(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 - Saturday, November 17, 2012


PPOC members convene; gave updates on peace and order situation in AgNor

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 17 (PIA) -- Member-agencies of the Agusan del Norte Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) chaired by Governor Erlpe John Amante convened Friday and discussed the members’ significant accomplishments related to peace and order situation in the province.

On behalf of PPOC chair Gov. Amante, Atty. James Reserva, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member and chairperson for Peace and Order Committee presided the meeting with other government agencies, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Local Chief Executives (LCEs).

The Provincial Integrated Area Community Public Safety Plan for Agusan del Norte with an intended budget of P7-million to be used as the Intelligence Fund of the province was approved during the said meeting held at the Provincial Training Center here.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Romeo Solis said the DILG will be implementing the ‘Payapa at Masaganang Pamanyanan’ (PAMANA) Projects in the province amounting to some P20 million.

PNP Agusan del Norte Provincial Director PSSupt Eugenio Paguirigan said that for the period of January 1 to October 31, 2012, the crime incidents in the province has decreased to 196 compared to 907 in 2009; 586 in 2010; and 415 in 2011.

Paguirigan further said that they are continuously intensifying its campaign against loose firearms wherein eight persons were apprehended; campaign against illegal drugs wherein nine persons were apprehended; campaign against illegal logging wherein eight persons were apprehended; and campaign against carnapping. Cases against the suspects were filed in court, he added.

“We are also implementing the ‘No Plate No Travel Policy’ and we apprehended 209 vehicles from the violators… We also intensified our campaign against wanted persons, wherein we recorded 170 cases of which 131 were served,” added Paguirigan.

Paguirigan also emphasized that active participation of the community and other stakeholders in reducing criminality and insurgency is very vital.

LTC Potenciano Camba, Commanding Officer of 3rd Special Forces, Philippine Army said they are coordinating and working with the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Agusan del Norte Provincial Office, Rotary Club of Butuan, and local government units for the conduct of Skills Training for the out-of-school youths in the municipalities of Kitcharao, Santaigo, and Jabonga.

Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga Deputy Cristy Silvan reported that for the period of October 1 to November 15, 2012, they had conducted four anti-drug operations in the province, of which three of it was initiated by the PNP and one by their office.

“We also conducted community involvement activities such as Anti-Drug Symposia with students from different schools in the province and sports activities with the youths,” Silvan said.

PDEA also assured to conduct joint anti-illegal drug operations with other law enforcement agencies and ensured air-tight cases against drug personalities. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Feature: Better schools for Bantayan

From being old and dilapidated, 19 classrooms in five public elementary schools in Bantayan, Caraga are now good as new after the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), through its School Rehabilitation Program (SRP), and volunteers had conducted school repairs and clean-up.

Last Oct. 12, RAFI turned over these classrooms to Tamiao Elementary School, Vito Elementary School, Sillon Elementary School, Baod Elementary School, and Kabac Elementary School. A total of 896 pupils benefited from the program.

RAFI provided P4.37 million to cover for the material cost of the repair and rehabilitation of the four Marcos-type and Bagong Lipunan school buildings while the local government unit of Bantayan shouldered the P1.5 million in labor cost.

As beneficiaries and proponents of the project, the school administrators, teachers, parents and the local community of the five schools mentioned ensured the safekeeping of the construction materials for the duration of the school repair.

The SRP of RAFI aims not just to improve the physical condition of public schools but also encourage participation among the stakeholders.

“We enjoin the parents, the school community, and the private sector to take on the responsibility of actively participating as owners of the public school system. Our children’s future depends on the improvement of the public schools, and this improvement depends on our participation,” Amaya Aboitiz, deputy director for operations of RAFI, said.

Bantayan Mayor Ian Christopher Escario expressed his appreciation to the community for their cooperation.

“I commend the teachers and parents for their active participation in the entire project as volunteers and property custodians. Together, we are opening more doors for our children to become successful individuals in the future,” Escario said.

Bantayan has been one of the municipality beneficiaries of RAFI’s SRP since 2009. So far, 39 classrooms in 11 schools were already turned over and completed through the program.

“The lack of funds has made it difficult for the town to address the classroom shortages, and other social services as well. That is why we are very happy with the presence of non-government organizations like RAFI who are willing to help address our problems in education,” Escario added.

Bantayan is still part of the program’s second batch of schools, and has 14 classrooms in five schools that are now undergoing major repair.

Since 2004, SRP has repaired 498 classrooms in 148 schools in 34 towns in Cebu.

SRP is a program under the Education focus area of RAFI, creating a conducive and engaging learning environment to nurture the love for learning. RAFI's other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Leadership & Citizenship.

For more information about the School Rehabilitation Program, please contact 418-7234 loc. 205 and look for Jicel Reve Gabriel, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph or http://schoolrehab.rafi.org.ph. (RAFI/PIA-Caraga)