(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, February 2, 2012

GSP Agusan del Norte urges 100 girl scouts to qualify for participation in nat’l encampment

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA)
-- The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) - Agusan del Norte Chapter is doubling their efforts to convince at least 100 girl scouts to qualify for the participation in the 37th National Encampment which is slated on April 13-15, 2012 at Camp Alano, Toril, Davao City.

In a recent radio interview with Hazel Gaas, GSP-Agusan del Norte staff, the chapter is inviting all schools in the province, and convince the schools’ girl scouts to participate on the said national encampment as this will help develop the social well-being of a person not only being a girl scout, but as well as good citizens of the country.

When asked if they will get the quota of participants, Gaas said this depends on the response of the schools, as well as the parents of the girl scouts since the participant will shoulder all expenses during the activity.

“All chapters were given quota as to the number of participants. We need to have at least 100 girl scouts participants for the chapter to qualify for the participation… Although we find difficult to obtain the quota, but we will do everything so that we could be able to invite and convince more participants,” Gaas said in Cebuano dialect.

Gaas further said joining activities such as this will also give the participants the opportunity to experience and acquire scouting spirits composed of activities such as strengthening the relationship among the participants, as well as love for fellowmen and the country.

For the chapter to qualify for participation, they must have at least 100 participants who are officially registered as girl scouts in their respective schools. (PIA-Caraga)

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DSWD-Caraga conducts capacity enhancement trainings for public school teachers to stop abuse vs schoolchildren

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA)
-- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga Region is regularly conducting capacity enhancement trainings for public school teachers in the region in an effort to eliminate if not, to minimize child abuse.

This, after study of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) revealed that majority of child abuse happened in public schools where teachers committed violence against children.


Because of this, DSWD-Caraga has invited some 375 public school teachers to undergo such trainings. Said activity is regularly conducted every Saturday and Sunday in their respective schools.

According to Golda Pocon of the DSWD-Caraga Technical Services Division, only their regional office in the entire country conducted the Parents and Duty Brigade to see to it that all parents of these schoolchildren will be aware of their responsibilities in case their children will be physically abused in school.

In a related development, DSWD-Caraga has also established a processing center that will cater women who are victims of violence against women and undergo counseling to recover from traumatic experience.

Said victims will be housed in the said facility for about seven days. During their stay, personnel from the DSWD will conduct such counseling to prepare them for coming back to their respective families.

The victim’s stay for the period of rehabilitation is free of charge, including their foods and other basic needs.

DSWD said this project was made possible through the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID). (PIA-Caraga)

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Sec. Villanueva set to visit armchair production site

By Gervacio C. Dauz, Jr.

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA)
-- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Dir. Gen. Joel Villanueva planes in today here and will proceed to Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades at Patin-ay, Agusan del Sur to officially witness at the ground level the production of armchairs, which is actually an output of the vaunted partnership and collaboration between and among the agencies of TESDA, Department of Education DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) under the banner of P-Noy Bayanihan School Furniture Production Program.

He is here in advance to monitor the progress of the said armchairs production and to provide further directions and motivations for the ground personnel and trainees cum producers, who have had been working hard almost round the clock in order to rise up to the challenge of meeting the target.

At the evening of this same day, he aims to meet the press at the Dottie’s Place, to interact with them officially and to advocate and engage the programs, projects, and activities of TESDA in pursuit of continually developing the middle level manpower sector.


The following day, which will be on the 3rd of February 2012, he will further up the ante by engaging a big-bang ceremony in league with Secretaries Armin A. Luistro of the DepEd, Ramon J. Paje of the DENR and Chairman Cristino L. Naguiat, Jr. of the PAGCOR, by turning over an initial 6,000 armchairs for the pupils and students of DepEd in at least two schools here.

It was learned that Sec. Villanueva considers the Bayanihan Project as one of his flagship programs, considering that it “ensures the development and utilization of the nation’s manpower, promotes employment, and accelerates economic and social growth” manifested or realized through TESDA’s identified training institutions nationwide. (TESDA-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

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DTI ties up with DOT to promote local products of Caraga Region

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA)
-- The Regional Office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Caraga region has tied-up with the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Caraga in an effort to promote the region’s products to local and foreign tourists.

According to Elena Calo, Trade and Industry Specialist Chief of DTI-Caraga, the DTI has already agreed and coordinated with the DOT-Caraga in guiding tourists where to buy some pasalubong items (presents) inside the Gaisano Mall here, when they go back home to their respective places.

“Gi tie-up namo sa DOT, every time naa’y bisita, didto na gyud muadto… Unlike before, wala sila kahibalo asa mokuha for their pasalubong items… At least didto sa Gaisano mall, presentable ang maong mga items,” Calo said.

