(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 - Sunday, December 25, 2011

Prov’l gov’t hopeful DA to convert new capitol site from agricultural to institutional land

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 25 (PIA)
-- The provincial government of Agusan del Norte is hopeful that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will finally issue a certification converting the land area of the new capitol site from agricultural to institutional.

In an interview with a local broadcaster here, Agusan del Norte Provincial Information Officer Edgar Palarca, Jr. said as soon as DA will issue the said certification, the construction of the new capitol building will immediately start.

However, Palarca said the provincial officials led by Gov. Erlpe John Amante are also hoping that this will be realized next year.

Meanwhile, in the previous press conference with Gov. Amante, the official said budget allocated for the construction of the new capitol building is just enough to cater all the provincial offices needed.

The official explained the building will definitely look simple and not expensive so that they can still allocate budget to the usual projects and programs that are already in place.

Accordingly, the new provincial capitol of Agusan del Norte will be constructed in Barangay Sanghan, Cabadbaran City, the capital city of the province. (PIA-Caraga)

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DILG backs capability-building trainings, seminars of PNP personnel

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 25 (PIA)
-- The Regional Office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Caraga Region vowed to support any capability-building trainings and seminars of the police personnel.

According to DILG Caraga Regional Director Atty. Rene Burdeos, it is through conducting capability-building trainings and seminars that performance of the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will improve.

Atty. Burdeos said although he believed that PNP members in the region are showing exceptional performance, “still, there must be seminars and trainings that allow them to be more equipped with the theories and tactics to be undertaken to better serve the public specifically in upholding peace and security.”

The DILG chief of the region added in times where security is threatened in a certain area especially this Yuletide Season, members of the region’s police force must at all times be ready to take some precautionary measures to resolve issues on peace and security.

With this, Burdeos said their office will continue to provide assistance to the local government units in the entire region so that PNP members in the areas of responsibilities will undergo such trainings and seminars.

Meanwhile, initial report from the municipal police stations in Agusan del Norte showed that there were no major incidents that have been recorded in their blotter in as far as celebrating the Christmas eve last night.

Initial reports also showed that firecracker-related incidents here and in Agusan del Norte decreased this year compared to the previous year.

The PNP officials here said this is because of the massive campaign of all government agencies to refrain from using firecrackers. (PIA-Caraga)

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NDRRMC cites needs of flashflood victims in Regions VII, X

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 25 (PIA)
-- The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has cited the needs of the victims who are now housed in different evacuation centers, a week after the devastation wrought by tropical storm Sendong.

According to NDRRMC Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Benito Ramos, what the people in the evacuation centers need as of the moment are potable drinking water.

Because of the massive flashflood, water connections in majority of the areas are not yet back to normal. It was also learned that some opportunist businessmen are now selling bottled mineral waters in higher price.

Also, NDRRMC reported that water purifiers are also needed to mitigate the scarcity of potable water supply.

NDRRMC also reported that portable tents, foods and non-food items are among the pressing needs of the flashflood victims.

Further, NDRRMC said there is a need for an immediate availability of lot or area suitable for temporary shelter to relieve congestions in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) centers and in preparation of vacating the schools used as evacuation centers in view of the resumption of classes on January 3, 2012.

However, the local governments of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities are resolving this problem through the concerted efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) and other concerned government agencies.

In Region VII, NDRRMC reported that the flashflood victims needs water, blanket, clothing, food, milk for children, and basic kitchen utensils.

As of 6:00 a.m. of Christmas Day, NDRRMC reported 1,100 people dead; 1,979 injured; 1,079 missing whose reported cases are subject to verification; and 441 rescued survivors. (PIA-Caraga)


DepEd dispatches inspectorate team to flashflood-affected areas

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 25 (PIA)
-- The Department of Education (DepEd) recently dispatched an inspectorate team to conduct damage and needs assessment to all affected schools in all affected regions in the country due to Tropical Storm “Sendong,” which killed 1,100 people as of 6:00 a.m. today.

The team composed of technical staff from DepEd Central, Regional and Division Offices was dispatched to see for themselves the damages of the school infrastructures and facilities especially that classes will resume on January 3, 2011. They will also evaluate and quantify the amount of damages of all affected schools in Northern Mindanao flashflood, the NDRRMC reported.

Aside from dispatching the inspectorate team, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that DepEd personnel assisted in the identification of recipient schools for the pre-positioning of the Child-Friendly Schools (CFS) and school tents from the Save the Children Indonesia of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Meanwhile, 14 classrooms of the Compostella Valley Central Elementary School are being utilized as evacuation centers serving as temporary shelter of affected families in the province.

Further, DepEd together with members of the Education Cluster conducted national and regional coordination meetings for the Rapid Needs Assessment and immediate plans for response, recovery and rehabilitation.

Furthermore, assigned DepEd staff and coordinators will join the team formed by Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-NDRRMC and Bureau of Customs (BOC). They are tasked to facilitate and monitor the 24/7 activities and operation of the “One-Stop-Shop” for the relief goods at designated ports in Cagayan de Oro City. (PIA-Caraga)