(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 - Thursday, January 12, 2012

News Feature: Provincial hospital soon to rise in Surigao Norte

by FEAbkilan

SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Jan. 12 (PIA)
-- A provincial hospital will soon be constructed and established after Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and the provincial government officials held a groundbreaking ceremony and laying of capsule on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Placer.

Placer Mayor Felimon Napuli, in his welcome message, expressed gratitude to the provincial officials for choosing his municipality to be the site of the province’s new 50-bed medical facility. “It is an honor as well as privilege that the Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital will soon rise in this land of promise and golden town of Placer,” he said.

“As the mayor of this town, I can’t measure the gratefulness I feel right now,” he added.

Department of Health (DOH) Asec. Dr. Romulo Busuego, in his message, revealed that the agency has committed around P140 million for the construction and upgrading of the medical facilities of the hospital. Busuego said Health Secretary Enrique Ona had already earmarked an initial P50 million for the construction of Phase 1.

“We are witnessing another milestone of health program, aiming to achieve the three important goals of our health reforms today. The department has actually committed P140 million to complete this institution. The Phase 1 is already here, we have it released thru the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),” Busuego said.

Right after his speech, a symbolic signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) and Deed of Donation was then held between Gov. Sol Matugas, Sec. Gazmin and Asec Busuego.

It is stated in the MOA that the Philippine Army and the Provincial Government have agreed to swap the two-hectare property owned by Philippine Army in front of the 30th Infantry Battalion Headquarters along the national highway in Brgy. Sta. Cruz with the property of the provincial government situated at Brgy. Magpayang, Mainit to pave the way for the construction of the hospital.

Sec. Gazmin emphasized the commitment of the national government under President Benigno S. Aquino III to bring the basic services much closer to the people.

“One of the real assets of a strong nation is its healthy citizenry, this presupposes the fulfillment and the fundamental duty on the part of the government to take care of the health needs and ensure the physical well-being of its people. Accordingly, this forms part of the social contract with the Filipino people of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III,” Gazmin said.

The site groundbreaking was also graced by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa, 4th ID Commanding General MGen. Victor Felix, EASTMINCOM Commanding Officer Commodore Santiago Nebres, 402nd Brigade Commander Col. Ronald Albano, municipal mayors, some provincial and local officials. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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NGOs to hold Concert for a Cause in Butuan

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA)
-- The Butuan Habitat for Humanity Incorporated and the iHome Butuan Incorporated, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Downtown Butuan and Rotary Club of Midtown Butuanwill be holding a benefit concert with the theme, “Better Lives thru Better Homes”.

Said concert will be held at the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Gymnasium on January 29, 2012 at 7:00 o’clock in the evening.

Ms. Lolita Carbon of ASIN band, together with the Nene Band, will be the main concert performer.

The "Concert for A Cause" is in celebration of the 12th Anniversary of Butuan Habitat for Humanity, Inc., and the launching of iHome Butuan, Inc.

Tickets are priced at P50, P200 and P500.

It was also learned that said funds will be used to build more houses for the poor in Butuan and Caraga region.

For more details, call telephone number: (085) 342-0903. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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OCD-Caraga intensifies monitoring of region’s disaster-prone areas

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA)
-- With the recent downpour in the city, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Caraga is intensifying its monitoring of disaster-prone areas.

This came on the heels of a recent diaster that hit the country, particularly in Caraga's neighboring regions.

According to OCD-Caraga Regional Director Dr. Blanche Gobenciong, this will enable the OCD to constantly monitor and advise residents in disaster-prone areas to prevent loss of lives.

Gobenciong said the national government is aiming for a zero casualty every time a disaster is happening. “Thus, this is one way of supporting this objective of the government,” she added.

With this, the official said they are seriously monitoring these disaster-prone areas.

Specifically, Dr. Gobenciong said areas near bodies of water will be prioritized. He noted that the city is a river basin of the Agusan River.

“Lately, nakakaranas tayo ng mga pag-ulan dito sa ating rehiyon kaya pinag-igting namin ang pagmo-monitor sa mga disaster-prone areas tulad na lamang sa mga lugar malapit sa Agusan River kung saan base sa mga nagdaang pagbaha dito, malaki ang napinsalang kabahayan at ari-arian dahil nag-overflow na ang ilog,” Gobenciong said.

(Lately, we have experienced continuous rains here in Caraga Region so we have strengthened the monitoring of disaster-prone areas such as those in the riverbanks in Agusan River here wherein based on the previous floodings, more houses and properties were affected because the river had swollen and overflowed.) (PIA-Caraga)

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BJMP-Caraga conducts literacy, livelihood program to inmates

by Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA)
-- In an effort to provide literacy and livelihood opportunities to inmates, Caraga Region’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) continues to conduct trainings and seminars.

BJMP Assistant Regional Director Dario Campos in a radio interview here said the program aims to provide the inmates with proper values, skills and livelihood opportunities “so that by the time they will finish serving their sentence, they can still be productive citizens of the country.”

