(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 26 April 2024) Easterlies affecting 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. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from East to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


PIA News Service - Wednesday, July 18, 2012


Status of PAMANA projects in Agusan del Sur bared


By David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, July 18 (PIA) -- The status of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) projects under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process implemented in Agusan del Sur was presented to Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza last July 13 as part of the evaluation process on how the projects serve the people in the community they are implemented and how the people perceived the projects.

The first project presented is the Sta. Irene-La Purisima-Gacub farm-to-market road (FMR) in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, with a cost of P2.25 million.

Agusanon Para sa Bag-ong Pilipino (AGUS PINOY), an accredited NGO by the PAMANA and the provincial government, said the Sta. Irene-La Purisima-Gacub FMR has incurred cracks on its concrete sides, while some road surface has been washed out due to heavy rainfall experienced in the province. According to report, motorcycle drivers’ feedback said that although the road situation is presently better compared to previous years, the road network should be completed until Gacub so travel will be easier and more comfortable.

In a report that Plaza conformed, the rehabilitation budget covers only 1,040 linear meters from Sta. Irene, while the rest of the road were not yet scheduled. This is the reason travelling after the rehabilitated road is still uncomfortable. The cohesion survey result said the construction and rehabilitation of the road address the need of the people in the area as signified by 95 percent of interviewed respondents. The provincial engineering office is also undergoing repairs on the defects of the road.

On the Bitan-agan-Lucac FMR in San Francisco town with P2.25 million cost, accredited NGO People’s Alternative Center for Environmental and Sectoral Services, Inc. (PACESS) reported that minor defects were observed, such as cracks on the mouth of the culvert canals and some portion of the road washed out due to heavy rainfall. Overall overall findings based on the survey is good.

Some PAMANA projects are still on-going to address the need of the people, especially in conflict areas. (RER/DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Hosting of MinBizCon to bring business opportunities in Butuan, official say

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, July 18 (PIA) -- The hosting of the 21st Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) on August 2-4, 2012 will bring business opportunities in this city, said Vice Mayor Lawrence Lemuel Fortun during the press conference on Tuesday held in a local hotel here.

The Mindanao Business Conference is the premier platform for fostering competitiveness and accelerating economic growth in the Mindanao region and for showcasing its trade and investment opportunities.

Fortun said with some 700 business entrepreneurs expected to participate in this annual gathering coming from different places in Mindanao, the event will likewise pave the way for Butuanon communities to explore latest developments in establishing a stronger business industry here in the city.

The official further said sharing of best practices of different regions in the island will also lead to sustaining the economic development of five regions in Mindanao, especially in Caraga Region.

He added that since Caraga Region is considered the poorest region in the country according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), there is a need for officials of the region to know the latest trends and strategies in sustaining and improving the business industry in their respective areas.

He also acknowledged the efforts of the Butuan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (BCCIFI) in hosting the biggest gathering of business entrepreneurs in Mindanao.

The annual conference serves as the official business conference of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for the Mindanao area and is the biggest of its business conferences in scope and number of participants, among them senior business leaders, members of chambers of commerce, government policymakers, investors and foreign trading partners.

Participants have the chance to network and exchange ideas on enhancing the business climate and strengthening competitiveness, in addition to marketing products, services and investment destinations.

Since 1991, the MinBizCon is being hosted by local chambers of commerce from across Mindanao.

BCCIFI former president Alfredo Baluyut, Jr. said hosting the event can help boost the local economy through increased trade and tourism across the conference.

Among the past hosts of this annual event are local chambers of commerce and industry of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Surigao, Butuan, Cotabato, Dipolog, Koronadal, Zamboanga, General Santos and Pagadian.

The first day of this year’s MinBizCon is also held in time with the celebration of the city’s charter day dubbed “Adlaw Hong Butuan.” (RER/PIA-Caraga)


Caraga disaster council to formulate reg'l risk profile

By Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, July 18 (PIA) -- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-Caraga Region is conducting a writeshop for the formulation of regional risk profile on July 31 to August 1 at Tavern Hotel, Surigao City, in time with the celebration of the month-long National Disaster Consciousness.

According to Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Caraga regional director and RDRRMC chairperson Dr. Blanche Gobenciong, the formulation of the risk profile form is part of the five-year Comprehensive Regional Strategic Action Plan that will provide detailed information on the various elements of risk and vulnerabilities of the region.

The activity will be participated by the RDRRMC Technical Working Group coming from the different line-agencies of the government spearheaded by OCD. (RER/DSM-PIA 13 Caraga)


Surigao Norte gov to deliver SOPA

SURIGAO CITY, July 18 (PIA) -- Governor Sol Matugas will deliver her State of the Province Address (SOPA) today during the 1st Special Session of the sangguniang panlalawigan.

The special session will be presided by Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr., which will start at 1:30 p.m.

The lady governor is expected to disclose the gains of the HEALS (Health, Education & Environment, Agri & Aquaculture, Livelihood, Spiritual Renewal, Social Services, Senior Citizens) agenda in the previous year, as well as her plans for the years ahead.

Two solons of the province, the mayors of 20 towns and one component city, regional directors of different national government agencies, provincial government department heads, members of the academe, nongovernment organizations and the media are invited to attend. (RER/FEA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Tagalog news: Paghahanda sa 21st Mindanao Business Conference sa Butuan City isinasagawa

Ni Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, Hulyo 18 (PIA) -- Kasalukuyang isinasagawa ang paghahanda para sa darating na 21st Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon).

Ito ay ayon kay Cherry May Busa, isa sa mga miyembro ng board of trustees ng Butuan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (BCCIFI).

