bonus but he assured the employees that said budget will be approved and will be released next week. (PIA-Caraga)

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Caraga DRRMC, warns public to take caution in celebrating Yuletide Season

by Nora CL Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- The chairperson of the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) called its partners and members to take pre-emptive actions to avert any potential disaster during the celebration of this year’s yuletide season.

RDRRMC chairperson and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Dr. Blanche T. Gobenciong warned the public to take caution on the use of Christmas lights and buying of toys with toxic chemicals.

She cited the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) issuance of notice to the public to purchase and use only products especially sets of Christmas lights that bear the import commodity clearance (ICC) mark for proper performance of the product and safe celebration of the season.

Christmas lights or any products without the ICC mark are products that pose danger to its users, she said.

Gobenciong also said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) in coordination with the local government units would provide security coverage and undertake related administrative and operational activities especially on the traditional practice of firecrackers/fireworks or “paputok” and other pyrotechnic devices in celebrating Christmas Eve and in welcoming the New Year.

The RDRRMC Operations Center manned by the OCD would maintain its 24/7 operation to closely monitor incidents arising during the celebration of the yuletide season, which may result, to exposure of people to various hazards that can contribute more vulnerability to disasters. (PIA-Caraga)

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“Light Up Butuan” ceremonial switch-on held

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- The city government here has conducted the “Light Up Butuan” ceremonial switch-on Friday night.

In his speech, Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. said the activity is just a kick-off to the world’s longest Christmas celebration. He added the longest Christmas celebration is in the Philippines.

“We have experienced trials in our lives… and may these trials will turn into challenges, hope and inspiration as we jointly celebrate the birth of our Savior,” Mayor Amante said.

The local chief executive pointed out that in the spirit of Christmas, we should not lose hope because there is always a star that brightens the darkest night.

Amante further calls on every Butuanon to take part and join with the government in an effort to achieve progress and development in the city.

Meanwhile, Sangguniang Panlungsod members led by Vice Mayor Lawrence Lemuel Fortun led the flying of sky lanterns and participated by chiefs of offices of the local government and regional directors of national line agencies.

The new attraction of the city hall will run until eve of January 1, 2012 as the whole world meet the coming of the New Year. (RER/PIA-Caraga)

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New PNP Agusan del Sur chief assumes office

by Alexis Cabardo

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- New PNP Provincial Director for Agusan del Sur P/SSupt. Rodolfo Dasmarinas has formally assumed office right after taking his oath on November 28, 2011 at the PNP provincial headquarters.

Dasmarinas replaced P/SSupt. Jerome Baxinela.

The provincial director was chief of police in the municipalities of Trento and San Francisco in the late 1990’s, before he became assistant provincial PNP director in Agusan del Sur.

P/SSupt. Dasmarinas also served as PDEA Regional Director of Caraga Region, and PNP provincial director in the province of Dinagat.

Upon his assumption to office, Dasmarinas said he will strictly enforce the police mandate, especially the police visibility in order to curb criminality in the entire province of Agusan del Sur. Dasmarinas said, one of his priority is to install one police personnel in every barangay to supervise the barangay tanods in order ensure the peace and order in the community.

P/SSupt. Dasmarinas also enforce the literal meaning of “Oplan Walis”, saying the PNP should first clean their quarters and its surroundings so that they can effectively clean the violators of the law in the society. He also stressed that criminality can only be stopped and unsolved crimes can be solved if the police and the community will work together to obtain genuine peace and order. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)