“Ang maong mga programa gibuhat aron mahatagan og kahigayunan ang atong mga inmates nga makabaton og maayong mga gawi ingon man kahibalo sa natad panginabuhi-an, aron sa panahong makagawas na sila, mamahimo guihapon silang produktibo sa komunidad,” Campos said.

(The programs are intended to give inmates the opportunity to learn good values and skills, as well as livelihood opportunities so that when they are already free, they can still be productive in the community.)

Insp. Campos also said the literacy training program is in coordination with the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Aside from the literacy training program, the official said the livelihood program will enable the inmates to be given business opportunities that can be used in the future. (PIA-Caraga)

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PhilHealth-Caraga readies Caraganons for the simultaneous Run for Hope

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA)
-- The Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation, the country’s health insurance arm stepped up preparations for the conduct of the "PhilHealth Run: The Mindanao Run for Hope" slated at 5:00 a.m. on February 5, 2012, this city.

The said activity will be held simultaneously in the six key cities of Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Marawi and Zamboanga targeting a minimum of 17,000 runners across Mindanao.

PhilHealth Caraga Regional Vice President Johnny Y. Sychua said they expect a minimum of 2,500 runners from Butuan City.

Part of the proceeds of the PhilHealth Run will go to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Children’s Cancer Center and Blood Diseases Unit (Kids of Hope). "(It is) the only facility in Visayas and Mindanao that can deliver multidisciplinary care for children with cancer,” Sychua said.

Also, the event will provide financial assistance to Por Cristo Foundation, Inc. and Lingap Center of CSWD-Butuan, a facility for the abandoned elderly and abandoned children, respectively.

For more details, PhilHealth-Caraga can be reached at telephone numbers: (085) 225-7017; 341-3359 and look for Ms. Jane E. Santos or Ms. Mitzi V. Quinto.

With this, PhilHealth hopes to achieve its vision for this event: One Run. One Mindanao. One Cause. One Hope. To sace One Life of a Child with Cancer, One day at a time. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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'Kahit Isang Araw Lang' unity run set in Butuan

by Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA) --
The Avant-Garde Creatives Incorporated in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and UNTV are set to hold the “Kahit Isang Araw Lang” Advocacy thru a unity run on January 22, 2012.

The “Kahit Isang Araw Lang” (Even Just One Day) is a bold call for people to unite even for just one day, said event coordinator Arthur Peña.

“The unity run is a one-day charity run to be held nationwide on January 22, 2012 which aims to build computer classrooms for public schools nationwide in partnership with DepEd,” said Peña.

Participants of the unity run will have to pay the registration fees: 3 kilometer run – P150.00; 5 kilometer run – P200.00; and 10 kilometer run – P250.00.

Cash prizes will also be given to the top three winners. Prizes also awaits winners in the raffle draw where registrants have the chance to win.

In line with this, the launching of this advocacy will be held on January 13, 2012, 9:00 o’clok in the morning at the Commission on Audit (COA) Caraga Regional Convention Hall, South Montilla Boulevard, Butuan City. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

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Police to introduce innovations in 2012

by Noel B. Najarro

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA)
-- The police force here will introduce innovations in Caraga region this year the better to safeguard public safety and maintain peace and order.

In his New Year's message, Caraga PNP Director Police Chief Superintendent Reynaldo S. Rafal said these innovations include the expansion of the e-Blotter System, which was started by the Butuan City Police Office; the implementation of the e-Warrant System, where the warrants of arrest will be placed in a data base system so that an apprehended person’s record can be easily accessed whether he has other standing warrants; and the e-Rouge System, for the convenient access of a suspect’s background information, criminal records and other of his profiles.

Other innovations, Rafal said, will be announced to the public in the coming days. He also said that other anti-criminality projects which had worked well in other parts of the country may be replicated here in the region.

These may include the creation of “Motorcycle Cops” to counter the “Motorcycle-riding-in-tandem” criminals, enhancing the Police Community Relations, information campaign, police visibility patrols on the streets and emphasis on the capability of the police to conduct search and rescue and relief and rehabilitation operations. Director Rafal said that per instruction from CPNP PDGen. Bartolome, the police mobile forces such as the Regional Public Safety Battalions and the City and Provincial Public Safety Companies, will conduct not only internal security operations but also disaster management operations.

The director said that they will also continue with their existing campaign to arrest the wanted persons, the realization of the policeman-per-barangay and other on-going projects.

Rafal commended the regional police force for a job well done in 2011, as crime volume decreased by 19.1 percent, compared to the previous year. He said that the reduction of the crime rate nationwide had also been noted by the police higher headquarters. He added the figures in the region went down even in November and December last year, when the crime volume was expected to rise due to the holiday season.