Sa isang pagpupulong kamaikailan ng media na pinangunahan ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Caraga, sinabi ni Busa na ang Chamber of Commerce, kasama ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Butuan, ay naghahanda para sa taunang pagtitipon ng mga negosyante sa Mindanao na gaganapin sa lungsod ngayong Agosto 2 hanggang 4 sa Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort.

Sinabi rin ni Busa na ang BCCIFI ang mangunguna sa MinBizCon sa taong ito na may temang, “Invest Mindanao: Towards a More Inclusive, Progressive and Greener Future.”

Aniya, mahigit sa 700 pribadong mga negosyante galing sa iba't ibang lugar sa Mindanao ang inaasahang dadalo sa nasabing kaganapan.

Ang aktibidad ay isang mahalagang lugar upang itaguyod at mapalakas ang pagtaas ng ekonomiya sa Mindanao pati na ang kalakalan at oportunidad sa pamumuhunan.

Sinabi ni Alfredo Baluyut Jr, dating presidente ng BCCIFI, na ang taunang MinBizCon ay nagsisilbing opisyal na pagpupulong ng Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) para sa Mindanao, at ito rin ang pinakamalaking PCCI na pagpupulong na naka-base sa numero ng partisipante, kabilang ang mga "senior business leaders," kasapi ng Chambers of Commerce, mga tagagawa ng polisiya sa pamahalaan, imbestor at "foreign-trading partners."

Ani Baluyut, ang MinBizCon ay isang oportunidad para sa mga ahensya na magsalita hingil sa mga polisiya ng ekonomiya, kung saan itatampok sa aktibidad ang pormal na presentasyon ng Mindanao Business Policy Agenda sa tanggapan ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas.

Ayon sa opisyal, ang Mindanao Agenda ay isinali sa taunang "policy agenda" ng PCCI bilang parte ng Philippine Business Conference na resolusyon para sa buong bansa.

Kabilang sa mga dignitaries na inimbita sa nasabing conference ay sina Japan Ambassador Toshinao Urabe, Chinese Ambassador H.E. Lui Jianchao, Korean Ambassador H.E. Hye-Min Lee, at US Ambassador H.E. Harry Thomas. (RER/DSM/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano news: Ochoa mihatag og direktiba sa MICC, gov’t agencies aron pag-implementar sa EO 79

Ni Susil Ragas

MANILA, Hulyo 18 (PIA) -- Si Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. mihatag og direktiba sa bag-ong namugna nga Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) ug hintungdang mga ahensya aron pag-implementar sa komprehensibong mga reporma sa sector sa mina ubos sa Executive Order No. 79.

Sa laing memoranda nga gipagawas ni Ochoa human gipirmahan ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang maong executive order niaging semana, iyang gidetalye ang mga lakang nga angay himoon aron mahimong epektibo ang bag-ong mining policies nga nagtinguha aron matubag ang environmental mining standards, improving revenue sharing, ug promoting social economic development and social growth.

“In his Social Contract with the Filipino People, the President pledged to lead a government that would encourage the sustainable use of resources to benefit the present and future generations of Filipinos,” matud ni Ochoa.

“EO 79 is a policy extension of this commitment, as it lays out directives that will benefit our countrymen in the long-term by putting in place measures that will protect the environment while ensuring that the country gets the maximum economic benefits from mining.”

Sa iyang memorandum ngadto kang Environment Secretary Ramon Paje aron ma-implementar ug ma-operasyunal ang mando ni Pangulong Aquino, gidetalye ni Ochoa ang piho nga mga aksyon angay buhaton sa piho nga mga ahensya sa gobyerno mahitungod sa mga isyu kalabot na sa estriktong pagpatuman sa environmental laws; inventory of social development, management and environment enhancement programs of mining companies; geo-hazard ug multi-hazard mapping of areas for mining; determination of the final land use of mining areas human nga makumpleto ang mga proyekto, ug non-issuance of new mining applications didto sa Palawan,ug lain pang uban.

Si Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, nga maoy nangulo sa Cabinet cluster on Human Development and Poverty Reduction, sa laing bahin, gihatagan og direktiba aron mohatag og alternatibong panginabuhian alang sa mga displaced mining workers; mohimo og mga mekanismo ug mga sumbanan aron pagmonitor sa mga kalapasan sa human ug labor rights; kumpletohon usab ang cultural mapping sa indigenous people; ug seguroon ang angay nga working ug safety conditions sulod sa mining areas ug silingan nga mga komunidad.

Ang MICC, nga gipangulohan ni Paje uban kang Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, gitahasan aron mohimo og mga kamandoan ug mga sumbanan alang sa update sa mineral commodity profile, ug mohimo sa pagtoon ug motukod sa mga databases sa bag-ong mga merkado, mga produkto ug magamit nga mga teknolohiya nga gitumong aron pagpalambo sa nalugi nga mga industriya ug value-adding nga mga aktibedades.

Gimandoan usab ni Ochoa ang MICC sa pagdeteminar sa mga legislative measures nga moseguro sa sakto ug epektibo nga pagdumala sa mga mining sector ug palig-onon ang mga regulatory rules, ug ton-an ang kasamtangang mga mekanismo alang sa revenue-shariong, ug lain pang uban.

Si Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, hepe sa Secretariat of the Good Governance and Anti-Corruption cluster, maoy modeterminar sa piho nga mga papel sa mga line agencies nga nalambigit sa mina aron matubag ang ilang mga overlapping task ug functions, lakip usab ang posibilidad sa pagkuha og mga international auditors aron maoy mo validate sa gidaghanon ug bili sa mineral exports gikan sa Pilipinas, sulti ni Ochoa. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)