(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 - Monday, July 23, 2012

DOLE-Caraga to distribute starter kits to the parents of child laborer

By Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment will distribute livelihood starter kits to parents of child laborers on July 24 at the covered court of Brgy. Baleguian, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

The event aims to address the clamor of the "Batang Kalabaw" in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte to have school supplies.

Batang Kalabaw are children forced to work as lumber hauler and are paid in small amount to drag and push lumber thrice as their weight.

According to DOLE-Caraga Regional Director Ofelia Domingo, the distribution of starter kits is part of the department’s commitment to promote 100 percent child labor-free barangay in Caraga region.

Also, the event will highlight a press conference to be facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Caraga.

Further, the official saidthe activity will be graced by DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Usec. Lourdes M. Trasmonte, together with the other DOLE officials.

Republic Act 7658 or "Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act" prohibits the employment of children below 15 years of age in public and private undertakings. (RER/DSM/PIA-Caraga)


PWDs urge gov’t to fully implement Accessibility Law in Caraga Region

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) -- Officials of several organizations of persons with disabilities (PWDs) urged government officials to fully implement Batas Pambansa (Republic Act) 344 or the Accessibility Act of the Philippines.

Speaking before the local tri-media Friday, Marietta Jandayan, council member of the National Anti-Poverty Commission-PWD Sector and Board of Governor of the Katipunan ng May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas said the law was not fully implemented in the region as establishments were not honoring the 20 percent discount intended for PWDs and newly-constructed buildings did not have ramps.

Jandayan explained many pharmacies here do not give discount to PWDs. This, according to her, is a clear manifestation that business establishments do not implement the provisions in the national law.

She said section 1 of the law emphasizes that to promote the rights of disabled persons to participate in society development and to enjoy opportunities available to other citizens, no license or permit for construction, repair or renovation of public and private buildings shall be granted unless the owner will incorporate structural features that will enhance the mobility of PWDs such as sidewalks, ramps and railings.

The official added if feasible, all existing buildings, institutions, establishments, or public utilities may be renovated or altered to enable disabled persons to have access to them.

However, public buildings and roads that comply with the requirements of this law already, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHWH) shall see to it that the same shall be provided with architectural facilities or structural features for disabled persons.

With these developments, Jandayan is calling local chiefs executives and DPWH to look into this matter since this is already a requirement under the accessibility law.

She added PWDs are not begging to fully implement the law, but rather to urge those officials to adhere what was stipulated in the law.

This week’s episode of Caraga in Focus features the 34th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week celebration in Caraga Region that will end today, July 23 with the theme: “Mainstreaming the Persons with Disabilities in Economic Development.” (RER/PIA-Caraga)


News Feature: Butuanon student snags silver award in New York’s Genius Olympiad

By Robert E. Roperos

A Butuanon high school student has won the silver medal in the Physical Science (Individual category) in this year’s Genius Olympiad at State University of New York (SUNY), Oswego, New York, U.S.A.

Terence John C. Vesagas, fourth year high school student at the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU), won the award for his investigatory project entitled: “Ultrasonic Waves as Larvicide: An Alternative Way to Control Mosquito Populations.”

The same study has won for him eight awards—an unusual feat among local science and technology researches in Butuan—since September 2, 2011 to June 29, 2012, including the prestigious Genius Olympiad.

Genius Olympiad is an international high school science, art, creative writing, and architectural design competition devoted to projects on environmental issues. The competition aims to promote a global understanding of environmental issues and the achievement of sustainability through basic science, arts, creative writing, engineering, design, and policy development.

In February 10-12, 2012, Terence's study was featured in the 9th National Science Quest by the Association of Educators of the Philippines (ASEP) held in Baguio City. Again, he was declared champion in the same category, which qualified him to the Genius Olympiad in New York, being the only representative of the Philippines.

In this project, acoustics was explored to eradicate mosquitoes at their larval stage. The aim of the study was to look for an effective method of controlling mosquito populations. An ultrasonic device was constructed and tested for its larvicidal efficacy.

Larval mortality rate was evident. It was observed that the larvae also suffered various physical damages such as ruptured internal organs, breathing tube breakages and fragmentation that lead to its death.

Results of the study clearly demonstrated that sound waves could be an alternative way of controlling mosquito populations at their larval stage.

Terence is the son of Dr. Terence Anthony S. Vesagas, Hospital Director of M.J. Santos Hospital, a homegrown medical establishment of Butuan City, and Mrs. Janet C. Vesagas, a registered nurse.

His project was recognized as first place in the local science fair of FSUU on September 2, 2011. Two weeks after (Sept. 16), he was declared regional science fair champion of the same category. A week after (Sept. 23), he was a runner-up at the Regional Inventions Contest and Exhibits and was proclaimed Health Research Best Paper. A week after (Sept. 30), his masterpiece won 1st place in the same category during the Division Science Fair.

His recognition does not end there. On February 1-3, 2012, Terence participated in the National Children’s Science Congress 2012 held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and sponsored by the Science Club Advisers Association of the Philippines (SCAAP) where he was again declared champion in the same category.

The Genius Olympiad is co-organized by the State University of New York at Oswego and the Terra Science and Education Foundation. The competition takes place during the last week of June on the SUNY Oswego Campus.

This year's competition was participated in by 985 students. A total of 249 projects were accepted from the 657 projects submitted worldwide. During the selection process, only 51 countries were chosen to move on to the finals where Terence was among those who were given the opportunity to present his investigatory project to pool of international scientists-cum-judges/evaluators. Also, there were 35 states represented the United States of America. (RER/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog news: Butuan, Agusan del Norte pangungunahan ang 10th Nat’l Veggie Congress

By Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, Hulyo 23 (PIA) -- Pangungunahan ng mga lokal na pamahalaan ng Butuan City at Agusan del Norte ang gaganapin na 10th National Congress sa Hulyo 24 hanggang 26.