Commissioned officers of the Police Regional Office 13 paid their annual traditional “New Year’s” courtesy call to the Caraga PNP Director early this morning at the front of the administration building of the regional police headquarters, Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez, Libertad, this city.(PIA Caraga)

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Agusan del Sur scholars graduate in Australia anew

by Alexis Cabardo

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Jan. 12 (PIA) --
Seven scholars of the provincial government of Agusan del Sur and the Australian government have recently completed their foreign studies.

The said scholars, who studied in Australia, are all regular employees of the local government. Among the courses they took up were Animal Studies, Environmental Management, Human Resource Management and Public Finance.

The scholarship program is part of the partnership between the province of Agusan del Sur and the Australian government, through its Australian Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF).

Since the partnership between the provincial government of Agusan del Sur and the Australian Government started in 2006, 27 scholars have been sent to Australia to take up either diploma courses or masteral degree.

Of the 27 scholars, 26 have already graduated. Another scholar is still in New Castle, Australia, taking masters degree in Human Resource Management.

The Australian government shoulders the tuition fees and other miscellaneous fees of the scholars sent to leading universities in Sydney, Melbourne, Caberra, New Castle, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin in Australia.

The provincial government shoulders part of the expenses.

Based on the ordinance passed by the Agusan del Sur government, provincial scholars are obliged to render at least six years of service with the provincial government after they graduated.

During the Monday flag raising ceremony at the provincial capitol ground, the newly graduated scholars were presented to the provincial officials and employees.

The scholars said they hope that their re-entry to the provincial government will make a difference in the planning and implementation of the provincial functions in order to improve the quality of life of the Ausanons.

The seven scholars thanked thanked the provincial government for the very rare opportunity afforded them.

“We are very grateful for the rare opportunity and privilege given to us by the provincial government. Rest assured, we will apply here what we learned abroad because even though we have the right knowledge, we still need to enhance them,” Ma. Angelita Salo said. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)

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Cebuano News: Capitol park magpabili’ng abli sa publiko matag gabii

ni Roselyn G. Exaure

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Enero 12 (PIA)
– Magpabilin nga abli sa publiko matag gabii ang Capitol Park sulod sa Capitol Compound nga gipanag-iyahan sa Agusan del Norte Provincial Government, kini ang gipamahayag ni Agusan del Norte Provincial Administrator Percianita G. Racho.

Sumala pa ni Racho nga matag tuig adunay kaugalingon nga budget ang Capitol Park alang sa maintinance niini, hinungdan nga angayan lamang nga i-beautify kini.

Kahinumduman nga niadtong panahon sa pasko usa sa mga suruyanan sa katawhan ang Capitol Park gumikan usab sa kaanindot sa mga dayan-dayan niini uban ang Pipe-in Music, kon diin luwas usab kini nga suruyan panahon sa kagabhion.

Sa kasamtangan magpabilin nga abli sa publiko ang Capitol Park matag gabii uban ang Pipe-In Music ug Live Band Performance matag adlaw nga biyernes. (Agusan del Norte PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

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Cebuano News: Probinsiyal nga panggamhanan sa Agusan del Norte pahiluna-on ang mga Job Order workers

ni Roselyn G. Exaure

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Enero 12 (PIA)
– Naningkamot karon ang Agusan del Norte Provincial Government nga maplastar guihapon ang mga existing Job Order Workers sa kapitolyo, luyo sa nasinati karon nga pagkunhod sa Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) sa tibuok nasud.

Gibutyag ni Agusan del Norte Provincial Administrator Percianita G. Racho nga posibleng ipatuman ang rotation program alang sa mga Job Order Workers aron mapahiluna guihapon sila sa ilang pagpanarbaho.

Subay niini, posibleng makuhaan ang mga Job Order Workers sa kapitolyo, apan magdepende kini sa kamahinungdanon sa ilang mga trabaho diha sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka mga buhatan. (Agusan del Norte PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

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Cebuano News: “Panambay sa Barangay”gipahigayon sa Barangay Nabago ug Capalayan

SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Enero 12 (PIA)
-- Malampuson nga gipahigayon ang Panambay sa Barangay niadtong miaging adlaw, Enero 10, 2011 didto sa Brgy. Gym sa Nabago ug Capalayan, Surigao City.

Ang maong kalihukan gipangulohan ni Provincial Health Officer Dr. Leonora Andanar uban ang mga medical team sa probinsya ug syudad.

Kini gitambungan nila Governor Sol Matugas, Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr., ug Surigao City Mayor Ermesto Matugas.

Atol sa maong kalihukan gipahigayon usab ang education caravan diin si Governor Matugas ug Mayor Matugas miapod-apod og mga health kits sa mga kabataan sa pre-school ug grade 1, pag turn-over sa mga libro alang sa library, ug ang paghatag og pinansyal nga pahalipay sa mga brgy. Health workers ug BPLK .

Mapasalamaton ug dako ang mga lumulupyo sa maong barangay nga sila nakatagamtam sa libreng konsultasyon, tuli, papsmear, laboratory services, dental services, libreng tambal ug vitamins. (Provincial Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)