(We have tied-up with DOT so that every time there are visitors, they will immediately go to where said items are sold… Unlike before, they don’t know where to go for their pasalubong items… At least in Gaisano Mall, said items are packed presentably.)

Calo added this developed after reports reached DTI where local and foreign tourists are asking where to buy pasalubong items.

“Because of these reports, DTI-Caraga and DOT-Caraga have jointly find ways so that local products of the city will be promoted… and one way to have this is to guide our visitors (tourists) to where these products are sold,” Calo said.

The Pasalubong Center is located at the ground floor of Gaisano Mall here, where food products from all provinces and cities in Caraga Region are displayed and sold in a reasonable price. (PIA-Caraga)

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Butuan’s streamlined BPLS showcased in nat'l forum

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 2 PIA)
-- City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. recently presented the city’s streamlined Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) to more than 500 city and municipal mayors from all over the country during the Forum on Building Sustainable Competitive Local Governments.

The gathering of local chief executives was held last Friday, January 27, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. DILG Sec. Jesse M. Robredo was the guest of honor during the said activity which was also attended by foreign guests from USA, India and Indonesia. Representatives from foreign organizations such as World Bank, USAID, AECID, and GIZ also participated in the forum.


The national forum was held to showcase the best practices from different LGUs which aid in building sustainable and competitive local governments. It was jointly sponsored by DILG and the Local Government Academy (LGA).

Other LGUs which were invited to present during the said forum include Mandaluyong, Valenzuela, Mandaue, and the Island Garden City of Samal.

Butuan City’s streamlined BPLS was launched on October 20, 2010. The improved system significantly shortened the business registration processing time from 10 days to 30 minutes. The faster processing time encouraged more business owners to register their businesses and translated to an increase in new business registrants from 1,064 in 2010 to 2,386 in 2011, or an increase of 124 percent. Business tax collection rose from P94.36 million in 2010 to P115.42 million in 2011.

Just recently, the city government already collected P60 million for the Business Fastlane registration period from January 2-20, 2012. (LGU-Butuan/PIA-Caraga)

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Cabadbaran City decreases market rental rates

By FRJayoma

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Feb. 2 (PIA)
-- The city government of Cabadbaran of this province will implement decrease on the rental rates of its market under City Ordinance No. 2011-041 authored by SP Member Ernie M. Ceniza.

Under the ordinance, P4.00 will be decreased per square meter/day for cereal, rice and corn, groceries and dried fish section while P2.00 per square meter/day for fish, meat, fruits and vegetable section.

This ordinance is already effective since it has already been approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. This is actually an emendment to section 49 of the previous City Ordinance No. 2008-11.

To recall, a public hearing was held to address the clamor of stallholders in the supermarket. According to them, they pay for more as compared to stallholders in other sections since they need to occupy a bigger space for their stocks. Unfortunately, their daily sales are not enough to pay their rental.

Ceniza believes that this new ordinance will lessen the expenses of stallholders. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

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Municipality of Buenavista, Agusan del Norte curtails pirated, fake goods

By JACorvera

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Feb. 2 (PIA)
-- Per Municipal Ordinance No. 18-2011, sale, transfer, distribution, manufacture or production of pirated goods are now curtailed in the Municipality of Buenavista, this province.

SB Member Hernando L. Vasquez said counterfeit goods and articles or services causes not only economic prejudice and demoralization among legitimate businessmen which offers products and services dependent on intellectual property protection, but also undermine the municipal’s strategy for growth and development.

All business licenses and permits issued by the municipal government must understand that they should not engage in sale and rental of pirated, counterfeit or fake goods, articles or services nor shall permit other persons to commit said acts within the licensee’s business establishment or premises.

Premises shall mean any stall, table or equivalent contraptions containing the pirated goods within 2 meters from the door, window or any opening leading to the licensee’s establishment.

Violators shall be fined and imprisoned as ordered. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

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Agri chief turns over P35M farm inputs to DA-Caraga

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA)
-- Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala has turned over some P35 million worth of farm inputs and implements to DA-Caraga to improve farm production in the region.

According to report, all five provinces and six cities of Caraga Region will benefit from the farm inputs composed of farm tractors, green houses, irrigation equipment, power sprayer, planting materials, seedlings, fishing paraphernalia, among others.

The funding support also covers the construction of farm-to-market roads, diversion dam, and potable water system, as well as the continuation of the livelihood projects of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP).

Also, the project will allocate for a counterpart for the establishment of nitrogen plant, and computer unit with complete accessories.

Aside from the turned over products, programs are also lined-up for this year and in 2013 that will help farmers improve their productivity.