Ayon kay Edna Mabeza, Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga regional executive director, ang nasyonal na aktibidad ay pamumunuan ng Philippine Vegetable Industry Development Board (PVIDB) at ng Caraga High Value Cluster Incorporated (ChiVeCI), sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa kagawaran ng agrikultura.

Aniya, ang aktibidad ay may layuning magbigay sa mga vegetable producers at ibang stakeholders ng updates, industry trends at direksyon; maayos na programa ng gobyerno; technology updates, innovations, at best practices; impact sa climate change on vegetable industry at ang mitigating measures nito.

Sa temang, “Strengthening and Sustain Safe and Quality Vegetable Production for Market Competitiveness Amidst Climate Change,” sinabi ni Mabeza na ito ay magsisilbing importanteng aktibidad upang magtipon-tipon ang mga nangungunang industry stakeholders upang talakayin at sagutin ang mga isyung nakapaloob sa agrikultura. Ito rin ay magiging daan upang i-develop ang common action plans para sa ikakaunlad ng local vegetable industry.

Sinabi rin ng opisyal na isang press conference ang isasagawa sa unang araw ng aktibidad bago buksan ang pambungad na programa. (RER/DSM/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Palasyo miingon DOH andam nga motubag sa EV-71 cases, gihangyo ang partisipasyon sa publiko

SURIGAO CITY, Hulyo 23 (PIA) -- Giseguro sa MalacaƱang niadtong Sabado nga ang Department of Health preparado kon ugaling adunay mga kaso sa Enterovirus 71 dinhi sa nasod human gitaho sa departamento sa maayong panglawas ang usa ka kaso sa maong sakit.

“Number one, DOH is itself prepared. Number two, we need the participation of the citizenry. If you feel that there are symptoms that would lead to Enterovirus 71, immediately bring it to the attention of the doctors," matud ni Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda sa interbyu sa radio dzRB Radyo ng Bayan niadtong Sabado.

“We cannot wait na kung malala na saka lang dadalhin sa hospital. We need the engagement of the citizenry. In the part of the DOH, they will be coming out or they have come out with information on the symptoms of Enterovirus 71,” dugang pa niya.

Sa samang higayon, gidasig usab sa opisyales sa Palasyo ang publiko nga batunan kanunay ang proper hygience ug ementinar ang kalimpyo sa ilang mga komunidad. Pasiugdahan usab sa DOH ang massive information campaign mahitungod sa EV-71 aron mahibalo ang publiko, siya miingon.

Ang DOH mitaho nga niadtong niaging semana usa ka 19 ka bulan nga batang lalake gikan sa Davao ang nataptan sa EV-71, ang susamang virus nga mipatay sa mokabat 60 ka mga kabataan sa Cambodia, apan kini natambalan gilayon.

Ang maong bata maoy usa lamang nga nakumpirma sa otso ka suspetsadong mga kaso dinhi sa nasod uban ang hand, foot and mouth disease o Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) strain, matud ni Health Secretary Enrique Ona.

Ang maong strain nga nakit-an sa bata usa lamang ka mahinay nga porma sa EV-71 ug posible nga dugay na dinhi sa nasod una pa ang kuyaw nga variant nga mipatay sa mga kabataan didto sa Cambodia, matud pa ni Health Secretary.

Ang maong Enteroviruses adunay 68 ka sterotypes nga maoy sagad hinungdan sa self-limited infections sa kabataan, matud sa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nga nakabase didto sa Atlanta, Georgia.

Ang maong Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) una na nga nakit-an didto sa California niadtong tuig 1969. Sukad niadto, ang EV-71 nalain na sa pipila ka mga nasod sa kalibutan. Severe outbreaks uban ang high fatality rate nahitabo didto sa Bulgaria niadtong tuig 1975 nga adunay 44 ka mga namatay ug niadtong tuig 1978 didto sa Hungary uban ang 45 ka mga namatay, matud sa CDC.

Usa ka severe outbreaks usab ang nahitabo didto sa Malaysia niadtong tuig 1997 nga adunay 30 ka mga patay ug didto sa Taiwan nga adunay 78 ka mga nangamatay niadtong tuig 1998, 25 ka mga patay niadtong tuig 2000, ug 26 niadtong tuig 2001. (RER/FEA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano news: Tigum sa Local School Board sa probinsya malampuson nga gipahigayon

SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Hulyo 23 (PIA) -- Malampuson nga gipahigayon ang tigum sa local school board sa probinsya kagahapong adlawa Hulyo 19, 2012 didto sa Provincial Governor’s Office, Capitol Compound, Surigao City.

Ang maong tigum gipangulohan ni Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas ug inubanan nila Board Member Mamerto Galanida, Siargao Island Schools Division Superintendent Teresita Tranquilan, Surigao del Norte Schools Division Superintendent Evelyn Fetalvero, Surigao City Schools Division Superintendent Fidela Rosas ug Surigao City Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Elizabeth Larase.

Gihisgutan sa maong tigum ang mahitungod sa status sa mga school buildings, repair sa mga eskuylahan, on-going nga proyekto, pag-implementar sa programang Project Best sa DepEd ug turn-over sa bag-ong school division superintendent sa Siargao nga si Gregoria T. Su.

Gipasabot usab ni Governor Matugas atol sa maong tigum nga gusto gayud niya nga mga kindergarten classes anaa gayud mahimutang sa maayong classroom aron madasig ug maingganyo ang mga kabataan sa pagsulod sa ilang mga eskuylahan. (RER/Provincial Information Center/PIA-Surigao del Norte)