Because of the bad weather experienced in Caraga Region last year, rice and corn productivity of the region declined, prompting the region’s agriculture department to identify measures to increase farm productivity this year and the coming years. (PIA-Caraga)

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Tagalog news: Kongresista sa Agusan del Sur naglaan ng pondo sa childhood care and development

By David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Feb. 2 (PIA)
-- Umabot sa P16.5 milyon ang inilaan ni Cong. Maria Valentina Plaza ng unang distrito ng probinsiya sa kanyang nag-unang proyekto para sa mga kabataan simula sa taong 2012.

Ang proyektong pangkabataan ay idadaan ni Plaza sa tanggapan ni Gob. Adolph Edward Plaza at ito ay pinag hati-hati sa tatlong paraan. Ang unang paraan ay gagawin sa mga bayan ng Veruela, Loreto at Lapaz at ito ay ipalaganap sa lahat ng mga bayan na sakop ng unag distrito.

"Ang programang ito ay pangalawang beses nang ginawa rito sa lalawigan ng Agusan del Sur. Ang una ay noong 2007 hanggang 2009, nang si Cong. Tina Plaza ay naging Gobernador ng lalawigan. Sa kaniyang integrated program, ang sakop ng programang ito ay mula sa pagpagawa ng mga day care centers at pagpapalawak ng kaalaman ng mga guro nito para sila ay makahabol sa mga pangangailangan sa mga sensitibong kurikulum, at ang pag organisa ng mga komunidad para sila ay magiging karapatdapat at kumikilos,” sabi ni consultant Father Anthony Salas, SVD.

Ayon din sa isa pang consultant na si Fr. Eugene Docoy, executive director ng Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation-Integrated Development Center (JPIC-IDS), ang kanilang grupo ay isang non-government-organization na nakabase sa Cebu at sakop ang Agusan del Sur sa mga lugar na kanilang pinagsisilbihan, kasama na ang iba pang lugar sa buong bansa.

“Dahil integrated approach ang pinatutupad ng aming grupo, ito ay hindi lamang nakatuon sa pagpapaunlad ng pamumuhay ng mga kabataan kundi kasali na ang pagsasanay sa mga magulang dahil kami ay naniniwalang ang mga magulang ay may malaking papel sa pagpaunlad at kapakanan ng mga kabataan. Sa puntong ito, kami ay magkakaroon ng parehong responsibilidad sa pagpapaunlad ng buhay ng mga kabataan kasama ang komunidad, ang mga magulang, mga lokal na opisyal ng pamahalaan, at iba pang mga sangkot dito,” sabi ni Fr. Docoy.

Ang Agusan del Sur ay naging recipient ng Country Program for Children V at VI mula 1999 hanggang 2009. Mula noon, ang buong lalawigan ay naging child-friendly na probinsya at ang prorama ni Cong. Tina Plaza para sa taong ito ay siyang magpapatingkad sa pagsisikap ng Agusan del Sur para sa ikabubuti ng mga kabataan. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)


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Tagalog news: P3M inilaan ng pamahalaang panlalawigan para sa Bunawan eco park

By David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Peb. 1 (PIA)
-- Tatlong milyong piso ang ipinalabas ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Agusan del Sur kamakailan para sa mga gastusin sa pagpapaganda at pagpapaayos ng mga daan sa loob ng 30 ektaryang sakop ng Bunawan Eco Park na siya ngayong tirahan ng pinakamalaking buwaya sa buong mundo na si Lolong, sa pamamagitan ng resolusyong ipinasa ng miyembro ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan na si Samual Turtor at inaprobahan ni Gob. Adolph Edward Plaza ng Agusan del Sur.

Kasunod nito, ipinasa naman ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang isa pang resolusyon para sa milyun-milyong pondo para sa pagpaunlad ng lahat ng mga tourist destinations sa lalawigan para maaprobahan at maipagpatuloy ang pagpaunlad ng mga ito. Ang mga naturang pondo ay kinuha sa Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) ni Bise Gob. Santiago Cane Jr. at mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan mula sa dalawang distrito ng Agusan del Sur.

Inamin ni Cane na ang mga pondong kanilang inilaan ay kaunti lamang para maisakatuparan ang mga magagandang plano para sa pangturismo ng lalawigan pero ito ay malaking tulong na rin.

“Ang pagpapaunlad ng ating panturismong industriya ay hindi nagtatapos dito. Ito ay magpapatuloy ayon sa kani-kanilang mga plano, at tayo ay makakatulong kahit anong oras para magkaroon tayo ng pondo,” sabi ni Cane.

Ayon kay Turtor, mayroon din namang mga nagbibigay ng kani-kanilang tulong gaya ng DPWH na nangakong ayusin ang unang hakbang sa pag-aayos ng mga kalsada sa loob ng 30 hektaryang eco park.

Inimbita rin ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang planning officer ng Bunawan noong Lunes sa pagdaraos ng session para maipaliwanag ng mabuti ang kanilang mga plano para sa ikagaganda ng nasabing eco park. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)

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Cebuano news: Aquino gilatad ang mga plano aron matabangan ang sektor sa transportasyon nga masagubang ang mga pagtaas sa presyo sa lana

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Peb. 2 (PIA)
-- Gidetalye ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III kagahapon, Miyerkules ang mga plano sa administrasyon aron matabangan ang sektor sa transportasyon nga masagubang ang epekto sa nagpadayon nga pagsaka sa presyo sa lana parte niini mao ang pagtrabaho sa 30-ka adlaw nga abag nga suplay sa mga produktong petrolyo.


Ang Pangulo miingon iya ng gimandoan ang Department of Energy (DOE) nga hatagan siya og update sa lakat sa mga presyo sa lana.

“Yung sinisigurado natin na mayroon tayong nasa 24 days (buffer stock), kung hindi ako nagkakamali. We’re targeting that instead of just 24 and a half days there is a 30-day buffer supply. That’s number one,” ang Pangulo misulti sa mga reporters atol sa selebrasyon sa ika-25th anibersaryo sa Philippine Information Agency kagahapon Miyerkules didto sa Quezon City.

Ang programa sa Pantawid Pasada gipadayon usab sa gobyerno aron makatabang sa sektor sa transportasyon nga masagubang ang pagtaas sa mga presyo sa lana.

“Ang Pantawid Pasada program, there’s still an allocation of roughly something like about P200 million plus remaining balance. In short, we don’t need a new funding for it. Puwede pa nating gamitin yung dati para ma-service yung roughly about 60 percent,” ang Pangulo miingon.

Ang gobyerno pwede pa nga makahatag og duha ka libot nga Pantawid Pasada nga walay pagtaas sa pundo, ang Pangulo miingon. Ang gobyerno adunay igong kwarta human ang Land Transportation Office (LTO) ug ang Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) gisubli ang listahan sa lehitimong mga naghawid og prangkisa nga adunay katungod sa suporta sa gobyerno.

Ang Pangulo miingon ang iyang administrasyon naningkamot aron pagmugna og mga mekanismo nga direktang modugtong sa mga drayber ug mga transport operator ngadto sa mga tiggama ug mga suplayers aron sila makakuha og baratong mga materyales ug spare parts sa ilang mga sakyanan.

“Maraming schemes pero yung pinaka-workable, kakausapin natin yung mga manufacturers, magbubukas ng mga factory outlets diretso na sa kanila, bawas yung profit ng middleman, para mabawasan yung gastos nila sa kanilang mga pagpapatakbo ng mga sasakyan,” siya midugang.

Aduna usab mga pahulam nga magamit sa mga kooperatiba sa transport nga adunay plano nga motukod og ilang kaugalingong gasoline stations. Ang Pangulo miingon ang Development Bank of the Philippines 9DBP) ug ang Philippine National Bank (PNB) makahatag og P10 milyon matag gasoline station.

Matud sa Pangulo, kini nga paagi gi-implementar na didto sa Baguio City.

Ang Pangulo usab mipagawas og abiso batok sa illegal nga mga bus operators nga sundon ang balaod. (PIA- Surigao del Norte)

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Cebuano news: Panambay sa Barangay gipahigayon sa mga baranggay sa syudad sa Surigao

SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Peb. 2 (PIA)
-- Gipahigayon niadtong adlawng Martes, Enero 31, 2012 ang Panambay sa Barangay didto sa Barangay Cabongbongan, San Isidro ug Orok syudad sa Surigao.

Bisan paman sa kalayo sa maong dapit, gibisita gayod ni Governor Sol Matugas uban ni Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, J rug mga opisyales sa kapitolyo ang maong dapit aron laman madala ang serbisyo sa probinsya ilabina ang maayong panglawas.

Sa pamahayag ni Governor Matugas iyang gibutyag nga karong tuig 2012 pagatutukan sa iyang administrasyon ang agrikultura, aron masulbad ang problema sa kapobrehon ug malnutrisyon sa probinsya.

Atol sa maong okasyon, gipahigayon usab ang pagtunol sa mga libro ug mga educational toys ngadto sa mga estudyante sa preschool nga makatabang kanila sa pagbasa ug pagtoon.

Samtang mapasalamaton usab og dako si Kapitana Cristina Pareja sa Barangay Cabongbongan kang Governor Matugas ug sa mga kaubanan nini nga natagamtaman nila ang serbisyo sa maayong panglawas labi na gyud ang libreng konsultasyon, laboratory, tuli, papsmear, dental services, libreng tambal ug mga vitamins. (Provincial Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)